My preferred option was to spend the entire first year of my newborn’s life snuggled up in bed but life had other plans. Turns out it is possible to travel with a baby and is in many ways, preferable to flying with a toddler. Plus under two’s don’t need their own seat so they fly free, yay. Here are all my tips and a checklist for traveling with a baby.
How Old Do Babies Have To Be To Fly?
My husband and I emigrated to California so when we had our firstborn, we knew it was only a matter of time before we would have to cross the Atlantic to the UK. We took our son at four months and have been flying ever since.
First of all, is there a minimum age you can take a baby on a flight? No, essentially. If you want to book your baby their own seat, so you can fly with a car seat and have somewhere to put them during the flight, you will need to book them a ticket. You can even do this before they are born, if you need to travel immediately, just call the airline and ask for their advice.
If you are flying with them as a lap infant, you can simply add them onto your booking for free (domestic) or for around 10% of the ticket price (international flight).
We waited until our newborn had been given the second dose of vaccines according to the CDC’s recommended vaccination schedule but this is a matter of preference.
If you are flying internationally, you will need a passport for your baby and this will take time. You can apply as soon as you have a birth certificate and can get an appointment at a post office.
Do Babies Fly For Free?
Sort of! Most airlines allow under two-year-olds to fly for free as a “lap baby” on a domestic flight, which means they do not get their own seat and have to sit on your lap for the duration of the flight. On international flights, you will have to pay the taxes, which cost around 10% of the ticket.
Ask For A Bassinet
Book international flights well in advance of your travel date and ask for a bassinet, also known as a SkyCot, CarryCot or TravelCot. This is a basket attached to the seat in front of yours designed to carry a baby safely on board long-haul flights. There are only a few places on the airplane where the bassinet can be attached, so you need to book early to secure one of these coveted seats.
The reason you want one is you face the whole trip with a baby on your lap and it is nice to get to the bathroom occasionally. Airlines have height and weight restrictions on bassinets so check these before booking.
If you don’t have a bassinet, consider a window seat so you don’t have to get up to let out a fellow passenger a second after you got your baby to sleep.
Fly Nonstop
It’s usually cheaper to include a layover on international flights. This is one area where you should spend the extra and book non-stop if possible. Getting a baby on and off a plane is not fun and this is something we have learned the hard way. Also, consider a night flight, as a sleeping baby is much easier to deal with.
Car Seats And Strollers
If you are traveling with a car seat or stroller, you can check these in free of charge with your luggage. However, this essential gear is annoyingly fragile. Ideally you would have a lightweight umbrella stroller you can put in an overhead locker but these are best suited to toddlers, not infants.
The safest option is to gate check the seat and stroller. This means taking both through the airport but you will probably be grateful to have the stroller at least. By taking your car seat and stroller right up to the gate, they are less likely to be damaged or lost and you get them back as soon as you step off the plane at the other end.
Make sure all loose straps are secured and I recommend you buy a bag for extra protection. If your car seat is damaged en route, lodge your complaint with the airline before you leave the airport for your best chance of getting some money back.
Check out my post Flying With An Infant Car Seat for more tips.
Getting Through Security
Families with children under two get priority going through security. The restricted liquids rule is also waived so you can take through a “reasonable amount” of formula, breastmilk, water, and juice, although this will all have to be scanned. Baby food in cans or jars is also permitted. If you are taking your car seat and stroller to the gate, these will need to be scanned too. Children under 12 do not have to take their shoes off. Babies and infants have to be carried in arms through the metal detector. If your baby is in a sling this is usually OK too.
The TSA also recommends you double check your bag before leaving for the airport. You don’t want to be that parent who causes a security alert because their child slipped in their favorite toy gun.
Passport
Baby’s first passport! I highly recommend sorting this out in plenty of time. Depending on where you are and what time of year you’re applying, this could take a couple of weeks or a few months. But the process is simple. Check out travel.state.gov for the instructions then make an appointment at a post office near you. Appointments vary drastically between locations so check a few for the most convenient time.
Don’t forget a passport photo, birth certificate and proof of citizenship (if your baby was born outside the US), plus your own ID. Both parents need to attend the appointment; if one can’t make it, a permission form or evidence that you are the sole parent will be required. When you receive the passport, don’t forget to sign it and add an emergency contact number.
Infant Health
It’s recommended by the CDC that you wait until your baby has had their first set of immunizations before traveling. However, it may be possible to receive these vaccinations on an accelerated schedule. Talk to your pediatrician about your travel plans. In some ways, babies are easier to protect from illness as they are only eating and drinking the breastmilk or formula you provide, plus they are not constantly touching every grubby surface like a toddler does.
What To Take On Board: Checklist For Traveling With A Baby
Check and check again you have all the supplies you need to feed your baby. Diapers, and wipes, changing mat obviously, and spare clothes are necessary carry-on requirements. Pacifiers if they use them. A muslin blanket makes a good extra layer if it gets cold.
A sling is a good thing to have on you but the flight crew won’t let you use it while in the air as they are not approved for flying. Some car seats are, however; so if you want to buy a ticket for your baby, bring your FAA approved car seat on board and ask the flight crew for assistance in strapping it in. If your baby is used to napping in her seat, this may make for a more relaxing flight for you.
Take a whole pack on cheap onesies that you can consider disposable in case of poo-splosions or spit-ups. You really don’t want to stick a soiled outfit back into your bag. Take a wet bag or zip lock for the less catastrophic outfit changes.
If you can, try to feed your baby on take-off and landing, as it helps with their ears.
What if They Cry The Whole Time?
At four months, I was worried about my son annoying everyone on a flight with his crying but plenty of cuddles and the roar of the engines proved to be very comforting, so he slept most of the way. My second was, let’s say, more of a handful but even she was pretty calm on a five-hour flight at six months. You know your baby best; if he is generally happy and calm being constantly held, you’ll be OK. Even if he does scream, most people are pretty understanding. Don’t stress too much!
