baby age to travel by plane

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Is air travel safe for an infant?

Air travel is typically safe for most healthy, full-term infants after the first few weeks. Air travel may not be a good idea for babies born before their due date, called premature or pre-term.

Babies born early may still need time for their lungs to mature. So check with a healthcare professional before flying in a pressurized cabin or visiting high-altitude places.

And any infant with heart or lung problems should be cleared for air travel by a healthcare professional.

As you plan your trip, here are some things to keep in mind, such as the baby's age, your health and some basics of flying.

The baby's age, overall health

Experts caution against flying in the first seven days after a baby is born. Some healthcare professionals suggest not traveling for the first few months.

In general, babies and adults face the same risk of exposure to illness from travel. But a baby's immune system is still learning how to protect against germs. And in most cases, a baby's illness needs to be more closely watched by a healthcare professional.

Caregiver health and planning

It is important for caregivers to think about their own health too. Flying with a child can cause added sleep loss and stress. And adults are at risk for new germs and illness, as well.

Finding out what illnesses are spreading in your area and where you're going can help you prepare and take thoughtful action. And basic things like handwashing are even more important to prevent the spread of germs while traveling.

The baby's ears

Offering a baby something to suck on may help relieve the baby's ear discomfort. You can offer the baby a breast, bottle or pacifier to suck on during takeoff and the start of the landing process. It might help to try to time feedings so that your baby is hungry during these times.

Ask a healthcare professional when it's safe to fly with babies who have had ear surgery or an ear infection.

Also, airplane cabin noise levels are loud, mainly during takeoff. Cotton balls, noise-canceling headphones or small earplugs may limit your baby's exposure to this noise. This may help make it easier for your baby to sleep.

The baby's safety seat

Most infant car seats are certified for air travel. Airlines often allow infants to ride on a caregiver's lap during flight. But the Federal Aviation Administration recommends that infants ride in properly secured safety seats.

If you choose not to purchase a ticket for your infant, ask about open seats when you board the plane. It's possible an open seat could be assigned to your infant.

Don't be tempted to give your baby medicine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl, others), to help the baby sleep during the flight. The practice isn't recommended, and sometimes the medicine can have the opposite effect.

Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.

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• Jana LA, et al. Flying the family-friendly skies. In: Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality. 4th ed. American Academy of Pediatrics; 2020. https://www.aap.org/en/shopaap. Accessed Oct. 30, 2023.
• Newborn-flying and mountain travel. Pediatric Patient Education. https://publications.aap.org/patiented. Accessed Oct. 30, 2023.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Traveling safely with infants & children. In: CDC Yellow Book 2024. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2024/family/infants-and-children. Accessed Oct. 30, 2023.
• AskMayoExpert. Infant Fever. Accessed Nov. 18, 2023.
• Schmitt BD. Pediatric Telephone Protocols: Office Version. 17th ed. American Academy of Pediatrics; 2021.
• Child safety on airplanes. Federal Aviation Administration. https://www.faa.gov/travelers/fly_children/. Accessed Nov. 18, 2023.

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How Old Does a Baby Have to Be to Fly?

Although babies can fly soon after birth, parents should consider various health and safety concerns first.

The truth is that flying with an infant can be a breeze—if your baby sleeps or coos happily the whole way. But the experience can also be closer to a nightmare if your baby ends up crying the entire time, turbulence makes holding them a challenge, or they have a diaper blowout mid-flight. And you might not know which way it will go until you're 30,000 feet up in the air.

But having a newborn doesn't necessarily need to hinder your travel plans. Whether you're visiting grandma or going on vacation, there are some factors to consider before bringing a baby on an airplane. Here's how old a baby needs to be to fly, with tips for making the plane ride go smoothly.

How Old Does a Baby Need to Be to Fly?

Most pediatricians believe that a 4- to 6-week-old baby can handle airplane flights. But this guidance only refers to babies with no health complications who get the go-ahead from a pediatrician. Premature infants, as well as those with respiratory or other health issues, may fare better on the ground. (What's more, doctors may recommend a longer rest period for new parents who had delivery complications or C-sections ).

It's also smart to check your airline's policies on newborn travel. They might have a minimum age requirement, ranging from 2 days old to 2 weeks old . In some cases, newborns won't be granted permission to fly without a doctor's note. You might also need proof of your baby's age. (If official government paperwork hasn't arrived, you could possibly use vaccination or hospital forms.) International travel isn't possible until your baby receives an official passport.

If you're feeling queasy about the idea of spending a whole lot of money on an airline ticket for a baby, ask your airline for a discounted fare. Many airlines offer discounts of up to 50% for children under age 2. Also, if there's an open seat on the plane at the time of boarding, you may be able to use it for your baby.

Considerations for Newborn Air Travel

Although air travel is generally safe for newborns, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents consider the following factors before booking their flight.

Germs and illness

While some older planes use recirculated air, which means that if one person has a cold, their germs are broadcast throughout the plane by the ventilation system, most commercial aircraft use sophisticated methods to refresh the air. Advanced airflow management techniques, including air filtration, ventilation, controlling the movement of the air downwards (rather than side-to-side), and drawing in fresh air from outside, all contribute to reducing the transmission of airborne illnesses between passengers.

In fact, in a 2021 letter published in Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease the authors wrote that "the air quality within modern commercial aircraft is enhanced by frequent air changes, with a complete air change every 2 to 4 minutes." The consensus among the authors was that there is a low risk of getting sick from other passengers, particularly those sitting more than a few rows away.

Other research has also found a low risk of transmission of airborne illnesses (specifically COVID-19) on airplanes: "Altogether, high airflow and use of HEPA filters onboard planes make it unlikely to catch the virus from someone who is not in the immediate vicinity."

However, if someone sitting nearby is sick, your baby could be exposed. That's not typically a problem for healthy adults, whose mature immune systems can more easily fight off germs. But an infant's immune system is no match for some of the viruses and bacteria that may be floating around on airplanes and in airports. If you do fly, make sure to wash your hands regularly, and avoid sitting near sick passengers.

Air pressure and ears

Ordinary cabin pressurization can cause intense pain in infants' ears. This can be helped, somewhat, by having the baby suck or drink during ascent and descent, says Dr. Berger. Offer your baby your breast, a bottle, or pacifier during take off and landing to help.

Breathing problems

Since airplanes have lower air pressure, some babies may have trouble breathing—especially if they were born premature or have heart, lung, or respiratory issues. If your baby fits the bill, talk to your doctor for more information about when it's safe for them to fly.

Fussy behavior

The unfamiliar setting of an airplane with its smells, sounds, and lights, as well as painful ear pressure, may lead to screaming, crying, and general fussiness . Make sure you're prepared to handle the worst.

Changing diapers

Most commercial airplanes have changing tables in at least one of their restrooms. However, not all do, such as smaller planes for shorter flights. Either way, you can't always get up to change your baby's diaper when needed, particularly during takeoff, landing, and times of turbulence.

And as new parents know, you can't always predict when you'll need to change a baby's diaper. So, be sure to change them right before boarding. And bring extra diapers and changes of clothes—you just might need them.

Where Should My Baby Sit?

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) , it's ideal to opt for window seats for babies. Aisle and middle seats put them at greater risk of items falling on them from the baggage compartments above, getting knocked into by people or carts rolling through the aisle, or hot drinks spilling on them (that are passed over them to people sitting closer to the window).

Sometimes, people purchase a separate seat for their baby or end up with an extra seat they can use, but often parents have their baby in their arms, sitting on their lap, or in a baby carrier (nevertheless, airlines do require your child be added to your ticket even if they will be in your lap for the entire flight). This option makes sense because it can save you money—and provides comfort to your baby during the flight. Also, holding them provides easy access for breastfeeding (yes, you can breastfeed on a plane ) or bottle-feeding.

However, there are some safety concerns about holding a baby on your lap while you fly. While the expense is a big consideration, if possible, it's recommended for your baby to sit in their own seat in a car seat approved for air travel.

Do they need their own seat?

Airlines allow babies and young children to ride on a parent's lap for no fee, but that's not the safest place for them if the plane hits turbulence, has to make an emergency landing, or if you're trying to sleep. The FAA strongly recommends that parents secure children in an appropriate restraint, if possible. Most car seats fit the bill (though not all are approved for use during air travel).

Before you fly, check your car seat for a label that identifies it as certified for use in planes. If there is no label, look at the seat's instructions or contact the manufacturer. A car seat should fit into most airplane seats if the car seat is no wider than 16 inches. If you have questions about whether your car seat will fit, call the airline and ask or check their website.

The risks of holding a baby on your lap in-flight

While in-flight deaths in healthy children are exceedingly rare, a 2014 study found a pattern among children who died during air travel during the study period. The study tracked recorded incidents of thousands of medical emergencies on airlines from 2010 to 2013. During that period, there were 10 pediatric deaths. Several were healthy children under the age of 2 who were sitting in an adult's lap during a commercial airline flight.

While this study is the first of its kind, research suggests that lap infants were at a greater risk of dying than those in their own seat, possibly due to in-flight environmental factors, such as sharing a seat with an adult and potentially dangerous co-sleeping arrangements, says Alexandre Rotta, M.D. , lead researcher on the study, a pediatrician, and professor of pediatrics at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina.

More research is needed to explain these deaths but it is possible that lower oxygen levels on planes could harm infants' immature respiratory systems. "What was unexpected was the number of healthy lap infants who ended up dead. It's a rare event but this is clearly a pattern," says Dr. Rotta. The study authors also noted that there could be another factor that is causing these deaths that has yet to be identified.

The Bottom Line

Once your baby is cleared for air travel by their pediatrician, it is relatively safe to fly with them. Often, flights with little ones go better than expected. That said, many a baby put their parents through the wringer while they fly. But even if your baby cries, spits up, or badly needs a diaper change or a bath, know that many people on board are sending you positive vibes. Just about every other parent has been there. So, you got this—and soon enough, you'll get where you're going and be back on land.

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Safety & Prevention

Flying with Baby: Parent FAQs

By: Claire McCarthy, MD, FAAP & Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP

Taking a baby on a plane is something that most parents approach with caution. Infants and air travel can both be unpredictable, and they don't always mix well. But some advanced planning and preparation can help make for a better experience for your baby, for you, and for everyone else on the plane.

Here are answers to some questions you may have before traveling with an infant, along with tips for a smoother and safer flight.

When is my baby old enough to fly on an airplane?

Generally, you should avoid flying with your newborn until they are at least 7 days old. Ideally, wait until your baby is two or three months old to fly. Air travel (and being in crowded airports) can increase a newborn's risk of catching an infectious disease.

Should my baby sit on my lap during the flight?

Ideally, no. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) doesn't require a ticket for children under the age of 2 years. But that means your baby will be on your lap. If there is turbulence, or worse, it may not be physically possible to protect your baby in your arms. Turbulence is the number one cause of children's injuries on an airplane.

If you do not buy a ticket for your child, you may want to ask if your airline will let you use an empty seat where you can install a car seat for your baby. If your airline's "lap baby" policy allows this, avoid the busiest travel days and times to increase your odds of finding an empty seat next to you.

The safest way for baby to fly

The safest way for your baby to fly is in a child safety restraint ―an FAA-approved car seat or airplane harness device . It should be approved for your child's age and size, and installed with the airplane's seat belt. Booster seats cannot be used on airplanes during flight.

• Infants weighing less than 20 pounds should be buckled into a rear-facing car seat during airplane travel.
• Children who weigh 20 to 40 pounds should be restrained in a car seat. They should not be switched to using just the airplane's lap belt until they reach at least 40 pounds.

There is an FAA-approved alternative to using a car seat on an airplane called the Child Aviation Restraint System ( CARES ). This airplane safety harness is not meant for infants, however. It is designed for use by toddlers (22 to 44 pounds) and only on airplanes.

Should I bring our car seat on the plane with us? Does that count as luggage?

Car seats, booster seats, and strollers generally don't count as luggage, but policies vary by airline; check with yours before flying. In most cases they can be checked at the gate, where the risk of damage may be lower, at no cost. Consider packing the car seat in a protective bag or box. If your baby has their own airplane seat, bring your car seat with you.

Not all car seats are certified for use in airplanes.

Make sure a label on the car seat says: "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft."

Which seat on the plane is best for a baby?

Look for rows on the plane with more space , like the bulkhead. Exit rows are out, for safety reasons.

Choose a seat closer to the window, if possible . Aisle seats can be risky for babies during beverage service. Hot drinks being passed to passengers can spill and cause burns , and their little arms and legs can be caught by passing carts. Aisle seats are also closer to falling overhead bin items. If you use a car seat, most airlines require that they be installed in a window seat.

Ensure that your baby's seat is next to you on the plane. Visit the U.S. Department of Transportation Airline Family Seating Dashboard for tips. It shows which airlines guarantee adjacent seats for children under age 13 traveling with an adult at no extra fee.

Is there a way my baby can lie down flat on long flights?

Buckling your baby into a car seat or safety restraint remains the safest option. However, there are other options available to help baby sleep comfortably, especially on long-haul flights.

Airline bassinets. Some airlines offer airline bassinets attached to the plane's bulkhead wall―the wall behind the galley, or toilets or another cabin. In some premium cabins, they can be built into the seat compartment to use in bulkhead rows. Most airline bassinets require the baby to be under 6 months old and/or 20 pounds, and not yet able to sit up unassisted. These bassinets are sometimes called "skycots" or baskets.

Sleeper seat . For an added fee, some international airlines let you book three seats in a row with locking seat extensions. This creates a "sky couch" or sleeper-seat big enough for both parent and child. Some airlines also offer "lie-flat" and "flat-bed" seats.

Inflatable seat extenders . Some airlines let you bring your own inflatable, individual seat extension for your baby to snooze on lying down. Not all airlines permit these to be used, though, so check ahead of time. Your child will need their own seat to use one.

Note: For all options above, your baby would still need to be buckled into a car seat or held on your lap during takeoff, turbulence and landing.

Safe sleep practices still apply on the airplane.

• If your baby sleeps on your lap during the flight: stay alert and check on your baby often. Make sure they can breathe easily, and their face is uncovered.
• If your baby sleeps on another device during the flight: check that it is firm and flat, with no soft bedding. (See, " How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe .")

Will I be able to get liquid formula or expressed breast milk through security?

Yes, but you have to follow the reasonable quantities rules. This means you're exempt from the 3-1-1 rule limiting liquids to 3.4 ounces (100 mL).

Pack formula, expressed breastmilk, or water for mixing with powder separately and be ready to let the TSA know you have it. You may ask that they not go through the x-ray machine (although this shouldn't cause a health problem). Visit the TSA website for more information.

Any tips for keeping my baby comfortable and content on the plane?

Dress your baby in layers. The temperature in a plane can vary widely, especially if you are stuck waiting on a runway. So, dress your baby in layers of clothing. As you pick out clothing , choose outfits that make diaper changing in a small space easier. Also, pack a change of clothes or two, in case turbulence hits during a diaper change or when you are feeding. Bring plastic bags for soiled clothing.

Be ready for ear pain during take-off and landing. During takeoff and landing, changes in pressure between the outer ear and middle ear can cause discomfort. If your baby has had ear surgery or an ear infection in the past two weeks, ask their doctor if it's OK to fly. Having babies drink from the breast or a bottle, or suck on a pacifier, can help. If your child has a cold or ear infection, a dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help; check with your doctor for the right amount to give your child.

Reduce jet engine noise exposure . Airplane cabin noise hovers around 100 decibels, and is even louder during takeoff. Using cotton balls, small earplugs, or noise-canceling headphones may help to decrease the decibel level your baby is exposed to, and also make it easier for them to sleep or relax.

Keep in mind that sleeping babies are easier for everyone. If possible, travel at a time when your baby naturally sleeps. Or, onsider trying to put off a nap until it's time to fly. Flight delays can cause this to backfire if your exhausted baby decides to scream instead of sleep. But it may be worth a try.

Do not use diphenhydramine, or Benadryl, to help your baby sleep without talking to your doctor.

This medication can have serious side effects , especially if repeated doses are given on long flights. If you get the go-ahead and appropriate dose from your doctor, try it at home first. Some children react to the medicine by getting more awake instead of sleepy.

Consider a diaper change right before boarding the plane. A dry baby is a happy baby. Fortunately, when you do need to change a diaper in-flight, many planes have restroom changing tables . If yours doesn't, ask a flight attendant if there is a spot where you can spread out your changing pad. Some parents resort to diaper-changing on the closed toilet seat. If you try this, be sure to have a hand on your baby at all times and pack a disposable changing pad. Plan for delays; pack plenty of supplies.

Bring distractions . Pack some toys and books and be ready to play with your baby the entire time. A tablet with videos can be a good backup if the toys and books aren't helping anymore (we don't encourage entertainment media for children under the age of 2 , but desperate times can sometimes call for desperate measures).

Don't let the glares get to you . Despite the best advanced planning and efforts, babies cry sometimes. Know that you did, and are doing, all you can. At that point, one of the best ways you can calm your baby may be to stay calm yourself. And remember that for every person who is glaring at you, there are plenty of people who have been through it themselves and have lots of sympathy.

Ask for help . Arrange for your airline to help you if you need help making a connecting flight. Carrying a child safety restraint, your baby and luggage through a busy airport can be challenging.

Does my baby need a passport for international travel?

Yes. All U.S. citizens, including infants, need a current passport to travel internationally. Parents or guardians need to apply with their baby in person using the form DS-11 . Be sure to bring your baby's birth certificate and a photo taken within the last 6 months.

Passport photos must be taken with nobody else in the photo, which can be tricky with infants. To do this safely if your baby can't sit up yet , lay them on their back on a plain white blanket or sheet to ensure head support without having to hold them. Another option is covering a car seat with the sheet and taking a picture with your child in it.

What about domestic flights?

A valid passport is usually the only identification your baby will need to fly on a domestic flight, unless you need to show proof of age for a discounted child fare. Check with your airline before you leave. Note: Children under age 18 will not be required to get a Real ID .

What is the best time of day to fly with a baby?

It is hard to say whether flying during the day or night with a baby is better. After the first few weeks, some infants may sleep more reliably at nighttime than they do during naptime travel. If you and your baby can sleep on the plane, a late-night flight may be the way to go.

More information

Travel Safety Tips

Holiday Travel Tips

Flying With Children Safely (FAA.gov)

Tips for Families and Links to Airline Webpages (U.S. Department of Transportation)

Destination-Specific Vaccine Recommendations for Travelers—Including Travelers with Children (CDC.gov)

Best and Worst Ages to Fly with Your Child

By: Author Leslie Harvey

Posted on Published: November 11, 2021

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One of the most common questions I hear about flying with children is “what is a good age to fly with my child?” Also common is its corollary – “what is the worst age to fly with kids?”

When I started this blog in 2012 and first published this blog post (my first born was then 3), I thought I had all of the answers. I now have a second child with a very different personality and over a hundred additional flights under our belts. I’ve flown with kids of every age and stage, with very different temperaments, and under a wide variety of travel conditions. And we’ve come out on the other side of the challenging stages now that our kids are getting a bit older.

So I have a few opinions about the best and worst ages for traveling with kids on planes!

It’s very important to remember, however, that age is not everything. Each child is different. Your two year old may be very different than your neighbor’s two year old. Each flight can be different for the same child depending on the time of day, if they are tired, if they are sick , etc. I always advise traveling parents to think objectively about their child’s temperament and personality in addition to their age in deciding when and how to fly. That is often hard when you are booking flights months out — your kiddo could well change things up on you before flight time. Think ahead as best you can.

So with all those caveats in place, here are a few guidelines to help you plan your family travel adventures.

Best and Worst Ages to Fly with Kids

0-3 months old.

I don’t recommend flying at the newborn age unless absolutely necessary. I know there are parents who need to fly for very valid reasons like a family emergency or an adoption, and that’s obviously understandable and necessary. But I’d say put the leisure trips on hold.

Why is this stage so hard? Unpredictable sleeping and nap schedules and newborn fussiness or colic can be hard on parents and fellow passengers alike – especially on longer flights or trips with time zone changes. Plus, new parents are stressed and just figuring the basics out, especially if the child is their first. Moms may even still even be recovering from childbirth.

Most importantly, airplanes and airports are germ factories, filtered air notwithstanding. Infants are highly vulnerable this young, particularly during cold and flu season. It is no fun finding yourself on a trip with a sick newborn and can lead to scary situations without known medical care far from home. And after the events of 2020 and 2021, we’ve all come to realize how we need to treat health and transmissible illnesses with a lot more gravity.

3-9 Months Old

One those first few months with a new baby have passed, I’ve found that the older infant stage is just a great age to fly. The biggest challenge at this stage is for first time parents who are still just figuring out how to be parents. Most babies are actually in a pretty easy phase, but the parents often don’t know it because everything about parenting is still so new! Second time parents have usually learned and are ready to hit the friendly skies at this point. I know I certainly was with kiddo #2!

At the 3-9 month stage, parents really can take advantage of their baby’s flexibility. Most 3-9 month old babies will still sleep a lot and even nap on the go in a carrier or car seat. Babies aren’t really mobile at this stage so there aren’t as many dangers to worry about. Your baby will also still be nursing or taking bottles regularly, so you can feed on takeoff and landing and avoid ear pressurization issues.

9-12 Month Olds

At about the time your child starts to crawl in the last few months of the first year, things may start to get a bit more challenging. If your child is active, he or she may want to spend the flight squirming out of your arms and crawling in the aisles.

It is at this age that I recommend that parents consider buying a seat for their little ones, particularly on longer flights or if you happen to recognize that you have a more active child. It’s so helpful when you can put a squirmy kiddo down in the car seat for a nap. Plus, having the extra space is essential for the child to get some activity and wear them out!

12-18 Months Old

Once your child starts walking, all bets will probably be off unless you are blessed with the chillest of children. One year olds are often highly mobile yet totally uncontrollable, making for a potentially dangerous travel combination.

At this age, children are still too young to understand and follow instructions, so discipline is ineffective. Distraction and maybe bribery are really your only tools! This is the age and stage where my family experienced our own personal “ flight from h-ll ” when my daughter was 17 months old. I’ve heard the same from a lot of friends.

What to do at this stage if you do have to fly? Walk the aisles with your toddler, hang out near the galley when you can, and bring a variety of snacks, books, and toys to deal with a short attention span (check out my list of 50  kid-friendly airplane snacks for ideas).

I also highly recommend buying a seat once you have child who is walking — I’ve certainly flown with a lap toddler many times in my family’s travel adventures to save money, but it’s a challenge for sure!

18-24 Months Old

Things continue to be a bit of a challenge in the older toddler age range. I’ve noticed that girls sometimes start turning a corner, but boys often lag a few months behind, so this can be a more challenging age than the 12-18 month stage depending on your child and their development.

At this stage at least, most parents are starting some basic discipline with their children, so you may be able to register some successes. An iPad starts to work as a distraction, in short intervals. And of course, children are able to start coloring or doing some other non-electronic activities to pass the time.

2-3 Years Old

This stage is when many parents begin to see a true light at the end of the tunnel much of the time. At around 2 years old, both of our kids finally started developing more sustained attention spans. We found we could could begin to rely on electronic assistance like an iPad to give us a bit of a break on long flights. Hopefully, your methods of discipline will also begin to be more effective at this age, so your toddler will begin following instructions like staying seated on command (usually).

Two words of warning about this stage. One important consideration will be potty training — you won’t be able to take your child to the bathroom at all times when flying. Toddlers who are just learning can rarely wait as long as a taxi and takeoff when they have to go. I recommend avoiding starting training if you are going on a flight soon afterwards. We waited until our children were fully trained on land for about 4 weeks before braving a trip in the air. And we traveled with a spare Pull-Up in our carry on bags for over a year after each child was potty trained for emergencies.

The other warning about this stage is when your child is very tired. A three year old throwing a tantrum can certainly be harder to control than an 18 month old. In fact, my friend The Deal Mommy contends that three is the worst age to fly because the meltdowns can be that much more epic and the child is much bigger. And while I agree to a point, I find that having more infrequent meltdowns made this age much easier for me. As always, your miles may vary.

3-4 Years Old

In comparison to the three years before, flying starts to get a lot easier at this stage. As preschoolers, my kids would sit still and watch a whole movie, gab with the flight attendants, and show concern for (and often entertain) younger children in the cabin when they were fussy and tired. Meltdowns on long trips with a lot of time zone changes can still happen, but thankfully they occur much less often.

I highly recommend still being prepared with all sorts of distractions like snacks, games, and a few downloaded movies and shows. But I found that this stage was the first time that I often didn’t need all the supplies I’d brought along.

4-5 Years Old

Travel with kids just keeps getting easier as you enter the older preschooler/kindergartener phase. The structure of a year or two in more formal schooling usually helps many kids understand the importance of listening to grown ups and following rules.

The only major issue that I’ve personally had with this age and stage is inadvertent seat kicking. Little kids of this age have legs that seem to be just the right length to bump up against the seat in front of them while being too short to bend at the seat’s edge. Watch for this and encourage your child to sit cross-legged if this is an issue.

6+ Years Old

Home free! Once kids are in elementary school, the vast majority of them will be excellent flyers, especially if you travel regularly like my family has. Most will love TV and movies enough to be entertained for hours with an tablet or in-flight entertainment system (limits on screen time don’t apply, in my opinion, on planes!). And being able to read and entertain themselves the old-fashioned way is great too.

My older child is now 12 and my younger child just turned 8. Although we didn’t fly from March 2020-June 2021, we’ve been back in the friendly skies a lot in recent months. Both of the kids are truly now travel pros and fantastic travel companions, even when we had an epic 3 day travel delay during our most recent summer travels.

Even in the years before that when our son was younger, I found how much my daughter helped with her little brother during his more challenging stages. She always carried her own bags (and sometimes a few of ours) on our many adventures. Of course, we have the teen years and the new travel challenges those bring to look forward to next!

Have you flown with kids? What was your experience with what were the best and worst ages?

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Leanne Strong

Saturday 22nd of July 2023

As someone who flew often as a child, I will say that there really is no perfect age to fly with your kids. Each age range has its pros and cons for air travel.

Monday 11th of April 2022

My daughter is 9months old. I don’t anticipate travelling anywhere with her until she is at least 6+ years old. It’s just not practical or feasible.

But I’m ok with that 😌

Tuesday 30th of November 2021

Thanks for the tips! We're planning on the longer new year trip and Dan is going to be 20mo at the time. We've had one plane-adventure but it was at 6 mo and it was a quick flight - went smoothly. But now it's gonna take few hours. We're after sleep training (well done Susan Urban!) - that's a plus. But on the other hand we're trying not to use the ipad or cartoons on regular basis... I guess I have to figure out a long list of activities...

Thursday 7th of January 2021

Can I fly a Ethiopia n airplane when am 8 year old

Denise Espinal

Saturday 28th of November 2020

Bahahha I love this reply!

Infant Travel Rules & Tips

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Rules to Know When Bringing Infants on Flights

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Key Topics:

Understanding Age Requirements

Choosing the right seating option, purchasing a separate seat, preparing for the flight, navigating the airport with infants, in-flight tips for a comfortable journey, faq: bringing infants on flights.

It is estimated that millions of parents travel with children on domestic and international flights each year. Since most airlines do not require parents traveling with an infant or toddler to purchase tickets, most parents prefer to let them lap ride. However, airline requirements, pricing, and regulations seem to change each day and vary depending on the airline. If you are a parent of a young child, what can you expect to pay for kid's airline tickets, and what's the best way to travel with children?

When traveling with a baby, most commercial airlines define an infant as less than two years old (no more than 24 months of age). Since children vary in size, it's recommended that parents travel with the child's birth certificate if he or she is between one and two years old. Additionally, infants traveling internationally will need a passport. Most airlines require children under two to be accompanied by an adult over 18 years of age. However, some allow the adult to be only 14.

READ MORE: Tips for Kids' Carry-on Items

Parents have two main options when traveling with infants: lap for free or purchasing a separate seat. For domestic flights, children under two can ride on a parent's lap without a ticket. For international flights, lap children may have to pay 10 percent of the adult fare plus taxes and surcharges. Inform the airline early if a lap child will accompany you. Some websites offer an option for this during booking, or you can call the airline after booking online. It's best to avoid last-minute notifications at the airport to prevent complications.

If you are traveling with a lap child, you will likely need to check a car seat. Check the car seat at the gate; it may be a hassle to carry it through the airport, but if empty seats are available, the crew may allow you to use one. Having your car seat available can be beneficial.

READ MORE: Getting Kids Thru Security

Parents traveling with children who want their child to have his or her own seat must purchase a full-price ticket. Kid's airline tickets are often not discounted on many travel websites, so you may need to call and ask if discounts are available when traveling with children.

Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that children in their own seats must be in an FAA approved Child Restraint System (CRS). The FAA recommends all children fly seated in a CRS, but does not mandate that children under the age of two do so. Parents should weigh the safety issues carefully when deciding.

When my first child was six months old, I chose to buy a separate seat for him on a long-haul flight. It was a game-changer! Not only did he sleep better in his car seat, but it also gave me peace of mind knowing he was safe and secure.

When booking your flight, inform the airline if you will be traveling with an infant. Some airlines offer discounts for children's tickets, but you may need to call customer service to inquire. Pack essential items such as car seats, diapers, and toys. TSA allows extra items like breast milk and formula through security checks, so pack accordingly. Consider what carry-on items will be necessary for the flight, and ensure they are easily accessible.

On a trip to Europe, I learned the hard way to always have extra diapers and a change of clothes in my carry-on. A sudden delay left us stuck on the tarmac for hours, and I was thankful for the foresight to pack more than I thought we'd need.

Arrive at the airport early to allow plenty of time for check-in and security. Use strategies to streamline the check-in process, such as online check-in and using family lanes at security. Gate-check strollers and car seats for convenience, and take advantage of priority boarding options if available. The TSA provides special assistance for families traveling with infants, including dedicated family lanes.

I always find that checking in early and taking advantage of family lanes at security makes the process smoother. On one occasion, the TSA agents even helped me manage my stroller and carry-on, which was a huge relief.

Keep your infant entertained with toys and activities during the flight. Bring snacks and be prepared for feeding times. To help your infant sleep, bring familiar items like a blanket or stuffed animal and consider the flight schedule to align with nap times. Managing ear pressure during takeoff and landing can be challenging; nursing or using a pacifier can help.

During a long flight to Asia, I discovered that small, new toys wrapped like presents kept my toddler entertained for hours. The novelty of unwrapping and playing with something new was a lifesaver.

Find more help here for your journey through the airport

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Traveling with Children

All passengers are required to undergo screening. However, TSA has developed modified screening procedures for children who appear to be 12 years old and younger. TSA officers will consult parents or the traveling guardian about the child’s screening.

TSA standard screening procedures apply for children 13 years and older. Carry-on property of all passengers, regardless of age, must be screened. All passengers who alarm will undergo additional screening.

Children with Medical Conditions, Disabilities, or Mobility Aids

Inform the TSA officer if the child has a disability, medical condition or medical device.

Let the TSA officer know if your child is able to walk through the metal detector or needs to be carried through the metal detector by a parent/guardian. You may carry your child through the WTMD. The TSA officer will not remove your child from their mobility aid, wheelchair or scooter.

Request Assistance

TSA Cares provides information to passengers with disabilities, medical conditions and those that need additional assistance to better prepare for the security screening process. Call  TSA Cares 72 hours prior  to traveling with questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security checkpoint. You may also call to request assistance at the checkpoint.

Liquid Formula, Breast Milk, Toddler Drinks, and Baby/Toddler food (to include puree pouches)

Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters are allowed in carry-on baggage and do not need to fit within a quart-sized bag. Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) are considered medically necessary liquids. This also applies to breast milk and formula cooling accessories, such as ice packs, freezer packs and gel packs (regardless of presence of breast milk). Your child or infant does not need to be present or traveling with you to bring breast milk, formula and/or related supplies.

Inform the TSA officer at the beginning of the screening process that you are carrying formula, breast milk, toddler drinks and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) in excess of 3.4 ounces. Remove these items from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from your other belongings. TSA officers may need to test the liquids for explosives or concealed prohibited items.

It’s helpful to the officers when formula and breast milk are in clear, translucent bottles and not plastic bags or pouches. Liquids in plastic bags or pouches may not be able to be screened by Bottle Liquid Scanners, and you may be asked to open them (if feasible) for alternate screening such as Explosive Trace Detection and Vapor Analysis for the presence of liquid explosives. Screening will never include placing anything into the medically necessary liquid.

TSA X-ray machines are not harmful to food or medicines. However, if you do not want the formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) to be X-rayed or opened, please inform the TSA officer. Additional steps will be taken to resolve alarms. You or the traveling guardian will undergo additional screening procedures, to include Advanced Imaging Technology screening and additional/enhanced screening of other carry-on property.

Ice packs, freezer packs, frozen gel packs and other accessories required to cool formula, breast milk, toddler drinks and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) – regardless of the presence of breast milk – are also allowed in carry-ons, along with liquid-filled teethers. If these items are partially frozen or slushy, they are subject to the same screening as described above.

Passengers requiring special accommodations or concerned about the security screening process at the airport may request assistance by contacting  TSA Cares  or by phone at (855) 787-2227.

Screening of Children’s Items

• Place all carry-on baggage such as children's toys, bags and blankets on the X-ray belt for screening.
• Strollers, umbrella-strollers, baby carriers, car and booster seats and backpacks must be screened by X-ray.
• Place items in the stroller pockets or baskets, in a carry-on bag or on the X-ray belt for screening.
• Equipment that does not fit through the X-ray machine will undergo a visual/physical inspection by TSA officers.

Screening Technology

Walk-Through Metal Detector

Children able to walk through the metal detector without assistance may do so separately from their parent or guardian. If they alarm, children are allowed multiple passes through screening technologies and may undergo other procedures to resolve the alarm to reduce the need for a pat-down. Infants and small children may be carried through the metal detector. Should the alarm sound, additional screening is required.

Advanced Imaging Technology

If your child is able to remain standing in the required position for 5 seconds, he or she may be screened through the advanced imaging technology. If a child 12 and under goes through the machine and alarms, they have an opportunity to go through again or the TSA officer may use other procedures to resolve the alarm to reduce the need for a pat-down.

You may not be screened by this technology when carrying an infant or child.

Screening your Child

• Children 12 and under can leave their shoes, light jackets and headwear on during screening. For AIT screening, light jackets must be removed and placed on the X-ray belt.
• Children will not be separated from their parent/guardian.
• Remove infants and children from strollers and car seats and carry them in arms through the walk-through metal detector.
• Infants may be carried in a sling/carrier (to include lap baby) through the walk-through metal detector or when being screened in a wheelchair, but may be subject to additional screening
• Modified screening procedures are in place to reduce the likelihood of a pat-down.

• Book your antenatal a course
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Flying with a baby: feeding, sleep and your other questions answered

Read time 7 minutes

Boarding a plane with a newborn can feel daunting. Here we answer your key questions about flying with a baby.

When can I fly with a newborn?

There is no minimum age for when babies are legally allowed to travel. Airlines set their own recommendations but, generally, most airlines require that babies are at least two weeks old before they travel. Some airlines allow seven-day-old infants on board. The booking policy differs from one airline to another, so it is important to check directly with the airlines (Which?, 2018a) .

For premature babies , that will be based on due date rather than birthday. If you gave birth by caesarean  you might have to wait longer to recover until you can fly though (Which?, 2018a) .

I have a different surname to my child: is this a problem?

Irritatingly it can be, yes. You might need to prove that you are related and that you can take them out of the country. You might need a signed letter from your child’s other parent or a birth certificate. See official travel advice for more details (The Telegraph, 2017) .

Will my baby or toddler need their own ticket?

Even though they’ll be sharing a seat with you, they will still need a ticket of their own. Book your seats as soon as you get your tickets – if you can – so that you get the ones that make you most comfortable. A lot of parents like aisle seats so they can get up easily (Which?, 2018a) .

Will my baby or toddler travel for free?

Sometimes children younger than two years do fly for free, but not always. Most airlines charge a percentage of the adult fare and some airlines charge a flat fee (Which?, 2018a) .

Does my child gets a baggage allowance?

Check with your airline if your baby gets a baggage allowance for all of those nappies and tiny socks they need as each one is different. The baggage allowance can be 5kg to 10 kg over for items such as a car seat or travel cot. If not, you might have to splash out for extra luggage allowance (Which?, 2018a) .

Most airlines realise a baby doesn’t travel light but some don’t. In this case, you might have to sacrifice your hand luggage in favour of a well-stocked changing bag. Thankfully, most airlines are more generous and do allow a baby’s changing bag in addition to your usual hand luggage.

Can I take baby formula on a plane?

Yes. You can take as much formula as you need when you fly and airline staff can provide boiling water. Alternatively, you can order ready-made formula to pick up at the airport chemist (Flying with a baby, 2018a) .

Security will let you take water for bottles/made-up bottles through too though they might get you to test it yourself first. Make sure you have plenty of milk in case your child wants more too. Flying can make them thirsty (Fit for travel, 2018; Flying with a Baby 2018a) .

How will I sterilise bottles on a plane?

There are travel bottle sterilisers on the market. Alternatively, you can buy cold-water steriliser bags or disposable pre-sterilised bottles (Which?, 2018b) .

Can I breastfeed on plane?

Yes, absolutely. Feel free to breastfeed your baby when you need too. The UK’s Equality Act 2010 says that ‘A business cannot discriminate against mothers who are breastfeeding a child of any age’ (British Chambers of Commerce, 2010) . But some international airlines have particular policies on breastfeeding.  

Breastfeeding can also be helpful during a plane journey if your baby is in pain, like their ears popping during take-off or landing, or just needs comforting (Well, 2016; Flying with a baby, 2018d) .

But be aware that during landing and take-off, babies need to be secured using an extension lap belt (Well, 2016) . Think about what you might wear to make breastfeeding as easy as possible. And remember to stay hydrated during the flight if you are breastfeeding (Well, 2016) .

Where will my baby sleep on a plane?

On long-haul flights, you can request a bassinet/sky cot for your baby to sleep in. You’ll need to book a bulkhead seat (a row with no other seats in front) to get those though. Contact the airline as soon as you know you’re travelling to see if you can reserve one (Flying with a baby, 2018b) .

Another tip: travelling at night can help make sleep more likely. Alternatively, you can arrange to bring a baby car seat with you (Flying with a baby, 2018b) .

How will I keep my baby or toddler entertained while we travel?

Lots of airports have kids’ areas to entertain children and buggies you can use. When you’re on the plane, it’s about how you pack: toys, books and maybe an iPad for older children to watch their favourite shows. You might find child friendly entertainment available on the plane but this will depend on the airline (Flying with a baby, 2017a; Flying with a baby, 2018c) .

Will I have to check my buggy in?

Most airlines now let you keep your pushchair until you get to the boarding gate, which is super handy (Which?, 2018c) .

Will my baby or toddler have their own seat when we fly?

Unless you pay for them to have an extra seat, your baby will sit on your lap until they’re two years old (Which?, 2018a) .

Can I take our car seat on the plane so I can use it at the other end?

Different airlines have different policies on allowing car seats and the requirements for car seats. It’s better to check with individual airlines. Usually you have to buy a seat if you want to use a car seat on the plane (Flying with a baby, 2017b) .

What will I do if my baby cries on the plane?

First, your baby is likely to find the flight soothing so hopefully there are no worries over tears (Well, 2016; Flying with a baby, 2018d) . But the best way to stop your baby crying during take-off or landing (when their ears may pop or hurt) is to feed them, from the breast or from a bottle (Well, 2016) . As long as the airline doesn’t require your baby to be in an air baby travel cot or bassinet, you’re good to go.

Try to find out why your baby is crying – they may be tired, hungry or in some kind of discomfort. Same strategies that you use at home while trying to soothe your crying baby, can work in the plane too.

As for the rest of the flight, it might so happens that there isn’t much you can do other than the usual feeding, dummy, walking up and down. If they do cry then most people – and ignore the minority who don’t fit into this camp – will just be sympathetic and may even try to help. You just need to focus all your attention on meeting your baby’s needs and try to do this as quickly as you can (TPG, 2018) .

This page was last reviewed in June 2018.

Further information

Our support line offers practical and emotional support with feeding your baby and general enquiries for parents, members and volunteers: 0300 330 0700.

We also offer  antenatal courses  which are a great way to find out more about birth, labour and life with a new baby.

Make friends with other parents-to-be and new parents in your local area for support and friendship by seeing what  NCT activities  are happening nearby.

British Chambers of Commerce. (2010) Equality act 2010: what do I need to know? quick-start guide for businesses who sell goods and services. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/85008/business-quickstart.pdf [Accessed 6th June 2018]

Fit for travel. (2018) Breastfeeding and bottle feeding. Available at: https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice/general-travel-health-advice/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding.aspx [Accessed 6th June 2018]

Flying with a baby. (2017a) Child amenities and entertainment available on board your flight. Available at: https://www.flyingwithababy.com/baby-and-child-amenitiesentertainment-available-on-board-your-flight/ [Accessed 6th June 2018]

Flying with a baby. (2017b) Car seats and child restraint devices on an airplane. Available at: https://www.flyingwithababy.com/car-seats-child-restraint-devices-crd-on-an-airplane/ [Accessed 6th June 2018]

Flying with a baby. (2018a) How to order baby milk and baby supplies from Boots at UK airports. Available at: https://www.flyingwithababy.com/how-to-order-baby-milk-and-baby-supplies-from-boots-at-uk-airports/ [Accessed 6th June 2018]

Flying with a baby. (2018b) Essential airline bassinet seat information/comparison chart. Available at: https://www.flyingwithababy.com/essential-airline-bassinet-information-chart/ [Accessed 6th June 2018]

Flying with a baby. (2018c) Tips for flying with a toddler. Available at: https://www.flyingwithababy.com/tips-for-flying-with-a-toddler/ [Accessed 6th June 2018]

Flying with a baby. (2018d) Breastfeeding on a plane – airline breastfeeding policies. Available at: https://www.flyingwithababy.com/airline-breastfeeding-policies-and-tips/ [Accessed 6th June 2018]

The Telegraph. (2017) How to travel abroad with a child whose surname is different from yours. Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/family-holidays/how-to-travel-abroad-with-a-child-with-a-different-surname/ [Accessed 6th June 2018]

TPG. (2018) Don’t be a cry-baby: What to do when babies cry on a plane. Available at: https://thepointsguy.com/guides/travel-etiquette-when-babies-cry-on-planes/ [Accessed 6th June 2018]

Well. (2016) Fear of crying. The problem of babies and airplanes. Available at: https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/04/11/fear-of-crying-the-problem-of-babies-and-airplanes/ [Accessed 6th June 2018]

Which? (2018a) What are my rights when flying with a baby? Available at: https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/what-are-my-rights-when-flying-with-a-baby [Accessed 6th June 2018]

Which? (2018b) Baby products to take on holiday. Available at: https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/travelling-with-children/article/travelling-with-children/baby-products-to-take-on-holiday [Accessed 6th June 2018]

Which? (2018c) Pushchairs on planes: what you need to know. Available at: https://www.which.co.uk/news/2016/07/pushchairs-on-planes-what-you-need-to-know-446682/ [Accessed 6th June 2018]

Information you can trust from NCT

When it comes to content, our aim is simple: every parent should have access to information they can trust.

All of our articles have been thoroughly researched and are based on the latest evidence from reputable and robust sources. We create our articles with NCT antenatal teachers, postnatal leaders and breastfeeding counsellors, as well as academics and representatives from relevant organisations and charities.

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Everything You Need to Know Before Flying With a Baby or Young Kids

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Your baby’s first flight can be as momentous as their first steps, first solid food, or first drop off at daycare. And like all those milestones, parents can feel understandably freaked out beforehand. No one, not even your baby themself, knows how a child will react to being on an airplane for the first time. And no matter what happens, one thing's for sure: you'll be stuck in a cabin full of strangers for at least a couple hours while you find out. 

But dread not—your child may love air travel, for starters—and even if they don't, you will get through it. With a little planning, the right gear, and a willingness to make many lists, flying with a baby or young kids can be easier than you think. Here are our best tips for arriving in your destination with energy to spare, from seasoned parents. 

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

How to prepare 

Right after you purchase your tickets, download Flying With Baby by Meg Collins, the blogger behind new mom survival guide Lucie’s List . Collins claims, accurately, to be the voice of reason about everything: “ticketing, check-in, car seats, feeding, napping and all the other stuff that makes your brain explode.” 

There's no surefire way to prepare a baby ahead of time, but if you're traveling with a toddler or an elementary school-aged child, you may need to do a little incepting—i.e., plant the idea that flying is fun! and make a game of it at home beforehand. Traveler contributor Debbie Dubrow gave Traveler some excellent tips a few years ago that still hold true:

• Talk about your trip and your flight ahead of time, focusing on the aspects that are new to your child or might cause them concern.
• Read stories about flying, like Airplanes by Byron Barton for toddlers, and Richard Scarry's A Day at the Airport for older kids. If you’re headed to a new destination, make a trip to the library to pick up a few books set in that place.
• Line up some dining chairs to make airplane seats, and act out how you should sit down and buckle up on a plane. Build a security checkpoint using a doorway as the metal detector and a cardboard box and towel as the conveyor belt and X-ray. Practice putting your child’s stuffed animal or blanket through the X-ray and getting it back on the other side.
• Let your children help pack their carry-on bags (but secret away a few new toys in your own). That way they’ll get to choose which items they just can’t live without, and you’ll get to set expectations about which toys are okay on the plane (leave the harmonica at home, please!).

What to pack

If this is your first time flying with a baby, you'll be bringing significantly more items than you've flown with before. To keep track of everything, make an itemized list of the major items (i.e., the car seat, stroller); the bags you’re checking; and the bags you’re carrying on. Do a count of your bags like they’re children on a field trip when you get to the airport, get through security, and get off the plane. (If it sounds like overkill, think about what your trip might be like if you forget the one bag with your baby's favorite stuffed toy. Yeah.)

As for what to bring? Everyone has their go-to items, but there are a few items we love most.

The Doona Infant Car Seat/Stroller (for infants up to 35 pounds) combines two of the most cumbersome items you have to bring on a trip. With the Doona you just gate check the stroller, and get to leave the car seat at home. 

The Dohm sound machine helps little ones fall asleep and stay asleep in new and strange places. “I bring my son’s Dohm everywhere with us," says director of strategic projects Lauren DeCarlo . "Hotels, my parents house. It’s essential.” You can also download white noise apps on your phone.

The Líllé Baby Carrier is a comfortable and functional carrier that adjusts into six different positions, so you can keep your (hopefully) sleeping baby against your chest during flight and prop them on your hip while you're waiting to board.

A well-stocked diaper bag with enough wipes, diapers, and formula/breast milk/food to get you through the flight and an hours-long delay, minimum, is a must. Frequent flier, Skift aviation reporter, and father Brian Sumers recommends three days' worth of food for the baby to account for any mishaps. Make sure you also have basics like hand-sanitizer, scented diaper trash bags, a pacifier clip ("this will save you the horror of watching a pacifier drop to the airplane floor," says Traveler contributor and mom of three Juliana Shallcross ), and one new baby toy. "I still swear by the one-new-toy trick," Shallcross says. "Buy the baby one new toy specifically to open on the airplane. It will keep their attention for a little bit longer than if you brought an older toy. However, for young babies, you don't need much. All they really need is their bottle, maybe a pacifier, and a nice seatmate who makes funny faces."

The WayB Pico Car Seat is great pickup for kids that have outgrown the Doona. It weighs a barely noticeable eight pounds and folds up into a convenient carrying case. Note that this is a forward-facing car seat, so your child will have to be physically ready for that.

The Cares Airplane Safety Harness is the only FAA-approved harness for kids over the age of one, when they're big enough for their own seat but too small for the seatbelt to do any good.

A different outfit —for you—is a gift. "A change of clothes is a no-brainer for the baby who may have a diaper situation at some point during the flight," says Shallcross, "but if you can manage it, pack a T-shirt or leggings for yourself in your carry-on." You don't want to be stuck wearing a formula-stained shirt (or worse) for the rest of the flight.

As for what to leave at home? Anything you can get where you’re going: jars of baby food, diapers, wipes. Just make a beeline for a local grocery store once you arrive. It can also be fun seeing how other cultures and countries do the basics. (Fun fact: French diapers aren’t quite as absorbent as American ones. Who knew?)

Uber drivers always get out of the car to open the trunk, assuming the stroller will need to go in the back—and are always amazed when you collapse the Doona and slide it into the backseat instead.

Do babies need an I.D.?

Babies from the U.S. don’t need an ID when flying domestically, says the TSA . This is actually true of anyone under the age of 18. But they will need a passport to fly internationally. 

To apply for a passport for your infant, both parents need to be there in person—“there” may be a USPS post office or a passport agency near you; if you’re the sole custodian of a child, you need to bring proof of that as well . You will also need the child’s birth certificate (original and a copy), your passports and U.S. drivers’ licenses (and a copy), a completed DS-11 form , money for the fees (credit is not accepted for the $80 standard fee and $35 acceptance fee—bring cash or your checkbook), and—the best part—two identical 2x2 inch passport photos of your baby. There are websites dedicated to getting your infant to sit upright and still against a plain white backdrop for long enough to get a photo. Some, like epassport.com, will prepare your photos with a guarantee that your baby's photo won't be rejected (check your passport application location's policy on this, as some don't allow third parties to send in photos). 

Here’s the full list of what you need to get the baby’s passport.

What about their own ticket?

It depends. On most airlines, babies under the age of two can sit in your lap on a flight, sometimes with a special lap belt that you attach to your seatbelt. You may have to pay a fee—primarily on international airlines—which may come with a special boarding pass. It helps to call the airline before booking to confirm. Once the child turns two, they are required to have their own ticket. 

Still, if you can swing it, we suggest purchasing your baby their own seat from the get-go. It will be more pleasant to have the extra space (and a buffer from other passengers) and, as Sumers says, it's safer: “You wouldn't hold your baby in your lap in a car, even if you were only going a mile away at 10 mph. So why would you hold your baby on an airplane racing on a runway at 150 mph? In severe turbulence, or in a survivable crash, you may not be not able to hold onto your baby.” 

At the airport

When flying with kids, arrive early to the airport, so you have extra time to check in, get through security, and board the plane. 

Going through security

If you have TSA PreCheck , children 12 and under can get in line with you and breeze on through. But if you have Global Entry , the baby needs it, too. Here’s what it takes to apply.

When it comes to getting your stuff through, TSA checkpoints are “wildly inconsistent” across different airports in the U.S., says Shallcross. "If you're traveling with breast milk or formula, note that you can carry-on [in excess of the 3.4 oz liquid rule] , but you will most likely be on the receiving end of a pat-down." Having TSA PreCheck makes the process go a bit faster, and sometimes, in lieu of a screening, TSA will test to-go bottles of formula instead. International checkpoints also vary widely, but, often, jars of food and bottles get checked.

As for the stroller you plan to gate check, know that it will have to go on the belt through the x-ray machine, like the rest of your bags. It may be pulled aside and tested or swabbed by a TSA agent. 

Getting to the gate

Speaking of gate-checking: "As soon as you make it through security, head to your gate and get the gate tags for your stroller," says Shallcross. "If you wait until you board, the gate attendants may ask you to step aside and wait until they finish boarding the group, before they give you the tags."

And then there's the age-old question: Should you board in the first wave with your baby and toddlers? Most gate agents give you the option of early boarding—and with a newborn or infant, that's the way to go so you can get settled with bags stowed and essentials out for takeoff. But with an active toddler? That means you're on the plane for an extra 30 to 45 minutes, trying to contain their wild energy in a small space. No thanks. 

If you're traveling with another adult, super traveler Sam Brown recommends dividing and conquering. One of you boards early with the bags; the other stays behind with the kids, letting them burn off energy at the gate until the last possible minute you can board.

Nursing and pumping

If you need a quiet space to breastfeed before boarding, look for a Mamava Pod . They're designed to allow moms to nurse babies in private, they're free to use, and there's even room for another small child to hang out inside. 

The flight itself

The easiest way to keep a baby from crying during the flight is to give them milk or formula on takeoff and landing—the go-to move of parents for decades, as it helps babies adjust to the change in cabin pressure. Admittedly, if the baby is going to be strapped in, nursing will be hard, so consider a bottle. (When it comes to tips for getting your toddler to sleep on a plane , we've got those too.)

If you have a bassinet or plan to have the baby in a Bjorn for most of the flight, they'll need to come out and be strapped into their seat or held on your lap during takeoff and landing. Become friendly with your flight attendants, because you may need their help (and patience) more than usual from here on out (that said, they're often happy to help with things like warm water for a bottle).

This also brings us to our favorite controversy: Should you apologize in advance to your fellow seatmates? Sumers says, emphatically, that “there's no reason parents should bring treats for other passengers, or apologize for their baby's behavior." Everyone knows it's hard to control any situation on an airplane, and that you're doing the best you can, Sumers says. People pleasers may feel the need to do otherwise; ultimately, it's about whichever move creates an on-plane environment that's most comfortable for you. 

Does my baby need to wear a mask?

Though pandemic-era regulations require adult passengers to wear face masks , rules vary for children. For children under two, the answer is no. But once your child is old enough to need their own seat, they also need to wear a mask, per an update to federal law in February 2021. If you know that will be an issue for your two year old, you'll want to hold off on flying—airlines reserve the right to remove anyone refusing to wear a face mask from the plane. 

What if your kid is a seat kicker?

Try changing up your seating chart. Travel journalist Sam Brown and her husband would book seats in two separate rows, one right in front of the next, and each sit with one of their twins. If one of the kids got fussy—or kicked the seat in front of them—at least it would be a family member they were harassing.

Upon arrival

Many parents worry about the impact of jet lag on children when flying long distances. If you're taking a transatlantic flight (say, New York to Paris), the red-eye is a godsend and the easiest way to ward off jet lag . To start: Your baby will be more inclined to sleep through the flight. Once you land, consider not getting on local time. Yes, you'll all sleep in later and start your day later, but you can keep the baby out later, rather than having to commit to your hotel room by 6:30 p.m. every night, and the re-entry back home goes a bit smoother because you never really got off your schedule. There's also something special about being able to take your baby to the Louvre at 8 p.m. on a Friday.

This article was originally published in 2018. It has been updated with new information.

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• Special assistance

Traveling with children

Traveling with children and infants.

We are committed to caring for people on life’s journey and want you and your children to have a safe and positive travel experience. To allow enough time for check-in, arrive early and be sure to have any required travel documents. You may have to present proof of age like a birth certificate for any children under the age of 18.

• Families with children under 2 years old can ask to board early at the gate.
• Only 1 carry-on diaper bag per child is allowed.

You can travel with a breast pump and small, soft-sided cooler of breast milk in addition to your carry-on or personal item. These items don’t have to be checked and are allowed even when you’re not traveling with a child. Also, most airports have nursing rooms and stations available for your convenience.

If you’re a family traveling with children under 15, we want to help make sure you’re seated together on your flight. Here are some tips for when you book:

• Be sure to book everyone in the same reservation.
• The farther in advance you book, the better. (Seats become limited closer to the day of travel.)
• On the seat map, choose seats for your entire family or skip seats for that flight.
• It’s better to skip seats than to choose just a few seats or seats scattered throughout the cabin. Our gate agents can try to reseat you but getting seats together the day of travel is difficult.

If you skip seats

If you’re unable to choose seats, don’t want to pay for seats, or chose a Basic Economy fare, our system will detect that you’re a family traveling. The system will search for seats together automatically before the day of departure. We’ll try our best to keep you together, but if seats are limited, we’ll assign seats so children under 15 are next to at least 1 adult.

Children and adults traveling in separate reservations

If you and your children are traveling together but have separate reservations, call Reservations so we can note it in each reservation.

Contact Reservations

Children 2 or older are required to have their own seat, a ticketed adult fare. Children under 5 can’t travel alone under any circumstances.

If you don't choose seats in Main Cabin or Basic Economy, we’ll assign seats a few days after you buy your tickets so children under 15 are next to at least 1 adult they’re traveling with.

We welcome infants as young as 2 days old, but infants under 7 days old must have a doctor's letter stating that they are medically cleared to travel.

Keep in mind:

• Only 1 infant may be seated in the lap of each ticketed accompanying adult and the infant must be included in the reservation.
• Additional infants under 2 years old must be ticketed and occupy an infant safety seat or in a separate aircraft seat.
• The infant must be under 2 years of age for the duration of the trip. If they turn 2 during a trip, they will need their own seat for the remainder of the trip.

Adding an infant to your trip

If you’re traveling within the U.S., including Puerto Rico, you can add an infant to your trip when you book on aa.com, or later once it is ticketed. You only need to contact Reservations if you’re traveling with an infant who is under 7 days old; or if you’re traveling outside of the U.S. (taxes and a percentage of the adult fare may apply on international trips).

Book a new trip

• Book your trip on aa.com
• Enter your information on the ‘Passenger details’ page
• Select ‘add infant in lap’

Book a trip

Update an existing trip

• Find your trip on aa.com
• Scroll to the ‘Passengers’ section

Find your trip

Call Reservations if:

• You’re traveling with an infant who is less than 7 days old
• You’re not traveling within the U.S., and Puerto Rico

Reserved seat

If your infant will travel in their own seat, you must buy a ticket. The infant must either travel in a safety seat approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or be able to sit upright in their seat without assistance and have their seatbelt securely fastened during taxi, takeoff, landing and whenever the 'fasten seatbelt' sign is on.

Bassinets and changing tables

• Changing tables are available in the lavatories of all wide-body aircraft.
• Bassinets are available on a first come, first serve basis at the gate for travel only on 777-200, 777-300 and 787 aircraft.*
• Bassinets are not available in First / Business cabins.

*Infants using bassinets must be younger than 2 years old and weigh no more than 20lbs (9kg)

Acceptable safety seats

Most safety seats that are approved for use in motor vehicles are acceptable for use in aircraft. The seat must have a solid back and seat, restraint straps installed to securely hold the child and a label indicating approval for use on an aircraft.

The label may include:

• These notes: 'This child restraint system conforms to all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards' and 'this restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircrafts' or 'this restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.'
• Approval of a foreign government or a label showing that the seat was manufactured under the standards of the United Nations.
• The safety seat can't be used in an exit row or in the rows on either side of an exit row; window seats are preferred.
• Install the seat in the direction appropriate for the size of the child and according to the instructions on the label.
• The child must remain in the safety seat with the harness fastened during taxi, takeoff, landing and whenever the 'fasten seatbelt' sign is on.
• To carry on a safety seat, you must have bought a seat for the child, or a seat must be available next to you. If an unoccupied, adjoining seat is not available, the gate agent will check the safety seat to your final destination.

Review seat dimensions before your trip.

Safety seats are not allowed in First or Business on select planes due to the seat angles.

Airbus 321T

• Boeing 777-200
• Boeing 777-300
• Boeing 787-800
• Boeing 787-900
• Any device without an approval label
• Booster seats with no approval label or shoulder harness
• Vest and/or harness-type devices, except Aviation Child Safety Devices (ACSD) showing the FAA aircraft approval label
• Belt extensions that attach to the parent or the parent's restraint
• Any device that positions a child on the lap or chest of an adult

Carry-on and checked bags

If you’re flying internationally with an infant on your lap, we’ll issue the infant a ticket. You may check 1 bag for the infant at the same rate as the adult’s first checked bag.

• Each ticketed customer is allowed 1 stroller and 1 car seat to be checked free of charge
• Strollers over 20 lbs / 9 kgs must be checked at the ticket counter
• All other strollers should be checked at the gate before boarding
• If you have a stroller and a car seat only 1 can be checked at the gate
• Breast pumps and a small, soft-sided cooler of breast milk don’t count as your carry-on or personal item
• Play pens, wagons, cribs and 'pack and play' count as regular bags
• If any of these exceed carry-on limits they’ll be checked and incur regular fees

International documents

Children or infants traveling outside the U.S. are required to have the same documentation as an adult. If anyone under 18 is traveling internationally without both parents, they may be required to present a Letter of Consent.

International travel

Traveling during pregnancy

If your due date is within 4 weeks of your flight, you must provide a doctor’s certificate stating that you’ve been recently examined and you’re fit to fly.

Special assistance throughout your trip

For domestic flights under 5 hours, you won’t be permitted to travel within 7 days (before and after) your delivery date. If you need to travel within this time frame:

• Approval from your physician and a special assistance coordinator is required.
• Your physician will be required to fill out a passenger medical form before your flight. A special assistance coordinator will send the form directly to your physician.

Clearance from a special assistance coordinator is required for international travel or travel over water:

• Within 4 weeks of your due date (travel also requires a physician's note stating that you’ve been examined within the past 48 hours and you’re fit to fly)
• 7 days before or after your delivery (travel also requires a passenger medical form to be completed by your physician)

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How should you take your first flight with an infant? These important tips and tricks will get you through flying on a plane with your baby so that everything goes to plan.

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How to Fly with a Baby

• Set your expectations right.
• Bring noise-cancelling headphones for your baby.
• Bring a travel sound machine.
• Check a bag.
• Have a blanket handy.
• Consider going to an airport lounge.
• Bring extra snacks.
• Bring an extra set of clothes for each parent.
• Bring a pared-down diaper bag into the bathroom.
• Use a baby carrier through security and while boarding.
• For older babies, consider screens.
• Bring toys!
• Buy a separate seat, if you can afford it.
• Try to replicate a regular bedtime routine on long flights.
• For international flights, request the bassinet.
• Be aware of what happens during security with liquids.
• Let your baby sleep in a wrap carrier on your chest.
• Don’t forget your stroller, upon arrival!
• If you check your car seat travel bag, fill it with stuff like diapers.
• Hold your child TIGHT during landing.
• Change your baby’s diaper before the flight.
• Consolidate your personal item into your diaper bag.
• Bring a mobile travel breast pump.
• Gate check your car seat and/or stroller.
• Use a luggage cart for all your stuff in the airport.
• Have one adult board first with your carry-ons and “stuff.”
• Take an UberXL to the airport.
• Bring on the diaper bag (as a medical item).
• Get a compact travel crib if you need to bring one.
• Feed the baby during takeoff and landing.
• Try double-diapering your baby.
• Fly as often as possible with your baby or kids.

Overwhelmed about traveling with your baby on an airplane for the first time? I think every parent who needs to fly on a plane with their little one for the first time is feeling this way. It feels like there are so many things that can go wrong, and the logistics of all the baby stuff is more daunting than having the baby on the flight itself!

Flying with your infant is probably going to be different than taking a road trip with your baby . There’s a lot more limitation on what you can bring, how to pack it and the fact that you’ll be in an airplane seat, not in a car that can stop every few hours.

Here are some pretty popular tips that will help you plan out your first flight with your newborn, infant, older baby. Of course, not all these tips work for everyone, but I’ve made them as all-encompassing as I can in order to help you out with the most seamless flight experience for the family!

Tips for flying with a baby

Check out our list of important tips to keep you sane during your next flight with your little one! I’ve added comments about my personal experience in flying with my baby, and I point out which items are the best baby travel accessories for traveling .

And make sure to check out all of our posts about traveling with a baby to get a full sense of what it’s like and you might pick up some tips and tricks along the way.

Set your expectations right.

Many of my friends have noted that going into a flight with a baby for the first time should involve no expectations: none at all.

If you have a fussy baby or an unpredictable baby, there may be chaos. If you’re used to getting on a flight, plugging in noise-cancelling headphones, turning on some in-flight entertainment and sipping a beer or a piping hot coffee, reset your assumptions. Flying with a baby will not be relaxing, but you will eventually get where you’re going!

Bring noise-cancelling headphones for your baby.

Noise-cancelling headphones for babies have become a product that parents can use at concerts, loud events and on airplanes as well. I think that as adults, especially adults who travel and fly often, we forget just how loud the roar of the airplane engine is.

By helping protect your baby’s ears, you can help them hopefully be less fussy as the airplane is going up and as you are landing (and/or going through turbulence). They also might help the baby to sleep on the flight by drowning out the excess sounds and turning it into white noise.

Bring a travel sound machine.

We have the Yogasleep travel sound machine (you can also get it on Amazon ) for weekends away with our little one, and this travel sound machine is surely small enough to come on the plane with you. It fits in a diaper bag, and can help lull your baby to sleep with the familiar sound machine hum from home.

In all honesty in regard to our most recent flight with our child, the plane itself acts as a giant sound machine, so that was convenient! The travel sound machine from Yogasleep is good if you have to get your baby into a nap while you’re in the airport, on a layover or (hopefully not) delayed for a while. We also use it in all hotel rooms for the night, and we detail that in our tips for a hotel stay with a baby .

Check a bag.

This tip is a big painful for me, as I was a carry-on-only style traveler before having kid(s). I’m pretty much petrified of checking bags, for a (somewhat irrational) fear that they will get lost and not make it to my vacation destination with me. Anyone feel this way?

Most families I know have opted for checking their suitcases, instead of taking them as carry-ons. Traveling through the airport with all the baby equipment will be plenty, and you may not want to deal with dragging your suitcases in addition to your diaper bag, car seat, stroller and more.

By checking bags, you’ll free up at least one parent, as between the two of you, there’s likely a carry-on (or two), the diaper bag, stroller, car seat, your child’s milk or formula, food and even more. Many friends of mine have noted that checking a bag is the way to go when you travel with a baby.

My good friends have tried to help ease my fears of checking luggage and have noted that bags getting lost is way less common if you’re flying nonstop with no transfers. Second, to get over fears of lost luggage, try getting some Apple Airtags to track your most valuable belongings (laptop, wallet, carry-on, etc.) from your phone!

Have a blanket handy.

Bring a lightweight blanket to drape over the stroller, to help your baby nap while you’re waiting in the terminal.

Another thing a blanket can do is create a little dark canopy over your baby if he or she is sleeping while in-flight! Planes can be really bright at some less-convenient times.

Consider going to an airport lounge.

For extra comfort and space, and to avoid potentially uncomfortable (or lack of) seating at your gate, opt for an airport lounge. If you have Priority Pass or another membership that will get you into a lounge, then bingo! Enjoy free WiFi, snacks, the bar and potentially a family room or mother’s room in a lounge.

Check out our guide to how to know what airport lounges are like . We went to the United Lounge at EWR during our most recent flight experience with our baby and not only was it a great place to try to feed her some solid food, but it let us relax for 45 minutes while we enjoyed the lunch buffet and WiFi.

Bring extra snacks.

If you have a baby at the 6+ month age, you will potentially be bringing food in tote! For babies between 9-12 months, they’ll want to snack all the time. Having handy snacks (and also being able to eliminate messes) is incredibly important!

Try ideas like infant baby food pouches or DIY pouches full of food from home like these from Babybrezza . Another good idea is snack puffs that are not too messy.

On top of bringing a regular amount of snacks, be prepared with extras! If your child is bored, or just decides he or she is extra hungry during the hours you’re on that airplane, you’ll be glad you took more rather than less.

Bring an extra set of clothes for each parent.

I think a “worst case scenario” in my mind would be if I were flying with a baby who had a #2 accident all over my clothes. While it’s more common for babies between 0-3 or so months to let another #2 out in those moments when you’re doing the diaper change, it can happen to any unlucky parent!

Bring an extra set of flight clothes that are also weather-appropriate for your destination, for both parents or caretakers. This is also handy not only for bathroom accidents, but for unfortunate and unexpected situations of vomit, food or drink spills and anything else you can think of.

AND , as a bonus, having an extra pair of clothes in your carry-on (or if you have a giant diaper bag) can be useful if your checked luggage gets lost for a day. Bingo!

Bring a pared-down diaper bag into the bathroom.

This tip came from a friend of mine, who phrased it as, “NEVER bring your entire diaper bag into the airplane bathroom!” There are a few reasons for this.

First, airplane bathrooms are tiny. Once you and a baby are in there together, there is not very much room to move around. On our Air Canada flight when our child was 8 months old, the bathroom was so small that I didn’t even know how someone bigger or taller than my size would’ve fit.

Second, airplane bathrooms can be wet, if someone messy was in there before you. The last thing you want is for your diaper bag to be soaked from someone else’s bathroom mess — ew.

And third, all you really need for a diaper change is a diaper, some diaper cream, a few wipes and a changing pad. In a rare case of a blowout, you’ll need a spare outfit. The good news is that I have a hack for this: grab a Kibou diaper waist bag . It is the ONLY item I’ll bring with me for a diaper change on a flight .

For a limited time: Join the list for 15% off your first order + get free shipping on orders $75+!

Shop the deal

The Kibou is a “diaper bag fanny pack for travel” and you can also use it for essentials like your phone, wallet keys and passport. Taking something this minimal into an airplane bathroom will be ideal! Plus, it’s unisex, for both moms and dads. I love showing it off to other parents who say, “Wow, that is brilliant.” It works like a charm when you need to dash into a bathroom for a diaper change. In my review of the Kibou you can see more photos and details!

Use a baby carrier through security and while boarding.

Using a travel-friendly baby carrier to carry your child leaves you with two hands to get organized while getting to your seat! You’ll find this to ease up the whole process of boarding, as well as getting through security.

My favorite baby carrier for travel is the Baby Tula Carrier Lite , which I reviewed in this detailed review . Consider that it folds up into a fanny pack for when you aren’t using it, and that saves a ton of space.

Get 15% off with our exclusive code HALFHALF15 when you check out.

As I was walking off the plane during our last flight with our baby, I considered that I didn’t know how I would’ve survived without a baby carrier, with all the carry-ons and personal items we already had. You need to be hands-free with that baby!

When we flew from Halifax , Nova Scotia, I think we set a record with how many bins we used and how we had to manage everything with an infant. We both had laptops, a camera, wallets, various fanny packs, diaper bag contents and liquid toiletries.

It’s something to consider for packing so that you’re not holding up security when you’re out of the country when TSA PreCheck is not available.

Luckily, there wasn’t anyone behind us, so it didn’t matter. In a crowded and busy situation, security can be pretty chaotic and a baby carrier may help.

For older babies, consider screens.

As a disclaimer, this tip is only for those who are comfortable with screen time for their little ones! Personally, we rarely put our baby in front of a screen to entertain her at her current age, but, we understand that this will change with our second child and will also change as she gets older.

For babies who are accustomed to screen time, have some downloaded videos available on either an iPad or a phone. Personally, we try to hold out as long as possible with screens, and here’s why we’re raising a screen-free child , even for flights.

Bring toys!

For older babies, bring toys that suction cup to the tray table like these amusing suction cup spinners .

If you have the space, a food-grade silicone busy toy might help pass the time for children 6-12 months.

Buy a separate seat, if you can afford it.

For longer flights when having a lap infant may not be so comfortable, consider buying a separate seat for your child. Use a travel car seat on the plane to strap it in. We’ve realized pretty quickly that traveling with a baby makes you forget all the ways you used to try to save money while traveling .

Know what to expect with having a car seat on a plane.

If you have booked the aisle seats on the flight, you’ll need to put the car seat in the window seat, as passengers have to be able to walk out of the row in the case of an emergency.

If your seats are in the middle section of the row (think a large plane with 3-4-3 seating), it has to be placed in the middle seat so the two aisle seats allow passengers to get out in an emergency.

From a friend who has flown often with an older baby, she noted to me that about one in eight times of flying with her child, the flight attendant asked to see the car seat to make sure that it was plane-compliant. There’s a marking on the side of the car seat that denotes that it can be used for a flight. She uses this Cosco Scenera NEXT convertible car seat for travel and takes it on planes.

Helpful tip here: when we checked our car seat in the US, we checked it regularly at the counter and it came out with regular baggage at baggage claim. However, in Canada, we had to check it as Oversized Baggage, and when we landed in Newark, it was not with the regular checked luggage on the baggage carousel. We had to go to Oversized Baggage and retrieve it!

Try to replicate a regular bedtime routine on long flights.

This tip is a LOT easier said than done. For us, bedtime involves a bottle, a story book (or three), changing into pajamas, a diaper change, a song while we put on our child’s sleep sack, and a kiss before going into bed.

If you’re traveling and have the plane’s bassinet or a child’s car seat, this is probably going to be more worth it than if your child is going to sleep in your lap for a little while, only to be awoken when the plane lands. So, this tip is most applicable to overnight flights or international ones that are long.

If you are flying at night time (or even during a red eye flight ), the good news is that the lights will be dimmed, so you likely don’t have to worry about having blackout shades or a blackout cover. If your child sleeps in complete darkness, consider seeking out a blackout cover for a car seat (this one also doubles as a nursing cover — very handy!) that fits. Make sure you can still peek in to check your child’s safety while sleeping.

For international flights, request the bassinet.

“Get the bassinet” is what anyone will say to you if you’re flying long-haul with a baby. Even if your baby is close to not fitting anymore (think “baby who is large for his/her age”), the seats for the parents are better in the bulkhead row! It does have to be requested, though.

One nice thing about the bassinet option is that parents can check the car seat. This keeps the amount of things you’ll be hauling through security and on the plane to a minimum. Hopefully you’ll wind up with only backpacks and stroller by the time you get to the gate.

To arrange moving to the bulkhead row, you will probably have to call your airline and “speak to a human.” It may be possible to avoid up-charges this way, depending on the airline.

It’s definitely cheaper to go the “bassinet route” over your baby having own seat on the plane with a car seat. The only catch is that you don’t get the bassinet until full altitude, so the baby would be in your lap for a bit first.

Most parents are fine with this because you can feed your baby during take-off and landing for ear popping reasons. My friend who did this recently said that when she booked the bassinet/bulkhead seats, there was no questioning about her baby’s age or size. This may vary by airline, once again.

Be aware of what happens during security with liquids.

You can go through security with formula and milk or liquids for a baby. They will be searched separately.

Note that formula nor breast milk is subject to the 3 oz. rule for TSA-approved liquids, as both are “medically-necessary liquids.” My friend flew with a two-day-old baby and had no problem with this, and when I brought liquid milk through security, I had both a 5-oz. frozen bag of milk, as well as 2 oz. in a Spectra bottle. The containers of milk were checked by a TSA agent, and then I was free to go (they did not sample the milk nor open it).

Let your baby sleep in a wrap carrier on your chest.

My friend Liz flew to Ireland , and then to Portugal , with a baby only six months old. She didn’t book her child a seat, so her baby was a lap infant. To get her to sleep during those flights from the US to Europe, she had her daughter sleep in a wrap carrier like the Boba Baby Wrap or the KeaBabies Wrap Carrier .

What I will note here is that I was told most recently by a flight attendant on Air Canada that a “snuggly” (or baby carrier) cannot be used during takeoff nor landing. You could, however, get the baby right into it after the seat belt light turns off.

Don’t forget your stroller, upon arrival!

This one seems simple, but when you arrive and deplane, if you’re caught up in the bustle of taking down your carry-ons and dashing to passport control or baggage claim, don’t forget your gate-checked stroller or car seat!

If you check your car seat travel bag, fill it with stuff like diapers.

This is a very popular tip from parents: if you are using a car seat travel bag to check at check-in, or gate check, “fill it with stuff.” No one will care how much it weighs (probably!).

One of the most widespread tips is to fill that car seat bag with diapers, and lots of them! If you have any other soft things that could go in there (maybe wipes, or if it’s winter, some things like a baby snowsuit), that works, too.

Using a universal car seat bag with shoulder straps may do the trick. Of course, if your car seat brand makes its own car seat bag like the UPPAbaby one and if it includes a warranty, you can opt for that (see below about the UPPAbaby Mesa car seat travel bag ).

Put your family’s laundry bag in the car seat on the flight home! By that point, you’re probably already playing a really hard game of tetris with all your packing cubes in the suitcase anyway. We did this and it made packing some gifts we got much easier in our checked bag.

Hold your child TIGHT during landing.

When that plane hits the ground, you could have a smooth landing or a really rough and crazy one. After flying once, I was lucky that Dan signaled to me it was time to hold our baby tight as our plane was about to touch down on the runway. Things can get unexpected really fast during landings that swerve or feel bumpy, so keep your best grip on your child for safety.

Change your baby’s diaper before the flight.

Yes: change your child’s diaper before the flight — right before, if you aren’t too pressed for time. This helps eliminate the risk of in-flight blowouts due to diapers that were already at capacity from having been on a baby for a few hours already.

Consolidate your personal item into your diaper bag.

I asked a LOT of my friends if their airline had included their diaper bag as a personal item for their lap infant (if your infant has a ticketed seat, they get their own personal item and carry-on without question), or not. It was about a 50/50 split. Some airlines will consider the diaper bag to be the lap infant’s personal item, whereas some will not. I use the personal item-sized 25L diaper backpack from Nike.

You can see more about it at my Nike Diaper Bag review .

If you are aware ahead of time that your airline does NOT consider your diaper bag to be a medical bag, aside from your (as an adult) “personal item”, then throw in your wallet, phone, keys and passport, or even better, use a fanny pack for travel day .

Better yet, take that fanny pack idea and travel with a fanny pack baby carrier or a fanny pack diaper bag like the Kibou to get more use out of every item you choose to bring along. Even BETTER, have one adult use a fanny pack diaper bag, and have one adult use a fanny pack baby carrier! This is what I did.

Bring a mobile travel breast pump.

If you are a breastfeeding mama and your space is limited, you may notice that your Spectra pump (the same one I’ve taken on road trips with a small baby ) is really pretty big and tall, all things considered.

What you can do is opt for a travel pump or mobile pump. I have the Elvie Stride hands-free wearable pump , and friends also recommend the wearable Willow Go pump . These have smaller footprints in your luggage, and they operate with apps!

Gate check your car seat and/or stroller.

Gate checking is great for your travel stroller (like our UPPAbaby Minu ) and travel car seat. The tip here is to make sure to have the special “travel bags” for both large items, and the even bigger tip is to check in at the desk at the gate for tags ahead of time.

Make sure your airline allows two gate-checked items if you plan to gate-check both a stroller and car seat. What we did was check the car seat with baggage upon arrival, and gate check the stroller.

Use a luggage cart for all your stuff in the airport.

I never could’ve foreseen just how much “stuff” we had. Among the car seat in its bag, our rollaboard suitcase, both our personal items (one was my backpack with a pump in it), the diaper bag and the stroller, our arms got tied up fast.

If there are free luggage carts at the airport, get one ! Even if they cost money to use them for an hour, they may give you a spare hand or peace of mind.

If the airplane has your baby freaking out, my friend Kate suggests keeping blinders up and not worrying about other people. The moment will pass and you won’t see any of those people again (unless you’re with a lot of friends or family on your flight, but then, they’ll understand).

Have one adult board first with your carry-ons and “stuff.”

I have a friend whose favorite tip for flying with a baby (if you’re traveling with your partner) is for one of you go on first with all the things you’ll be taking on the plane, while the other adult waits outside the gate with the baby.

This is particularly helpful if you have gotten your baby a ticketed seat and you are bringing a car seat on the plane. It’s a lot to carry and we’re all just human! What we did was board together in priority boarding. That worked, too.

Take an UberXL to the airport.

When traveling to the airport, opt for an Uber XL. Between our suitcases and the stroller, you will want to ensure that you have enough trunk space.

Bring on the diaper bag (as a medical item).

On many (but not all!) airlines, your diaper bag counts as a “medical bag,” and it does not count as your personal item on the plane. Each adult is therefore allowed to bring one personal item in addition!

Also, this is in regard to if you bring on your baby as a lap infant. If your baby is a ticketed passenger with his or her own seat (and a car seat for sitting in), then he or she is also entitled to a carry-on and/or checked bag, depending on the airline and ticket class.

Get a compact travel crib if you need to bring one.

For your “flying trip” with a baby, if you’re going to visit family, or you’ll be staying at an Airbnb that does not offer a crib or travel crib, you’ll be bringing your own. My biggest suggestion is to NOT bring something giant like the Graco Pack ‘n Play. This will be a burden at the airport and upon landing. Instead, invest in a minimalist compact travel crib! This will spare you a headache.

As for choices, I’ll recommend the BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light or the Guava Lotus Travel Crib. Both pack down to infinitely better sizes and shapes for travel than a traditional Pack ‘n Play. The Guava Crib can even be worn as a handy backpack as you go through the airport. To make your choice, check out BabyBjorn Travel Crib review and our Guava Lotus Travel Crib review . Both will probably need to be checked as luggage, although depending on the size of the overhead bins, it’s possible they could fit and be carried on.

Feed the baby during takeoff and landing.

Many friends recommended feeding babies during takeoff and landing. There are a few reasons to consider it: first, if you think about the first time you flew, as a kid maybe, did anyone tell you to either keep swallowing, or maybe to chew gum during takeoff and landing to help with popping ears? I used to always take gum with me in my early years of flying for that reason! Now I just drink water.

With babies, they don’t know what to do, so if you offer a feed, the swallowing will help the baby’s ears and avoid the discomfort from popping. Take note: a pacfiifer may have the same effect, to encourage the swallowing reflex.

Second, offer a feed in case you are tied up waiting for baggage or delayed in a passport control line after deplaning. You may not be able to feed your baby for an hour or two, especially if you immediately get in a taxi to your hotel and hit traffic, or any of the other delays life throws at you.

As an update, on my most recent flight with our baby, we flew Air Canada and the flight attendants told us that during the ascent and descent, the baby had to be sitting facing one of us and held with the head into our chests. Feeding was not allowed until the seat belt light was turned off. So, be sure you speak with a flight attendant about a safe policy!

For all travel-related product ideas that will get you through the flight, check out my guide to feeding your baby during a trip .

Try double-diapering your baby.

Some babies tend to go to the bathroom (#2) due to changes in cabin pressure (or maybe it’s an urban legend), but I’ve heard from multiple parents that “double-diapering” can help with unwanted diaper accidents while in the air.

Probably the last thing you want is to be messy with a diaper accident while the plane is landing if you’re already cramped in your seat, and let’s face it, airplane bathrooms are NOT spacious.

Fly as often as possible with your baby or kids.

Traveling and flying often with babies and kids will get them used to it, so that they’ll know what to expect each time. And, even though babies change all the time, flying routinely will keep them familiar with what to expect when they’re at the airport, on the plane and traveling in a new destination.

Common questions about flying with a baby for the first time

My sister flew with her husband and 5.5-month baby from Philadelphia to Florida, and I interviewed her about how she got it all done. My sister Lily did a LOT of research leading up to her trip, and has shared her experience with me so that it can help you out! Thank you, Lily! You are a pro.

Does my baby need a passport?

If you plan to fly internationally, then YES: your baby needs a passport to leave your home country and enter another one, if they are even one day old.

Infant passports are the same as child passports and have validity of five years (whereas adult passports are valid for ten years before expiring).

Daunted by applying for your baby’s passport? Don’t worry — Becca and Dan made a guide for how to get your baby a passport .

If you plan to fly only domestically with your baby, then no worries, as they do not need a passport.

If visas are required for your destination, your baby will need a travel visa too. Learn how to know if you need a visa for international travel .

Do I need to bring a car seat?

Yes, you will likely need a car seat when you get to your destination!

At the very least, you need your car seat when you take a taxi to and from the airport. The car seat I have (and that Becca has as well) is the UPPAbaby Mesa Car Seat for infants .

Should I bring my main stroller or should I buy a travel stroller?

This was the topic that I researched most.

In the end, I decided to use our car seat, attached to our UPPAbaby Vista stroller body . I learned that the UPPAbaby stroller warranty only covers airplane damage if you have the UPPAbaby stroller travel bag with TravelSafe, which we ended up buying for $200.

I had considered buying an umbrella stroller/collapsible travel stroller; however, most of the umbrella strollers are designed for babies 6 months+ who have more sitting abilities than my daughter had at the time.

Many of my friends recommended the BabyZen Yoyo travel stroller , which folds small enough to put in the overhead compartment on a plane. This stroller seat is for babies 6 months+. Something nice about this stroller is that you can attach many car seats with adapters, and if you attach your infant car seat, then you can use it for your younger baby. However, the BabyZen Yoyo is not compatible with our car seat, the UPPAbaby Mesa.

Becca and Dan also have the UPPAbaby Mesa car seat, and they bought the UPPAbaby Minu as their travel stroller. It is compatible with the Mesa car seat, with adapters. They like it a lot, and it folds up small.

Can I gate-check my stroller when flying?

We strolled through the terminal with the UPPAbaby Vista and then gate-checked the stroller and car seat (which was free of charge on American Airlines). We lucked out!

What about travel strollers for bigger babies?

When my daughter was a few months older (around 7-8 months) we bought the Baby Jogger City Tour collapsible stroller . (It is not actually a jogging stroller, but rather, just the brand name.)

We are very happy with it, and we like the way it folds up for travel. The wheels are surprisingly good on bumpy sidewalks.

Can I gate-check my car seat?

Yes, we gate-checked the car seat before our flights.

If your baby has his/her own seat on the plane, then you’ll bring the car seat on the plane. We gate-checked our car seat in a cheap travel bag, gambling that our car seat looked sturdy and could sustain being tossed around. If you want to go the extra mile and avoid possible damages, opt for the car seat travel bag that comes from the car seat brand and has warranty protection.

There are plenty of higher-quality, cushioned car seat travel bags out there as well. Like the UPPAbaby stroller, the UPPAbaby Mesa car seat also requires the UPPAbaby Mesa car seat travel bag in order to be under warranty with TravelSafe.

Should I book a seat for my child or should I bring my child as a lap-infant?

This is a tough decision because flights can be so expensive these days.

If your baby is under 2 years old, he/she is allowed to fly for free on a parent’s lap. This is a great travel hack, and some parents take advantage of it, to take as many flights as possible before their child turns 2 and they have to pay for another seat!

For our trip to Florida, our 5.5-month daughter sat on our laps. She sleeps best when she is in her crib or car seat, so it was a little bit challenging to get her to nap on our laps.

We decided that taking her on our laps (airlines call it a “lap infant”) was okay for a trip to Florida, but if we are flying further, we’d want to get a separate seat for her.

My advice is: You want your baby to be able to nap on the plane. If your baby is good at napping in mom’s or dad’s lap, then maybe going the “lap” route is good for you (and will be cost-effective).

If your baby will nap better in the car seat, then I’d suggest getting a separate seat for the baby, especially if it is a long flight.

And of course, airplane seats are tight as it is, so having your baby on your lap will make it tighter. If you have long legs and you already feel squished in an airplane seat, keep that in mind.

Should I select a window or aisle seat?

My short answer for this is that I recommend booking a window seat.

Once you get situated with your baby, you’ll want to stay put. You don’t want to have to stand up to let your neighbor out to the bathroom, especially if the baby is napping in your arms already.

Am I allowed to bring a bottle of breastmilk/formula through security?

Yes, to my surprise, security let us through with a bottle of milk. They inspected it, and approved it.

However, when my friend traveled with a bottle of breastmilk, security spilled some of her milk, so be prepared with extra milk. We travel with this baby formula dispenser by Munchkin .

I have TSA PreCheck. Can my child come on the TSA PreCheck line with me?

Yes! As a parent, if you have TSA PreCheck , children up to age 12 can travel in the TSA PreCheck line with you. This is also a great travel hack to know about when you travel with babies and kids!

(I always like fact-checking what I hear from others, so if you’d like to fact-check me, here is the source I used on the TSA.gov website.)

What about Global Entry ? Yes — babies have to have a Global Entry account if you’d like to take them through Global Entry upon returning to the US from abroad. You may get a hard time from Global Entry staff if your child does not have an account, because they will not be able to use the face scanner. Visit my tips on how to get Global Entry for your child to learn more.

Can I change my baby’s diaper while I’m on the plane?

Yes, you can! You can use the small fold-out changing table that’s above the toilet in the plane restroom. If there is no fold-out changing table, or if you prefer to simply close the seat of the toilet and use that as a surface, you can do that.

Unless the airplane restroom fits two adults, consider that you’ll probably be on your own for the diaper change, because space is incredibly limited in an airplane restroom.

One useful thing to have along with you is a Kibou waistpack diaper bag because taking along your entire diaper bag or diaper backpack might be too much fuss. You also might not want to put it down on the grimy floor of an airplane bathroom!

My Kibou fanny pack-diaper bag helps me stay miimalist during travel so that I can do a diaper change in a bathroom during travel with just the essentials: a diaper, diaper cream, the fold-out changing pad and a few wipes in the waterproof zipper pocket on the back!

Should I bring a baby carrier for using in the airport?

YES! A thousand times yes. Bring a baby carrier as a way of keeping your baby close while walking through the airport. I recommend the Baby Tula Lite Carrier as the perfect compact baby carrier for travel. If you want to walk around the aisles of the plane with the baby in a carrier, this one is good because it doubles as a fanny pack you can just sling over your body and use as a crossbody pouch.

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How to Fly With Your Baby

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Babies have such a bad reputation when it comes to staying quiet on plane rides that some parents go so far as to hand out treats to fellow passengers before the plane has even taken off. Indeed, George and Amal Clooney, world travelers and parents of twin babies, made headlines late last year for gifting headphones to some passengers, along with a note apologizing in advance for any crying.

While there’s no need to pack dozens of gifts in your diaper bag, travel and parenting experts recommend other strategies to increase your chances of a smooth flight when flying with an infant.

If you're flying with an older child — especially one who's mobile — guidelines and effective practices may be slightly different. See our tips for flying with toddlers and up.

Make sure your baby is old enough to fly

Airline policies vary widely. For example, United says infants must be at least seven days old to fly, while American Airlines says infants as young as two days old may fly, but will need a doctor’s approval if they are less than seven days old (upon request, airlines provide a form directly to the doctor).

Check with your airline about the rules in advance. You may also wish to consult your child's pediatrician.

Consider buying your baby a ticket

Children younger than 2 generally fly for free domestically because they can sit on caregivers’ laps (although you may need documentation, such as a birth certificate, to prove the child’s age). Still, the Federal Aviation Administration says that the safest way for children to fly is strapped into their own harness, which can be an approved car seat or other type of approved restraint. That way, during unexpected turbulence, the baby will be securely strapped in.

Plus, some parents may find that long flights can be easier when babies have their own space, especially if they can sleep in their car seat.

Regardless of whether you buy a ticket for your baby, children under 2 still need to be added to the airline reservation. And in some cases, especially on international flights, you may still need to pay infant fares and taxes. If you do buy a seat for your baby, some airlines, like Southwest, offer a reduced “infant fare.”

Plan around nap schedules

If you can get your baby to fall asleep on the plane, the flight may seem to go by more quickly — but many parents find that with the excitement of traveling, babies don't sleep at their usual times.

“We took a red-eye to Germany when our oldest daughter was around 2, and she didn’t sleep a wink. It was miserable,” says Kate Rope, author of “ Strong As a Mother: How to Stay Healthy, Happy, and (Most Importantly) Sane From Pregnancy to Parenthood. ”

After they arrived, they checked into their hotel early and took a family nap before heading out for sightseeing . That worked well for everyone, Rope says.

When booking your trip, try to find a flight itinerary that dovetails with your baby's preferred nap time. Also consider the potential benefits of a layover. Direct flights may get you and an upset baby to your destination faster, but a layover offers a chance to stretch, change and dispose of diapers, and feed your child more easily.

Check some of your gear

Babies tend to travel with a lot of stuff, including strollers, car seats, diaper bags and toys. It can be difficult, if not impossible, to carry it all along with your baby.

Check with your airline in advance about what you can check; in general, strollers and car seats can be checked for free. Bringing your car seat also eliminates the need to rent and install one if you are renting a car at your destination.

Some airlines allow families with young children to board before other passengers, which may offer you extra time to check and store all that gear. However, some may find it easier to skip the early-boarding option entirely to minimize the total time on the plane with a young child.

Pack extra clothes (for you, too)

Babies are known for eliminating bodily fluids at inconvenient times, and plane travel is no exception. Turbulence can also create a mess of knocked-over drinks and spilled food, and motion sickness can contribute to the chaos, too.

Packing extra clothes for both the baby and yourself can help reduce the chances of having to continue your trip in a soiled outfit.

Feed your baby during takeoff and landing

Just like adults, babies may experience discomfort in their ears as a result of air pressure changes during takeoff and landing; sucking and swallowing can ease the pain.

“When my daughters were breastfeeding, I would always breastfeed during takeoff and landing. Later, I brought sippy cups filled with milk,” Rope says. (In general, airport security allows parents to bring small amounts of liquids for babies, but they may need to examine or test it.)

She says that minimizing ear pain is one of the best ways to keep crying at bay.

Walk the aisles

“When they were babies, my husband and I would take turns walking up and down the aisle with them in a baby carrier when they got fussy,” Rope says.

Since babies are often soothed by movement as well as the roar of the plane engine, those strides can help stop the tears or even lull your baby to sleep. For your own comfort, be sure to wear supportive walking shoes.

Explore your surroundings

If your baby is old enough to enjoy grasping new things, the plane can serve as a new toy to explore, says Katherine Reynolds Lewis, author of the upcoming book “ The Good News About Bad Behavior: Why Kids Are Less Disciplined Than Ever — and What to Do About It .”

“Point out all of the interesting trays and knobs, and maybe look out the window, too,” she says. Even in-flight magazines and barf bags can serve as intriguing new objects to supplement any toys and books you packed in the diaper bag. If you’re worried about germs, give everything a swipe first with antibacterial wipes from your bag.

Know that crying is normal

Kate Orson, author of “ Tears Heal: How to Listen to Our Children ,” urges parents to accept that crying, even on a crowded flight, is a normal part of being a baby and to some extent should be expected.

Other passengers probably don’t notice as much as you might think, given the engine noise, and they also might empathize with your plight, she says. “Many of your fellow passengers may be parents even if they don’t have their kids with them — we’ve all been there.”

Keep yourself calm and relaxed, too

“Try to pretend it’s just you and your baby on the plane. I’m sorry, but I can’t be worried about how upset Larry in 15D is,” says Farnoosh Torabi , a personal finance expert and mother of two kids.

Torabi and her husband recently traveled from New York City to Turks and Caicos with their 3-year-old and 10-month-old. “Babies can pick up on a parent’s stress, and that can only exacerbate the crying,” she says.

Accept help from strangers

Sometimes, when a flight attendant or fellow passenger notices an upset baby, they will offer to help by holding the child — and Torabi says it’s OK to accept this help.

“If someone offers to take over and try to soothe your baby, let them be your guest,” she says.

As with most things involving babies, traveling by plane requires patience and preparation. First, decide whether you want to purchase a seat or carry your infant as a lap child. Pack plenty of age-appropriate items for entertainment, and try to plan your flight at an ideal time for your baby’s sleep schedule.

Yes, if you’re carrying your infant in a wrap, they can stay there as you pass through the TSA metal detector. Note that TSA states you “may be subject to additional screening.” If your child is in a stroller, they’ll need to be taken out so the stroller can go through the x-ray machine.

Airlines have various restrictions on how old an infant must be to fly, so check with your travel provider first. For example, United and Delta say infants should be at least seven days old to fly (Delta requires a physician’s permission), while American accepts infants as young as two days old with proper medical forms. However, use your own judgement and seek your doctor’s advice when deciding when to fly with your baby for a safer and more enjoyable experience.

If you’re traveling internationally, your baby will need a passport regardless of their age. For domestic travel, it’s a good idea to bring a copy of your child’s birth certificate in case you need to verify their age and/or your parental status.

Children under two years old can fly for free domestically on most airlines when carried onboard as a lap child. If you want to buy your baby their own seat, you’ll need to book them a ticket. It’s worth calling your airline to see if they have an infant fare; some may offer you a discounted price, but others will direct you to buy a regular ticket.

Flying with an infant, recapped

Flying with an infant requires an extra level of preparedness. Not only do you need to pack all-the-things, you will need to be strategic about selecting flights that best support baby's cycles (if you're lucky).

In the end, remember that you'll get through the flight (you've got this) and that accepting help from strangers can help soften the sting of a fussy kid.

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Air travel with babies and children

7-minute read

• Air travel with your baby or young child can be an exciting or stressful experience.
• If you or your child have been unwell or have a medical condition, check with your doctor before you travel.
• If your child is travelling internationally with both parents, they will need a passport; if they are travelling with just one parent, they may need other documents as well.
• Different airlines have different rules about travelling with babies and children, so it's best to check with your airline before you buy tickets.

At what age can your baby fly?

Each airline has a set minimum age for flying.

Most children are able to travel by air, without any restrictions. If you are planning to travel with your newborn, especially internationally, it is best to check with your doctor first. If your baby is too young to be vaccinated against some diseases, they won't be protected from catching those diseases.

For older children, check with your doctor at least 8 weeks before you travel and ask if you or your child need any vaccinations or preventative medicines.

Planning your trip

Documents and travel rules.

Children travelling internationally with both parents will usually need their own passport and also their own visa, if the destination country requires it. Children who travel with just one parent, or no parents at all, may need other documents as well, such as a letter that gives the child permission to travel. It's best to check entry rules with the embassy or consulate of your destination country, or visit smartraveller.gov.au .

There are limits on the quantity of powders, liquids, aerosols and gels you can take with you on international flights out of Australia. These rules do not apply to domestic flights. You are allowed to take powdered baby formula on all flights, but you'll need to show it for screening. Other special items you are allowed to take on board flights include toddler products, prescription and non-prescription medicines (including special dietary products), and medical items that you need to use during the flight.

When to travel

Flying at night is a very different experience to flying during the day. Consider a night departure for long-haul flights, if you think your child will sleep for most of the flight. If you are travelling with a baby, remember that the flight might disrupt their regular sleep routine .

Airfares and seating

Different airlines have different rules about travelling with babies and children. It's best to check with your airline before you buy the tickets.

Airlines usually prefer to have a responsible adult for each baby or young toddler. Check with your airline if you are planning to travel with more than one baby or toddler without any other adult help.

If you are travelling within Australia, your baby should be able to travel on your ticket. If you travel internationally, your baby needs their own ticket.

Your baby is allowed to travel sitting on your lap with an extension seat belt supplied by the airline. For long-haul flights, check if you can book a bassinet for your baby to sleep in. Note that bassinets are only suitable for babies under a certain weight and this limit differs between airlines. If your toddler is over 2 years old, they will usually need their own seat.

If you want to use a child restraint (such as a child car seat) on board, you need to supply a child restraint that is approved in advance by your airline. Airlines may also have rules about seats that cannot have child restraints installed, such as seats in emergency exit rows and aisle seats.

When booking seats, consider whether you need easy access to toilets with change tables.

Checking in

Everyone will be screened at the airport, even babies, although there are usually assistance lanes. You will need to take your baby out of their carrier or stroller so they can be carried through the screening point. All strollers and baby carriers will need to go through the x-ray machine.

You can usually take a stroller up to the gate lounge where it will then be taken to the hold (storage area) of the aircraft.

On the plane

Find out which airline services and luggage allowances are available to you when travelling with your child.

Your airline may allow a compact lightweight stroller to be used right up until the boarding gate. The crew may help you stow it away as you board, so you have the stroller ready for as soon as you get off the plane.

You may be able to pre-order child meals and specify any dietary needs. It's a good idea to bring some food with you from home, in case your child is hungry between meals or won't eat the airline's food. Snacks are also useful to occupy children on a long flight.

Rather than relying on airlines to have suitable food and formula, it is best to bring your own. You can take expressed breast milk , boiled water to make up feeds or for drinking, formula powder and baby food on board.

Take enough nappies and wipes, and a change of clothes for you and your child in your carry-on luggage. Dress your baby in layers so that you can add or remove clothes based on the temperature in the plane.

Give your toddler something to eat or drink, or breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby during take-off and landing. This helps reduce the build-up of pressure in their ears, which can be painful.

It's a good idea to take a few of your baby's favourite toys, their blanket, dummies or any items that can be comforting or help provide distraction. Small toys, books or a tablet can help keep your child busy, especially during a long-haul flight.

After the trip

If you have changed time zones, your child may be affected by jet lag. They might be grumpy or tired and not want to eat or sleep at the right time in the new time zone. It helps if you plan ahead and try to adjust them gradually to the new time zone before you go.

When you arrive, get them outside in the daylight and let them have short naps if they're tired.

Health check

If you or your child have been unwell or have an ongoing medical condition, check with your doctor before you travel.

If travelling internationally, check with your doctor at least 8 weeks before you go to find out about any potential health risks at your destination. Ask if you or your child need any vaccinations or medicines to stop you getting sick.

If your child takes prescription medicines, make sure you have enough for your trip. Ask your doctor if you need a letter from them to travel with your medicine.

Resources and support

Read more health advice for travel .

Find a Travel health doctor using the healthdirect Service finder tool.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content .

Last reviewed: May 2023

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The Ultimate Packing List for Flying With a Baby

This is how to survive hours in the air with your little one.

In This Article

• Packing Checklist

Tips for Packing

Frequently asked questions.

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Travel + Leisure / Alli Waataja

As a mom of two, I know from personal experience that the thought of flying with a small baby can be terrifying. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. Travel is one of the greatest gifts you can give your children. I first flew with my daughter from South Africa to the United Kingdom when she was just shy of four months old. With family in both countries, it’s a journey we’ve done multiple times since. I soon learned that the key to making the experience as stress-free as possible for all involved (parents, baby, fellow passengers, and airline crew!) is planning and preparation. Consider your little one’s needs carefully, and then think about how you can meet them 35,000 feet above ground. 

From getting them to sleep to keeping them entertained, here are our packing essentials for flying with a baby, defined here as a child under a year old. This list haa been carefully chosen according to my own experience as well as that of two experts: Dr. Natalie Prevatt — an NHS pediatric travel, tropical medicine consultant, and the lead clinician at the Children’s Travel Doc — and veteran flight attendant Samantha Sharpe. 

Packing Checklist for Flying With a Baby

This is by no means an exhaustive list. I haven’t included many of the most obvious, day-to-day items that you most likely already have and keep in your baby bag anyway, from diapers to wet wipes and burp cloths. There are some things, like pacifiers and bottles, that your baby will have a specific preference for and these should remain unchanged before a trip (there are enough variables up in the air without worrying about whether your baby will accept a new teat type, for example.) You also won’t need everything on this list. Tailor your choices to align with your particular routine, destination, flight length, and airline rules and regulations.

Sleep and Entertainment

• Best Infant Headphones: Alpine Muffy Noise Reduction Earmuffs
• Best Tablet: Amazon Fire 7 Kids Tablet
• Best Inflatable Bed: Flyaway Kids Bed
• Best Teething Toy: Lamaze Mortimer the Moose Clip & Go
• Best Book: Priddy Books First 100 Words
• Best Noise-Free Toy: The First Years Stack & Count Stacking Cups

Food and Drink

• Best Portable Bottle Warmer: Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Portable Bottle Warmer
• Best Formula Dispenser: LotCow Portable Powder Dispenser
• Best Travel Cup: Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Sippy Cup  
• Best Snack Container: Bentgo Kids Chill Lunch Box

Strollers and Carriers

• Best Baby Wrap: KeaBabies Baby Wrap Carrier 
• Best Baby Carrier: Ergobaby 360 Cool Air Mesh Carrier  
• Best Lightweight Stroller: Babyzen YoYo2 Stroller

Accessories

• Best Breastfeeding Cover: Copper Pearl Multi-use Nursing Cover
• Best Travel Blanket: Everyday Kids Car Seat Blanket
• Best Changing Pad: Kopi Baby Portable Diaper Changing Pad
• Best Packing Cubes: Remobia Hicol TSA-approved Diaper Bag Organizer Set  
• Best Sunscreen: Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Mineral Sunscreen

Getting a baby to sleep can be hard enough at home, let alone on a noisy airplane. If I have just one tip, it’s to enquire well in advance about booking a baby bassinet. If they can’t be reserved, arrive early enough at the airport to give yourself a good chance of being allocated one. For long-haul flights, paying for a separate seat to use with your car seat is another option, although Dr. Prevatt advises that babies should not sleep in an upright position for more than a few hours since it can affect their oxygen levels. When it comes to entertainment, opt for noise-free, mess-free toys without too many pieces to potentially lose.

Best Infant Headphones

Alpine muffy noise reduction earmuffs.

Both my children loved the sound of the airplane engine and at night, its low vibration worked just as effectively as a sound machine for getting them to sleep. However, if your baby needs a quiet environment to drift off or if you’d like to avoid overstimulation while waiting to board in the bright and busy airport, infant headphones are a good idea. 

These ones from Alpine Muffy are designed to protect the sensitive hearing of little ones up to 36 months old. I love that the extra soft, adjustable headband is made from non-slip elastic to avoid exerting pressure on Baby’s delicate fontanelle, and that they’re proven to reduce noise to just 23 decibels. They’re super light, easy to clean, and come in a convenient travel pouch with a choice of colors ranging from Olive Green to Pink.

Best Inflatable Bed

Flyaway kids bed.

I hesitated including this category because most airlines allow children under two to fly at a significantly discounted rate if they sit on their parent’s lap. For this reason, purchasing an extra seat just so you can use an inflatable bed may seem excessive. But, for long flights when baby bassinets can’t be booked in advance, having a guaranteed place to sleep may well be worth it. 

Inflatable beds are not allowed by every airline, and those that do permit them often accept certain brands only. I love the Flyaway Kids Bed because it takes the guesswork out of your purchase, with a full list of approved and at-the-stewardess’-discretion airlines on its website. It inflates relatively quietly in just 90 seconds to create a full, secure bed that serves the dual purpose of preventing toys rolling onto the floor. It’s relatively compact by travel bed standards but will still take up about three pounds of your precious carry-on allowance.

Best Teething Toy

Lamaze mortimer the moose clip & go.

Traveling with a baby is one thing. Traveling with a teething baby is a whole different ball game. You’ll want to pack teething gel and possibly (if recommended by your doctor), some infant Tylenol. A toy with chewable elements for soothing sore gums is another lifesaver, both for your baby and your fellow passengers. 

When I took my daughter on a 11-hour flight at 18 months, she was cutting several teeth simultaneously. The Mortimer the Moose Clip & Go from Lamaze was her go-to comforter. She loved chewing on his textured, easy-to-clean antlers and tail rings, while his brightly colored crinkling and jingling hooves helped provide distraction from her discomfort. When she finally drifted off, multi-use Mortimer also doubled as a plushy for cuddling.

First 100 Words

A tray table is key to many methods of entertaining a wide-awake baby, whether you’re helping them play with stickers and stacking toys or using it as a tablet stand. Takeoff and landing can therefore be tricky — not only does the tray table have to be stowed, but this is the time babies are most likely to be affected by changes in cabin pressure and most in need of distraction.

Books are a great option during these times: they’re mess- and noise-free, have no moving parts to roll away while the seatbelt signs are on, and are easy to grab before stowing your bag in the overhead bin. My kids loved Roger Priddy’s First 100 Words long before they were able to talk. It’s got big, bright, colorful images of familiar items ranging from pets to food and more than 35 flaps for keeping baby engaged. It’s also travel-sized with sturdy board pages.

Best Noise-Free Toy

The first years stack up cup toys.

The first time I flew with a baby, one of my greatest sources of anxiety was disturbing or upsetting other passengers. I quickly learned that you can’t always control how much noise your baby makes; but you can make sure their toys are quiet. If they’re interactive and simple enough for the baby to use with minimal assistance, all the better. 

Stacking cups punch way above their weight in this category. My kids loved this simple set from The First Years. Both of them could be entertained for an amazing amount of time by nesting the cups and taking them apart again, using them to build towers, or playing hide-and-seek with some small object placed underneath them. A sturdy clip keeps the cups neatly together and when you reach your destination, small holes transform them into fun beach or bath toys.

Best Tablet

Amazon fire 7 kids edition tablet.

In an ideal world, we’d be able to keep our little ones entertained without resorting to screen time. But trust me, if there’s ever a time and place to relax the rules, a couple of hours into a long-haul flight is it. When all else fails or I simply need a break, I let Paw Patrol (in my daughter’s case) or Thomas the Tank Engine (in my son’s) take over. 

The Amazon Fire 7 Kids Tablet is the smallest and most portable of Amazon’s tablets made especially for kids. It comes in a virtually indestructible kid-proof case with a built-in stand for your airplane tray table. A Parent Dashboard allows you to filter age-appropriate content and purchases. It also includes a subscription to Amazon Kids+. Choose 16 or 32 GB of storage and relax knowing that for the first two years, any device that breaks will be replaced free of charge.

As Dr. Prevatt points out, the low level of humidity on board makes it especially important to keep your baby hydrated. Remember that breast milk, formula, and baby food are exempt from standard liquid limitations . Sharpe confirms that cabin crew will never impose restrictions on breastfeeding at any stage of the flight unless there’s an emergency. And flight attendants can always provide warm water for heating bottles, although it’s best to avoid asking during busy meal services. Consider investing in a portable warmer for full independence. Finally, snacks are great for both sustenance and entertainment.

Best Portable Bottle Warmer

Tommee tippee travel baby bottle warmer.

Whatever stage your baby’s at and whether they take formula, bottled breast milk, cow’s milk, or even puréed food in a jar or pouch, it’s likely they prefer their food served at body temperature. This isn’t as simple to achieve on a plane as it is at home, because the commercial convection ovens used to heat adult meals are impractical for warming baby food. 

This is where the beautifully simple Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Portable Bottle Warmer comes in. It doesn’t require electricity or any other external heating source — instead, it consists of an insulated, stainless steel flask with a leak-proof lid and sturdy plastic sheath. Simply pour boiling water from the flask into the upturned sheath and sit your bottle or pouch inside to warm up. The warmer fits compactly into your bag and can be refilled as needed by the cabin crew.

Best Formula Dispenser

Lotcow portable powder dispenser.

Flying with a formula-fed baby can seem daunting, simply because of the extra time and effort required to get your crying child what they need as quickly as possible. The key to minimizing stress for everyone is advance preparation. Instead of bringing your regular formula tub with you and attempting to measure out powder in the cramped confines of your seat, use a portable powder dispenser like this one from LotCow. 

Made from BPA-free plastic, the dispenser consists of four separate moisture-proof and leak-free containers that stack together to create a conveniently packable cylinder measuring roughly seven by three inches. Each one holds about two ounces of milk powder that can be tipped into baby's bottle in seconds. On shorter flights, you could even use some of the layers for storing snacks.

Best Travel Cup

Munchkin miracle 360 trainer cup.

Starting at six months, babies should be offered a drink of water with every meal. This is especially important on a flight, where low humidity levels can cause dehydration even in adults. Some children master the art of drinking out of a proper cup quicker than others, but if yours (like mine) ends up soaked every time, you’ll want a sippy cup for travel.

I loved the Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Sippy Cup so much the first time around that I sought it out for my second child even after moving countries. First, it’s truly leak-free, with a soft plastic valve that fits all the way over the top. It’s also spoutless, which means babies can drink from anywhere around the rim in a way that protects their dental health and encourages normal muscle development. The handles fit little hands perfectly and it’s easy to clean on the go.

Best Snack Container

Bentgo kids chill lunch box.

If your baby is old enough for solid foods, there’s good news. Packing a snack box not only ensures they’ll be full even if they don’t like whatever baby meal is served on the flight; it’s also one of the very best ways to keep them entertained. Bento boxes help with this by providing spaces for lots of different foods for maximum interest. 

The Bentgo Kids Chill Lunch Box stands out for its quality construction, leak-proof clip-and-seal design, and choice of bright, baby-friendly colors. It offers four compartments of varying sizes for everything from cereal to fruit pieces or sandwich fingers and (best of all), an optional, built-in ice pack that fits underneath the food tray to keep contents fresh and safe to eat even after hours in the air. When you get to your destination, it’s dishwasher and microwave safe.

Before you travel, it’s important to decide how you’ll be transporting baby through the airport. It’s often a long walk, sometimes with connecting buses or trains, so keeping your little one safely secured and supported is crucial. A baby carrier is a great option for navigating crowds with minimal fuss while keeping your hands free. You can also take your stroller all the way to the airplane door. If you plan on doing this, Sharpe recommends investing in one that fits into the overhead bin rather than having it checked to avoid unnecessary delays at the other end. Alternatively, she says, the Doona X stroller doubles as a car seat that can be used on board.

Best Baby Wrap

Keababies baby wrap carrier.

My daughter was born in South Africa, where wraps like the KeaBabies Original Wrap Carrier are one of the most popular and traditional methods for hands-free baby carrying. Although it took me a few tries to perfect the art of tying the wrap correctly (definitely something to master before you fly), she loved its womb-like closeness. It’s great not only for getting babies from point A to B in the airport, but also as a way of comforting them or getting them to sleep onboard. 

Consisting of a single length of stretchy, sturdy fabric, the KeaBabies wrap offers just the right amount of elasticity to hold and support your baby securely, while distributing weight evenly to minimize strain on your back and shoulders. It’s one-size-fits-all can be worn by mom or dad with zero adjustment, is safe from birth, and packs away compactly when not in use.

Best Baby Carrier

Ergobaby 360 cool air mesh carrier.

Although wraps like the KeaBabies one are technically suitable for children up to 36 months of age, I found that both of my kids were too heavy for me to carry in this way by the time they were around nine months old. The natural next step is a soft carrier like the ergobaby 360 Cool Air Mesh Carrier, which is designed for use from 4 to 48 months (up to 45 pounds.) 

The ergobaby 360 stands out for its award-winning design, which allows you to switch between four comfortable and safe carrying positions: on the front of your body facing inwards, on the front facing outwards, on the hip, or on your back. When forward facing, the baby’s hips are held in the “M” position to protect against hip dysplasia. Breathable mesh keeps them from overheating, while padded shoulder straps and a wide waistband save your back and shoulders.

Best Lightweight Stroller

Babyzen yoyo2 stroller.

Although you can use any stroller all the way up to the airplane door and then have it checked separately, the Babyzen YoYo2 with a newborn pack (suitable for babies zero to six months) is one of the few that folds compactly enough to fit in the overhead bin. It can be folded and unfolded with one hand, which is a lifesaver when trying to juggle your baby, diaper bag, and passport simultaneously.

It also tips the scales at just 14.5 pounds. This lightweight compactness makes it ideal not only for air travel, but also for exploring your destination because it fits just as easily into an overhead bin or taxi trunk. The stroller includes a five-point harness, a comfortable one-inch, lie-flat mattress, and UPF 50+, water-repellent fabric. You can also attach the YoYo2 bassinet and later, the six+ color pack for older babies over six months.

We’ve covered the main areas of traveling with a baby, but what about the easy-to-overlook accessories that make all the difference? These range from breastfeeding covers (Sharpe recommends researching whether your destination has any modesty laws that may make this a particularly important choice) to sunscreen (Dr. Prevatt points out that children under the age of 15 are especially at risk of skin cancer if allowed to burn which can occur while waiting on a hot airport concourse.) Look for accessories that make life easier by simplifying essential tasks, whether that’s changing a diaper or finding what you need in your carry-on.

Best Breastfeeding Cover

Copper pearl cover canopy.

While I’m a firm believer that women should be able to breastfeed wherever they like without having to cover up, there is something especially intimidating about doing so in a confined space surrounded by perfect strangers. The Copper Pearl Multi-use Cover is made from lightweight, stretchy, and breathable fabric that provides full coverage without feeling restrictive for either of you. 

I particularly like that the opening is wide enough to allow you to easily view your baby (my son refused to drink if he couldn’t make eye contact) and check for a correct latch. The cover also comes in super handy on vacation as a car seat or stroller cover, takes up virtually no space in your diaper bag, and comes in an endless choice of gorgeous watercolor-style prints.

Best Travel Blanket

Everyday kids car seat blanket.

If your baby already has a favorite blanket, then that’s the one to take on your flight. But if, like mine, they’re ambivalent about which blanket they use as long as they’re warm, the plush fleece Everyday Kids Car Seat Blanket could be a useful option especially if you plan on bringing your car seat on board or if you end up with a bassinet that has a five-point harness. Safety features for the latter vary, but I’ve flown with at least one airline where this was the case.

The blanket has universally spaced notches that align with most five-point harness straps, keeping it secured to the car seat or bassinet so that it doesn’t end up on the less-than-sterile airplane floor every time Baby kicks. The swaddling style is easily unwrapped, too, so that you can prove your little one is securely fastened during turbulence without waking them up.

Best Changing Pad

Kopi baby portable changing pad.

While you’re definitely going to need your regular, full-size baby bag to carry everything you need for the flight, a portable changing pad like this wipe-clean one from Kopi Baby makes all the difference when it comes to the Olympic sport that is attempting to change a diaper in the tight confines of an airplane bathroom. 

When folded away, it measures just 7.5 x 11.5 inches and resembles a regular clutch bag. But when opened up, it reveals a full-size changing mat with a built-in pillow and three mesh pockets with enough space to store up to five diapers as well as other essentials from rash cream to diaper bags. I especially love the smart wet wipes pocket, which features an opening that dispenses wipes for one-handed convenience, even when the pad is folded.

Best Packing Cubes

Remobia hicol tsa-approved diaper bag organizer set.

Organization is the key to minimizing stress when flying with small children. After all, there’s nothing worse than trying to juggle a screaming baby while rooting around helplessly in your bag for an item that has somehow disappeared just as you need it. Enter the Remobia Hicol Organizer Set, a collection of five packing cubes designed especially for parents. 

They’re made from sturdy, transparent TPU plastic, making it easy to see at a glance what they contain. The various sizes lend themselves to categorizing your diaper bag contents (one for spare clothes, one for snacks, one for medicines and so on), while the fact that they’re both waterproof and easy to wipe clean prevents unnecessary mess. They’re TSA-approved for convenience through security and nest inside each other neatly when not in use.

Best Sunscreen

Aveeno baby sunscreen.

Sunscreen may seem like an odd item to include on this list since there’s no chance of sunburn in the airport or on the plane. However, many airports in hot countries lack covered walkways from the plane to the terminal. It’s also easy to forget to apply sunscreen once you leave the airport in the chaos of clearing customs and collecting luggage. 

Additionally, bringing sunscreen with you guarantees access to a brand you know and trust, and can test on your baby’s skin for sensitivity prior to travel. I recommend packing a travel-sized mineral sunscreen like this one from Aveeno for on-the-go protection. At three fluid ounces, it complies with TSA restrictions and is especially formulated for babies (doctor’s advice recommended for those under six months), using naturally sourced zinc oxide to provide hypoallergenic, fragrance-free SPF 50 protection.

Try not to overpack

There are a lot of items on this list, and many more besides that will be part of your everyday baby routine — from bottles and pacifiers to burp cloths and diaper cream. Remember that you don’t need all of them. Think carefully about which are most relevant for your baby, your flight (duration, time of day, and number of layovers), and unique situation (are you flying alone, or will you have someone to help juggle baby and luggage?) Then, try to limit your packing to the things that you’re most likely to actually use, because flying with a baby is overwhelming enough without having to keep track of or carry a ton of extra gear. 

Consider the flight time

When packing your diaper bag, tailor its contents according to the length of your flight, making sure you have enough diapers, wipes, milk, and snacks to last the duration with a few extras in case of any unexpected delays. If it’s a long flight, prioritize snacks that don’t need refrigeration and consider ways to increase the entertainment value of each one (e.g., individually wrapping some items so they’re fun to open together or cutting sandwiches into quirky shapes).

When booking your flight, bear in mind departure and arrival times. If you can, choose an overnight flight or one that coincides with your baby’s longest sleep period (I know these are not always the same thing!). And remember: when flying with a baby, if you can stretch your budget to get the most direct route, the extra expense will be well worth it. Layovers shouldn't be too long or so short that you end up having to run to catch the next flight. Minimize stress, wherever possible. 

Prepare for the unexpected

While it’s important to try and resist the temptation to pack everything including the kitchen sink (see our first tip), you should also prepare for a few worst-case scenarios. In my personal experience, these could range from being vomited on mid-flight (pack an extra shirt for yourself and at least two spare changes for baby) to your perfectly well infant suddenly developing a high fever. Dr. Prevatt suggests packing a basic first aid kit with essentials your baby might need since airline medical kits are minimal and not packed with infants in mind. 

She also frequently hears from breastfeeding moms who haven’t wanted to wake their sleeping baby to feed and therefore end up struggling with engorgement. She recommends learning to express by hand in advance or, if you have space in your carry-on, packing a portable breast pump. Meanwhile, Sharpe says that she often sees parents struggle due to not packing enough snacks and activities. If there’s one thing she’d recommend leaving at home to make space for these essentials, it’s a bulky inflatable baby bed.

According to Dr. Prevatt, it’s theoretically safe for a healthy baby to fly from the first day of life. However, most airlines only allow babies to fly from seven days old because it takes a week for the ductus to close (completing the transition from a fetal to an infant heart). If there is anything wrong with a baby’s heart, it most often presents in the first seven days of life. Up in the ai and, away from medical care is not where you want to be should any such issue arise. Premature babies or those with known conditions may require medical clearance to fly.  

Dr. Prevatt notes that the greatest risk of flying with a newborn is to the mother rather than the baby. To avoid postpartum deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), women who have given birth in the last two months should book an aisle seat so that they can perform leg exercises and walk freely around the cabin. Having your baby on your lap puts extra compression on your thigh veins, so take turns with your travel partner if you can. And even if you’re not breastfeeding, abstain from alcohol and caffeine and be sure to drink extra water since dehydration increases risk of DVT.

Babies under two years old are allowed to fly on your lap or in an approved infant car seat. Dr. Prevatt points out that although there have been very few reported injuries caused by an infant sitting on their caregiver’s lap rather than in a car seat, it is still recommended to use a car seat for safety since it is a moving vessel. Policies vary slightly between airlines ( British Airways only accepts forward-facing seats, whereas American Airlines allows seats to be installed in the direction appropriate for the size of the child, for example) so check with yours in advance.  

You should remember that to guarantee being able to use an infant car seat onboard, you must book a separate seat for your baby — a much more expensive option than having them on your lap. Dr. Prevatt also notes that small babies must not stay in an upright position for more than a few hours since it can affect their breathing — so on longer flights, you’ll need to be prepared to cradle them in your arms for hours at a time or use an airline bassinet.  

A bassinet is an absolute godsend, especially on an extended or overnight flight. My daughter spent most of her first 11-hour flight sleeping peacefully in hers. However, the availability of these bassinets is limited because they can only be fixed to the bulkhead. And while some airlines allow you to book them in advance, others assign them on a first come, first served basis which means that you should always be prepared for the possibility of not getting one.

My top tip? Attempt to book a baby bassinet. If that’s not possible, turn up to the airport early in the hope of being assigned one. If that fails, ask if there happens to be an available seat that you can use for your car seat (you should bring one anyway, since a child must still be restrained on car rides in foreign countries and relying on your own is safer than renting). If there is, you may be allowed to use it without having to pay extra. If not, the car seat will be checked for you, typically free of charge, and baby can sleep in your arms.

There are pros and cons to both approaches. A stroller is useful because you can stash items in the basket, it saves you from having to carry your baby (especially great if they fall asleep while waiting at the airport), and you can use it all the way up to the airplane door. Here, Sharpe says, it will be loaded into the plane’s cargo hold by the ground handling agents. In theory, it should be waiting for you near the door when you disembark at the other end, too. 

However, Sharpe points out that occasionally there can be a miscommunication and strollers end up in the oversized baggage pickup area or at the luggage carousel with the other bags, leaving you stranded with no easy way to carry Baby through the airport. I have also waited for quite a while to have the stroller delivered to the correct place, which can be very stressful if you have a short transfer window. To limit the chances of this happening, Sharpe recommends having check-in staff put a note on your booking and re-iterating this to the flight attendants and ground staff on both ends of your journey. Alternatively, investing in a stroller that fits into the overhead compartment eliminates these issues completely. 

Having experienced my fair share of stroller delivery issues, I would recommend checking your stroller in with your luggage for use at your destination and using a baby carrier to transport your little one from check-in to airplane. The many pros outweigh the one obvious con (having to bear their weight all the way), and include being much more mobile in a crowded airport, having both hands free for your other luggage and passport checks, and giving Baby the comfort of being held close to your body in an unfamiliar and overwhelming new environment.

Sharpe says that parents are often unaware that normal liquid restrictions do not apply to breast milk and formula. TSA states that both of these substances are considered medically necessary liquid and put no restriction on the amount you can bring on board. This applies to juice, too. You just need to remove these items from your carry-on bag to be screened separately at security. However, be aware that TSA rules only apply in the United States. Sharpe points out that at Heathrow Airport in London, for example, you may bring aboard up to 2 liters each of baby food and milk as long as it’s stored in a clear, transparent container or bag. Check airport and airline rules carefully before flying to avoid any confusion.

The change in cabin pressure during take-off and landing affects babies’ ears in the same way it does adult ears — by sucking the eardrum backwards or forwards. However, Dr. Prevatt says that this is more painful for babies (and in fact, 20 percent of children experience a pain so severe that an adult would not be able to put up with it) because the Eustachian tubes that connect the mouth and ears are so much smaller.  

This makes it much harder for babies to equalize effectively, a problem compounded by the fact that they can’t understand how to do so. Swallowing is the easiest way to help them equalize. Therefore, it’s important to breast or bottle feed during take-off and landing. I recommend bringing a pacifier as well in case your baby refuses to drink in the strange environment that is a noisy, cramped airline seat. As a breastfeeding mom, I can confirm that getting a good latch can be tricky because both you and your baby will have to wear a seat belt during take-off and landing, making cradling them in the usual way a little awkward.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Jessica Macdonald has been writing about travel gear for more than 10 years and has flown with both of her children many times since they were four months old. She sought the expert opinion of Dr. Natalie Prevatt, a children's travel medicine consultant and the lead clinician at the Childrenstraveldoc , which offers remote telephone consultations to prepare pregnant mothers and children for travel. Samantha Sharpe also provided invaluable insight from her perspective as a former nanny and flight attendant who previously worked for Qatar Airways and now flies for one of the UK’s largest airlines.

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What to consider when buying a baby or child car seat

20 August 2024  By: Helen Foster

Let’s start with the basics, the law in Australia says that every child under the age of seven must travel in a child restraint (the catch-all, official, name for the different forms of car seats) when in a vehicle – and most experts say it should be for far longer than that. And here’s some good news: simply by buying your car seat in Australia you’re already ahead of the safety curve. Australia has one of the strictest child car seat safety protocols in the world. “Every form of child restraint sold here must conform to Australian safety standards and the testing for this is at least equal to other countries and sometimes far more stringent,” explains Dr Bianca Albanese, Postdoctoral Fellow at Neuroscience Research Australia and the Transurban Road Safety Centre.

“For starters we test how the restraints perform in more types of crash – front on, rear end and side impact (one reason why you’ll notice car seats in Australia have thicker side panels than those in other countries). We also include a lot of different performance requirements, particularly related to head protection and crash protection provided to children using booster seats, for example.” Any child car seat sold in Australia, should clearly state that it is certified to the AS/NZS1754: 2013 safety standard. But, from here, there are a few decisions you need to make to choose the perfect seat for your child, your car and your budget.

1. Understand the types of car restraint

Walk into your local baby store and you’re likely to be confronted with row after row of grey and black car seats, all looking kind of similar, but with different names – so here’s a very simple explanation of the main options. Capsules: Suitable for babies up to 6-12 months. These are self-contained carriers that can be lifted in and out of the car with your baby inside. They keep your child in a rearward facing position – ie. facing toward the back window. Rearward and forward facing car seats: These are fixed to the back seat of the car using anchor points built into your vehicle, alongside the vehicle seatbelt or a fixing system called ISOFIX. Simplistically, there are three types of these: seats that face the rear, seats that face forward and convertible versions which can change the direction they face as your child grows. Booster seats: These are seats for older children. They enable an adult seatbelt to better fit a child’s body. Without one, it does not sit in the safest places to absorb impact during a crash. Within each of these categories different configurations of harnesses and booster seats can determine roughly what age the car seat is most suited to – but, as we’ll see shortly, age isn’t the most important consideration when deciding what to buy.

2. Choose the best type of restraint for your child

This is the most essential step in choosing a car seat as using the wrong type could not only see you breaking some road rules, it’s also less protective. So, first, let’s look at what the law says.

Legal requirements

Babies 0-6 months: Must use a rear-facing restraint with an inbuilt harness. This can be a capsule, a rear-facing seat, or a convertible seat in a rear-facing position. Children aged 6 months to 4 years: Must use a rear-facing restraint with an inbuilt harness (this may initially include a capsule) or a forward-facing child car seat with an inbuilt harness. Children aged 4-7: The minimum legal requirement at this age is a forward-facing car seat with an inbuilt harness or a booster seat with a lap-sash adult seatbelt or child safety harness.

3. Choose a seat for your budget

A more expensive car seat does not necessarily confer extra protection. The Child Restraint Evaluation Program (CREP) independently tests a selection of car seats in the Australian market and finds car seats costing under $200 score as well as, or in some instances, even better than those costing twice as much. If you are on a budget and worried that you might need two or three different seats, remember, convertible car seats adapt as your child grows. Some of these can even last from newborn to around the age of eight, so, when weighing up prices, consider how many years the seat will last your family. Capsules have the shortest usable lifespan. “Six to approximately 12 months,” says Zora Marko. “If you want to keep your baby facing rearward after this, which is best practise, you’ll need to buy a convertible seat anyway.” If you want to reduce your initial outlay, you may want to hire a capsule. 

4. Find the right model for your car

Once you’ve decided on the type of child restraint you want to use, you then need to pick the best model, and the type of car you have might play a role here. “The first thing I tell people to do is get their car manual and find out where the anchor points are, then check if they have a fixing mechanism called ISOFIX as this is an option instead of using a seatbelt to tether a car seat,” says Tammie Deshon, Child Car Seat Safety Project Coordinator at the WA Local Government Association. Older cars are less likely to have ISOFIX, which has only been approved here since 2014. ISOFIX also only covers products suitable for children up until around four years of age. If you want to use a convertible seat that covers a longer age range, ISOFIX won’t be an option. Some back seats are smaller than others and the greater the age range that a car seat covers, the bulkier it is likely to be. Also think about the seat positions you need in the car. “Rearward facing seats can be bulkier and if positioned in the middle of the back seat (generally accepted as the safest place) this can push the driver’s seat too far forward for a tall driver,” says Deshon. “If you are in a car with a smaller backseat, or where seats need to come further back, look for more compact models.” It’s also important to consider how your family might grow. If you’re planning on having more children you might want to look at slimmer seats that will allow you to have two, or even three, car seats along your back seat. It can be hard to judge all this when researching online, so if you are confused, Deshon says there’s no substitute for actually trying the seat in your own car. “Many baby shops will allow you to take a seat out to your car and actually check that it fits,” she says. Manufacturer helplines can also give excellent advice or call the Child Car Seat Safety Infoline (1300 780 713) to find a Type 1 CCR Fitter to assist.

5. Reconsider accessories

You can now buy car seats in different fabrics, with built in cup holders, there are even some with internal speakers. But do you really need any of this? Our experts aren’t convinced. Accessories, fabrics, manufacturing materials are irrelevant to how safe a product is and can just push up cost, and make the seat harder to use – and correct fitting is the most important element in assuring that a seat performs as you’d expect. “The biggest mistake I see is people buying a seat that’s too complicated,” says Tammie Deshon. “Find one that you can actually install correctly and easily yourself, and that’s not too heavy to lift in and out of the vehicle. The main features I would look for are an internal harness that’s really easy to adjust. ISOFIX if your car supports it, and an easy seatbelt pathway if it doesn’t – some of them can be very complicated. I’d also suggest choosing a seat that your child can use for a quite a while. If you do choose any extras make sure that the manufacturer has actually tested the seat with them installed. Child car seats don’t need to have bells and whistles, they just need to do what they need to do in an emergency.”

Get more information

Child car restraints significantly reduce the risk of death or serious injury to a child in a crash. If you need help, you can call the Child Restraint Information Line on 1300 780 713 between 9am and 2pm Monday to Friday.

You can also visit the Road Wise website  or Kidsafe WA for more information.

For information on safely transporting children with disabilities and medical conditions, visit Mobility and Accessibility for Children in Australia (MACA) .

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Cathay Pacific's A350 fleet to fully resume operations by 7 September

Latest update: 04 sep 2024 14:45 hkt (gmt+8).

Cathay Pacific advises that maintenance activity on its Airbus A350 fleet continues to progress well. Fifteen aircraft were identified with engine fuel lines that require replacement. Of these, six have already undergone successful repairs and are cleared to operate. The remaining nine aircraft will be repaired and are expected to resume operation by Saturday (7 September). 

Further to flight cancellations announced so far, Cathay Pacific expects to cancel 11 additional regional return flights from 5 to 7 September.  All affected customers have been informed and provided with alternative travel options on Cathay Pacific and other airlines as appropriate. The airline has increased its resources at its Customer Care centre and at the airport to better look after affected customers. Please refer to cathaypacific.com for the latest flight information. 

Cathay Pacific does not anticipate any further cancellations will be required. In total, including those previously announced, the airline cancelled 45 return flights between 2 to 7 September. Apart from one long-haul flight on 2 September, all cancelled flights are for regional destinations. Cathay Pacific sincerely apologises for the inconvenience caused and appreciates customers' patience and understanding.

Chief Operations and Service Delivery Officer Alex McGowan said: “This was a significant situation for Cathay to manage as the engine component failure was the first of its type to occur on any A350 aircraft anywhere in the world. 

“Completing thorough inspection and maintenance for all A350 aircraft within such a short timeframe has been challenging. The ability to safely deal with and resolve this issue reflects the can-do spirit of Cathay’s people. I would like to express my sincere thanks to our engineering and frontline teams, along with our partners, for their support and commitment to resolve the situation and minimise flight disruptions.

“I would also like to extend my apology to customers whose travel plans were affected by this incident. At Cathay, the safety of our customers and our people guides every decision we make."

The following flights have been cancelled:

Wednesday 4 September

• Hong Kong to Tokyo (Narita): CX 524
• Tokyo (Narita) to Hong Kong: CX 509
• Hong Kong to Osaka(Kansai): CX 566
• Osaka (Kansai) to Hong Kong: CX 597 / CX 503
• Hong Kong to Taipei: CX 464 / CX 466 / CX 494
• Taipei to Hong Kong: CX 469 / CX 461 / CX 495
• Hong Kong to Singapore: CX 659
• Singapore to Hong Kong: CX 714 / CX 710 / CX 658 / CX 692
• Hong Kong to Bangkok: CX 705
• Bangkok to Hong Kong: CX 750
• Hong Kong to Beijing: CX 332
• Beijing to Hong Kong: CX 331
• Hong Kong to Shanghai(Pudong): CX 368 / CX 360
• Shanghai (Pudong) to Hong Kong: CX 367 / CX 369
• Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur: CX 723
• Kuala Lumpur to Hong Kong: CX 722
• Hong Kong to Kaohsiung: CX 432
• Kaohsiung to Hong Kong: CX 431
• Hong Kong to Manila: CX 919
• Manila to Hong Kong: CX 918
• Hong Kong to Seoul (Incheon): CX 416

Thursday 5 September

• Seoul (Incheon) to Hong Kong: CX 417
• Hong Kong to Taipei: CX 400 / CX 494
• Taipei to Hong Kong: CX 443 / CX 495
• Hong Kong to Singapore: CX 691
• Singapore to Hong Kong: CX 690
• Hong Kong to Bangkok: CX 751
• Bangkok to Hong Kong: CX 708

Friday 6 September

• Hong Kong to Shanghai(Pudong): CX 368
• Shanghai (Pudong) to Hong Kong: CX 367

Saturday 7 September

• Hong Kong to Taipei: CX 494
• Taipei to Hong Kong: CX 495

We're waiving ticket change fees, so you can rearrange your plans easily. View our  special ticketing guidelines for A350 Fleet Inspection to learn more.

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