What to pack

Read our top tips about what to pack in your main and hand luggage, and those all important air travel restrictions on liquids and baby food.

Baggage Restrictions and Regulations

Airlines are constantly updating their restrictions for baggage allowances and hand luggage so you should always check before you travel both with regard to number of bags allowed and size/weight restrictions.  Children and infants may also qualify for their own baggage allowances too, depending on your airline.

As a general rule, cabin baggage must be no bigger, including wheels, handles and any side pockets, than:

• 56 centimetres tall (22 inches)

• 45 centimetres wide (17.7 inches)

• 25 centimetres deep (10 inches)

As you may know, stricter regulations on hand-luggage liquids have been introduced. They have been eased slightly, recently to allow things like gels, lotions, pastes, liquid cosmetics, foams and other liquid-based items through security check points but it is important to note that the liquids cannot be carried in containers larger than 100ml. These containers must be brought to the airport contained in a single, transparent, re-sealable plastic bag, which itself must not exceed 1 litre in capacity (approximately 20cm x 20cm). The contents of the plastic bag must fit comfortably and the bag must be sealed.

Each passenger may carry only one such bag of liquids. The bag must be presented for examination.

Liquids that can not be placed inside the re-sealable bag must be packed into the hold luggage and checked in. Liquids of any amount can still be carried in luggage checked into the aircraft hold so for any liquids that aren’t necessities for the actual flight, place them in your suitcase.

Remember, children are usually allowed to carry a piece of hand luggage.  Even if it’s only a tiny rucksack with a few crayons and toys, give them something to carry.  It will make them feel part of the whole experience, plus it’s one less thing for you.

What to pack for your baby – hand luggage

As a general rule, when travelling with babies, it is a good idea to keep travelling documentation about your person in an easily accessible place eg. a cross body pouch, small handbag (which can fit inside your main hand luggage) or moneybelt.  The ideal hand luggage is a backpack, leaving both your hands free to deal with your baby.

This is a suggested checklist of things to pack in hand luggage when taking a baby to Orlando.  We suggest you take enough of each essential to cover unforeseen flight delays.  Although airlines do carry limited supplies of items such as nappies and baby food, these are never guaranteed.

• Made up formula milk in pre-sterilised bottles.  You are allowed to take as much baby milk as you need for your flight through security, although you will be asked to sip it.  The same applies to sterilised water and ‘liquid or pasted’ baby food.  Most airlines will warm up baby milk for you on board – this is done by immersing the bottle in hot water.

• Nappies, wipes, nappy bags

• Snacks: ricecakes, breadsticks, raisins, carrots, apple and small sandwiches provide maximum occupation for minimum mess.  Avoid chocolate, pastry, and soft fruits – too messy.

• At least one meal you can be sure your child will eat: the flight to Orlando is around nine hours.  Even if you have ordered a kids meal for your child, there’s a reasonable chance he won’t want to eat it, either at a convenient time, or at all. You do not want to be left balancing a tray of uneaten food.  Bring something he loves as a back-up, so you won’t have to worry.  Some airlines will warm up baby food for you, but not all.

• Drinks:  You won’t be allowed to take children’s drinks through security other than ‘baby juice’ (which you will have to sip) so you will need to buy them in the departure lounge.  A good tip is to bring an empty tippee cup with you, then transfer the drink in.  This saves on the inevitable squeezing of the juice carton and subsequent spillages.  Also, be aware that the pressure inside sealed cups can build up within the aircraft, so flip up the lid to allow the air out once you’re airborne.

• Bibs and baby spoons

• Sealable see-thru plastic bags: invaluable for holding dirty cutlery, half eaten snacks, wet bibs etc.

• Toys: lots of small toys are better than one big one.  If your baby is very small, bring buggy toys which can be attached to the seat to save you retrieving them from the floor/aisle/other people’s laps.  If your baby is old enough, crayons and paper are great, as are the ‘magic’ colouring sets which use ‘invisible’ (and therefore non-marking) pens.

• Spare clothes; and not just for the baby.  It is quite likely that there will be a spillage or accident of some sort, so bring a spare set of lightweight clothes for all of you, just in case.

• Comfort item: could be a blanket, a toy, or a favourite piece of material.  Airplanes are strange places, and your baby will be comforted by the smell of something familiar.

• Travel changing mat

• A dummy or a bottle to suck on during take-off and landing to relieve ear pressure. Breastfeeding can help at these times too, although you will have to be able to manage it whilst the baby is strapped into his seatbelt on your lap.

• Something warm: Whilst most aircraft carry blankets for night flights, it can get cold on board at any time.

• Any medication; eg. ventolin, calpol sachets, bonjela etc.  Remember, all liquids (including creams) must be limited to 100ml unless purchased after security.

What to pack for your baby – main luggage

Clothes: Florida has a tropical climate so it is usually warm, sometimes scorching, and often a bit wet.  In the winter, the evenings can get chilly.  So that means a wide range of clothing.

For your baby, clothes should be loose, comfortable, layered and provide good skin cover.  In the Florida sunshine, it is very easy for even a small exposed section of skin to become badly burnt, so bring long sleeved t-shirts and thin, long trousers.  These will also provide good protection against mosquitoes in the evenings.  Baby sun hats or a cap with a brim are also essential.  Bring a spare too.

Hotel rooms in Florida are air conditioned, so bring adequate pyjamas or sleep suits.

• Cot linen: many hotels will require you to bring your own.  Check before you travel.

• If your baby is walking, make sure that shoes are well fitting before you go and bring the most comfortable and hard wearing shoes he owns.  For a ‘cruising’ baby, a spare pair of shoes is useful in case you lose one.  You don’t want to have to change all your entertainment plans to go shoe shopping.

• Baby swimwear, including swim nappies and armbands, rings etc.  A cover up, UV sun protection suit is also advisable.

• Baby monitor with adaptor if you are sleeping in a separate toom to your baby.

• Buggy with parasol or sun screen.  Sling and or baby backpack.

• Day coolbag.

• Baby sunglasses.

• Sarong: folds up small and very useful for keeping off the sun, hanging inside car windows, covering buggies, sitting on, or wearing if your own clothes get wet.

• Sun cream: put this somewhere easily accessible in your luggage in case you need it on arrival.  Choose high factors for babies.  The coloured, spray on type is easy to apply and ensures you won’t miss any spots.

• Sterilising equipment if needed.

• Mosquito repellent.  Although accommodation in Florida does have mosquito nets at the windows and doors, there will be times when you will be outside at dusk, when the mosquitoes will be at their most active.  Make sure you buy sprays which are suitable for your child’s age range.

• Some staple food you can rely on; eg. wrap up a few Weetabix, a couple of jars of baby food, some of your child’s favourite pasta in a plastic bag, etc.  Although you will be able to buy everything you need in Orlando, there may be times you get caught out and you won’t want to interrupt your schedule to go shopping.

• Formula milk.  Although you can buy formula milk in Orlando, you might prefer to maintain consistency by not changing your baby’s brand. Don’t forget your travel bottles.

• Non-bio washing powder.  Your baby may have an upset stomach or have the odd accident, and you may need to wash clothes or sheets out.  A small bottle of washing up liquid may also be useful for washing up cutlery etc if you choose a self catering villa.

• Baby cutlery, bowls and cups.

• Favourite CDs to play in the car.  Disney tunes go down well…

• First Aid Kit including: Calpol, nappy rash cream, calamine lotion (for sunburn), anti-histamine, teething gel, plasters & bandages, antiseptic, cotton wool, rehydration powders (such as Dioralyte), thermometer, cough medicine.  Any other prescribed medicine. If you have room:

• Laptop and DVDs/portable DVD player: US hotels do not usually provide DVD players (and even if they do, they can not play the UK formats), but provide pay per view movies instead and regular TV channels.  TV time provides a great way for a small child to unwind after a busy day at the parks and will give you some time to rest too.  If your child will only watch Peppa Pig, you may need to bring your own DVDs and player.

• Portable high chair/booster seat: This can be invaluable for use within your apartment.  Some Orlando hotels/apartments may be willing to lend you a highchair if they have unused spares in their restaurant, but you can’t rely on it.  Restaurants inside and outside the parks are very child friendly in Orlando, and you will find highchairs in most of them.

• Non-slip travel bath mat.

• Travel kettle (for heating up bottles in your room at night) or a travel bottle warmer Back >>