air india travelling with toddler

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Young Passengers

Travelling as a young passenger.

 Is your young adult ready to chart their course? We have got their back as they take the lead.

Who is a young passenger?

Children between the ages of 12 and 18 years travelling alone, domestically or internationally with us, are considered young passengers.

Our services

How do i make use of the service.

• As a parent or a designated guardian, all it takes is a simple request from you. No paperwork hassle is involved. 
• All your confident traveller needs to do is head to any of the check-in counters and announce themself. We will take it up from there.

Support at the airport and in the air

We know your young traveller is all equipped to figure this out. But we will be trotting behind just to be sure.

• We will guide them from the departure gate through all the airport formalities until they are comfortably seated in the aircraft.
• Our skilled cabin crew are different from your ordinary flying attendants. They are experts in the latest trends and ready to engage in conversations while ensuring your child's comfort.
• Our crew members will guide them to the arrival gate on arrival, ensuring they smoothly navigate through all the airport formalities.

Minors travelling to and from the UK

Minors travelling to the uk.

For young travellers under 18 years jetting off without you or a designated guardian, the UK Border Force requires a  consent form  signed by both parents.  Learn more  about the latest regulations. 

Minors travelling from the UK

If you are travelling with your young traveller below 18, you must follow a few rules, complete some formalities, and sign a  consent form  before you travel abroad. 

Before you travel

• You need to request permission from everyone responsible for the child.
• If you have yet to receive permission from everyone with parental responsibility for the child, you must seek court permission. Read more about the formalities and procedures. 

When you travel

• Please fill out and bring the consent form with you. 
• Carry a valid photo ID of both parents. 
• You need to carry your child's birth certificate.

Alternatively, you can email the documents mentioned above to aitraffic.lhr@airindia.com .

Please ensure that this is done at least four hours before departure.

Minors travelling with guardians

Ensuring your child’s safety is our top priority. So, if you are the guardian or your little one is accompanied by a designated caretaker or relative, you must complete a few formalities before boarding the flight.

Required documents

Here is a list of the required documents that will need to be displayed at the time of boarding the flight:

• A consent letter that both parents sign. If, sadly, one of the parents has passed away, please have a photocopy of the death certificate handy. 
• We will need a photocopy of the relevant pages from both parents’ passports. 
• Please remember to have both parents' original passports. They need to be presented to the supervisor at the check-in counter to confirm the authenticity of the signatures on the forms.  
• If the child's last name differs from the parent's, you must display the young traveller's birth certificate. 
• If your child is below 18 and is leaving the country, they may have to display additional documents. 

Here are a few things to remember

• The parent’s signature should match both the passport and the consent forms. 
• For any other queries or more information, please get in touch with your nearest consulate. 

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Air India Infants Policy

• Planes & Seat Maps

Do I need to reserve a seat for my infant?

Children up to two years old (24 months), are not required to have their own seat as these children may sit on an adult's lap. Only one lap child is allowed per adult. If one adult is traveling with more than one infant under two years of age, a seat will have to be purchased for the second infant. You can also choose to purchase a seat for your infant as long as you have the proper child restraint device.

Will I pay for my infant to travel?

Yes, a child up to two years old (24 months) is usually charged 10% of an adult fare plus taxes if he or she will be sitting on an adult's lap.

What if my child turns two on the trip; will I have to buy a ticket for the return flight?

Yes, a ticket will have to be purchased for any flight on which the infant will be over two years old.

What infant amenities are available on the aircraft I'll be flying (i.e. bassinets)?

Bassinets can be requested for at the time of reservation, ticketing, or reconfirmation of the booking. Call Air India's reservations center, the nearest Air India office, or the travel agent to request a bassinet. The bassinet provided is 71 cm x 36 cm x 19 cm (L x B x H). The infant must be under two years old and can fit in the bassinet.

Can I sit in the exit row with my infant?

Neither lap children nor infants in car seats are allowed in an exit row. In fact, all passengers in an exit row must be at least 15 years of age. In addition, infant seats are not allowed in the row directly in front of or directly behind an exit.

SeatGuru was created to help travelers choose the best seats and in-flight amenities.

Air India flying with babies

How old should be my baby to be allowed on an air india flight.

Under normal conditions, an infant must be at least 14 days old to be accepted to travel with Air India on either domestic or international routes.

However, if the flight is intended to transport a newborn to a location where he or she is to receive a life saving treatment, the infant may be accepted on board even if he or she is less than 14 days old. In such special circumstances, the baby must be accompanied by both the mother and a doctor, must be deemed as “fit to fly”, and medical certificates from an Obstetrician and Pediatrician must be provided.

When am I required to reserve a seat for my child?

An infant is a child aged under 2 . Infants travelling on an infant ticket have no separate seat allotted and must be held on the lap during the flight. On Air India international flights , the infant fare is equal to 10% of the basic normal adult fare , based on the fare type. For domestic travel , the infant base fare is INR 1250 (subject to change without notice). In addition to this fare, applicable taxes, airline fuel charges and fees may also be charged. If an adult, together with their infant, already possessed a ticket bought on a special discounted fare, infant discounts may not be applicable anymore.

Should your child turn two during a flight , a special ticket will have to be issued for your baby, charged part infant fare, part child fare .

If, however, a seat is explicitly required for an infant, a child ticket is required since the baby will no longer benefit from the infant fare, but from the child fare. The child fare is 75% of the basic normal adult fare for international travel . No child discount applies for domestic travel .

Infant on Lap

An infant must be booked together with an adult on the same Passenger Name Record (PNR). Infants are not eligible for occupying a seat, consequently must travel on lap . Bassinets for use during the flight are available on Boeing B747 400 , Boeing B777 200LR , Boeing B777 300ER , and Boeing B787 Dreamliner in Executive/Business and Economy Class. In case you wish to reserve a seat with a bassinet, Air India staff will communicate this in advance to you before confirming the selection. Bassinet seats for infants are free of charge. Also, one accompanying child or adult booked in the same Booking Reference will be provided an adjoining seat free of charge at the time of ticket booking, subject to availability.

Since they have no allocated seat, infants are subject to an infant fare. When a seat is required for an infant, he or she will have to pay a child fare, instead of an infant one.

Infants are not entitled to a carry-on allowance, but when an adult travels accompanied by an infant, regardless if the infant has a separate seat or not, an infant carrying basket or a fully collapsible pushchair or stroller may be brought in the passenger cabin . If there is not enough space available in the cabin, the pushchair or stroller may be packed as checked baggage.

Under normal circumstances, no liquid articles are allowed in the passenger cabin. However, you can bring along your baby’s feeding bottle , as well as baby food for consumption during the flight.

Infants without a seat are entitled to a free baggage allowance of 10 kg plus one collapsible stroller, carrycot or car seat . When the Piece Concept applies, the total linear dimensions of the piece of checked baggage must do not exceed 115 cm (45 inches) .

More information here >>

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A Parent’s Guide to Traveling to India with Kids

By: Author Emily

Posted on Last updated: November 27, 2023

We brought our child to India for two weeks when they were 2.5 years old. Over 14 days, we traveled to the Golden Triangle cities of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, plus we spent a few days in Udaipur. If you’ve ever thought about going to India with kids, this post is for you. It combines everything we learned from that experience, from dreaming and planning to actually going and then reflecting back on it. Follow along as we share our personal experience but also pack in every single tip, note and lesson learned.

In This Post

We cover a lot in this post, so we broke it up into three main parts. Here’s what you can expect to find.

• Part 1: Why India This section explores why you might choose to go to India, including what it’s like being there with kids .
• Part 2: Plan Your Trip Next, we dive into the nitty gritty details like what vaccines your kids need and how to get around with them safely.
• Part 3: Review & Reflection Finally, we look back on this trip and discuss what we thought, what our kid thought and whether we’re glad we did it.

We have traveled a lot (almost 50 countries), we have lived in major cities most of our life, and our toddler has traveled internationally before. These life experiences are absolutely not required to go to India with kids, but it certainly influenced our experience. This is just something to keep in mind when you consider our reviews, recommendations and feedback.

Part 1: Why India?

If you’re in the dreaming and pre-planning phase, this section is for you. We’ll cover why you might want to bring a kid to India, but also what it’s like to be there.

Why We Chose to Go to India With a 2-Year-Old

My husband rightly just corrected this header, because the decision to go to India was almost entirely his.

I was personally never excited about the idea of India. Maybe it was the viral images of the overcrowded trains or my one friend who didn’t love her experience, but India was never high on my list. I think my hesitancy about India was partly why I needed to go. At the heart of it, I think India seemed difficult and I was masking that by convincing myself that I didn’t want or need to go.

Then there’s my husband, who actually convinced us all to book this trip. He is the type of travel planner who needs to be hit with a spark of inspiration. Heck, it only took each of our bosses quitting and a couple beers one night to suggest we take a year off to travel the world, and we all know how that turned out. (Spoiler alert: We did it .)

There were a few sparks that got us to India. One was Holi. This colorful spring festival celebrated around India had found its way onto a forgotten “Bucket List” note on Kenny’s phone. It turned out that Holi actually fell right in the middle of the dates we were looking at for a potential trip.

The second thing was Qatar Qsuites , a product we’d dreamed of flying for years. How is that related at all to India? Well, we were never going to spend more than a few days in Doha, so we needed to pair that with a bigger trip in the region. India fit the bill perfectly.

Then there was the obvious appeal to India: the history, the architecture, the culture, the food. India is the second largest country by population and has one of the richest global histories in the world. The Taj Mahal alone is reason enough to go to India.

The last thing was less of a spark and more of our family travel strategy. I know some families feel strongly about saving travel and destinations for when kids are old enough to remember. We believe that there are so many more important reasons to travel than just simply to remember it. Personally, the only destinations we delay or “save” are places that we want to do a specific way at a certain age. (For example, we’re saving Thailand and so we can backpack it together as a family.) India was basically going to be the same trip whether we did it now or in 5 years.

We had a holiday, a fun flight, plenty of things to do, and no real reason to delay India. We had three weeks available to travel and it wasn’t during monsoon season. If not now, when? We booked the flight.

Is India Safe for Kids?

This is my least favorite topic to write about, so I want to get it out of the way right off the bat.

It’s not that safety isn’t important, but it’s highly personal and somewhat subjective. There is perceived safety versus statistical safety, and personal anecdotes only muddy that water. We all have different levels of situational awareness and intuitive safety habits that prepare us better or worse for certain scenarios. Plus, all parents have different thoughts on what is and is not safe for their kid(s).

Let’s get a few things out of the way first. Statistically, India does not fall very high on the safest countries in the world lists . (It’s worth noting that I’m writing from the US which also isn’t showing up on those lists.) The US State Department lists most of India as Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. A lot of that has to do with civil unrest in specific disputed regions, but also because of violence against women and LGBTQ+ individuals.

That said, when traveling with kids, my best advice is to be prepared for the most common risks. In India, the most immediate and prevalent safety threat is actually traveler’s diarrhea. (The CDC predicts tourists have a +60% chance of getting traveler’s diarrhea compared to the <0.1% of reported crimes against foreigners.) Traveler’s diarrhea is caused by unsafe tap water and is particularly dangerous in kids who can quickly get dehydrated.

Should you or your children get sick, India does have (some) very good hospitals (accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers). Just be sure to seek out a private hospital for the best care.

The next most common threat that tourists face in India is non-violent crimes like pickpocketing, petty theft, and scams. According to a report on crime in India , there were only 124 reported cases of crime against tourists in 2021 out of 7 million total visitors. (This is the math that drove the above <0.01% stat.)

Now, those numbers are certainly higher as most petty theft goes unreported, but these crimes are generally easy to protect yourself from. Don’t keep your phone in your back pocket. Keep your valuables secured in zipped, cross-body bags. Don’t carry all your cash and cards on you. Etc.

If you’re concerned about safety, I’d highly recommend doing some further reading from respectable sites that breakdown the specific risks for foreign traveler’s specifically. (I really like this article .) I would avoid fear mongering sites that focus on specific, personal stories. This is more likely to scare you than to actually empower you to visit India safely.

As a parent, I am painfully aware that the world is a scary place. There’s a part of me that wants to wrap my baby in bubble wrap so they’ll never even feel the pain of a skinned knee. But a bigger part of wants to show them that most of the world is actually good. I want to teach them how to be responsible and careful, but not to leave in fear.

Is India good for kids?

Yes! Now let’s get on to the fun part!

As a general rule, my definition of a destination being “good for kids” is that kids can (and will want to) do all of best things that a place has to offer. Usually that means your itinerary will look roughly the same whether you’re going with kids or without kids.

India absolutely met that standard. We didn’t have to miss out on any experiences just because we were traveling with a kid, and we didn’t have to add “kid friendly attractions” just to ensure our kid had a fun time.

Our toddler loved everything India had to offer. They were thrilled riding in a rickshaw through Chandni Chowk in Delhi and they danced their way through the gardens at the Taj Mahal in Agra. They were thrilled to discover India has lollipops when they earned one at the Amer Fort in Jaipur, and they are still talking about how much fun they had at Holi in Udaipur . And don’t get me started on the hotel pools, which I do know are everywhere but hit different in India.

Then there’s the fact that they love kids in India – like a lot. It is one of the most kid-friendly countries we’ve ever been to, beating out countries in the Middle East that also really love kids (like UAE and Qatar). And kids weren’t just tolerated, they were fully welcomed everywhere we went.

Our child was treated like royalty at every hotel we stayed at, earning toys and desserts at every interaction. The hotels also had kid’s areas, kid’s pools (with floaties!), kid’s menus, cribs and high chairs, which made staying there with a child seamless and easy.

Our toddler also happens to be white and blonde, which drew a lot of attention. We were frequently stopped by strangers who wanted to take photos with us. This is common in India around Asia. For the most part, people were extremely respectful, and always asked for permission first.

However, they did often assume that a “yes” meant they could physically hold our child. Our toddler is pretty nervous around strangers and rarely was up for this. (Except during Holi when they let strangers pass them around for a good 10 minutes and it actually totally saved the day.) They would happily take pictures if I held them and also did pretty well posing and playing with other kids.

Which cities in India are best for traveling with kids?

India is a huge country and we’ve barely scratched the surface. But if you’re traveling to India with kids and it’s your first time to India, I can 100% say that the Golden Triangle is the way to go.

The Golden Triangle is the most popular tourist route in India and for good reason. It comprises Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. All three of these cities are a little bit different and a whole lot interesting. Delhi is the largest city of the three and has the most to see and do. It will also likely hit you with the most culture shock. Jaipur is quintessential Rajasthani, which is what I always picture when I think of India with the bright colors and tuk tuk traffic. And then there’s Agra, famously home to the Taj Mahal.

This route is really well traveled, which makes it great for families. It’s easy to travel between each city, there’s a good selection of hotels to choose from, and the cities are jam-packed with beautiful and interesting things to do. We personally spent three days in Delhi , two days in Jaipur , three days in Udaipur , and 2 days in Agra.

If you have extra time, you might want to tack on an extra city or two. We personally added Udaipur, which is the sweetheart of Indian cities. (I swear, there is not a bad thing written about Udaipur anywhere on the internet.) Udaipur is good for kids because it’s more relaxed and has a lot more nature and outdoor activities.

Another tempting option is Ranthambore National Park. It’s straight south of the Golden Triangle, and you can take a safari adventure for anywhere from 3 hours to two weeks. They technically don’t have age restrictions, so young children are welcome.

Getting Around India with Kids

Getting around India with kids can be tricky, but it is doable with the right planning.

The first thing to consider is getting around within a city. How will you get to your hotel from the train station or airport? How will you get to the different attractions and restaurants from your hotel each day? If you’re traveling with kids, you have two main options: cars and tuk tuks.

Then there’s the challenge of getting from one city to another. You can hire a driver, but India also has a very thorough rail network. Taking the train between cities is a cheap and convenient option, and can add to your adventure. Flying is another option, but don’t let the short flight times fool you.

Let’s look at all of these modes of transportation.

Kids and Car Seats in India

Usually we recommend using public transportation to get around cities with kids. However, that wasn’t ideal in India. Some cities did have Metros, but they were not very thorough. And with the exception of Udaipur, a lot of India wasn’t very pedestrian friendly. That meant that getting around required wheels. And when it comes to kids, wheels usually means a car seat.

Car seats are not legally required in India. Technically, you could just skip the car seat and ride in any taxi or Uber with your child. If you’re like us though, one look at Delhi’s chaotic traffic scene and you might immediately rule out that option.

Our next idea was to reserve a car service that had a car seat provided. (This was our approach for two days in Santo Domingo .) Unfortunately, every car service we reached out to in India didn’t have car seats.

So instead, we brought our own. We invested a hefty amount into a Pico portable car seat , which we thought might save us some money in the long run. The car seat itself was great. We could easily install it into any car whenever we needed to, which meant we could safely get from one place to the next.

Unfortunately, that still meant that we couldn’t easily rely taxis or Ubers for sightseeing unless we wanted to carry around the car seat all day. At only 8 pounds and foldable into a nice backpack, that actually wasn’t the worst thing. However, many popular attractions in India don’t allow large backpacks, so we couldn’t always bring it anyway.

So what’s the answer to getting around with kids in India? Unfortunately, if you want to use a car seat, the best option is to bring a car seat and use a car service. That way, you can leave your car seat in the same car as you visit different attractions. (So no, the expensive car seat didn’t save us any money this time.)

Many high-end hotels in India can arrange a car service for you. We personally booked cars through The Oberoi (in Delhi , Udaipur and Agra ) and Jai Mahal Palace in Jaipur to take us around to different destinations and pick us up from the rail stations. Alternatively, you can hire a private driver through a third party, which can be cheaper but more complicated.

Tuk Tuks in India

Another unique way to get around India is by tuk tuk. These little auto rickshaws are one of the most popular modes of transportation in India. The prominent style and color varies by region, so you’ll find yellow and green ones all over Delhi and brightly decorated ones in Rajasthan.

Tuk tuks usually hold 2-4 people, depending on the style, and max out at speeds of about 25 miles per hour. Tuk Tuks are a good, cheap option for covering short distances around a city.

The lack of car seats, seatbelts and doors is enough for some parents to rule out tuk tuks all together. We personally were comfortable riding in tuk tuks with our 2-year-old. It was our main mode of transportation in Udaipur specifically, which usually was less than 0.5 mile at low speeds with little traffic. We probably wouldn’t take a tuk tuk on the highway, but we were okay with it for short trips.

To hail a tuk tuk, flag down a driver and tell them where you want to go. Before you get in, ask how much it will cost and be prepared to pay in cash. Tips are appreciated, but are not required if you agree on a set price for a short trip.

Riding the Train in India with Kids

Indian Railways is an efficient way to get around India, and it can be a good option in your traveling with kids. Here’s a list of the train rides we personally took with our 2-year-old.

• Morning train from Jaipur to Udaipur
• Overnight train from Udaipur to Agra
• Day train from Agra to Delhi

If you’ve seen the viral images of packed Indian trains, don’t panic. This is partly accurate, but it is entirely dependent on your travel class. To avoid any travel chaos, book the highest class available, which is usually still pretty cheap by Western standards. Be sure to book an AC car (regardless of your travel season) with assigned seats. To buy tickets, head to 12GoAsia for the most streamlined experience and great customer service. ( Not sponsored, we’re just big fans. )

In our experience, the trains in India were always on time and very clean. The stations themselves were at times overwhelming (crowds, intense poverty, dirty), but they were easy to navigate and all signs were in both Hindi and English.

India is a big country, so the journeys can be long, even by train. Personally, we prefer longer trips with a toddler on a train compared to a car. We don’t have a car, and our little one isn’t used to being strapped in a car seat for long periods of time. On the train, they can get up and move around as needed, which is better for all of us.

Another downside to the trains in India is that the times are not always ideal for travel with a toddler. That’s why we ended up on a really early train and an overnight train.

Am I glad we took the overnight train? Yes. Would I recommend it? Maybe not. Our review linked above discusses some of the chaos we encountered on that train. I’ll admit that I don’t think the overnight train is the best option for all families, especially if you have a light sleeper. If you’ve never taken an overnight train before, I wouldn’t start with one in India with a kid.

Daytime trains though, I would absolutely recommend for intercity travel in India with kids.

Plane Travel in India

Flying between cities in India is also an option. Domestic flights in India can be really cheap on carriers like IndiGo or SpiceJet. The flight times compared to train times might sound really tempting, too. The flight from Jaipur to Udaipur is only an hour, versus 7 hours by train.

I would still advise you to avoid or limit air travel in India. First, the airports are usually further away and harder to get to than the rail stations. Second, Indian airports are kind of a nightmare in terms of security and lines. When you factor in travel time to and from the airports and the hours early you have to arrive for security, you’ll likely find that it takes just as long and has even more steps than the train.

We had originally planned to fly from Jaipur to Udaipur, but once we did this math, we settled on the 7 hour train instead. When we flew out of Delhi to Doha at the end of our trip, we were immediately grateful that we didn’t have any other India airport experiences.

Eating in India With Kids

When it comes to kids, there are two main concerns for food in India: food safety and cuisine.

Food safety is the most important thing. Tap water in India is not safe to drink and can often cause traveler’s diarrhea. This is inconvenient and uncomfortable at best, and dangerous and trip-ending at worst.

Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself that include more than just not drinking the tap water.

• Only eat fruits and vegetables that have a thick peel that you peel yourself, like bananas or oranges. (Produce might have been washed in contaminated water.)
• Stick to cooked, hot food.
• Use bottled water to brush your teeth, even though you’re not swallowing the water.
• Avoid street food. (I know it’s hard! You might be okay, but you might not be.)
• Stick to restaurants that have a lot of positive reviews, preferably from foreigners.
• Skip ice and fruit wedges in drinks and cocktails.
• Pack stomach meds (Children’s Mylicon, Pepto Bismol and Tums) and Pedialyte packets just in case anyone does get sick.

Some parents also worry about the local cuisine. What will my kid eat? Will it be too spicy? Will they like it? I think people think that kids in India will eat nothing but rice and dal and mango lassi every day. Let me assure you that (if you choose), your child can eat pasta and pizza everyday in India just like they do at home.

Very early in our travels, we learned that you can find western food literally everywhere, and India is no different. There is a McDonalds in Chandni Chowk in Delhi, a Pizza Hut in Jiapur and a Starbucks in Udaipur. I’m not saying you’ll want to or need to resort to American fast food, but think of it as a safety net.

Relevant to both of these food concerns, we ate almost all of our meals in our hotel restaurants. We were confident the food was as safe as possible, but we still stuck to fully cooked foods only. The menus at all of our hotels had Indian food that we could enjoy as much as possible, but also a wide variety of international foods that appealed to our little one. Our 2-year old dined on their finest veggie sliders, pizza, and of course, the occasional dal and palak paneer.

Other than missing fresh fruit (because we chose to avoid it), the only thing we sort of struggled with in India was snacks. Our toddler is a snacker, so we always needed to get something small while we were out and about. We only ate packaged foods, so that meant they at a lot of chips and juice boxes. That obviously isn’t the healthiest option, but it was a 2-week trip and that’s just what we needed to do.

What is the best age to bring a kid to India?

How old are your kids? That age is the best age to bring them. I’m kidding, but also not.

Honestly, I think a trip to India can be great for any kids around 2 and up. I say 2 and up because it’s not the cleanest place. I wouldn’t want to be there with a crawler or wobbly walker spending too much time on the ground in public places.

Many of the tourist sites actually did have changing tables, but I can’t vouch for how clean they were. We personally handled most of our diaper changes on our portable changing mat anywhere we could find space (grass in the park, behind a car in a parking lot, a step of a step well, etc.).

Otherwise, India is great for even the youngest of kids. Even at 2, our toddler had a great time. I think they probably loved Udaipur most because they got to ride tuk tuks, take the “Skyliner” (gondola to a hilltop temple), and play Holi, but they found fun everywhere they went.

I think it’s less about how old your kids are and more about how comfortable you all are with travel. If you’ve never traveled as a family before, I’d probably start with an easier city (maybe London or Amsterdam ) first.

I would also suggest waiting until you can financially afford to do India as a bougier trip, especially if you’re going with little kids. A nice hotel will make all the difference when it comes to how much you all enjoy an India trip. If you stay at a nice hotel, no matter how old your kids are, you will be fine.

Part 2: Plan Your Trip

In the above section, we covered more broadly what it’s like to travel to India with kids. Now we’re moving onto the more granular details of planning your trip. These next sections go over everything you’ll need to know to finalize, book and prepare for a trip to India with kids.

Plan Your Route

Start by choosing your cities. How many cities you can fit in will depend on how long you have and what type of traveler you are. Some people are fine changing hotels every few days, while others prefer to park it at a home base, focus on one place and then take day trips as needed.

When you’re choosing your cities, be sure to plan for how you are going to get between cities. Some cities are easy to get to by train, some require a flight, and sometimes hiring a driver might be the best option. I’d recommend cities that are accessible by train or by car (with a driver).

If it’s your first time to India, we’d suggest sticking to the Golden Triangle, which includes Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra. You can do the Golden Triangle in either direction. Agra is primarily the Taj Mahal, so you could do it as a day trip from Delhi instead as long as you don’t care about sunrise.

When To Go & How Long to Stay

The best time to visit India is October through March. June through September is monsoon season, which you definitely want to avoid, and April and May start to get really hot.

The other thing to consider when planning your trip is holidays. We celebrated Holi in Udaipur , and it was the highlight of our trip. If we come back to India one day, we’d love to plan it over Diwali. Holidays can offer a special local experience, but they can also have a negative impact on your trip. Be sure to account for travel delays, crowds, and closed attractions that may result from the holiday.

For a family trip to India, I would plan for at least 10 days, but ideally closer to two whole weeks. With two weeks, you can choose to do everything slower or you can add an extra city.

Here’s a look at how many full days I would spend in each of these popular cities in India. This does not account for travel days, which will likely take a full day between each city.

• Delhi: 3 days
• Jaipur: 2 days
• Udaipur: 3 days
• Agra: 2 days or a day trip from Delhi

If you are short on time, I would suggest skipping Jaipur. It was our least favorite city and our toddler loved the other places so much more. If I had 7-10 days, I would probably split my time between Delhi and Udaipur and then take a day trip to Agra for the Taj Mahal.

Choosing a Hotel in India For a Family Trip

At the risk of sounding dramatic, I would argue that your hotel selection can make or break your trip to India with kids. More than anywhere I’ve ever been, I needed a hotel oasis in India. I needed a comfortable, calm and quiet place to recharge after mornings exploring the busy cities. If you’re traveling with a kid, especially a younger one, this is even more important.

India can be intense and a bit of a culture shock, depending where you’re coming from. I wanted to give it my fullest attention so I could fully appreciate it. Because I had the the chance to reset at our nice hotels, I was able to do that. I think the country deserves that. I firmly believe that we loved India so much more because we could approach each day with a fresh set of eyes.

So, what should you look for in a hotel in India? I would prioritize hotels that have all-day dining and a swimming pool. Double check that the hotel has cribs available if you’ll need one. It’s also helpful if you choose a hotel that offers a car service or can help coordinate one for you. That makes getting to the hotel from the train station or airport easy, and it can make your touring days that much smoother.

Here’s a look at the hotels we stayed at in India with our toddler. As you can see, we erred on the side of luxury and it made our trip incredibly pleasant. (If anything, I’d argue that it made our trip too sterile, but I don’t regret it.)

• Delhi: The Oberoi New Delhi and JW Marriott New Delhi
• Jaipur: Jai Mahal Palace (no cribs)
• Udaipur: The Oberoi Udaivilas
• Agra: The Oberoi Amarvilas

I would recommend all of these hotels except the Jai Mahal Palace, which we personally didn’t love.

Selecting Flights to India with Kids

India has 34 international airports, but Delhi and Mumbai are by far the busiest in the country. Given how hard we’ve pushed the Golden Triangle route, we’d recommend flying to Delhi.

Many international carriers fly to Delhi, including the country’s flag carrier airline, Air India. Although we had a perfectly fine flight in Air India Business Class from Dubai to Delhi , it’s not necessarily an airline that you need to go out of our your way try on a long haul flight. Instead, I would suggest flying your preferred airline in your home country if they have flights to Delhi.

Now, if you’re coming from really far away (like the Americas or even western Europe), we have a hot tip that will be insanely helpful if you’re traveling with kids. Considering adding a buffer city on the front end of your trip to adjust to the time change and relax before diving into India. We flew from New York City to Dubai ( Business Class on Emirates ) and then spent four nights at Atlantis, The Palm , and it worked out perfectly.

It was then just a quick flight from Dubai to Delhi and our child was ready to hit the ground running in India. They were mostly adjusted to the time change, they were no longer groggy from the flight, and they were fully in vacation mode. Highly recommend!

The last thing to consider when booking your flights to India is the times. To help with jet lag, always fly during the day when you travel east to west and through the night when you travel west to east.

What Vaccines do Kids (And Adults) Need For India

India does not have any vaccine mandates, but you might want to get a few before traveling there. In the United States, the CDC recommends the following vaccines for travelers going to India. Other countries may issue different recommendations.

( Disclaimer : We are not doctors and this is not medical advice. Consult your physician or a travel clinic for professional recommendations.)

• Hepatitis A
• Yellow Fever
• Cholera (regional)
• Malaria (regional)
• Japanese Encephalitis (regional)

We were already up to date with most of these vaccines including: Covid, Hep A, Hep B and measles. We also already received Yellow Fever vaccines before traveling to Colombia a few years ago, but wouldn’t have messed with it just for this trip. Based on our travel plans (Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur, Agra), we weren’t at high risk for cholera, malaria or Japanese Encephalitis. That left us with Rabies and Typhoid to consider.

To help guide our decision, we scheduled a travel consultation with our pediatrician. If you want to do this for peace of mind, by all means go for it, but it turned out to be a waste of time for us. Our doctor basically just read the CDC website to us.

She wanted to be sure our toddler got their final Hep A vaccine (which they were already due for), but didn’t strongly recommend either Rabies or Typhoid. In fact, she actually had just traveled with her own infant to a country that also had a Typhoid recommendation and she didn’t have her child vaccinated.

We decided to skip the rabies vaccine. Stray dogs are definitely a thing all over India, but we assumed we would be able to stay pretty clear of them. Typhoid spreads through contaminated water, though, and that seemed like a risk that would be harder to avoid completely. We decided to get the Typhoid vaccine for all of us. Our toddler got it at our pediatrician’s office and we got ours at CVS MinuteClinic.

The Typhoid vaccine is expensive — usually costing $150 out of pocket. Our pediatrician charged us in full, but then we actually realized that our insurance covered it. We disputed the charge and got our $150 back that day. So be sure to check your insurance! Insurance did not cover our adult vaccines.

Getting a Visa for India

First and foremost, every member of your travel party, including children, will need a valid passport from your home country. Then, each traveler will need a tourist eVisa to enter India.

Tourists from most countries can request a Tourist e-Visa in three available durations (30 days, 1 year, 5 years). It’s not hard to get, but it can take time, so be sure to do it ASAP. We’d recommend getting this taken care of before you book you flight, just in case anything goes wrong.

You can apply for an Indian Tourist e-Visa online. You will need to submit one form for each member of your family. To complete the form, you’ll need a valid passport and passport photo. You’ll also need a credit card to pay the application fee, which will be $10 or $25 USD for a 30-day visa.

Planning Your Daily Itinerary

As you start piecing together your plans for each day, my best piece of advice is balance.

We have always been busy travelers. We’re not great at relaxing, so we usually try to see and do as much as possible when we travel. Even since we had our kid, we still usually pack our days pretty full, we just added a nap in the middle.

That didn’t work for us in India. We found that we only had enough energy to commit a half day to sightseeing in India and then we all needed a break. We decided we would get up early every day, spend the morning doing all the things, and then make it back to the hotel by 1 PM for lunch and nap.

During nap time, one parent would stay with the baby and the other would run in the gym, explore the hotel, or have a beer at the hotel lounge. Then we’d spend our afternoons swimming in the pool and playing on the playground before enjoying a relaxing dinner at the hotel. Balance.

This mornings-on-afternoons-off model worked really well for us. In fact, the only time we didn’t do this was in Jaipur. We tried to cram everything into one long, nap-free day and our toddler ended up passing out in the carrier in the middle of a market until their legs fell asleep.

It’s also important to balance your specific activities, too. If we had a busy market where we’d have to carry our child, we’d follow that up with a garden or tomb where they had space to run around. If we started at a palace that seemed “boring” for them, we’d follow it up with an adventurous activity like riding the gondola.

For a closer look at how we spent our time in India with a 2-year-old, check out these itineraries:

• 3 Days in Delhi
• 2 Days in Jaipur
• 3 Days in Udaipur

What to Pack for a Trip to India with Kids

This is not a detailed packing list. This is a list of the extra things we brought for India specifically that ended up being really helpful.

• UPF Hoodie : We got this UPF hooded onesie for our baby for trips to Disney World, and we loved that it provided sun protection without the hassle of sunscreen (or at least less sunscreen hassle). We wanted something similar for India and got this one with a hood and this lighter weight one without.
• Baby Carrier: India is not great for strollers. If there are sidewalks at all, they are bumpy and there are lots of stairs without ramps. If you’re child is old enough to walk the whole time on their own, pack a baby carrier. Our toddler walked most of the time, but we also brought our favorite low-profile carrier, the Sakura Bloom Onbuhimo carrier. We also have a guide to baby wearing for travel where we review other carriers, too.
• Dish Soap : I recently started bringing a small amount of dish soap in a travel-size bottle and it was a game changer. We give our toddler milk in their cup and we always travel with a bento box that we use to store leftovers for future meals or snacks. The dish soap allows us to do that without anything getting gross.
• Water Purifier Water Bottle : It’s not safe to drink the tap water in India, so we relied on bottled water. I’d love to say that this water bottle eliminated our need for single-use plastics, but it didn’t. It’s just too small and we trusted bottled water more. However, this water bottle allowed us to purify hotel tap water if we were ever in a pinch. We mostly used this for brushing our teeth.
• Baseball Hat: This was partly for sun protection and partly for social protection. Our toddler is blonde and stood out like a sore thumb. The hat covered them up a bit when they didn’t want attention. The brim also helped them block out people when we were in crowded spaces, which helped them feel less overwhelmed.
• Liquid IV or Pedialyte Packets : If anyone in your family gets traveler’s diarrhea, these will help prevent dehydration. It’s also good great to improve everyone’s hydration on travel days.
• Medicine: Again, if anyone in your family gets sick, it’s good to have something handy immediately that you know exactly what it is. We brought Children’s Mylicon, Pepto Bismol and Tums for stomach issues and Tylenol and Children’s Tylenol for everything else.
• Entertainment: Whether that is a tablet and headphones or special activity books, bring stuff to keep kids busy in car rides and train rides. If you go the tablet route, be sure to download shows and movies in advance. The selection is different in India, plus you won’t have wifi or service everywhere.
• Portable Charger : We bring our power bank everywhere, but it’s extra important on travel days. Your battery will die faster taking more photos, looking up directions and downloading online tickets. A bigger one is also good for hotels if there are no outlets by your bed.
• Photos From Home : This isn’t necessary, but it can be really nice on a long trip. We brought photos from some of our favorite places at home, plus photos of places we were going. We could use our phone too, but this way our kid could look at the physical photos on their own whenever they want.
• Ziplocks : This is another thing that I just bring anytime we travel. You will use them for went clothes on travel days, snacks that you accumulate, keeping your phone dry when it rains, and about a million other things.
• Travel Car Seat: If you plan to take any cars in India, you’ll need to bring your own car seat if you want to use one.

Part 3: Review and Reflection

Well, we did it. We went to India for two weeks with a two year old. I remember boarding our flight out of Delhi and thinking to myself, “Wow. I’m glad we did that, but I’m also kind of really glad it’s over.” I’ve since had a few months to look back on the experience … and to hear my toddler talk about it over and over … and I finally took the time to put some words to our feelings.

If you don’t want to read an extra 1,000 words on the matter, the short version is that it was hard, but I’m glad we did it, and I would definitely go back to India again.

Toddler Review of India

Me: Did you go to India? Zoe: Yeah! Me: What did you do there? Zoe: H

I’ve had similar conversations with Zoe a hundred times before, during and after our trip. They used to always tell me they were excited to see the Taj Mahal, because there’s a photo of it in their favorite book. Now they tell me about playing Holi, riding a tuk tuk, and the giraffe they got at the Red Fort. Sometimes they talk about a specific floatie they used at a hotel pool or the flavor of chips they ate on the steps outside Jagdish Temple.

Whatever their response, it’s always one of many positive experiences they had in India. They never mention waking up early to board the train or that they didn’t eat fresh fruit for two whole weeks (woops!). They’ll never tell you that the pool water was actually freezing or that they were hangry before they got that snack in Udaipur.

This isn’t unique to bringing a child to India. That’s just how kids are no matter where they are or where they go. Children will find the joy, they will cling to the tiny things that are big things to them, and they will quickly adapt to the world around them.

So much about India was different than home. The way the buildings looked, the type of vehicles on the roads, the clothes people wore and the langue they spoke was all new to them. But going to India wasn’t the first time Zoe walked into a new place.

Where as my travel motto is “Same, same, but different,” Zoe’s entire life motto is “Different, Different, but the same.” Kids are constantly experiencing new things. They just started day care and that was different, but turned out fun. They moved to a new home in a new city and that was different, but turned out fun. So when Zoe arrived in India, they did what they always do. They found the fun.

The fun Zoe found was not always the things that were unique to India — they loved the pools and the toys and the playgrounds, which you could find anywhere — but some of it was. They got to play Holi and celebrate an Indian festival with other Indian kids in India! They got to ride in a tuk tuk and a rickshaw and drive a boat, which they would have never been able to do in NYC. To them it was just dancing and running around, but the the backdrop was the Taj Mahal.

Zoe remembers this trip vividly right now, but they might not remember everything forever. And that’s okay! Honestly, my husband won’t either! Lifetimes memories don’t have to be the only reason we travel. India was a unique, joyful, colorful experience. Our toddler had so much fun, found so much joy, and lived those moments to the fullest. That is why we travel, and that is why we went to India.

Parent Review of India

Taking a toddler to India was hard, but that’s because India is hard. It’s a huge country, so planning cities, transportation and activities took time. Food safety was really hard and we had to constantly be cautious about what we ate and drank. Even just getting around cities was hard because we couldn’t walk or take the Metro as much as we’re used to.

That fact that we had a toddler didn’t actually make things much harder. The hard parts about having a 2-year-old — feeding them, entertaining them, putting them to bed — are all the same no matter where we are. The only thing that was different with a toddler was that we had to hire drivers more so they could safely ride in their car seat. If anything, this made the experience easier.

I was also worried about my kid having a good time. They’re pretty shy and don’t like loud noises, so I was concerned they would be completely overwhelmed. It did take them a bit of time to warm up to strangers talking to them and Holi was definitely scary at first, but I was thrilled to see that they actually loved being in India so much more than I expected.

As you surely noticed in reading this post, we took the luxury approach to this trip. As an adult traveler looking back, in may ways this approach made the trip a bit sterile. It was probably less “authentic,” we didn’t have any kooky fun travel stories, and we definitely ate less local cuisine. But as a parent, I stand by the decision.

We learned pretty quick that our child would do just about anything in the morning if they knew they could swim in the pool in the afternoon. That was a trade we were willing to make. It also turns out that we also really needed a break midday, too. Our busy mornings were physically exhausting for our toddler, but they were emotionally exhausting for us.

India will open your eyes and break your heart in many ways, but particularly as a parent. I watched children take baths in the street and sleep outside of train stations, most all of them were barefoot. To see that and then take your child back to The Oberoi where they’ll get a free macaron just for walking in the door is a real reminder of our intense privilege and fortune. That’s a feeling I was never able to come to terms with.

India was hard, but I would absolutely go back. Even as I was actively dreading upcoming parts of our trip (hello, overnight train), I was adding to my list of places I wanted to go next. India has a complexity, vastness and diverseness to it that I was constantly in awe of. I also just loved how strangers treated my child in India. I loved the massive and beautiful tombs as much as the tiny shrines hidden around every corner. Even the traffic and the decorations on the semi trucks made the list of things I loved.

Finding joy in the little things and the unexpected things is definitely something I learned from my toddler. And that’s why trips like this are worth it.

Tips for Going to India with Kids

• Read books about India before you go . I didn’t expect this to work as well as it did, but it really got our kid excited about India. They recognized things from their books and were excited to visit them! And now when we read those books, they’re so excited to tell us “I been there!” (We reccomend Tiny Travelers India Treasure Quest and Good Night India .)
• Watch YouTube videos. Similar to reading books, watching videos about the specific places you’re going and things you are doing will help prepare your child and get them excited.
• Choose your hotel wisely. I’d highly recommend a hotel that has a pool and restaurant(s) on property. If you need a crib, be sure to confirm that they have one before you book.
• Talk to your kids about photo requests. It’s really common in India and Asia for strangers to ask for photos with foreigners, especially white and/or blonde Westerners. Be sure to explain this to your child and decide as a family (or as parents) how you want to handle that. You may choose to say no or you may leave the decision up to your child. Either way, they should be prepared for it.
• Stay away from stray dogs. There are a lot of stray dogs in India. If your kid is anything like ours, they will want to pet all of them. In our experience, these dogs were not at all aggressive and never approached us if we gave them space. Just keep an eye on your child when dogs are around so they don’t try to sneak in a pet. You want to avoid this as rabies is a concern in India.
• Don’t drink the water. It’s easy to remember to not drink water from the faucet, but it’s harder to remember all the sneaky ways you’re exposed to tap water. Avoid ice, produce washed in tap water, and even utensils cleaned with tap water. We’d also recommend brushing your teeth with bottled water, which is surprisingly hard to remember to do.
• Submit your Visa request ASAP . Travelers from most countries will need an eVisa prior to landing in India. It is a relatively easy process, but it can take time. We had some issues with ours and it took a few weeks to come through. Don’t wait till the last minute on this.
• Don’t fill your suitcase with diapers . We almost never pack enough diapers for our entire trip. Babies all over the world wear diapers, so you can you almost always stock up at your destination. We ran out of diapers in Agra so we asked our hotel where to go to buy more. They actually went out, got diapers for us, and delivered them to our room that day! (I’m sure we were overcharged for it, but I gotta say it was worth it.)
• Go to sites early . Try to get to major attractions as soon as they open. Morning times are cooler and much less crowded. This matters at some places more than others, but it’s most important at the City Palace in Jaipur and of course the Taj Mahal.
• Push your child out of their comfort zone. When we first got to Jagdish Temple on Holi, our toddler was terrified. It was loud and crowded and people were getting Mommy dirty. They wanted to go home. It was hard, but we encouraged them to stay. We showed them that the colors were fun and let them play with other kids who were getting dirty, too. Half an hour later, they were having the time of their life and wanted to stay and play Holi forever! It was hard for all of us but so worth it in the end.

More From This Trip

• Emirates Business Class Review – A380 JFK to DXB
• Our Stay at Atlantis Dubai – A Perfect Place to Recharge
• Detailed 2-Day Dubai Itinerary
• Air India Business Class Review – 787 from DXB to DEL
• A Parent’s Guide to Traveling to India with Kids
• India Golden Triangle in 10 Days [Travel Guide, Itinerary &Tips]
• 3 Days in Delhi – Sample Itinerary + Planning Guide
• The Oberoi New Delhi Hotel Review
• Jaipur Itinerary – 1 or 2 Days in the Pink City
• Review of Jai Mahal Palace (Jaipur)
• Train from Jaipur to Udaipur – AC 3-Tier Sleeper Class
• The Oberoi Udaivilas Hotel Review (Udaipur)
• Udaipur Travel Guide + Things To Do
• Celebrating Holi in Udaipur (With a Kid)
• Overnight Train from Udaipur to Agra – AC First Class Sleeper
• The Oberoi Amarvilas Review: A Luxury Hotel with Taj Mahal Views
• Kerala Express Review – Agra to Delhi in AC 2-Tier Sleeper Class
• Hotel Review: JW Marriott New Delhi Aerocity
• Qatar Airways Economy Review – DEL to DOH
• Doha Things To Do & Travel Guide (Perfect for a Stopover!)
• Qatar Airways Qsuite Review – 777 from DOH to JFK

• Photography
• North America
• Beach Destinations
• City Destinations
• Mountain Destinations
• Art & Craft

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Traveling to India with a baby or toddler

India with baby

Traveling to India with a baby or toddler. 

India gives you the chance to experience a bit of luxury and actually get a vacation in – instead of settling for a trip simply because you have children. The affordable hotels, dining, fantastic service, family-friendly culture, and easy access to quality childcare make India a really GREAT destination choice for traveling with babies and toddlers.

That said, it can be challenging in some ways compared to other countries to get around with a baby or toddler in tow which is why I wanted to write this guide. I first moved to India when my twins were 10 months old and stayed here through their toddler years. After living in India 3 years, I moved away only to move back a few years later. It’s now home once again! Now I have a third baby in addition to my older twins. I’ve lived in both the North and South of India, while also traveling throughout the country so I have had varied experiences. 

When I travel in India, I usually stay in nicer hotels and resorts so I can’t really speak to backpacking or hostels. I personally wouldn’t recommend that route with small children in India anyway. There are however fabulous glamping sites in India which I have absolutely loved, but you should seek out a well-reputed one. Regardless of where you’ll be staying, or how you choose to travel, most of this information should be helpful.

You have to take the good with the bad here. In a lot of ways, things are much easier, but in other ways, it can be much more challenging logistically. Here are a few tips for getting around India smoothly with your little one(s). 

Transportation

Car seats in India are rare. They are readily available for purchase these days but I still recommend that you bring your own. If you feel your car seat will be too heavy to carry over, you can consider purchasing an affordable lightweight one specifically for travel. [If your car seat was purchased in the US or Canada you will need a locking clip , European ones have them built in]. I recommend hiring a car and driver for your entire stay in each city where possible. If not possible use your hotel car or their recommended service.  Don’t try to drive on your first (or 3rd) trip here – there’s a reason most tourists AND locals hire a professional. When planning your trip, plan to fly between cities instead of driving. The roads can be rough and the rest stops far between. 

I don’t take the metros on a day-to-day basis. Metro stations vary from dingy and overwhelmingly crowded to beautiful, modern, and clean. If you want to take a train, search the route to get reviews online. India is now home to many new, clean, and beautiful trains, but you should check 1st to see if that is the one you are getting. For long trips, sleeper cabins are available, and a lot of people love these. I personally prefer to fly with toddlers to keep the travel time short.

Sidewalks can be damaged, uneven, or nonexistent. I’ve managed to walk around everywhere from Delhi to the beaches in Sydney with my eco-friendly all-terrain stroller but for sure leave that umbrella stroller at home – or just plan to use it indoors or at certain places. For tourist sites, check online to see if it’s stroller-friendly before you head out. Most of the time an all-terrain stroller is perfect, but sometimes there are too many stairs. If feasible for you, a baby carrier is the best way to go. I use an Ergo carrier most of the time because it’s very comfortable and can be used from 7 lbs and up without a hot, bulky insert. When I travel, however, this is my go-to carrier because it folds up so compactly! 

Online shopping/Amazon

Yes! India has Amazon – with one and two-day deliveries so if you forgot something or need to buy diapers, baby food, snacks, or formula they can deliver to your hotel. The front desk will usually bring it up for you. Also, check out Swiggy (app) for food deliveries! Not just prepared food but groceries, bakery deliveries, etc. Choose cash on delivery if you don’t have Google Pay. You can also call the hotel concierge and ask if they can send someone to the pharmacy to pick something up for you if you fall sick – they’ll send a Dr too if needed. 

Best diapers in India

Babies use pull-ups here as soon as they’re out of the infancy stage so that’s all you’ll find. At first, I couldn’t figure out how they changed dirty diapers without a huge mess but then I realized you’re supposed to tear the side when removing the diaper. It seemed so obvious as soon as I did it! 

The best diapers in India (I’ve tried them all) are Pampers Premium . I actually prefer them to diapers in the US now.  Y ou’ll need to know your baby’s weight in kilos to know which size to buy. For wipes I like Huggies brand , they are the same formulation as in the U.S. They are scented but it’s mild and non-irritating. 

For baby shampoo, lotion, etc. there is a natural brand here called Mama Earth, they make a great travel pack for all the baby essentials. 

Changing tables

Changing tables isn’t really a thing here. You won’t find one anywhere in the country unless you’re in a play cafe, higher-end mall, nice theater, or another very family-friendly venue. I’m not entirely sure how other moms do things but I’ll tell you what I do. I find a private corner recline the stroller seat all the way, pull down the sunshade, and change my baby in the stroller seat. If you are in a very public area, you can ask a security guard if there is somewhere private to change them, sometimes you’ll get lucky and they’ll let you in a restricted area for a few minutes. Once my toddlers were around 18 months, I could take them to the restroom with me and change them standing up too if bathrooms were nice. 

Potty-Trained toddlers

Whenever I travel anywhere with my potty-trained toddler I bring this foldable seat cover . It works on most toilets that I’ve tried in India but not all because some are shaped just a bit differently. Usually, I just keep it for the hotel room so they can be comfortable.

If you find yourself somewhere a hygienic restroom is just not going to happen with a potty-trained toddler, well, it can be challenging. I actually carry diapers around for mine and in the event of an “I can’t hold it” and there are only disgusting bathrooms around type emergency, I slip it on, have them go in the diaper, and then take it off immediately after. I’ve only done this a few times but it sure beats any alternatives I could think of. They make travel potty training seats , but I feel the diaper is often more discrete. For boys, they can stand and go usually but for older girls and myself, we use these…. erm ….devices so we can stand and go too. I keep two in my diaper bag always along with some tissues. 

Baby Formula in India

If you need to buy baby formula in India, Enfamil is available at just about every pharmacy or you can order it online.

Baby food while traveling in India

You can easily buy baby food in India online (See Big Basket) or in stores (Look for Food Hall, World Market, or anything with the word “Hypermarket” in it). In hotels and restaurants, they will usually accommodate special requests such as mashing fruits and vegetables. Know that toddlers are often offered free desserts when out to eat. A few times my babies were offered food that was a choking hazard for their age like a small chocolate ball so you can either eat the dessert yourself or politely decline in that case.

Snacks for toddlers in India

I do recommend bringing some of your little one’s favorite snacks from home because that’s what they know and love. Packaged toddler food is usually less expensive. They also often incorporate more ancient grains and millets. There are several great local options as well. My kids love Happa Super Puffs , zookers – healthy toddler cookies , Anything Timios makes, and Indian Kishmish raisins.

Hotels in India

Hotels in India go SO far above and beyond for guests. If you leave your laundry all over the room, they will pick up and fold it all. They will also send housekeeping to clean up after your toddler eats their third snack of the day and leaves crumbs all over the room. When I first moved to India, I was in a hotel for 2 months. I called housekeeping 2ce a day to clean up after our meals – my babies were very messy eaters at that time but they were very happy to help. You can also ask hotels to reserve a table in the corner for you each morning at breakfast so fewer people pass by your table if your kids are feeling inundated with extra attention. Trust me, the breakfast buffets in India are not to be missed! If you have a food intolerance or allergy they are a dream!

Many higher-end   hotels these days actually have tap water that you can drink. I don’t trust it for everyday drinking (which is fine because they also provide unlimited free bottled water) but it’s really nice to have if your baby is in the swallowing bath water phase. If your hotel does not have potable water and you are worried about your baby ingesting the water, a quick shower is a better option. Recently a lot of hotels have shifted to bottled water in reusable glass bottles. These are safe for drinking. If any concern call the front desk. 

Washing Bottles

Use bottled water to wash all of your baby bottles, pacifiers, etc. I don’t like the baby dish soap here so I brought my own from the US. I also brought a travel bottle cleaning set along but you could easily pick something up here as well. Many hotels will actually wash and/or sterilize bottles for you – some even have sterilization machines. I tried the washing service (I don’t sterilize bottles) but they kept missing the air valves so I preferred to wash them myself. I generally start washing with tap water but do the final rinse with filtered or bottled water. That’s just for bottles and sippy cups where I tend to be extra cautious. F or plates, bowls, etc tap water is fine to wash with – just be sure it is completely dry before using again.  

Cribs in Indian Hotels

Some hotels have older-style cribs – you know the ones they don’t sell anymore in other countries with the wide bars for the baby heads to get stuck in? Email your hotel beforehand and ask them to send you an image of the crib so you know if you need to bring your own pack-and-play or not. You can also buy pack and plays here online or at a baby shop such as First Cry. 

Childcare in India

Babysitting is very affordable in India, most hotels provide babysitting services on-site. I have had so many great experiences with babysitting in Indian hotels. I also had one bad experience so it’s very important to vet the sitter before leaving your child – click here to see questions to ask the hotel and sitter before heading out. My preference is to always have the babysitter watch my toddler in the kids’ club – you have to hire a separate sitter due to their age but they can use the space with older kids. 

Nannies in India 

You can find a temporary full or part-time nanny during your stay. I recommend asking in an expat group on Facebook if they know of anyone between jobs. Nannies can also act as your translator should the rare need for one arise but typically English is enough. 

Food safety while traveling

Food safety is a concern, especially for children under the age of 6. I highly recommend you read this post before your trip but if you are short on time at least remember to stick with well-reviewed restaurants where you can eat pretty much anything. Pro tip: Download the Zomato app and stick to restaurants rated 4.0 or higher. Otherwise, you can stick to only well-cooked foods or fresh fruits and veggies that you wash, cut, and peel yourself. In general, you have to be more careful in north India than in the south. If your street food meal seems too cheap (less than 100 rupees) it probably is. Always err on the side of spending more in India. 

Breastfeeding in India

Breastfeeding is fairly well accepted in India but not as widely as in the West and most women do prefer to either nurse in a private area or they use a cover. Although India has very progressive maternity leave laws that relate to breastfeeding, there is no legal protection for public nursing. Now that doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t nurse your baby in public I’ve personally done it many times, without a cover. It’s just not legally protected which means if a restaurant owner asks you to cover up you can pitch a fit, tell them it’s ridiculous, etc. but then, in the unlikely event they don’t back down, you’d either need to comply or leave the premises. I’ve never actually heard of this happening but I know it must happen here because it still happens in the US where it IS legally protected. I’ve seen women breastfeed openly with and without covers when out and about, I have done the same. A few weeks ago I saw a woman breastfeeding on the back of a moving moped – not all superheroes wear capes am I right? In malls, hospitals, and other large public venues, there is almost always a baby care lounge with comfy chairs for you to privately nurse your baby, I think it’s because of that convenience that I’ve never seen anyone breastfeed in a mall before.

Ok, play cafes are amazing and at least where I live in the nation’s capital of New Delhi and surrounding areas of Noida and Gurgaon, they are very popular. The mall closest to my house has 3! Play cafes are half restaurants and half play areas. Most are geared toward younger kids (around ages 1-6). They’re even staffed – the idea is that you can eat in peace, chat with friends or get some work done while your kids run around, play dress up, or play with developmentally appropriate toys. I have no idea why this hasn’t caught on in the West and I have half a mind to open one up myself. Make sure you visit one during your trip to India. Click play on the video below to see a few different play cafes around town. Sadly they are not popular everywhere in India. Here in Bangalore, they are nonexistent but there are a lot of very cool indoor play areas! 

Historical sites

Safety can be a concern at historical sites. Most sites have been preserved as they were built so that means no railings have been added to stairwells or plexiglass added to gaping holes in the walls three stories up. It is up to you and only you to keep your little one safe. I used to use these  on occasion when I was out in more dangerous sites with my kids so they didn’t accidentally run out a doorway and fall three stories. 

Stray dogs and wild monkeys

We have a rule in our family that you can look at but not touch any animal without first being invited by an adult. That adult can be me once I assess a stray is friendly. My kids love to say “Hi” to the local animals who usually ignore them entirely in return. Both monkeys and stray dogs can carry diseases and can be aggressive if provoked, startled, or if you’re holding food, so use caution. Some strays are quite friendly. You will notice some strays wear collars. These are often dogs cared for by their community humans and are often very friendly, even protective of children they run into. Animals here are pretty used to the presence of humans though and most often will choose to do their own thing.

All the extra attention

Indian people, in general, LOVE kids. Kids here get extra attention and touching (pats on the head, cheek, etc.) If your kid would stand out in a crowd here you might get a bit more attention ….. sometimes you might get a LOT more attention, particularly at tourist sites. Most particularly at tourist sites in Jaipur, I am not sure what the deal is but the attention in Jaipur is more than we have received anywhere else. The good news is that there is not a huge language barrier here so communicating that your baby isn’t liking it or saying “Please no touching” is a pretty simple thing to do. I often blurt out “Not the face!” which is met most often with amusement and an apology. 

This can be challenging because, on the one hand, you want to respect the culture you’re in, and on the other, your baby or toddler may not respond well to unwanted touching. You also might want to prevent strangers from touching your baby since their immune systems are still developing. In general, Indians are very respectful and will back right off without being offended after you ask them to stop. If you need to address a handsy stranger further, stay friendly, repeat that they don’t like touching, and put your whole body between them and your child. If there seems to be a language barrier put your hand up like you’re telling someone to stop. Sometimes, locals will want to take selfies with your child. Unlike many other countries that I have visited, in India, they almost always ask your permission first. I often tell people “not right now” because it sounds nicer than no, but it’s pretty unlikely that they’re going to see you again later. Other times we take the selfie, it just depends on what we have going on, if my toddler is okay with it, etc. If you’re really lucky, someone might ask you to hold THEIR baby to take a photo with.

Staring in India

Part of getting extra attention is getting stared at. If you have older kids I would explain to them that they are staring because they are different and find them interesting. I often find myself staring at the 20 people crammed into one tuk-tuk. It’s not that I mean any harm by it. I just can’t believe they all fit in there! It’s amazing. For babies going through the stranger danger phase, it can even be traumatic for them. My son would shut down, tuck his chin to his chest, and just start crying. It was a horrible thing to watch keeping him in a baby carrier, sitting in corners of restaurants, and notifying waiters (who were very often the ones staring) of his “shyness” helped a lot. On the other hand, my daughter loved all the extra attention so we went with it. You’ll find what works for you. 

If they are getting a lot of unwanted attention, It might help to have your kids wear hats at tourist sites. Not just blonde kids, all kids. Locals largely prefer to come and discuss my brunette daughter’s “silky hair” over my son’s blonde hair. In general, you will get a lot more attention at tourist sites and in rural areas. Everyday living, walking around big cities – that’s a completely different story. While I get more stares here in malls I get stopped for conversation in the US way more (every 4th person in the US wants to know if my kids are twins) so for us, it was an easier transition. 

If you ever feel uncomfortable because the staring has become more of creepy leering, feel free to give a dirty look back, say Hi, ask a guard for help, or just be blunt and tell them to stop. I mean, some people will never know that they are being inappropriate unless someone lets them know and other people just have unfortunate resting faces. Use your instincts and protective emotions (fear, anger, etc.) that come with those instincts to do what you’re comfortable with. 

I had one man staring at me in a very creepy way while I was out and about with my kids. I tried staring back, dirty looks and even putting my hands up as if to say “What?!?” but nothing stopped this man from staring. I was waiting for my driver so this went on for more than 10 minutes. My instincts told me something was off and not to approach (he was a ways away) even though normally I have no issue confronting people. There weren’t any security guards around at the time, normally there are and you can just talk to them. I took out my phone and as obviously as possible, took a photo of him. I then made a phone call to my driver to see how close he was. The man probably thought I was calling the police and finally walked away. That was the worst experience I have had to date. After 3.5 years of living here. S o hopefully, if you’re on a short trip, it doesn’t happen to you at all. I have had a similar experience in Australia as well but the man was leering at and filming my child instead of me which was way worse. 

Vaccines needed to travel to India

Never accept a blogger’s advice when it comes to which specific vaccines are required for travel. Most of us aren’t doctors and vaccine information can change. Check here for information on vaccines needed before visiting India and then speak with your child’s pediatrician. Be sure to tell them which specific areas you will be visiting because that most likely will mean fewer vaccines are required.

Hand Sanitizer

Keep an alcohol-based hand sanitizer on you at all times. I took a Costco-sized pack of individual Lysol wipes with us when we moved which comes in handy to carry around. (These are also amazing for travel in general)  Just be sure it completely drys before your little one touches their face … or sucks on their fingers.

Mosquitos in India

Mosquitos here can do more than give you an itchy bump, they carry and transmit dengue and other diseases. They are also out all day long too, not just after dusk. I normally love natural remedies but that is assuming some level of effectiveness. When it comes to tropical, disease-carrying mosquitos, Deet is your best friend. It is safe for babies 2 months and up. On the other hand, natural repellents containing oils such as eucalyptus or lemon oil are only safe once your child is three years old. I’ve also tried several natural brands of lotions, sprays, and stickers myself and the mosquitoes were not phased at all.

There is one brand here in India that contains DEET. You can buy it online but the sprayer is not very good, it leaks a ton and smells terrible. I import these from the US to use which contains 15% Deet. I tried a brand containing 7% but found it to be ineffective here. I also really love these wipes (picardin is as effective as DEET) because they are so small and easy to carry around! Be sure you know how to correctly apply DEET based bug spray. I always give a bath after an evening outside to wash off all the residue before bed.

What to wear in India

In general, dress for your comfort and for the weather. Shopping locally is always a great idea because the fabrics sold here are designed for the climate, not to mention they are super comfy and cute. To read my full guide on how to dress in India, click HERE.

Pollution in India

I was so afraid of the pollution levels in India before moving here and, it’s true it does get bad – really bad…. in the north that is. However, it’s not an issue year-round and air purifiers are amazing at removing toxins from the air. Anti-pollution face masks are great for outdoor activities. Vog Masks are the local expat’s brand of choice and they do make them in child sizes but they are really hard to find post covid. You can try these if for 4+. Face masks are not recommended for young toddlers or babies, check with your pediatrician before using on an older toddler. The best thing to do is to plan your visit when air pollution is not a major issue. Karnakata or Kerala, for example, does not struggle with the same air quality issues as other part of the country. Here in Bangalore, I can leave my windows open all day long most days of the year!

The best time of year to visit India

It’s important to plan your visit at the right times, especially when traveling with kids because you need to avoid pollution and extreme heat if you want to enjoy the outdoors. The best time to visit most of India is February-April and August-October. (Click here to read the full guide to when to visit India, which is broken down by region.) Most people say September-October but I love August in Delhi. It’s still monsoon season so you get clear skies and clean air. It’s still very warm and humid but not as hot as the other summer months.

November is the absolute worst time of year to visit because the air pollution is horrible, if you can help it, do not bring your little one to visit unless you’re heading to South India. Summers in many parts (May- mid-July) are also hard because it is unbearably hot. Babies cannot regulate their body temperatures the way adults can so you really wouldn’t be able to see the sights with them without risking heatstroke.

Shopping in India

Be sure to take the time to shop in India, particularly for clothing early on in your trip. My favorite brands for Indian kid’s clothing are Fab India and Anokhi . They have (adorable) lightweight, breathable pieces of cotton that are perfect for Indian weather. There are also several markets where you are able to buy directly from local vendors. For tips on Haggling in India click here . Your baby or toddler will be able to wear what you buy here back home too!

Did I miss anything? If you have any burning questions about traveling in India with a baby or toddler feel free to ask in the comments below!

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[…] Traveling to India with a baby or toddler […]

Great! I would guess that touching, staring and all that extra attention you get when travelling with kids might be one of the biggest challenges in India. Because I know how tiring it gets after some time when you are alone, since it’s hard to be alone for even a short moment, let alone when you are travelling with a kid…

Yes, it can be challenging but thankfully it’s not an everyday occurrence in big cities. My kids are old enough to tell strangers “no touch” now too, they manage it all themselves at this point. So really, it’s been a great lesson in assertiveness 🙂

Cool! It means they are learning something new. Something you wouldn’t even think of when traveling let’s say in Europe.

I’m really loving your blog, especially all the info on New Delhi with kids. We are stopping over there in February with a 3.5 year old and a 9 month old. I’m really looking forward to exploring and by reading your blog have become a bit less scared too…. Do you know if there is a map of the play cafes?

That’s great! There are many play cafes in Delhi. Google maps should pull them up for you. Fab cafe (inside of the the Fab India Vasant Kunj) is especially popular where you can shop a bit too while your kids play.

This is such a great article! I am planning to go to several places in India like New Delhi, Lucknow and Pune with my 4 month old baby and I will be staying there for 2-3 months. Even though I am an Indian, I have been living in Canada for last 7 years and this is my first child and his first travel ever!. I am so scared to travel with him because first, he is still very young and his vaccinations still doesn’t cover everything (I will be going to travel clinic prior to traveling) and second, even I am used to so many facilities and public amenities now that managing without clean public toilet without changing table will be the toughest thing. Believe me when I say, I cringe while changing him in Costco washroom. You can imagine how hard it will be for me to change him anywhere public in India. The touching part was a great point to bring forward. We will be meeting so many relatives and all of them will touch him without sanitizing their hands. I will be carrying hand sanitizer everywhere but some elders might take it offensively too but I am not going to care as I have to take care of my little one whose immunity is still not developed.

I’m sure you will have a great trip! I will say that many of the bathrooms here in Delhi are MUCH cleaner than your average Costco ones because they actually have dedicated attendants who literally clean the stall after each person. Of course, not all restrooms have this service and there are plenty of germy bathrooms to go around, it all just depends on where you go. The baby care rooms in big malls are also usually quite nice. The problem I had is that outside of the big malls, there are no changing stations in the restrooms, which is a problem I’ve run into in many parts of the world actually. So anyway, that’s why I just changed them right in the stroller or in the car – car trunks make for great changing spaces. You have to just take the good with the bad, but trust me, there is a lot of good! Enjoy your trip. I hope you’ll let me know how it goes!

Great blog, thank you!

We’re thinking of taking our two boys to Gujarat at the end of December. At the time of visiting one will be 4 years old and the other 4 months old. Would you say this is a good time of year to go? Our main concern is disease carrying mosquitoes, especially Dengue. Are we being overly paranoid? Thanks!

Apologies for the delay, I was on leave while we went through another international move! I know this advice is not reaching you in time but for what it’s worth, you are absolutely not being overly paranoid. Dengue is a real issue, while there is a mosquito season where they more active and you need to be extra cautious, my children wear mosquito repellant year-round! Both DEET and picaridin are incredibly effective and approved for babies over 2 months old. We go out ALL the time at dusk when there are plenty of mosquitos and as long as I cover exposed skin, we don’t get bit at all 🙂 Here is my favorite one: (affiliate link) https://amzn.to/2RSySUE

Thanks for writing this up. I am also Indian but been in states for a long time now. My baby is 9 months old and I am worried sick about his sleeping situation. Where do I find a crib as per american standards? Even the mattress? If its impossible to get one, then probably we have to have him sleep in his pack and play. Everyone I know co-sleeps which I don’t do. I have anxiety for baby safety. Do you have any recommendations on brand names?

A lot of the hotels use pack-and-plays, which would be a safe sleeping situation assuming they don’t stuff it with bedding. The wooden cribs, not so much. I would definitely avoid for a baby and young toddler but did use them when my kids were older toddlers. You can email the hotel beforehand and ask for a photo of the cribs they use.

Otherwise, you could bring your own pack and play if you already own one. I used to fit 2 inside one 1 suitcase. Alternately, you buy one from a local mall (check out the Mothercare store) and donate it before you leave, it would be put to good use!

This is a great blog! My biggest questions/concerns were the actual flight itself and the food.

How did you manage sleeping, entertaining the kiddos on a long overseas flight? And what do you do for jet lag?

Our kiddo is used to Indian food and the flavors of the spices. We just use pepper sparingly. How did your kids manage the spicy food? And this may sound silly, but where do you buy milk as I’m not sure everywhere we will go we will have access to pasteurized milk.

So – milk is easy! Amul brand is pasteurized and available everywhere – even corner shops! If you are in need of a formula that can be bought at any local pharmacy. As you may know, Indian spicy is different than overseas spicy. We ask for things to be less spicy, or just say its for the kids and they automatically do it. Funny enough when my kids were babies they ate more spicy food than they do now. It has never been an issue because restaurants are very accommodating and everything is cooked to order so for my daughter these days we ask for zero spice (that’s a thing) as she doesn’t like it.

From 18 months I did unlimited screentime on flights. Before that, we took baby toys and hoped for the best! I do carry Benadryl and Tylenol just in case but have never used it, so you could talk to your Pedi about that. I have used chamomile tea many times for red eyes to help get them sleepy, ask your dr but most say its fine to give after 6 months. I also use these inflatable footrests so Itoddlers can lay down and sleep (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/2GvxbqT Babies do best in a bassinet or car seat.

Hello Dana. Thanks for these wonderful information. One of my biggest fear other than any illness is sleep transition when traveling to India. How did you do it?

Jet lag is tough but generally, I find kids often adapt better than adults. My best advice is to expose them to sunlight as soon as possible in the morning. If they don’t usually nap, keep it that way. If they usually nap I would add only 1 hour to the nap total. Put them to bed an hour or two early if needed.

Modified schedules help too, especially for short trips. If the natural tendency is to wake up early, embrace it and see more sunsets. Or if the tendency is to stay up late, let them! I have had great adventures with my kids at 10 pm while on holiday when back home they would have been fast asleep!

Thanks for the valuable information and suggestions. This blog coverd almost all the points regarding how to handle things when we are traveling with a baby or toddler. Very useful for people who travel with a baby

Good you explained everything in detail it has been a great help. Thanks for sharing the Useful and Informative Blog.

This is an excellent article Dana Thanks, really, for sharing these insights 👍🏽 I also love what you say about vaccines for travel 😉

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16 Tips for Flying With Toddlers and Young Kids

Traveling with toddlers can be hard, at least if you're not properly prepared. Here, experienced flight attendants share their secrets for flying with young kids.

FLY VIEW PRODUCTIONS/GETTY IMAGES

With long security lines, cramped airplane seating, and busy waiting areas, flying isn't the most pleasant experience—and all of the frustration increases exponentially when you add a toddler into the mix. Some young children simply don't have the patience for airport security. They might despise sitting quietly for hours on end, and they might be uneasy during turbulence or get upset with the ear-popping changes in air pressure.

Thankfully, though, you can have a worry-free travel day with proper preparation and planning. Whether you're jetting off to your relative's house or Disney World, check out these stress-reducing strategies for flying (and traveling) with toddlers—some of which came straight from flight attendants.

Book an Early Morning Departure

If you're traveling with toddlers or young children, you should book an early morning departure. These give you the best chance of avoiding delays at takeoff and landing, a flight attendant named Patrick explains. "They are usually less crowded, too," he says. "Plus, everyone is tired and just wants to nap—kids especially."

Save Your Upgrades for Toddler-Free Travel

Traveling in first class with kids can be more stressful than it's worth. Mom Joanna recounts the story of traveling with her loud, lively toddler and incurring the vocal wrath of her first-class seatmates for the entirety of the flight. "It's not fair, but you're just going to get more empathy and support with kids in economy," says a flight attendant.

Talk to Your Kids About What to Expect

"My experience is kids do so much better when they know what to expect," says Shireen, a mom of three from Australia who's traveled to the U.S. several times with her kids. She recommends watching a Let's Go Play video on YouTube , which goes over the entire flight experience, from baggage check-in and ticketing to onboard etiquette and safety.

Dress in Layers and Skip Shoes With Laces

Whether you are changing climates or simply dealing with in-flight heat and/or air conditioning, you can and should be ready for drastically changing temperatures when traveling with a toddler. Wendy, a flight attendant and mom, suggests you dress your kids in comfortable layers—preferably without buttons, zippers, or anything that could prevent them from getting to the bathroom in time.

The same principle applies to shoes: Avoid laces and opt for slip-ons. "There's the added benefit of getting through airport screening that much faster," she says.

Bring Surprises

When flying with a toddler, a wrapped new plaything has two advantages: Kids love to unwrap stuff, and a new toy has more attention-grabbing pull.

Consider Using a Smaller Stroller

Getting through an airport without a stroller is unthinkable for some parents, so consider switching out your regular-size stroller for a small, compact umbrella stroller or travel stroller. Also, check your stroller at the gate before boarding; the crew will have it waiting for you when you get off the plane.

If you've got more than one little traveler with you, consider a kid harness (aka leash), Wendy suggests. "I was so against them until I saw a woman with three young boys using them in baggage claim. It made so much sense," she says, "with the exit doors to outside right there. Look, flying is stressful enough. Do what you need to do to protect your kids and your sanity."

Pack Just Enough

Flight attendants urge parents to pack enough essentials for the flight. "Unfortunately, you can expect there to be zero food on a plane that would interest a kid," says Lynn. "And we are so limited in what we can offer in terms of comfort items as well."

On the flip side, parents will struggle if they zealously overpack. "Usually, when it's one parent traveling with one or more kids, they'll bring way too much stuff in an attempt to keep their kids happy," Wendy says. "They forget they have to carry all that stuff off the plane with them, along with their kids."

Plan Your Packing List

To guard against over-packing while ensuring you don't forget anything critical, consider writing out a full packing list. Star or highlight those items that will need to be packed last minute (like the lovey your kiddo sleeps with or the tablet that's currently charging) so you have a checklist to consult one last time before heading out the door.

Sample Airplane Packing List for Toddlers

When packing your carry-on for the plane ride, use this list as a starting point:

• Comfort item: Consider packing one of your toddler's favorite comfort items in your carry-on for mid-flight snuggles. If the comfort item is a pacifier, be sure to pack more than one, lest it gets flung down the aisle or on the floor.
• Sanitizer, wipes, pull-ups, and diapers: You'll want these critical items within reach at all times during your travels. Not sure how many diapers to throw in the carry-on? One diaper per hour of travel is recommended.
• Electronic devices: If there is any time to let up on strict screen time rules, it's when you're traveling. Make sure that whatever device you're bringing is fully charged and ready to go—and don't forget the chargers for the flight back. Consider pre-loading the tablet or phone with your kids' favorite movies or shows for offline viewing.
• Kid-size headphones: Be sure to follow the basic rules of travel etiquette and pack comfy headphones your little one can wear while enjoying their favorite games or shows. Have more than one kid in tow? Consider investing in a splitter so both can enjoy the show with their own set of headphones.
• Art supplies: A small box of crayons and blank paper can go a long way when it comes to entertaining your toddler on a plane. Mix things up and pack some fun stickers or even plain sticky notes to add to the excitement.
• Plastic bags: You never know when you'll need an extra bag for wet clothes, a dirty diaper, or even just for trash, so pack a few extras.
• Water bottle: Toss an empty clean water bottle into your bag to fill after you get through security. Just make sure that it's leakproof!
• Healthy and fun mess-free snacks: While you don't necessarily want to load your kid up with sugar just before take-off, consider packing a mix of healthy and fun snacks that are relatively mess-free to keep their bellies full and happy. Cheerios, pretzels, crackers, string cheese, and granola bars are good options.

Be Prepared for Security

When you pack, make sure items that need to be removed during security are easily reached. Keep in mind that traveling with snacks may mean extra scrutiny during the screening process.

Prepare for Air Pressure Changes

If your child has recently had an ear infection or a cold, get your doctor's approval before flying. The change in cabin air pressure may cause pain for your toddler. After passing through security, stock up on enough water for everyone to get through a possible delay and have enough left for the descent, which is often the most bothersome time for ear pressure discomfort. Have your kids drink some right after takeoff and during the last 30 to 45 minutes of the descent. The swallowing helps with the pressure changes and gives an added hydrating benefit.

By All Means, Use Pull-Ups

Your little one may have moved beyond Pull-Ups into big kid underwear, but pull-up diapers are a great resource when flying with a recently potty-trained toddler or young child. "I even use them on my 6-year-old," says Wendy, who adds that it's much less stressful than having to race to the bathroom or deal with an in-seat accident.

Show Some Appreciation

Flight attendants love to receive a certain gratuity for dealing with toddlers. "Any kind of chocolate found in an airport, handed over at boarding, does wonders," says Patrick. Of course, it will have zero effect on the random bad-tempered, unprofessional cabin crew member. But it's a nice gesture nonetheless, particularly when flying during the holidays when most flight attendants will be working and away from their families.

"It will be so appreciated," he says. "And we will remember you and look out for you. And not only that, you'll probably score a free drink out of it."

Seat Kids Away From the Aisle

Aisle seats can be dangerous for toddlers and potentially give them a little too much freedom of movement. For example, little hands and feet can be bumped as people walk by and hot coffee and water may be just within reach as the food and beverage cart passes by. If you can, consider the window seat, which offers the benefit of a view and puts you between your toddler and any other passengers in your row.

Beware of Germs

Toddlers tend to get sit a lot, but you can try to avoid any travel-related illness by keeping your little one's hands clean. When flying with a toddler, wipe everything from hands to tray tables down with sanitizing wipes when you're getting settled in your seats—and above all else, do not send your kids to the bathroom without shoes. "The floor is a Petri dish," a flight attendant confides. "You're in the air, things jostle. That's not just water on the bathroom floor."

Keep Your Composure

There's not much you can do to assuage that passenger who complains the moment your child sneezes or giggles. Here's what you need to remember: As long as you're trying (and what parent isn't?), you've got almost everyone on your side. "An adult having an issue with a screaming child is acting like a child as well," offers a flight attendant and mother named Patience. "Don't engage. Just worry about your own child."

Choose an Airline With Kid-Friendly Perks

There's nothing a family-friendly airline wants more than happy, occupied kiddos. As such, many leading carriers have all kinds of kid perks to offer their littlest travelers from a wide array of their favorite TV shows and movies to kid-approved headphones and snacks.

Before boarding, be sure to check in with the gate agent about whether the airline offers priority boarding for families with young children. Often airlines call special boarding for families so they can board a little early so you'll have time to settle in. Other great perks to look for are family lounges or airports with areas for kids to burn off some steam during layovers or before boarding.

Related Articles

12 Tips to Prepare for Air Travel with your Toddlers and Young Kids

• Updated on April 23, 2022
• Travel News

Traveling with kids is a daunting task mainly if you are not accurately prepared. There are various things that you may have to face during traveling by air that including busy waiting areas, unexpected delays in flights, airport security checking, and so on. During this time, it is hard to handle the toddlers which leads to frustration too.

Are you also got frustrated when you travel by air with toddlers? If it is so, no need to take stress about traveling with kids. Here we listed the best and most effective tips that you can consider while preparing for air travel with your child.

Table of Contents

List of the 12 Preparing for Air Travel with Toddlers and Young Kids:

1. book an early morning departure.

Consider an early morning departure is one of the best ways to avoid delay mainly at the takeoff including landing too. These flights may be less crowded and your kids will take the nap easily during the journey. It, another thing to keep in mind is to try to avoid those flights which have long layovers or late-night connections.

2. Bring different activities

It is essential to consider basic things with you like, cocktail napkins, and many more instead of asking a flight attendant. Besides this, you carry the below-mentioned items along with you:

• Portable DVD players
• Coloring books
• Sticker Books
• Go fish Playing cards, and many more

By bringing any of these things, you will easily keep your children busy as much as you can. As a result, you will enjoy peaceful traveling.

3. Carry Snacks

Not all the children give preference to flight menus. There are high chances that your children do not get their favorite food on the flight. As a result, they will surely get irritated and starts frustrating you. It is because at that moment you will get stuck in a few options. Hence taking the snacks along with you is the wisest option. Besides this, you can carry the favorite food of your child.

This technique will be a lifesaver for travelers who are traveling with kids because their kids will be busy eating their favorite food.

4. Have a “sanity seat”

Another technique that you can consider is choosing a sanity seat. By doing so, you and your partners can divide the responsibilities and enjoy flights. You take two seats which are at distance. For instance, if you are traveling with your wife and kids, for one hour your wife will handle your kids and you will be free on your sanity seat. After that, for the next hour, you can switch the seat and your wife will feel child-free paradise.

5. Always lie to your kids

At one certain point, your toddlers will become irritable and agitated as it is complicated for learners to sit in a stable environment until you reach their destination. If they ask a question like when will they reach or so on, do not reveal the truth.

You can puzzle them by saying “it will require only 25 minutes to reach a destination. By doing so, you will motivate your child and distract them from speaking the truth.

• 10 Days Rajasthan Tour
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• 8 Days Kashmir Tour
• 8 Days Golden Triangle with Varanasi
• 9 Days Golden Triangle with Haridwar & Rishikesh
• Golden Triangle with Rajasthan & Goa Trip

6. Have communication with a flight attendant

If the child is under two- hence fly for a fee- so prepare yourself for the conversation with a flight attendant. They might be less enthusiastic about this communication as compared to they are having communication with those travelers who are seated in the emergency exists row. They will guide you and provide you with all the essential tips about which way you can hold your baby for the time of take-off and landing.

7. Make friends with other parents on a flight

There are chances that you may require allies on the aircraft. When you are in the waiting area, be ready to have communication with other parents who are getting on a flight. You can ask some basic questions such as “what is the age of your child? In which class he is studying? Making a friend does not mean you need to connect with them for a long time. During the flight at least you may have someone with whom you can communicate and release your stress.

8. Book a direct flight

If you want to reach your destination peacefully, you must consider direct or non-stop flights. By doing so, you will reach early to the destination without facing any problems. Besides this, if you choose a connecting flight, you must schedule a little bit of extra time on the ground between these flights. As a result, you will avoid running through the airport with your baby, car seat, diaper bag, and other things.

You can easily utilize this time by grabbing some non-airplane food, changing the diaper of your toddlers, and letting your child play. By playing, your child gets tired and has sleep during the journey.

9. Explore the airport restroom

You want to fly with the dry diapered child; hence it is essential to explore the airport bathroom before boarding. You can change the diaper of your baby or put your baby into two diapers which give leaks protection. This step will lead to less inconvenience for parents.

10. Gate Check Baby Gear

The majority of airlines give the permission to parents to gate check heavy baby gear that including car seats without adding extra cost. All you can do is request to attendant from gate check tags at your airline’s gate. Further, work on attaching one tag to every item then deposit it at the jet-way bottom.

11. Rent the baby equipment for travel

To lessen the load and avoid baggage fees, you can give the preference to take baby travel gear on rent. You may have cribs, high chairs, and many more for delivery to the destination airport, hotel, or any other place. You can check the renting service and work on it.

12. Keep your baby buckled

Buckled ensures you about the safety of a child on an airplane mainly at the time of sudden turbulence. You can unbuckle them when it is a time of changing diapers or any break.

Final Verdicts 

So, these are the effective tips that you can keep in your mind while traveling with your toddler. Right from snacks to games, do not forget anything to make your journey peaceful with your child.

More information about the travel to India by months:

• 11 Best Places to Visit India in November 2022
• India 10 Best Places to Visit in September 2022
• Top 20 Tourist Places to See India in October 2022
• 10 Best Places to Visit North India in June
• In August Places to See in India 2022

Tusk Travel Team

Tusk Travel is dedicated to delivering precise, genuine, and reliable travel guides through a dynamic team of writers, editors, and destination experts. We aim to provide comprehensive information in its simplest form, sharing insights to influence perspectives nationwide.

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The Traveling Twin Mama

25+ Toddler Travel Essentials: Traveling with a Toddler Checklist (2024)

Planning a family trip, but unsure what you need in terms of toddler travel essentials? Keep reading for my traveling with a toddler checklist (from a mama of twin boys).

From ensuring you’ve packed the essentials, to anticipating toddler needs on the go, the mere thought of organizing a trip with toddlers in tow can be overwhelming.

As a mom of twin boys who started traveling at four months and have now been on over 50+ trips, I understand the joys and challenges that come with traveling alongside your little ones. But rest assured mama, you got this!

My all-inclusive toddler travel essentials list draws from my personal experiences and takeaways from traveling with my twin boys. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a long-haul international trip, these toddler travel essentials will help alleviate the stress that often accompanies toddler travel prep.

You’ll find, not only the toddler travel essentials that have worked best for my kids but also items that my fellow traveling moms swear by. Please remember that every kid is different – so what works for one may not work for the other (even with twins!) It’s likely that you won’t need all the items listed (that’s where your mama intuition will come in). Also please be aware that toddler travel needs change as your little one grows from 12 months to three years and so on.

Think of this blog post as your roadmap to smoother, more enjoyable travel with your toddler! The focus will shift from worrying about forgotten items to creating cherished memories with your little adventurer. It’s broken down into two simple sections: the day of travel (i.e. what needs to be in your diaper bag or toddler’s backpack) and carry-on/checked luggage (i.e. what you may need at the hotel/vacation rental or during the trip).

Day of Travel: Toddler Travel Essentials

When flying with a toddler, what you include in your diaper bag travel checklist can make a significant impact on your flying experience. Simply because most airports don’t offer items that cater to kids. The toddler travel essentials listed below will help you fly with your little one with ease.

Toddler Travel Essentials: Transport Checklist

As a mom of twins, my biggest concern before traveling with my infant twins was how I would transport them during the trip, especially at the airport. As they got older and more accustomed to traveling to different regions and climates, I realized that what’s required for one trip may not be required for the next. As you prepare the toddler travel essentials you will need to take into consideration where you are traveling to and what activities you’ll be participating in.

Travel Strollers

For my boys’ first and second trips to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Puerto Rico (respectively), we used this double stroller travel system which easily connected both car seats. To be fair, however, it was a bit cumbersome gate-checking a double stroller. You have to, not only detach the car seats, but also remove a seat and fold the stroller. All the while somehow holding or containing two kids.

After our travels in Europe and taking the train from Amsterdam to Paris, I realized a double stroller was not conducive to travel. I noticed European parents using small travel strollers – some of which folded compactly and could fit in the overhead rack. That’s the exact moment that I became obsessed with the GB Pockit Stroller . I absolutely love how I can roll the stroller on the plane with the baby in tow. Once the baby is settled, I simply fold it up and place it overhead.

There are several good options for compact travel strollers and many of those can fit overhead on a plane. Depending on the climate you’re traveling to, you may want to consider getting a mosquito net cover , rain cover , and/or fan for the stroller. Another great stroller accessory when carrying a lot of things is a stroller organizer . Being able to keep your hands as free as possible when traveling with kids makes the journey a lot easier and less stressful.

As my boys got older, they became more resistant to using a stroller. That’s when our handy beach wagon came to the rescue. It was perfect for fitting both kids or their luggage. Our personal rules to the kids were “either pull the wagon or ride in it.”

If you prefer a wagon specifically designed for kids, there are several options including Wonderfold , Evenflo , and Gladly Family . These wagons come with seat belts and seats specifically designed for kiddos.

Lightweight or Travel Car Seat

Another toddler travel essential that I stressed about when first traveling with my twins was car seats. I couldn’t imagine carrying two standard-sized car seats along with all of the other kid travel needs. Luckily, some genius out there with kids designed lightweight and portable travel car seats for parents on the go.

We started with the Cosco Car Seats which are relatively lightweight at about 12 pounds. We didn’t have any issues with it. However, when we discovered the WAYB Pico was foldable, only 8 pounds, and could be used with kids up to 50 lbs (we were nearing the weight limit of our Cosco Car Seats), we knew it was time to switch.

It’s extremely easy to travel with the WAYB Pico Car Seat. I personally love how spacious the car seat bag is. It’s roomy enough to fit additional items, like life jackets.

Ride Safer Travel Vest

Another great option is the Ride Safe Travel Vest for car travel only. It is available in three sizes and fits kids from 22 to 110 pounds. The best part is that the travel vest only weighs a bit over two pounds.

CARES Kid’s Fly Safe Harness

Due to the amount of stuff you have to bring, traveling with twin babies and toddlers is no easy feat. Once I started buying my kiddos their own seats on the plane, I was happy to find the CARES Kid’s Fly Safe Harness to use on the plane instead of a car seat. It quickly became one of our toddler travel essentials.

This harness is designed for kids that weigh 22–44 pounds and is very compact. So compact, that each boy would carry theirs in their backpack! Plus, the setup was super easy and only took a minute or so.

Toddler Luggage and Travel Backpack Essentials

As your little one gets older, they’re going to want more independence. A great way to satiate that need is to add toddler luggage and/or a toddler backpack to your toddler travel checklist. Keep reading for my favorites.

Toddler Luggage

At two years old, my boys were over the moon when they got their own toddler-sized luggage . We found it was best to give them two-wheel luggage since it seemed easier for them to know which direction to roll it. Initially, they carried just lightly packed luggage or backpacks to limit the weight. As they got older, they started to carry both, which has made traveling with kids so much easier.

Toddler Travel Backpack and Harness Backpack with Leash

Once your little one gets old enough and is a relatively good walker, a toddler travel backpack is a must-have. These backpacks can be relatively light and easy for your little one to carry. As they grow, they can begin to carry some of their needs, like entertainment, snacks, and/or diapers.

If you have a kid who likes to wander or have multiples (like myself), consider investing in a harness backpack with a leash .

Toddler Luggage Accessories Checklist

Packing for yourself can be a challenge. Throw in packing for a toddler, and you may end up with more things than you can physically carry. Luggage straps, compression packing cubes, and vacuum storage bags have been the key for my family to travel as lightly as possible and have even allowed us to fly with only carry-ons.

Luggage Strap

Believe it or not, I have traveled with my twin toddlers solo several times. One of the biggest hurdles I initially faced was how to carry everything by myself. A luggage strap is a quick and effective solution. Simply attach your kids’ luggage to yours, and pull all of it together.

Cincha Travel Belt

The Cincha Travel Belt is a great way to ensure that any bag set on the handles of your luggage stays put. The worst thing is walking through the airport and having your bag slip or fall off the handles. You won’t have to worry about that with this travel belt.

It especially comes in handy as a toddler travel essential, since you can easily attach the diaper bag or even a car seat bag onto the handles of your luggage. Honestly, it’s been a game-changer! The fewer things I have to carry in my hand or back, the better.

Toddler Travel Essential: Feeding Checklist

Feeding toddlers can be a challenge all on its own. Add in travel and an airport full of germs, and no wonder people are intimidated by traveling with their kids. This “feeding toddlers while traveling” checklist will make the feeding on-the-go process easier and less of a headache.

Snack Catcher OR Snack Spinner

If your toddlers are anything like my twins, snacks are a travel must-have . Unfortunately, that normally equates to a mess. That’s where the snack catcher and snack spinner come in handy.

The snack catcher is a great option if you’re packing a single snack. It’s very small and can easily fit into your toddler’s backpack. On the other hand, the snack spinner is a travel essential for those toddlers who require a variety of snacks. They come with five snack compartments and an interactive button. It’s a bit larger, around 6.5 inches, so it may or may not fit in your toddler’s backpack, depending on its size.

Of course, if you have a snack catcher or spinner, you must have snacks. Honestly, they count as a form of entertainment. Below are some of my kids’ favorite travel snacks:

• Applesauce or other pouches
• Graham crackers
• Veggie straws
• Dried fruit
• Cheese crackers

Spill-proof Water Bottle

A spill-proof water bottle is hands-down one of the most important toddler travel essentials since, for some unknown reason, toddlers are always thirsty. I recommend getting a bottle that can easily fit in your toddler’s backpack because they seem to be the easiest things to lose and/or forget when traveling.

Additionally, don’t fret about carrying your own drink pass airport security in a kid’s water bottle. It’s allowed, but it has to be screened . This simply means the officer will ask you to remove the top of the water bottle so they can place a paper above the opening. This ensures there are no foreign or illegal substances.

Personally, I think it’s worth it!

Easy Clean Bibs

Toddlers are notorious for smearing food all over the table and themselves while they eat. Using a long-sleeved, easy-to-clean, waterproof bib will minimize the amount of clothing you have to change after mealtime. You’ll love them so much that they’ll become a part of your everyday diaper bag essentials.

Foldable Placemats

As toddlers, my boys LOVED to eat. I couldn’t expect us to go anywhere to eat without them wanting to share in the meal. These foldable placemats ensured my boys had something clean to eat on, that they couldn’t pick up and throw on the floor. They became so handy that they quickly became a diaper bag essential, even when we weren’t traveling. Plus, they are simple to clean. (I would use bottle and pacifier wipes. )

Portable High Chair

The portable high chair is another toddler travel essential that quickly became an everyday diaper bag essential. How many times have you been out to a restaurant and either there wasn’t a high chair available (especially with twins, this happens more than you would think) or the high chair was dirty?

This is also important when trying to feed your kiddo at a vacation rental or a family member’s house. Where does your kid sit? Portable high chairs ensure you have a clean place for your little one to safely sit around the table. The high chairs that we used easily adapted to almost any type of chair and folded small enough to fit two inside of our diaper bag.

Toddler Utensils

Toddler utensils are more of perk than a toddler traveling essential. Can your toddler use regular or plastic silverware? Most likely – yes. But since toddler utensils are made for your little one’s little hands, and help them master their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, why not add them to your toddler packing list?

As a bonus, they can easily fit in your diaper bag.

Toddler Travel Checklists: Diapering Essentials

On the first few flights with my twins, at least one of them had a blowout. If there’s one area I want to be over-prepared for when traveling with kids, it’s diapering essentials.

Changing Pad Liner

Believe it or not, some airplanes don’t have changing tables. Most have at least one bathroom with a changing table, but when there’s an emergency (because toddlers love to wait until the last minute to tell you they have to go), how would you know which one to go to?

A changing pad liner ensures you have a clean and ample space to change your toddler while traveling. It also has space for you to store diapers, wipes, and other diapering essentials. Sometimes I would bring a dog training pad so that I wouldn’t have to worry about soiling my liner. I could easily wrap all the soiled items in it and dispose.

Toddler Travel Potty

Once my twins started potty training, I wanted to ensure they were comfortable going to the potty while traveling. Therefore, I purchased a toddler travel potty before our travels so they could get comfortable using it (hopefully eliminating the possibility of them not wanting to use it while traveling).

For reference, there are (3) different toddler travel potty options : 1) Toddler travel potty that includes a bowl 2) Toddler travel potty that does NOT include a bowl 3) Toddler potty seat

There is no wrong or right option – just whatever works best for you and your toddler. We personally liked the style that included the bowl.

Adding a wet bag to your toddler travel checklist will ensure you have a place to store any potentially soiled clothing. The last thing you want to do is put soiled clothes into your clean diaper bag!

Diapers, Training Pants, and Wipes

I’d be remiss if I didn’t add the basic necessities when it comes to diapering a toddler.

A quick suggestion to the potty training mama- don’t be afraid to use training pants while traveling, even for the kiddos who are pretty advanced. It takes the pressure off of everyone. I can’t tell you how many times my kids “suddenly” had to go potty during landing.

Toddler Plane Sleep Essentials

The best thing that could happen when flying with kids is they fall asleep during the flight. Making your toddler as comfortable as possible will help them sleep on the plane , especially on long-haul flights.

JetKids BedBox or Inflatable Travel Bed

One item that’s guaranteed to make my toddler travel checklist when I want my kiddos to sleep on the plane is a comfortable toddler travel bed .

We love the JetKids BedBox . It turns their seat into a lay-flat bed. Each time we use it, it basically guarantees they’ll get comfy enough to drift asleep. Plus, the compartment is large enough to use as a carry-on to fit your kiddo’s clothing and belongings. Another more affordable, option is the inflatable travel bed , which wedges between your child’s seat and the seat in front of them. This way, they can stretch their legs out and fall asleep.

Planes are notorious for being cold. Be sure your toddler is as comfy as possible by adding a blanket or jacket to the travel packing list. A blanket that folds into the bag easily fits in most toddler backpacks and attaches to luggage.

Also consider adding a hat to your toddler travel checklist, especially if your kid tends to get cold easily. This could even become a diaper bag essential, as many restaurants and stores tend to be chilly.

Portable Sound Machine

Some children have a hard time falling asleep without a sound machine. If this is your kid, be sure to add a portable sound machine to your toddler travel packing list. It’s lightweight and small enough to easily fit in your diaper bag.

Toddler Travel Essential: Entertainment

When preparing for a flight, it’s common to bring some type of entertainment to pass the time in the air. Toddlers aren’t any different.

Most toddlers need multiple forms of entertainment on their travel checklist. I recommended bringing at least one new or rarely used toy/entertainment so that they are excited about playing with it, and hopefully play with it longer.

Below are some of our favorite toddler entertainment travel essentials:

• Window Clings
• Felt Friends Craft Activity
• Mess-Free Coloring
• Suction Toys
• Magnetic Tiles
• Busy Board Backpack or busy board
• Small Construction Vehicles or dolls
• Fidget Toys
• Reusable Sticker Pads
• Squishy Toys
• Foldable headphones

Other Toddler Travel Day Essentials

Extra Set of Clothing

An extra set of clothing is a must for both toddlers and babies, especially when checking luggage. Just remember when you’re on the plane and somehow you and/or your little one get dirty (it happens more than you can imagine), you only have what’s in your diaper bag.

Teething Toys

If your toddler is teething, it’s important to have teething toys on the travel checklist. While on the plane, your little one’s ears may pop, which may magnify their gum irritation. The sucking and chewing motion will help minimize the irritability of both the gums and ears.

Hand Sanitizer and Disinfectant Wipes

It seems as if one of toddlers’ favorite activities is to drop something on the floor and put said item in their mouth. It’s one thing when they do it at home, but it’s an entirely different game when done at the germy airport. Keeping hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes in your diaper bag will allow your baby to play happily while giving you peace of mind.

Toddler Travel Essentials: Required Documentation

What a bummer would it be to pack all of your toddler travel essentials, only to forget the correct documentation?

• Copy of birth certificate OR 
• Letter from the hospital indicating age
• A signed and notarized letter stating permission for travel to X destination
• Passports and/or visas (if required)

✔️ Get This Checklist as an Interactive PDF ✔️

Toddler carry-on/checked luggage packing lis.

The toddler travel essentials listed below can vary depending on the age of your toddler, their propensity to get dirty or soil their clothes, and the type of destination you’re traveling to. For example, beach vacations require their own set of travel essentials.

Toddler Travel Packing List: Clothing

These are the general packing guidelines that I use when traveling with my kids. If possible, stay at a vacation rental or hotel with a washing machine. Or come prepared with sink laundry detergent .

• Underwear: 1 per day, plus 2 additional
• 1 outfit per child, per day
• 1+ additional outfits per child (especially more tops if your toddler drools a lot)
• Socks: 1 pair per day, plus 1 additional pair because socks disappear
• Shoes: 1-2 pairs, depending on activities
• Pajamas: 1 per every 2 days (you may need to increase if the toddler soaks through overnight training pants)
• Weather-specific clothes: i.e. coats, hats, or beach clothing

Toddler Travel Packing List: Toiletries

Packing as light as possible is key for traveling with kids. It’s recommended to get travel-size toiletries or use leak-proof pouches or travel containers .

• Tear-free bath soap and shampoo
• Baby lotion
• Hairbrush/supplies (headbands/hair barrettes/products)
• First aid kit , including Infant medicine (ibuprofen or acetaminophen), bandaids, thermometer, etc.
• Sink laundry detergent
• Baby Sunscreen
• Natural mosquito repellent 
• Inflatable travel bath  
• Kid flossers

Toddler Travel Checklist: Sleeping Essentials

It can be a challenge for some people to fall asleep in a new place, and toddlers aren’t any different. Therefore, recreating their home environment as closely as possible increases the chances of your little one sleeping through the night. Be sure to add these toddler travel sleeping essentials to your checklist!

Pack and Play , Portable Baby Travel Crib , or Baby Travel Tent

There are a variety of toddler travel bed options . There is no right or wrong option, it’s more what works best for your family’s needs and price point. Whichever one you decide to go with, try it out at home for a few nights just to make sure your little one enjoys sleeping in it.

Portable Black-out Curtains

In order to get some children to sleep, the room needs to be pitch black. If this is your toddler, be sure to add portable black-out curtains to the essential packing list. They are relatively small to carry and the setup is pretty simple since the attached suction cups stick to the window. It’s worth bringing them if a good night’s sleep is on the line.

Portable White Noise Machine

Similar to black-out curtains, some kids have a hard time falling asleep without a white noise machine. If this is your toddler, a portable white noise machine is indeed a travel essential. This one is compact and can attach to most things. It offers three different sounds to help your little one drown out any disruption and drift off to sleep.

Smartphone Baby Monitor  

If you’re planning to stay in a vacation rental or somewhere where your toddler will be sleeping in a different room, you may want to add a smartphone baby monitor to your packing list. The camera itself is relatively small and you use your phone as the monitor. It’s a great way to check in on your toddler without having to physically go into the room or take up a lot of space in your luggage.

Toddler Travel Essentials: Packing Light

Packing light is key when traveling with kids, especially if you’re like me and get overwhelmed when you have a lot to carry. Now you may be saying, “traveling with toddlers and packing light, that’s an oxymoron!”

Yes and no.

Yes, toddlers have more things to bring than the average person. But no, it doesn’t have to mean you overpack or bring more than you can carry. Try the tips below out for size!

Compression Packing Cubes

Compression packing cubes , which are different from regular packing cubes, help clear out extra air – allowing you to pack more in a small space. In fact, when using compression cubes, we’re able to pack all of the boys’ belongings either in their toddler luggage or JetKids BedBox .

Vacuum Storage Bags

Another great option for fitting your toddler’s travel essentials into a carry-on or toddler luggage is vacuum storage bags . They normally come in two options: foldable and vacuum. I personally like the vacuum storage version since they get the most air out. They’re also the easiest to use, in my opinion. Be aware that you have to carry the manual pump to get the air out of the bag while traveling. Luckily, the pump doesn’t take up much space.

Similar to the compression packing cubes, we’ve used vacuum storage bags with JetKids BedBox and toddler luggage .

Other Toddler Travel Essentials

Babyproofing.

If you know your toddler will be spending a significant amount of time at your vacation rental, you may want to add babyproofing items like outlet covers or corner protectors to your packing list. This isn’t necessarily a travel essential, but they’re nice to have to keep your toddler safe while exploring the new space.

Toddler Travel Checklist Essentials

Having a detailed toddler travel packing list can give you the confidence you need to travel with your little one with ease. It gives you a great feeling of preparedness and leaves you ready to conquer whatever may come.

In addition to having a checklist of items you need to pack, I would recommend also having a checklist that mentally walks you through each step of the flying with kids process . Think about how you can most effectively get the kids and luggage to the check-in counter. What if there’s a delay? Is there any special toy or treat you can use to pass the time? This gives you a plan and helps you feel prepared for your trip.

Of course, these are lists you can create yourself. But if you’re a parent, I’m sure your time is limited. That’s why I’ve created detailed, interactive checklists that include all of the above toddler travel essentials and allow you to track what you’ve packed, add your personal items, and browse links to my favorite products.

Using these checklists will not only save you time and energy, but they’re also reusable – eliminating the need to recreate the packing list for each trip.

There are three checklists available including a traveling with babies checklist, a traveling with toddlers checklist, and a traveling with kids mental preparation checklist.

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20+ toddler travel essentials for 2024 – with packing list.

Items that helped us through the challenging toddler travel years

We’ve never denied that one of the most difficult phases we went through with our children was the toddler years. At home and travelling. The memories are still very fresh!

It never stopped us from travelling, but it certainly added to the amount of gear we needed to lug around the world with us (it’s kind of the same as babies, only it feels bigger and heavier, AND you’re chasing a little one around too!)

Essential Gear for Moving Around With Toddlers

Sleeping away from home, toddler meals on the move  , toddler essentials for flying, toddler entertainment on the move, other essential toddler items not to forget, this post is part of our best toddler travel advice series.

I bet if you’ve picked up this article, you already know toddlers have a mind of their own!  Not all tactics for keeping toddlers nearby when you’re in busy places will work the same. 

We’re going to suggest a few travel accessories for toddlers here that have variously worked with our three children – but we know they won’t suit all!

Toddler harness / reins

Some will love ’em, some will despise them!  Having a cute little character will definitely help your kids grow an attachment to this essential piece of toddler kit for a family trip. Perfect for crowded places, we haven’t left home without one of these for years.

Accmor Toddler Harness Leash

3 in 1 Toddler Harness Leash

Accmor Toddler Backpack Leash

You can see our complete guide to buying toddler reins and harnesses here

Collapsible Stroller

Once you have outgrown a full-sized baby buggy that carries basically your whole life in, it’s time to downgrade to something more sensible, practical, and lightweight for your family vacation.

We love the brands that collapse small enough we can take them right up the plane door and onto the plane with us, fitting into the overhead bin with your carry-on bag.

The Babyzen Yoyo was the first brand to achieve this and is still a great option, but there are many brands that have now followed suit.

We have used our trusty Mountian Buggy Nano for years, but you can also try brands such as the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 or the immensely popular microsized GB Pockit that comes in several variations.

Evenflo GOLD Otto Self-Folding Stroller

Mountain Buggy Nano V3 Stroller

gb Pockit+ All-Terrain

You can see our full guide on how to select the best plane stroller here.

Just be conscious of your child’s height and weight;  hopefully, this investment can last you all the way through to the preschool years. Try not to compromise too much when it comes to your tot still being able to comfortably recline and having a decent-sized shade covering and storage basket, features we would still look for even in a travel stroller. 

We also review the best lightweight double strollers for twins and baby/toddler combinations here.

TIP : If you are still looking to travel with a larger stroller, we suggest you protect your gear when flying or stowing on transport by placing it inside a stroller gate check bag – our full review of your different stroller travel bag options here . 

Toddler Carrier

By now, I am guessing most of you freuent travelers have discovered the joys that a baby carrier brings.  Many brands now see a child all the way through to their toddler years. 

We have used our Ergo across the continents for many years – but with our youngest now 4 (and, to be fair, a happy walker/runner – unlike the first two!!) we are finally ready to say goodbye – one of our best pricier bits of toddler kit we’ve never regretted investing in.

Ergobaby Omni 360 All-Position Baby Carrier

Beco Toddler Carrier with Extra Wide Seat

Infantino Carry On Multi-Pocket Carrier

You can find our comprehensive toddler carrier comparison guide here. 

Hiking Toddler Carrier

For those who do more heavy-duty walking and hiking, you can’t look past the Deuter Kid Comfort Pro . It is one of the most expensive on the market, so you could also look at the Deuter Kid Comfort II which is slightly lighter, but doesn’t include the built-in sunshade.

Deuter Kid Comfort Pro Child Carrier

ClevrPlus Deluxe Adjustable Baby Carrier Outdoor

Luvdbaby Premium Baby Backpack Carrier

See our complete comparison of hiking carrier backpacks here

Car Seats for Toddlers

Outgrown their baby capsule that conveniently fits with their travel system but not ready yet for a simple collapsible booster ?  Yep, this is one phase of travelling with kids that I’m afraid will be with you for a long time, even well beyond the toddler years!

Depending on your child’s age and stage, there are a few options, but inevitably, accept it’s a continual upgrade process (and one of the bulkiest and most inconvenient parts of toddler travel – sorry!)

Where possible, we try to arrange for pick-up services that include a seat or hire cars at a destination – but we know all too well, that travelling home to Australia (where car seat laws are IMMENSELY STRICT) hiring is not financially viable after more than a few days x 3 children, so for years, we’ve kept a complete set of extra toddler seats at the grandparents.  

Safety 1st Grand 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat

Evenflo Chase Harnessed Booster

Britax Emblem 3 Stage Convertible Car Seat

Tip: If you have any intention of travelling with your car seat on the plane, too (you need to buy a separate seat for the infant) then the car seat must be compliant for whichever airline you are flying with. FAA rules are a pretty good for international guidance – but note they apply specifically to US-based carriers, you need to check the rules for the country your carrier falls under.

Find our complete guide on how to travel with car seats on planes here

Don’t forget if you are checking your car seats rather than using them on the plane, you will need to make sure they are adequately protected to prevent handling damage in the hold.

This is our detailed review of the best car seat travel bags .

Toddler Neck Pillow

Another thing we noticed once our kids were out of their snug little capsules and into proper car seats is how much their heads seemed to wobble around when they were drowsy! We’ve researched and tried many a brand of head cushion to get the right fit:

Unicorn Toddler Neck Pillow for Kids

BCOZZY Kids Travel Neck Pillows for Toddlers

INFANZIA Kids Chin Supporting Travel Neck Pillow

You can see our extensive head toddler cushion review here .

Do note, if you want to use them in their car seat, as supposed to say on a train or plane, many of the cute toddler brand ones are too bulky. Microbead products like the BCozzyKids Travel Pillow we have found to be the most adaptable to different positions and modes of transport, even if they look thinner they still do the job well.

Just when you thought you had your nice little routine – then you up sticks and change time zone….. I won’t deny that some of the worst jet lag we have experienced actually happened during the toddler years. 

We have a full guide to jet lag survival with kids you can read here , but the primary things I would worry about packing to conquer this are:

This has been my go-to bedtime tool for years (still IS!). OK, it works a charm for 2/3 kids at least!  No matter where we are in the world, once you have a strict bedtime routine happening, the clock is a great first indicator to them whether they should be getting out of bed or not

Just be conscious of wattage if you are taking any electronic devices with you.  We have lugged many an item halfway around the world to discover it doesn’t work at our destination.  Particularly if you are flying US to a lot of other countries and vice versa, you will need to take not only international plugs but a wattage adaptor, like one of these:

Tommee Tippee Groclock Sleep Trainer Clock

Kids Ok to Wake Clock for Kids  

Hatch Rest Baby Sound Machine

Black Out Curtains

Another thing that helps with sleep patterns and time zone adjustment is having a dark room.  If there’s no guarantee the hotel room at your destination will have blackouts, so this is a great BYO solution if you can afford the space in your luggage, as they are a little bit bulky.

Most portable blackouts stick up with suction cups.

Gro Company Gro-Anywhere Blind

RUseeN Portable Blackout Shades 

Amazon Basics Portable Travel Window Blackout Curtain

Portable Toddler Cot

There’s also no guarantee your destination will have the best sleeping arrangements for your child either.  During these toddler years, we did intentionally look for hotels or apartments that COULD provide us with a cot, but many times especially staying with friends and family this wasn’t an option. We invested early on in a good, lightweight, portable cot (don’t get confused into thinking a bulky pack-n-play pen is the same thing!). 

Phil & Teds Traveller Travel Crib

Milliard Folding Floor Sleeper Cot

Regalo My Cot Pals Portable Toddler Bed

You can see our full range of toddler bed options reviewed here.

We tested the Phil & Teds Traveller a while ago and haven’t looked back since. We still think its one of the lightest and best-priced models on the market, but does take little construction skills.

Portable high chair

You can’t always rely upon every restaurant or hotel having a high chair, so it’s great if you can BYO an easily portable option.  They come in all sorts of designs, from clamp-ons to boosters or cloth wraparounds for restaurant chairs – each with its pros and cons.

Summer Pop ‘n Dine SE Highchair

Baby Delight Go with Me Uplift Deluxe Portable High Chair

Regalo My Chair 2-in-1 Portable Travel Booster Seat

You can see our full review of travelling high chairs (and whether we think they’re worth the luggage space) here.

Spill-proof sippy

You’ve no doubt moved on from purely boob and bottle to a sippy by the toddler stage.  It’s perhaps not until you’re on the move you realise that these things leak so darn much! Or that your toddler terror will do anything to deliberately make them spill! 

We have been through many different brands of leaf-proof sippy cups – just accept no matter which you try, they’re not fail-proof!

Contigo Kids Spill-Proof 14oz Tumbler

First Years Dinosaur Kids Insulated Sippy Cups

Elk and Friends Kids & Toddler Cups

(Note if you are taking any sort of water bottle on a plane, they can pressurise. We have had many a bottle explode water everywhere over the plane when opened… you have been warned!)

Easy clean bibs

Neoprene-style bibs were by far one of our greatest baby-to toddler year discoveries! (Sorry to all our family and friends who received these as gifts from us!) But we truly love them!

They dry so quickly and can be strapped high on your toddler’s neck without choking them so there’s no seep through.  We normally get several wears before they need to go in the wash, and they don’t take up much space, both of which are a good idea for travel.

PandaEar Set of 3 Cute Silicone Baby Bibs for Babies & Toddlers

Nuby 2 Pack Adjustable Easy Clean Soft Silicone Bibs

Snap and Go Easy-wear Bibs for Baby & Toddler

No-spill snack cups

These spill-proof cups might seem like one of the easiest to pack, logical items, but seriously took us years to discover! Do yourself a favour and get one of these for your diaper bag as soon as your kids are onto finger foods. 

They don’t necessarily stop all the crumbs but prevent major spillages and should come everywhere with you, ready to tackle those hangry moments.

Silicone Toddler Snack Cups No Spill

Ubbi Tweat No Spill Snack Container for Kids

Collapsible Silicone Snack Container

Reusable food clips

For when they’re claiming they’re dying of hunger, take two mouthfuls then leave the rest.  Yep, a handful of these cheap but essential clips are a lifesaver in your backpack diaper bag too.

Silicone Food Storage Bags

Otylzto 4 Size Assorted 40 PCS Food Bag Clips

8 Pack Stainless Steel Chip Clips

Snacks, snacks, and more snacks

This is my overriding toddler years memory! OK, there were some classic meltdowns too… But the constant, I’m hungry, minutes after they just declared they were to full for lunch. 

Keeping a good supply of things like rice cakes, carrot sticks, sultanas, cereal bars, and food pouches kept us going on countless day outings and long-haul flights – we have a great list of healthy toddler snack suggestions here.   

Quaker Chewy Granola Bars

Unsweetened Fruit Snacks for Kids

Quaker Large Rice Cakes

Got a little one on the fussy end of the spectrum (aren’t they all?) You’ll want to check out our tips for travelling with picky eaters

Before you read any further, make sure you’ve checked out flying with a toddler section!

Leg cushions for the plane

Guessing you’ve heard these are the latest craze, right? But are they even allowed on planes?  Are they worth the investment? Will my kids actually sleep better on a long flight? What age are they designed for? 

We have tested many of these products on behalf of the manufacturers and have a detailed review, including which airlines allow them here.

BleuWhisk Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed

Inflatable Travel Pillow Airplane Footrest Flight Pillow Toddler

Portable Foot Pillow for Toddler Kids & Adults

So, are these really toddler flight essentials?

My verdict : With one child, set up in the correct position, on a plane that will allow them, yes, they make for a more comfortable flight. But I recommend you read the above article with all the factors to consider before deciding if it’s the right thing for you.  There might be other ways you can get your toddler comfortable without the need for yet more gear (I can see your eyes boggling already how much you have to pack!)

CARES Restraint

As an alternative to taking a full car seat on a plane, but once your tot is simply too big and heavy to take as a lap child, try the FAA-approved CARES Harness.  Ideal for 22-44lbs children – note you do need to have booked the seat to use this.

Cares Airplane Harness for Kids

Airplane Kid Travel Accessories Cares Safety Restraint System

Child Airplane Safety Travel Harness, Safety Restraint

Toddler Plane Bags

You can also see what items we are packing in our toddlers plane bag  here, and read below about toddler entertainment throughout your travels.

Just remember, don’t go over the top when it comes to packing toys for young kids – here are 5 things we definitely recommend do NOT make it into your toddlers plane bag ! 

Wildkin Kids Insulated Lunch Bag

Solar System Planets Kids Backpack Toddler

YUPING Toddler kids Dinosaur Backpack

Tip: Until they are old enough to carry their own bag for the entire journey, do your self a favour and skip the cute novelty rolling bag until they are really ready or you are simply making additional luggage for yourself.  Fine with one kid, but when you have multiple children to consider ….  

Small tablet

We recommend these only for your older toddlers verging on preschool age.  I don’t recommend them for younger toddlers because I know how frustrated mine got when they couldn’t raise the sound, and I’m a strict headphones-only mamma when it comes to electronic devices being used in public places. 

And you reckon you can make a small toddler keep headphones on?

We have snapped our way through too many pairs (yes, even those claiming to be best ‘unbreakable’ on the market) through to your cheapest Walmart ones. NOTHING works on a wiggly toddler, so tablets are a no-go until they can sit still or survive on mute. 

When your toddler is ready to try, here are the best toddler headphone brands we recommend you start with.

For years we gave our kids our hand-me-down ipads but as they are starting to get outdated, we have discovered Amazon Kindle Fire , with its super sturdy case and ability to connect via Google Play and the Android system, as well as subscribe to FreeTime Unlimited for kids. 

Amazon Fire 7 tablet

IWEGGO Tablet 8 inch Tablet with Case

Tibuta Android Tablet

We talk more about Amazon Prime and why it can be a traveller’s best friend here.

Other favourite portable toddler toys:

• WaterWow books by Melissa & Doug
• Quiet Books
• Gel Stickers
• Triangle crayons

Jungle Animals Thick Gel Clings Winter Safari Window Gel

Triangular Crayons

My Busy Book Baby Soft Toy

For more travel toy ideas, pop on over to these detailed buying guides:

• Best travel toys for one-year-olds
• Best travel toys for two-year-olds
• Terrific toys to pack for a 3-year-old
• More toddler plane bag ideas
• Engaging road trip toys for toddlers
• Is it worth getting a travel tray for your toddler to play?
• A spare change of clothes
• Beach and water safety wear
• Wet bags for spares or dirty items
• Hand sanitiser
• Small detergent bottle for washing bottles and cups at your accommodation – don’t forget to check out our complete guide to travelling with bottles & sterilising here.
• A good first aid kit/medicine bag – you can see our complete family first aid packing guide here.

Germ-X Original Hand Sanitizer

ALVABABY 2pcs Cloth Diaper Wet Dry Bags Waterproof

First Aid Only 298 Piece All-Purpose First Aid Emergency Kit

Potty training stage?

We talk about potty training on the move in a lot more detail here , but for anything around toileting don’t forget:

• Wet Wipes! Not just for clean bums, you’ll want these little gems with you for YEARS! 
• Pull-ups, even if they are relatively newly trained, you will want to consider this fall back for long journeys
• Piddle pads for the seat , a great back up to prevent leakage

Wet Ones Travel Wipes

Toddler Pull Ups

Piddle Pad Car Seat Protector

Never forget a thing next time you’re packing by downloading our Family Travel Checklist   

Now we never said travelling with toddlers was light, right?  But it is still rewarding. With the right gear and right frame of mind, it really is a magical age to start opening children up to the world around them and creating wonderful happy memories.  

Further reading on the toddler years:

• That time we took 3 under 5 on a 16-hour flight
• Taking your toddler hiking; how to make it fun!
• Surviving a road trip with a toddler
• 5 travelling lessons my 3-year-old has taught me
• Our Best Toddler Travel Advice Home Page

Bookmark this page, share it with your friends or save it to Pinterest for later

Are your kids a little older?  See what gadgets we recommended for older families on the go , or pop back here if you’re still at the baby age and need our Ultimate Baby Travel Checklist

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links.  Purchasing any items listed on this page through an affiliate link will not affect how much you pay for the item but may earn us a small commission. Our  full disclosure policy  can be found here.

© Our Globetrotters | Feature images CanvaPro

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2 thoughts on “ 20+ Toddler Travel Essentials for 2024 – With Packing List ”

Based on this guide, I need to carry the entire house with me on the plane or train. We travel a lot and each of us has only one backpack. Our toddler’s backpack goes in the stroller and has a bag of nappies, wipes, baby food, baby water, a toy or two, his clothes, home shoes, and essential meds and swimming gear if we plan to. That’s all and never had any trouble. Most taxis and car hires have toddler seats. Sometimes we take baby carrier. That said, our kid is a bit of adventurer. He wont use anything special if we don’t use it

That’s great you’ve learnt to travel light with your tot. It really depends on your style of travel and destination. Certainly, our needs have changed between kidsand we hope that by presenting a number of options, we can prepare first-time travelling parents with the information they need for different travel scenarios with toddlers – all these items we’ve needed at some point in our travels. Thanks for taking the time to stop by the blog and comment, happy travels 🙂

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Essential tips for travelling to India with kids

Posted on Last updated: 31 January 2024

Many people may have raised an eyebrow, but you did it. You’ve decided to go travelling to India with kids! Perhaps memories of your India travels pre-kids have lured you back. Or maybe you’ve travelled much of Southeast Asia as a family and you’re now looking for a new challenge. Or perhaps it’s just a place you’ve always wanted to explore, seen other families doing it, and you’re willing to take the plunge.

READ: Top things to do in India with kids

For any first-timer to India, the culture shock smacks you in the face and awakens the senses; the colours, the chaos, the noise, the smells. India is not for the faint-hearted and kids can drive parents insane on a daily basis. So how do you not lose your sh!t travelling India with children? In fact many parents wonder – is it worth travelling India with kids?

Due to an opportunity through Jay’s work, we spent a year living in Bangalore and took every available opportunity to travel and explore India. There were times when the bureaucracy, noise and congestion would be too much, but my over-riding feeling was that of wonderment. This is a place where everyday life spills out on to the pavement and it’s simply fascinating.

Many people believe that India is not a place for family travel. However, if you are thinking about it, I hope these top tips for travelling to India with kids will help you decide.

1. Where to go

India is a vast, contrasting country. Don’t try and cram too much in to your precious time. India can be a sensory overload for little minds and all family members need time process everything. Allow a couple of hours every day for some down time. Check out our 10 day Northern India itinerary and then perhaps head to the beaches of Goa ( Agonda is our favourite for little ones). If you have more time, a trip to Kerala’s backwaters or Hampi will not disappoint.

2. Allow for delays

Especially in the big cities, traffic has to be seen to be believed. Getting from A to B always takes longer and the worst thing to do is try to hurry your kids along, as they rarely comply. Google Maps tends to be fairly reliable with its journey time estimates, so you can use that to get some idea of how long the journey will take.

Do try to avoid rush hour(s), although in the major cities, traffic is horrendous most of the time.

3. Go up a notch with your accommodation choice 

India is chaotic. To balance this, you need to ensure the place you stay is an oasis away from the chaos. This will give you all a breather and much needed time out. Look for somewhere that includes air conditioning if you’re travelling in the hotter months, and breakfast, so you haven’t got to head out early with hungry kids. A swimming pool is always a winner too!

4. Consider all the family sleeping in the one bed 

This may sound like the worst idea for many parents. However, many hotels in India are happy for young kids to share a bed with parents and there isn’t an extra charge.

This often means that you can get a better hotel for your budget. When our boys were very tiny we would always prefer to stay in a nicer hotel with a pool and balcony if it meant sharing a large double-bed, rather than a finding somewhere with a standard family room and no frills.

5. Hand sanitiser and washing feet 

It’s easy to get hung up on the dirt in India. It’s everywhere and unless you only go to high-class hotels and shopping malls, there’s no escaping it. Kids love touching everything; the walls, their feet, high-fiving strangers – there’s no stopping them unless you turn into a neurotic parent, which is no fun for anyone.

Kids will be kids. Just have the sanitiser handy before meals and get into the routine of washing feet whenever you get home. Thankfully, my boys didn’t get ill once during our time in India!

6. Omelettes, rice and naan bread 

Our kids didn’t like the spicy food (although they do now they’re a little older). Whilst living in India, we tried to give them a little now and again, but we didn’t want to force it on them. However, as parents, we LOVE our spicy food and we didn’t want to go without. 

At most Indian restaurants, the chef can make a plain omelette or plain rice, although make it clear that ‘plain’ means no spice, no salt; this can be quite an alien concept to an Indian chef. As a backup, the kids always devoured naan bread. In most touristy places, you can get pizzas and chips, sometimes pasta, and there’s always a fruit stall nearby (stick to fruits you can peel) And here’s a little travelling parent secret… McDonalds is okay sometimes.

7. Eat where the food is moving 

When eating out with kids, it can be tempting to go to a quiet restaurant where your little darlings won’t bother anyone. This can be a mistake as the food is unlikely to be fresh and they’ll probably take longer to prepare your food – which means more time keeping the kids happy whilst sat at a table. Eat at restaurants that are busy with locals. It’s a good indication that the food is fresh and moving and one of the best ways to avoid getting sick in India .

8. Drink only purified water 

Water sanitation is a big problem in India. Even if you get water from a nice restaurant, ask for bottled water. You just can’t trust what comes out of the tap, especially for little tummies.

Double check the seal on your bottled water and ideally make sure you actually witness the seal being broken on your bottle. You’ll see some locals crushing the bottle cap and dropping it into an empty bottle after use, to thwart any future attempt at reusing the bottle with unclean water.

9. Book train travel as early as humanely possible

Trains get booked up almost as soon as tickets become available (120 days before departure), partly because the cancellation costs are relatively low and people tend to book several trains and only commit to a certain journey closer to the travel date.

If you were travelling without kids, you might be fine bunking down in Sleeper class on an overnight train. Or you’d be happy leaving your plans to the last minute and hope you’ll get bumped up from the waiting list. However, this isn’t really advisable with young kids. We always tend to travel 2AC which is the class of travel favoured by middle-class Indian families and it always felt very safe.

10. Keep your cool 

India can be frustrating to the outsider. There are onerous processes in place when checking into hotels, visa checks, booking tickets, and however nonsensical they may seem, the rules are there to be followed, and it’s expected that people will tow the line (unless it involves driving on roads, no one follows any rules there!).

Add to this that seemingly everyone wants your tourist dollar, it’s easy to lose one’s cool. It’s easier said than done, but at the end of the day, it may just be easier to pay that bit more, go with the flow, or just walk away. Do you really want your kids to see you lose your temper with someone?

11. Learn to say no to photos 

Within days of living in India, our boys had tired of the selfie requests. They had had enough. That doesn’t stop people coming up to them, grabbing them, picking them up and posing. Be firm, polite and just say ‘No’. They may object, but as soon as you explain that it’s your child saying no, they more often than not leave you alone. Be warned though, they’ll still be snapping away at you and your family as you walk away.

12. Respect the seasons 

India is a country of extremes and the weather is no exception. In summer months, temperatures can soar to mid-40s and the monsoon season makes some destinations almost impossible. Plan your travel for the milder months and your family travelling life will be much more comfortable.

The time to visit most of the country is November through to March. Escape the summer heat and retreat to the mountains between July and September.

13. Pack a thermos flask 

Getting hold of boiling water to heat milk can be a challenge. It’s nearly impossible to get hold of on the trains and many hotels don’t provide a kettle. However, you can always find someone (either at your hotel or a restaurant) willing to prepare you some boiling water. If you have a good thermos flask, it will keep your water hot for a good 15 hours or more.

• Bindloss, Joe (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 1256 Pages – 04/15/2022 (Publication Date) – Lonely Planet (Publisher)

You may also like to read: India with kids: top 10 things to do Happy in Hampi with kids Bangalore with kids

Top 7 Kid-Friendly Airlines for Your Next Trip to India

• Posted on October, 5, 2019

You must be aware of the importance of family-friendly airlines if you are a parent.

Usually, this is your deciding factor, especially if you need to take a long haul flight with your kids.

Undoubtedly, air travel with your tiny tots can be a harrowing experience in case your child is not comfortable. 

Fortunately, there are several airlines these days that understand the needs of those traveling with kids.

If you are stressed out about finding some good air ticket deals along with keeping your little ones comfy, stop worrying right now.  

Here is a well-devised list of some of the best kid-friendly airlines.

These airlines are known to go out of their way in terms of providing super-comfortable flights for families.

1. british airways.

If you are with kids, it can be really comforting if you are given preference while boarding your flights.

British Airways is one such airline that gives preference to families with kids while boarding.

Thus, booking online flight tickets with British Airlines can be a great idea. 

Furthermore, this airline’s policy is to feed children before others. Besides, they provide many activity tools for children.

These are all as per the kids of different age groups. Your little ones can hence enjoy puzzles, coloring books, and Sudoku. 

Also, if you are traveling with infants, you need to pay only 10% of the adult’s fare.

However, this is only in the case if you carry them on your lap. In case you need a seat for your infant, the fare is 75% of adult fare.

2. Air India

Another airline that you can choose when traveling with children is Air India.

During online air ticket booking , you can request a bassinet for your infant. Thus, your little ones can remain comfy in these.

You can carry a baby feeding bottle and food with you during your flight. Also, passengers with kids can bring along a collapsible stroller.

They even get a free baggage allowance of 10 kg. Amazing, right?

3. Emirates

Just like British Airways, this airline has the policy of – family’s board first too. We know how amazing it can be to get such a perk.

Therefore Emirates can be an ideal option for you and your kids too.

Also, this airline even provides you with a free baggage allowance of up to 10 kg

The prerequisite of traveling with Emirates does not stop here.

Parents can even pre-order a meal for your little munchkin.

Furthermore, your tiny tots can get access to access to activity books and toys in the flight.

What’s more, they even get to watch their favorite cartoon shows.

You can even request the cabin staff to help you warm the milk or food for your baby.

It is due to these benefits that the kids of almost every age love flying in this airline.

Further, you only need to pay 10% of the adult fare if your kid is up to 2 years of age.

4. Singapore Airlines

This airline too gives access to a lot of facilities for your babies.

You can request a stroller check-in on-board.

Also, baby essentials such as diapers and bibs are made available to you. 

Singapore Airlines puts in a lot of effort to keep your child occupied.

For this, they have a lot of games, soft toys, and stickers.

Such things are sure to keep your tiny tots bust during the long flight journey. 

What’s more, they refresh these tools which they use for the entertainment of your baby.

They do this almost every three months. This is very beneficial, especially for frequent flyers.

Thus, you can consider booking cheap airline flight tickets with Singapore Airlines for a comfy journey with your kids. 

5. Etihad Airways

If you decide to travel alone with your kid, do not worry about not having a helping hand.

With Etihad Airways, you can get a “flying nanny service.” This unique service provides you an onboard nanny to take care of your little one. 

Further, all these nannies get their training from a childcare college in the UK. This airline gives kids goodie bags.

They are well equipped with a lot of enjoyable games and hands-on activities.

Thus, your little one can enjoy stuff like origami-making, face painting, and magic tricks.

What’s more, if your kid is three years or above, he will get a lot of things to keep him busy.

These may be a pack of games, stickers, and activity books. Also, your tiny tot is sure to get some delicious meals.

Additionally, you can get 10-23 kg of hand luggage allowance. However, this depends entirely on your travel route.

Also, you need to pay only 10% of the adult’s fare for your baby. 

6. Virgin   Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic is another such airline option that is just the right one if you are traveling with your little ones.

From diapers to meals and entertainment, you will get everything for your baby here. 

The in-flight meals that this airline provides are free of cost. Along with this, you can also get a bottle warming facility.

You can even request a cot to keep your infant comfy and relaxed. 

Furthermore, they also ensure every possible way to keep your kids busy and entertained.

You also need to pay only 10% of the adults to fare for your infant. Thus, this way, you will even get cheap flights online .

Also, you get freehold luggage of 23 kg. What more do we need as parents!

7. Jet Airways

Jet Airways provides a mandatory briefing to all mothers with infants. During this, they emphasize on the descent phase.

Thus, they provide information about the possibilities of the baby crying during this due to ear blockage.

Furthermore, you can demand a bassinet if you need it.

They also have a special diaper-changing table. Thus, parents can comfortably change those.

Also, you can request a meal for your child either 12 hours prior to departure or when you book your flight.

Besides, you can save more as you need to pay only 10% of adults to fare for infants.

You also get access to a free carrier and a pushchair.

All these infant friendly airlines will go the extra mile to ensure the safety and comfort of your kid.

Thus, the next time you are looking for some air ticket deals to travel with children, refer to our list of these kid-friendly airlines.

We are confident that these will not disappoint you and your tiny tots.

TIPS FOR TRAVELLING IN INDIA WITH KIDS

For any first-timer to India, the culture shock smacks you in the face and awakens the senses. The colours, the chaos, the noise, the smells!

This is not a destination for the faint hearted so its worth considering  tips for travelling in India with kids. However, for those intrepid families who yearn for something different, India may be one of the most magical places you encounter if your up for the challenge.

Due to a secondment through my husband’s work, we spent a year living in Bangalore and took every available opportunity to travel and explore India . There were times when the bureaucracy, noise and congestion would be too much, but my over-riding feeling was that of wonderment.

This is a place where everyday life spills out on to the pavement and it’s simply fascinating. Many people believe that India is not a place for family travel. However, if you are thinking about it, I hope these few tips persuade you. You won’t regret it.

Read about visiting Kerala with kids here.

TIPS FOR TRAVELLING IN INDIA WITH KIDS 

1. Where to go – India is a vast, contrasting country. Don’t try and cram too much in to your precious time. India can be a sensory overload for little minds and all family members need time process everything. Allow a couple of hours down time every day.

Check out my 10 day Northern India itinerary and then perhaps head to the beaches of Goa ( Agonda is our favourite for little ones). If you have more time, a trip to Kerala’s backwaters or Hampi will not disappoint. Make sure to check out Pench Tiger reserve !

2. Allow for delays – 
Especially in the big cities, traffic has to be seen to be believed. Getting from A to B always takes longer and the worst thing to do is try to hurry along your kids as they very rarely comply.

3. Go up a notch with your accommodation choice
India is chaotic. To balance this, you need to ensure the place you stay is an oasis away from the chaos. This will give you all a breather and much needed time out. Look for somewhere that includes aircon if travelling in the hotter months, and breakfast, so you haven’t got to head out early with hungry kids. A swimming pool is always a winner too!

4. Hand sanitiser and washing feet It’s easy to get hung up on the dirt in India. It’s everywhere and unless you only go to high-class hotels and shopping malls, there’s no escaping it. Kids love touching everything – the walls, their feet, high-fiving strangers – there’s no stopping them unless you turn into a neurotic parent, which is no fun for anyone.

Kids will be kids. Just have the sanitiser handy before meals and get into the routine of washing feet whenever you get home. Thankfully my boys didn’t get ill once during our time in India! 

5. Omlettes, rice and naan bread Our kids don’t like the spicy food. Most Western kids don’t. We tired to give them a little bit now and again, but we didn’t want to force it on them. However, as parents we LOVE our curries and we didn’t want to go without.

At most Indian restaurants the chef can make a plain omelette or plain rice (although make it clear that ‘plain’ means no spice, no salt, nothing) and the kids always devoured naan bread. In most touristy places you can get pizzas and chips, sometimes pasta, and there’s always a fruit stall nearby (stick to fruits you peel) And here’s a little travelling parent secret… McDonalds is okay sometimes.

6. Eat where the food is moving – When eating out with kids, it can be tempting to go to a quiet restaurant where your little darlings won’t bother anyone.

This can be a mistake as the food is unlikely to be fresh and they’ll probably take longer to prepare your food – which means more time keeping the kids happy whilst sat at a table. Eat at restaurants that are busy with locals. It’s a good indication that the food is fresh and moving. 

7. Drink only purified water –  
Water sanitation is a big problem in India. Even if you get water from a nice restaurant, ask for bottled water. You just can’t trust what comes out of the tap, especially for little tummies.

8. Pack a thermos flask – 
Getting hold of boiling water to heat milk can be a challenge. It’s nearly impossible to get hold of on the trains and many hotels don’t provide a kettle. However, you can always find someone (either at your hotel or a restaurant) willing to prepare you some boiling water. If you have a good thermos flask, it will keep your water hot for a good 15 hours or more.

9. Book train travel  – as early as humanely possible 
Trains get booked up almost as soon as tickets become available (120 days before departure). If you were without kids, you would be fine bunking down in Sleeper class on an overnight train. However, this isn’t really advisable with young kids. We always tend to travel 2AC. 

10. Keep your cool – India can be frustrating to the outsider. There are processes in place with checking into hotels, visa checks, booking tickets, and however nonsensical they may seem at the time, rules cannot and will not be broken (unless it involves driving on roads, no one follows any rules there!)

Add to this that seemingly everyone wants your tourist dollar, it’s easy to lose one’s cool. It’s easier said than done, but at the end of the day it may just be easier to pay that little bit more, go with the flow, or just walk away. Do you really want your kids to see you lose your temper with someone?

11. Learn to say no to photos. Within days of living in India, our boys were over the selfie requests. They had had enough. That doesn’t stop people coming up to them, grabbing them, picking them up and posing. Be firm, polite and just say ‘No’.

They may object, but as soon as you explain that it’s your child saying no, they more often than not leave you alone. Though be warned, that they will still be snapping away at you and your family as you walk away. 

12. Respect the seasons – India is a country of extremes and the weather is no exception. In summer months, temperatures can soar to mid-40s and the monsoon season makes some destinations almost impossible. Plan your travel for the milder months and your family travelling life will be much more comfortable.

The time to visit most of the country is November through to March. Escape the summer heat and retreat to the mountains between July and September. No matter what time you go there will probably be a festival going on! Check out this guide to make sure you get to experience Indian festivals on your holiday!

GUEST WRITER BIO

Jenny is a family travel blogger from the UK and is on a mission to dispel the myth that adventure has to wait till the kids are older. Her two boys (aged 2 and 4) have hiked to 3000m in the Nepalese Himalayas, meditated with monks in Thailand, ridden tuk-tuks across Sri Lanka and after a year living in India, they are now embarking on a 4 month overland adventure through Africa in a Land Rover Defender. 

You may also like:

Thailand 

Indonesia 

Jenny - TraveLynn Family

Saturday 28th of April 2018

Thanks so much for inviting me to guest post! Writing this has made me miss India so much! Would move back in a heartbeat.

Until 15-April-2024, all passengers departing from Changi Airport and eligible for lounge access can utilize the Ambassador Transit lounge located at Terminal 3, Changi Airport, Singapore.

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We believe that every customer is special. At Vistara, we ensure you travel without any worry and are here to assist you at every step.

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If your children are between the ages of 5 and 12, they are permitted to travel as unaccompanied minors. Under our Vistara Youngstar service for Unaccompanied Minors, they will be escorted by specially trained airline staff. We ensure assistance during all processes, and ensure their safety, comfort and privacy in-flight on their very own adventure. Your children will then be handed over at the destination to the authorized individual specified in the UM form. A fee of INR 2500/- will be charged for each unaccompanied minor.

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Parents/guardians have to ensure that all Unaccompanied Minor (UM) customers are carrying the correct photo identification, which is mandatory for travel.

If your children are between the ages of 12 and 18, they may travel as young customers once an adult has waived unaccompanied minor handling. This involves validation through “UM Assistance and Handling Waiver Form”. However, should you find the need for UM handling assistance, we will be glad to extend help.

Please keep in mind that young customers will not be considered as escorts for minors aged between 5 and 12 years.

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