Travelling with infants

If you’re someone who likes to travel, it might be an idea to find time to travel when the baby is small and easy to carry. A small baby will rarely object to sightseeing five churches in a row or plans for a relaxed day with no real plan – they’re often fine with most things as long as they get enough food, sleep and the company of people they love. Their geographical location is less relevant.

What should you consider when travelling with an infant?

Travelling with children inside your own country is usually easy – the nappies are the same as you’re used to, as are the time zone and the climate. Travelling with babies by car is usually fine as long as they are not carsick. It can also be a good idea to plan your holiday based on staying in one place. Moving around a lot requires energy and can be stressful, as the needs and luggage of a small traveller are often considerable.
Travelling within Europe or even further abroad requires a bit more work. You may need to fly with your baby – if you don’t choose the train. No matter how you get there, it is important to know that travelling with a baby requires a passport, even within the EU and the Schengen zone.
It’s a good idea to share your travel plans with your healthcare provider in advance if you’re planning a longer trip abroad, so you can talk about what vaccinations your baby might need for the trip. If you are travelling to a remote location, the best thing to do is to make sure that doctors and hospitals are still available in case of an accident.

Packing list tips for travelling with young children

So what can you make sure you take with you to your final destination, and what is good to have readily available while travelling? Here are some suggestions on what to pack:

• Your child’s passport if you are going abroad
• Dummies if you use them – it can be tricky to find the right type in every shop.
• If your baby is older than six months, a lightweight, foldable pushchair is nice to have. Ideally, the pushchair should be fully reclining so your child can also sleep comfortably in it.
• If you use a baby carrier or a wrap then it’s a good idea to bring it with you.
• A rucksack that can be used as a changing bag is also useful. Carrying washcloths, nappies and everything you need and still having two free hands available is handy when you have a little one.
• Vitamin D
• A thermos of hot water. When travelling, you may not have access to hot water to make baby porridge or formula milk. If your baby needs special food, it’s a good idea to pack it so you don’t have to worry about finding it locally.
• Snacks for the journey, such as corn puffs, raisins or bananas. Sometimes a journey can be severely delayed – so packing extra food is a good idea.
• A first aid kit with a thermometer and any medication.
• Clothes according to the expected weather, and an extra change of clothes for the journey itself.
• Swim nappies or swimpants if you’re planning on swimming.
• Changing mats and nappy bags to put used nappies in.
• Toys, stuffed animals or other items to keep your child entertained while travelling and once there.
• Provided you are not travelling to a very remote location, you only need to pack nappies and baby food for the first few days. Most things can be bought when you arrive. If you have a favourite type of nappy, it might be worth making some space in your bag for an extra pack.

Flying with a baby

Sometimes you need to fly with an infant and there are some things you should know. The pressure generated during take-off and landing can cause a small child’s ears to feel blocked and painful. The best way to help your child to relieve ear pressure during take-off and landing is to allow your child to breastfeed (if the airline allows it) or to suck on a dummy or bottle. Airlines have slightly different rules, but as a rule it costs very little to fly with children until they are two – however, before that they don’t get their own seat and are expected to sit on a parent’s lap.

If you are flying long haul, some airlines may offer seats where children up to 1 year old, or up to 10kg, can have a small cot to sleep in – check with the airline. You can also take the opportunity to double-check what is and is not allowed through security as hand luggage.

Protecting your baby on a sunny holiday

Young children are very sensitive to heat, they simply have less reserves to work with than an adult. If you are travelling to a sunny location, it is wise to keep your child in the shade – especially in the middle of the day when the sun is strongest. It is advisable to wear a hat and cool protective clothing, and apply sun cream to your baby in areas not covered by clothing, the higher the SPF the better. If the baby breastfeeds they need free access because it is important to stay hydrated – and the same applies if they are bottle-fed. If they eat solid food, it is important to have plenty of water throughout the day.

Tips for staying healthy on a family trip

Travelling with a baby and getting a stomach bug or other illness is no fun. Apart from not feeling well, you also have to be careful not to infect your baby.

• If you have any doubts about the tap water where you are travelling avoid and buy bottled water instead.
• Take extra care with hand hygiene. Do not dry your hands on a used shared towel.
• Be careful not to touch your eyes unless you have just washed your hands. We often get infected through the mucous membranes of our eyes.
• Carry hand sanitiser and sanitise your hands frequently.
• Eat well cooked food. Avoid fish, chicken and seafood if you are unsure whether it is safe or cooked through.
• It’s better to eat freshly prepared food than to eat at buffets where you don’t know how long the food has been sitting out for.
• Avoid fruit and salad that may have been rinsed in tap water if you know the water quality is poor. Fruit that needs peeling is a good option.
• Sources of infection that we may not think of are money, handrails, all buttons such as lift buttons, keyboards or door handles. In toilets, the flush button is often the place with the most bacteria. It is therefore important to remember to wash your hands frequently.
• Talk to your insurance company about what happens and what is covered if your baby gets ill while you are abroad.

Please note that all information above is based on Swedish recommendations.