Europe...With a Baby?! Yes, You Can!

One of my most recent adventures was daring to travel to Europe (from the west coast) for two weeks with my husband and 6-month-old son. Yep, there...and back! As I'd imagined, there were some difficulties, but the struggles were worth the experience. In preparation for our trip I tried to do some online research for tips on traveling overseas with an infant. For the most part, I came up empty-handed. So, here's my attempt to share tips with other mommas!

Passports: Your baby will need a passport! Yes, your infant will need a real, $100+ passport, chubby face forward picture and all. To take your own picture (as opposed to paying for one) place a white sheet on the ground and lay your baby on his or her back, taking photo from above. If you can't get him to keep his head straight (photo requirement), there are simple rotating tools in many photo editors you can use.

The Flight:
Well, it sucks. Just plain ol' crap. I wouldn't dare medicate my son for convenience, so on the flight out (3 flights, actually) I had one of the worst days of my life. He became over-stimulated, over-tired and uncomfortable. He cried the majority of the way and was very difficult to nurse discreetly because of his restlessness. I spent a large chunk of time in the lavatory to either nurse him or give the other passengers a break from his crying. Most international flights have bassinet attachments at the bulk head seating, but you do have to ask for it in advance! Even having the space of bulkhead seating is a huge plus. My son, even at 6 months, was too long for the bassinet, so he was on my lap the entire way. We wised up and gave him baby Benadryl on the way back....he slept like a champ! I realized that it was so much better for him, having been medicated, experiencing less stress and anxiety! (Especially since it ended up taking us 36 hours to get back home!) Be sure to carry on plenty of diapers, wipes, nursing pads, extra clothes and a plastic bag for the dirties!

What to pack:  
Bring plenty of diapers for the first few days! There are no Targets in Europe, so it may take you some time to find which stores sell diapers and wipes. Keep in mind many places are closed on Sunday! We learned that the hard way. Luckily, we came across a gas station with Pull-Ups!
If you plan on sight-seeing (why else would you be in Europe?) bring a stroller (os a sling depending on the age of your baby). We took a $20 umbrella stroller and it worked out perfectly. It was super light and portable and was great on the flights (gate check), in the rental car (those tiny European cars), on the metro (perfect baby buffer), in restaurants (good luck even fitting a full-size stroller in any European establishment!), etc.
If you're a germaphobe like me, take some sort of changing pad liner/surface. There are few, if any, European bathrooms with changing tables. You will have to improvise! These work great on the flights too.
If you're planning on driving take your own car seat. They are very easy to check on your flight with your other luggage. We bought a bag from BuyBuyBaby, but any sturdy, recognizable bag would do. Some rental car places have car seats, but you can never be sure of who's used them, who's maintained them, and if they've ever been broken and repaired, etc. The last thing you want is to be unfamiliar with your baby's safety harness (use and quality) in a foreign country!
Find a good, lightweight backpack (we found this one on clearance for $10 and LOVED it) that can serve as your carry-on, purse, diaper bag, etc. Walking through Europe is hard enough without carrying a ridiculous amount of luggage.

Sleeping Arrangements:
Most European beds are two twins pushed together with a wooden slat in the middle...not ideal for bed sharing with baby. If you can share a twin with your baby, more power to you, but if you can't ask the concierge if they have a crib available (you might need ask for a baby "cot"), most hotels have them. If not, ask for extra blankets and improvise!

Other Good Things to Have:
It's a good idea to bring your own first aid/medicine kit with you. There are pharmacies on every corner in Europe, but most medications are available by prescription only! (pack Aspirin, Tums, Benadryl, etc.)
You should carry an In Case of Emergency sheet with you at all times. There are forms online that are easy to print and fill out.
You can also print out a list of the embassies in your area with contact information (address, telephone) from within the area of travel.
Provide your family/friends with a detailed itinerary (dates, hotel address/telephone, etc) as well as embassy information (there is different contact information if calling from the US) in case they need to contact you.

I hope this helps you adventurous, world-traveling mommas out there! The extra preparation is definitely worth the memories! If you have any questions, please let me know, I'll do my best to answer them!