Flying with babies and toddlers. How to survive?

If your children haven’t reached the school age yet, you may find yourself looking for a sunny mid-year break at pretty much any time of year. Buckets and spades (and even a sun hat!) still stand a good chance of giving your little one a quality time in the September sun. If you are flying with babies this autumn and booking your first trip abroad with your baby, or a toddler, you might find the packing process overwhelming. Here we share some our tried and tested tips to help make the journey easier and stress-free; we’ve even included a free downloadable list of items to pack to make sure you don’t miss anything!

What to consider before booking your holiday?

• Will you be able to enjoy the holiday too? It is important to consider the baby’s needs but you’re also on a holiday so make sure you go to a place which is not only child friendly but one you’ll like too.
• Packing, remember, it’ll be tempting to take the whole house with you but try and only pack the essentials. For instance baby milk, nappies, favourite toy, etc.
• Prepare for the worst case scenario, now, we know you want the flight to go smoothly but remember, it’s always good to consider what can go wrong. So, ensure you have a change of clothes, baby milk, diapers and snacks for both you and the baby!
• Get your baby’s passport ready in advance. You don’t want to have to delay this and stress about it not being ready in time. You’ll have a lot of fun doing this too so make sure to enjoy the process!
• Medicines, try to bring a small amount of it with you because you’ll be surprised that some places will ask for prescriptions before giving anything. So, try and bring baby Benadryl, Calpol, a Tympanic Thermometer for babies over 1 month old and digital armpit thermometer for those under a month old.

What is the best time to travel with a baby?

Travelling with a baby can be a stressful experience if it’s your first time however, there are still some perks you can utilize! For instance, they’re not going to school just yet, so you can still take advantage of the off-peak time and avoid the summer crowd! It will not only be cheaper but also less busy so it’s a win-win situation. Don’t worry about missing the sun though, there are plenty of great locations you can travel where you’ll experience the sun all year round!

What is the best time of the day?

Now that you’ve decided on when, you also need to make sure you pick the right time of the day as well. But, there’s no hard or fast rule for this one, this will solely depend on your child. If they’re an early riser, then mornings might be great but if they wake up crying, perhaps mornings aren’t such a good option. Try to see what are the best times for your child and when they’re the most happy or go when they’ll likely be asleep. The key thing is, work out what will work best for your child and plan your flight around that.

What is the best accommodation for a baby?

Accommodation is such a key factor when considering travelling with a baby, because the last thing you want is your baby to be upset in your luxurious 5 star hotel room. The important thing is to try to create as much of a home-like atmosphere as you can. There are many options to choose from and it can be difficult to know which is the best.

Now booking a hotel room may seem like the best idea and it is usually the cheapest too so it can be tempting. But remember, babies usually tend to sleep a lot and for that, you need to have a nice quiet room. Now, do you really fancy having to tread around carefully around the room because you don’t want the baby waking up? So we recommend renting a suite or a family room rather than just a room, it may be slightly more expensive but having an extra room will definitely help. Remember, you’ll probably end up spending more time in in your accommodation than you initially anticipated as the baby might be ill or in a bad mood. So it’s a good idea to get good accommodation so you and the baby can both have the best time possible.

If a hotel isn’t sounding that great, why not consider booking a villa or an apartment? You’d be surprised to know that they’re actually cheaper than hotel rooms because villas often charge per week whereas hotels charge per night. Some parents prefer villas to hotels because they tend to give you a lot more privacy, not to mention a lot more space too. They come equipped with their own kitchen so you can prepare baby food! The other perk of renting a villa is, there are no neighbours to disturb, babies tend to cry a lot and this can be annoying for other people staying nearby if you’re in a hotel.

Finally, booking a family resort can also be a good option as they will usually offer a lot of child friendly activities and attractions. Resorts will also usually have a creche area or a babysitter where you could leave your baby for a small period of time, like if you wanted to go to lunch for a few hours. Now, on the surface, a resort may seem to be the most expensive option but if you think about all the added bonuses like having food and drink for all your meals, child care facilities, and many other resort activities like a child friendly pool. You might actually find yourself a bargain!

We hope some of these options help you decide on what accommodation will be best for your child!

Can I take baby milk through security?

Yes, you certainly can! The quantity is restricted though; in your hand luggage, you can take up to 2,000ml of breast milk / sterilsed water, but your baby must be present. However, you can’t take frozen milk through, but you can take it in your hold luggage. If you’re taking your own supply, most restaurants and bars will be happy to warm it up for you, so don’t be afraid to ask!

Some powdered milk manufacturers also sell ready-to-use cartons (usually 200 ml) which, if sealed, can normally be taken through security (always check with the airport you are travelling from). For example, people travelling from Gatwick Airport are advised to carry the amount of baby milk required for the journey in their hand luggage, and the rest should be packed in the checked-in baggage. Remember, you can always buy ready-to-drink milk from places like Boots in airport departure lounges if you’d rather not take lots through with you; you can even pre-order it to ensure it’s there!

What about baby scissors; can I take those through the airport?

If you are a well-organised parent who always carries a small pair of scissors to open milk cartons, you may need to check with your airport whether you will be able to take those on board. According to London Heathrow Airport website you can take scissors in your hand luggage providing the blades are no longer than 6 cm measured from the point where the blades cross, whereas Gatwick Airport Security Guidelines also state the blunt scissors shorter than 6 cm should also have rounded ends if you want to take them in your hand luggage. It’s probably best to check the up-to-date lists of prohibited items on official sites such as Gov.uk.

Can I take a pushchair on the plane?

Most parents will understandably be very protective of their baby carrying equipment and go to great lengths to avoid any possible damage to prams, pushchairs and car seats. In most cases you will be able to take your child’s pushchair, pram or buggy to the departure gate, or even right up to the aircraft door and it won’t have to be tossed about with other suitcases on the way from check-in to the aircraft.

Please note that your child might need to come out of the buggy for a while when you go through security checks and the buggy might be checked separately. However, it’s wise to check the arrangements for carrying pushchairs onto the aircraft and returning them afterwards with the airline you will be flying with.

Airlines have different rules of what can be taken and at what cost, in fact that alone can be key when selecting what airline to fly with. Here’s a list of some of the airlines that fly out of UK’s airports and what their policies are with regard to taking pushchairs (and travelling with infants in general).

Airline rules for flying with pushchairs or car seats:

Please note that some airlines require that you take a fully collapsible umbrella-style pushchair, which, especially if you are travelling on your own with your children, might be difficult to fold while holding the baby. Trying to fold it yourself with a baby strapped in a front carrier, whilst leaning forward to do it is a challenge to say the least. Having a one hand fold / unfold stroller would be best but not all pushchairs on the market are that easy!

What food can I take on the plane for my child?

You probably know this already, but a small snack at the right time can do wonders to your toddler. Always pack something to eat. Need ideas? Small packets of raisins, rice crackers, bread sticks, dried banana chips, sliced apples, rusks – anything that isn’t too runny or requires a spoon is great. You don’t want the passenger in front of you to find your child wiping messy hands onto their hair (as infants under 2 years old have to be held on parent’s lap and they will try to make the most of it!).

If your precious bundle of joy is still breastfed, take a scarf or a wide shawl for privacy. Some airports have dedicated Mother and Baby rooms where you can nurse in private if you prefer. For example, Gatwick Airport has great facilities where armchairs and playpens are provided for older children when their mum is feeding the baby; however, if you have to breastfeed on board, try to get the window seat – you don’t want people bumping into your baby’s feet or the head if you are sitting in the aisle seat.

How do I keep my child entertained on a flight?

Some mums swear by giving their baby a glossy magazine to tear while on the plane. Colourful pictures, noisy page turning, excitement – and you can chuck it afterwards. Toys and books are always good to have, however if you are flying with a child younger than 2 years and you have to keep them on your lap throughout the journey, it might be a bit of a stretch to keep picking up that ball that rolls down the aisle every 3 minutes. For the younger ones entertainment try taking a toy chain, hooking it onto the foldable tray (or your own seatbelt belt) and then using that to secure the toy (preferably with some hoops / rings). Crayons and a small sketchbook are ideal for older children. Our guide to keeping children entertained on longer journeys offers a wide range of ideas for kids of all ages.

Be ready for all the mess; have a spare set of clothes (for both of you!)

Be prepared, this will be messy. If you expect to exit the plane at the end of your plane journey wearing crisp cream linen trousers or that floaty white silk blouse, think again. We’d suggest wearing something that can double as a burping cloth (for babies) or a handkerchief / wipe / kitchen towel for toddlers. We have seen mums change in the bathrooms as soon as they land, so if your hand luggage space allows it, have an extra change of clothes for yourself. It goes without saying that you HAVE to have an extra change of clothes for the child! Choose clothes for the little one that you can layer easily, and peel them off if needed! Especially if you are travelling to a hot climate and the heat will hit you as soon as you step out of the plane.

What about nappies and wipes, can I take those?

For babies and toddlers, take as may nappies, pull ups and baby wipes as you’d like in your hand luggage; we’d always suggest taking a couple more than you normally would carry in your nappy bag just in case your hold luggage is delayed or you have an emergency! You probably already wonder how you managed to live without baby wipes before becoming a parent, but a plane journey is the time and place where you will absolutely worship the inventors of them.

How best to pack for babies and toddlers

Try and distribute key items between various bags, so if there’s a small chance of losing one bag, you can survive with only having the other. Another tip is to start packing in advance; a week before your trip, open your main suitcase, leave it somewhere easily accessible and start collecting all the things to take as you go along, don’t worry about the order yet. As time goes on you will get the feel of the volume of your luggage and won’t need to stress the night before when it turns out you can’t fit it all in! The days when you could throw a few essential items into your hand luggage and not even worry about a check-in bag are over for a while, and you’d be shocked to realise your baby has more outfits for the holiday than the parents put together.

What should go in my hand luggage and what shall I put in my checked bag?

You will say it’s impossible but keep your hand baggage to a minimum. Hats off to people who travel with their baby or a young child on their own. If you are a first-time parent and this is your first flight with a baby, forget your previous life where you could sit back, relax and read a book. You won’t need the book, you have all the entertainment you need! So reduce your hand luggage by removing items that you know you won’t have a chance to use on the plane.

However cutting down is easier said than done. Here’s a checklist of baby/toddler items you should take with you split into two groups – items that should go into your hand luggage and items that can go into hold.

Follow this link to our Flying with a Baby Packing Checklist Document to make sure you don’t forget anything for your little one!

As Brexit has taken place, if you want health cover when travelling through the EU, you’ll now need to apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) card for your little ones. If you don’t have a GHIC as an adult yet it’s worth getting one for yourself and you’ll be able to add your child to the initial application; however if you are already a GHIC holder you will need to contact NHS Overseas Healthcare Services and provide them with your details so they can access your record.

Finally; the best lugagge to take as a parent?

Hands down, it’s got to be a backpack as your hand luggage; if you don’t see it, it doesn’t need to use up your hands! Another space-saving and hands-freeing piece of equipment is a front baby carrier. The combination of a backpack and a baby carrier is an absolute must if you are travelling with the little one on your own. If all else fails, ask people for help. You’ll be surprised who will be around to help you out be they airport staff or fellow travellers.

Older children will be able to take their own backpacks on board with their toys and books, and it will be much easier to spread the load. They will also enjoy ‘feeling the part’, carrying a backpack just like Mummy or Daddy.

Feeling ready to travel with your baby?

Good, it’s now time to relax. Take a deep breath and go with the flow, it will be a lovely journey after all; be confident in the knowledge that you know how to survive flying with babies and toddlers!