When I planned to take my 4-month-old son Donovan to Chicago for two weeks, I was excited to travel with him alone for the first time.

I had packed a checked bag, a shoulder bag full of his needs and my favorite leather book bag with my electronics. Donovan was safely in his car seat, and we were all set. My husband dropped us off at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. I placed the baby on me in his carrier, checked my largest bag at the curbside check-in, and moved through security pretty smoothly.

It wasn’t until I sat down comfortably at the gate that the easy breezy seemed to run out.