- From what age can you travel with your baby?
- What documents to travel with baby?
- What equipment to take when traveling with a baby?
From what age can you travel with your baby?
It all depends on your destination and your means of transport: plane, train, car…
Traveling by train is a good option because there is no minimum age for babies and you are comfortably seated, with a changing table available. If you are traveling with a baby or young child (under 4 years old) on your lap, you pay no extra.
The car is often the favorite means of transport for families, and you can consider traveling with your baby from birth. Be careful, however, to take breaks every two hours and take your baby out of his car seat so he can stretch.
What about the plane? In theory, nothing prevents you from taking the plane with a baby after leaving the maternity ward. However, because an infant is particularly vulnerable to germs, it is better to wait a little before starting: a minimum of a week on a medium-haul flight, and three weeks on long-haul flights (1). On the plane, baby must be seated on your lap during takeoff and may benefit from a carrycot bed during the trip, depending on the type of aircraft and availability.
Where to travel with a young child?
So that your first stays with baby go as smoothly as possible, the ideal is to avoid destinations that are too hot, too cold, altitudes above 2,000 meters, those that involve a significant time difference ... You will understand , we try not to disturb baby too much and to make sure that everything goes well for everyone!
A point to take into account when choosing your vacation spot: swimming in the sea or in a pool is not recommended for a young baby. It is better to wait until your child has received his first two vaccinations (around the age of 4 months) (2) to safely enjoy the joys of water.
This is ideal for understanding how your baby is adapting, you will gradually get your bearings and so will your baby. A weekend is perfect for preparing for possible longer stays. A stay for three is also a very good gift idea for your birth list and to create lovely first family memories in the postpartum period.
What documents to travel with baby?
The same rules apply to everyone: children, babies and parents. If you are traveling to France, you will not need any documents unless you are taking a domestic flight. In this case, you will be asked for an identity card in the child's name. The same if you travel within the European Union. Outside Europe, you will need a passport – and a visa if the destination country requires one. Requests for an identity card or baby passport must be made at the town hall and obtaining these documents can take a few weeks. Remember to plan ahead if you are planning to travel with a child to another country :-)
Are you traveling alone with your children? If you do not have the same name as them, remember to include the family record book or their birth certificate to prove your parentage if necessary.
Please note that some countries require an authorization to leave the territory signed by the other parent. Find out before you leave to avoid unpleasant surprises during your stay!
What equipment should you take when traveling with a baby?
The means of transport: check, the destination, check… Now that the trip is approaching, all that remains is to prepare your suitcases and not forget anything. We don't hide the fact that it's not always easy to travel light with a baby ;-) You will need to bring:
- One or more boxes of powdered milk and small pots, unless you are sure you can easily find them locally;
- A diaper bag with all the things you need within reach: diapers, liniment or wipes, bib, pacifier, comfort blanket, change of clothes, hat, sunglasses, etc.
- A small first aid kit , with dressings, medicines in case of fever, diarrhea, etc. as well as the child's health record;
- A baby toiletry kit;
- A travel cot , if you do not have a baby cot available on site;
- A baby carrier or a stroller so that baby can accompany you on all your escapades!
The tip: it is possible to rent childcare equipment on site, in certain specialized agencies or directly at the hotel. If you are wondering how to travel with 2 babies (twins or siblings close in age), consider this option which will save you a lot of handling and space for a peaceful family trip wherever your vacation location is!
Also remember to include treatments in your suitcase to relax and pamper your body during your trip. Our special “Young Mom” care sets are practical and provide you with a complete beauty routine with natural, risk-free ingredients. All you have to do is pack your bags and enjoy your stay with your baby!
(2) https://www.mpedia.fr/art-tout-savoir-sur-baignade-des-enfants/
