MODERN MUM: Hassle of baby's first flight

I had to rush to the motherland on short notice, and since I have a three-month-old, it was a given that I would be flying with a child alone for the first time.

I went into overdrive on planning, buying and organising before packing. I was receiving packages for the trip as late as 6pm the night before we flew out. I had to imagine every leg of the journey and look at it from multiple angles. “How would I be prepared if this happened?”  I had to have a plan A, B and C for each possible scenario.

Luckily for us, we had one short flight, a five-hour layover and an overnight flight. When flying with children, an overnight flight is the best decision one can make. Although sometimes airlines really put one in a pickle. For instance, my flight out was a red eye, but the one for return is a daytime one, getting us home at almost midnight! 

Early planning is also essential when travelling with kids, especially babies. One cannot be cheap in place of convenience. Buying your ticket and booking seats as early as possible enables one to pick the desired seat that is best suited for such a journey. For instance, I managed to reserve (and pay) for a bassinet seat. An option that would provide me the option to be hands-free for some hours in the flight to sleep, rest or even use the restroom.

Organising your documents and hand luggage as early as possible is also essential to ensuring a smooth check-in and transit process. When travelling with a baby, one must produce a legal form of identification for the baby. In most cases of travelling internationally with a baby alone, a permission letter from the missing parent is required by port authorities. 

Two important items when it comes to handling the baby on long flights is a stroller and a baby carrier. I cannot stress enough how vital these two are and how much they go hand in hand. As a solo traveller who has limited use of their hands because of carrying a baby or infant, you want to have both of these items to work harmoniously for your benefit.  There will be times when you have to push the baby in the stroller and times where you have no option but to carry the baby.

The last thing to consider is, accept help when possible. The world has become untrustworthy, and most of us do not trust anyone when we travel. However, we can rely on staff for help. Uniformed staff at the airport and in the airplanes are there to assist travellers in any way possible. This involves helping with your child, giving you special preference, helping you with your bags and so on. So when they offer help, take it.