Flying with a Baby. Everything You Need to Know

Flying with a baby or a young child might seem daunting, but with a little bit of preparation and a dash of know-how, air travel with a baby can be a surprisingly smooth affair.

In this blog I’ll walk you through all the things you need to do to fly like a pro with your baby!

What travel documents does your baby need?

Prevent stress from occurring in the first place by ensuring all necessary travel documents for your infant are in order – these can take a while so don’t do this last minute.

For international flights this includes a passport, and in some cases, an entry visa. Getting infant passport photos taken is one of the most hysterical and gorgeous processes you’ll ever have the luxury of undertaking!

Each country has its own regulations, so check the entry requirements well before your travel dates. 

It’s also wise to carry a copy of your baby’s birth certificate and, if applicable, a letter of consent if one parent is travelling alone with the child. 

For domestic flights in Australia, babies and children under 18 don’t need a passport or ID.

Pro Tip: Infant passports only last 5 years and you often need 6 months from the expiry to travel overseas …this creeps up quickly! Make a note in both your diaries when you’re going to hit 4 years 6 months, and keep a note at the front of your passport holder when everyone in the family’s passport will expire …this will minimise the risk of  arriving at the airport with an invalid passport.

They don’t need their own seat under 2, so it’s often easier (& cheaper) when they are younger:

One benefit of flying with an infant is that you don’t have to book a separate seat for them so you only need to worry about your own adult fare – please note while they don’t need a seat they do need a ticket and you need to ensure they are added to your booking, they’re sometimes referred to as a lap infant on the booking –  flight attendants will teach you how to use the baby seatbelts that attach to your own.  

Most airlines will provide bassinets for babies under the age of two. 

AEROPLANE BASSINETS: 

• Babies over 1 year old may not fit comfortably in the provided bassinet or meet the requirements by individual airlines so always check first.
• When the seatbelt sign is on in the cabin you won’t be able to use the bassinet so just be prepared for this, if there’s lots of turbulence this can mean lots of in and out of the bassinet.
• You can buy great breathable covers that fit over plane bassinets (they also fit over prams when you’re having sleeps on the run – incredibly common when you’re on holidays),. it might be an item worth investing in. 

At what age is it safe to fly with a baby?

This is the MOST common question I get when it comes to flying with babies. Generally, airlines permit a baby fly from as young as 2 weeks, it’s not recommended to fly in the first 7 days. 

If you’re planning to fly with a very young baby, it’s best to consult with your paediatrician, especially for premature or low birth weight babies, amongst other things, these babies may still need time for their lungs to mature before flying in a pressurised cabin.

Our main health concern generally with babies and children flying is when they have a cold or ear infection, due to the increased pain and difficulty associated with equalising their ears. If your child has an ear infection, your doctor may recommend delaying flying, until the infection is gone. This will help your child avoid increased pain and a possible rupture, or tear, of the eardrum.

For international trips that require passports, you’ll need to wait much longer to get the paperwork sorted as you’ll need a birth certificate to process everything and it all takes time. You’re essentially limited by travel documents rather than choice – scroll down to the bottom of this blog for general health and safety notes.

How does flying affect the ears?

Your focus during take off and landing (minimise pain and get their ears to equalise) is to get them to swallow. 

For younger babies: this can be breast or bottle feeding as you take off and land.  

For older kids: it can be a sip or two of a drink bottle or a snack and if they’re bigger kids a boiled lolly to suck on.

If your baby cries on take off, this is normal as it’s a totally new sensation, stay calm – don’t stress about everyone around you (remember our babies are sensitive and will respond accordingly if you’re stressed and agitated) just keep encouraging them to swallow and know that once they do they’ll feel better. 

Sleeping on the flight:

Parents are often shocked by how well younger babies sleep on aeroplanes – this is mostly because of the vibrations and white noise effect of the engines…it’s what babies love!

Don’t stress about sleep routines on the flight; focus on what works to keep your baby calm and comfortable.

Does my baby need to wear ear protection on the flight?

Lot of people do this, and lots of companies selling ear protection will tell you to do this, but generally it’s not needed … most of the time the hum of the engines is very similar to the white noise you’d be playing in their room anyway (and they love it!). 

Protecting hearing is really important overall, see my blog on this –  audiologists just aren’t worried about the noise inside commercial aircraft cabins.

Where to sit with a baby?

Ideally if you’ve booked a baby on your ticket you’ll receive the bulk head seats with the bassinet in front of you.  Enjoy the extra leg-room! 

On domestic flights or flights with lots of other families this may not be possible and you could end up with a baby sitting on you the whole time.  If you’re travelling with your others, share the load.

A window seat may be your preference but you’ll probably appreciate the ease of movement that an aisle seat provides.

Should I fly during the day or night?

Depending on the length of the flight and age of your baby or child, there are pros and cons whether you decide to fly during the day or overnight. Sometimes there may not be a choice.

DAY: Flying with a baby during the day will create less stress about your baby or child sleeping and may be easier in terms of stress on the parent.

NIGHT:   Night flights can be advantageous as the cabin lights dim, mirroring a night-time environment conducive to sleep. Flying overnight can mean your child will be less restless and won’t need to be occupied if they sleep well. However, consider your baby’s temperament and routine when booking flights. Some babies adapt well to daytime travel, finding the hustle and bustle soothing.

Adjusting to new timezones:

Adjusting to new time zones after a long haul flight can be a challenge, but babies often adapt quicker than adults thanks to their more flexible sleep patterns and the cyclical nature of their melatonin surges.

To ease timezone transitions:

1. Upon arrival, encourage daytime activities and expose your baby to natural light to help reset their internal clock.
2. If possible, allow 1-2 days of relaxing after arrival, in order to adjust – you will probably benefit more than the baby!
3. The day after arrival, try to wake your baby around their usual time, even if they have had a broken night’s sleep because of jetlag. This is the best thing you can do to help get your baby acclimated to the new time zone.
4. Try and stick to your baby’s regular routine, without any stress if it’s difficult to adhere to, assisted naps are completely acceptable!

On any holiday, there will be days where routine is thrown off and this is ok. If you are out and about then offer your baby their naps at their usual times. If they haven’t slept well during the day, then try your best to bring bedtime earlier to compensate. Naps on the go will also be inevitable, such as pram or carrier naps. 

See my blog sleeping on the run for all my tips for managing sleeps when you’re not at home.

 

When you arrive recreate their sleep environment as much as possible

When setting up a sleep environment that is unfamiliar to your baby/toddler, plan ahead and try to recreate their usual sleep environment as much as possible.

Take their cot sheet and sleeping bags from home so it smells familiar, blackout the windows the best you can, take a portable white noise machine or download an app on your phone and take any comforters/toys your baby is used to sleeping with.

If your baby is used to sleeping in their own room at home, then try your best to continue this while on holiday. Similarly, if your baby is used to sleeping next to you or in your bedroom at home, then continue this where possible. Often small spaces like hotel rooms or tiny apartments are inevitable when travelling, in this case – products such as a blackout cot tent/canopy can be so helpful, as you don’t have to blackout the entire room at nap times.

Medications & Flying:

If electing to use medication as a sleep aid for children, it should NEVER be tried for the first time on a flight. 

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist and trial the medication weeks earlier to ensure there’s no allergic reaction or unexpected response (it can sometimes have the opposite impact); and you don’t want to find this out mid-flight!

What can you pack when travelling with a baby:

One of our top tips is to know your airline’s policy for checked baggage, lots of airlines when you add a baby or infant under 2 to your ticket will allow you to check in: 

• Prams/Strollers
• Porta cots 
• A child car seat.
• Extra weight for infant paraphernalia (ie breast-pump, steriliser, bottles, etc)

BUT 

1. Every airline is different, so always check
2. Just because you can bring it doesn’t mean you should… do you really need car seats or is it easier to rent? This consideration will also make airport security a breeze! 

When it comes to prams a stroller is much lighter and easier to travel with but if you have a little baby who will be doing multiple sleeps during the day when you’re out and about your big pram with a bassinet (ideally breathable and graded for sleep) could be a great option for longer trips – that way every sleep is completely mobile – this is a big decision because they’re often not small and a bigger to pack into travel carriers.

Getting through the airport with a baby:

A baby carrier can make getting through the airport more comfortable and ensure you’ve got your hands free, be aware you’ll have to take the carrier off when you go through security.

There are also incredible strollers now that fold up as cabin luggage (GENIUS!).

While your nappy bag and carry on baggage needs to be comprehensive (see below) a bag that goes over your shoulder will leave you with a very sore back, I recommend using a backpack or small wheelie bag for the airport/flight. If you use a wheelie bag that needs to be stowed overhead make sure you pack a smaller inner bag you can pull out with the essentials for take off and landing.

If you’re checking a stroller or car seat at the gate don’t forget to allow time.  

Packing smart on the flight:

When packing for your baby, think compact but comprehensive. 

A well-stocked nappy bag is your first line of defence. 

Include: 

• More nappies than you think you’ll need, 
• Wipes,
• A few changes of outfits (and some for you…particularly on a long flight the chances of getting milk, poo or food on you are reasonable high – and it’s awful if you have to sit in them the entire flight ), 
• Feeding supplies, and 
• Comfort items like a favourite toy or blanket. 

Ensure you pack an adequate amount of baby food, particularly for long haul flights , you can bring small jars of baby food or baby food pouches on the plane. 

Baby milk and flying:

• If your baby won’t take a cold bottle, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask a flight attendant for a cup of hot water so you can warm it up or ask for warm water to mix formula with
• Most airlines have a policy about not providing milk for bottles so if you have an older child that drinks regular milk be prepared this may not to be as straightforward as it should be.
• Pumping can be difficult on a flight, my key recommendation is you make sure your pumps are charged so you’re not having to rely on sitting in a tiny cubicle to pump – again let the attendants know what you need, most will be incredibly accommodating  

For older babies and infants, snacks and activities to keep them engaged are a must.

I saw a reel recently on tips for flying with kids and the top tip was: 

“snack b*tch like you’ve never snack b*tched before”

 …and I tend to agree (although it’s much harder on the way home than the way there!) 

Health and Safety

Avoiding Illness

Planes can be hotbeds for germs and other passengers can carry illness, so carry hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes to clean surfaces before setting up your baby’s space. Staying hydrated is crucial, especially for breastfeeding mothers. By keeping as clean as you can, you’ll keep your baby’s immune system healthy. 

Vaccinations and Flying

Newborns are vulnerable due to their young age and developing immune systems. However, this does not mean they need to be cocooned in their homes for fear of viral exposure. Many parents elect to delay travel and remain home until their baby’s first round of immunisations (after leaving the hospital). This is not necessary and not advised. Immunisations have a cumulative effect, meaning one dose does not provide complete protection.

The single most commonly caught bug during travel is INFLUENZA. If your child is over 6 months, they can be vaccinated, and parents should also have up-to-date coverage.

Medication and First Aid

Consult your paediatrician before flying for tips for flying and to discuss whether any medications are advised for your baby, particularly if they have existing health concerns. Pack a basic first aid kit with essentials like fever relief, nasal saline drops, snot sucker, and plasters and ensure you have enough supplies for a long flight. 

Sleep and Returning home:

When you return home, try to get your baby back into their usual routine within 24-48 hours or as swiftly as possible, understanding that some flexibility may be needed as your baby readjusts. Depending on the time difference of where you have travelled to, your baby might take longer to return to their usual routine, but just do your best and use any settling techniques available to you.

Flying with a baby FAQs

Q1: What is my baby or child has had an ear infection?

ANS: Always talk to your paediatrician about when it’s safe to fly with babies who have had a heavy cold, ear surgery or an ear infection.

Q2: For older children how much screen time is too much screen time?

ANS: Flying with multiple kids is wild.  SNACKS AND SCREENS will be your saviour.  You’ll see beautifully created reels from parents with games and things you can stick on windows to keep your kids entertained  (and yes these are great- do them!)  BUT in the end if you’ve got a baby and older siblings you’ve only got so many hands… this is your permission slip from your paediatrician to have zero boundaries on screens and snacks while onboard ! Your kids may be a little wired and have trouble regulating when they land from too much screen time – but they were probably going to be anyway, so go easy on yourself and make the flight as easy as possible! 

Q3: My baby is SOOOO MESSY, any tips for feeding solids on the plane?

ANS: As above, pack some clean clothes for you and your baby as spills and mess are almost inevitable –  feeding a baby on your lap in a aeroplane cabin is a high risk sport!  If you have a small towel or old fashioned nappy cloth put this over your lap. There are also disposable bibs which can be great for flights and means you won’t have crusty food covered bibs in your travel bags. Depending on your airline you may also be able to ask the flight attendant for a warm cloth for clean up.

Q4: Any other baby tips?

ANS: Yes packing and preparation are key…and doing this as a team is my number one piece of advice

See my blog on long car trips with babies for more information on this:

Remember, every baby is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. 

The key is to stay flexible, prepared, and patient. Good sleep foundations and routines are one of the keys to success – this will help on the plane but also when you arrive! 

Flying with a baby is an adventure, it may not be as easy as it was pre kids but with the right approach it doesn’t have to be torture. 

I hope this blog has given you some useful tips for flying – happy travels!