Taking a plane with your child, our advice!

Traveling with your toddler can be a challenge , but with a few tips, you can make the experience more enjoyable for the whole family. First, plan ahead by checking flight or travel times to choose the best time for your child to sleep.

Make sure to pack enough diapers, wipes, and a change of clothes to cover any unexpected events . Also, pack an activity bag with favorite toys, books, or games to keep your little one entertained during the trip. If possible, stick to their usual routine by respecting mealtimes and sleep times. When traveling, use baby carriers or strollers for convenience. Finally, be flexible and ready to adapt to your child's needs.

Successful travel with a toddler often relies on parents' ability to stay calm and adjust to unexpected changes. With these tips, you'll be better prepared to travel serenely with your little explorer !

From what age can a baby fly?

Airline companies accept infants from 1 week old. For long trips, we advise you to wait until your child is 3 weeks old. He will have had his first vaccinations and for some destinations this is important. Before the age of 2, a child can travel sitting on his parents' lap.

And for the most stressed, the younger your child is, the more he will sleep in flight and that is the holy grail when traveling with your child.

In most cases, babies aged 14 days to 2 years can travel with a reduced fare ticket.

Some countries require babies to be at least 6 months old before they can enter their country. Most airlines may also require babies to be accompanied by an adult and certain additional requirements to be met. Therefore, it is important to check the specific requirements of the airline and country before planning your trip.

Taking a long-haul flight with a baby, our recommendations:

Now you know that a long plane trip is possible with your baby, even from a very young age. We still have some recommendations to give you:

- When booking your tickets, try to find a direct flight, it's still much easier than a 5-hour stopover in an airport.

- If you can, choose a night flight. This will help your baby sleep more easily during part of the journey.

- All airlines offer a limited number of cradles for children under 10kg. Be careful, there are few on planes, so remember to book them in advance. These cradles are fixed to the wall and your seats are very close. A real comfortable bed that gives comfort to the journey and leaves your hands free while baby sleeps.

- If possible, choose a seat near the window, it is more comfortable. This will give you support when you have your baby in your arms.

As you can see, this flight may not be like any other. You will be much more active than usual. When you travel with a baby on a long-haul flight, you get up a lot. Whether it's to rock your child in the aisles of the plane, to change him or even warm up his bottle.

Formalities for traveling with a child by plane:

What documents are required to fly with a baby?

If you decide to travel with your little one, you will need certain documents depending on the company and the destination of your trip.

For France, no document is necessary other than your child's identity card.

For other destinations, you will need for your little one:

For travel to EU or Schengen countries you will need a valid passport.

Outside the EU;

• Your passport and visa : in some countries around the world. Sometimes the authorities even ask that the visa be valid for 6 months after your return date ;
• An additional authorization to leave the territory (AST) if you want to travel with a baby by plane and you are not the parent. One of the holders of parental authority must sign this document Cerfa 15646*01  and you will need to take a copy of his ID.

I still advise you to take your family record book. A valuable document that can prevent you from getting stuck in an airport. With covid, the authorities are cautious and in some airports equipped with temperature detectors your child can be an easy target. To avoid any misunderstanding, take your child's health record with you. Once you arrive at your destination, it can also be valuable in case of health concerns.

Is the price of the plane ticket the same for your baby?

Some airlines offer great discounts for children, depending on whether your baby travels on your lap and also depending on his age. After 2 years, you will pay about 70% of the price of an adult ticket. And from 11 years old you will pay the full price of the ticket.

Before the flight:

Plan to arrive with plenty of time to check in baby equipment such as a car seat or stroller. When you arrive at the security gate, you will be asked to pick up your child and leave your stroller for X-rays.

When traveling with or without children, the waiting time is long for an adult, so for a child it is even longer. In some airports, there are play areas to entertain children. Don't hesitate to stop there, it's really a good idea to let them let off steam and run around before a long plane trip.

Most often when traveling with a baby, boarding is priority. You are invited to board the plane first. I find this idea super bad... it adds time on the plane not being able to move. I advise you to wait as long as possible outside the plane to still be a little free to move.

What do you put in your luggage when traveling by plane with your baby?

Traveling with a baby by plane requires a bit of equipment. Almost all companies (find out before departure) offer the possibility of taking with you for free 2 baby equipment (car seat, stroller, baby carrier for hiking, travel cot, etc.) in the hold for children under 2 years old. Note that the yoyo stroller can stay with you until the plane, it is one of the rare models of stroller accepted on the plane. It then replaces your child's cabin baggage.

Babies have the same right as their parents to travel with cabin baggage. The dimensions are specific to each airline.

Our advice for taking a peaceful flight with your children: during the flight

What do we put in the baby's cabin suitcase?

For a peaceful trip with baby, the watchword is anticipation. You know your child, his needs and what distracts him. For the flight, don't forget to take a few essentials with you:

- take something to eat and drink for the duration of the flight (and even a little more in case of an accident)

- a change of clothes and a warm jacket, the air conditioning in flight is something.

- a small kit with diapers, changing cream, physiological serum...

- some toys that your child is not familiar with. Distraction will be one of the crucial points for a successful flight.

Airplane food for babies:

If your child is breastfed, this will be practical since the milk will be in unlimited quantity and at the right temperature. For others, provide powdered milk and already warm water for the bottle.

If you are traveling with a child over 1 year old, take some snacks or sweets with you. When you eat you don't think about anything and this can make your child have a pleasant time during the flight.

Keeping your baby busy during the flight:

Don't take too much, the little ones don't really play or at least play with everything they find. Don't take noisy or bright toys, which could disturb other passengers.

You can distract your child for a while by showing him the clouds through the porthole.

Protecting your baby's ears:

In flight we experience strong variations in pressure and the little ones are sensitive to this.

To limit this effect on your little one, you can:

In case of cold, be careful: blow your nose well before leaving. And if an ear infection occurs 24 hours before, refrain from leaving, it can be dangerous for your little one's eardrums. If you have the slightest doubt, you will find earplugs for babies in the pharmacy.

Traveling alone with a baby:

If you are flying alone with a baby, our number 1 tip: don't weigh yourself down. Take a compact yoyo-style stroller and a baby carrier that doesn't take up space. For your luggage, opt for a suitcase with wheels or a backpack to have your hands free.

And finally, know that the most important thing is the well-being of your child. If your child feels stressed, he will be too. Reassure him as best you can, and above all, do not trust the looks of others.

Have a good trip !