Document for travelling with a baby by plane

Flying and leaving your little one behind? It's a difficult decision for any parent to make. But it's not as simple as the deep feeling you have for your baby. As we know, not all air travel is a walk in the park. A minimum of precautions must be taken to ensure that your baby gets the most out of it.

Is it really that risky for a baby to fly?

Air travel is the safest form of transport today, that's a fact! However, infants do not yet have the stamina to cope with stress. In addition to an excess of luggage to plan for, you'll have to meet the difficult challenge of keeping him calm and in a good mood during the flight. But it doesn't stop there.

There are quite a few things your child can be exposed to during a flight. When the air pressure changes, the membrane of the eardrum can shrink or swell. This leads to a sharp pain similar to that of an ear infection. The same cause can also lead to abdominal bloating, especially if the flight is long.

While it is true that a baby over a week old can fly with peace of mind, it can be complicated if he or she is prone to ADHD. ADHD is a behavioural disorder with hyperactivity that can complicate a child's response to the demands of an airplane flight. This manifests itself as a rigidity of the limbs that prevents him from moving. In this case, it is recommended that the child continues treatment if he or she has started it.

What documentation is needed to travel with a baby on a plane?

As far as age requirements are concerned, there are regulations on the minimum age of a child travelling by air. But in most cases, airlines apply their own rules. You should specify that you are travelling with a child when you buy your tickets. This will ensure that you are allocated a seat where your child can sit comfortably.

If you are travelling within the country or Europe, you will not need anything other than the ID card. If you are travelling further afield, however, a passport is imperative until he or she is three years old. But if you're lucky, you may be able to get a discount on the price of your little one's plane ticket. Some airlines even offer them for free.

Applying for a baby ID is relatively straightforward, as it is largely done online. You only need to go to a branch to collect it. Applying for a passport is a little more complicated. This costs money for minors under the age of 15. Valid for five years, passports take an average of one month to issue. If the child is over 12, you can apply online or at a town hall. In countries such as Belgium, these documents are known as Kids-ID. They allow a child under the age of 12 to travel within the European Union and to several other countries. destinations.