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Single parents and their children need vacations too! Traveling is a great way to bond, learn, explore, and spend quality time together; and at BabyQuip, we think all families, regardless of shape and size, should explore! 

We know traveling as a single parent is important to the well-being of both parents and kids, but there are some unique challenges. That’s why we’ve researched, surveyed, and compiled a list of travel tips and tricks specifically for single parents, single moms, and single dads!

Here are the top must-dos when planning a trip and traveling as a single parent: 

Plan Ahead

Mother And Daughter Planning A Vacation

One of the challenges of traveling as a single-parent family may be the costs associated with taking a trip. So we say, plan ahead! Sign up for a travel credit card so you can earn points or miles. Plan a year in advance (if possible) to cut costs and get good rates on hotels, packages, airfare, rentals, etc. Shop discount sites for the best deals (here’s a list of some we like!). Not only will planning ahead make your vacation more affordable, but you’ll also be spreading out the expense which makes it feel much easier to accomplish! 

Pack Light

Girl Sitting In The Trunk Of A Car With Luggage

One of the most consistent travel tips we’ve heard is to pack light, especially when you’re traveling as a single parent. You do only have two hands, after all! 

Krystin Hargrove, single mom to Harper, says, “Pack light. I can’t stress this enough! Make life easy and pack just what you need. The best part of traveling is creating memories. You don’t want to let the nightmare of taking too much luggage to ruin the fun. For international trips, I check one medium-sized suitcase and carry on one small duffel for the things we need in-flight (clothes, diapers & wipes, sippy cup, snacks, a few books/toys, etc.). For domestic trips, just the duffel and a backpack, I pack very minimally, mainly because I travel solo often; the ease of taking this approach has transformed the way I’ll travel forever. Less is more!” Make sure to check out Krystin’s blog for even more single mommy tips!

Sarah Cummings, blogger, and single mommy @livesinglemomstrong, agrees with Krystin about packing light! She has two girls and has done her fair share of traveling solo. She says, “As a single mom, travel presents a unique set of challenges and struggles, most of them you don’t think of until you actually attempt it. Here’s my best advice! Pack Light; one large suitcase on wheels. Ditch the shoulder baby bag for a comfortable backpack for necessities (snacks, diapers, formula, toys). Invest in a safety harness for walking toddlers. Yep, put your little on a leash and secure it to a belt loop. The airport can be a scary place! Plan ahead! Check your flight early, and have maps, itinerary, & boarding passes in your backpack. Leave baby gear at home: you can rent car seats, strollers, or cribs and have them waiting for you at your destination airport or hotel!” 

We couldn’t agree more with Sarah about that last tip! Check out all the places you can travel to and rent from BabyQuip; over 500 destinations! 

Window Seats are Best

Baby On Airplane

Always book the window seat. Don’t tempt your little one by sitting aisle side; they’ll want to get up and roam the airport the entire flight, or they will help themselves to the drink cart! And when you’re traveling as a single parent, you’ll want to minimize as many hiccups as possible. So definitely avoid the aisle! 

Charlene Lizette tells us that she lives by the window seat rule. She’s traveled with her son since he was two months old and had several tips to share with other single parents traveling with little ones.

  • Tip #1: “Always, always book a window seat on a plane (if you have an infant under two) or a window seat and the seat beside it (if your babe is 2+). Why? The window seat offers a little privacy, you can create your own little space without disturbing people beside you, and you can use the window as a distraction. Think about it; everyone wants the window seat!”
  • Tip #2: “Pack tons of snacks. If you think you have enough snacks, pack more and pack a variety. During any type of travel, parents and kids alike will get hungry. And oftentimes healthy, nutritious, filling snacks are hard to find or super expensive at airports and train stations.”
  • Tip #3: “Try to plan travel time during nap time or sleep time. As a single mom, I find this to be super helpful when traveling solo with Charlie. Being able to have him sleep gives me downtime to rest or relax, and more importantly, it gives kids something to do on long flights/train rides, which helps to pass the time. Can’t coordinate a flight with nap time? Bring lots of distractions: toys, movies on the iPad, coloring books, puzzles, anything your child enjoys doing. Bring tons of options and be prepared to pull them all out. Trust me, been there, done that.”
  • Tip #4: “Bring a stroller or a carrier. It will help you in so many ways. Most importantly, though, make traveling an adventure for you and your little one. If they are old enough to start carrying their own backpack or carry on, include them in the packing process and offer them the opportunity to be independent. One of my favorite things about traveling with Charlie as a single parent is watching the proud look on his face as he independently pushes his carry-on luggage around the airport. There’s something really special about traveling with a little one as a single mother. The memories, the bonding, and the opportunity for exploration are all worth it, so be in the moment and have fun!”

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Rent Items You Need

Mother Renting Baby Gear When Traveling As A Single Parent

Renting everything you need, regardless of how you are traveling! Either by air or car, don’t lug the baby stuff. It’s an additional headache you don’t need to worry about when you’re traveling as a single parent. 

Jennifer Erickson, the single mom to her teenage son, wishes she could have rented when her son was little! She says, “I travel a ton and have since my son was born. He’s 14 now and has always been a dream traveler, but oh my goodness, when he was a baby and came with all the gear, it was a bit of a challenge. Especially when we were traveling by air.”

She goes on to say, “Road trips are easy because no baggage allowances to deal with right? As long as I could cram it in the car we were set, even though on some road trips it would have been nice to have a bit more wiggle room in the car! When it comes to air travel though, it’s a whole new ballgame.

I remember a trip to Ontario to visit family and having to deal with the rental car company to make sure I had a car seat in the car, plus I had family borrowing cribs, playpens, strollers, and all of the other “too bulky for one person to possibly manage on a plane with a baby” necessities. It would have been an absolute dream to have a service like BabyQuip to take care of everything and just have it ready for me when I arrived at the cottage. Definitely essential for any traveler who wants a stress-free getaway with the kids.”

Invite a Friend

Three Generations

Invite a single parent friend or enlist a trusted family member to join! Who says you have to go by yourself with kiddos as a single parent anyway?! Maybe find another single parent to travel with who has same-aged kiddos as you! Or just ask grandma or grandpa (or both!) to tag along! You’ll have help, extra hands, extra eyes, and you can maybe get away for an hour or two to get a massage. Yay! 

Traveling as a Single Parent Planned For You

Father Researching Travel With Son
  1. Intrepid: Check out Solo Parent trips planned by Intrepid. This is a game-changer and takes the work out of planning a family vacation by yourself. Intrepid has created trips and excursions specifically for solo parents! You can go to India, Costa Rica, or even Morocco! They also have discounts for kiddos under 17. Win, win.
  2. All-Inclusive Resorts: Another way to have the planning taken care of for you is to opt for an all-inclusive option (because, let’s face it, as a single parent, your time is limited!). All-inclusive resorts are AMAZING. Everything is on-site, everything is easy, and everything is ready to enjoy! No need to figure out food or excursions or anything. Just get yourself there and start enjoying the amenities and your vacay immediately! PRO TIP: sometimes, they’ll even plan the travel (flights, train, shuttle, etc.) for you if you find a package that includes those aspects. 
  3. Cruise Vacations: Similarly, cruise vacations are a great way to eliminate a lot of work on your end and enjoy a ton of amenities planned for you. Some cruise lines have travel accommodations specifically for single-parent families. Just make sure you bring appropriate documentation (birth certificate, passport, etc.) for your kids, especially if you are taking a cruise line that has stops in other countries. Disney cruise line has tons of variety to choose from, AND you’re guaranteed a good time because, well, it’s Disney! We also love cruises for single-parent families because there’s usually some sort of childcare or kid club, which means mom or dad can drop off the kids and go enjoy some alone time! Traveling as a single parent doesn’t mean you have to be parenting the entire time. Take advantage of childcare or kid club offerings; you might as well!

We hope this encourages you to pack your bags, load up the kids, and hit the road! You’ll be so happy and proud of yourself for traveling as a single parent with your crew!

Are you a single mom, dad, or caregiver? What travel advice would you share with others looking to travel as a single parent? Comment below!