25 Tips to Get You Through a Flight with a Baby

For many babies, flying is full of fascinating sights - from airport vehicles and moving walkways to tray tables and window shades.

If you’re nervous, you’re not alone. Whether this is your first trip or your fifth, these baby flight tips take you through everything you need to know - from booking to landing. For sleep planning support, see our baby sleep tips.

Always speak to your GP or health visitor if you have concerns about flying with your baby. Information in this article is based on NHS and GOV.UK guidance.

What should I pack in my baby's hand luggage?

If you’re travelling with a baby, a simple hand-luggage checklist can lower stress fast. Think of this as your quick baby travel essentials list - enough for feeds, changes and comfort if you hit delays.

Before You Fly Checklist

Nappy changing essentials:

• Nappies (rule of thumb: one per hour of travel time, plus a few extras as buffer). If you’re unsure, see how many nappies does a baby need.

• A travel changing mat

• Baby wipes (a separate zip-lock bag for soiled ones can help)

• A spare nappy bag

• Nappy rash cream

• 2–3 full changes of clothes for your baby (spillages and blowouts happen)

• 1 spare top for you

Feeding and comfort essentials:

• Breast milk or formula - in the UK you can carry enough for the journey; each breast milk container must be no more than 2,000ml and will be screened (GOV.UK).

• Ready-to-feed formula cartons for convenience on board

• Bottles, teats and a sterilising bag (cold-water sterilising bags are a practical choice)

• A dummy if your baby uses one

• A favourite toy or comforter your baby hasn’t seen for a while (novelty helps)

• A blanket or muslin

• Any prescription medicines in original packaging

Important: Frozen breast milk is not permitted in UK airport hand luggage. Keep breast milk or prepared formula in a cool bag for the journey.

For longer flights, choosing reliable nappies matters - see best nappies for newborns for options.

What do you need to do before booking a flight with a baby?

Planning ahead makes flying with a newborn or travelling with a newborn much smoother. This stage covers what to consider before you book, and what to arrange before you fly.

Before you book

• Timing your flight: evening flights can help older babies settle, but for newborns and young infants (under 3 months) it can be more effective to align travel with your baby’s natural sleep window. Night flights may also mean less sleep for parents, so treat this as a consideration, not a rule.

• Connections: allow plenty of time between flights. Longer layovers give you space for feeds, nappy changes and a reset. If your connection is tight, ask airline staff for assistance in advance.

• Seat selection: choose seats early to maximise options. Bulkhead seats offer extra floor space and are typically where bassinets/sky cots attach on long-haul flights - call your airline well in advance to reserve one, as they are limited. On domestic flights, babies under 2 usually travel on a parent’s lap. On international routes, an infant ticket is typically required even if your baby is on your lap - confirm with your airline.

• Buying a separate seat: if your budget allows, booking a seat for your baby can improve comfort, especially on longer flights. An airline‑approved car seat provides the safest option in the air - check your seat is approved by your airline before travel.

Before you fly

• Documentation: UK babies need a valid passport from birth for any international trip. Apply well in advance - do not book travel before a valid passport is secured. If only one parent is travelling with the baby, a signed letter of consent from the other parent with parental responsibility is advisable and may be required at some borders. If your baby is under 2 weeks old, check airline policy - some require a GP letter confirming your baby is fit to fly.

• Prescriptions and medication: fill any prescriptions ahead of time. Pack any medication in its original packaging in your hand luggage, not your hold luggage.

If you’re planning around naps and feeds, checking age-stage expectations can help - see baby development milestones.

Does flying advice change depending on my baby's age?

Yes - the basics stay the same, but what you’ll prioritise changes as your baby grows. The tips below cover what to think about when you’re flying with a newborn, flying with an infant, or travelling with an older baby or toddler.

Newborns (0–8 weeks)

If you can, consider waiting until your baby is at least two weeks old. The NCT notes that healthy newborns are usually able to travel after two weeks, and that flying earlier may require a doctor’s letter - always check your airline’s specific policy before you book. If your baby was premature, speak to your neonatal team before planning travel, and if you’ve had a caesarean birth you may need medical clearance for yourself too (as outlined by the NCT).

Newborns often sleep a lot, which can make short-haul flights feel more doable. Their immune systems are still developing, so simple hygiene steps (hand washing and sanitiser) are worth prioritising in crowded airport spaces.

Young infants (2–6 months)

Many parents find this a relatively ‘easy’ window to travel: babies are typically alert enough to be soothed by familiar routines but not yet mobile. Feeding is often more predictable, which helps with timing feeds around takeoff and landing. If you’re still getting to grips with sleep rhythms, our baby sleep tips can be useful.

Older babies and toddlers (6 months–2 years)

Once babies are crawling or walking, they need more active distraction in a confined space. Weaning also changes packing: add suitable snacks or pouches to your bag, plus a wider mix of familiar and ‘new’ toys. Established nap schedules can be more sensitive to disruption, so build in buffer time wherever you can.

Whatever the age, TravelHealthPro advises careful pre-trip preparation and recommends seeking travel health advice in advance (ideally 4–6 weeks before travel), especially if you’re travelling abroad or your baby has any medical conditions.

How should I prepare for the flight itself?

These baby flight tips focus on the practical ‘in-flight’ pieces - what to wear, what to carry, and what to double-check - without duplicating the full hand-luggage checklist above. The goal is to keep your baby travel essentials tight, realistic, and easy to manage in a confined space.

• Car seat: many parents use an infant seat they already own, but not all car seats are approved for aircraft use. Check the label for an aviation approval marking and call your airline to confirm before you travel.

• Pack only what you can comfortably carry - you’re the one lifting it. Use the checklist section to prioritise the must-haves, then remove anything ‘nice to have’ that will feel heavy in transit.

• Nappies: it’s easy to underestimate delays. If you’re unsure how many to pack, start with the rule of thumb in how many nappies does a baby need and add a buffer.

• Milk and formula: in the UK you can carry as much baby food, baby milk and sterilised water as needed for the journey. Each breast milk container must be no more than 2,000 ml, and security may open containers for screening. Frozen breast milk is not permitted in hand luggage. Ready-to-feed formula cartons can be simpler than mixing powdered formula on board if access to sterile water is unpredictable.

• Noise and comfort: skip cotton wool/cotton balls - they can be a hazard. If engine noise unsettles your baby, use noise-reducing earmuffs designed for infants (external earmuff-style only; earplugs are not suitable for babies).

• Clothing: dress your baby in layers so you can adapt quickly if the cabin feels warm or chilly. Choose easy-on, easy-off pieces (elastic waistbands, zip jumpers) and pack one spare outfit within reach.

• Check-in online: doing this before you arrive can reduce queue time. If you’re travelling with a pushchair, confirm your airline’s buggy policy while checking in - many UK airlines allow a foldable pushchair to the gate, then store it in the hold and return it on arrival.

For nappy performance on travel days, you may also want to browse best nappies for newborns.

How do you get through the airport smoothly with a baby?

The airport can feel like the hardest part of travelling with a baby. These baby flight tips help you keep hands free, reduce stress at security, and get settled at the gate.

• Use a baby carrier to keep your hands free - and practise putting it on and taking it off at home first. Having to remove it quickly at security can feel stressful the first time.

• Use a pushchair through the terminal if you can. Most UK airlines allow a foldable pushchair to be taken to the gate free of charge, but confirm when you book because policies vary. It’s usually returned at the aircraft door or in the baggage hall.

• Ask about family boarding. Not all airlines announce it automatically, so it’s worth asking at the gate rather than waiting to be called.

• If you have a tight connection (or you’re travelling solo), ask for help. Cabin crew and airport staff are used to families juggling bags, buggies and babies.

• Do a full nappy change just before boarding. Airport changing facilities are usually far more spacious than aircraft lavatories, and many UK airports have dedicated family changing rooms.

Related Articles

Travelling With Two or More Children

What do you need to know once you're on the plane?

Once you’re seated, the aim is simple: keep your flying with a baby plan flexible. These baby flight tips cover the key moments that matter most when you’re flying with an infant: safety, hygiene, feeding, sleep and soothing.

• Watch the in-flight safety video. It’s easy to miss while settling your baby, but it helps to know the procedures before takeoff.

• Wash and sanitise hands regularly to reduce germ exposure, especially after the toilet or touching high-contact surfaces.

• Nappy changes: aircraft toilets are cramped even with fold-down tables. If the changing space is awkward, ask crew if there’s a better option. Aim to be quick and keep essentials together in a small changing pouch.

• Feeding to soothe: if you breastfeed, wearing an easy-access top and using a muslin or lightweight cover can help you feel more comfortable in a small space. If you bottle-feed, cabin crew can often help warm a bottle - ask when you board. Feeding during takeoff and early descent can also help with ear pressure.

• Sleep options: the safest place for a baby to sleep is secured in an appropriate restraint (for example, an airline-approved car seat in their own seat). Some airlines also offer bassinets/sky cots on certain routes; they attach at the bulkhead and usually have size limits, so check and reserve well in advance. Use them only when permitted by cabin crew and when the seatbelt sign allows.

• Ask for help. If you’re travelling alone, accept offers from crew or nearby passengers to help with bags or getting settled.

• Keep calm and do your best. You’re handling a lot - and perfection isn’t the goal. Small resets (a feed, a cuddle, a short walk down the aisle) can make a big difference.

• What if my baby cries? Most passengers are more understanding than you might expect - many have been in the same position. Try to identify the cause: hunger, ear pressure, overtiredness or overstimulation are common culprits. A feed, a dummy, a familiar comforter, or a short walk up the aisle can help. If pressure seems to be the issue, see the ear section below. Above all, remember - it will pass.

For nap planning support around travel days, see our baby sleep tips.

How do you protect your baby's ears when flying?

Ear discomfort is one of the most common worries when flying with a newborn or flying with an infant. The good news: in healthy babies, the sensation is usually temporary and manageable with a few well-timed baby flight tips.

Why it happens: during takeoff and landing, cabin pressure changes can make the middle ear feel uncomfortable. Pressure is normally equalised via the Eustachian tube (the passage from the middle ear to the back of the throat). In babies it’s smaller and less mature, so equalising can take longer.

What helps:

• Feed your baby (breast or bottle) during takeoff and the early stages of descent. Sucking and swallowing naturally helps equalise pressure; a dummy can do the same if a feed isn’t due.

• Try to keep your baby awake during ascent and descent, as swallowing is less frequent during sleep.

• If your baby is older and eating solids, a small snack can encourage swallowing.

• Noise-reducing earmuffs designed for babies can help soften engine noise, but they don’t replace feeding for pressure relief.

• Do not use decongestant medicines for infants unless a GP has specifically prescribed them.

When to speak to your GP: if your baby has an ear infection, a cold, or significant congestion before you fly, it’s worth checking with your GP - pressure changes can feel more painful when ears are inflamed.

Reassurance: most babies manage the ear-pressure sensation well - a feed at the right moment is often all that’s needed.

If you’re unsure what’s typical at your baby’s age (sleep, feeds, and routines), baby development milestones can help you plan.

From take-off to landing, managing your little one on a plane isn't all that terrible with some planning and preparation in place. Focus on your children and try to make them as comfortable as possible. Travelling is a great adventure, so bon voyage!