For many parents, traveling with a baby can be a nightmare scenario. You have to drag them through airports while they kick and scream. You have to babysit them during flights and hope they do not disturb other passengers. Then you have to check into hotels with them grabbing at your clothes and screaming bloody murder. If you are planning a trip outside the country, and you intend on bringing your infant along, there are a few things you must remember. First, a pasport for babies is now a legal requirement. So, make sure all of your passport needs are met before you plan on going anywhere overseas.
New Requirements
Due to the recent cases of child abduction that have been happening all over the world, the United States government has now made it a requirement for all infants to possess a valid US passport for babies for international travel. Thankfully, applying for a new passport is not the hassle it once was. All you need to do in order to obtain your child a passport is download and fill out the proper application forms. You will then have to provide proof of citizenship, be it a birth certificate or social security number, to the proper passport authorities. Compared with traveling with your baby, this part of the process is a relative cakewalk.
How To Choose An Airline
When you are trying to select an airline for international travel with a baby you should consider a few things. First, see if the airline offers any special accommodations for travelers who have a baby with them. Actually, some airlines will let people with infants board the plane before anyone else in order to get the child settled and comfortable. This will let you avoid the long, arduous wait in line that everyone else must suffer through. Also, once you board, make the flight attendants aware that you are traveling with a young baby and they will be more than happy to help you make sure the flight goes as seamlessly as possible for the child.
Hands Free Travel
A great tool for parents to use when taking their baby through an airport is the hands free, baby carrier. This allows parents to use both hands for their luggage and other things, while still keeping an eye on their child. Also, many airlines allow passenger under the age of two to sit on their parent's laps during flights. This is very beneficial for parents because they will not have to haul and drag around a large child car-seat for them to sit on during long flights.
Luggage
Toddlers love to imitate, to reduce stress at the airport and on the plane get them their own travel bag. Whether it is their own rolling suitcase, which also has the handy feature of being rideable in an airport, or a character backpack, it leaves more room in your bag for necessary items, and makes them feel like a big kid.
Be Organized
Organization is the most critical thing for parents to worry about when traveling abroad with a baby in tow. This will allow you to remain stress free when handling all of the obstacles that come with international travel. By keeping all of your baby items together you will be able to quickly access them should you need to.
About the Author
By Ben Pate
Of course the first item of business to take care of when traveling internationally with your children is ensuring that all your pasport needs are in order. This includes apply for a U S passport for babies if it hasn't been done yet and making sure your passport will be valid for your dates of travel.