We are about to take our first international trip, with the kids (don’t laugh). We have a wedding in Greece and have no other choice but to bring both babies with us. If any of you have already traveled with your baby by airplane domestically, then you will
appreciate what a huge production this can be. Let me also be the first to tell you that the production of traveling internationally is like domestic travel times 100. I can’t believe how much needs to get taken care of before you can go. Incase you were under the impression, like me, that babies do not need passports and that a birth certificate is fine, you are very wrong. Most countries, these days, require anyone traveling into the country to have a passport. You can go to travel.state.gov to check if your destination country is one that does require a passport. First and foremost, when you plan for an international trip, consult your pediatrician regarding vaccinations, feeding etc. You can visit www.
wellontheroad.com for some tips on medical preparation for specific foreign travel. I have been doing tons of research and receiving tons of small tips about how to make my trip as easy as possible. I decided this was all very worthwhile information to pass along to anyone who will be traveling with a baby or a small child. I hope you find it as helpful as I did.
1. Dress your little one in layers. A onesie and socks are a must and a zipper sweatshirt and sweatpants are very easy to take on and off if the temperature in the airplane should change. You can also always get an extra blanket from the flight attendant if you or your child gets cold. Space is super tight, though, and the less you wear the more comfy you are. Bring a couple of changes for your little one in case of accidents, especially extra socks and onesies.
2. The bathrooms on international flights are a TINY bit larger than on domestic flights, but not much. However, international flights usually do have pull-down changing tables. I’ve heard that people also use the tray table in a pinch, but I would personally be too self conscious to try that maneuver with my child (and I would only suggest that for a wet diaper). You may also get some nasty looks from unappreciative fellow travelers. Also keep in mind that the flight attendants are prohibited by law from handling a dirty diaper if they are serving a meal.
3. When you make your plane reservations you can either get your baby their own seat or have them as a “lap passenger”. I believe that any children under the age of 2 can be lap passengers, but unlike domestic travel, you will still have to pay taxes on your “lap child”. We decided to get a regular seat for my 17 month old daughter (many flights either charge full fare or offer a 10% child discount), and take our 4 month old son on as a “lap child”. We had to pay about $125 dollars for our son even though he didn’t have his own seat, which is a bit absurd, that that’s the policy. One very important thing to note…if you are traveling with any child under the age of 8 months (whether you bought them a seat or not) you can request a basket seat. This basket seat is free of charge and it’s basically a bassinette that hangs from the wall. It comes with sheets, a blanket and a pillow so you can put your baby to sleep and not have to hold them for the whole flight. This seat needs to be requested when you make your reservation because they are limited and will only fit in bulkhead rows (BONUS!).
4. I would NOT bring a great amount of toys on the plane. The seating is so cramped and if your child is like mine, they love to play that little "lets toss this on the floor a million times and let mommy pick it up for me" game. I suggest a couple of smaller favorite toys, attached to a ribbon so that if they are tossed you can retrieve them easily! Do not take musical toys which are loud because it plays the music again and again and the people around you might not be pleased. For older children, have them help pack a backpack to be carried on with them. Have them put a few of their favorite smaller toys in there but nothing too big, expensive, noisy, or containing little parts! A new coloring book or sticker books are great. I just bought a travel Aquadoodle for my 17 month old. This way she can color and not make a huge mess with crayons or markers.
5. Request a baby meal or a child’s meal in advance. Many airlines will provide you with a jar of baby food as a baby meal and a fun kid-friendly finger food meal as a child’s meal equipped with a toy. If your baby is still using formula, I found it was best to buy the single serving packets of powder formula or pre-measure the amounts of powder formula you need and put it in disposable plastic bags. This way you can mix it on the plane. It will weigh a lot less than liquid formula and take up a lot less space. Don’t forget to pack a bottle brush, it will make bottle cleaning a lot easier. An important side note…I considered buying formula once I got to Greece to save space in my bag since I found out that my formula is available over there. I did not even think about the fact that the FDA regulations are different in different countries and even though a product has the same name, it could have completely different ingredients making it a completely different formula.
6. Bring your stroller, preferably one that reclines but if your child is a bit older the recline is not totally necessary. Almost all airlines will allow your stroller as a courtesy item that you can gate check right before boarding the plane. And then its waiting for you right when you get off. Also find out if your carseat is FAA approved and bring it, even if you didn't buy a seat for the baby (we bring our Britax Marathon and have never had a problem) and especially if you are renting a car. If there is an empty seat they will often shift passengers around so that you can use it for the carseat. If not, they will do the same thing with it that they do with the stroller. If you are renting a car you will need it anyway. It has also been recommended to me that if you are not traveling alone with your baby and not buying a ticket for baby, to purchase seats on the aisle and window of a three seat row as the middle seat will be less likely to sell.
7. I suggest that you have a bottle for both the take off and for the entire descent! Not just a pacifier, they need to swallow. My pediatrician recommended that I take a long some Benedryl or Infant/child Tylenol incase either child had a hard time sleeping or the pressure was bothering their ears. She also recommended that I test it on my kids a few days before the trip. Apparently Benedryl and Tylenol can make some kids hyper, and you certainly would not want to find out that your child was one of those cases on a 10 hour flight!!
8. Do not forget snacks for your child if they are eating finger foods. Juice boxes will most likely leak from the pressure when you try to puncture them so your best bet is probably a sippy cup or a straw cup and put the juice, water, milk etc into it after the flight takes off.
9. If possible, just bring one or two bottles and wash them out after using them. Space is at a premium onboard the plane and in your suitcase.
10. You might not be able to sit in the bulkhead rows since they are sometimes emergency exit rows. They won't seat a baby in emergency exit rows. Just make sure that you don't get seated in the row directly behind or in front of the emergency exit row. They are smaller than regular rows and the seats don't recline as well. Find out if the bulkhead is an emergency exit or not. If it isn't, try really hard to get it. Especially if you have older kids, during the flight when the seatbelt sign is off, it gives them some space to move around.
11. If you own a Baby Bjorn or something similar, bring it. Even if your baby is too big for you to wear it with her in it while you are walking around. Just don't strap her in with you, you wear the seatbelt and then have her on you. This way she is strapped to you, and it is safer than just being held. This is for if she gets fussy and refuses to sit in her seat. Also, if you encounter strong turbulence it is nice to have her attached to you then, too, if it scares her and she doesn't want to be in her seat.
12. In Europe Pampers diapers are available. They are not quite as soft as the ones in the US, but very similar. You should be able to find Pampers all over Europe. If you must bring your own diapers for your entire trip I heard that 6 a day is an average amount to gauge how many you would need to bring with you. Try to contact someone overseas where you are going to find out the brands available and the approximate cost.
13. Women are allowed a carryon bag and a purse. There are no regulations on what size your purse is! Take advantage of this loophole. Make your "purse" a backpack and tuck your purse in the bottom of it. You are also allowed a diaper bag as a courtesy item, load it up!!
HAVE A GREAT TRIP (and good luck)!
Karen White (BebeBuzz) is a mother of two and the Founder/President of Bebebuzz.com. She also runs an online baby boutique at http://boutique.bebebuzz.com, featuring unique and trendy baby gifts that any savvy new parent would be excited to receive.
BebeBuzz.com is a site built in response to the tons of questions that the baby books just don't cover. Filled with tips tricks and advice for surviving pregnancy and motherhood.
“Please visit my site, and keep the Minti feedback coming.” ~Karen
(August 2006) (
