Parenting

Tips for travelling with an infant

Travel is the movement of people between relatively distant geographical locations, and can involve travel by foot, bicycle, automobile, train, boat, airplane, or other means, with or without luggage, and can be one way or round trip. Travel can also include relatively short stays between successive movements. An infant is the very young offspring of a human or other animal. When applied to humans, the term is usually considered synonymous with baby or bairn, but the latter is commonly applied to the young of any animal. When a human child learns to walk, the term toddler may be used instead.

The term infant is typically applied to young children between the ages of 1 month and 12 months; however, definitions may vary between birth and 1 year of age, or even between birth and 2 years of age. A newborn is an infant who is only hours, days, or up to a few weeks old. In medical contexts, newborn or neonate refers to an infant in the first 28 days after birth; the term applies to premature infants, postmature infants, and full term infants. Before birth, the term fetus is used. In the UK, infant is a term that can be applied to school children aged between four and seven. As a legal terminology, “infancy” continues from birth until age 18.

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.

-Saint Augustine

Authorities emphasize the importance of taking precautions to ensure travel safety. When traveling abroad, the odds favor a safe and incident-free trip, however, travelers can be subject to difficulties, crime and violence.

Some safety considerations include being aware of one’s surroundings,  avoiding being the target of a crime,  leaving copies of one’s passport and itinerary information with trusted people, obtaining medical insurance valid in the country being visited and registering with one’s national embassy when arriving in a foreign country. Many countries do not recognize drivers’ licenses from other countries; however most countries accept international driving permits. Automobile insurance policies issued in one’s own country are often invalid in foreign countries, and it is often a requirement to obtain temporary auto insurance valid in the country being visited. It is also advisable to become oriented with the driving rules and regulations of destination countries. Wearing a seat belt is highly advisable for safety reasons; many countries have penalties for violating seat belt laws.

The term infant is typically applied to young children between the ages of 1 month and 12 months; however, definitions may vary between birth and 1 year of age, or even between birth and 2 years of age. A newborn is an infant who is only hours, days, or up to a few weeks old. In medical contexts, newborn or neonate refers to an infant in the first 28 days after birth; the term applies to premature infants, postmature infants, and full term infants. Before birth, the term fetus is used. In the UK, infant is a term that can be applied to school children aged between four and seven. As a legal terminology, “infancy” continues from birth until age 18.

24 thoughts on “Tips for travelling with an infant

  • I had no idea infant was such a complicated legal term. That’s interesting to know.

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    • so much great information

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    • great information

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  • Great tips on traveling with an infant and traveling abroad. It’s great to have information on driving and insurance issues when traveling in different countries.

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  • No more traveling with an infant for me! I didn’t know it has gotten more difficult starting with the meanings of the word infant! When we went to Europe we took a bus tour and it was fun! Plus no hassles about drivers licenses or insurance! Plus they drive on the wrong side of the road!

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  • I usually don’t have to travel too much with an infant. Sometimes I need to travel with my niece and nephews. It is much harder when you have to travel with an infant or small child.

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  • One of the biggest challenges I always had with traveling with my children when they were young was ensuring that they had proper car seats and beds / cribs. Luckily, they behaved well when traveling.

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  • Great tips on traveling with infants

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  • I really used to hate traveling with the kids.. Know I take the Grandkids in the trailer!

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  • Thank you for the great information. I never thought about the drivers’ licenses. That is great information to check out.

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  • Great tips for parents my kids are adults but love helping new parents with information on making it easier to do.

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  • These are great tips! When we took our 1 year old to Disney it was a trip and a half lol

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  • I shared this on my Facebook page. I meant to share this before and I forgot – sorry! My daughter and her family lived in London for over a year. She said that the citizens were very helpful. They didn’t get a drivers license while they were there. It was easier to take a train, shuttle or a taxi. She was there with 4 kids. Two of them were two year old twins. One problem was finding 50 cent euro to use the water closets. I guess her kids were infants there. Thank you for sharing this information!

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  • These are great tips for traveling with an infant, thank you so much for sharing! I have done it multiple times and while it is not easy, it can be done if you are prepared!

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  • That is some very useful information. I cannot even imagine traveling overseas with an infant. It is difficult enough to travel domestically these days.

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  • Great Information

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  • These tips for travelling with an infant are very helpful. Thanks for sharing!

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  • Thanks for the tips looking good

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  • No infants here. However this is really interesting!

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  • When I see a parent trying to calm a crying baby because they’re afraid of irritating other travelers, I just feel so bad for them. I don’t understand why others can get so angry about it. Babies cry. The parents are doing their best. And you are in a public place where you honestly can’t expect complete quiet, lol.

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  • These are good tips. It’s not easy traveling with a child under one year of age

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  • This is terrific advice and information. I do agree that safety considerations includes being aware of one’s surroundings is so very important wherever you are.

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  • These are some great tips. We have to follow safety tips now a days everything getting so scary traveling now a days

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  • Good to know these tips for if we are ever able to travel in another country. Thanks for sharing!

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