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Packing list

International Trip with Kids Packing List: What to Carry (and What to Leave Behind)

Packing list for flying abroad with babies and children from India: documents, consent letters, baby food at security, kids' medicines, strollers and snacks.

Fact-checked 2 min readBy the Elitech Travels editorial desk
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Quick answer

Carry each child's passport and visa, a birth certificate copy and, if one parent is travelling alone, a consent letter from the other. Pack a cabin bag with a full change of clothes for the child and you, snacks, medicines, wipes and a charged tablet with headphones. Baby milk and baby food are allowed through security beyond the 100 ml limit in reasonable quantities.

Documents

  • Each child's passport — Minor passports are valid for five years or until 18, whichever comes first; check expiry six months ahead.
  • Visa for each child
  • Birth certificate copy — Useful when a parent's and child's surnames differ.
  • Notarised consent letter — Needed if only one parent is travelling; airlines and some immigration desks ask.
  • Printed hotel vouchers and return tickets
  • Travel insurance covering every child
  • Bassinet request confirmation — Only a few seats have bassinets, with weight and age limits.
  • Recent photos of the children on your phone — Useful if a child gets separated at a theme park or airport.

Cabin bag essentials

  • Full change of clothes for each child, plus a top for you
  • Diapers for the journey plus a day
  • Wipes and nappy rash cream
  • Light blanket or swaddle — Aircraft cabins are cold.
  • Sipper or bottle — Sucking during take-off and landing eases ear pain.
  • Ziplock bags for soiled clothes
  • Hand sanitiser
  • Favourite comfort toy

Clothing

  • Layers: a cardigan or hoodie
  • Pyjamas
  • One outfit a day plus two spares — Plan a laundry stop on longer trips.
  • Swimwear and swim nappies — Many pools insist on swim nappies for toddlers.
  • Sun hat and children's sunglasses
  • Comfortable shoes and sandals
  • Jacket and cap suited to the destination

Health & medicines

  • Paracetamol syrup or drops — Dose as advised by your paediatrician.
  • ORS sachets
  • Digital thermometer
  • Antihistamine — Only on your paediatrician's advice.
  • Motion-sickness medicine — Many aren't suitable for young children; ask your doctor.
  • Saline nasal drops
  • Plasters and antiseptic cream
  • Child-safe sunscreen and mosquito repellent — Check the minimum age on the label.
  • Vaccination record and prescriptions

Feeding & snacks

  • Formula powder in pre-measured containers — Allowed beyond the 100 ml limit; security may test it.
  • Baby cereal and food pouches
  • Familiar snacks: makhana, khakhra, biscuits — Declare all food on arrival in Australia and New Zealand.
  • Ready-to-eat khichdi or dal-rice packs
  • Collapsible bowl, spoon and sipper
  • Small steel flask for warm water
  • Leave behind: ghee and milk sweets for Europe and the UK — Both bar dairy imports from outside, with exceptions for packaged infant formula.

Gear & entertainment

  • Lightweight foldable stroller — Most airlines check it at the aircraft door free of charge.
  • Baby carrier — For queues, stairs, boats and cobblestones.
  • Car seat — Bring one or book it with your rental; many countries require child seats in cars.
  • Tablet with downloaded shows
  • Volume-limited headphones for children
  • Colouring books and stickers
  • Wristband with your phone number — For theme parks and crowded airports.
  • Universal adapter and power bank

Build the cabin bag first

Checked bags get delayed, and children's needs don't wait. Your cabin bag should hold a full change of clothes for each child and a top for you, diapers for the journey plus a day, wipes, medicines, snacks, a sipper, a light blanket and a charged tablet with headphones. Cabins are cold, and sucking on a bottle or sipper during take-off and landing eases ear pain for babies.

Baggage limits for children

A child with their own seat usually gets the same allowance as an adult. Infants under two on a lap often get about 10 kg of checked baggage on international flights, plus a stroller or car seat, but low-cost and domestic fares can be stricter; check your ticket. Request a bassinet when booking, since only a few seats have them.

Baby food at security

Baby milk, formula, baby food and medicines are allowed through security beyond the 100 ml liquids limit in quantities reasonable for the journey, and staff may test them. Pack formula as powder in pre-measured containers.

Food at customs

Familiar snacks help fussy eaters, but rules vary. Australia and New Zealand require you to declare all food on arrival, and undeclared items attract fines. The EU and UK bar personal imports of meat and dairy from outside, with exceptions for packaged infant formula.

Buy there, not here

Diapers, wipes and baby food are sold everywhere from Dubai to Zurich. Pack two days' worth and buy the rest on arrival, though prices run higher in Switzerland and the Maldives.

Choose travel insurance that covers each child, read our family-focused travel guides, and see our other packing lists.

Frequently asked questions

Can I carry baby milk and baby food in my cabin bag?
Yes. Airport security allows baby milk, formula, baby food and medicines beyond the 100 ml liquids limit in quantities reasonable for the journey, and staff may ask to test them. Carry formula as powder in pre-measured containers and ask the cabin crew for hot water. Declare it on arrival in Australia and New Zealand.
Does a child travelling with one parent need a consent letter?
It is strongly advisable. Airlines and immigration officers in several countries, such as Canada, may ask for written consent from the parent who isn't travelling. Carry a signed, notarised letter with the other parent's contact details and a copy of their passport, plus the child's birth certificate if surnames differ.
How much luggage does an infant get on international flights?
It depends on the airline and fare. Many full-service carriers give infants under two about 10 kg of checked baggage plus a collapsible stroller or car seat, while some low-cost and domestic fares allow only the stroller. Check the infant's baggage line on your ticket, and add baggage at booking if you need it.
Should I take a stroller or a baby carrier abroad?
Take both if your child is under three. A light, foldable stroller handles long airport walks and city days, and most airlines check it at the aircraft door free of charge. A carrier works for queues, stairs, cobblestones and places strollers can't go, such as boats, temples and crowded markets.

How we checked this page

Last reviewed

Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.