Your newborn can't just hop on a plane: The paperwork parents forget

Your newborn can't just hop on a plane: The paperwork parents forget

How prepared are new parents for travelling with their child? Holidaysafe is prepared for new parents’ travel questions ahead of Britain's autumn baby boom. 

More babies are born in England and Wales in late September and early October than at any other point in the year, according to the Office for National Statistics, 8 of the top 10 dates of birth were towards the end of September - with the other 2 being early October.

It’s clear there’s demand for international travel with a baby, Google Trends and SEMrush search data reveals searches for ‘baby’s first holiday’ has increased significantly in recent years - a huge 5,000% in 2026 vs preceding 5 years. According to SEMrush data, ‘when can you travel with a newborn’ generates 110 monthly searches, and ‘when can a newborn fly’ a whopping 260. 

While there’s clear demand for new parents to go away - with 80% of parents saying the thought of travelling abroad with children brings them more pleasure than anything else - almost a third of parents are put off flying due to the ‘hassle’. 

As the seasonal spike in September and October birthdays begins, travel insurance specialist, Holidaysafe, clears up the misconceptions as many parents reach the ‘newborn’s first holiday’ milestone around the same time. 

Holidaysafe breaks down the parts of the new-parent admin that catches people out. There’s much to think about as a new parent, especially a new parent taking daily essentials abroad, and unlike the classic passport, medicines, daily essentials, insurance isn’t something anyone tells you to think about.

Amber Moon, travel expert at Holidaysafe says: "We see this pattern every autumn, new parents getting in touch as they plan for their first trip abroad with their baby. Parents are often unsure what actually needs covering, and there’s a lot to think about, which can be overwhelming. Parents need to think about what happens if their baby is too unwell to fly, what's covered if they need treatment abroad and what isn't covered if they haven't declared the right information."

What parents must know before travelling with a newborn

Every child needs to be named on the travel insurance policy to be covered 

A newborn is a named traveller in their own right, so they need to be added to your policy. Parents often assume a baby is automatically covered under an adult's cover.

Pre-existing and newborn-specific conditions can catch people out

Common infant issues, like jaundice or non-routine hospital visits, may need to be declared or checked against a policy's medical screening, so it's worth confirming this with your travel insurance provider or reading your policy thoroughly before travelling, particularly for a first trip taken only weeks after birth.

Cancellation cover matters more than ever with a baby

If a newborn becomes unwell in the run-up to departure, cancellation cover can protect the cost of the trip, and it is worth checking this is included as standard rather than an optional extra. You should also check what scenarios you would be covered to cancel for. 

Access to medical care abroad shouldn't be a lottery 

Before booking their destination or accommodation, new parents should check what medical care in that resort is like. It’s important you know how and where to seek the best help if needed. 

Some travel insurance policies, like Holidaysafe, offer access to Air Doctor Connect allowing you to connect with over 20,000 doctors in 78 countries. Where non-urgent outpatient treatment is provided through Air Doctor Connect, your policy excess is waived, and you may claim back the cost of prescribed medication when you return home. This is useful for parents who want reassurance that a poorly baby abroad won't mean a long wait or a language barrier at a moment of stress.

What to know if you’re still pregnant and planning ahead

For parents booking a trip before the birth, make sure you get the right travel insurance for pregnancy. For example, do you have any pregnancy related conditions (like gestational diabetes) which you need to declare? 

How many weeks does the policy provide pregnancy cover? Most will not cover up to the full 40 weeks. Will you be covered for unexpected complications such as premature birth? It’s important that you know the answers to these questions to have confidence that the policy is right for you.  

‘Life admin’ parents often forget alongside insurance

Don’t forget your passport! For your baby, either. It’s important to remember a newborn needs their own passport before they can fly, and to plan this in advance as applications can take several weeks without a fast-tracked application. 

Remember to check your baby is fit to fly beforehand. Many airlines vary on the minimum age to fly. Some require babies to be at least two weeks old, and some ask for a GP or midwife letter confirming a baby is fit to fly, particularly after a caesarean birth.

If you’re travelling with a very young baby, it's worth notifying the airline or airport in advance for any assistance you may need and to make check-in and boarding smoother.