Travelling Solo with my baby: One Mum, One Baby, One Very Long Flight 😂

My husband and I have always loved travelling.

Before we had Shivaika, our travel style was very much, “I’ve always wanted to go there.”

Then we’d look up flights just to see how much they were.

Then somehow the flights would be too good to pass up.

So we’d book them.

Then figure out the accommodation, plan a rough itinerary and tell ourselves, “We’ll go with the flow.” 😂

We were very much the hmm lets wing it kind of travellers. Cheapest flight at the oddest hour? Sure. Hand luggage only? No problem.

Then we had a baby.

Suddenly we had to think about nap times, baggage allowance, whether the hotel room had enough space for a travel cot and whether our flight timing would work with a baby.

Our travel style became slightly more boujie and let’s say more organised. 😂

But having Shivaika didn't stop us from travelling. It just changed the way we travel and honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way.

She's 17 months now and has already been on quite a few flights. Domestic, international, short flights, long flights. We've done a little bit of everything.

But even though I've travelled quite a lot, travelling with a baby gave me the jitters.

And travelling alone with a baby? Even more so.

Being responsible for yourself is one thing. Being responsible for another little person is a completely different ball game.

What if she cries the whole flight?

What if she doesn't sleep?

What if she gets sick?

What if she hates the trip?

What if I can't handle it?

There were so many what ifs.

It was completely out of my comfort zone and honestly, I almost talked myself out of it.

But I also didn't want to miss the opportunity to spend time with my husband just because I was nervous about travelling alone with a baby.

So I just had to put on my big girl pants and face it.

I booked the tickets before I could chicken out and thought, okay, i'll figure it out. 😂

And honestly, that's exactly what I did.

So if you're thinking about travelling alone with your baby, here are a few things that made it easier for me.

Keep your hands free

This was probably one of the biggest ones for me.

For one of my trips, I didn't have my husband with me to lug the stroller around, so I decided to just bring the carrier. My girl will only sit in her stroller for 20 minutes tops, but the carrier? She can sit in there all day. 😂

I wore Shivaika in front and had my diaper bag at the back, which meant I had both hands free.

And honestly, it made things so much easier and worked out really well for me.

Getting through the airport, handling passports, carrying things and doing all the little things you need to do when you're travelling alone with a baby was just so much easier when I had both hands free.

The only problem was my back. It did not like it. 😂

She loves the carrier, so it worked really well for us. But if your baby prefers the stroller, obviously do what works for you.

Don't overpack

This one is hard when you're travelling with a baby because somehow you convince yourself you need EVERYTHING.

But when you're alone, every single thing you're carrying is your problem. 😂

So I try to keep the things I need most easily accessible.

Diapers, wipes, milk, snacks, a change of clothes and anything I might need during the flight.

You don't want to be digging through your entire bag while holding a baby.

Give yourself time

Before baby, we could arrive at the airport whenever and somehow make it work.

With a baby, I need time.

A lot more time.

Everything takes longer.

Diaper changes. Feeding. Security. Getting to the gate. Boarding.

So I would much rather be early and have time to sit down than be rushing around the airport with a baby.

Accept the help

his is something I had to learn.

I used to feel really weird asking for help. I think because I was travelling alone, I felt like I should be able to manage everything myself.But you don't have to.

If someone offers to help you with your bag, stroller or anything else, let them help you.

Travelling solo doesn't mean you have to struggle solo.

And honestly, when you're carrying a baby, a diaper bag and about 17 other things, sometimes an extra pair of hands is exactly what you need. 😂

The bassinet was a lifesaver

I booked a flight close to her nap time and tried to keep her awake before boarding. She literally slept through them calling us to board. 😂

Once we got on the plane, she slept in the bassinet for the entire first leg of our journey. Which meant I basically had the whole lie flat bed to myself.

You guys, this is basically luxury for mums. 😂

I actually got to enjoy the plane. I watched a movie, sipped on my hot cocoa while it was still HOT and even managed to get a proper, restful sleep.

Honestly, I was living my best life. 😂

If you're thinking of putting your baby in the bassinet, just keep in mind that you have to take your baby out once the seatbelt sign comes on.

So if you have a baby who wakes up easily, that's definitely something to consider because you might have to wake them up and take them out during the flight.

Luckily for me, Shivaika slept through the entire first leg, so we were good.

Screen time?

Yes please. 😂

The second leg was a shorter 2.5 hour flight. She slept through boarding and woke up about 20 minutes into the flight.

I played with her for a while and for the remaining time, I let her have some screen time.

Ms Rachel was a lifesaver for me. 😂

I know there are parents who don't give their babies screen time, and that's totally fine. I do.

Because honestly, I need my few minutes of quiet.

I have to have my cup full before I can pour into others. And sometimes, that means letting my baby watch Ms Rachel while I sit there and have a few peaceful minutes to myself.

And I'm okay with that.

The goal is to get to our destination in one piece, mentally sound and still sane. 😂

Whatever gets you there, girl.

Don't worry too much about the routine

I learnt this one pretty quickly.

Travel days are not normal days.

I don't expect Shivaika to eat, nap and sleep exactly like she does at home when we're travelling.

If she's hungry, she eats.

If she's tired, I try to get her to sleep.

Sometimes naps happen at completely random times. And that's okay.

You can always get back into your routine when you're home.

Bring the familiar things

I brought toys thinking they would keep her entertained on the flight.

Instead, she kept throwing them on the floor and after a while, picking them up every five minutes became a chore for me. 😂

They do have those toy strings where you can tether a favourite toy to your baby, which I think is a great idea if your baby has a favourite toy.

But mine?

She was much more interested in the paper cups, sugar packets and the safety card.

Of course. 😂

Choose convenience

This is probably another thing that changed after having a baby.

Before Shivaika, we'd happily choose the cheapest flight, stay somewhere a little further out and figure things out when we got there.

Now, if paying a little extra means a better flight time, easier transfer, a hotel closer to the train station or an extra bag, I'm probably going to do it.

When you're travelling alone with a baby, convenience is worth it.

And if you can afford it, maybe consider travelling business class.

Okay, this one is definitely a little boujie, but honestly, it takes the load off.

No queuing. Less unnecessary waiting around. And having access to a lounge when you have a long connecting flight is honestly a game changer.

On one of my trips, I had about four hours to kill between flights and the lounge was a game changer.

I was flying Qatar Airways and had access to the Al Safwa First Lounge in Doha, and they really had everything you could imagine.

They had a baby room with a nursing station, a place to wash your bottles, a crib and changing area, so you can give your baby a little refresh before the next flight.

My girl even took a nap in the crib while I sat there scrolling on my phone. 😂

They also had nappy bags, toiletries and disposable changing mats.

And it wasn't just baby stuff. They had a play area and game room, family rooms and even a fine dining restaurant.

I even enjoyed a cheeky glass of bubbly while I was there. 😂

They also have a spa, which unfortunately I couldn't make use of for obvious reasons. A solo mum with a baby isn't exactly going to sneak away for a massage. 😂

The staff were honestly lovely too. Some of them even went the extra mile to entertain my baby while I ate, which meant I could actually sit down and enjoy my meal in peace for a few minutes.

They really put a lot of thought into making the lounge comfortable for families, and when you're travelling alone with a baby, those little conveniences make such a huge difference.

So yes, business class is definitely a luxury, but if it's within your budget, I'd say this is one of those times when the convenience is genuinely worth it.

And don't be afraid to do it

I think this is probably the biggest thing I've learnt.

You can plan everything perfectly and your baby can still decide to have a meltdown at the airport. 😂

You can pack everything you think you'll need and she will still be more interested in some random paper cup she found at the gate.

Things won't always go according to plan.

But you'll figure it out.

I was so worried about whether I could actually do it, and then I did.

The first time was scary.

The next time might be a little easier. Or maybe not. 😂 She wasn't even walking when I travelled with her, so I'm not really sure what travelling with a walking, running, can't-sit-still toddler is going to be like.

I guess I'll have to travel again to find out. 😂

Okay, where are we going next, Tevan? 😂

And honestly, if you can change a poopy diaper mid air, in that tiny airplane toilet, while your baby is squirming, wriggling and crying bloody murder..

Girl, you can do anything. 😂

P.S. I just want to take a moment to acknowledge all the airport staff, immigration officers and cabin crew I came across while travelling with Shivaika.

They were all SOOOOO sweet and helpful. 🥹 So many of them went out of their way to make my life just a little bit easier, whether it was helping with a bag, giving me a hand or simply being so warm and kind.

And honestly, at the end of the day, kindness is what makes the world go round.

The Malaysian immigration officers especially were just the sweetest. They were so warm and helpful, and it genuinely made me feel proud to be Malaysian.

At times like this, I'm really proud to say that before we are our race, our religion or anything else, we are Malaysians first. ❤️

And that really came through in my experience travelling with Shivaika. There were so many little moments where someone's kindness made a stressful situation just that little bit easier.

It's amazing what a little kindness can do. ❤️