Two weeks ago, I traveled to Malaysia from Melbourne to visit my friends and family for Chinese New Year. It is a yearly trip that I look forward to, ever since I migrated to Melbourne in 2007. The only years I missed were when I was pregnant with my first child and also during the two COVID years.
In 2020, just before COVID started, I traveled alone with my then 7-month-old baby. It was pretty smooth and manageable; however, this time with a 6-month-old baby and a 4-year-old is a little more challenging.
I've documented my journey and compiled some tips for those traveling alone with kids. Hope it helps!
Night flight or day flight? I did both; a night flight to Malaysia and a day flight back to Melbourne. If I had to choose again, I would choose the night flight (for the flight back to Melbourne). For the first flight, both my kids went to sleep shortly after takeoff. For the whole 8-hour journey, they probably got a good 5-6 hours of sleep. However, during the day flight, my 4-year-old refused to sleep, so I had to find ways to keep her occupied for the entire flight. Similarly, the baby was mostly awake and sometimes a little fussy as she couldn't move around much in her bassinet (it's pretty small), so I had to keep her occupied most of the time. And because it was a day flight, my 4-year-old kept wanting to go to the toilet, which was more troublesome.
Bassinet or no bassinet? Hands down yes! It just frees up your hands when the baby is resting in the bassinet. You get some downtime and rest too. You can double that up and use it as a holder for bibs, sanitiser, baby toys, your water bottle, etc. It's just useful and convenient to have.
Do I need a pram? My short answer is YES! It is, of course, doable without a pram; for example, just using a baby carrier, but I would highly recommend a pram. On my way to Malaysia, I didn't have one; I was only using a baby carrier. But having gone through that, I decided to buy a cheap one in Malaysia so I could travel back with one. This is the one I got - travel pram. It will seriously make your life easier, especially when you need to go through security checks or use the bathroom. It's also easier when you actually need to use the toilet without the baby hanging off you in the baby carrier plus carrying a backpack. I can still move around freely and care for my elder daughter, plus also have some storage for my backpack under the pram. If you get a cabin-sized pram, you can get the help of the cabin crew to carry it to your seat and store it in the carry-on storage compartment. Or if you have a bigger pram, you are allowed to take it all the way to the entrance of the plane, then leave it there, and the airline staff will check it in for you. The downside of this is that when you arrive at your destination, you won't be able to use the pram until you collect it from the luggage carousel and usually in the oversized carousel.
Use a backpack big enough to hold all your essentials. I use a bag like this - nappy bag, and it's perfect!
In the backpack, have a smaller bag to hold the baby's nappy change essentials i.e., nappy, change mat, diaper cream, wet wipes, spare clothing, a small toy for the baby to play with while you change his/her nappy, and nappy bags. This way, whenever you need to do a nappy change, you just grab the small bag instead of trying to grab each single item from the backpack, risking forgetting something or not having enough hands to carry everything.
I also have some basic medical supplies in my backpack for emergency use like kids Panadol, nasal spray, and a thermometer.
As I am breastfeeding, I have a nursing cover which I also use as a blanket for the baby on the plane.
If you are breastfeeding, bring 1-2 disposable nursing pads
2-3 bibs or washcloths
Any moisturiser or cream/ointment if your baby or child has dry skin or eczema
Snacks for the elder child to keep them occupied or just in case they are hungry in between meals
Pack of tissue, hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes
My baby uses a comforter to sleep, so I brought it along to help her sleep in her bassinet, for her to feel secure and something she's familiar with. If your baby is not using one yet I highly recommend you to start giving him/her at home a few weeks before flying and then take it with you to the flight. I use one like this: baby comforter
1-2 small toys to keep the baby occupied during their wake times. Plus a dummy holder to hold the toys so they don't drop.
I brought a change of clothing for myself just in case the baby spills or vomits on me, but I didn't end up using it.
Feed your baby (direct latch or bottle feeding, either way) during takeoff and landing. The sucking will help clear their ears of the pressure.
You may need help from the cabin crew. A friend of mine who is an air stewardess gave me this tip. Find out the person looking after your area; ask for their name and politely let them know you may need their help during the flight. They would appreciate you asking for their name and would be very happy to offer help when needed.
Lastly, one of the most important tips is to be prepared for things to go wrong, and if they do, just smile and go with the flow. Don't stress about it. You will survive! And don't forget, the people around you are there to help. When others see a mum with two kids, their humanity shows, and they will offer help. For example, on the plane, I was offered to use the toilet first even though there was a long queue. When I arrived at the luggage carousel, and I saw my luggage, as soon as I stepped forward wanting to get it, there were others who were already offering help. I am reminded that there are more good people in this world than bad ones.
Good luck! xx
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