If you had told me a year earlier that I’d be flying to Indonesia alone with my 7-month-old, I probably would’ve laughed… then nervously changed the subject.
And yet there I was, boarding pass in hand, baby in Bjorn, functioning like a completely reasonable adult human.
No meltdown.
No panic.
No dramatic airport breakdown.
Just a quiet, persistent thought:
“Is this actually my life right now?”
Because nothing, absolutely nothing, prepares you for the sheer surrealism of moving with your baby across the world.
The Flight: Surprisingly… Fine?
Against all odds, my daughter was an excellent traveler.
She slept.
She relaxed.
She did not scream her way across continents.
Honestly? She handled the trip better than many adults I’ve flown with!
I’m convinced a few things helped us tremendously:
• My [Baby Carrier] – absolute airport survival tool
• [Ready-to-Feed Formula / Travel Bottles] – no mid-flight mixing chaos
• [Extra Outfit (for baby AND me)] – learned this the hard way
The only recurring drama?
Blowouts.
Every. Single. Flight.
Listen, pack extra clothes for the baby, yes.
But also pack a backup outfit for yourself, unless you enjoy smelling faintly of disaster somewhere over the Pacific.
My MVPs:
• [Wet/Dry Bag]
• [Compact Diaper Changing Kit]
• [Travel-Size Stain Remover]
Bassinet Seats = Absolute Game Changer
If your airline offers bassinet seating on long-haul flights, book it immediately.
No hesitation. No overthinking.
It is an absolute game changer.
Having a safe place for your baby to sleep that is not your arms, lap, or precariously balanced travel pillow? Priceless.
Especially when paired with:
• [Baby Sleep Sack / Swaddle]
• [Portable White Noise Machine]
• [Pacifier Clip]
And if you can’t get one?
No worries. Truly.
Just mentally prepare… and make sure you stand your ground with your seat partner regarding the armrest!
Because when you’re holding a baby for hours, that armrest is no longer a shared luxury, it’s structural support.
That Moment It Hits You
Somewhere mid-journey, between time zones and reheated airplane air, it sinks in:
You are not just going on a trip.
You are transporting a very small human to a completely different part of the world.
Different climate.
Different culture.
Different everything.
It’s not fear exactly… just a strange mental vertigo.
Like your brain needs a minute to catch up with your boarding pass.
Arrival in Indonesia: Sensory Overload
Stepping off the plane felt like walking into:
- A wall of humidity
- A completely different rhythm of life
- Total disorientation mixed with awe
Everything looked, smelled, and felt different.
Not bad different.
Just whoa different.
And there I was holding a baby thinking:
“Well… this escalated quickly.”
A few things that helped us survive the climate shift:
• [Lightweight Baby Clothing]
• [Portable Stroller Fan]
• [Baby-Safe Sunscreen]
Traveling With a Baby Made It Even Stranger
Because while I was absorbing:
• New surroundings
• New sounds
• New rules
• New reality
My baby was just…
- Existing peacefully
- Napping
- Completely unfazed
Babies really are the ultimate “go with the flow” travelers.
What Surprised Me Most
- How adaptable babies are
- How kind people were
- How quickly “new” starts feeling normal
- How bizarrely calm I actually felt
Not because it wasn’t overwhelming.
But because sometimes you’re just too busy doing the thing to overthink the thing.
Traveling Internationally With a Baby = Bring a Tiny Pharmacy
Even if your destination has great medical care, you do not want to be Googling medication equivalents at 2am in a foreign country.
In my bag:
• [Braun Thermometer]
• [Infant Tylenol]
• [Infant Motrin]
• [Diaper Cream – Desitin / Butt Paste]
• [Aquaphor]
• [Travel Medicine Pouch]
Peace of mind = priceless.
The Emotional Reality (Without the Drama)
It wasn’t chaotic.
It wasn’t a disaster.
It was simply…
Surreal.
Like watching your own life from slightly outside your body.
Processing in real time:
• The scale of what you’re doing
• The strangeness of it
• The privilege of the experience
Would I Do It Again?
Absolutely.
Because once the jet lag fades and your brain recalibrates, you realize:
This isn’t just travel.
This is the kind of memory that permanently reshapes you.
And weirdly?
Doing it with a baby makes it even more unforgettable.
If You’re Considering Traveling to Indonesia With a Baby
Here’s my honest take:
✔ It’s less terrifying than you imagine
✔ Babies are often more adaptable than adults
✔ Book bassinet seating if available
✔ Pack more clothes than you think
✔ Expect the surreal feeling
✔ Trust yourself more than your anxiety
You might surprise yourself.
I did.
My Go-To Baby Travel Essentials
If you’re prepping for a long-haul international flight with a baby, here are the things that genuinely made our trip easier:
• [Baby Carrier]
• [Travel Bottles / Ready-to-Feed Formula]
• [Sleep Sack]
• [Wet/Dry Bag]
• [Thermometer]
• [Diaper Cream
Kilometers with Kids 
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