Bon Voyage! International Travel with Children

With four children under the age of six, the number of things my husband and I are likely to inadvertently leave behind when embarking on any trip is astounding. My mantra has become: "As long as I have my driver's license and my credit card, anything else can be purchased en route." For international ventures, however, a few more items must be accounted for before heading to the airport.

All children, including babies, are required to have a passport when traveling internationally. Additionally, if one parent intends to travel with her child but without her spouse, she must have a letter from her spouse (preferably notarized) stating that it is acceptable to take the child out of the country.

Next on the list of importance, after a passport and a credit card, are supplies—especially for babies. "Although a wide range of baby supplies can be readily purchased when traveling outside the United States, I advise parents to bring products with them when the specific brand and ingredients are important," notes O'Shaughnessy. My friend, Cindy, who recently traveled to Italy with her 10-month-old twins, agreed. "Thank goodness I brought enough food because their selection of baby food was much different from ours."