Last verified: April 2026
The trip most parents put off
Most Indian parents delay international travel until their child is 3 or 4. The reasons are understandable - it feels complicated, risky, exhausting. But travelling with an infant under 2 is, in many ways, easier than travelling with a toddler who has opinions and limited patience.
This guide covers the logistics that actually matter, drawn from patterns we've seen across hundreds of family itineraries.
The passport
Your infant needs their own passport. In India, a minor's passport is valid for 5 years and requires both parents to be present at the Passport Seva Kendra, along with the birth certificate, Aadhaar of both parents, and a joint affidavit if only one parent is applying.
Start this 8-10 weeks before travel. Tatkal is available but adds cost and requires additional documentation. The passport office will not rush for a flight booking.
Visa applications for infants
Infants are not exempt from visa requirements. A 6-month-old needs a Schengen visa, a UK visa, a US visa - the same as an adult.
For most countries, the infant's application is simpler: no financial proof required in their name, no employment documents. But they still need their own application form, their own passport photograph (taken against a white background, eyes open - notoriously difficult), and travel insurance in their name.
For Schengen applications, infants apply to the same consulate as the rest of the family.
Flights: what actually matters
Bassinet seats. On long-haul flights, bulkhead seats come with a fold-down bassinet for infants under approximately 9kg. These seats are in high demand - request them at the time of booking, not at check-in. Airlines including Air India, Emirates, Qatar, and Singapore Airlines offer this. Each airline has different weight limits and bassinet dimensions; confirm before you fly.
Lap infant vs. seat. In India, children under 2 fly as lap infants - you pay 10% of the adult fare plus taxes on international routes. They sit on your lap. If you want a seat for your infant, you book a child ticket at full fare and use a car seat approved for aircraft use.
Feeding on the flight. If you're breastfeeding, flights are manageable - feed during takeoff and landing to help with ear pressure. If you're formula feeding, boiled water is not available inflight on most carriers; carry pre-measured formula and ask the crew for warm water. Carry more than you think you need.
Time zones and sleep. Infants under 4 months adjust relatively quickly. Between 4 and 12 months is the hardest window - their sleep cycles are established but they can't understand disruption. Keep your expectations low for the first 2 nights.
Destinations that actually work
Short-haul is your friend for the first trip. From India, the sweet spots are:
Bali - warm, family-friendly resorts, no jet lag from India, visa on arrival
Sri Lanka - close, easy, ETA visa online, excellent resorts at lower price points than Bali
Singapore - requires a visa for Indians but the city is extremely infant-friendly, excellent medical infrastructure, short flight
Dubai - 3-hour flight, visa on arrival for most Indian passport holders, world-class hotel infrastructure
Maldives - visa on arrival, water villas are surprisingly practical with infants, no logistics once you're at the resort
Long-haul with an infant is possible - many families do Europe and the UK with infants - but the journey itself is harder and the jet lag recovery takes longer.
What to pack (the non-obvious things)
A portable sound machine - familiar sleep sounds help in unfamiliar hotel rooms
Your own fitted cot sheet - hotel cribs use adult-size sheets that come loose
Infant paracetamol in the original packaging with a prescription - customs in some countries require documentation for medication
Enough nappies for the flight plus 2 days - international brands are available in most destinations but may not be your preferred brand
A lightweight carrier - a stroller is useful but a carrier means you can navigate cobblestones, temples, and restaurants without logistics
Travel insurance for infants
Do not skip this. Medical costs for infants abroad - even for something minor - can be significant. Ensure your policy covers the infant by name, includes medical evacuation, and has no age-related exclusions. Policies that cover the whole family on one plan are simpler to manage.
Planning your itinerary
The biggest mistake on family trips is overscheduling. Infants need feeding windows, nap windows, and buffer time. A 3-activity day is a full day. Build in slow mornings and afternoon downtime at the hotel.
When you generate a family itinerary on Tratwo, tell us you're travelling with an infant in the wizard - we pace the days accordingly and avoid activities that don't work with young children.
