A major concern that dissuades parents from travelling with kids is the cost. Travelling with a little one doesn’t need to be difficult, but how much more does it really cost to travel with a baby or toddler? As of now, I can’t speak for older kids, but travelling with a child under two years of age does not add a lot to the costs of travelling.

The Essentials

Passports

To leave the country, baby is going to need a passport. In Canada, it costs $57 for a child up to the age of 15. Passport pictures are also needed, of course, and generally cost between $10-$15.

Air Fare

Children up to two years old are not required to have their own seat on a plane and may sit on an adult’s lap. There are no airfare fees for infants travelling on a lap with the exception of a small portion of the tax, usually under $50. It cost $18 for the little one to fly from Toronto to Fort Lauderdale and back for the upcoming cruise vacation.

Activities

You’d think that a ticket for an infant wouldn’t be worth the price of admission. You’re right. Luckily, you don’t need tickets for infants under two. We’ve visited museums and other tourist attractions, attended sporting events and participated in walking and boating tours without having to pay for an extra ticket.

There is a catch: if you’re anything like me and can’t resist seeing your kid in a carousel, it will cost a pretty penny (or euro) every time.

Baby Items

You don’t need to pack too many diapers, wipes or food. Babies, as it just so happens, are everywhere and all the consumables required are always readily available. Bread, baby food and fruit packs from local grocery stores kept him full for the meals we didn’t eat in. As an added bonus, babies also score freebies. Macarons, crepes, chocolates, and pastries pour le bébé were quickly devoured by his excited parents; we let him have his free banana.

The Nice to Haves

Umbrella Stroller

Before we went to France, we intentionally purchased a second stroller specific for travel. We went with the Uppababy G-Luxe ($175) for its lightweight travel appeal as well as its ability to stand up by itself. Weighing in at 11 pounds, we didn’t have any trouble lugging it around Paris, including up and down stairs. It served as a high chair in restaurants (eating establishments in France don’t provide high chairs or booster seats) and a comfortable place where Lucas could take naps.

Travel Crib

Most hotels provide baby cribs on request but since we usually stay in apartment rentals when we travel, we needed to provide our own sleeping quarters for baby. We have the Guava Family Lotus Everywhere Crib ($198) for travels. It’s also a lightweight 11 pounds and comes in it’s own stylish backpack. It’s small enough to throw into decent sized suitcase or to be considered as carry on luggage. The travel crib wasn’t a small purchase but since we intend to travel more and the crib is used weekly when baby visits his grandparents, it is well worth the price.

Extra Seat on the Plane

If you do not want to share a seat with your little under two years old, especially with children closer to the age of two and for longer flights, consider splurging on an extra seat (same cost as a seat for an adult). The child will have their own space to play and sleep in which would make a flight more bearable for everyone. Baby wasn’t walking yet when we went to France and he was fine with being confined to our two seats. Plus, we were lucky to be on a plane that was only half full on our way to France and our family of three had the luxury of six seats.

Other than the cost of a passport and the tax on the flight, there aren’t a lot of essential costs to travelling with a child under the age of two. We’ve found that the additional costs come from the gear you decide to bring along. We chose to buy and bring an umbrella stroller and travel crib which we’ve found very useful, though not absolutely necessary. Travelling with a baby in tow can be cost effective and a great way to expose your little one to a whole world full of new things.