What I Wish I Knew Traveling Internationally With My 7-Month-Old (Alone… Because Why Not)

Let’s start with this:

Yes, I traveled internationally alone with a seven-month-old.
Yes, my husband was in a wheelchair at the time.
Yes, we had just sold our house and moved our entire life overseas.

And no, I was not okay.

Two weeks before having my daughter, my husband shattered three limbs in a dirt bike crash. Shortly after that (because life loves good timing), he was offered a job in Indonesia.

So we did what any calm, rational people would do…

We ripped the bandaid off and moved across the world.

Which meant my first-ever international mom trip was solo with an infant.

Shockingly? My daughter was an absolute dream traveler.

Me? Slightly unhinged.

Here’s everything I wish I knew before boarding that plane.

1. Your Baby Will Probably Be Better at This Than You

I expected screaming. Crying. Chaos.

Instead, my daughter slept most of the flight like she was in a five-star baby spa.

No tears. No meltdowns. Just vibes.

Babies are weirdly adaptable, sometimes way more than adults.

So if you’re panicking about how your baby will handle it… there’s a good chance they’ll be totally fine.

(You, however, may sweat through your shirt…)

2. Blowouts Will Happen. Every. Single. Time.

Let me repeat this louder:

PACK. CLOTHES. FOR. YOURSELF.

Not just for baby.

Because airplane bathrooms are tiny.
And turbulence always hits during diaper changes.
And blowouts have impeccable timing.

I swear my daughter saved every major diaper disaster for pre-boarding & landings!

Extra outfits for baby.
Extra shirt and maybe pants for you.

Trust me.

3. Baby Carrier = Travel MVP

I brought a stroller. I thought I was being prepared.

I was wrong.

Security lines, boarding, tight aisles, people stepping around you; wearing my baby made everything about 100x easier.

Hands free. Baby cozy. Less chaos.

If you’re traveling solo especially, a soft baby carrier is your best friend.

4. Formula Can Be WAY Easier Than You Think

We used Similac formula, and they have pre-made travel bottles.

No mixing.
No worrying about water.
No powder spills in turbulence.

Just open and feed.

Absolute game changer for flights and long travel days.

(Of course, breastfeeding works amazing for travel too. I’ll link my breastfeeding travel tips here soon!)

5. Feed During Takeoff & Landing

Whether it’s:

• Bottle
• Breastfeeding
• Pacifier

The sucking helps with ear pressure and keeps baby calm.

Bonus: it usually puts them right to sleep.

Which is basically the travel jackpot.

6. Forget the Schedule (Just This Once)

Nap times? Gone.
Wake windows? A suggestion at best.

And that’s okay.

Travel days are survival days.

Feed when hungry. Let them sleep when they can. Breathe when possible.

Your routine will come back.

7. People Are Actually Really Nice

I expected eye rolls.

What I got instead:

Flight attendants checking on me
Strangers offering help
Other moms giving the “you got this” look

People love babies. And most people want to help tired parents.

I had one woman just come up to me and ask if I wanted to use the toilet! So unexpected, but I said yes! I figured if she tried to kidnap or sell the baby she wouldn’t get very far 30k feet in the air!

Say yes when someone offers!

My International Baby Travel Survival Checklist

Here’s what actually mattered:

✔ Baby carrier
✔ Diapers for delays
✔ Wipes (more than you think)
✔ Extra clothes for baby
✔ Extra clothes for YOU
✔ Formula travel bottles or feeding plan
✔ One comfort item

Everything else is bonus.

Final Thoughts

That trip could’ve been a disaster.

Instead, it became the beginning of our family’s adventures.

It taught me:

✨ Babies are more resilient than we think
✨ You don’t need to be fearless, just willing
✨ You can do hard things (even on zero sleep)

And yes, there were blowouts.

But there were also memories I’ll never forget.