Traveling Abroad With Children? What Every Parent Needs to Know Before You Leave

Holidays are magical, particularly when you’re a child. But when you’re younger, you only remember the wonderful moments, playing in the pool and going to the beach, but rarely do you remember all the preparation to get you to and from your destination. 

As a parent, you want to be able to take your kids away and make great memories, but it isn’t always smooth sailing. You’ve got to pack, make sure you have everything, get through the airport and keep them entertained throughout the flight, so they don’t bother other passengers. 

This article contains affiliate links. We earn from qualifying purchases.

So, the best way to ensure a smooth journey with young children is to prepare! And to help you do this, we’ve put together this handy guide on traveling abroad with young kids. Check it out below. 

Consider shipping your luggage ahead

One of your first considerations when booking a holiday is often luggage – most importantly, how much can you take on the plane. But what if you removed the stress of dealing with luggage altogether? 

Using an international shipping service, you can have your bags collected from your house by a professional courier service and delivered to your accommodation on the other side. This has a number of benefits: 

• You can choose the time and date it is collected and delivered 
• You can focus solely on the children at the airport and not carrying loads of heavy bags 
• There is less queuing at check-in and baggage claim 
• You’ll save yourself time and ultimately moaning from bored children who don’t want to stand in line or lug their bags around 

All in all, choosing to use a shipping service can give you a more relaxed start to the holiday. Plus, it can be very beneficial if you’re traveling with really young children and need to take bigger items like cribs, large strollers,  and other essentials. 

Get AirTags for hand luggage

If you are taking hand luggage, another great way to keep track of your bags (and children) is by using AirTags. These are small devices that can be placed on keyrings, school bags, or even inside a child’s pocket, and they connect to your iPhone. If you lose anything (or someone), you can use the ‘Find My’ app to see its location in real-time. 

AirTags are also very helpful when it comes to getting through the airport. You can add them to your boarding passes in the Wallet app and then hold your iPhone up to the reader at security. This will automatically pull up your boarding pass and show that you have everything you need to board the plane.

amzn_assoc_placement = “adunit0”; amzn_assoc_search_bar = “true”; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = “littfamiadve-20”; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = “manual”; amzn_assoc_ad_type = “smart”; amzn_assoc_marketplace = “amazon”; amzn_assoc_region = “US”; amzn_assoc_title = “My Amazon Picks”; amzn_assoc_linkid = “d0b47e6a7940eceabdef0ed6c9dc4e2b”; amzn_assoc_asins = “B0932QJ2JZ,B094Q8L7GV,B09P9Q3DJK,B09CTF6B4V”;

Make sure to pack everything you might need 

Another important thing to do before you set off is to ensure you’ve packed everything you need. There are several essential items you’re going to need when traveling with children, so make sure to pack for every scenario. This includes making sure you have plenty of medicine, just in case someone should fall ill. 

In terms of packing, it’s a good idea to have a separate hand luggage bag that contains the most important items. These are all the things you will need at the airport and during the flight. For example, make sure to have all of your passports to hand and any boarding passes or check-in information. You might also wish to pack some snacks for the children, as well as some books, games or entertainment (more on this later). 

Give yourself plenty of time to pack your larger bags, ensuring you have everything you’ll need for a fun and relaxing holiday. This gives you time to double-check your bags before shipping them or checking them in at the airport.

Check airline regulations in regards to children 

Different airlines have different rules when it comes to traveling with children. Some have age restrictions on how young a baby can be before flying, and some will have seating restrictions in place. 

Generally, really small children and babies can fly for free as they have to sit on their parent’s lap. However, if it’s a long flight, you might wish to book them their own seat. In this case, you might need an airline-approved car seat to strap them into. 

So before you book, and certainly before you fly, it’s a good idea to check what your specific airline’s rules and regulations are so you can make sure there are no last-minute surprises at the airport.

Get kids comfortable with flying

If your children have never flown before, the whole experience can be quite daunting for them. The security line in particular can be a source of stress, as they might not understand why they have to take their shoes and belts off. 

To help ease any anxiety, it’s a good idea to explain the whole process to them before you even set foot in the airport. This way, they know what to expect and can mentally prepare themselves. You might also want to visit the airport beforehand so they can get used to the surroundings. This is especially important if you have very young children who might find the whole experience overwhelming. 

Once you’re at the airport, try to stay calm and relaxed yourself. This will help to keep your children calm too. If they see you getting stressed out, it’s likely they will start to feel the same way.

Get travel insurance

This is a must for any trip, but it’s even more important when you’re traveling with young children. You never know what might happen, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Make sure you get comprehensive cover that will protect you, your children, and your belongings in the event of any problems.

This is especially important if you’re planning on doing any adventurous activities while on vacation. Many insurance companies will cover things like lost baggage or cancellations, but they might not cover more risky activities. So check the small print before you buy to make sure you’re adequately covered.

Make sure you have all the necessary documents

Another thing to do before you travel is to make sure you have all of the necessary documents in order. This includes things like passports, visas (if needed), and vaccination certificates (if required). 

If you’re traveling within the Schengen Area in Europe, then you might need a Schengen visa. This allows you to travel freely between the participating countries for up to 90 days. If you’re planning on staying longer than this, then you will need to apply for a different type of visa. 

Similarly, if you’re traveling to certain parts of the world, you might need to get certain vaccinations before you go. For example, if you’re going to Africa or Southeast Asia, then you might need a yellow fever vaccination. It’s always a good idea to check the latest travel advice from your government website before you book so you can make sure you have everything in order.

If you are traveling solo with your children, you might also need to provide a letter of consent from the other parent. This is to prove that you have permission to take your children out of the country. Here is our Child Travel Consent Form here.

Give yourself plenty of time – and take it slow 

Whether you’re choosing to ship your bags or check them in on arrival, making sure you have plenty of time is so important. This reduces the risk of any last-minute stress, rushing and trying to get young children to keep up, so you aren’t late. 

Because unfortunately, not everything goes to plan. There might be traffic on the way to the airport, someone forgets something important and you and to turn back, the security queue is longer than planned, or you still need to grab the kids something to eat before you board the plane. 

Whatever the case may be, giving yourself that extra hour (or two) to get to the airport can help to keep you calm and ensure a smoother journey. This gives you plenty of time to get through security, and there are lots of shops, restaurants and even play areas at the airport, so you will have enough to keep the kids entertained during that extra time. 

Assign a meeting point 

When traveling with babies, it can be easier to keep tabs on them. Unfortunately, with slightly older kids, it can be tough to stop them from wandering off in a shop or play area. So, although we all do our best to keep our eyes on the ball, it’s a good idea to assign a meeting place at the airport. 

Upon arrival, tell your children that should they lose sight of you, they are to meet you by a certain shop or memorable place. This gives you peace of mind that if you do lose them for a minute, you will know where they are heading. 

This can also be very helpful for parents who get split up too. It makes it much easier to keep the family together or re-group if you drift apart. 

Bring entertainment for the plane and airport

Finally, if you want your child to stay quiet and happy throughout the journey, you need to make sure they don’t get too bored or frustrated. Thankfully, entertaining young kids has become much easier now, thanks to iPads and other devices that allow them to play games or watch TV. So before you leave, make sure your device is pre-loaded with whatever keeps them happy and set it to airplane mode. 

But don’t rely on these devices alone. As we know, technology doesn’t always do what we want it to. Plus, children can quickly get bored of one thing. 

As such, it’s a good idea to bring a few small travel games, window clings, activity books,  coloring books or magazines depending on the age of the child. Having lots to distract them, particularly if they are stuck sitting on your lap, can make your flight (and other passenger’s flights) much more enjoyable.

Flying with kids doesn’t have to be a nightmare. By following these simple tips, you can make the experience much more pleasant for everyone involved. And who knows, you might even enjoy it too!

For international family-friendly destinations , check out:

• 5 Best Places to Visit in Switzerland with Kids for an Adventure
• See the Best of Munich Germany – Things to Do with Teens
• 10 Adventurous Things to Do Near Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica
• Why Your Next Caribbean Vacation Should Be St Lucia’s All-Inclusive Coconut Bay Beach Resort
• 10 Reasons Why I Will Keep Coming Back to Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in the Bahamas
• Touring Helsinki with Teens – Explore Finnish Architecture, Local Food, & More

What are your top tips for flying with kids? Let us know in the comments below!