Air travel with babies and toddlers
introduction
Air travel is generally an exciting undertaking for most people. With a baby or toddler, flying can be a stressful affair. In order to make it as relaxed and pleasant as possible, parents should find out about traveling with a baby from their parents in advance and be well organized. It usually helps to prepare and work through a checklist of important things so that you don't forget anything important.
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Checklist
Before parents fly on vacation with their baby or toddler, there are a few things to consider. So that important things are not forgotten, it is advisable to work through a checklist. Depending on the travel destination, parents should find out which identification document is required for the child. A child's passport and visa should be applied for some time in advance. To ensure that the child is also insured abroad, you should take out international health insurance before traveling by air.
The pediatrician should advise you on additional vaccinations for the country in question. The vaccination card should definitely be carried with you. It also makes sense to have medicines recommended for the first-aid kit. In order to protect the child from the sun on vacation, sun milk for children and UV clothing should be purchased.
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Before the flight, you can find out from the airline in question how check-in and security controls work at the airport. Many airlines offer a family-friendly check-in so that there are no long waiting times. Often it is also possible to take the stroller with you to the plane. Sometimes this has to be checked in as bulky baggage. So that the child does not have to walk or be carried all the time, you can inquire whether there is a rental stroller. You should also inquire with the respective airline whether additional luggage is allowed for children, whether a separate seat is necessary for the child and whether children's menus are offered for older children. In order not to confuse the daily routine for the child too much, it is advisable to book a night flight, especially for long-haul flights. So that the child is not bored during the flight, a few toys should be packed in the hand luggage. It is also advisable to pack a change of clothes, enough diapers, wet wipes and baby food in your hand luggage.
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Packing list
Most of the time, you go on summer vacation by plane. Parents should inform themselves about the weather in the holiday destination before the flight so that the child has clothing that is suitable for the climate. Most hotels and holiday apartments often have a laundry service or washing machines so that you don't have to pack too much. Both long-sleeved and short-sleeved bodies should be packed. Sufficient t-shirts and shorts. But also a couple of long-sleeved thin shirts and thin long pants. Because there are often mosquitoes in warm countries that can also transmit malaria or dengue fever. Long clothing in the morning and evening can prevent mosquito bites. Furthermore, a mosquito net can offer protection at night. A sun hat and UV swimwear protect against sunburn. Since some beaches can be stony, it is advisable to pack bathing shoes. The first-aid kit should include sun milk for children with a sufficient sun protection factor, plasters, antipyretic agents, clinical thermometers, mosquito spray for children, nasal spray, and wound cream. Depending on which country you are traveling to, you should find out beforehand whether there is the baby food you want to buy. It is therefore advisable to pack a pack of milk powder, porridge or something similar.
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When can I go on vacation with my baby?
When a baby can go on vacation by plane depends on the airline. Most airlines allow flying from the 8th day of life, there are some that only allow it later. Rather, parents should decide for themselves whether they are ready to fly with the baby. Because too much stress and nervousness in the parents can be transferred to the child. A good point in time might be something at 6 months. The baby and the parents then already know each other well and are more experienced.
Which destinations are recommended?
In order to save babies and toddlers unnecessarily long air travel, travel destinations that can be reached with short or medium-haul flights are particularly recommended. Parents should avoid extreme climates. That means travel destinations with very cold or hot temperatures or extreme dryness are not recommended. In addition, parents should inform themselves beforehand whether the country is safe and whether medical care, especially for the child, is guaranteed. This can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office. Furthermore, it is advisable to find out from the pediatrician which vaccinations are necessary. Babies and toddlers under one year of age have not yet been vaccinated against mumps, measles and rubella and therefore have no protection against these diseases. This should be considered when choosing a travel destination. For this reason, it is not advisable to go to countries where there is no standard vaccination. Many tropical countries are risk areas for malaria and dengue fever. Again, before choosing a travel destination, the pediatrician should be asked whether the child is old enough for prophylaxis. Especially recommended within Europe. In most cases, parents can be sure that medical care is available for their child quickly.
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Does my child need an ID / passport?
Nowadays every child, regardless of age, needs their own passport to fly to another country. In the past, an entry in the parents' passport was sufficient. Since 2012 children need their own passport. Depending on the country you are traveling to, you will need a passport or ID card. The pass can easily be applied for at the city or municipality office. Children under the age of twelve receive a child's passport. This is valid for six years and can be extended once up to the age of 12. A photo of the child is required to apply for the passport.
Does my baby fly for free?
Children up to 2 years of age do not usually have to buy their own ticket. This also means that the baby is not entitled to a seat and has to fly on the parents' lap. Most airlines still charge costs for the accompanying child. However, this is usually a low service fee, which, depending on the airline, can amount to up to 20% of the flight price. However, the price can also depend on the length of the flight route. If a separate seat is booked for the baby, the full ticket price must be expected depending on the airline.
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What do you have to consider?
There are only a few important things to consider for a relaxed flight with a baby. The baby's health and satisfaction comes first. It is therefore advisable to have a health check with the pediatrician shortly before the start of the flight, including a check of the vaccination protection (including the parents). Essential medication should be obtained prior to the flight. A mosquito net protects against mosquito bites, especially in tropical countries. The mosquitoes in other countries can transmit diseases such as Zika, malaria and dengue fever. It also makes sense to check the medical care at the travel destination beforehand. In order to enable the child to have a comfortable flight, a night flight should be chosen if possible to simplify the time adjustment. In order to be allowed to enter some countries at all, a separate passport, sometimes even a visa for the child, is necessary.
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What must I bring in my luggage / hand luggage?
Before starting the flight, you should think carefully about what is absolutely necessary for the baby during the flight. Most airlines even allow additional hand luggage for the baby / toddler. Above all, it is important to have a valid travel document, usually a children's passport. A change of clothes, a jacket to put on and a couple of thick socks make sense, as the air conditioning in the aircraft is often very strong. Sufficient hygiene items such as diapers, wet and dry wipes should also be carried in hand luggage. If a wound protection cream is carried, it should be ensured that the tube or container does not hold more than 100 ml. In addition, baby food, baby milk and baby food can be packed in hand luggage because it is not subject to the 100 ml quantity restriction. This special regulation also applies to required medication.
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The rations should be carried in realistic quantities and adapted to the duration of the flight in order to avoid complications during security checks. Larger quantities of baby food should be stowed in the checked baggage. Furthermore, a pacifier, cuddly toy or similar should be packed to calm and occupy the baby, especially for take-off and landing. It should be ensured that nail scissors and sharp objects are not stowed in hand luggage but in luggage.
Pressure equalization for bottle babies / nursing children
During take-off and landing, the rapid change in altitude creates pressure on the ears. Adults can often easily even out the pressure themselves. As the sinus system of babies and small children is not yet fully developed, they have problems balancing the pressure themselves. It often helps to bottle-feed or breastfeed babies during take-off and landing, and the chewing and swallowing movements make it easier to equalize the pressure. In addition, this has a calming effect on the children. As babies often have upper respiratory infections and runny nose, it is recommended to bring a nasal spray with you. This should consist of physiological saline solution. The nasal spray has a decongestant effect on the nasal mucosa and makes breathing and pressure equalization easier.
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How can I sterilize bottles in flight?
It is difficult to take the sterilizer on board as hand luggage on the plane. As a rule, it is sufficient to wash the used bottles with boiling water and to clean them again at home after loading. Hot and boiled water is provided by the flight crew on request, also for the preparation of baby food.
What do I have to take to eat for my baby if she is not a nursing child?
If the baby is still small and is only given pre-food, a package of milk powder should be carried in hand luggage. The food should not and does not have to be prepared before the flight. Cold and boiled warm water for preparing the milk is available on board. If the baby is already getting porridge, porridge powder and jars should also be packed in the hand luggage. There is a special regulation for carrying baby food in hand luggage. Baby food does not fall under the 100 ml quantity restriction and does not have to be packed separately in bags. Furthermore, biscuits, rusks and other children's food can be carried in hand luggage in between.
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Does a separate seat have to be booked for the baby and what alternatives are there?
Most airlines do not usually have to book a separate seat for children up to the age of two. In this case, however, the child is not entitled to its own seat and has to fly on the parents' lap. If this is not desired, a flight ticket including a seat must be booked for the baby. Then a flight-compatible child seat can also be used for the baby. Most aircraft have a few seats with a foldable cot. However, depending on the airline, this can only be used up to a certain size and weight. In addition, a paid reservation must usually be made for the specific seat.
What do I do if my child suddenly gets sick?
Babies and toddlers often have to struggle with infections in the first two years of life when they start attending daycare. Most of these are infections of the upper respiratory tract and otitis media, which are often accompanied by a fever (see also: What to do if your baby has a fever?). A common cold before the flight is usually harmless for the trip and can be treated with nasal spray. If the child develops a fever or medication is needed to treat the disease, the pediatrician should be asked for an opinion. Since it is often cooler in airplanes due to the air conditioning and the flight is generally stressful for the baby, if the child becomes ill, it should be carefully considered whether the flight should be taken. In such a case, it is advisable to take out travel cancellation insurance in advance.
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