Buying guide
Travelling with a baby – car, plane, train
Breaks every two hours in the car, the car seat on a plane, documents for going abroad and what goes in your hand luggage. Plus where your baby sleeps when you arrive.
In short
- In the car, stop at least every two hours. The infant carrier is not a place to sleep outside the car.
- For travel abroad, your child needs their own ID document – a passport or, in the EU, an identity card, as the case may be.
- On a plane, ask the airline beforehand about the car seat, the pushchair and your child’s baggage. The rules differ from one airline to another.
- At your destination, your baby sleeps on a firm, flat surface, just like at home – a travel cot with its own mattress.
The first trip with a baby feels like an expedition. Most of the time it is just a journey with more stops and more luggage. A few safety rules are non-negotiable; the rest is organisation.
By car
- The car seat fitted correctly, rear-facing, as described in the car seat guide. Never in the front seat with the airbag active.
- Breaks at least every two hours, more often for newborns. At every stop, take your child out of the seat.
- Thin clothes under the harness, with a blanket over them.
- An adult in the back seat, if possible, on long journeys with a newborn.
- Sun shades on the rear windows and air conditioning that doesn’t blow directly on your baby.
- No loose objects in the car: in a sudden stop, a bottle or a bag becomes a projectile.
- Never alone in the car, not even for a minute, not even in winter.
By plane
- Ask the airline before you buy the ticket: from what age they accept babies, what baggage your child gets, whether you can take the pushchair to the aircraft door and whether you can use the car seat on board.
- On your lap or in their own seat. Children under 2 usually fly on your lap, with an extra belt provided by the crew. Their own seat, with a car seat approved for aircraft, is safer but costs more.
- At take-off and landing, breastfeed, or give a bottle or a dummy. Swallowing helps with the pressure in the ears.
- Milk, formula and baby food are usually accepted in hand luggage above the liquids limit, in reasonable quantities. Tell security at the checkpoint.
- A compact pushchair is usually handed over at the aircraft door. Put it in a cover.
By train and bus
A baby carrier is the most practical option on platforms, stairs and in narrow carriages. See how to choose a baby carrier. If you take the pushchair, pick one that folds quickly.
Documents
- Your child’s own ID document for any travel abroad: a passport or, in the EU, an electronic identity card. From June 2025, the electronic card can also be issued to children under 14 at the population-records offices where the system is working; it is valid for two years up to age 2 and four years after that, costs 70 lei and is done by appointment on hub.mai.gov.ro, with the child accompanied by both parents. The plain identity card is not a travel document. Get it done in good time; it takes a while.
- The other parent’s notarised declaration, if a minor child leaves the country with one parent only, or both parents’, if they leave with someone else. It is checked on leaving Romania, including towards Schengen countries.
- The European Health Insurance Card (CEAS) for travel in the EU – it is issued free of charge to children too, and the application can be submitted online; for a child under 14 the birth certificate is used – plus travel insurance.
- The vaccination record or a copy.
What to put in your hand luggage
- nappies for a whole day, wipes, a foldable changing mat;
- two sets of clothes for your child and a T-shirt for you;
- food, water, bottles or formula;
- the care kit in a small version: thermometer, saline, the medicines recommended by your doctor;
- the dummy, a favourite toy, a thin blanket;
- bags for dirty clothes.
Where your baby sleeps at your destination
Just like at home: on the back, on a firm, flat surface, with nothing soft around. A travel cot with its own mattress, with no extra mattress on top. Many hotels have cots; check it when you arrive. Don’t let your baby sleep on the hotel bed between pillows.
Our recommendation
For the first long trip, plan breaks every two hours and a spare day. Get your child’s documents done in good time, ask the airline beforehand and take a travel cot or check the cot at your destination. A well-packed hand luggage matters more than a big checked bag.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a baby stay in an infant car seat?
Manufacturers and road-safety organisations usually recommend breaks at least every two hours, and more often for newborns. In the infant carrier, your baby sits semi-reclined, and long periods can affect breathing and the spine. At every stop, take your baby out of the seat. Outside the car, the infant carrier is not a place to sleep.
What documents does a baby need for travel abroad?
Every child needs their own travel document – a passport or, for some EU countries, an identity card, depending on age and rules. If a minor child leaves the country with only one parent, the other parent’s notarised declaration is needed; if the child leaves with someone else, a declaration from both parents. The rule also applies within the Schengen area. Check the website of the Border Police and of the embassy of your destination country before you leave.
Can a newborn fly?
Many airlines accept babies from 7–14 days old, sometimes with medical approval for the youngest. Children under 2 usually travel on an adult’s lap, with an extra seat belt, or in their own seat, in an approved car seat. Ask the paediatrician and the airline before you buy the ticket.
Think it could help someone else?
Send the guide to your partner or to a friend who is expecting a baby.