When the Dutchman and I found out I was pregnant with Baby Dining Traveler, we decided that having a child would not stop us from seeing the world; as a matter of fact, we consider travel as one of life’s most important lessons for any human being. Traveling overseas with a baby does require a little planning though, and you might even find the thought a little intimidating. The following pointers (in no particular order) on preparing your baby for international travel are a good way to get started:
Booking your flight
Babies under the age of two travel for free (you’ll only pay taxes) on virtually every airline, which obviously can save you a lot of money. And most airlines will keep bulkhead seats reserved for families traveling with babies as they usually offer a little cot that clicks into the bulkhead wall. Call your airline ahead of time, they likely can’t guarantee availability but will make a note of your request on your ticket. Taller babies like baby Dining Traveler quickly outgrow these cots, which means that they will be seated on your lap. Between the two of us, the Dutchman and I take turns holding the baby, which works fine. If you have a little more money to spend though, you could, of course, decide to buy a separate seat for your baby which comes at a (moderately) discounted airfare. For more tips on how to fly with a little one, check out our “Flying with a Baby” post.
Getting Your Baby a Passport
Traveling overseas with a baby requires a bit of paperwork. Surprisingly enough, some people don’t realize that even an infant needs a travel document like a passport or ID card to cross borders. A requirement during the application process for such a document is that you are able to demonstrate your child’s identity, and, of course, to prove that you are the child’s parent or legal guardian.
To do so, you will have to acquire certified copies of the birth certificate. “Certified” in this case means that you cannot just make a photocopy of a birth certificate, it will have to be a ‘new’ certificate, issued by the jurisdiction where the baby was born. In our case, with a baby born in the District of Columbia, that means the DC Department of Health.
The reality is that most government organizations are a little slow, bureaucratic (Lots of paperwork!), and not always very customer friendly; but don’t worry, there is an excellent service that can avoid all those headaches: FastBirthCertificates.com
Baby Dining Traveler already has her US passport but she does not have a Dutch passport yet. Therefore, for our upcoming trip to Europe, we used this service and we highly recommend it. FastBirthCertificates.com is not a government organization and it shows. The online application process is super easy (took me 5 mins), they offer standard as well as expedited service options and you can track the order as well as the shipping process online. We chose the expedited option and within an incredible 5 business days, our birth certificate was delivered!
If you are just like us, and always find yourself out of time despite those good intentions, FastBirthCertificates.com can save the day..!
In addition to a passport, check visa requirements and don’t be surprised if local border control agents ask you if both parents (when not traveling together) provide consent for the child’s travel. You might want to carry a notarized consent statement for that purpose. Most banks offer notarized services for free if you are a member.
Contact your Pediatrician
When preparing to travel overseas with a baby, make sure that your baby has all the right inoculations for your travel destination. I also recommend to talk your plans over with your pediatrician. He/she knows your child’s medical record and can give you useful pointers on perhaps some over the counter medication you may want to bring. For the more exotic destinations you will likely have checked the CDC’s travel advisory website for yourself as well but ask your pediatrician if you have any specific worries about your child.
Many pediatricians, such as ours, have a nurse phone line. The nurse can probably answer many of your questions without having to take time off to go to the doctor.
Sleep Schedule & Jetlag
Depending on how frequent of a traveler you yourself are, you will know all about jetlag and the little tricks to minimize the impact of disturbing the body’s internal clock and your sleep schedule. Any parent knows that sleep is at a premium with babies. When traveling overseas with a baby, that is something that needs to be taken into consideration. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned when traveling with my daughter is not to fall in love with my plan. When baby Dining Traveler wants to sleep….she’s going to sleep!
Gradually start adjusting to your destination time zone about a week prior to travel, for example. On the plane, replicate your normal going-to-bed routine as much as possible. Whenever we tell baby Dining Traveler it’s time for ‘tandjes poetsen’ (brush her teeth) and ‘haartjes kammen’ (comb her hair) she knows it’s bedtime. Before we board, we dress her in her pajamas and giving give her her favorite bedtime stuffed animal to make her feel at home. Thankfully most flights to Europe are overnight so it works perfectly with her sleep schedule.
What to Pack for an International Flight
Going on a 2-hour drive can sometimes feel like moving house, bringing all those baby extras. Although when flying, we love to travel light though and depending on your destination, keep in mind that you can always buy things such as wipes, food and diapers at your destination rather than maxing out your valuable luggage space. Traveling overseas with a baby has humbled me in terms of my austere packing style!
Our experience was that baby food and especially formula in the Netherlands are approximately 75% cheaper than what we pay here in the States so we saved space as well as money. I ended up bringing formula back home as it was so cheap! One thing I’ve learned from traveling to Colombia and several European countries is that baby food is easily accessible in supermarkets. Lastly, double check the latest TSA guidelines as travelers are allowed to carry baby food, in solid and in liquid form as an exception to the stricter general liquid limitations.
I also reach out to my friends who have experience for their tips. A fellow traveling mom, Amanda Duff, a hospitality public relations pro with Duff PR says that noise canceling headphones have been a lifesaver for traveling overseas with a baby. I will try that tip on the next flight!
Traveling Overseas with a Baby: The Verdict
Have baby, will travel! Traveling overseas with a baby takes a little extra work, but it is so rewarding to show our little baby Dining Traveler the world. We believe that the best education we can give her is travel.
