Welcome to Tiny Suitcases — where big courage comes in small backpacks.
I’m a solo mom navigating airports, ancient medinas, train platforms, ancient ruins, and museum halls with my little travel partner by my side. A brilliant, joyful child who happens to have autism and epilepsy. Our journeys aren’t just about passport stamps. They’re about resilience, preparation, flexibility, and finding beauty in the unexpected.
Here you’ll find honest stories about traveling solo with a neurodivergent child, practical tips for managing medical needs abroad, stroller-through-cobblestone survival guides, sensory-friendly adventures, and the quiet triumphs that don’t always make it to Instagram.
Because travel looks different for families like ours.
It requires courage. Planning. Grace. And sometimes deep breaths in airport bathrooms.
But it is possible.
Tiny Suitcases is proof that motherhood doesn’t end at diagnosis, it expands. The world is still ours to explore. And we’re exploring it, one brave step at a time.
My Approach to Solo Mom Travel with a Child: Smart Planning, Real Budgets & One-Bag Adventures
At Tiny Suitcases, our approach to solo mom travel with a child is rooted in intentional planning, flexible routines, and realistic budgeting. Traveling the world as a single mother raising a child with autism and epilepsy requires more than wanderlust. It requires strategy.
I believe in planning for spontaneous moments. That means researching sensory-friendly activities, mapping nearby hospitals and pharmacies, pre-booking key transportation, and building structured days with open space for rest or unexpected magic. The schedule is secure, but never rigid. Because the best travel memories often happen between the plans.
As a single mom, I focus on budget-conscious international & local travel. I track flight deals, use carry-on luggage only to avoid baggage fees, prioritize walkable neighborhoods, and choose accommodations with kitchens to reduce food costs. Travel doesn’t have to be luxury to be meaningful, it has to be sustainable in the real world.
And yes, we travel with one carry-on suitcase and one backpack. That’s it. Our minimalist packing strategy includes medical essentials, sensory tools, snacks, tech, and versatile clothing layers. Traveling light gives me freedom: freedom to move through airports confidently, navigate cobblestone streets, and adapt quickly when plans shift.
Tiny Suitcases is about practical solo parent travel, special needs travel planning, minimalist packing, and proving that the world is still accessible, even when you’re carrying everything that matters on your back.
Simple ideas
Sharing our travel adventures is a unique way to provide tips and tricks to make traveling with your kiddo a wonderful experience
Lasting impact
Travel builds character in you mamas. You’re building not only confidence but memories for you and your little one. Memories of triumph and overcoming obstacles.