Going on a holiday for the first time with your baby is very exciting, especially if you have to spend a couple of hours on an airplane. But with the right preparation and a relaxed mindset you’re almost there. There’s nothing more you can do, right 🙂
We took our baby on a holiday to the tropical island of Curacao for a week when our baby was 14 weeks old in January 2022 and we had a great time! A newborn sleeps a lot and doesn’t go far on its own, so you can easily bring your baby on a holiday like this. If you’re already living in a tropical destination or it’s summer when your maternity leave is about to end, you don’t have to travel this far.
Here you can find my tips and the ultimate packing list for travelling (by airplane) with a baby to a sunny destination.
Baby bassinet – Make a reservation before you leave (international)
A baby (below 2 years old) doesn’t get its own chair with most airlines. Your baby has to sit on your lap during the whole flight. The good thing is that the ticket price for your infant is very low, but a long distance flight won’t be very comfortable on the other hand. Check with your airline if they have bassinets available where your baby can sleep in when you’re up in the air. Also check until what length/weight your baby can use this.
If you’re flying with KLM you have to call to make a reservation for the bassinet. Unfortunately it takes a long time before you can speak to someone – it took me over 45 minutes, twice – but it is definitely worth it! If there are bassinets available they will also give you the chairs where the bassinets can be placed (behind the toilets or pantries). Extra bonus: you have more leg space!
Stroller/Car seat
You’re allowed to bring a stroller and car seat for your baby for free (with KLM). You can use your stroller all the way until the gate. The stroller will be collected and labelled at the gate so it will be ready for you at the gate when you arrive at your destination. We attached our baby car seat (Cybex iCloud) on the stroller frame (Joolz Aer), so we brought our car seat for the rental car without carrying any additional bassinet.
Point of attention: we had put our stroller and car seat in a travel bag – as recommended on the website of the airline – but because of this our stroller was not at the gate when we arrived but was delivered at the luggage belt. Since we did not have our stroller at the airport, we had to carry our baby all the time it took us to get through customs (about 1,5 hours).
Tip: Take your baby carrier into the airplane as hand luggage so you have a backup if your stroller does not arrive at the gate.
Schiphol Baby Care Lounge
You can encounter unexpected delays with a baby, so you will try to go to the airport as early as possible. If you’re travelling from Schiphol, you might have some spare time. Give your baby (and yourself) some rest and put your baby asleep in one of the beds at the Baby Care Lounge. The cocoons are equipped with a baby bed, benches, reading light and a curtain for some privacy. You can also heat your bottles in the microwave and there is a spacious diaper change station.
Tip: The Baby Care Lounge is situated at Holland Boulevard, in between lounge 2 and 3 between Pier E and F (after customs).
Older children might want to explore the dependence of the science museum Nemo (near the Baby Care Lounge), the playground Kids Forest (in between Pier E and F), a climbing frame in the shape of an airplane or you can take them plane spotting.
Bottles during take-off and landing
Give your little one a bottle during take-off and landing to prevent earache. Fill your thermos bottle with boiled water at home and bring a bottle of mineral water, so you are able to prepare some bottles without any help of the flight attendants. Especially just before take-off and landing the flight attendants are very busy and might not be able to assist you with hot water for your baby. Also, measure the doses in a dosing container or resealable bags at home to make it easier for you on your tight airplane seat. Of course, if you’re breastfeeding you can breastfeed your baby during take-off and landing.
The ultimate packing list
Hand luggage
– Paspoort
– 2 extra sets baby clothes
– Hat
– Extra warm cardigan
– Extra warm socks
– Sufficient number of diapers
– Diaper wipes
– Diaper bags (to mask the smell)
– Changing mat for on the road
– Hand gel
– Hydrophilic cloths
– Bottle & infant formula measured in a dosing container or resealable bags (unless you’re breastfeeding)
– Thermos bottle: fill the bottle with boiled water at home
– Bottle of mineral water
– Bib or cloth
– Plastic bags for dirty clothes
– Wet wipes/washcloth for the face
– Pacifier (plus one extra)
– Pacifier clip and/or pacifier cloth
– Favourite toy/crackle book
– Car seat hanging toy
– Paracetamol and nose spray for kids
– Blanket or sleeping bag. We used the car seat foot muff.
– Extra outfit in your hand luggage for yourself, in case of emergency 😉
– Baby carrier
If your baby is a bit older:
- Sippy cup, spoon, tray
- Baby food and (light) snacks
- More toys
Check-in luggage (for a tropical destination)
– Rompers: 1 for every day + some extra
– Shirts and shorts (don’t overpack, if it’s really hot only a diaper or romper will do)
– Sleeping bag/pyjamas (if their not already in your hand luggage)
– Hydrophilic cloths
– XL hydrophilic cloth (to protect your baby in the stroller from sun and wind)
– Clothespins to hold your XL cloth
– Bibs/wet wipes/washcloth for the face
– (Reusable) Swimming diapers
– Bathing suit/UV-suit
– Sun hat
– Sunglasses
– Sunscreen
– Medicine in (paracetamol, ors and nose spray for kids)
– Thermometer
– Vitamin D
– Baby manicure set
– Baby shampoo
– Baby wash gel
– Sudocrem
– Toothbrush and toothpaste
– Diapers
– Diaper wipes
– Luierzakjes
– Travel cot, for example the Deryan travel cot (indispensable for this holiday – perfect for your baby to play or sleep in on the beach or if there is not a suitable baby bed in your hotel room)
– Optional: changing pad cover/molton (to protect your baby against sand on the beach)
– Baby monitor/babyphone app
– Toys
– Infant formula
– Extra bottles
– Extra dosage bags
– Bottle brush
– Small bottle of dish soap
– Liquid (hand)wash detergent
– Extra plastic bags for big accidents you need a washing machine for
Travel cot
Some additional information about the travel cot because we used this item a lot in Curacao. It’s an essential item for your holiday with your baby because your baby can sleep and play in it whilst being protected from the sun, sand, mosquitoes and other annoying insects. You can also use it in your hotel room if the hotel does not offer a suitable baby bed. We bought the Deryan travel cot. This bed unfolds in seconds and it comes with a self-inflating mattress, a zippered cotton cover and a carry bag. The tent is also very small and light-weighted.
We bring this tent on all our visits to friends and family so we always have a nice place to sleep for our baby.
I really hope this packing list and travel tips helps you to prepare for your trip with your baby. Eventually, I will publish updated packing lists and unmissable travel items because the needs of our baby will change rapidly as he gets older and older. This packing list is for a newborn/baby of 3 months old to a sunny destination.
You can find my tips and experiences about travelling with a baby in the categorie “Tips with Kids”. Read all about our first trip with our 3 month old baby in the blog Dushi Curacao (with a baby).
Looking for a more adventurous sunny destination? Read my blogs about a round trip in Sri Lanka or Colombia. I have travelled to those countries before our baby was born, but I can’t wait to make those kinds of trips soon with our baby.
If you have any questions, please let me know in a reaction at the bottom of this page or via the contact page or DM on Instagram.
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