Baby International Travel Checklist:
Things You Need to Plan, Do and Pack Before
Flying with Your Little Traveler
A comprehensive overview of everything
you need to prepare!
Important: Please read!
Traveling abroad with an infant can be exciting, but since it can involve a host of uncertainties and unpredictable situations, it can also be a bit stressful.
Many parents are puzzled by a variety of pre-trip questions: “What should I pack?”, “What should I put in the carry-on?”, “How will my child cope on their first journey through the skies?”, “Am I forgetting anything important?”
The key to an easy-going vacation, road trip, or family get-together overseas is to plan ahead and make sure you have everything your loved one may need, so you can focus on creating beautiful first memories and experiences that your family will carry for years to come.
Our baby travel checklist can help you make sure you do not forget to do or pack anything important before leaving: from essential documents and pre-trip booking arrangements to flight must-haves and detailed packing lists that include all the things you should consider bringing with you.
Let’s start!
International Travel Documents
- Passport
Other than very few exceptions, every US citizen must possess his or her own passport for international travel, including newborn babies, infants, and toddlers.
Make sure you and your baby have a valid passport (with enough blank pages!). Many countries require that your passport be valid for six months beyond your stay. If you need to get a new passport for your baby or renew an existing one for yourself, don’t wait until the last minute. Apply several months in advance through the U.S. Department of State website. - Visa
You and your child may need to get a visa before traveling to a foreign destination. Research whether you need a visa for your trip and contact the embassy of the countries you will visit for more information. Visa laws vary from nation to nation, so bear in mind that while some visas are available instantly upon arrival, others can take months to process and obtain.
Visit iVisa.com to check your destination country’s visa requirements and apply for one online, if needed. - Travel insurance
Make sure you and your baby are covered by travel insurance.
As with anyone else, babies are also susceptible to several medical situations that could happen while traveling abroad, including getting sick or injured.
When you’re in a foreign country without coverage, getting the necessary medical treatment (including emergency care) can be very costly.
Is your baby not insured yet? Visit our travel insurance resources page. - Other documents
Additional documents may be required based on your unique profile or situation, the airline’s policy, or the countries visited.
For example:
– A letter of consent may be needed for kids traveling internationally without both parents.
– A birth certificate may be requested for age verification purposes or as proof of the relationship between the child and the parent.
– A doctor’s medical approval letter may be requested for infants less than 2 weeks old.
Contact your airline before traveling to verify which documents you need to possess and present, so you will not be faced with any unpleasant surprises during your trip.
Travel Arrangements
- Airline tickets
Before booking your flight, check your airline’s policy regarding key infant air-travel issues, such as:
– Minimum passenger age restrictions
– Ticket, reserved seat, and boarding pass rules
– Reduced baby’s airfare
– Onboard carry-on bag, stroller, child safety seat, and other gear allowance
– Booking an airplane bassinet/travel cot
– Checked baggage and additional baby gear options
– Necessary forms, documents, or other bureaucratic requirements
Be sure to double-check with your carrier all aspects of flying with your baby well before your scheduled flight so you know exactly what to expect at the airport and on the plane.
Don’t have plane tickets yet? Visit our flight booking resources page.
- Accommodations
When booking a hotel, resort, or any other holiday accommodation, opt for baby-friendly properties best suited for hosting both the parents and their little ones.
Look for amenities such as convenient baby-ready family rooms or suites, in-room baby gear (crib, high chair, rocking chair, etc.), onsite nanny and babysitter services, baby supply essentials, specialized baby food options, an infant swimming pool, playrooms, or anything else that can improve the hospitality experience of tiny guests and their parents.
Do you need a place to stay? Visit our accommodation booking resources page.
- Car rental
When renting a vehicle abroad, you can choose between bringing your own safety seat or renting one from the company for an additional fee.
If you prefer to bring a seat with you, first check the car seat laws and the legality of the specific car seat you plan to use in the country you are traveling to.
In addition, make sure your car seat attachment method is supported by the actual vehicle you intend to use.
Need to rent a car abroad? Visit our international car rental resources page. Airport transfer to your hotel or resort
If you don’t want to rent a car but still need safe baby-friendly ground transportation from the airport to your hotel, resort, or other desired location (and back to the airport), consider booking a private airport transfer.
Taxis at the airport will probably not have a child safety seat, or booster, not to mention other public transportation options, like trains or buses.
Booking a fixed-price, pre-arranged ride in advance, equipped with a car seat (for an extra fee), can let you travel with a clear conscience and peace of mind, knowing your child is safe.Need to book a transfer? Visit our airport transfer services resources page.
Baby Travel Packing List
Every packing list is different and depends on countless variables, such as the baby’s age, flight time, destination, weather, the nature of the trip, etc.
The following checklist includes baby items and accessories you may need for the trip.
While minimalist parents will only bring the absolute must-haves (in their opinion), others prefer to bring everything for peace of mind.
Food and Meals:
- Spoons
- Bibs
- Sippy cup
- Bottles
- Bottle warmer
- Bottlebrush
- Breast milk
- Formula
- Formula dispenser
- Squeeze pouch baby food
- Weaning snacks
- Other baby food
- Infant dishes and utensils
- Dish soap
- Drying rack
- Cooler bag
- Breast pump & accessories
- Breast milk storage bags or bottles
- Burp cloths
- Breastfeeding cover
Clothes:
- Tops
- Bottoms
- Onesies
- Dresses
- Socks
- Shoes, sandals, or booties
- Winter coats, jackets, gloves, hats
- Sleepsuits
Diapering:
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Changing pads
- Diaper rash cream
- Plastic bags (for wet or dirty diapers)
- Swimming diapers
- Extra change of clothes (for baby and you)
Play, Sleep, and Comfort:
- Baby muslins/blankets
- Travel bedding
- Pacifiers + clips
- Toys and books
- Teethers and soothers
- Baby carrier/sling
- Swaddle blankets
- Playmat
Baby Care:
- Baby shampoo
- Baby wash
- Body lotion
- Washcloths
- Hairbrush/comb
- Infant nail clippers
- Laundry soap
- Laundry bag
- Inflatable travel tub
- Bath towels
Health:
- Prescription medicines
- Fever/pain relief medication
- Thermometer
- Antibacterial wipes
- Hand sanitizer
- Baby sunscreen
- Mosquito net
- Insect repellent
- Baby monitor
- First-aid kit
Gear:
- Stroller
- Car seat
- Portable high chair
- Travel crib
Misc
- Tablet with headphones
- Stroller organizer
- Car blinds
- Travel potty seat
Remember, when traveling to a major modern city, you can buy or rent many of the items at the destination, relieving you of the need to overpack.
Use our checklist to figure out what you really need and what you can skip so you can travel more minimally.
Baby Air Travel Cabin Bag
A well-stocked diaper bag is worth its weight in gold and will take you far.
When you’ve got all the essential items with you on the plane, you’re ready for (almost) everything.
International air travel with a baby can be long and unpredictable, so the bag you’ll bring on board should contain all the things your little one might need or want during the entire flight.
During long-haul flights, a diaper bag can quickly become your best friend and make all the difference to you and your child in challenging times.
Every flying-with-a-baby checklist looks a little bit different, but most of them will need to include the following items:
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Antibacterial wipes
- Changing pad
- Diaper cream
- Prescription and over-the-counter medications
- Toys / Teethers
- Bottles / Sippy cups
- Baby food and light snacks
- Baby formula dispensers
- Nursing cover
- Travel cooler
- Extra set of clothes for the baby and you
- Blanket
- Burp cloth
- Bib
- Pacifier
- Plastic bags
Be sure to thoroughly read the TSA regulations and the airline’s guidelines for what can be brought in your carry-on, and factor this information into your packing list.
Be prepared for flight delays, unexpected stopovers, getting stuck somewhere, and other unforeseen circumstances. Bring extra food, drinks, and supplies.
Read the General Checklist
VERY IMPORTANT: After reading all the unique components of baby travel preparations, please carefully read our ‘general’ international travel checklist.
It covers the essential aspects of traveling abroad for business, pleasure, or any other purpose.
The ‘general’ checklist covers the basic issues of any trip out of the country – for adults, like essential documents, pre-trip booking arrangements, administrative tasks, transportation, mobile communication, detailed packing lists, and so much more.
May you and your baby
have an amazing trip. Enjoy it!