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A Baby Abroad
International Travel with Infants Part Two
By Danielle Hamilton
Checking In
When traveling internationally, be sure to arrive at least three hours in advance for check-in. Use curbside check-in if it's available. There's no sense in toting tons of bags if you don't have to! Or, rent a cart to carry your belongings. You will need to pay a departure tax at this time in either cash or traveler's checks. This tax may be more than you paid for the infant's ticket! Call ahead to your airline for the tax amount per passenger. Ask whether certain items such as the stroller and car seat can be gate-checked and how the airline treats carry-on luggage for a baby. Many airlines do not allow extra luggage for your infant. Only passengers with their own seats are allowed luggage rights. Flight Expectations
Keep the entertainment items for your baby close at hand. Dress baby in a short sleeve shirt and pants but bring along a sweater -- airplanes tend to be very cool. Nurse your baby or use pacifiers/bottles during takeoff and landing to reduce ear pressure. Babies love motion and many fall asleep as soon as the plane begins to taxi down the runway! In addition to maintaining a comfortable -- and quiet -- sleeping area, do your best to stick to the infant's eating and sleeping schedule. Whenever flying with an infant, the flight attendants will help you as much as possible by bringing extra blankets and pillows, filling water in baby bottles or just heating up the bottle. The attendants may even hold your baby while you visit the restroom if you're traveling alone. Changing diapers in the latrine is difficult due to the small space, so be sure to change diapers prior to boarding or at your seat. And, the attendants' jump seat makes a perfect spot for this task, too!
