Single Mom (or Dad) Travel - What's the Plan?
- Caitlin Woodworth
- Aug 11
- 5 min read
I have single parent friends who ask me how I've done it, implying that I am some sort of Wonder Woman to either take my daughter with me on trips for just the two of us or traveling without her. And while I am not one to turn down a good compliment (I'll take Wonder Woman any day of the week), it really comes down to 1 word: PLANNING.
Planning is hard to get started, and once you do, the lists are endless. Maybe that's why it seems so daunting ... list after list after list & you're wondering if you're actually going to enjoy the trip. Below, I will detail the steps I take, and I hope you will find them useful.
Traveling Without Kids
I'll start with this list because this one can feel the most overwhelming, especially if it's your first trip away without the child/ren. Below are the items I make sure I have covered:
Notarized Consent Forms. This 1st step is the most important one on my list. Once you have determined who your child/ren are staying with, you need to get the notarized consent forms in place for medical emergencies. You can google for them online for your state to get the wording & information needed, or if you know an attorney, you can have them write one up for you. But this is CRITICAL to cover your child/ren in the case of any emergencies. Items to include in the letter:
Child's Full Name & Date of Birth
Full Name & Address of the person/people that you are providing consent to
Start date & end date of consent
Physician Information (this would include any specialists)
Preferred Hospitals
Allergies
Medications (including dosage & when taken)
Don't forget to get it notarized!!
This is the letter I use - it is specifically for my state & county, and I always check for updates:
List of Care Providers. When I have travel without Emma, I am lucky in that my mom (aka Nana) is the person that has always been her caretaker. However, I don't ever assume that she knows who to contact in various emergencies. And not only does my mom have Emma, but she also watches our 3 dogs as well. It's a handful, but having a list of providers helps.
Physician name, address, phone number
Specialist(s) name, address, phone number
Dentist name, address, phone number
Copy of insurance card(s)
School name, address, phone number
Vet name, address, phone number
Emergency vet name, address, phone number
I ask a neighbor if they are willing to be a point of contact if needed (especially for Emma), and then I provide their contact information to both my mom & Emma.
Other Important Information & Helpful Items/Apps. My mom lives with us, so she knows who most of our providers are and can look them up. And she has most of the items/apps she needs. However, I like to keep everything together for her in the case of an emergency. This helps so she doesn't have to be scrambling around trying to find a number she needs.
Our itinerary in case she needs to try and get us through the hotel
Keys to the house, car, etc.
Home security code
Home security app (like Ring)
Garage Door Opener
Gas Provider Contract
Electric Provider Contact
Home Insurance Contact
Cable Provider Contact
Internet Provider Contact
Where the water shut-off is for the house
Name of our plumber, HVAC service, etc.
Name of our handyman
This list isn't all inclusive and you may have more to add. But I've found it's a good start. I keep an excel spreadsheet on my computer & just update it as needed.
Traveling With Kids
While some of the above doesn't apply when traveling with child/ren, this can come with its own set of issues if you are a single parent.
Other Parent Approval for Travel. It's a candid truth that not every marriage or relationship concludes on a positive note. Depending on what country you are in, or if you have a parenting plan that states how to handle this, you most likely will need a notarized form for traveling with the child/ren. Every situation is different, and you should always seek the advice of an attorney before traveling anywhere.
Domestic Travel: In my divorce, we opted to add language that said if one parent was taking Emma a certain number of miles away from home, then they needed to notify the other parent of where they were going, where they were staying, etc. I know of other people where it was required to get a notarized letter of travel, and even some where it wasn't allowed at all. You should always seek the advice of an attorney before traveling anywhere.
International Travel: I was lucky again in that my parenting plan required my ex to sign off on Emma getting a passport. In the US, the instructions are online of the process & all paperwork needed. Now that Emma is 17yrs old, she can get her passport renewed with only 1 parent's authorization, which makes things much easier. If you are in the US, you can check the US Department of State website for the latest information. Link is here: U.S. Passports (state.gov). You should always seek the advice of an attorney before traveling anywhere.
Packing Lists & Packing Tips. While tedious, this helps me keep everything together. I also try and pack everything in 1 day vs. spreading it over several days where I won't remember what I did previously. I made it a game when Emma was little - I would say "I need 5 pairs of socks," and she'd go get them to pack. Getting kids, especially small kids, involved can be chaotic fun!
Check the weather for the location.
Clothing for the activities + weather + number of days I will be there. I lay them out by day so I can make sure I have what I need.
Lay out all toiletries, medications, etc. & determine what I need to make a last-minute store run for. (I ALWAYS have a last-minute errand or 12!)
Speaking of medications, I do the following:
Make sure I have enough coverage for the entire trip.
Keep them in their prescription bottles.
While not our case, if the medications require any special handling, make sure to contact the airline & hotel in advance for any accommodations.
Have a favorite stuffed animal or blanket that has to come along? Ours is Cheetah, who has been all over the world with us. I put a sticky note on the luggage the night before to remember to grab him if Emma didn't.
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