Most airlines allow parents to fly with an under two-year-old on their lap, which means they fly for free (or almost free, you will still need to pay taxes and fees).
However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) strongly recommends children under 40lb are properly restrained, in their own seat, for their safety. Unfortunately, parents’ arms are sometimes not enough and in the case of an accident, an unrestrained child could be injured or killed.
How can you make sure your baby is safe when flying?
A “proper restraint” for children means either a CARES Kids Fly Safe Airplane Harness or a car seat that is FAA approved for aircraft. Approved seats will have a sticker on the side stating “This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft”. Infant car seats and convertible car seats are acceptable but booster seats are not.
Airline seats can be quite narrow and some seats will not fit certain aircraft. This is more likely to be an issue with a convertible (toddler) seat than an infant seat.
There are so many car seats out there what should you consider when looking for one to fly?
Choosing A Car Seat: Convertible vs Infant Seat
You can either buy a convertible seat that can take them through from newborn to toddler or get an infant seat for the first year. There are some great convertible seats but the minimum weight is often a bit higher than infant seats, which means you may find you can’t take your newborn home safely from the hospital.
In addition to a low minimum weight, an infant seat can easily be unclipped from a base and either carried with the handle or attached to a stroller (travel system). These are great options for traveling as you don’t need a separate stroller. Babies spend a lot of time asleep and it’s a lot easier to transfer a sleeping baby from the car to the house or into a stroller if you don’t need to unstrap them from their seat.
If you plan on flying, and your baby is within the safe weight and health limits, I would recommend an infant seat because they are a lot easier to travel with than a toddler seat. They are also more likely to fit in the increasingly narrow airline seats.
Infant seats come as two parts: the seat and the base. You will not need the base if you are using the seat on the airplane but you might want to take it with you if you plan to use a car at your destination. Pack the base in your luggage if you want to take it but you can install an infant car seat in a car without a base, so you might prefer to leave it at home.
A travel system is the best way to get your car seat (and baby) through the airport. Take it through security and gate check the stroller frame and car seat, if you are not taking the seat on board the flight with you.
Best Infant Car Seats For Traveling
I recommend getting the lightest-weight seat within your budget as you will be carrying it a lot! Here are some of the best FAA certified light-weight seats that can be combined with a stroller frame to make a travel system.
| Car Seat | Weight Without Base | Weight Limits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grace Snug Ride 30 | 7lb | 4-30lb | |
| Maxi Cosi Mico | 8.2lb | 4-30lb |   |
| Chicco KeyFit30 | 9.6lb | 4-30lb |   |
Tips For Flying With An Infant Car Seat
• If you want to fly with your baby and would like to buy them a seat on the airplane rather than them travel on your lap, you need to buy a car seat that has been approved to fly with the FAA. This way they can spend the whole flight safely strapped into their car seat aboard the aircraft.
• Car seats that are legal for the US are not legal in Europe and vice versa. However, this only applies if you are going to live there – you’re fine to use your car seat for a vacation so don’t worry about taking them overseas. Overseas airlines may not allow you to use an FAA approved seat onboard their flight, however. If you want to use your seat, take it to the gate and ask, it can be gate checked at this point if there is any doubt.
• Some airlines have rules on where a car seat can go, as they can be bulky and block passengers from getting in and out of their seats. Check when buying your ticket, as your car seat may have to go in the window seat.
• Find the “FAA approved” sticker on your seat before going to the airport as you don’t want to hold up the flight looking for it if you are asked to show the certification by the flight crew.
How Do I Strap The Car Seat Into The Airplane Seat?
This will be covered in the manufacturers safety booklet so make sure you read it before leaving. You do not use the base but thread the airplane seat belt through the seatbelt path on the car seat, clip in the belt then tighten it as hard as you can, putting your weight on the car seat to do so. Infant seats are safest when they are rear facing and this is true on aircraft as well as cars. The flight crew will want to check your installation, or they may insist on installing it themselves.
You don’t need the base on the airplane, so either leave it at home and use the seat without the base if you plan to drive at your destination, or pack the the base in your luggage.
The FAA has a great video on how to safely install a car seat on a flight.
What Do I Do If I Am Not Using The Car Seat On Board The Aircraft?
If you are flying with your baby on your lap, you will need to check your car seat into the hold. The good news is this is free; the bad is it may get damaged. You can try and protect it by buying a travel bag and by gate checking (taking it through security and giving it to the flight crew at the gate to put in the hold at the point of boarding). This way it is less likely to get damaged and you will get it back as soon as you leave the flight. This car seat bag from JL Childress is padded and has backpack straps to help you get it through the airport and beyond.
At the gate, ask the flight crew if there are any empty seats. If there are, ask if your child can have the seat so you can safely fly them in your FAA approved restraint.
For more travel tips, check out our Flying With A Baby and Flying With A Toddler posts.
