Checking In
When traveling internationally, be sure to arrive at least three hours in advance for check-in. Use curbside check-in if it's available. There's no sense in toting tons of bags if you don't have to! Or, rent a cart to carry your belongings. You will need to pay a departure tax at this time in either cash or traveler's checks. This tax may be more than you paid for the infant's ticket! Call ahead to your airline for the tax amount per passenger. Ask whether certain items such as the stroller and car seat can be gate-checked and how the airline treats carry-on luggage for a baby. Many airlines do not allow extra luggage for your infant. Only passengers with their own seats are allowed luggage rights.

Flight Expectations
Keep the entertainment items for your baby close at hand. Dress baby in a short sleeve shirt and pants but bring along a sweater -- airplanes tend to be very cool. Nurse your baby or use pacifiers/bottles during takeoff and landing to reduce ear pressure. Babies love motion and many fall asleep as soon as the plane begins to taxi down the runway! In addition to maintaining a comfortable -- and quiet -- sleeping area, do your best to stick to the infant's eating and sleeping schedule.

Whenever flying with an infant, the flight attendants will help you as much as possible by bringing extra blankets and pillows, filling water in baby bottles or just heating up the bottle. The attendants may even hold your baby while you visit the restroom if you're traveling alone. Changing diapers in the latrine is difficult due to the small space, so be sure to change diapers prior to boarding or at your seat. And, the attendants' jump seat makes a perfect spot for this task, too!

Red Light, Green Light
Carts are available at baggage claim for you to load your luggage. Have your plane ticket, visa and passports ready for the customs agent. Most customs areas will have you go through a line and then either a red or green light will shine telling you to pass through or move to the inspection line. If traveling from the United States, many agents won't hassle you with details if you have a child in tow. But, they will certainly detain you if you look suspicious.

Check with your airline or the consulate of the country you are visiting if there are certain things that will be forbidden at customs. Many Muslim countries do not allow alcohol, fitness magazines or books depicting women with bare arms, etc. to be brought into the country. U.S. Customs currently allows each U.S. citizen to bring $400 worth of merchandise duty-free into the country. The next $1,000 worth of items brought back for personal use or gifts are subject to duty at a flat 10 percent rate. Agricultural products may not be brought into the United States. For other customs guidelines read the State Department publication #10542 "Your Trip Abroad."

Helpful Tips

• Have a tour group adopt you if you are unfamiliar with the language. Most travelers are eager to help a family with a young infant and will assist you in collecting baggage and talking to airline employees if you don't know the language.
• If traveling alone with your child, bring a friend to the airport to help with the check-in. It can be difficult to drag luggage, dig for passports and feed a baby all at the same time.
• Consider renting or borrowing baby gear at your final destination such as cribs, strollers and car seats (available at car rental locations if reserved), so that you don't bring more gear than necessary.
• Bring proper documentation if traveling abroad with only one parent. Many countries require written consent from the other parent to leave the county. Also, bring all adoption papers, copies of birth and marriage certificates if traveling under maiden name, as well as military IDs if applicable. Be sure to make photocopies of all documents and carry them separately from the originals. Leave a set of copies with a family member or friend who has your itinerary. Having copies makes it easier to produce new documents if the originals are lost or stolen during travel.
• Avoid traveling with infants younger than 3 months old. Airplanes can be bad for babies with weak immune systems because they re-circulate the air, causing germs from other passengers to be spread easily to your baby. Be sure that your infant is current on ALL vaccinations and check with the Health Department or Centers for Disease Control to see if there are any additional ones needed in the countries that you'll be visiting. Avoid drinking local water and eating uncooked vegetables, and remember to only prepare formula with bottled water.

"The baby takes his cue from you," says Cathleen Farrell. "If you are a calm and collected traveler, he will be, too. If you are nervous, he will pick up on that."

"Take a tolerance pill and have fun," says Ashly Marquez. "It's an unplanned adventure." But, most of all, enjoy the ride! Traveling to your destination is also part of the whole adventure!

• Read Part One
• Immunizing Children for International Travel
• Packing 101: Suitcase Savvy for Parents on the Go!
• Flying with Babies and Toddlers
• Have Breasts, Will Travel
• Traveling with Toddler: A Quiz for Parents Who Dare -- test your knowledge!