Travelling with an Infant

[Shaf]

For those of you that have travelled with an infant (7 month old), please could you provide some tips and advise:?

We will be travelling to Africa (Toronto - Amsterdam - Nairobi) for approximately 6 weeks. I will be going for the first 3 weeks and since my spouse is on mat leave, she'll stay back (lucky her!)

1. Should we take the car seat and stroller?
2. If we do take the stroller, will we get to use it in transit (Amsterdam)?
3. The stroller and car seat are pretty bulky, is there any other option? The law there does not require us to use a car seat.
4. Any other tips?

[mart242]

Why not simply buy a car seat once there? (unless you're planning to use the seat on the plane).

It's not like 100$ will make a difference on your budget for such a trip..

[Rehan]

1. Yes.
2. Strollers can be gate checked, so you can use them in between flight segments.
3. Buy an umbrella stroller...it will be cheap and light. Even if the law doesn't require you to use a car seat over there, listen to your common sense.
4. See http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/babytravel/7157.html and http://www.babycenter.com/baby/babytravel/index

[Shifty]

We're travelling with our 8 month old this May, we'll be taking his car seat for when we rent a car, but we'll just be buying a cheap umbrella stroller when we get there.

Are you getting a plane ticket for your child, or holding him/her in your lap?

[sunnybono]

the wife & I went to India for 3 weeks with our 3 month old daughter. We took the stroller and car seat with us (the car seat was part of the stroller and could be separated at any time). The airlines were great with us, except for A/C who lost our stroller in London. However we took powder formula and juice with us and boiled the water over there. What we also did was that we couriered a box of diapers to our destination so that we didn't have to fill the suitcase up because when you're travelling with an infant, the infant doesn't have a baggage allowance.

I would consult with the baby's pediatrician to see if the child needs to take any shots before departure. The Dr. should have a list for each particular country.

If Africa is anything like India, then I would alos take diarehha tablets with you just in case you or child eat something that you shouldn't have.

Other than that you should be fine & enjoy your trip!!!!!!

sk :)

[hagbard]

For those of you that have travelled with an infant (7 month old), please could you provide some tips and advise:?

We will be travelling to Africa (Toronto - Amsterdam - Nairobi) for approximately 6 weeks. I will be going for the first 3 weeks and since my spouse is on mat leave, she'll stay back (lucky her!)

1. Should we take the car seat and stroller?
2. If we do take the stroller, will we get to use it in transit (Amsterdam)?
3. The stroller and car seat are pretty bulky, is there any other option? The law there does not require us to use a car seat.
4. Any other tips?

Avoid Air Canada.

[Shaf]

Another question... since my wife will stay back with the baby, does she need some sort of letter to allow her to travel with our child???

[mattpiloto]

Another question... since my wife will stay back with the baby, does she need some sort of letter to allow her to travel with our child???

Just a birth certificate should be fine. You might wanna check just in case, but that should do. Although I suppose a letter is easy enough to write.

We've taken my oldest on 3 plane trips (she's 22 months) and she was actually pretty good on the trip, much better than when she's in the car. Hope you have a fun trip, sounds cool.

[fuhreal]

I just came back from a 3 week trip to the phillipines with my wife. 17 hour plane ride. Luckily my boy slept most of the way on my lap, so i had some circulation issues by the end of the flight.

We took an umbrealla stroller that was like $15 from wallmart, it was well worth it. If you have a car seat for the plane i'm not certain but i believe you have to purchase another seat for the child. I do know that airlines also provide special seats/baskets for children if you request them well in advance. Also, make sure you verify your child will have a meal on the plane, if not, make sure you carry food. Luckily at 15 months my child can eat anything i eat.

Law states that a child must be accompanied by both parents if not a letter signed by a lawyer is required for travel. This is enforced by airlines and customs/imigration.

For me, i hated the plane ride but where i stayed on vacation there was alot of family to help out with our child as it is a vacation after all.

All in all things should be fine, we didn't have trouble with diahrea as we were caucious (sp?) ...

enjoy your trip!!!!

pm me if u have any questions i'd be happy to help

[savvygal]

We backpacked through eastern europe when our baby was 5 months. We carried her around in a Baby Bjorn and it worked out perfectly. We didn't have to try and manoeuvre a stroller through the crowds so if your baby is light enough, that could be an option. We are planning on going to Australia in a week, and now that she is 9 months and heavier, we are opting for the stroller. We were told by Air Canada that unless you purchase a seat for the infant, you will not be allowed to bring your car seat onboard even if the flight is not full. Your car seat also has to be aircraft approved (britax is an example). Not all planes have sky cots but you can have them request it if they do. We were also told that if your stroller is too big, it will not be gatechecked, but if you bring an umbrella stroller, there shouldn't be a problem. Check with the airline about baggage allowance for your baby. We didn't buy a seat for her, but she had to pay airport taxes, and was still allowed one piece of baggage of 50lbs.

[HighFlyer]

We are planning on going to Australia in a week, and now that she is 9 months and heavier, we are opting for the stroller. We were told by Air Canada that unless you purchase a seat for the infant, you will not be allowed to bring your car seat onboard even if the flight is not full.
Keep a blanket for the arrival in SYD to cover her face when they spray the cabin with insecticides. A few passengers with babies on our flight didn't do that, and it was a long 5 minutes during the quarantine (the period after they finish spraying in which all the doors and vents are shut).

This is assuming you are flying AC all the way to SYD.