How to Fly with a Baby: A Complete Parent's Guide

Learn essential tips for flying with your baby, from booking seats to managing feeding and sleep during air travel.

  1. Before You Book Your Flight. Choose your timing wisely. Book flights during your baby's natural sleep times when possible, or consider red-eye flights if your baby sleeps well at night. Avoid connecting flights with babies under 6 months if you can help it. When selecting seats, aisle seats give you easier access to the bathroom and more room to move around. If flying internationally or on longer flights, consider purchasing a seat for babies over 6 months even if they're under 2 and could fly free on your lap. Call the airline 24-48 hours before your flight to confirm your infant is registered on your reservation and ask about available amenities like bassinets on international flights.
  2. Packing Essentials for Baby. Pack double what you think you'll need for diapers, wipes, and formula or baby food. Airlines allow baby supplies beyond normal liquid restrictions, but pack formula powder when possible to avoid liquid limits. Bring at least two complete outfit changes for baby and one extra shirt for yourself. Pack comfort items like a favorite blanket or small toy, but avoid anything with small parts. Include a pacifier or bottle for takeoff and landing to help with ear pressure. Don't forget hand sanitizer, plastic bags for dirty clothes or diapers, and any medications your baby takes regularly. Keep all essentials in your carry-on bag, never in checked luggage.
  3. Getting Through Security. Arrive at the airport with extra time - at least 2 hours for domestic flights, 3 hours for international. You can bring baby through security in a stroller or carrier. The stroller will go through the X-ray machine or be hand-inspected. Baby formula, breast milk, and baby food are exempt from the 3-1-1 liquid rule, but you'll need to declare them and they may be tested. You and baby may be selected for additional screening. If you're breastfeeding, you don't need to separate from your baby during security screening. Consider TSA PreCheck if you travel frequently - it makes the process much faster with children.
  4. Boarding and Takeoff. Most airlines offer early boarding for families with small children - take advantage of this to get settled without rushing. If you're flying with a lap infant, the flight attendant will show you how to hold your baby during takeoff and landing. You cannot use a regular car seat on your lap - only in a purchased seat. During takeoff, help your baby's ears adjust to pressure changes by nursing, giving a bottle, or offering a pacifier. The sucking motion helps equalize ear pressure. Stay calm yourself - babies pick up on your stress. If your baby cries during takeoff, don't worry too much about other passengers; focus on comforting your little one.
  5. Managing the Flight. Keep your baby's routine as normal as possible. If it's naptime, encourage sleep by dimming your personal light and keeping noise to a minimum. For feeding, nursing is easiest on a plane, but if you're bottle feeding, ask flight attendants to warm bottles - never use the airplane bathroom water. Change diapers promptly in the airplane bathroom, which has a changing table in most cases. Bring entertainment for older babies - simple books, new small toys, or downloaded videos on your phone with baby headphones. Walk the aisles if your baby is fussy and the seatbelt sign is off. Remember that crying happens - you're not bothering other passengers as much as you think.
  6. Landing and Arrival. During descent, again help with ear pressure using the same techniques as takeoff - nursing, bottle, or pacifier. Landing can be harder on little ears than takeoff, so be patient if your baby seems uncomfortable. After landing, don't rush to get off the plane. Let other passengers go first if you need time to gather your belongings and get baby settled. If you gate-checked a stroller, it will be waiting for you at the gate or on the jet bridge. Before leaving the airport, check that you have all your belongings and do a quick diaper change if needed before the car ride home.