Travelling with a baby or toddler: what works from 0 to 2
Under two, the trip is for you and the baby comes along. Choose one base, protect the naps and book the few things that are hard to fix on arrival.
The short version
- One base for the whole trip beats any itinerary with several stops.
- Plan one outing a day and build it around the nap, not the other way round.
- A kitchen and a separate sleeping space matter more than a hotel's star rating.
- Book the cot, the airport transfer with a car seat and the flight seats in advance.
Pick one base and stay put
A baby does not care where they are. They care that the cot is in the same place every night. Each change of hotel costs you a day of packing and a rough night, so a week in one apartment is a better trip than three cities in seven days.
The trips that work at this age are slow ones: a beach town with shade, a flat city with parks, a house in the countryside with a garden.
- Flight of four hours or less if this is your first trip together
- Apartment or suite with a door between you and the cot
- Kitchen or at least a fridge and a kettle
- Ground floor or a lift that fits the stroller
- Supermarket and pharmacy within walking distance
Plan the day around the nap
Decide in advance which nap is sacred and which can happen on the move. Most families keep the long midday nap in the room and let the shorter one happen in the stroller or carrier. That gives you a morning outing, a quiet middle of the day and a short late afternoon walk.
It sounds like very little. It is the amount that keeps everyone civil by day four.
- One planned outing a day, in the morning
- Back at base for the long nap, and take turns going out alone
- Dinner early, or takeaway on the balcony after bedtime
- Keep the home bedtime routine exactly: same sleeping bag, same book, same order
Flights: seats, timing and the lap question
Children under two can usually fly on an adult's lap for a reduced fare or a fee, and that is what most families do on short flights. The US Federal Aviation Administration says the safest place for a child under two is an approved child restraint in their own seat, and that buying a ticket is the only way to guarantee you can use one.
Decide on budget and flight length, but know the trade-off.
- Many airlines offer a limited number of bassinets on long-haul flights, with weight and length limits. Request one when you book.
- If you bring a car seat on board, check the airline's policy page and the approval label on the seat first
- Choose flight times that match a nap or bedtime when you can
- Offer a feed, a bottle or a dummy during take-off and descent
- Pack one full change of clothes for the baby and a spare top for you in the cabin bag
Feeding on the road
Breastfeeding is the easiest way to travel because there is nothing to pack. For formula and solids, the question is what you can buy at the destination and what you need to carry.
Brands and formulations change between countries, so bring enough of your usual formula for the whole trip if your baby is fussy or has any dietary need. Ask your paediatrician before switching.
- Check your departure airport's security page for the rules on baby milk, formula and food in hand luggage
- Bring a travel kettle or ask the hotel in writing whether the room has one
- Pouches and plain crackers cover a delayed lunch
- A foldable fabric high chair harness works on most restaurant chairs
- For water safety at your destination, check the official travel health advice for that country
Gear: what to bring and what to leave
Bring a compact stroller and a carrier. You will use both. The stroller is a bed, a high chair and a luggage cart; the carrier gets you through airports, stairs, old town cobbles and beaches where wheels are useless.
Leave the rest. Cots, high chairs and baby baths can be supplied by the accommodation or rented locally in most family destinations.
- Compact stroller that reclines flat enough for a nap
- Soft carrier that both adults can wear
- Portable blackout blind or a dark stroller cover
- White noise on a phone or a small speaker
- The sleeping bag and sheet from home, unwashed, so the cot smells familiar
- Small first-aid kit agreed with your paediatrician
Heat and sun
Heat is the thing that ruins summer trips with babies. A destination that is pleasant in May can be miserable in August, and a baby cannot tell you they are too hot.
The UK's National Health Service advises keeping babies under six months out of direct sunlight, and keeping young children in the shade between 11am and 3pm in summer. Plan your days to match.
- Travel in spring or early autumn if you have the choice
- Insist on air conditioning in the bedroom, not only the living room
- Beach early morning and after 4pm, indoors or in deep shade in between
- Wide-brimmed hat, long light clothing and a shade tent for the beach
What to book before you go
Most things can be sorted on arrival. A handful cannot, and those are worth an email before you leave.
- Cot in the room, confirmed in writing, with the type if it matters to you
- Airport transfer with the right car seat for your child's weight
- Flight seats together, and the bassinet request on long-haul
- A room away from the bar, the lift and the street
- Travel insurance that covers the baby by name
- A paediatrician visit if the trip involves vaccines or a region with specific health advice
Cabin bag for a baby
Common questions
How old does a baby need to be to fly?
Airlines set their own minimum age, and it varies, so check your airline's policy page before booking. For a newborn, a premature baby or a baby with any health condition, ask your paediatrician first.
Does a baby need a passport?
For international travel, in almost every case yes: each traveller needs their own document, including infants. Check your government's passport page early, because a first passport for a child can take weeks.
Stroller or carrier?
Both. The stroller handles naps and long flat walks, and the carrier handles airports, stairs, public transport and anywhere with cobbles or sand. If you can only take one, take the carrier for a baby under a year and the stroller for a toddler.