When my daughter was six months old, I boarded a flight to Switzerland for a story assignment—my first time traveling without her. Six nights felt impossibly long. I worried about how she’d react to my absence and everything that could go wrong while I was gone. For me, however, the hardest part of being away from my baby wasn’t just the logistics—it’s the emotional reset that comes with stepping away for the first time.
For many new mothers who need to travel for work, the first business trip is a collision of professional and personal identities. You’re managing flight times, pumping schedules, and a full workload, all while trying to quiet the emotional tug of being apart. With the right preparation and mindset, it’s possible to make the experience not only manageable, but empowering.
Prepare Your Support System Early
The foundation of a smooth trip begins long before departure. A solid support system—whether it’s a partner, grandparent, or trusted caregiver—makes all the difference. Before leaving, outline the baby’s daily routine, including feeding times, nap cues, and comfort rituals. Writing down small details like favorite lullabies or bedtime habits helps caregivers feel confident and provides continuity for your baby.
It’s also worth thinking through backup plans. Who can step in if your caregiver gets sick or needs help? Planning for those contingencies may feel excessive, but it can bring enormous peace of mind once you’re in the air.
Treat Pumping Like a Logistics Project
Pumping may not be convenient, but it can serve as a comforting link to home—an intentional pause that reminds you of your connection even when you’re miles apart. For mothers who are breastfeeding, pumping while traveling is one of the biggest stressors. But also one of the most solvable. For moms who are exclusively nursing, start introducing the bottle as soon as you know you’ll need to be away. For mothers who are pumping, you’ll need to decide whether to start introducing formula, build up a freezer stash of breast milk, or ship milk back home. Moms who combo feed have more options.
If you’ll be pumping on your trip, bringing the right pump is essential. A hands-free portable pump like the Elvie Stride is a great choice to give you flexibility on when and where you pump as it is fairly discreet. Bringing your own unscented dish soap makes cleaning your pump parts in the bathroom sink easier and more hygienic than using provided soap. Check if your company will cover shipments of breastmilk home (many do) and bring your own breastmilk chiller, like the one from Ceres Chill.
Most importantly, know your rights. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) allows expressed milk through airport security in reasonable quantities, even when not traveling with your baby. Printing or bookmarking that policy can help if you encounter questions at checkpoints.
Expect Emotional Whiplash
Even the most seasoned travelers are often surprised by the intensity of the emotions that come with leaving a baby for the first time. The quiet of a hotel room can feel disorienting after months of constant noise and touch.
It helps to normalize those feelings rather than fight them. Missing your child isn’t a sign that you shouldn’t be there; it’s evidence of the deep bond you’ve built. Staying lightly connected, whether through messages or daily check-ins with your caregiver, can ease the mental loop of worry. The key is to approach the trip as an extension of your identity, not a contradiction of it. You can care deeply about your child and still thrive in your professional role.
Protect Your Sleep And Schedule
Jet lag and irregular schedules can make the emotional strain worse. Prioritize rest as deliberately as you would a meeting. Avoid overloading your itinerary in an attempt to “make the trip worth it.” Exhaustion amplifies guilt and makes focus harder to sustain. Well-rested parents return home more present and engaged. Sleep is not a luxury on a work trip; it’s a form of resilience.
Use The Time As A Personal Reset
The first trip away from a baby often carries unexpected gifts: solitude, reflection, and a sense of rediscovery. After months of constant caregiving, moments of quiet can restore perspective. Eating an uninterrupted meal or enjoying a long shower without listening for a cry doesn’t mean you’re forgetting your child. It means you’re reconnecting with yourself as a whole person.
That mental reset can make you a more grounded, patient parent upon return. Rather than framing the trip as time “away,” think of it as time “for”—for rest, for professional growth, for remembering that your identity is layered and evolving.
Ease The Transition Home
Returning home can be as emotionally complex as leaving. Babies may respond with excitement, clinginess, or temporary disinterest—all perfectly normal reactions. Allow space for adjustment on both sides.
Unstructured, low-pressure time together—reading, cuddling, playing on the floor—helps reestablish connection. If possible, plan a buffer day before returning to work. The mental shift from travel to home life takes energy, and decompressing can prevent burnout.
Redefine Success On Your Own Terms
Many mothers question whether the trip was worth the stress. Yet traveling for work after having a baby can reaffirm the purpose behind both roles. It demonstrates resilience, models independence, and reinforces that motherhood and ambition can coexist.
The first trip apart isn’t just a logistical challenge, it’s a milestone. It’s proof that your baby is loved and cared for, even in your absence, and that you can continue building the career you worked for without losing the connection that matters most. With preparation, compassion, and rest, your first business trip away from your baby can be less about separation and more about strength.