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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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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 bucked 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)

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Now reading: How to Help a Baby’s Ears on a Plane

How to Help a Baby’s Ears on a Plane

Traveling can be challenging with babies as their usual comforts and daily routines are disrupted. If your family is soon taking flight with a baby, you may wonder how your baby’s ears on a plane will handle the pressure changes in flight. Knowing what to expect when it comes to your baby’s ears on a plane will help you better prepare for how to handle flights with a baby. In this blog, we will cover why your baby may feel ear discomfort and some ways you can help provide relief and protect your baby’s ears on a plane.

How to Keep Baby’s Ears from Popping on a Plane

Table of contents, how does flying affect baby ears, can flying damage a baby's ears, why infants and kids experience more ear pain than adults on airplanes, symptoms of mild ear pain in babies.

• How do I protect my baby's ears when flying?

How to prepare baby’s ears before flying

Should babies wear ear muffs on planes.

• What can help ease ear pain while flying?

What to do if baby’s ears hurt on the plane

• How to pop a baby’s ears on the plane
• Breastfeeding for take off and descent

Changes in pressure during flights can cause your baby’s ear some discomfort or pain. For adults, this pressure can make it feel like our ears are plugged and can even muffle sounds. This effect is much greater for babies as they have less developed eustachian tubes, making that pressure feel even greater. 

The ear pain or discomfort babies feel in a plane is only temporary. For children and infants who may be suffering from a cold or ear infection, the change in pressure on an airplane can become even more painful or longer lasting. It’s often recommended to delay travel in a plane if your child is experiencing ear pain or infections. It may be best to check in with your care provider if this is the case.

Infants and children can experience more ear pain simply because their tiny ears and eustachian tubes may not be fully developed. This, in turn, makes the pressure we as adults feel even greater on their ears during a flight. While many adults have experienced this feeling before, it is new for babies and kids. Be mindful that this sensation can be scary for your  little one and can heighten their reactions. As you will read more in detail below, allowing your baby to cry can help aid in relieving this pain.

Baby’s ears on a plane can experience temporary discomfort or pain. This mild pain, to be expected for babies, is typically accompanied by some or all the following mild symptoms: pulling on the ears, fussiness, and crying. While these symptoms are temporary, they certainly don’t make traveling with a baby any more manageable. Read more as we discuss ways to keep your baby comfortable and achieve a more peaceful flight for all. 

How to protect baby ears during flight

No parent wants to see their baby in discomfort. To protect your baby’s ears on a plane, you can do a few things to aid in relief for a baby’s ears on a plane. Some of the most common methods for relieving a baby’s ears include feeding or using a pacifier. By doing these things, you can reduce the pressure on your baby’s ears.

While there are a few things parents can do to help ease the pain in their children’s ears or try to prevent this discomfort on the flight, there also are some ways to prepare before flying. Since feeding can help a baby’s ears on a plane, you can adjust their feeding schedule around your flight time. This may allow you to time their feeding during take-off and landing, those times of greatest discomfort due to pressure changes. The Tushbaby Carrier can be worn while seated and doubles as a breastfeeding pillow in flight. Consider traveling with a Tushbaby to make traveling with a baby easier for everyone. 

There are certainly a lot of noises during travel, from general plane noise to take-off to even chatty seat neighbors. If you’re worried about the loud noises of a plane, you can certainly pack along some baby-safe earmuffs.

But do earmuffs help baby on planes?

Earmuffs can be used for hearing protection and noise reduction, which can help ensure your baby (and you) can rest peacefully on a longer flight. Earmuffs can also potentially reduce discomfort caused by changes in air pressure, so be sure to pack them along in your carry-on or Pack .

How to ease ear pressure when flying for infants

Methods for helping your baby clear the pressure from their ears include ear muffs as mentioned above, as well as using pacifiers or breastfeeding during the flight. Tushbaby’s Paci Pod allows you to keep your pacifier handy for those moments of higher pressure during the flight. Simply clip your Paci Pod to your Tushbaby hip seat carrier, your purse, your  Pack , or even your carry-on. This will save you from ruffling through your baggage for that pacifier when you need it most—and ensure it’s not somewhere at the bottom with all the gunk.

For adults, there are many tips and tricks for ridding that nagging clogged ear feeling on a plane. For babies, there are a few ways to help them get rid of the pressure or pain they feel in their ears. Both feeding and the use of pacifiers can help alleviate the ear pressure that is causing pain for your little one. While this one might not be a parent favorite, allowing your baby to cry will also help clear up your baby’s ears. The opening of the eustachian tube through crying works much as it does for us adults when we yawn or even chew gum on a plane. 

How to pop a baby’s ears on a plane 

When we feel that magical ‘pop’ feeling in our ears on a flight, it can alleviate some of the pressure or pain felt from flying. Your baby may experience that same ‘pop’ or clearing by doing some of the methods  we have mentioned. Breastfeeding, using pacifiers, and even allowing your baby to cry may all help your baby’s ears on planes to provide that ‘pop’ of relief.  

How to prevent baby ears popping on planes: Breastfeeding for take off and descent

As we mentioned, breastfeeding is a great way to soothe your baby and prevent pain in their ears on an airplane. By feeding your baby during take-off and descent, you can help ease the pain during the greater pressure changes in the cabin during those times. This might leave you wondering how to best breastfeed your baby comfortably on a plane. Finding a comfortable way to feed on a plane can be tricky, but Tushbaby has you covered. Using Tushbaby’s hip seat carrier for breastfeeding support gives your baby a comfortable resting place as you breastfeed at your seat. Not only will your Tushbaby offer excellent support for breastfeeding, but it will also help make traveling through airports while carrying your kid much easier. For more tips on confidently breastfeeding in public, read How to Nurse in Public .

From baby carrier to breastfeeding pillow to parent-hack fanny pack. . . Tushbaby is a must-have for traveling with a baby. Order yours today!

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Flying With a Baby? Here’s What to Know Before You Go

Medical review policy, latest update:, how old should a baby be to fly, read this next, what do children need to fly, tips for flying with an infant.

What to Expect the First Year , 3rd edition, Heidi Murkoff.  WhatToExpect.com, Do Babies Need Passports? , May 2019.  WhatToExpect.com, Should You Bring Your Child’s Car Seat on an Airplane? , August 2021. WhatToExpect.com, Your Ultimate Guide to Traveling While Breastfeeding , August 2020. American Academy of Pediatrics, Family Friendly Flying , November 2015.  American Academy of Pediatrics, Flying With Baby: Parent FAQs , November 2019.   American Airlines, Traveling With Children .  Delta Air Lines, Infant Air Travel , 2021.  Federal Aviation Administration, Flying With Children , March 2021.  Transportation Security Administration, Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQ .  Transportation Security Administration, Identification .  Transportation Security Administration, Will Minors Need to Have a State ID to Fly Domestically? United Airlines, Traveling With Children , 2021.  U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Children – Child Traveling With One Parent or Someone Who Is Not a Parent or Legal Guardian or a Group , December 2019.

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Flying and Your Child's Ears

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How Does Flying Affect Ears?

Many of us have felt that weird ear-popping sensation when we fly. For kids (especially babies and young children), it can feel especially odd and even be scary at first. But it's a common, normal part of flying.

This sometimes uncomfortable sensation is related to pressure changes in the air space behind the eardrum (the middle ear). Normally, the Eustachian tube, a passageway that leads from the middle ear to the back of the throat behind the nose, equalizes the air pressure in the middle ear to the outside air pressure by opening and letting air reach the middle ear. When our ears "pop" while yawning or swallowing, the Eustachian tubes are adjusting the air pressure in the middle ears.

In kids, however, the relatively narrow Eustachian tubes might not do this as well, especially if they're clogged with mucus from an ear infection or cold, or blocked by enlarged or swollen adenoids .

Whether you're flying, scuba diving, climbing a mountain, or even riding in an elevator, air pressure decreases as you go higher and increases as you go lower. If the pressure isn't equalized, the higher air pressure pushes on one side of the eardrum and causes pain. That's why so many babies cry during those last few minutes of the flight, as the air pressure in the cabin increases as the plane prepares to land.

But the pain is only temporary — it won't cause any lasting problems for kids and usually will ease within a few minutes as the Eustachian tubes open to let the air pressure equalize on both sides of the eardrums.

If your child has an ear infection, your doctor may recommend delaying flying, if possible, until the infection is gone. This will help your child avoid increased pain and a possible rupture, or tear, of the eardrum. In kids who have had ear tube surgery , the tubes will help the air pressure equalize more easily.

What Can Help Ease Ear Pain?

These tips can help equalize the air pressure in your child's ears and prevent or decrease ear pain during air travel . Have your child:

• Drink plenty of non-caffeinated fluids (water is best) throughout the flight. Drinking a lot is very important. It encourages swallowing, which opens the Eustachian tubes. Also, airplane air is dry, which thickens nasal mucus, making it more likely for the Eustachian tubes to become clogged.
• Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen about a half hour before takeoffs or landings if you know your child has ear pain when flying.
• Chew gum or suck on hard candy (only if your child is over 3 years old).
• Take a bottle or pacifier or breastfeed. If you bottle-feed, make sure your baby is sitting upright while drinking.
• Yawn frequently .
• Stay awake for takeoff and landing. During sleep, we don't swallow as often, so it's harder to keep the air pressure in the middle ear equalized.
• Practice a breathing exercise. Older kids and teens can practice this exercise during a flight's ascent and descent: Breathe in slowly, then gently pinch the tip of the nose and exhale through the nose while closing the mouth. Repeat as necessary.

If your child takes medicines that contain antihistamines or decongestants, talk to your doctor about whether to continue them during the flight.

In some cases, a child may continue to have ear pain for longer periods (up to several hours) if the ears don't "pop." You can continue to give your child pain relievers according to the package directions until the pain eases. If it continues for more than several hours, call your doctor for advice.

With a little patience and some simple precautions, though, you can make your next family flight less stressful and more comfortable for both you and your child.

• Ask the Expert /

Travel Experts Answer All Your Questions About Traveling with a Baby

This advice from a flight attendant and a pediatric physical therapist will keep your trip with baby moving smoothly., by kara mulder and kailee noland pt, dpt.

Welcome to Ask the Expert, a series in which real experts answer questions from real Babylist parents. For this installment, we asked Babylist parents to submit all their questions about traveling with a baby or toddler (no small task no matter how far you’re going). Here to give expert advice on all things travel are Kara Mulder, a flight attendant for 14+ years and the voice behind Flight Attendant Life , and Kailee Noland, a pediatric physical therapist and the owner of The Movement Mama .

Traveling with a little one can be such a rewarding experience full of family bonding—at the same time, it can also be such an exhausting experience. Whether you’re flying, road tripping or taking another form of transportation, there’s a lot to think about with a baby or toddler in tow. From how much time they can spend in their car seat to keeping a fussy kiddo placated on a cross-country or even an international flight, here’s advice from two travel experts to keep your trip moving smoothly.

In This Article

Flying with a baby or toddler, road trips and car seat comfort for babies and toddlers.

Taking to the skies? With over 14 years of experience as a flight attendant, Kara Mulder answers all your questions.

How old should a baby be before air travel?

Airlines generally suggest that a baby should be at least two weeks old before flying, but a physician can provide a more personalized answer. Some airlines may require a doctor’s letter for newborns under two weeks old. Many parents and pediatricians recommend waiting until baby is around six weeks old and has started their vaccinations to better handle potential germ exposure.

How important is getting my baby his own seat? Is it dangerous if I just have him in my lap on a flight?

Although airlines allow children under two to sit on a parent’s lap during the flight, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) states that purchasing a seat for your baby and using an approved child safety seat is the safer option.

When booking flights, consider your child’s age, the duration of the flight, the type of aircraft and whether you’re traveling alone. This will help you make an informed decision regarding purchasing a separate seat for your toddler. Air travel can be exhausting, and providing your child with their own seat can offer invaluable peace of mind.

One final recommendation is to understand the aircraft configuration anytime you travel with infants or toddlers. If possible, reserve a bulkhead row (the row with no seats in front of it, usually at the front of economy/coach class) with the attachable bassinet . If you have any questions about how to reserve the best seats on an aircraft when traveling with young children, airline customer service representatives can assist you.

How many baby items (and which ones) can you take through security and check at the plane gate?

The TSA allows parents to bring baby essentials such as bottles (including breast milk and formula), baby food (including puree pouches) and medication through security, even if they’re over 3.4 fluid ounces—and they don’t need to be in a quart-sized bag with the rest of your liquids, they just need to be in your carry-on.

To keep breast milk, formula and baby food cool, freeze some juice and use it as an ice pack. Frozen liquids are allowed in your carry-on luggage, and once they’re done keeping things cool, they can double as a snack for you or your little one. Note: when traveling with frozen juices, remove the containers before security screening and communicate to TSA that the contents are frozen. And they have to be completely frozen; if there’s any partial melting or liquid at the bottom, they have to meet the regulation for 3.4 fluid ounces.

As far as other baby items, diaper bags, strollers and car seats are also allowed, and many airlines allow travelers to check strollers and car seats at the gate for free .

For international travel, each country has its own rules regarding what items are allowed through airport security. So depending on where you depart, be sure to look at customs, security and border guidelines. For example, in other countries, you won’t be able to bring frozen liquids. However, items for your baby fall under medical exemption and are allowed to travel in reasonable quantities.

Should I check the car seat before security if I’m not using it on the airplane? Or is it best to check at the gate? Is there a cost for checking car seats and strollers?

Most airlines allow you to check a car seat and stroller for free, either at the ticket counter or at the gate. If you’re not using the car seat on the plane, I would suggest gate-checking. That way, you can use your car seat or stroller right up until you board the plane, making managing a baby and luggage easier—just hand it over at the boarding gate. (Editor’s note: If your baby still fits within their infant car seat’s height and weight limits, those are much easier to travel with than heavy, bulky convertible car seats. Check out our roundup of top rated infant car seats to find some travel-friendly options for babies under 1 year old.)

Gate-checking also minimizes the risk of damage by reducing some of the handling associated with checked luggage. Just remember to ask for a gate-check tag at the boarding gate.

What are some tips to keep a baby or toddler entertained on a flight?

There are several strategies to keep a little one entertained during a flight. First, consider bringing some new, small toys or books that your child hasn’t seen before—novelty can be a powerful distraction. Baby’s favorite comfort item, whether it’s a blanket, stuffed animal or pacifier, can also be incredibly useful during your trip.

While some parents prefer to limit screen time, a flight can be considered a “special occasion.” A digital tablet loaded with some toddler-friendly apps or shows can be a lifesaver.

For long-haul flights, international trips or ones lasting more than six hours, consider taking your baby for a short walk around the cabin when the seatbelt sign is off. Feel free to greet the flight attendants, but be aware, your baby might become their favorite passenger!

How can I pop baby’s ears during/after a flight?

Changes in air pressure can cause discomfort to a baby, but there are strategies to help. Consider breastfeeding or offering a bottle during takeoff and landing, as the swallowing action helps clear your baby’s ears. A pacifier can also stimulate swallowing and provide the same benefit.

For toddlers, a drink from a sippy cup or a small snack might do the trick. Chewing and swallowing can help adjust their ear pressure.

If you’re nervous about your baby’s ear health for an upcoming trip, it’s always a good idea to consult with your pediatrician before the flight for additional recommendations.

Where is the best place to breastfeed on the plane?

Where to breastfeed on a plane will largely depend on your comfort level and the type of aircraft. On wide-bodied aircraft with two aisles, some lavatories are larger and might offer more privacy. However, you’re more than welcome to breastfeed at your seat with a nursing cover.

Additionally, breastfeeding can help clear baby’s ears, so nursing during takeoff or landing may help alleviate any discomfort your baby might experience due to air pressure changes.

Where can I use a breast pump while flying? Is it rude to pump in the bathroom on a plane? And how/where can I clean all the bottles and pump parts, especially on long-haul flights?

You are absolutely allowed to use a breast pump while flying. Some parents feel more comfortable pumping in their seat with a nursing cover, while others prefer the privacy of the lavatory. Larger lavatories on wide-bodied aircrafts may offer a more comfortable space.

Cleaning pump parts can be challenging on a plane, as limited bottled water is stocked onboard. Using potable water from lavatory sinks or galley faucets is not recommended. Ideally, bring enough parts to last the flight without needing to clean anything. However, for lengthy flights or if packing additional items isn’t feasible on your trip, consider cleaning breast pump parts with bottled water and disinfectant wipes. As a flight attendant, I’d encourage you to ask the working crew for bottled water if needed. The crew is there to help.

No matter how you travel or how long it takes, it’s important to know how traveling impacts your little one’s body and behavior. Pediatric physical therapist Kailee Noland answers all your questions about keeping kiddo safe and happy during the long haul.

What is the longest a baby should be in a car seat on a road trip without getting out?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies (12 months old and younger) should only spend two to three hours in a car seat at a time, including on long road trips. This is because of how babies are positioned in a car seat, which can cause physical strain and restricted breathing after more than a couple of hours. It’s a statistic that many parents aren’t aware of and one that we definitely need to spread the word on, so be sure to send this article to a friend! (Editor’s note: Even though baby should only be in their car seat for two to three hours at a time, you can still make sure those couple of hours are nice and comfy. Check out our picks for the best car seats to see the absolute comfiest.)

Taking breaks during travel allows baby to stretch and move, plus it reduces the risk of plagiocephaly (or flat head syndrome). Remember, too, that car seats aren’t recommended as safe sleep devices. So while it may be tempting, when you reach your destination or a pit stop, please get baby up and out, even if it means having to wake them from their sweet slumber.

It’s not forever, though. Most experts agree that once a baby has the upright head and neck control to sit independently, you can begin driving longer stretches. While I know the two-hour rule may seem restricting, this is a great excuse to hunker down and stay home in those first few months to adjust, as your life has now changed, and family and friends can begin to make the effort to come to you!

If longer travel is unavoidable, here are some tips:

• Plan for your trip to take twice as long as normal. With all the stops and time allowing babe to stretch out, it’s wise to just plan this into the schedule.
• Do some gas station tummy time .
• Babywear while you take a quick walk around a park on your route. If you’re nearing the two hour limit, just check the next town en route and google “[Town Name] Park” or “[Town Name] Trail”; you’ll likely find a lovely spot for some fresh air and stretching your legs.
• When the adults need to stop to eat, be sure to take baby out of the carseat. You could babywear here, too.
• Have one parent sit in the back with baby to monitor temperature, breathing and overall comfort level. If this isn’t possible, use a travel-safe mirror or car camera to check on babe.

Keep in mind: If your child is premature or has any other medical conditions, always consult your pediatrician regarding their specific travel recommendations.

At what age is it okay to use a tablet for long trips?

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , screen time should be limited by age as follows:

• Prior to 18 months old, the only screen time should be video phone calls, which provide an active and involved experience for your child.
• Between 18 and 24 months, it’s recommended to only provide educational programming for less than one hour per day that you view with your child.
• Between two and five years old, limits are capped at one hour per day and three hours per weekend day.

These guidelines were created not only to protect your child from potentially harmful content, but also to promote optimal brain and body development. All that to say, my recommendation for independent tablet use in the car would be no sooner than two years of age. I also invite you to consider utilizing a device that isn’t actively connected to the internet or data during usage to prevent your child from accidentally stumbling onto something they shouldn’t.

For our family, we’ve always had fun utilizing a portable DVD player and headrest mount with DVDs we own or check out from the library. This ensures we’re able to control exactly what’s being viewed and the toddler/child isn’t in control of the buttons, causing potential driving distractions.

Of course, we all understand needing to entertain them in the car so you’re not stuck with a screaming toddler, but try the ideas mentioned here before resorting to screen time. Some of our favorites include:

• Activity books and sticker books
• Listening to music
• Listening to children’s stories on audiobook or podcast
• Pop-its or other car-safe toys

We also personally find that if our children have too much screen time on road trips, particularly near nap or bedtime, the blue light their eyes are taking in may reduce their sleep quality and make it difficult to get to sleep. You might consider investing in some child-sized blue light blockers to assist with combatting this issue.

How can I keep my toddler entertained in his car seat without using technological devices? Car rides often become screaming sessions!

Trust me. Been there. And it’s no fun. While I can’t guarantee a tantrum-free trip (because toddlers love to move , after all), I can give you lots of ideas that have helped make traveling with toddlers as smooth as possible!

Here are some of our favorite travel solutions:

• A portable audio player like the Yoto Mini
• Storytime podcasts
• Coloring books + Clickup markers (no more missing lids or lids that are choking hazards)
• Water painting books + reusable brushes you can fill with water
• Bubbles + the car vent
• Foam activity boards
• Playing “I spy”
• Suction spinning toys
• Car-safe non-projectile books (soft-cover only)
• Car-safe toys

Keep in mind: All items offered in the car shouldn’t be considered projectiles. This means the item should be lightweight and soft, so that in the case you got into a collision, it wouldn’t cause harm if thrown around the vehicle.

My toddler is good for about two hours of driving in a day (plus naptime), but then he screams at the very sight of his carseat, and it doesn’t really get better. I know this is normal, but when will things get better? Our family lives seven hours away, and it’s very hard to get there!

This is so tough—but our children have an innate desire to move! Think about how much we adjust in our car seats. Because of the restraints of child car seats, they’re often unable to wiggle and readjust as we are, leading them to feeling uncomfortable and fussy!

To help minimize the fuss:

• First, ensure that your kiddo’s car seat is installed properly for their weight and height and it’s at an appropriate incline angle. This eliminates whether or not significant discomfort might be what’s bothering them.
• We love to do playground pit stops to get out some energy. Often we’ll pack some snacks or grab food at a drive-through and instead of stopping at a gas station each time, we google “[Next Town] Playground” or use the Playground Buddy app . If it’s bad weather, consider exploring a nearby department store or wandering a grocery store for road trip snacks. If there’s more than one adult, you could also try having one adult take the child to the playground while the other packs the car. This already starts your little one off on a positive note with some of their movement needs fulfilled.
• Novelty is key. I often try to pack most of the activities I listed above in our travel caddy. I try to only offer one activity at a time and use “first, then” statements, like “First we’re going to color, and then we can watch a show.” Break up your screen time so you always have something fun and enticing to offer. Give them something to look forward to—maybe a special snack they get to have at your next stop.
• Consider breaking up your trip into two parts. We’ve enjoyed staying halfway in AirBnBs to make our trips more enjoyable for everyone!
• Some families also like to leave close to bedtime or very early in the morning to get a few “sleepy” hours for the kiddos in the car. Always be sure you’re not driving when you are too tired, though.
• Try playing a game of “I Spy,” but make it simpler by encouraging them to tell you when they see animals on the side of the road (we love to look for cows in the Midwest) or something that you know they might see often, like big trucks or billboards. Encourage them to look for shapes in the clouds or find things that are a certain color along your trip!
• Finally, know that it’ll improve with time! But it’s completely normal for your mover and shaker to not want to be confined to a seat for hours on end. And soon you will be at your destination and having fun!

How do you make a baby more comfortable in a car seat, especially for babies that find it hard to self-soothe in order to sleep in the car?

First, know that it’s completely normal for separation anxiety to increase in the car. While you can easily see them in the mirror, they may not be able to understand at a very young age that you’re right there with them. As mentioned previously, consider having one caregiver sit in the back next to them to ease their little minds.

And as always, make sure your car seat is installed properly for your baby’s age and size so they’re as comfortable as possible.

Something to note with car seats, too, is that traditional infant seats create a C-curve to the spine, which can be particularly uncomfortable for babies with reflux or for prolonged time spent in the car seat. Consider transitioning to a convertible car seat for improved comfort—just be sure the seat’s harness and weight limits accommodate your baby’s size safely!

Making the car environment as soothing as possible can help a lot, too. Maybe this means turning on white noise or their favorite lullabies. Try using a pacifier clip to prevent them losing their means of orally soothing.

Be sure to also offer stretch breaks at minimum every two hours to improve their physical comfort in the seat.

Be mindful of their body temperature and check to ensure they’re not too hot or too cold.

There are also many car-safe toys that you can offer if they’re at the age where they’re able to manipulate toys!

I hope these tips have been helpful and given you some ideas to try out on your next trip!

Kara Mulder

Flight attendant.

Kara Mulder, the aviation pro behind Flight Attendant Life , parlayed curiosity and an affinity for travel into careers as a private jet flight attendant and writer. Now based in Sydney, Australia, she’s crafting her debut memoir that draws from her rich life experiences. More about Kara and her work can be found at KJWattsAuthor.com .

Kailee Noland

Pediatric physical therapist, pt, dpt.

Dr. Kailee Noland, PT, DPT is a pediatric physical therapist and mama of two (soon to be three). She is a self-proclaimed baby & toddler enthusiast and is passionate about helping families incorporate developmental play into everyday routines and rhythms. She has also helped countless families feel empowered to choose the right shoes for their children. You can find support and encouragement in all things motherhood and motor milestones within The Movement Mama community.

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Air travel with infant: Is it safe?

Planning for air travel with an infant? Know how air travel can affect a newborn's ears and breathing, and what you can do to keep your baby comfortable.

Answer Section

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.

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25 Tips for Flying with a Baby

A lot of people think that once you have a baby you have to stop traveling. Fortunately, that’s far from the truth. In this guest post, Kristin Addis from Be My Travel Muse and Parenthood Adventures shares her tips for flying with a baby so you can travel with confidence the next time you take flight with your little one.

Flying with a baby can seem daunting. Plenty of parents dream of traveling with their little one , but visions of an entire plane of people gawking as their child cries keeps them from taking the leap.

As the mom of a well-traveled one-year-old, I’ve had my fair share of flights where everyone complimented how well my baby did, and others where I was counting the seconds until it was over, with a fussy, squirming child in my arms.

From those successes and failures, I’ve learned a lot about how to make a long flight more tolerable with an infant.

With 10 countries and nearly 100 flights as a family under my belt (plus some solo with my child), here’s everything I’ve learned about how to fly internationally with a baby:

Table of Contents

1. Get Your Documents in Order Prior to Booking

2. make sure baby has a ticket, 3. reserve a bassinet, 4. get toddlers their own seat for longer flights, 5. reserve a meal for them, 6. print their boarding pass, 7. leave extra time at the airport, 8. be aware of tsa regulations, 9. learn how to survive the airport and layovers, 10. keep them entertained, 11. pack finger foods for the flight, 12. prepare your carry-on, 13. understand stroller policies, 14. review the car seat policies, 15. know the baggage policies, 16. clear their ears before takeoff and landing, 17. know how to clean things onboard, 18. keep nap and sleep times consistent, 19. dress your baby comfortably, 20. take a walk, 21. be mindful of timing, 22. invest in a good baby carrier, 23. know your destination’s regulations, 24. plan for delays, 25. be patient.

Before traveling internationally, ensure you’ve left enough time to get your baby a passport. First, you’ll need a birth certificate, and depending on where you live, this could take a while.

Next, take photos of your child lying on a white background (I used a T-shirt) and make your passport office appointment, where you’ll submit your application forms ( available online and at the office), photos, and payment. Check your local passport office or post office for the required documents and procedures.

Make sure that you leave plenty of time to spare for processing the application. Consider expediting it if there’s a long wait or if you plan to travel in a week’s time (in which case, go in person). It took us about three weeks to get the appointment, and six more to get the passport (even with expedited processing).

Even if your infant will be on your lap, they still need to be ticketed to be allowed to board. For international flights, you’ll have to pay the taxes, and usually 10% of the adult fare, even if they’re just on your lap.

Make sure you have this ticket confirmation prior to heading to the airport. I have run into issues before, when the airline said my son was added to my reservation when in fact he wasn’t, causing me to miss my flight while we sorted out the extra ticket and fees. Now, I make sure I have the actual ticket confirmation to avoid any issues.

For those traveling with lap infants, check with your airline to reserve a bassinet. Bassinets attach to the area in front of the bulkhead seats, providing a safe and cozy spot for your baby to rest during the flight, and giving you your lap back. You do not need to book your child their own seat to reserve a bassinet, as it will be attached to the wall in front of you. They have weight limits, but each airline is different in terms of what those are, with most being 20–26 lbs.

These bassinets are limited, and bulkhead seats are popular, so make your reservation early to secure one. Not every airline reserves these ahead of time, but some do. Singapore Airlines and Emirates even reserve bassinet seats especially for parents!

Children under two can fly on your lap (usually for free or for a discount, as mentioned above) instead of in their own seat, but on lengthy international flights, it’s well worth booking a separate seat for them. If they’re mobile, they’ll be squirming and encroaching on the space of the people next to you if they don’t have their own seat and will probably be frustrated that they can’t move around more.

Though we didn’t do this for my baby before he was standing and crawling, on our most recent flight, from Cape Town to San Francisco , which involved 24 combined hours in the air, it was our saving grace. Having our own row gave my son space to move, stand, climb a bit, and get his energy out. It also gave us more legroom and a space for him to sleep. It was so worth the expense.

If you do this, you’ll need to either bring a car seat or CARES harness onboard for them. A CARES harness wraps around the seat, creating a better-fitting seat belt situation, but they are only usable for babies who can sit up comfortably unaided, are over 3 feet (1 meter) tall, and weigh 22-44 lbs (10-20 kg).

Some airlines offer baby meals, such as purees, and even toddler meals. Though it’s a rare offering, Emirates even has formula onboard!

Notify the airline in advance about any dietary restrictions or allergies your child may have. Airlines can often accommodate special requests, ensuring that your child has a suitable and safe meal during the flight. I always pack our own snacks and food as well, since you never know what the meal might include, and babies get hungry on their own schedule.

Don’t count on the airline to provide milk for your child. We’ve found that while some have milk onboard, they’re not really prepared with extra for babies and toddlers, and some might not have any to spare at all. We bring our own plant milk in smaller containers (see below about quantities), or lately, I’ve been bringing powdered fortified oat milk sachets now that he’s older. Toddler formula is an option as well!

Even though parents can use mobile boarding passes, I’ve always been required to show a printed ticket for our baby, even as a lap infant. From time to time, the ticketing agents have not realized this and said we could use a mobile ticket, but TSA, at least in the US, may require the printed ticket to get through security. While you’re checking in at the kiosk, just ask for printed tickets to avoid any headache.

Give yourself more time at the airport than you ever did before when traveling with a baby. Diaper changes, blowouts, extra time in security, and impromptu feedings can all happen, and having a comfortable buffer before your flight leaves is essential. It also allows for a more leisurely airport experience, ensuring that you don’t start off the whole trip rushed and stressed. You may have been able to sprint to a closing gate in the past, but that’s going to be difficult with a baby and all the extra luggage that entails!

Security is a whole new experience as a parent, and one you’ll be spending extra time dealing with. Familiarize yourself with regulations concerning traveling with a child, and know your rights. Regulations can change, so if you’re departing from the US, check the TSA website for the most up-to-date information (and if abroad, check your country’s website).

The most important thing to know is that formula, breast milk, juice, water, and food for infants are allowed over the 3 oz./100ml limit in “reasonable” quantities, which will be up to the agent. I have only been questioned once, and only in the US. Abroad, we’ve hardly been given any extra checks when the agents know the liquids are for a baby. We even brought an entire carry-on full of oat milk through security in South Africa without anyone batting an eye.

However, when going through US security, you will have extra checks. They may run any liquids through an extra scanner, bomb-test the bag if there’s powdered formula, and even take off the lid to perform a vapor test. This can take anywhere from 5 to 20 extra minutes, even if you have TSA Precheck!

After security, we’re usually on the lookout for a family bathroom (so we can all go in) for a diaper change, followed by finding a quiet area to let the time pass. If you have a toddler, locate family-friendly amenities, such as play areas, where your child can expend some energy. I like to research this before we even get to the airport, so we know where we’re going.

Remember to have a stroller that can fit in the overhead bin of an airplane or baby carrier for easy transport in the terminal. I prefer smaller strollers, so that I don’t risk them getting damaged through gate-checking and don’t have to wait after the flight to get the stroller if it’s a tight connection, which happens all the time when there are delays.

However, if your stroller is too large to be a carry-on, you can usually gate-check it for free. I have yet to come across an airline, including low-cost carriers, that don’t do this.

If your baby needs to move, let them crawl. Yes, the floor is dirty, but you can always wash their hands and change their outfit before boarding.

In your diaper bag (which doesn’t count against carry-on allowance), pack a variety of entertainment options for your baby. We like to stick spinners to the plane windows and bring small object permanence boxes , little books, and stickers. Most airlines have had little toys as well, though I wouldn’t count on those being your main source of entertainment. Never underestimate the power of reading a book, playing peek-a-boo, or giving your child a water bottle to play with.

Although we’ve never done this, I’m not here to judge you if you download some Ms. Rachel on your phone or tablet before leaving home. Just keep in mind that you’ll have to either play it without sound or get your toddler baby-sized headphones for the full experience.

Another way I pass the time is by making sure my son is fed and happy with foods that take some time to eat. Finger foods like Cheerios, squished blueberries, smoothie melts, quartered grapes, and other non-messy fruits or veggies your child enjoys are always good to bring along. If you’re doing baby-led weaning, you can do this from six months of age. If you’re doing purees, bring pouches that don’t need refrigeration.

Keep in mind that you’ll have to finish any produce before entering your destination, as most countries do not allow outside fruits and veggies through customs.

In your carry-on bag, ensure you have enough diapers, wipes, pacifiers, and changes of clothes for delays. We usually pack way more diapers than we think we’ll need, and even so, we often go through all of them when we encounter delays or an upset stomach. We’ve gone through four changes of clothes before, too. Diapers and wipes can be difficult to impossible to find in the terminal, and most airlines don’t carry them onboard.

Don’t forget extra outfits for yourself, too, as travel can sometimes lead to unexpected messes. Additionally, have a small first-aid kit that includes any medications your baby might need, such as pain relievers, fever reducers, or allergy medication. It’s the worst to wish you had these onboard when you need them and to not have them on hand.

TSA will apply liquid limits to medications unless you have a prescription, so put over-the-counter liquids into smaller containers for travel.

Thankfully most airlines do not count a stroller or car seat against your checked baggage allowance if you choose to check your stroller or car seat. I also have yet to find an airline that doesn’t allow parents to gate-check strollers, meaning you can use them in the airport until you board the plane. This convenience can make navigating the airport much more manageable.

If you can’t gate-check your stroller, many airports have free ones you can use while you’re at the airport.

If you’re traveling with a car seat, you have the option of checking it as hold luggage, bringing it to the gate, or bringing it onboard if your baby has their own seat. If you do check it as hold luggage, as mentioned above, it usually does not count against checked luggage limits, even on low-cost carriers. If you plan to check both a stroller and a car seat, check with the airline, as some only allow one.

You’re rolling the dice a bit checking a car seat, because if it gets lost, you could show up to your destination without it. We’ve still gone for it, though, knowing the risk, in order to have less to juggle in the airport, but it’s important to keep that in mind just in case.

If you plan to bring the car seat onboard, make sure it’s FAA-approved for air travel. I loved our Uppababy Mesa, and the Nuna Pipa is great too.

Traveling with children often means more luggage, so be prepared for potential extra baggage fees. Familiarize yourself with the weight and size restrictions to avoid surprises at the check-in counter. Some airlines will give a baby some checked baggage allowance, but most don’t unless the child has their own seat.

We have yet to manage to go carry-on only since having a baby. We’re usually traveling with his foldable bed, travel high chair, and extra food for him. Thankfully most baggage is included without extra fees for international flights, with the exception of low-cost carriers.

Carry-on strollers and diaper bags have never been counted against our allowance.

During takeoff and landing, changes in cabin pressure can cause discomfort for everyone, but babies don’t know yet how to clear their ears. To help alleviate this, breastfeed, or offer a bottle, pacifier, or even a snack that encourages swallowing. By making sure we do this for every takeoff and landing, we’ve been able to avoid crying due to ear pressure issues.

If you’re on a long flight, you’ll eventually need to clean a bottle or maybe even a breast pump. I like to bring a small, 2–3 oz. unscented soap container and a portable bottle washing station . Ask the flight attendants for clean water for washing. I’ve had them sometimes even offer to rinse a bottle out for me with hot water.

International travel often involves crossing multiple time zones, which can lead to jet lag for both you and your child. To help minimize its effects, make sure you’re keeping with regular nap times and bedtime as much as you can while flying. Stick to the local schedule upon arrival to adapt more quickly.

Jet lag is one of the biggest fears parents have, but my son tends to adjust more quickly than I do, and I’ve been impressed every time!

Dress your child in comfortable, breathable clothing for the flight. Opt for layers, as the temperature on the plane can vary. We always put my son in bamboo baby clothes , which are great for temperature regulation, and, having worn the adult versions myself, I can vouch that it’s like wearing a cloud. In a dry environment like an airplane, having some comfort is key.

If you have a toddler, make sure you’re getting up and letting them walk up and down the aisles when there aren’t food or beverage carts around. It can help pass the time, get some energy out, and if you have a social kiddo like mine, give them a chance to wave at their adoring fans.

Although there are some well-publicized incidents with passengers getting upset at crying babies, I’ve never personally encountered anything like that, and find that fellow passengers will often play peekaboo or smile and wave at my son.

When booking your flights, choose departure times that align with your child’s schedule as much as possible. Although it’s sometimes unavoidable, it sets us off on the wrong foot if I have to wake my son up for a flight well before he would naturally. He’s fussy and irritable, and he doesn’t always fall back asleep easily.

As for red-eyes or day flights, I’ve found that both work, but at least on a red-eye, he’s more likely to sleep for a good chunk of it, meaning I have to find fewer ways to entertain him.

A comfortable baby carrier is a valuable asset when traveling with a child under two years. It allows you to have your hands free to manage luggage, documents, and other essentials while keeping them secure and close. We only traveled with a carrier until my son was about eight months old before switching to a stroller. That said, some destinations don’t have great sidewalks (I’m looking at you, Southeast Asia), so having a carrier is important, too. I have used both Ergobaby and Artipoppe and like both for different reasons: Artipoppe is more comfortable for the baby facing in, and Ergobaby is nicer facing outward.

Different countries may have specific regulations and requirements for traveling with a child. Research and familiarize yourself with any necessary documentation, vaccinations, or permits needed for your international destination.

I was surprised that in Namibia, we were asked to produce a birth certificate for my son when checking in for our flight to South Africa. We travel with a copy, which I’m glad we had along.

If you’re traveling solo, you may be required to show a copy of the birth certificate, a copy of the other parent’s passport, and a written authorization from the other parent that you’re allowed to take the baby out of the country. Canada listed this as a requirement, but I was never actually asked for anything. Still, it’s important to be prepared just in case.

Delays can happen (over 20% of flights are delayed, in fact!), so it’s wise to be prepared for them. Pack enough supplies, including diapers, formula, snacks, and entertainment, to handle unforeseen delays. We encounter them all the time, and a well-stocked carry-on can make waiting at the airport more manageable. If you have a phone or tablet for your toddler, make sure you have an external battery to keep them charged.

Traveling with a child can be challenging, and there may be moments of frustration or fatigue. Remember to stay patient and calm throughout the journey. If you’re super stressed out and nervous, your child will pick up on it. A positive attitude and a sense of humor can go a long way in making the experience enjoyable for both you and your little one.

Ultimately, the key to a successful international journey with a child under two is embracing the adventure and knowing that it may not go perfectly. The flight is a necessary step to get to the vacation, so make the most of the experience, relish the small victories, and know that even if you have a fussy baby, it’s okay. They are part of society, and they’re allowed to fly, even cry if they have to.

It’s all worth it to build memories that you’ll always cherish with your little one, and to treat yourself as parents, too!

Kristin Addis is a solo female travel expert who inspires women to travel the world in an authentic and adventurous way. A former investment banker who sold all of her belongings and left California in 2012, Kristin has been traveling the world ever since. You can find more of her musings at Be My Travel Muse or on Instagram and Facebook .

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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How to Take a Flight with a Baby (32 Tips)

Written by Becca

Updated on March 18th, 2024

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.

This article may contain affiliate links. We earn a small commissions when you purchase via those links — and it's free for you. It's only us (Becca & Dan) working on this website, so we value your support! Read our privacy policy and learn more about us .

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 immediate free shipping when you spend $50+; no code needed.

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.

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 and then a toddler, 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.

If in the bassinet row, your toddler may want to nap on the floor.

This is apparently allowed, given the length of flight and airline. My friend’s toddler did this when she had the bulkhead seats for her and her partner and had their younger baby in the bassinet.

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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11 Genius Airplane Travel Tips for Traveling With a Baby

By Yasmine Moussa Published: May 23, 2023 Updated: October 28, 2023 This article contains affiliate links. Please see our full affiliate policy .

Traveling with your little one, whether it’s to see family that’s far away or to have an adventure of your own, is a lot different than traveling without kids. Mostly, you’ve got to be prepared for any situation that might arise while in transit and have the necessary gear packed for your stay. But with the right preparations and tips, a laid back attitude, and an extra outfit (or two)—traveling with a baby is totally doable. 

In this section, we’re going to cover tips for traveling with your baby in the first year. We’ll also cover advice about how to make the duration of your stay a bit easier too. Let’s get you adventure-ready!

1. Book your airplane seats strategically

The first step of any trip is booking your flight. As you may know, children under the age of two can fly for free as lap passengers which is appealing if you have family that lives far away. However, it should be noted that the Federal Aviation Administration does state that the safest place for your little one is in a car seat , not on your lap. So, if you can swing it financially it’s best to book baby their own seat and bring your car seat aboard. Take advantage of early boarding to get set up and situated before takeoff.

When you book your tickets, try to choose seat towards the front of the plane to reduce turbulence and likelihood of motion sickness. If you are taking your little one on a long flight (say, overseas) opt for a seat with a fold-down bassinet. It’s so worth it to have a place for baby to rest and sleep on a flat back for extra-long travel. Even with their own seat and a car seat, on a very long flight, you will want to have another space for them to be in. It’s unrealistic that they’d stay strapped in a car seat for many hours, and having this space will save you. You may need to call the airline to check about the availability of this amenity and make sure you can reserve it.

If you decide to bring baby on board as a lap baby, having an extra seat is still so helpful for spreading out, nursing, and all the baby stuff. When you arrive at your gate, I highly recommend going to the desk and speaking with the attendant. They may be able to move your seat (or someone else’s) to get you a seat next to an empty seat or in an otherwise empty row if the flight isn’t fully booked. Once when I flew alone with my firstborn the gate attendant secretly did this for me, it was the best surprise!

2. Pack lots of extras in your carry-on

Your carry-on will be your lifeline for the duration of your flight and time in the airport. Keep in mind that if your luggage gets lost (gah!) or your flights get delayed or canceled, you may be living out of your carry-on for much longer than expected.

For this reason, make sure to pack WAY more than you think you’d need. Have double the amount of diapers , baby food , baby clothes , etc. When choosing clothing, prioritize breathable materials that won’t cause irritation or discomfort to your child’s skin. This is especially crucial for items like socks or underwear that have close contact with the skin.

Avoid tight-fitting or synthetic materials, particularly in hot weather, as they can be less comfortable. Instead, opt for cotton or bamboo socks and underwear, which are known for their breathability. You can  try these  organic cotton toddler socks in various types and sizes to find the best options for your child.

To be extra prepared, have a change of clothes for you and your partner as well. If baby vomits on you or has an unexpected blow-out, you won’t be stuck traveling in dirty clothes. I always make sure to keep a few zip-loc bags , or a reusable wet bag in my diaper bag/carry on too, for soiled clothes and burp cloths.

If you are traveling with your breast pump , carrying this on the plane is best. You don’t want to find yourself without a pump and wind up with plugged milk ducts or an infection during your trip. Sometimes babies nurse less frequently during travel due to all of the distractions, so you may need to pump even if you usually don’t.

Additionally, pack the supplies you need to safely store breast milk during travel. Breastmilk is an exception to the limited liquid guidelines, so you just need to plan extra time to have it inspected at security.

3. Nurse during take-off and landing

If your baby is still breastfeeding, nursing during takeoff and landing can really help them cope with the ear pain that often occurs with the change in pressure. (Read this article for tips on how to breastfeed in public .)

Nursing your baby during the flight might also put them to sleep, which will make for a calmer, more relaxing flight for everyone. You can assess the pros and cons of nursing during take-off and landing vs. keeping them in their car seat to decide what makes you feel most comfortable and safe.

One thing to keep in mind is that I recommend not putting off feeding them to make sure they’ll eat during takeoff. You don’t want to board the plane with a hungry and fussy baby who can’t calm down to latch. Ideally, you can feed baby 30-60 minutes prior to takeoff, so that they aren’t starving, but aren’t so full that they won’t eat either. This can be tricky to predict in the event of delays, so if you’re unsure, just follow baby’s lead and keep them full and happy. 

4. Wear your baby through security

Most mamas who’ve traveled with infants and babies will tell you that wearing your baby in a baby carrier through the airport and security is the easiest. You don’t have to worry about germs, you’ll be hands free, and security is a breeze.

5. Gate-check your stroller

But even if you’re wearing baby, I still recommend bringing your stroller through the airport. Why? To hold all the baby things of course! Your stroller can become a holder for your carry on, car seat, etc. while you wear baby.

Most airlines offer complimentary gate check for strollers and car seats (if you’re not bringing it on board), this way you can get them right when you exit the plane at your destination. It also limits the likelihood of your stroller or car seat getting lost or damaged if you check them in the traditional manner.

Even when gate checking these items, I do recommend putting them in travel bags . This is another way to limit potential damage while they’re under the plane or being handled by airport personnel. 

6. Use curbside check-in

Traveling with a baby usually means bringing along some extra items. If you are checking luggage, use curbside check in. It will make your life so much easier than lugging everything from parking, onto a shuttle, and into the airport to check in.

7. Follow diaper-changing etiquette on the plane

Before boarding, make sure to change your little one’s diaper and use the restroom yourself. If it’s a shorter flight, hopefully you won’t even have to deal with a diaper change in the air.

But if you do, it’s usually best practice to change them in the lavatory. Surprisingly, many airplane bathrooms actually have a fold-down changing table. You can call ahead or ask when you board to check. If you do change your baby at your seat, I’d recommend only doing so if you have an entire row to yourself and only a wet diaper, out of consideration for those around you.

8. Do some research ahead of time about the airport and airplane

On the same note about checking if your plane will have a changing table, do some other research about your airport and any airports where you’ll have a layover. Most airports have lactation rooms for nursing mothers. It can be nice to have a quiet, calm, baby-friendly space to nurse and snuggle your babe between flights. For more mobile babies that need to wiggle, airports often have indoor play areas for children.

If there’s not a lactation room in your terminal or close to your gate, private restrooms often referred to as ‘family restrooms’ can be a quiet respite. It’s a place you can turn off the lights and help your baby fall asleep in a carrier or wrap if they’re having a particularly tough time travelling as well.

9. Bring some entertainment for your older baby

If you’re traveling with an older baby, entertainment will be important. Pack some books , small toys , and even a busy board if you have room for it. For toys and books, ideally you would want them to be new and novel to your baby so they are a little more interested at first. Depending on your baby’s age, some toys I would recommend are:

• Tegu magnetic wooden blocks
• HABA clutching toys
• Fat Brain Toys Pip Squigz
• Pop up peekaboo book

10. Bring some snacks and solids

If your baby is already eating some solids, you should plan to bring along some snacks, homemade baby food , and/or organic baby food pouches , Putting snacks in snack containers that give baby a challenge can be effective at occupying them for some of the flight.

11. Keep everyone healthy

Before traveling with a baby — especially on an airplane — it’s smart to work on your and your baby’s immune system. If you give supplements such as baby probiotics and vitamin D , this is a good time to make sure you aren’t skipping days.

Throughout your flights and time at the airport, be diligent about hand hygiene to minimize your and your baby’s exposure to germs. Wearing your baby through the airport can help ward off strangers from touching or getting too close to your baby and spreading illness.

You can also use baby wipes or hydrogen peroxide wipes to wipe down your seats, arm rests, etc. when you board the plane. This may not be totally necessary because of the cleaning precautions already in place, but go ahead and bring some on board with you if you prefer to do this. (I pack a few in a little baggie rather than trying to lug the entire can around.)

Now You’re Adventure-Ready!

Having a baby isn’t a reason to stay home and avoid travel. Traveling with a baby can be fun and manageable. You can do this!

Using the tips in this section your airplane travel will be a little bit easier. Most important for a successful trip? Semi-low expectations, planning and preparation. If you have the right things at the ready, you’ll be prepared for whatever the trip throws your way! Remember to take lots of pictures (get in them, too!) and have fun making memories with your family. And if you need something you didn’t think of, you can always rent baby gear at your destination.

Keep Reading:

• 10 Helpful Tips for Staying in a Hotel or Airbnb With Your Baby
• How to Safely Road Trip With a Baby: 11 Essential Tips
• 3 Best Non-Toxic Play Yards for Babies and Toddlers

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MEET THE AUTHOR

Yasmine moussa.

Founder and Chief Mama Officer of The Gentle Nursery. Yasmine is the founder of The Gentle Nursery as well as the CEO of Biomeology , a prenatal wellness company. She is a wife, proud mom of two boys, a graduate of the University of Southern California, and a Functional Nutrition Coach. With a 10-year background in research, analytics, and leadership for a Fortune 100 company, Yasmine applies the same principles and attention to detail to every article she writes and researches.

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Traveling With a Baby Is Hard, But These 12 Things Make It Less Painful

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Amazon / Skiphop / Cocoon

There’s no greater distance between two points than a trip you take with a baby . Even the most cheerful little one can get (understandably) grumpy when they’re confined to a car or plane seat—and if the baby isn’t happy, no one is happy. The reverse is true, too, though: A happy kid means a happy parent. 

These editor picks for plane and car travel with a baby will help keep them fed, rested, comfortable, and entertained on short or long journeys, which means you can relax a little too.

For Keeping Baby Entertained

Babies love to play, and these colorful, lightweight toys for infants allow for hours (OK, at least minutes!) of fun.

Lamaze Captain Calamari

It's a pirate … octopus? Sure, why not. All I know is that, when I bring it out, my baby is riveted. Is it the mirror on the bottom? The ball with the colorful little balls inside that rattle when he shakes it? The crinkly bits? Who knows, and frankly, who cares? He loves it, which means I love it, and I'll take the 20 minutes of peace it gives me. — Cecily McAndrews

Bright Starts Lots of Links Rings

This one is an absolute MUST. I buy it for every baby shower I go to. It was a lifesaver on planes with all of my three kids. They can be linked together, chewed on, used as bracelets, stacked, attached to strollers and baby carriers. So many uses for one small, very affordable toy. —  Hildara Araya

For Keeping Baby Comfortable

Some simple, inexpensive items will help keep your little one dry and happy, even under unusual circumstances.

Skip Hop Pronto Signature Changing Station

I loved being able to leave the diaper bag at home and instead have this mini changing station at the ready for squeezing into the miniscule airplane bathrooms. The designs make me happy, too, which is surprising for an accessory you use when wiping butts. — Sabrina Rojas Weiss

MAM Original Baby Pacifier

Take off and landing can be the most stressful part of flying with a baby—they can be inconsolable when their ears pop. To help with this, a lot of the time you'll be told to give them a bottle (or plan to nurse) during take off and landing. But if your baby isn't hungry, what then? With a baby it's probably a good rule of thumb to always have a couple of extra pacifiers on you at all times, and flying is certainly no exception. That sucking reflex will keep them from experiencing a ton of pain due to the change in pressure. — Ashleigh Morley

For Keeping Baby Fed

Nothing is worse than a hangry baby. These essentials will keep them fed on the go.

We Are Amma Cocoon Cover

We Are Amma

I loved traveling with this cover. Not only is it beautiful and doubles as a scarf or poncho you can wear anytime, but it is lightweight, comfortable, and so easy to use. It was so easy to put on, and my baby loved being under it while nursing or just cuddling while tired. I used it on the plane, in the car, and in restaurants. The baby can look out, but no one can see through it. It is easy to poke your head through the top to look at your baby which my son just loved. — Holly Klamer

Skip Hop Bottle Bag

This is such a simple and yet vital accessory when traveling with a baby. The top carrying handle is a clip that makes it easy to attach to a stroller, backpack, or even a belt buckle. It fits two bottles, has a mesh pocket inside for an ice pack, and stands up on its own. This little bag was an MVP when we were flying, traveling to the beach, or just going to the park on a playdate. — AM

Hiccapop OmniBoost Travel Booster Seat

This seat was a life saver for making mealtimes easy while traveling. We set it up at my in-law's house and loved that it was easy to wash and wipe down. It folds up in an easy-to-carry case, making it ideal for travel. — HK

For a Baby on the Move

Whether you’re racing to catch a flight or taking a pit stop on the road, here are some safe and effective ways to take your little one along for the ride.

Baby Bjorn Carrier One

When you're traveling as a parent, one of the most important things I found was to have your hands free. And for me, that meant baby wearing . This carrier from Baby Bjorn is easy to use (so important!) and comfortable to wear (a close second, in terms of importance). You won't be able to wear your baby in a carrier during take off and landing on most airlines, but it's still a must-have—especially for air travel. — AM

Contours Bitsy Elite Stroller

The eternal problem of a parent on the go: When you need a stroller, you really need it, but when you don’t need one, it can be so bulky and annoying to move around. That’s why I love this high-quality umbrella stroller. It’s lightweight, can be folded with one hand, and fits into the overhead compartment for most airlines. It also reclines, for naps on the go, and is made of a nice, comfortable, breathable fabric. — CM

Uppababy Vista Stroller Travel Bag

“If you're traveling with a stroller, check to see if the brand makes a stroller bag. We had an Uppababy and this bag made flying with the stroller possible and, frankly, easier. Airlines aren't known for being gentle with cargo, and Uppababy's travel bag essentially acts as an insurance policy for your stroller: When you register your bag on its site, the company will help you with repairs or replacement should anything happen to the stroller when you use the bag. We never once had an issue with our stroller getting damaged with this bag, and it rolls up pretty small, so stowing it in the stroller basket was a cinch. It made traveling with such a big stroller actually feasible! — AM

For a Well-Rested Baby

If you have a long journey, it’s crucial to have a comfortable, safe place for your baby to snooze. Here are some essentials.

Hatch Rest Mini White Noise Smart Sound Machine

When you’re staying in a hotel or at someone’s house, you never know what kind of noise level you’ll have at nighttime or during naps. We have a full-sized Hatch at home, and this one recreates the rain noise that he loves so much, and allows him (and, in turn, me) to sleep soundly, no matter what is going on outside. — CM

Uppababy Remi Portable Playard With Bassinet Attachment

By the time you get to your destination, everybody is usually exhausted, and the last thing you want to do is fight with a portable crib. I’ve wrestled with some pack-and-plays in my time, and this is by far the easiest one I’ve ever had to wrangle. It assembles in less than a minute. I also like that it comes with a bag with handles on the side and on the top. All the components fit neatly together, and it stands on its end, so it doesn’t fall over when you’re loading or unloading it from the car. It’s a bit pricey, but a good purchase. — CM

How To Soothe A Kid’s Ears On A Plane, According To Doctors

On Assignment For HuffPost

Whether you’re a parent or not, you know that when a plane starts to descend, it means one thing: screaming kids.

Most of us have experienced the sensation of clogged or even painful ears during air travel, but no one seems to have it worse than little kids. Many of them often seem to be in full-blown, excruciating pain as the plane gets further from or closer to the ground.

If you’ve ever wondered if kids actually experience more ear pain on planes than adults (versus just being really dramatic), the answer is yes, according to Dr. Katie Lockwood , a primary care pediatrician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

“Kids experience more ear pain than adults during plane rides, particularly takeoff and landing, due to their ear anatomy being different than adults,” she said. “The eustachian tubes, which connect the middle ear to the back of the throat, are smaller and do not equalize the pressure as well as adult ears.”

Dr. Charles Hannum , a general pediatrician at Tufts Medical Center and assistant professor of pediatrics at Tufts University School of Medicine, adds that kids have more horizontal eustachian tubes than adults do, making drainage more difficult.

“When kids are younger, more fluid can stay in the ear because it isn’t really traveling down to the throat,” he said. “Unfortunately, for some kids, because they either have an acute illness, uncontrolled allergies or really big adenoid tissue, there are lots of ways that tubes can get blocked, and it’s harder and harder for fluid to escape.”

Plus, Lockwood said, young kids are less able to comply with some of the maneuvers that help ears equalize pressure, such as yawning. Hannum pointed out that the old “hold your nose and blow” trick that adults often use to release pressure from their ears isn’t exactly easy to explain to kids.

What parents can do to ease kids’ ears on planes

Now you know why kids are so prone to ear pain on planes, but what can you do about it? Here’s what Lockwood and Hannum suggest:

Try to avoid traveling with sick kids

An annoying suggestion? Yes — because we all know that it’s pretty hard to control when kids get sick, and they get sick a lot — but sickness or even a recent illness (especially an ear infection) can worsen ear pain.

“Try to avoid traveling while sick or with uncontrolled seasonal allergies, as these issues will impact how well ears can adapt to pressure changes,” Lockwood said.

Try a saline spray if kids are stuffy

Using a saline spray can help mobilize fluid secretion, according to Hannum. “For sick kids, a saline spray plus keeping them well hydrated, can help move mucus around.” This movement can help lessen ear pain, he explained.

And regardless of whether they’re sick, keeping your child well hydrated prior to and during the flight is key. “The air on airplanes tends to be pretty dry, making it harder for the mucus to go away,” Hannum said.

Use Tylenol or ibuprofen

Once in a while, taking preventive measures with child-safe Tylenol or ibuprofen is a good idea ― and air travel is one of those times.

“A little bit of Tylenol or ibuprofen is safe if you know your child is prone to have these issues,” Hannum said. “Trying to time the dosing to about 30 minutes before the plane is landing is ideal. … A one-time dose to help with that is totally fine, especially for kids who have had [ear pain on planes] in the past.”

Make sure they’re drinking something or yawning

Both Lockwood and Hannum say the acts of swallowing and sucking can be helpful in relieving pressure and pain, so if you’re traveling with a baby, encourage them to drink during plane pressure changes. For infants, encourage them to nurse, drink from a bottle or use a pacifier.

For toddlers, Lockwood said it can be helpful to have them suck on a lollipop, drink through a straw, or have them yawn by making silly faces or playing a game of mimicry with you. “Older children can chew gum or a chewy snack,” she said.

Don’t let them sleep through takeoff or landing, and let them cry

These both might seem counterintuitive. But Lockwood emphasized that keeping your child awake during takeoff and landing can reduce ear pain.

“Children should not sleep through takeoff and landing, as they may have a harder time trying to equalize the pressure when they wake up,” she said. Hannum echoed this, noting that kids are typically swallowing less when they’re sleeping, making it harder for them to keep fluid moving around.

Finally, if your child is crying, you should probably do the thing the other passengers don’t want you to do and let them keep going.

“The crying is kind of like yawning; it stimulates the swallowing, sucking, chewing motion,” Hannum said.

While ear pain on planes is one of the downsides of traveling with kids, in the grand scheme of things it’s a small part of your trip — and there’s quite a bit you can do to ease it. So arm yourself with Tylenol and snacks, and enjoy your flight.

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My child has an ear infection. Is it safe to fly?

That depends on how serious the infection is. If your child has an acute infection or a bulging eardrum, the pressure in his ears during takeoff and landing could be very uncomfortable. Occasionally, a severe ear infection can cause the eardrum to burst.

If your child develops an infection within hours of your scheduled trip, consider postponing your flight. Ear infections usually subside within a day or two, and sparing your child unnecessary ear pain may be well worth the delay. Sometimes an airline will waive the rescheduling fee if you have a doctor's note.

Twenty-four to 48 hours after an ear infection begins, check for obvious signs of discomfort. If your child doesn't seem to be in pain and doesn't have a fever , he's probably ready to fly.

If your child is uncomfortable during the flight, you can give him the appropriate dose of acetaminophen or (if he's 6 months or older) ibuprofen.

Giving him something to drink can help inflate the eustachian tubes (the tubes that connect the middle ear to the nasal area) and lessen the pressure in his ears. But don't offer it right after takeoff – he might finish before there's much change in pressure.

Wait until you feel the pressure change in your ears, and then encourage him to drink. (Same thing when landing.)

Child-size earplugs can also help relieve discomfort by regulating changes in air pressure in your child's ear.

For more, read about traveling with a child who has a cold .

Was this article helpful?

Should we postpone our plane trip if our child has a cold?

Where can I change my baby on a plane?

Is there a best time of day to travel with a baby or toddler?

Earwax buildup

BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies .

AAP. 2015a. Ear infection information. American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/ear-nose-throat/Pages/Ear-Infection-Information.aspx Opens a new window [Accessed February 2017]

AAP. 2015b. Your child and ear infections. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/ear-nose-throat/Pages/Your-Child-and-Ear-Infections.aspx Opens a new window [Accessed February 2017]

Nemours Foundation. 2016. Flying and your child’s ears. http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/flying-ears.html Opens a new window [Accessed February 2017]

Where to go next

Flying with a 4-Month-Old Baby: A Complete Guide

Walking around Honolulu Airport after a long flight from San Francisco.

Holding baby Scout outside Honolulu Airport.

My husband and I traveled very often before we had our baby daughter Scout, and we still wanted to continue our adventures as parents. At four-months-old we took Scout to New York City during the autumn season , and then at 6-months we took her to Oahu in Hawaii.

I was definitely nervous about flying with a baby for the first time, but it turned out to be fairly smooth. I did have some learning experiences that I will definitely be sharing in this blog post, and many more tips to help parents plan their baby-friendly air travel.

Landing in Hawaii with Baby Scout.

Daddy holding baby Scout on the airplane to Hawaii.

Everything to Do Before Your Trip

Booking your airline tickets.

Most airlines in the United States allow infants and toddlers under 2-years-old to fly for free. You are not guaranteed a seat for your baby if you do not specifically purchase a seat for them. On fully booked flights they will have to sit on your lap. We were lucky on a few flights - there were empty seats and the airline crew gave us a whole row so we could have a seat for Scout.

After you purchase your airfare tickets, you are supposed to call the airline and let them know you’ll be traveling with an infant. One of the adult’s boarding passes will have the baby’s ticket assigned to it (even though you didn’t pay for it). I don’t think it’s a huge deal if you forget to call, you can just let them know when you check-in for your boarding pass.

Seat Assignment & Time of Flight

If you are able to book a flight at a time when they are normally sleeping, then they’re likely to sleep most of the way. We had a red eye flight from San Francisco to NYC and Scout slept in my arms for a solid 5 hours.

If you’re able to select your seat, the window seat has more room and you can use blankets and jackets to create a comfortable sleeping nook next to the window.

If you end up seated away from your travel companion, don’t be shy about asking someone to swap seats. We had to do this on one of our flights because my husband’s seat was several rows away from mine. Our fellow passengers were very kind and understanding.

Diaper Bag Packing List for Baby

Having a fully-stocked diaper bag is very important for a successful flight with an infant. Most airlines will allow one carry-on diaper bag per child, in addition to your two allotted carry-on bags per person.

I recommend a hand’s free backpack diaper bag because you will probably need to carry your baby. Buy Buy Baby online has the best selection of backpack diaper bags .

Warm Baby Blanket - The temperature can be unpredictable on an airplane. This blanket will also help with making a makeshift bed for baby to sleep on.

Extra clothing in case baby’s diaper leaks or they are cold and need more layers.

Extra diapers , wipes and diaper rash cream .

Formula and bottles - I recommend the Ready-to-Feed formula bottles for traveling. Keep reading to below section on TSA rules for baby formula.

Pacifiers , pacifier straps and baby-safe disinfecting pacifier wipes .

Small baby books and soft-cloth baby books .

Puffs and dissolvable snacks . My favorite brand for baby food and snacks is Happy Baby .

Hand sanitizer .

Small toys .

Recommended Travel Baby Gear

Baby Carriers - Important so you can be hands free!

Pack ‘n’ Play - Make sure you check this when you get your boarding pass.

Co-Sleeper - We used ours everyday with Scout until she grew out of it. It’s great for your bed and for traveling!

Sound Machine - Help your baby sleep anywhere your travels take you.

Backpack Diaper Bag - Another important piece of baby gear to be hands-free!

Happy baby Scout in her Maxi-Cosi Zelia travel carseat .

Daddy keeping baby Scout entertained on the airplane.

Guide to Navigating the Airport with Your Baby

Getting through tsa with formula, baby food & distilled water.

We all know the rules about no liquids over 3.4 ounces are allowed in your carry-on bag. Baby formula, baby food and distilled water for your infant are some of the rare exceptions to this rule. At TSA they will require you to open up your carry-on bags for an inspection of all the bottles, formula and baby food. But they won’t force you to dump it like they would any other liquids.

When we traveled with Scout we always used the Ready-to-Feed Newborn Bottles (you can use these until they turn one-year-old despite the fact that they call them “newborn bottles”). These pre-mixed disposable formula bottles can be purchased online and are super convenient. They don’t require you to wash and sterilize bottles while traveling and you don’t have to mix any formula powder and water.

***It can be tricky to find these 2 oz bottles in stores, they are often sold out or not available in stores. I highly recommend planning ahead and purchasing a large amount online to bring on your trip.

To make your inspections at TSA run smoothly, keep your formula in clear bags and place it in its own tray to run through the scanner. Be prepared to run the stroller and car seat through the scanner as well.

Online Stores that Sell Ready-to-Feed Formula Bottles:

Walmart (they sell the 24-pack )

CVS Pharmacy

Amazon ( Enfamil 24-Pack )

Air-Travel with a Stroller & Carseat

Traveling with a carseat and a stroller is a non-negotiable with a baby, but it can be logistically tricky with air travel.

Here’s what you need to know:

You can bring both your carseat and stroller onto the plane without paying any checked bag fees. (Double check this with your airline. We didn’t have to pay any extra fees for our stroller and carseat).

You can roll your baby in the stroller as far as down the walkway to the door of the plane. Immediately before we stepped onto the plane, we folded down the stroller and put the carseat and stroller into our travel bags . Before you begin boarding, the airline crew will tag your stroller and carseat travel bags at the counter. The carseat and stroller will be stowed below the plane.

The stroller and carseat will be returned to you immediately after you get off the plane. Make sure to hold on to the ticket stubs they gave you, they’ll need them to locate your carseat and stroller bags.

If you have purchased an extra seat for your infant, then you can bring your carseat onto the plane. Otherwise you will have stow the carseat below the plane with the stroller.

Stroller and carseat travel bags are available to purchase online at Buy Buy Baby. These are basically special luggage to protect your stroller and carseat from getting dirty and damaged while they are stowed away below the plane. We have the Zelia Carseat and Stroller By Maxi-Cosi and we purchased the J.L. Childress carseat travel bag and stroller travel bag .

Our stroller is the type where the carseat is actually the seat for the stroller (known as a “ Travel System ”). If you have a stroller that doesn’t have the click-in carseat, then I suggest checking your carseat instead of having it as a carry-on. You will especially need a carseat travel bag to keep your carseat clean and protected.

Check-in with the Airline Attendants

After you’ve gotten through security and you’re arriving at your gate, check-in with the airline attendants at the desk. They will need to tag your stroller and carseat. We made the mistake of not doing this on one of our flights, and they made us return to the desk to get the tags before we could board the flight.

Checking in with the attendants is also a great time to ask for seats to be rearranged if needed. You can also ask if there’s empty seats on the flight that you can use for your baby.

Take Advantage of Airport Time

When you’re hanging out at the gate waiting to board the flight, make sure to give your baby the chance to move around as much as possible before they’re confined to their seat. They would also probably enjoy a stroller ride around the airport to see some new sights. If your baby is walking, make sure to give them the chance to stand up and stretch their legs.

Early Boarding for Families Traveling with Infants

Make sure you take full advantage of the priority boarding for families traveling with small children. The extra time will really be helpful with folding up the stroller and putting the carseat in their travel bags to be stowed away.

Baby Scout holding her Ready-to-Feed sterilized nipples on the airplane.

Baby Scout holding her Ready-to-Feed formula bottle on the airplane.

In-Flight Guide to Traveling with a Baby

Takeoff with a pacifier, bottle or nursning.

One of the most common reasons that babies get fussy on airplanes is because of pressure in their ears. If you can get your baby to suck on their bottle , pacifier or nursing during takeoff, it can possibly help with getting their ears to pop and alleviating pressure.

Entertaining Baby on the Plane

The best advice I can give for keeping your baby entertained during the flight is to pack some new toys that your baby has never seen before, along with some old favorites. Don’t introduce all the toys all at once, bring them out slowly one-by-one. Depending on how long your flight is, I would recommend brining out a new toy every 45 minutes to keep a steady stream of new entertainment coming.

Scout has always loved having books read to her, so I recommend packing small and soft cloth books for in-flight story time.

If your baby is beginning to eat solids, having puffs and dissolvable snacks is also another great way to keep them busy. Scout loved the Happy Baby Puffs , Teething Wafers and Creamies Fruit Snacks .

I also recommend walking up and down the aisles of the plane with baby when allowed. It gives them a change of scenery and it could even help with putting them down for a nap.

Worrying About Disturbing Other Passengers

I know a lot of parents worry about their baby being really fussy on a plane and disturbing the other passengers. But the reality was that most people were really sweet and accommodating during our travels. We were lucky that Scout didn’t cry hardly at all, and most of that was due to the fact that we came prepared with a fully-stocked diaper bag.

My advice is not to worry about it too much. There’s only so much you can control and worrying about others shouldn’t stop you from traveling.

Diaper Changes Inside the Airplane

First make sure they have a fresh diaper before you board the plane. While in-flight we actually discovered that inside the airplane bathroom they had changing tables for babies (they were discretely located above the toilet). I always bring plastic bags for dirty diapers, and I tie it up to help contain the bad odors and drop it in the trash.

Important Things to Keep In Mind When Traveling with an Infant

For International travel, your baby needs a valid passport. If one parent is leaving the country with the infant without the other parent, you may need to follow special procedures to allow the child to travel (this is to avoid kidnapping).

Waiting in line at TSA security inside SFO airport.

Goofy mommy with baby Scout after a long flight to Oahu, Hawaii.

Mommy’s Guide to Stress-Free Air Travel

It can be difficult to be super hero mommy when you’re not feeling your best. While we are always concerned about our babies, it’s important to come to the airport prepared for yourself as well.

Don’t Travel Hungry - Make sure you eat before your flight, you get your caffeine fix and you’ve packed meals for the adults in your travel party.

My favorite healthy snacks are:

Sahale Nut Snack Packs

RXBAR Nut Butters and Protein Bars

Krave Pure Foods Gourmet Jerky

Wild Friends Nut Butter Travel Packs

Dress Comfortably - Finding that perfect comfortable outfit for flying can make or break your traveling experience. I recommend something with pockets, and to add layers in case the plane is cold. I wore one of my favorite jumpsuits from Lauren Conrad’s Collection for Kohl’s !

Stay Hydrated - Always drink water on the plane. You can actually bring an empty water bottle with you through TSA and many airports have water bottle refill stations. Bkr makes my favorite glass water bottles !

Honest Co. Travel Size Products - You’ll find my bag filled with these little gems including the Organic All-Purpose Balm and the Face + Body Lotion .

Headache Relief - I suffer from migraines and I never travel without a bottle of Excedrin Migraine .

Probiotics & Vitamins - I try to keep up my daily routine of probiotics and vitamins when I travel to keep my system regular and to feel my best.

Backpack Diaper Bags

By Freshly Picked

Zelia 5-in-1 Modular Travel System

By Maxi-Cosi

Ready-to-Feed Formula Bottles

Stroller Carrier and Travel Bag

By J.L. Childress

Car Seat and Booster Carrier Bag

Why are these emperor penguin chicks jumping from a 50-foot cliff?

The first-of-its-kind footage, taken in January 2024 via drone, captures a rare event that may become more common as sea ice declines and penguins are forced to adapt.

Like a group of teenagers crowding at the top of a cliff, waiting to see if someone will be brave enough to jump into the lake first, hundreds of months-old emperor penguins gather at the top of an Antarctic ice shelf towering roughly 50 feet above the sea.  

Motivated by hunger, the fledglings peer over the edge, as if considering whether they might survive a polar plunge from such a height.

Then one bird goes for it.  

Some of the onlookers crane their necks to watch it plummet and splash into the icy water below. Seconds later, the chick surfaces and swims away—off to fill its belly with fresh fish, krill, and squid. Gradually, other fledglings follow, tumbling and flapping wings built for traversing water, not air.

Filmmakers producing a documentary series called Secrets of the Penguins , which will debut on Earth Day 2025 on National Geographic and Disney+, captured the extraordinarily rare scene by drone in January in Atka Bay, on the edge of the Weddell Sea in West Antarctica . It’s the first video footage of emperor penguin chicks leaping from such a high cliff, according to scientists.

“I cannot believe they caught it on film,” says Michelle LaRue, a conservation biologist based at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. LaRue, who did not witness the jump, had visited Atka Bay to consult on the film crew’s third year of documenting emperor penguin behavior, from egg laying to chick fledging.

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Ordinarily, emperor penguins nest on free-floating sea ice that thaws and blows away each year, not on the ice shelf, which is firmly attached to the land. But lately, some colonies have been nesting on the shelf. Scientists theorize that the shift could be related to increasingly earlier seasonal thawing of the sea ice caused by climate change .

The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the world emperor penguin population , estimated to be about 500,000 birds, as near threatened due in large part to how climate change is impacting its icy realm.   (Read more about the bleak future for emperor penguins.)

In early January 2024, in the final weeks before the sea ice broke up at the end of the Southern Hemisphere summer, filmmakers spotted   a group of chicks that LaRue thinks were likely raised on the ice shelf waddling north toward the cliff. Curious about where they were headed, the filmmakers dispatched a drone for a bird’s-eye view. Gradually, more chicks joined the dawdling group, growing in numbers until there were a couple hundred standing at the top of the bluff.

‘I’m gonna have to go’

Gerald Kooyman , a research physiologist who has spent more than five decades studying emperor penguins in Antarctica, says he has only seen such an event once—more than 30 years ago.

“Drifting snow had formed a gently sloping ramp from the sea ice onto a grounded iceberg, and a flock of departing chicks had marched up the ramp onto the berg,” Kooyman writes in his book Journeys with Emperors , published in November 2023.

“They were stopped by a 20-meter [roughly 67-foot] cliff over a sea that was sometimes open water and other times crowded with ice floes.” Over the course of a couple days, almost 2,000 chicks assembled at the ledge.

“Finally, they started walking off the cliff,” writes Kooyman, an emeritus professor with the Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in California.

“Not jumping or leaping, just stepping out and falling head over heels, sometimes doing two flips before hitting the water with a resounding plop.” (See more incredible photos of emperor penguins.)

This phenomenon is rare, say scientists who monitor penguins from satellites in space. Peter Fretwell , a British Antarctic Survey scientist who has studied satellite imagery of the Atka Bay emperor colony for several years, occasionally sees penguin tracks going north toward that cliff. He theorizes that the chicks in January may have followed one or two vagrant adults that “went the wrong way, basically.”

Juvenile emperors usually fledge from the sea ice, hopping just a couple feet into the ocean. But these fledglings found themselves in a tricky location for entering the water while likely feeling extremely hungry, the scientists say. Their parents had already gone to sea, sending the message that it’s time for them to fish for themselves, and the chicks had been sitting tight waiting for their sleek, waterproof adult feathers to grow in, replacing their down.

“When they get to this cliff face, they’re like, ‘Alright, I see the ocean and I need to get in there,’” LaRue says. “This does not look like a fun jump, but I guess I’m gonna have to go.”

Resilient birds

While the scientists do not think the cliff-jumping incident was directly related to climate change warming Antarctica, Fretwell says the continuing decline of sea ice on the continent may force more emperors to breed on ice shelves, therefore making the behavior more common in the future.

Scientists have been concerned about the sudden decrease in Antarctic Sea ice since 2016 and the likely dire consequences for emperor penguins’ long-term survival.

“We estimate that we could lose the whole population by the end of the century,” Fretwell says. “It’s heartbreaking to think that the whole species may be gone if climate change continues on the path that it’s on at the moment.”

LaRue remains hopeful about the emperors’ ability to adapt, and she considers the recent high dive caught on film a testament to their hardiness.

“They’re incredibly resilient,” she says. “They have been around for millions of years; they’ve seen lots of different changes in their environment. It’s a question of how rapidly they’re able to deal with the changes that are happening—and how far they can be pushed.”

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Pope Francis to travel in September to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore in longest trip of papacy

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