Travelling with a Baby

The law has changed and babies now require their own passport to travel to and from countries. Applying for your baby’s passport is simple and can be completed either online via the Governments website or through the post. Here’s the key bits you need to know:

A child’s passport will cost £49.00 and can take up to three weeks to arrive. In order to apply for a British passport, the child must have British nationality. You will also need a digital photo of your baby, someone to confirm the baby’s identity and supporting documents. It is worth remembering that children’s passports are only valid for 5 years unlike the adult 10 years, this can catch many people out and scrambling to renew a child passport days before a much looked forward to holiday.

A child’s passport will cost £49.00 and can take up to three weeks to arrive.

We know what you’re thinking, how am I supposed to get my new born baby to sit in one of those photobooths at the supermarket? Luckily, babies have different rules to adults when it comes to taking a passport photo. As long as you have a device at home that takes good quality photos, a snap of them laying on a white blanket, taken within a month prior to submission, will be accepted. The other exceptions are as follows:

• Your baby must not be holding any toys or a dummy.
• They do not have to look directly at the camera, have their eyes open or have a plain expression.
• The photo should be taken from above if the baby is laying on a plain sheet.

*passport rules may be subject to change following Brexit on 31^st October 2019.

Flying with a baby is perfectly safe, but there are a few things you can do to make the journey a little less stressful.

When booking your flight, you will need to book a ticket for your baby too. Most airlines will offer a discounted ticket under two’s – usually priced at 10% of an adult ticket. Airlines don’t always place families together on flights anymore if they haven’t pre-booked their seats, so this is something to bear in mind. For a small fee you can guarantee you are all sitting together, just in case you need a helping hand during the flight.

It’s also a sensible idea to check the airlines baggage allowance for things like car seats, pushchairs and baby changing bags – these items can normally be checked-in and placed in the hold free of charge for infants under a certain age. Some airlines will let you keep your push chair with you until you board the plane – just remember to pick up a luggage tag at check-in so it won’t get lost once it’s been places in the hold.

If you are flying long-haul, it may be possible to book a carry cot for your baby so they can lay flat during the journey – and you don’t have to hold them for the duration of the flight! Always check what’s available with the airline and any additional equipment as early as possible so you don’t miss out.

Most parents will be taking food or milk in hand luggage. This does not fall under the 100ml restriction.

During take-off most mothers find allowing the baby to suckle will help them to feel more settled and can prevent the baby’s ears from popping. Most airlines are more than happy to cater for breast feeding.

If your baby is unsettled during the flight and the seat belt sign has been switched off, it may help to walk your little one up and down the aisle to soothe them. Ignore any disgruntled looks or comments from other passengers. Most people will see you are trying to comfort your baby and flash you a sympathetic smile, but there’s always one.

Long car journeys always require some planning, but there are a few more things that need to be considered if you are driving with a new born on board.

As with all car journey’s, make sure your car is ready for the road. In the run up to the trip check water and oil levels, tyres and general wear and tear on the car – and don’t forget screen wash. Car seats should also be rear-facing and not installed in the front passenger seat if there is a live airbag. If your baby is in the back of the car you can get little mirrors that attach to the car seat which will allow you to keep an eye on your baby during the journey.

Before setting off, make sure you know how many service stations are on route – and where they are. You may find yourself stopping more frequently, so be flexible and allow plenty of time to reach your destination.

It’s also advisable to avoid traffic where possible. Sitting on the motorway with a tired, frustrated baby is not how you want your holiday to begin. If you can manage the early mornings, try to leave in the early hours to miss the commuters, or if this isn’t an option wait until after the rush-hour traffic has been and gone. Some babies will wake up in the early hours, so this could be the perfect time to leave. Make sure you have everything in the car ready and just do a swift transfer from cot to car and hopefully they will settle themselves back off again (obviously it won’t be that easy – new borns are unpredictable after all!)

Make sure you stock up on essentials like snacks, water, extra blankets and clothing – just in case.

During the journey make sure the car is well ventilated and use sun visors to stop the sun from beating down on them. Also, it goes without saying that you shouldn’t smoke in the car. Second hand smoke is incredibly dangerous and it is illegal to smoke in the car if anyone under the age of 18 is on board. Instead schedule this into your service stops.

If your baby is unsettled and there is more than one of you in the car, it may be a good idea for one of you to sit in the back of the car with them.

Travelling by train with a baby has similar rules to flying. Your doctor may advise against taking your baby in large crowds if they are under three-months old due to the risk of infection whilst their immune system strengthens.

If you are given the go-ahead for rail travel, make sure you book your seats. Trains can very quickly become overcrowded and knowing you have a seat will help ease some of the stress. If possible, try to get a seat near the baby changing facilities so you don’t have to battle your way through too many people. If you can, try and book off-peak ticket too. Not only will these be cheaper but the train is likely to be quieter too.

When booking your tickets, try to avoid a lot of changes as this can make the journey incredibly stressful. It may mean you end up on a slower train, but you’ll be thanking yourself when all you need to do is sit down and relax until you reach your destination. You’ll also find the motion of the train helps to settle your baby too.

Most trains will have designated luggage holds at the end of each carriage. If it is not possible to leave your luggage in your carriage take a photo of where you have left it – it’s easy to forget the carriage letter after a four-hour journey. If you are able to, keep an eye on your luggage throughout the journey. It’s easy for people to pick things up by mistake so make sure everything is clearly labelled and remember to write your name and contact number on the luggage tag. If anything is missing you can alert the conductor who will be able to hold the train to help locate your luggage.

If you are travelling alone the thought of boarding with all your luggage and a baby can be daunting. Rail staff are more than happy to assist if you ask. If there isn’t any rail staff around, don’t be afraid to ask fellow passengers for a hand.

Finally, it’s worth checking the onboard facilities. Some trains will be able to store bottles in the fridge for you and heat them up if necessary.