Tips for Flying Solo with a Baby | Getting Through Security

I’ve done a handful trips flying solo with a baby. It’s always a little nerve racking because there’s a lot of people and everyone is usually a little more stressed out. I am usually visiting friends or family so I don’t have to pack too crazy and I know there are friendly faces awaiting me so it’s nice to have something to look forward to.

What helps me most when I’m flying solo with a baby is being prepared and feeling organized. There is nothing worse than having a chaotic energy while also needing to be fully in charge and taking care of your infant. So after many flights, I have figured out what helps getting through the airport and onto the plane go smoothly and with the least amount of stress on me.

Here are my best tips for flying solo with a baby and getting through airport security:

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1. Pack Light

When I travel alone with my baby, I try to pack minimally so I don’t have a hard time carrying everything through the airport. I don’t want to have to worry about needing to rent a cart or struggle getting everything through security. Depending on where I’m traveling, what I pack will vary, but here is what I typically bring:

What I Pack In My Carry On

Clothes for me and baby
Swaddle
Diapers/wipes
Extra burp rags

What I Pack In My Personal Item/Backpack

Snacks
Toys: Here is a link to my favorite baby travel toys
Burp rag: You always want to have one or two with you on the plane incase of a spit up or spills. I like the large burp rags best.
Swaddle: If you have a young baby that likes to be swaddled, this is great to keep them comfortable on the plane. Airplanes also can get very cold so it’s nice to have the blanket for warmth.
Portable sound machine for the airplane and at night: Even though airplanes already create their own white noise, it can be nice to have a sound machine to keep the white noise going after the plane lands or if you have someone talking loudly near you.
Entertainment for me (if I’m lucky): I love to have my kindle and headphones on the airplane.
Toiletries (See Tip #3 for why)

Check Out My Travel Essentials

Travel Essentials

2. Wear Your Baby Through Security

I personally find baby wearing to be the best way to get through security with a baby. I have never been asked to take my baby out of the carrier, so after I put my suitcase and and personal item on the belt, I am able just walk right through the metal detector. They always swab my hands but it’s typically a very smooth process.

If you decide to push your baby in the stroller through security, just know you will need to take them out as well as any items you have in the stroller.

3. Keep Your Liquids and Electronics Easily Accessible

When going through security, I want everything to go as smoothly as possible. One thing that can hold you up, is electronics or liquids not being taken out, especially if they’re over the alloted amount.

If you are traveling with a baby or child, you are able to bring on liquids that are over the alloted amount (when traveling in the United States). Things like medication, breastmilk, juices or water, creams, etc. However, you still need to pull these out and let the TSA agent know.

Electronics usually need to come out as well so things like laptops, kindles, Ipads, etc.

What I like to do is put everything that will need to come out in the same spot, which is usually my backpack/personal item. I usually don’t need my toiletries or laptop on the plane, but the last thing I want to do when I’m at security is rummage through multiple bags or forget something and have one of my bags flagged.

Having everything that you’ll need to pull out in one spot makes everything go more efficiently.

4. Get TSA Precheck or Global Entry

This won’t be a good option for everyone, but if you plan to fly semi-often (especially if you are flying with a baby), I would highly recommend getting TSA PreCheck or Global Entry (if you plan on flying internationally).

Be sure to check your credit card benefits as some cards will reimburse you for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry as a card perk! Military members are also able to get TSA PreCheck for free.

TSA PreCheck

TSA PreCheck allows you to go through a quicker line through security and it streamlines the security process. You don’t need to remove your shoes, take out your toiletries, or your electronics. It costs $78 for a 5-year membership period and PreCheck renewal only costs $70 if completed online.

These may seem like small things, but make the process of flying with kids so much easier and less stressful.

One nice thing about TSA PreCheck, is that you don’t need to pay for it for your kids. This is what TSA’s website says about it: “Children 12 and under may accompany an enrolled parent or guardian in the TSA PreCheck lanes without restriction. Children 13-17 may join enrolled adults when traveling on the same reservation and if the TSA PreCheck indicator appears on the child’s boarding pass.”

If you want to sign up for TSA PreCheck just go to the TSA website and click on “Apply now.”

Global Entry

We have global Global Entry since we like to travel internationally with our kids. Global Entry costs $100 for a 5-year membership period. You have access to TSA PreCheck as well as expedited U.S. Customs lanes.

You do need to purchase Global entry for each of your kids, unlike TSA Precheck.

If you are on the fence of which to choose, just know that you can’t “upgrade” your TSA PreCheck to Global entry. You will have to purchase it completely separately.

5. Check Your Carseat at the Gate

There is a lot of debate about what to do with your carseat, but my preferred way to travel with it when I’m flying with a baby is to wear it in a padded car seat backpack, and check it at the gate. This is a free option for most airlines (all the major US airlines for sure) and is also an option for your stroller as well.

When going through security, you will need to take it out of the backpack since it won’t fit through the screening, which is the biggest hassle but not too bad. Then when you get up to your gate, you just let the agent know you would like to check your car seat and they will give you a tag to put on it. When you are boarding, you bring it down the ramp and leave it at the designated area right before you step onto the plane.

I don’t check it before security because I think it’s a little more likely to get damaged since it has further to travel from where you leave it to the airplane. When you gate check it, it only has a short distance to travel without you watching it.

When I travel with the carseat on my back, I just loop my personal item backpack onto my carry on’s handle.

6. Ask the Gate Agent if There Are Any Open Seats on the Plane

When my baby’s are under 2, I rarely pay for a seat for them and instead take advantage of the free lap baby ticket. HOWEVER, one thing I always do when I get to my gate, is ask the agent if there are any open seats on the plane. If there are, and it happens to be a window seat, they often times will let me bring my carseat on the plane.

This is so nice to have a spot for my baby to sit and it’s essentially a free seat. If it’s not a window seat, I still ask to sit next to it if possible so baby and I have a little more wiggle room. If I have my carseat backpack, I just tag that and leave it at the designated area for gate checked car seats.

This isn’t guaranteed and if you definitely want to bring your carseat on the plane, I would definitely recommend purchasing the seat. Just make sure it’s a window seat (or aisle seat if it’s a large plane with 3 sections and you’ll be in the middle section) as that’s where car seats have to be for safety reasons.

7. Board Your Plane Early (If you Feel Inclined)

Most airlines have family boarding which is early on. I like to do this when I’m traveling alone with my baby so I can make sure I have a spot for my carry on, and have time to get the car seat situated (If I’m able to bring it on).

When I am traveling with my husband, I actually like to board last with the kids, but that’s because he can board on time and get our stuff situated.

It’s not always fun to be on the plane with your baby longer than necessary, but I also don’t want to feel rushed or stressed. Once we’re on and situated, I usually just take my baby to the back of the plane and bounce her while everyone boards the plane.

Tips for Flying Solo with a Baby | Getting Through Security