International trips with babies and pre-schoolers can seem daunting: parents worry about the flight, safety, food and keeping their child entertained. However, planning ahead helps make the journey more comfortable for the whole family.
When you are still at the stage of booking accommodation, it is worth finding out which child-friendly amenities are available. It is helpful if the hotel or flat offers cots, playpens and highchairs. If the property has stairs, a balcony or a pool, ask about safety gates; if there are none, you can look for hire options nearby or bring foldable safety barriers with you. Doctors also recommend having socket covers and wet wipes to clean surfaces your child will touch.
Safe sleep conditions are also important while you are away. The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasises that children under one year old should sleep on their backs, on a firm, flat surface — in a cot, crib or playpen with a fitted sheet and no toys or pillows. The organisation also advises that, for the first few months, babies should sleep in the same room as their parents, but in a separate cot.
When planning your trip, you need to think through how you will get from the airport to your accommodation and how you will get around while on holiday. This affects the decision whether to take a pushchair and car seat, which can usually be checked in free of charge at the gate, or to manage with a sling or child carrier rucksack.
Paediatrician Shannon Thompson from Cleveland Clinic Children’s notes that the key considerations when flying with children are safety and comfort. Children under two years old are allowed to fly on a parent’s lap, but the European Union Aviation Safety Agency recommends, where possible, buying a separate seat for the child and securing them in a certified car seat. On long-haul flights, it is worth asking the airline whether bassinets are available for infants.
As for food, you may take baby food, formula, pouches and expressed breast milk in your hand luggage in quantities exceeding the standard 100 ml limit, but only in the amount needed for the journey. Security staff may ask you to prove that these are genuine. Your hand luggage should also contain nappies, wipes, a compact changing mat, sealable bags for disposal and a change of clothes in case of leaks or spills.
To reduce ear discomfort during take-off and landing, specialists recommend that the child is swallowing or chewing something: you can breastfeed a baby, offer a bottle or a dummy. If your child is prone to ear infections, it is worth consulting your paediatrician in advance. Before an international trip, a doctor can also provide advice on any vaccinations that may be needed.
Kristi Slavik, owner of the travel agency Mom Approved Travel, recommends stocking up on small, lightweight surprise toys that can be produced one by one during the flight: stickers, little playdough sets with special mats, suction-cup toys and other compact games.
Interactive activities work well once you have arrived. In museums, you can ask children to look for animals or favourite colours in the paintings, or to draw what they see in a notebook. Such “missions” help hold their attention better. New countries offer opportunities to discover other cultures: choosing unusual snacks together at a market or learning foreign words for favourite dishes makes the journey more engaging.
It is helpful for families to look out for accommodation with child-friendly facilities: pools, play areas and board games. For travellers on a tight budget, hostels with private family rooms can be an option, so you do not have to share a large dormitory with other guests. Both hotels and hostels often make it easier for your child to find new friends among other travellers.
Travelling with extended family is another advantage. Trips with grandparents or other close adults give parents extra support and time to rest, while older relatives get the chance to spend more time with their grandchildren. It is only important to make sure they also have time to relax and are not overworked.
Experts stress that the key to a family trip is balancing safety, comfort and enjoyable experiences so that both children and adults can truly enjoy their holiday.