10 Helpful Tips for Flying with a Baby

Flying with a baby can be anxiety provoking. The thought of your infant having a meltdown while stuck in an airplane may make you want to cry in fear. That’s why I put together these helpful tips for flying with a baby. 

You might have been the passenger that prays they aren’t sitting next to the baby we saw while lining up to board the aircraft. Or the one that throws headphones in while performing an eye roll when we see a baby on board. 

Now, you’re on the other side of things and scared to have that screaming baby on your lap feeling helpless and embarrassed. I was that mom! A mom that loved to travel, but was scared to do what I loved after having our baby girl.

Let’s face it, a baby is a baby and even when we try our absolute best they’re still going to cry at times. It’s important to give yourself some grace while traveling. More importantly, don’t let this fear stop you from traveling! We’ve been on multiple flights with our 6 month old and here are the things we’ve learned and our absolute best tips to help your flight be as stress free as possible with your baby.

Here are 10 tips for flying with a baby:

Book your flight around nap time or an overnight flight whenever you have that option.

Obviously it’s going to be easier to fly with your little one if they are sleeping during the flight rather than trying to entertain them for hours. If possible, book your flight during their nap time or choose an overnight flight for long haul flights.

Feed or use a pacifier on takeoff and landing

This will help with the change in pressure! I was super nervous about this because I know how uncomfortable it can be as an adult. I nursed my baby and it didn’t even seem to phase her. I was also super concerned about the timing. My baby usually nurses for 10 minutes and takeoff and landing takes longer than that. For takeoff I would latch her on when the plane started accelerating down the runway. She nursed throughout the worst of it and then I offered her a pacifier for the remainder.

For landing, I started nursing when I noticed my ears were popping and then again offered her a pacifier for the remainder of the flight. If nursing in public makes you uncomfortable, wear a cover or use a light blanket to cover yourself up.

Of course you are allowed to bring formula or milk through TSA and on board your flight if you bottle feed your baby. The pressure change never seemed to bother her.

Use a baby carrier for hands free boarding and unboarding

In addition to a travel stroller, I highly recommend bringing a baby carrier. Right before it’s time to board, take your baby out of the stroller and put them in a carrier instead. Having 2 hands while you are boarding the plane and getting organized will make things so much easier! I always say half of motherhood is learning how to do everything 1 handed, but let’s not make boarding and unboarding a plane one of them! 

Use overnight diapers

Fun fact: airplanes do have changing tables in the bathrooms but it’s basically a changing table for ants. Using an overnight diaper will help reduce the number of diaper changes needed on a long flight as well as prevent a blow out if your babe decides to poo mid flight. 

Dress your baby and yourself comfortably

Travel days get long. Don’t try to be the cutest looking family on the plane and wear your best outfit. Footie pajamas or a breathable outfit for baby is best. Save all your cute outfits for your destination where you will be snapping pictures every minute.

Also, dress yourself in layers. Typically I’m freezing on flights, so if I’m not holding my precious babe I definitely want a sweatshirt on. However, the second that precious baby is in my arms, I’m dripping sweat. Don’t forget to take that sweatshirt off before you pick up the baby!

If you plan to nurse during the flight, make sure your outfit is nursing friendly too! A supportive nursing bra and easy take the titty out top is key!

Pack a change of clothes for your baby AND yourself in your carry on

If you don’t get peed, pooped or spit up on at some point during your journey, consider yourself a queen/king. If your baby doesn’t blow out a diaper or spit up all over their outfit, you must be an angel from heaven. Be prepared for any or all of these situations to happen and carry an extra change of clothes for both you and your baby so you don’t have to travel in a stinky or dirty outfit.

Take minimal carry on luggage

Zach and I used to be “carry on luggage only people.” But when you have a baby to carry on, plus a stroller, diaper bag, and possibly formula or milk, you run out of hands quickly. Instead of struggling from gate to gate, we found it easier to check 1 suitcase between the two of us to help minimize the number of carry on items we had.

Our first flight we planned to carry on 2 roller suitcases, 2 backpacks, 1 diaper bag, travel stroller and our baby. Thank goodness Delta offered to check all our suitcases for free! Even 2 backpacks, a diaper bag, travel stroller and baby seemed like a lot. On the way home we minimized bags and it was so much easier.

Stick to your routine

Of course you won’t be able to follow your routine to a T, but try to continue your routine on your travel day to help cue your baby what’s next. Our bedtime routine is typically bath, lotion, diaper, feed, sound machine, jammies, sleep sack, sing a lullaby and finally lay down in the crib. On the plane we did diaper change, feed, sound machine, sleep sack, sing and lay down in the bassinet or fall asleep on mom. Having a routine really helped cue baby girl and she fell right asleep!

Request a bassinet

If you are flying internationally most airlines will offer bassinets for infants. Check the airlines website and if they do, and if your baby is small enough, call ahead of time and request one! The airline will assign you a bassinet friendly seat. Did I mention that seat is a BULK HEAD seat?!? That in itself was a huge bonus! It was nice to have the extra space to just stand up and bounce baby girl when she got fussy.

The flight crew will install the bassinet after takeoff (if they don’t, kindly ask). It is so nice to have a safe and comfortable place for your baby to sleep, and you will get much more sleep too!

Talk to the gate agent!

Don’t be afraid to talk to the gate agent and advocate for yourself. Most airlines are willing to help families out! For example, if there’s an open seat on the plane they may be able to switch your seat so you have an empty seat next to you. That will make nursing/feeding/diaper changes so much easier plus give your little one their own space to get some wiggles out during the flight.

I suggest planning to get to your gate early so there’s time to talk to them before boarding. Don’t expect them to do something for you every time but if they can’t at least you tried. 

There you have it! 10 tips for flying with your baby. We hope these tips help make your travels easier and give you the confidence to travel with your baby. If you enjoyed this post, please pin it to save it for later and, of course, comment any thoughts or questions you may have.