He recommends traveling with the child's birth certificate and passport, as well as a handful of documents that only a parent would have, such as a school report card or health records, which can go a long way in defusing suspicion at a security checkpoint.

When traveling alone with an infant in 2026, the documentation requirements are stringent to prevent international child abduction. Beyond the baby’s valid passport and any required visas, the most critical document is a Notarized Consent to Travel letter. This letter must be signed by the non-traveling parent (or both parents if a guardian is traveling) and should include travel dates, flight numbers, and contact information. If you have sole legal custody, you should carry a certified copy of the court order or custody agreement. For infants under two years old traveling on your lap, a birth certificate is often required by airlines to verify their age. For international trips, it is also wise to carry a Consent for Medical Treatment form, allowing you to make emergency decisions without the other parent's immediate signature. Having these documents ready at check-in and immigration prevents significant delays and ensures that you are compliant with both airline policies and the "Hague Convention" standards used by most countries globally.