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Top tips for travelling abroad with your baby
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The idea of venturing on a holiday abroad with your baby or toddler for the first time can seem pretty stressful.
A disrupted routine, a potentially long and tiring journey - not to mention risking a meltdown if you run out of nappies!
So, we've got the answers to some common queries and worries, to help you get prepared before you go.
Happy travelling!
1. How much breast milk or formula can I take on a plane in my hand luggage?
Reusable Sterile Baby Bottle, £9.43
Everybody knows that you can only take liquids in containers no larger than 100ml onto a plane, but don't worry, there are special allowances for parents and carers who need to bring milk or food for their babies.
When travelling with a baby, you’re allowed to take enough food, milk (either formula or breast milk) and sterilised water for the journey.
In most cases this will be well over 100ml.
You can also carry breast milk in hand luggage even if you’re not travelling with a baby, however you can’t if it's frozen.
Individual containers of breast milk must hold no more than 2000ml though.
Each container will need to be screened at the security point and airport staff might need to open the containers to examine the liquids.
For further advice on hand luggage, visit Gov.uk.
You can buy this pack of 10 baby milk containers suitable for travel from Amazon. Each is individually wrapped, sterile, and suitable for both freezing and pasteurising
2. Do I need to take my baby's car seat on the plane with me?
Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus, £167
Europe has the same car seat laws as the UK, so a car seat is required for children under 135cm (or age 12), but taxis are exempt.
So theoretically, if you're travelling by taxi from the airport to your accommodation, you're not breaking the law if you don't use a car seat for your child. However, we'd always recommend taking one with you for complete peace of mind.
Most airlines will happily stow the seat with your other hold luggage, but make sure you double-check this before travelling.
While the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) does allow children under the age of two to sit on your lap during a flight, they strongly recommend that children are secured in a car seat that can be installed on the plane's seat to help protect from injury during take-off, in-flight turbulence and landing.
If you fly regularly, it's worth investing in a seat that's FAA-approved.
The FAA have more information available here, but always check with your airline before booking that you can take a particular make or model of car seat on board.
Older children can use booster seats, but we'd recommend high-backed boosters if possible, as they give far, far more protection in the event of an accident.
If you're hiring a car at your holiday destination, you also have the option of hiring a car seat for a daily rate.
The Maxi-Cosi Pebble is a brilliant group 0+ option.
3. Can I buy the same brands of nappies and formula in Europe?
Pampers Premium Protection, £27.69 (for 240)
Pampers and Huggies are available on the continent in countries such as France, Spain, Italy and Portugal, and the sizing is identical, so if you use these brands at home, you should be able to find exactly the same nappies.
Be warned though, that they're often more expensive than if you buy them in the UK, so it might make sense if you take them with you.
After all, you can bulk buy this 240-pack Pampers nappies here – that'll last you for far longer than just your holiday!
It just depends on whether you have the suitcase space to fit all the nappies you need for the duration of your holidays!
It just depends on whether you have the suitcase space to fit all the nappies you need for the duration of your holidays!
Aldi also has hundreds of stores across Europe, so if you're a fan of their award-winning nappies and wipes, you'll be able to find these, too.
UK formula brands are generally not available on the continent, so it's best to pack what you need, especially if your baby's very young.
If your child's older (12 months+) it might be better to try and switch to cows' milk before you leave, as it'll be more readily available.
Want to read more about travelling with a baby?
- The best buggies for taking on holiday
- The best travel products to stop the kids fighting in the back seat
- Clever ways to beat jet lag when you're travelling with kids
This article contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small amount of money if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase from Amazon. All our articles and reviews are written independently by the Netmums editorial team.