Managing baby at airport without DH

[AndiE]

Am looking for tips on how I can manage being at an airport on my own with my 10mo 11kg DS2. I'll have help when I arrive (Tullamarine), but I'll be on my own when I depart. I won't have a pram or anything else but I will have a suitcase.

Actually, I'm not worried about getting there and checking in. I'm more worried about how I'm going to go to the toilet with no one to hold DS2 for me. I'm going to try a sling ... do you reckon I'll be able to hold DS2 in that while I go to the loo. I'd prefer not to put him on the floor (yuk!).

Think I'm blowing this out of propotion ... the "thinking" about it is probably worse than the "doing" it .

How do you travel with your bub when you're on your own? I've only ever done that when I've had help at the airport before and after!

Cheers, Andie

[human bean]

Who are you flying with? I know Qantas have little strollers you can use in the terminal....not sure about other airlines though.....

[dusty]

Great questions I'm interested in knowing too. Awesome hint on terminal strollers.

[LimeSlice]

No strollers at Tullamarine.

And yes, thinking is definitely worse than it is! lol
You will be fine.
As for going to the toilet, you can take them into the ladies, or better yet for space, you go to the disabled toilet. There is one to the right of the security checkpoint.

If you can, borrow a sling and take as little carry on as possible. The staff are very helpful, it is just the getting from checkin to the gate lounge, but you will be fine. Once you are in the gate lounge, they can look out the windows at the planes and will love it.

What time of day are you travelling?

[AndiE]

Thanks for the replies and encouragement.

We're flying with Virgin at 3pm - pity they didn't have airport strollers avail. Would make life heaps easier!

LS - DS2 is only 10 months so he isn't the problem in terms of keeping him amused, in check etc - it's more the logistics of not having anyone on hand to hold him while I'm in the loo etc. In my madder moments of imagining the worst, I wondered if I could shanghi a Virgin employee to hold DS2 while I popped into the loo. Hmmm. If only!!!!

[Jennifer13]

I used the HAB with DD when she was a baby and that was much easier for getting around. I don't think I needed a toilet though.

[Junglemum]

Hi AndiE, i have travelled on my own with my two girls quite a bit. When i started DD2 was 11 months. A sling or carrier is a good idea, but they wont let you wear it for take off and landing, some weird airline policy. Anyway, i find the hostesses are lovely and always more than happy to help. I often ask them to either watch DD1 while i take DD2 for a nappy change, or hold DD2 while i duck into the loo. I go to the Loo at the airport where it is easier and i have only needed to use the plane toilet a couple of times. I find most people are happy to help.
One tip that someone else mentioned, carry as little as possible with you on the plane.

[LimeSlice]

The staff will be happy to watch him while you go the loo once you are ON the plane.

I would pop a blanket in your bag, and go to the disabled toilet, pop the rug on the floor and they can sit on that while you go to the loo I have done it many times! lol

I have some carriers here you can borrow if you don't have one, but they are invaluable for solo travelling with kids from my experience.

[Arimeh]

I carried DD2 in the carrier when we travelled a few months ago - the only problem with that is that security made me take her off when I went through, even though I could carry her through the security thingy anyway (which really really ****ed me off cos all the times that we did that she had JUST fallen asleep in it and I had to wake her up just to walk through their stupid thing).

Other than that, you should be fine.

[Visitor7]

I recently travelled from Cairns to Gold Coast with DD3 by myself. I accidentially left my Ergo at home, so I had to carry my handbag, luggage and a newborn baby by myself. How fun. I went Jetstar, and the staff were absolutely amazing. They helped me with my luggage, they played with DD (not that a newborn needs playing with lol), they looked after her while I went to the toilet. Just fantastic. Even the airport staff were fantastic and ushered me to the front of the check-in queue

[Amaunet]

I used my ergo in the terminal when we flew to Noosa and actually managed to go to the loo at the airport with him strapped to my front I couldn't be bothered getting him out!

[AndiE]

Thanks gals - really appreciate the tips.

I've flown Virgin on my own when DS1 was a bub and also with both boys (DS2 was five months) and I must say, the airline staff were fab ON the plane. So the actual flights don't worry me one jot. If I find myself in a fix at the airport on the way back home, I'll just hit up a member of their airport staff for assistance. I'll beg and plead if I have to

Hmm ... maybe I'm just obsessed with going to the loo! Anyone would think I had a very weak bladder (... er no) or a phobia (... other than preferred cleanliness, no also).

LS - I think the winning tip of the thread is to take a blanket with me so DS2 can go on the floor in the loo.. Cheers too for the offer of a loan, but I have a sling (which I really don't use) plus a baby bjorn, tho at 11kg I feel DS2 is a wee bit too heavy for it. I'm going to use the next 10 days to get use to him in the sling.

Cheers, Andie

[PollyA]

Hey,
i Have travelled a lot solo with my 2 (only one at a time mind you) at various ages.
10 months is actually a nice age
If you can borrow and Ergo I would highly recommend it
Going to the toilet is not easy but possible/
You can either get your pants down and then put bubs on your knee while you do the deed (this would be my preference) or it is possible with the sling on
CLothes without buttons and zips are therefore easier
Pack some essentials in a small bag that will fit under the seat in front of you, nappies, wipes, toys, food etc, and it needs to zip up so you could get it with your feet if possible. And everything you're taking on the plane should fit into one bag. I have been a packhorse a couple of times and it makes everything harder. If everything, including your handbag, just fits into a backpack then you can have bub on the front, gear on the back. Just a word of warning, you will nee to take bub out of the sling going through the security check (this has been the only time I cried, was on my own, 3 months old baby in a hug a bub which is only t-shirt material, no buckles or anything and shocked as hell when i need to take him out- the security guard just held him for me as I got everthing ready again)
You'll be pleasantly surprised!

[CeCe]

I may be travellng solo soon, so I've found this really useful. Particularly having to take DS out of his carrier. I'm glad I'll be prepared for that now.

Junglemum, if you can't keep them in the carrier for takeoff and landing, which I was planning to do, what is the process? Do they provide a seatbelt of some sort to secure them? My DS will be approximately 12 weeks.

[OceanPrincess]

Yep CeCe they provide infant seat belts - it's got an extra loop on it that connects to your seat belt, then you just lie or sit them in your lap.

If they don't give you one soon after you board, make sure you ask for one!

[Taurean]

Definitely take a sling! We've travelled several times with DD (she's been on 6 flights already!) and our slings have been our saviors. We have an Ergo and a Bubba Moe. The Ergo is a great all rounder and especially good while at the airport. I usually put DD in her Bubba Moe to sleep on the flight (when we haven't had access to a bassinet onboard) as she can lay in the cradle position. She did sleep well on one flight in the Ergo though too.

As one of the other girls said, they can't be in the sling for take off or landing but we've gotten away with it twice now. The two hosties that let us do it just helped me to thread the infant seatbelt around DD while she was in the sling. It was great as both times she was asleep so we didn't have to wake her, yay! Keep that in mind, you might just get a nice hostie.

I've taken DD to the loo many times with me while she's been in the sling and it works well. You need to keep the loose straps out of your way (lol) and wiping is a little more difficult but it saves getting them out of the sling and trying to keep them in one place if they're mobile!!

Your arms will tire easily so the sling really helps with that too. I wouldn't travel without mine

[Taurean]

Just a word of warning, you will nee to take bub out of the sling going through the security check (this has been the only time I cried, was on my own, 3 months old baby in a hug a bub which is only t-shirt material, no buckles or anything and shocked as hell when i need to take him out- the security guard just held him for me as I got everthing ready again)
You'll be pleasantly surprised!

We haven't had to remove DD for any security checks but it is good for you to know that it could happen.

[PollyA]

We haven't had to remove DD for any security checks but it is good for you to know that it could happen.

I've been on 10 flights this year and had to take him out 7-8 times. Always a win when someone sensible says he can stay in,
Same for on the planes. I have actually had to take him out on the whole flight due to policy, only got away with keeping him in twice. Its impossible to sleep without them in a sling or carrier as they could roll off your lap when you fall asleep....so if you want to use a carrier on the flight try to be discreet, one friend takes a blanket and covers up. Common sense and argument don't work. I've had both a Jetstar and Qantas hostie offer to get me the policy manual stating that carriers are not to be used on board due to safety reasons....I declined their offer. Seeing it in black and white would not make it any more sensible. Apparently a small lap belt which the baby easily slips out of is safer than a carrier...and the latest from flights this weekend...the carrier will make it harder to get off the plane in case of emergency....yeah right...that only makes sense if you expect me to leave my baby with my belongings in the case of emergency....as you can tell this makes my blood boil. A red eye this weekend, no carrier allowed, and I worked out why its called red eye!