Packing list | Air travel with babies and toddlers

Packing list

Most of the time you go on a summer vacation by plane. To ensure that the child is provided with clothing appropriate to the climate, parents should inform themselves about the weather at the vacation destination before the flight. Most hotels and vacation apartments often have a laundry service or washing machines, so that not too much has to be packed.

Both long-sleeved and short-sleeved bodies should be packed. Sufficient T-shirts and short pants. But also a few long-sleeved thin shirts and thin long pants.

Because often in warm countries there are mosquitoes which can also transmit malaria or dengue fever. Long clothing in the morning and evening hours can prevent mosquito bites. Furthermore, a mosquito net can offer protection at night.

A sun hat and UV bathing clothes protect against sunburn. Since some beaches can be stony, it is recommended to pack bathing shoes. In the travel pharmacy, sun milk for children with a sufficient sun protection factor, plasters, fever-reducing agents, thermometers, mosquito spray for children, nasal spray, wound cream belong to the travel pharmacy. Depending on which country you are travelling to, you should find out beforehand whether the desired baby food is available for purchase. It is therefore advisable to pack a pack of powdered milk, porridge or similar.

When can I go on vacation with my baby?

From when a baby can fly on vacation by plane depends on the airline. Most airlines allow flying from the 8th day of life, there are some that allow it later. Rather parents should decide for themselves whether they are ready to fly with the baby.

Because too much stress and nervousness of the parents can transfer to the child. A good time could be something with 6 months. The baby and the parents know each other well by then and are more experienced.

Which destinations are recommended?

In order to save babies and toddlers unnecessarily long air journeys, destinations that can be reached by short or medium-haul flights are particularly recommended. Parents should avoid an extreme climate. That means destinations with very cold or hot temperatures or extreme dryness are not recommended.Parents should also find out beforehand whether the country is safe and whether medical care, especially for the child, is guaranteed.

This can be read on the pages of the German Foreign Office. Furthermore, it is advisable to consult a pediatrician to find out which vaccinations are necessary. Babies and toddlers under one year of age are not yet vaccinated against mumps, measles and rubella and therefore have no protection against these diseases.

This should be considered when choosing a destination. For this reason, countries where vaccination is not standard are not recommended. Many tropical countries are risk areas for malaria and dengue fever.

Again, the pediatrician should be asked if the child is old enough to receive prophylaxis before choosing a destination. It is especially recommended within Europe. Here, parents can be sure in most cases that medical care is available for the child that can be reached quickly.