The Ultimate Tips for Traveling to Europe with a Baby

Traveling to Europe with a baby sounds intimidating… and I won’t pretend it’s effortless. But it’s also completely doable—and honestly, so worth it. We traveled to France and Europe with our 4 month old baby and I think it was a perfect time to take the trip. I think the best tips come from experience, and I learned a lot on this trip! After doing it myself, here are the tips, products, and mindset shifts that made the biggest difference.

1. Request the Airplane Bassinet

If you’re flying any long-haul flight, this is huge. Most international flights offer a bassinet, but there are only a few seats that can accommodate them. Book early and call the airline to ask which row the bassinet attachment is in. Try to book seats in that row so you are most likely guaranteed the bassinet on the day of your flight. In our case, we actually requested it day-of at the gate and American Airlines was accommodating enough to move things around so we could get the bulk head seats. We are so glad we got this because our baby slept for 7 hours! It made a big difference in getting some rest (for everyone).

2. A Good Travel Stroller Is Non-Negotiable

You want something:

• Lightweight
• Easy to fold (preferably one-handed)
• Compact enough for airports and tight spaces
• Has good wheels (think about strolling over cobblestone streets)
• Bonus points if it fits in the overhead bin!

Between navigating airports and European streets, this quickly becomes one of your most-used items. If it doesn’t come with one, be sure to get a stroller cover / bag to protect it! We used the Nuna Trvl that also worked with attaching the Nuna Pipa Aire RX car seat. See below for my thoughts on bringing your own car seat!

3. Bring a Baby Carrier (Even If You Love Your Stroller)

Cobblestone streets, stairs, small cafés—Europe is not always stroller-friendly. For our trip specifically, we were visiting a lot of underground caves in Champagne and strollers were not always possible. Plus if your baby loves the carrier its such a perfect option!

A carrier gives you flexibility and makes exploring way easier when a stroller just isn’t practical.

4. Stay Somewhere That’s Actually Baby-Friendly

This made a bigger difference than I expected. A lot of hotels in Europe are family friendly! Our baby even left with little stuffies and souvenirs from everywhere we stayed. Airbnbs can also be great when traveling with a baby, just make sure they have what you need.

Look for places that offer:

• Cribs
• Extra space
• Family-friendly accommodations

Our stay at the Royal Champagne blew away my expectations. They provided us with a crib, changing pad, bottle warmer, baby bath tub, diaper pale, and baby toiletries. They even offered us fully vetted babysitting services. It just removes so much friction from your day-to-day while traveling to Europe with a baby. It’s nice coming back to a place for a good nap!

5. Yes… You Can Still Go Wine Tasting 🍷

This was something I wasn’t sure about—but it’s absolutely doable. Just make sure to communicate with reservations ahead of time so there are no surprises. Over on instagram I’m sharing everywhere we went wine tasting in Champagne! For more on this wine region, check out my itineraries and tips for traveling to Champagne, France.

The key is:

• Keep expectations flexible
• Plan shorter visits and only 1-2 per day
• Choose stroller friendly properties or plan to bring the baby carrier

You don’t have to give up the things you love—you just adjust how you do them.

6. Car Seats: Bring or Rent?

We brought ours… but in hindsight, we could’ve easily rented one from the rental car company. We also could have booked transportation to and from airports that had them as well! Other than that we took trains and did a lot of walking so we didn’t need one at those times. If you do plan to bring your car seat, make sure you get a good travel bag for it! I love this one I found on amazon.

Pros to Bringing a Car Seat

• It’s your own so you know it’s clean and fits your baby
• You can stuff extra diapers and blankets in the car seat travel bag
• Car seats + Strollers are checked for free on airlines

Cons to Bringing a Car Seat

• It adds a lot to carry around and travel with
• Not all EU car seat belts lock like in the US so it may not work in all vehicles

This topic is really a preference and it definitely depends on how you are traveling and getting around.

7. What I Packed That Was Actually Worth It

These were a few must-haves for us on the trip!

• Blowout bags (trust me)
• Pacifier clips + container + pacifier wipes
• A really good diaper bag
• A light blanket
• Momcozy Bottle Warmer
• Formula + 2–3 bottles
• Detergent strips

Do not stress if you forget enough diapers and wipes! You can always buy them at your destination.

8. Managing the Time Change

This was one of my biggest concerns about traveling to Europe with a baby—and it wasn’t perfect, but it was manageable.

What helped:

• Getting outside in daylight right away
• Sticking to a loose version of your routine
• Using familiar sleep cues (white noise, bath, etc.)

Give it a couple days—babies adjust. He actually did great getting there and our trip was relatively peaceful. It was hardest coming home and two a few days for him to get back on schedule.

9. Build in Buffer Time (For Everything)

Everything takes longer with a baby! And realistically, baby will likely be napping on the go a lot. Try not to over schedule your days. One to two scheduled activities is plenty.

10. Pack a “First 24 Hours” Baby Kit in Your Carry-On

After a long travel day, the last thing you want is to dig through luggage—or worse, deal with delayed bags.

Pack a small kit with:

• Diapers + wipes
• One or two outfits
• Bottles + formula
• Pacifier
• A light blanket
• Change of outfits for you

Basically, everything you’d need to get through your first day or two without touching your checked luggage.

Final Thoughts

Traveling to Europe with a baby isn’t the same as traveling before, but that doesn’t mean it’s worse! It’s just different. Honestly, I enjoyed it so much. We made so many incredible memories! The trip was so much more fun with my baby than I ever thought it would be.

If you’ve been debating whether to take that trip—this is your sign. You can absolutely do it.