Travel and Vacations

Travel Tips: Flying With An Infant – Airport Security Travel Restrictions

Story Published on October 20, 2008 ⋅  Email this Story ⋅  Print this Story ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

If you plan to air travel with an infant, there are some extra steps you need to take that will guarantee your flight is enjoyable and as smooth as possible. Airport restrictions implemented by Homeland security can be extra challenging and these tips will help you prepare for your flight.

When traveling with an infant as opposed to traveling alone you could easily double your time and effort exerted to prepare for the trip. Restrictions implemented by Homeland security can be almost as challenging as flying with your little one.

To face these challenges, your preparation should start well before you leave your home. If you are departing not from your home but from another less familiar point, such as a hotel in a city you are visiting, or a friend’s or a relatives home, there could be additional considerations you have to make.

If you are departing to or from a foreign country then airport security travel restrictions can be even more challenging. Your preparations will have to start several weeks in advance of your departure. The first step is to know how long you are going to be away in the foreign country. This decides whether you want to apply for separate passports for you and your infant. If your visit is only for a short period (few months or less) then it might be possible to include your infant’s name in your passport.

If a foreign country is part of your travel plans then you also need to obtain visas for both you and your infant. Most certainly you will also need the birth certificate for your child. Depending on which country you are traveling to it will be necessary to have immunizations completed. These records should be with you as well. The discussion above applies to most foreign countries of travel. However, it is a good idea to check with your travel agent or research online if travel to countries such as Canada is less restrictive.

In any case, the very first step in your travel preparation is to get all your travel documents ready for your infant. With this accomplished it is time to pay attention to your infantas special needs during travel. You should be able to address most of these without much extra effort because you are traveling. Infants are special and most of their needs are special enough that it makes little difference whether they are at home or at the airport or flying. But here are some points to pay attention to.

Most airlines allow infant carriers, however you should check with homeland security to make sure your carrier meets the required restrictions. For instance, the carrier needs to be able to fit inside the x-ray scanning mechanism at security check-in, and should have no sharp metal points that can be removed from the carrier.

You will also have to pay special attention to your infant’s medication. New Homeland security travel restrictions impose that only a certain maximum amount of fluids can be carried on your person. If you are not breast-feeding the infant then it might be prudent to pack your formula in powder form in a clear plastic bag. You can purchase bottled water after you have crossed the security check-point and this can be used to mix the formula in. Any liquid medications must also be contained in clearly labeled containers and cannot exceed specified volumes.

Traveling should always be fun and rewarding. Being saddled with an infant particularly in todayas world does not have to mean that you give up the fun. The airport security restrictions are there for a reason. It certainly adds to the time and preparation you have to make for travel. But in most cases this is no more than what you have already done because you are traveling with an infant. It ensures that your travel is safe and orderly. This is certainly the first step towards fun.

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