Flying with a small child – how it is relaxed for everyone

Hand luggage, bulky luggage, moving companies? What to do with prams, car shells and the like?

Anyone ever with the automobile and the toddler went on vacation, who knows: sometimes the trunk of a pram reaches its limits. Traveling with children is usually associated with increased baggage volume. If you no longer need a stroller, you already have an advantage. Because a buggy, especially those that can be folded up small, can also be carried as hand luggage Airplane stow away Again, there are differences between the individual airlines.

A pram, for example, can be handed in as bulky luggage at check-in. This is free of charge with many airlines – families are often allowed to check in up to two large pieces of luggage free of charge as bulky luggage.

With some airlines it is also possible to drive the stroller to the gate. Here it will be accepted by the flight staff and handed back to you when you disembark. This saves you waiting at the baggage carousel or even going to the issuing office for bulky baggage. The fact that the stroller is not packed can of course lead to dirt.

The large pieces of luggage are stowed away, everyone has their seat and the airplane flying adventure can begin. And then comes the great hunger. Depending on the duration of the flight and of course the age of the child, a well-assorted selection of (healthy) snacks will suffice. For the youngest, powdered milk and jars of baby food can also be taken into the cabin. With many airlines, the quantities may also exceed the 100 ml limit.

Ideally, all the food you bring with you should be in its original packaging and available in traceable quantities. It is best to only take as many glasses with you as your little sweet tooth can eat during the flight. One or two in reserve in case it takes longer at the baggage carousel.

Traveling with a small child - that's what the legislator says

The ID card is the be-all and end-all to be able to travel to another country at all. Since 2012, children have not been recorded in their parents' passports. Accordingly, every person, even a completely new citizen of only a few days, needs an independent photo document, which is requested from the local residents' registration office. Children's passports are generally valid for one year.

It gets a bit more challenging if only one parent is traveling with the child. In that case, the parent should definitely carry the following documents with them, provided that they have joint custody:

• Declaration of consent of the (other) authorized person including a short description of the duration of the trip and the course of the trip
• a copy of the identification document (passport or identity card) of the parent not traveling with you
• the contact details and availability of the other parent

Where does my toddler sit during the flight?

Of course, the airlines also have certain regulations regarding the flight of children. It is common practice for children who have not yet celebrated their second birthday by the end of the trip to travel on a parent's lap. There are special safety belts for this purpose, which are attached to the belt of the adult. Whereby the security aspect of this so-called loop belt is strongly questioned. If the infant under the age of two sits on your lap with you, you usually do not need a separate flight ticket, only a service fee is charged by the airline.

If you like it a little more comfortable and, above all, safer, you can book a separate seat for your child under the age of two. Most airlines offer discounted fares for young passengers. But beware: Safety first! Similar to the car, appropriate child restraint systems should also be used on the plane. Here it is advisable to get information directly from the airline, because not all child seats are permitted. But the basic rule is:

• Child seats should be installed in a window seat if possible; never at the emergency exit
• Child seats must be marked "for use in aircraft".
• The child seat must be able to be secured with the existing lap belt of the aircraft seat

It is definitely advisable to find out more about flying with children from the relevant airlines when planning your trip. Above all, bringing the child seat is safety-relevant and should be clarified with the airline, preferably in writing. If you can, you should use a foldable buggy instead of a stroller; it is simply stowed away. With the right snacks and a valid ID in the Baggage nothing stands in the way of a successful trip.