Quick Answer
Flying with a baby for the first time is one of those experiences that feels far more daunting in advance than it is in practice. With solid preparation, realistic expectations, and a clear plan for the most common challenges (ear pressure, feeding, sleep, and luggage), most families find their first flight with a baby entirely manageable. This guide covers everything from booking and packing through to managing the flight itself, with specific guidance for both breastfed and formula-fed babies.
Before You Book
When Can Babies Fly?
Most airlines allow babies to fly from 2 weeks of age, though some require a minimum age of 2 to 3 weeks or a doctor's clearance for very young infants. Check your specific airline's policy before booking. Pediatricians generally consider flying safe from 1 month of age for healthy, full-term babies. Premature babies or babies with respiratory or cardiac conditions should be cleared by their physician before flying.
Seat Selection
- Bulkhead (bassinet) seats: Many airlines offer fold-down bassinets that attach to the bulkhead wall for infants under a certain weight (typically around 10 to 11kg). These are usually the most sought-after seats for families with babies and must be requested at booking on most airlines. The extra floor space also makes managing feeding, nappy changes, and settling significantly easier. Book as early as possible if this is important to you
- Aisle seats: If bulkhead seats are not available, an aisle seat gives you the easiest access to stand, bounce, and move to the galley or toilet without disturbing other passengers
- Consider a separate seat for your baby: Infants under 2 typically fly as lap infants at a reduced fare or free on domestic flights. However, a separate seat with an approved infant car seat is the safest option for flying. This is a personal and financial decision; most families use lap infant status for short flights and consider a separate seat for longer ones
Flight Timing
Many experienced travelling parents recommend booking flights that overlap with your baby's longest natural sleep period where possible. A baby who sleeps through much of the flight is the easiest flight scenario. For many families with young babies, this means overnight or early morning flights. That said, the unpredictability of infant sleep means this is a preference rather than a guarantee.
What to Pack in Your Carry-On
Your carry-on is your operational centre for the flight. Assume you will not have access to your checked luggage and pack everything you could need for a flight that runs several hours longer than scheduled:
- More nappies than you think you will need (one per hour of travel time plus a generous buffer, as delays are common)
- More changes of clothes than you think you will need, for the baby (two to three) and one change for yourself
- Enough feeding supplies for the full journey plus a buffer (see feeding section below)
- Muslin cloths and bibs
- A small soft toy or two and an age-appropriate activity (for older babies, a new small toy they have not seen before can buy valuable engagement time)
- Baby carrier or wrap, which frees your hands at security and in the airport and provides a familiar settling environment on the plane
- Any medications your baby regularly takes, in your carry-on rather than checked luggage
- A change bag that can be accessed easily from your seat without fully opening and unpacking it
Getting Through the Airport
- Allow significantly more time than you think you need. Security with a baby takes longer: you will need to collapse and fold the pram, remove the baby from the carrier or car seat, and pass everything through the scanner. Add at least 30 minutes to your standard airport arrival time
- A baby carrier or wrap is one of the most useful airport tools: it keeps your baby settled, keeps your hands free for luggage and documents, and allows you to move more quickly than with a pram. Most carriers go through security without being removed
- Most airports offer family priority lanes at security; look for signage or ask staff
- Prams and car seats can typically be checked to the gate and collected on the jetway at arrival, which means you have use of them throughout the airport and do not need to manage without them until you board
- Baby formula, expressed breast milk, and breast milk are exempt from the standard liquid restrictions at most airports when travelling with an infant; they must be declared at security and may be tested. Have feeding supplies easily accessible rather than buried in your bag
Feeding on the Plane
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding on a plane is legal and straightforward. A window seat provides slightly more privacy if desired, though you are entitled to feed wherever you are seated. A nursing cover or large muslin can provide additional privacy in close quarters if you prefer. Feeding during takeoff and landing is particularly useful for managing ear pressure.
Formula Feeding
Ready-to-feed formula in single-serve cartons is the most practical option for flying, as it requires no water, no preparation, and clears security most easily. Cabin crew can provide cups of hot water for warming if your baby needs warm milk. Pre-made bottles in a cold bag are another option for short flights. For powdered formula, you will need access to boiled water cooled to the appropriate temperature; some parents carry a flask of boiled water from home (check your airline's policy) or request hot water from the galley and allow it to cool before preparation.
A consistent, familiar bottle makes the unusual environment of the plane feel more manageable for a baby who is already outside their normal routine. The Emulait Starter Kit includes everything needed for bottle feeding from the beginning, with a breast-shaped nipple design that supports a consistent latch whether feeding at home or on the go.
Ear Pressure
Changes in cabin pressure during takeoff and landing create the same sensation in babies' ears as in adults, but babies cannot consciously equalise pressure by swallowing or yawning deliberately. Sucking and swallowing naturally equalises ear pressure, which is why feeding (breast or bottle) or a dummy during takeoff and landing is the most effective strategy. Prepare to feed or offer a dummy as soon as the plane begins to taxi for takeoff and again as descent begins.
Managing Sleep on the Plane
If your baby sleeps in a bassinet, lower them in carefully once they are fully asleep and keep activity around them minimal. The bassinet is a novel environment and some babies resist it; a familiar sleep cue (a specific muslin, white noise from a phone, a familiar hold before being lowered) can help with the transition. Many babies sleep well on planes due to the white noise of the engines; others are too stimulated by the environment to sleep for long periods. Both outcomes are normal.
A baby carrier allows you to walk the aisle with your baby in a familiar, close position if they are unsettled, which is often more effective than attempting to settle them in the seat.
Nappy Changes
Most commercial aircraft have a fold-down changing table in at least one toilet, usually labelled as a family or accessible toilet. Ask cabin crew if you cannot locate it. Bring a portable changing mat and a pre-assembled nappy change kit (nappy, wipes, cream, nappy bag) so that the change is as quick as possible in the confined space. Change your baby's nappy just before boarding so you are starting the flight with a clean nappy and minimising the number of in-flight changes needed.
Managing a Crying Baby
A crying baby on a plane is one of the most anxiety-provoking scenarios new travelling parents imagine. In practice, most other passengers are more sympathetic and less bothered than the imagination suggests. Focus on your baby rather than on other passengers' reactions. Your toolkit for a crying baby includes feeding, a dummy, a carrier walk up the aisle, white noise, a new toy, a change of scenery (standing at the galley), and simply waiting for the phase to pass. A baby who cries for part of a flight is having a normal baby experience in an unusual environment; it is not a reflection of your parenting.
Key Takeaway
Book bulkhead seats early if available, allow extra time at the airport, and pack your carry-on as though the flight will be several hours longer than scheduled. Use a baby carrier through the airport and on the plane for flexibility and settling. Feed during takeoff and landing to manage ear pressure. Use ready-to-feed formula cartons for the simplest on-board feeding experience, or breastfeed as normal. Change the nappy just before boarding and locate the changing table on the plane before you need it. Manage a crying baby with feeding, movement, white noise, and new stimulation rather than with anxiety about other passengers. First flights with babies are almost always more manageable than anticipated.
Parents Also Ask
How to Bottle Feed on the Go: Tips for Traveling with a Baby
How to Build a Feeding Routine That Works for Your Family
Newborn Sleep Schedules: What to Expect in the First 3 Months
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always check your airline's specific policies and consult your pediatrician before flying with a young or premature baby.