Air Travel with Baby (or a Toddler)

upkiq air travel with baby

What to carry on the plane

  • Diapers. One for each hour in transit, plus extras in case of delays
  • Wipes. A large travel pack for diaper changes and food-covered hands and mouths
  • Diaper rash cream. Babies often get diaper rashes while traveling.
  • Diaper changing travel pad. Use these for public changes. Airplane lavatory tables that fold down from the wall are tiny and probably haven’t been cleaned in months; they’re cold, too.
  • Small reusable wet bags or Ziploc-type plastic bags. A must-have for soiled clothes, sticky feeding spoons, and other wet or dirty items.
  • Sanitizing wipes. Use sanitizing wipes to clean the area around baby, including arm rests and tray tables, especially if traveling September through March (80% of colds occur during this time). If traveling alone, or with an older sibling, you will have to do this step once baby is seated on your lap.
  • Small bottles of hand sanitizer. Airports are a place where antibacterial use makes sense. I suggest alcohol and fragrance-free brands for babies.
  • Blankets. Bring two thin receiving blankets for multiple uses: to lay baby on the seat, cover baby, cover yourself while nursing, shade baby from sunlight, or use as a play mat during long layovers.
  • Washcloths. Bring one for hand and face-washing.
  • Tissues. Children have runny noses year round, and pressure changes may trigger the sniffles. Grab several paper towels and tissues on your first visit to the lavatory and add them to the back of the seat pockets for spills, spit-up, and runny noses. 
  • Extra pacifiers. Air travel is not the time to fret about excessive pacifier use. Bring extras.
  • Something old, something new. Bring familiar small toys, thin paper books, and a soft lovey or stuffed animal that feels like home, plus new inexpensive toys to distract baby with novelty items.
  • Clothes, socks, and shoes. Bring one to three clothes changes, depending on the length of the flight, especially if baby spits up often. Leaks and spills will happen with greater frequency, as baby squirms in your lap, spits up while in motion, or squeezes her food pouch into a spinach-pear food geyser. Put each of baby’s outfits into individual bags so that you don’t have to hunt for small socks. Better yet, choose pants with feet attached to avoid the sock game altogether.
  • Formula, water, and/or juice. You want to keep baby swallowing during the climb-out and descent phases of the flight. Put pumped breast milk in a bottle to “back-up” breastfeeding babies, as some babies may not do well on the breast due to distractions. You can use water after six months.
  • Baby food and snacks. The TSA web site states “Medically required liquids, such as baby formula and food, breast milk and medications are allowed in excess of 3.4 ounces in reasonable quantities for the flight. It is not necessary to place medically required liquids in a zip-top bag. However, you must tell the transportation security officer that you have medically necessary liquids at the beginning of the screening checkpoint process.” Check www.tsa.gov for updates.
  • For younger babies eating solids: Food pouches are great for travel.
  • For older babies sitting up: puffs, yogurt melts, Cheerios, or anything to get your child chewing during cabin pressure changes.
  • For toddlers: bags of cut veggies (cucumbers, carrots, red peppers), chilled cut up grapes, pretzels, raisins, crackers, apple wedges dipped in lemon juice, and hard boiled eggs for breakfast. You want non-sugary snacks. No granola bars with chocolate chips; they make a huge mess when held in hot little hands.
  • Extra bottle or sippy cup. Pack extras for a long trip.
  • Breast pump. Babies can be finicky eaters while traveling, which can lead to clogged ducts. If you have a cross country or international flight, consider putting all things feeding-related into your breast pump bag for convenience as a carry-on.
  • A travel nursing pillow. Consider using an inflatable travel nursing pillow for longer flights.
  • Baby saline nose solution and a suction bulb, if baby has a cold. Prevent leaks by packing medicines and toiletries in reusable toiletry bags or plastic bags.
  • Sling or front carrier. This is great for hands-free boarding after your stroller is gate-checked, especially if you are traveling alone with baby. Younger babies may also enjoy staying warm and cozy in a sling while you are sitting in the seat.
  • Car seat. Many parents check car seats in with their checked luggage, and there is no extra charge, although the handling can be rough. Cover car seats with a travel bag and place an address tag on the bag handle, or bring your car seat on board for safety.
  • Collapsible stroller. Use an inexpensive yet sturdy umbrella stroller for longer trips that do not require a lot of stroller use at your destination. However, for a trip to a city with walking as your main mode of transportation, bring your favorite stroller. Just make sure to cover it with a travel bag with the wheels strapped down inside. Pick up a gate check stroller tag at the desk just prior to boarding.
  • Snacks and an empty water bottle for you. If traveling alone with baby, you may not have time for a food stop during a short layover. Avoid dehydration and cries for a drink by filling water bottles after security and prior to boarding.
  • Extra shirt for you. Baby’s inner ear is extremely sensitive and enduring a long flight with spit up or vomit on your shirt is no fun. Trust me.
  • Use mesh packing cubes or ditty bags, if you travel often. We use mesh packing cubes and small camping bags. The see-through bags keep items separate, yet together inside of a bigger bag. The ditty bags help gather toys and small items as they are used in the airplane seat.
  • Cell phone and charger. Don’t get distracted, leaving it plugged in at the airport or on a seat during a layover.
  • Headphones. If you need these for a DVD player or iPad, make sure they are kid-friendly. Many babies and toddlers will pull headphones off, or out of their ears, and then fuss because they can’t hear. Don’t bother with earbud headphones that have thin, rubbery covers. Your child will toss them on the floor and then try to eat them.
  • Special treats. These include emergency items that can be brought out for catastrophic meltdowns: cookies, stickers, a new toy, a special movie, and my favorite air travel treat for cabin pressure changes–lollipops. YumEarth Organics make lollipops with no artificial colors and real fruit extracts.
  • *Epi-Pen, or epinephrine auto-injector, for treatment of acute allergic reactions, if required.

Diaper bag. I prefer to transfer my diaper bag into a rolling carry-on backpack because it hurts my back to carry a child on one arm and a shoulder bag on the other. When traveling alone with the kids, I roll my “everything bag” with one hand and push the stroller with the other.

Air Travel Toys

There are a few minimum requirements for air travel toys. Use the following criteria as a screen for your toys packed.

  • Compact
  • Easily transported
  • Quiet
  • Not messy
  • Can be held by baby (not you)

Toy suggestions for younger babies

The following content contains affiliate links. However, if you can, prioritize hand-me-downs, re-purposed or consigned baby items.

Sassy Wonder Wheel Suction Toy

Toy suggestions for older babies and toddlers

  • Airplane books, such as Airplanes by Byron Barton, Airport by Byron Barton, or Amazing Airplanes by Tony Mitton and Ant Parker
  • Finger puppets, or a collapsible hand puppet, such as Elmo, animals, etc.
  • Small cars or tiny dolls
  • A roll of colorful tape and paper
  • Stickers, stickers, and more stickers (sticker books)
  • Thin paper books to read
  • My First Touch and Feel Picture Cards by DK Publishing
  • Silly Putty, or something similar, to keep little hands busy
  • A travel-size magna doodle
  • Squigz – Fat Brain Toys little suction toy set (expect to play pick up)
  • WikkiStix – Wikki Stix adhere to paper with just fingertip pressure. No glue, no mess and no clean-up.
  • Crayola Color Wonder books with mess-free markers
  • An iPad or tablet with toddler apps, or a DVD player—screen time limits go out the window when it comes to air travel. Don’t count on the in-flight entertainment system, as the programming is often too mature for the younger crowd.

Air Travel Considerations

Infant ticket or no ticket?

At most airlines, “Infants and children under 2 years old can travel on the lap of an adult for free (domestically) or purchase a ticket and use their own seat on the aircraft in an FAA-approved child safety seat or CARES harness on most flights. “

Many travel guides, Consumer Reports, articles in major newspapers, etc. suggest that you buy a separate seat for your infant, as lap children are never as safe during turbulence and in-flight emergencies as those who are properly restrained. This is true. Nearly every item on an airplane, down to the coffee pot, is to be properly restrained in case of turbulence.

So why does the government allow infants under 2 to fly without their own seat? The FAA contends that if it were a requirement, some parents would choose to drive, which is statistically less safe than flying.

There is also the practical reality that you will be holding a baby much of the time anyway (especially one who breastfeeds), so why not take advantage of a free seat?

  • Find an empty seat. I do suggest that you try to make friends with airline employees and request a seat change for a full row, or an empty seat next to you, if the plane is not full. If this doesn’t work, wait until you have boarded the plane. Introduce your child to the flight attendants and ask someone to switch seats, if a good trade is available.
  • Book an aisle seat, if you are alone with a lap infant so that you can get up more easily for diaper changes and walks down the aisle (you cannot have two infants in your lap.)
  • Book a window seat for car seats and restraint systems, to keep the escape route clear, as passengers cannot climb over a car seat to exit a row for safety reasons.
  • A bulkhead seat can help prevent active babies and toddlers from pulling down tray tables and kicking the seat in front of them.
  • If your child is particularly fussy, you may want to select a seat in the back of the plane for quick access to the restroom and rear galley. The engine noise might also help baby sleep.
  • Bring a birth certificate if there is any doubt that your child is under age two. Take a picture of the birth certificate to have as backup documentation. Southwest Airlines is particularly well-trained in checking birth certificates (expect to show it on most flights.)

What about international travel?

  • All children, regardless of age, must have their own passport for international air travel.
  • Also, keep in mind that many of the FAA statistics for infants getting injured during turbulence have occurred on long international flights. Therefore, buying a separate seat is probably worth the cost.
  • Most international flights allow lap children under age 2, however it’s not completely free. Most carriers require taxes and fees, plus some portion of the fare to be paid for most tickets (e.g., 10% of the fare.)
  • Some international air carriers, such as Virgin Atlantic and British Airways, provide infant seats or bassinets onboard for babies and toddlers. 

What about turbulence?

This is a valid concern. The best way to protect an infant or toddler in turbulence is to bring a car seat and secure it in a separately purchased seat. Toddlers who meet the weight minimum of 22 pounds can use an FAA-approved restraint system, such as CARES. If an infant is in your lap during turbulence, make sure that you hold her upright (to avoid hitting her head on the arm rests), preferably with your infant facing you and your hand(s) protecting her head.

When to plan your flight?

  • Flights earlier in the day are less likely to be delayed (and nonstop flights are sometimes worth the extra dollars.)
  • With a younger baby, you might consider booking a flight during sleepy times—a red-eye international flight may not be so bad if baby sleeps most of the way.
  • With toddlers and preschoolers, I would suggest morning flights, if possible.
  • If you must schedule a layover with baby, don’t make it a rushed one. You will have to wait for your stroller leaving the first plane, transit, possibly feed and change baby, and then check your stroller back in at the next gate. Always leave extra time when traveling with children.

How to prepare?

  • Prepare children for air travel by involving them in the trip planning, including babies.
  • Before your trip, read books about airplanes. Visit a local airport and teach them about flight. A nine-to-twelve-month-old can go “Whoosh!” with his hand in the air and get excited about flying.
  • If you anticipate a long layover, check the airport diagram for any children’s play areas.
  • Print your boarding tickets at home, if possible, or save mobile passes to your phone’s wallet.

How to plan luggage?

Try to check in as much baggage as possible, when traveling with an infant or toddler.

  • To save on baggage fees, fly Southwest Airlines (very family friendly with two checked bags free), JetBlue (one bag free under certain plans), or consider an airline credit card that allows car holders to check bags for free.
  • Car seats and strollers typically will not count against your luggage allowance. However, if your child is flying for free on your lap, you will not have a baggage allowance for the child. You must have a paid seat.

What are the options for baby’s car seat?

If you need a car seat at your destination, you have three options:

  • Check it in with your checked baggage (at no charge for lap infants),
  • Check it in at the gate (to avoid rough handling), or
  • Have baby use her car seat while sitting in a paid seat.

We always look for creative ways to obtain a car seat at our destination to avoid the extra hassle at the airport—by adding car seats to rental car purchases or borrowing seats from family and friends.

What should we do with our stroller?

You will probably want your stroller to push baby to the gate, and flight crews will likely gate check a larger stroller (small umbrella strollers may be able to fit in the overhead bins.) Once you arrive at the gate, ask an agent for a gate-check tag and attach it to your stroller, or preferably, to the handle of your gate-check stroller bag.

What to wear?

Dress comfortably; however, that doesn’t mean that you should roll the kids out of bed wearing house pants and slippers. People are more likely to be helpful if you and your children are dressed respectably.

What must go through security?

Your baby carrier and other items, such as a folded stroller, car seats, and baby’s favorite stuffed animal must pass through security.

When to board?

If there are two caregivers, you might consider sending one aboard early to ensure plenty of room for your carry-on luggage, wipe down the area with sanitizing wipes (especially for a young baby) and set up for takeoff (placing snacks, books, and sippy cups in the seat pockets for the climb out), while the other one stays back at the gate. Babies and toddlers will appreciate the extra time to crawl, walk, play, and explore the airport, as a young child should not be expected to sit for hours without needing to move around. If parenting solo, I would board early to set up and get everyone comfortable with his/her surroundings.

Should I breastfeed on board, or not?

Everyone wants to see a woman’s breasts until they’re feeding a baby, and then it’s indecent, right? This topic seems to make the nightly news at least once a year as a flight attendant is blasted for asking a mom to cover up while breastfeeding. After reading several airline policies, it seems that most are supportive of breastfeeding during flight. However, some ask for “discretion and a sense of modesty” to keep passengers in the close confines of the plane comfortable. I recommend a nursing cover and your easiest access nursing shirt to make this a non-issue.   

TSA Policy for Baby Food, Formula, Breast Milk, Juice, and Frozen Gel Packs (for storing milk)

Baby food is allowed in reasonable quantities in carry-on bags. You should remove these items from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from the rest of your belongings. 

Formula, breast milk and juice for infants or toddlers are permitted in reasonable quantities through the security checkpoint. Remove these items from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from the rest of your belongings. Inform the TSA officer at the beginning of the screening process that you are carrying formula, breast milk and juice in excess of 3.4 ounces in your carry-on bag. These liquids are typically screened by X-ray.

3-1-1 Liquids Rule Exemption

Formula, breast milk, juice in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters are allowed in carry-on baggage and do not need to fit within a quart-sized bag. Remove these items from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from the rest of your belongings. You do not need to travel with your child to bring breast milk.

Ice packs, freezer packs, frozen gel packs and other accessories required to cool formula, breast milk and juice are allowed in carry-on. If these accessories are partially frozen or slushy, they are subject to the same screening as described above. You may also bring gel or liquid-filled teethers, canned, jarred and processed baby food in carry-on baggage. These items may be subject to additional screening.

Taxi, or no taxi?

When traveling to taxi-friendly cities you ideally want to have a car seat. A seat belt can restrain an infant carrier quickly and easily. However, if you are not traveling with a car seat at all, it is within the law to ride in a taxi with a child on your lap at your own risk (e.g., In New York, “liveries, taxis, and public transportation buses are exempt from the occupant restraint law”).

It is generally accepted that a child, regardless of size, is better off wearing an oversized seat belt than being held in a parent’s arms. Never put a seat belt over you and a small child. Expect that a front carrier with a baby will break and detach easily, even in a low-speed crash. If you are traveling in NYC, Philadelphia, or Washington DC, try Uber Family, which offers car seats in Uber vehicles.

Helpful Products for Frequent Air Travelers

When selecting travel gear for children, try to prioritize the items that can be used for several years over items used just for baby.

You don’t need all this stuff! However, pick a few items to make Air Travel with Baby fun and manageable.


Car seat gear

Gate Check Bag for Car Seat

Checked Bag for Car Seat (with padding)

Strap for Attaching Car Seat to a Carry-on Suitcase

  • Traveling Toddler Car Seat Travel Accessory ($12-14). This inexpensive strap attaches your car seat to a carry-on suitcase, creating a rolling stroller/suitcase combo for parents who would otherwise have to drag a car seat through the airport. Some parents do this with the car seat straps themselves.

Sit Your Car Seat on a Rolling Platform

Stroller gear

Gate Check Bag (Single Umbrella Stroller)

  • J.L. Childress Gate Check Bags for Single Umbrella Strollers ($11-13). The umbrella size is for compact umbrella strollers, and the standard/double size is for larger single or double strollers. The bag’s bright red color should help call attention to your gate-checked stroller during baggage handling.

Gate Check Bag (Standard and Double Stroller)

Travel strollers

If you travel often, you will want a compact, lightweight stroller that can handle rough baggage handling.

Best inexpensive umbrella stroller

Summer Infant 3D Lite

Best lightweight multi-purpose stroller

UPPABaby G-LITE

Best travel systems for travel pros

  • Mountain Buggy Nano ($200) is a light, compact travel system at 13 pounds. The stroller folds into its own satchel that fits in an overhead compartment. It also doesn’t require adapters for many popular infant seats and can be used up to 44 pounds, or approximately four years of age.
Mountain
Buggy Nano

Best Travel System with Suspension

  • BabyZen Yoyo+ collapses to 20 inches by 17.5 inches by 7 inches and weighs only 12.8 pounds.
BabyZen Yoyo+

Most innovative car seat and travel stroller in one

  • The Doona Car Seat ($499) is the first 0+ infant car seat with integrated wheels (the wheels literally pop out of the bottom of the seat.) Certified as both a car seat and stroller, Doona is great for travel in a taxi or your own car with no need to carry a heavy seat or place it in a separate stroller or frame.

Safety and Air Travel Gear

Airplane seat harness

Kids Fly Safe CARES (Child Aviation Restraint System) Airplane Safety Harness for Children. If you fly often, you may want this product for your toddler. CARES is the only harness-type child aviation safety restraint certified for travel by the FAA; it also weighs one pound and fits in a small purse. The CARES system is a belt and buckle device for kids 22-44 pounds that creates a safe airplane seat for your child without the hassle of carrying a 20-pound car seat.

Travel Foot Rest Pillow (to Sleep on Long Flights)

The HOMCA Travel Foot Rest Pillow, Inflatable Travel Leg Rest Pillow can be a foot rest for you or a pillow for your child on a long flight.

Toddler safety harness and leash

Blisstime Anti Lost Wrist Link Safety Wrist Link for Toddlers, Babies & Kids

Skip Hop Toddler Leash and Harness Backpack, Zoo Collection

Child photo ID cards

Packing gear

Set of packing cubes

  • ($15-25) These see-through mesh packing cubes are terrific for carrying baby’s clothing. Keep tiny socks together and organize your suitcase into separate compartments for quick, targeted access.

Ditty bags, or small nylon camping bags

  • Control your own personal yard sale on the plane. These little bags are great for bundling up toys, washcloths, blankets, or any other items that you would like to keep handy in the seat with you. Ditty bags can be found with camping equipment or travel gear in most major stores (REI in photo.)

Lightweight, Compact Baby Carrier

  • The BityBean Ultra Compact Child Carrier ($50). The eight ounce Bitybean looks like an Ergobaby carrier. Yet it is cleverly engineered to collapse to a size smaller than a water bottle, fitting into any purse, diaper bag, or backpack.

Sleeping on the go

Travel Cribs

  • Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light ($299). This travel crib weighs 13 pounds and folds out in one easy motion. Beware: pricing for this product varies by $70 on popular web sites, and it is priced high on web sites with baby registries. Skip the $30-40 Baby Bjorn brand fitted sheet, and use a stretchy jersey cotton playard sheet.

White Noise, Sound Machine, and/or an iPad

  • HoMedics SoundSpa On-the-Go ($10-13). This tiny, key fob-sized speaker has an integrated clip that plays four soothing sounds: heartbeat, white noise, ocean, and lullaby.
  • An iPad or tablet. This one item could completely change the experience of a long flight with a baby or toddler. Also, a young child may get frustrated by not having sound available without headphones, which are required by the airlines. Bring a USB battery pack and never have a drained iPad battery again.

Entertainment on the go

Feeding on the go

  • My Brest Friend Inflatable Travel Pillow ($25). If you are nursing on a cross country or international flight, or if you just want baby to sleep comfortably on the plane, the My Brest Friend travel pillow is compact and fairly easy to inflate.
  • Phil and Ted’s Lobster Clip-on Highchair ($60-90). Live in the city? This four-pound portable high chair is safe, and the fuss-free lobster claws clamp to just about any table. For a less expensive option, try the BRICA Fold N’ Go Travel Booster ($23).
  • Totseat Chair Harness ($20). This fabric travel high chair, made of washable fabric, makes every seat a high chair.
  • Summer Infant TinyDiner Placemat ($20 for 2). For parents who like to eat out, I cannot say enough about this placemat. It folds up into a small cylinder shape, washes easily, catches stray food, suctions to any table, and provides a great eating surface for children.
  • BooginHead SippiGrip ($8). This small Velcro strap ties around a sippy cup and attaches the cup to a stroller or high chair. No more games of pick up.
  • Baby Buddy Secure-A-Toy ($4/2-count). Straps Toys, Teether, or Pacifiers to Strollers, Highchairs, Car Seats (to Keep Toys Sanitary & Clean While your Eat or Shop.)

Baby equipment rental companies

For a directory of baby equipment rental companies by state and country, visit www.baby-equipment-rental.com. These companies rent strollers, car seats, swings, high chairs, security gates, and more.

  • Baby’s Away. This is the largest baby and child equipment rental company in the U.S. Enter your location to receive a product list with pricing.
  • Travel BaBees. This national baby equipment rental company has franchises from coast to coast. Travel BaBees will drop-off and pickup all equipment. Check Yelp for the franchisee’s local reputation, as quality varies region to region.

Related content: For more high-quality baby research and practical tips from real parents:

Kim Arrington Johnson:
Related Post
  1. Baby Registry: A Waste of Money
  2. Baby Registry: Baby Clothing, Books, Toys, and Other Fun Gifts
  3. Baby Registry: Best Nursery, Crib, and Baby Sleep Products