9 Tips For Air Travel With A Baby Without (Too Many ) Tears

Traveling by air with a baby can be quite tough. But there are ways to make flying with a baby a lot easier. Check our been-there-done-that tips!

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Air travel with a baby can be quite exhausting, both for the adult and the baby. Particularly air charter traveling with a baby is tough.

Why is this?

Well, traveling on a plane with a baby means that you have your baby on your lap all the time unless you are two adults traveling together or you are lucky enough to get hold of a sky cot or a spare seat. It is cramped; it is hard to move around, hard to change diapers, and hard for the baby to get some sleep.

Also, the speakers are often very loud and might wake your precious baby up once you’ve made them go to sleep.

Sounds tempting, huh?

Well, it’s not all bad. I mean, you do get somewhere fast! And that’s very nice when you have an infant.

If you plan for air travel with a baby, check our list of tips to facilitate your trip. Take a deep breath and get going. Have a nice trip!

At the airport

At some airports, you are allowed to keep your baby car seat or even your stroller all the way to the gate. Ask if that is possible.

This will be of great help. Your baby can rest and hopefully sleep for a while, which makes a huge difference for your plane ride.

Air travel with a baby often involves a lot of luggage, and having a place to put your baby down makes a big difference.

If you can’t use the stroller at the airport, at least make sure you bring a baby sling or a baby carrier!

Well, bring one of these anyway! They are such great help.

If you are traveling alone, just imagine going to the bathroom without one…

Where to sit

Air travel with a baby is not very convenient.

The first thing you should do when you book your flight is to ask for a seat with a sky cot/bassinet for your baby. There are usually not that many (if any) on each airplane, but if you are lucky to get one, it can be a great relief. Don’t forget to check weight limits.

If a sky cot is not available, ask for a seat away from the aisles, preferably a window seat. This way, you’ll have at least one undisturbed side.

Also, make sure you get a seat next to your travel companion!

If you are flexible, you could consider choosing a flight that is not fully booked. This way, you might have the possibility to put your baby down on another seat.

Ask the flight attendant if they can keep the seat next to you empty if the plane is not full.

Last, you can, of course, book an extra seat. Some airlines have very generous discounts for children, so it may be worth the extra cost, especially if you are going to fly for many hours.

When to go

Depending on how far away from the airport you live, you really should think twice before booking a flight early in the morning.

Since you often have to be at the airport at least one hour before departure, you risk both your own sleep and your baby’s routines by leaving early in the morning.

Air travel with a baby may also take some extra time when checking in since you might have a stroller or a car seat to check in too.

My experience is that flying early in the evening is the best time. If you will fly for many hours, a half-booked night flight is absolutely the best. If you can get hold of a sky cot, both you and your baby might actually sleep quite well!

However, if you are flying over several time zones, jet lag should be taken into consideration when deciding on departure time.

Your baby’s sleep

For some babies, it is very hard to sleep on an airplane. It is very noisy, and unless it is in the middle of the night, there tend to be people walking along the aisles all the time.

Also, the speaker, located just above your head, could wake up anyone!

So be prepared that you might have quite an exhausted and sad little baby by the end of the trip.

To help your baby sleep, at least make sure you have a seat away from the aisle. A blanket that smells like home can be a great help to make your baby settle. Breastfeeding or bottle feeding may also help your baby.

If there is any way you can put your baby down either to go to sleep or to stay asleep, this will also help both of you. Many babies, if not newborns, actually stay asleep longer if lying down rather than being held in your arms.

A sky cot or an extra seat is, of course, great if you can get hold of it or afford to book it.

Toys

During an air travel with a baby, the last thing you want is a bored kid.

The older the baby, the more different toys will be needed to entertain him or her. It may be a good idea to buy a few new things that will keep your baby interested for a longer time. Also, hiding a few favorite things at home a few weeks before traveling and then give them to your child on the plane is a good way to introduce “new things” during the trip.

Consider tying them together, at least in pairs. It is not that easy to bend down to get things on the floor with a baby on your lap.

Also, remember that the plastic cups and spoons, magazines, and people around you are new interesting toys and faces for your baby. You don’t have to pack thousands of toys to keep your baby happy.

Feeding your baby

Feeding your baby while on a plane is quite easy if you breastfeed. Breastfeeding is also a very effective way to prevent ear pain on take-off and landing.

If you don’t breastfeed, ask for help to heat the food or bottle. It may take some time, though, because airplanes usually don’t contain any micro ovens. Ask well in advance.

Also, while still at home, let your baby get used to having room-temperate formula or food. I have done this with my kids, and it is a great help while traveling.

Bring food that you know your baby will like. With so many new things happening around them, even quite old children may find it hard to concentrate on eating. Being served your favorite food helps.

Also don’t forget to bring baby crackers, rice cakes or some other finger foods.

Feeding yourself

In my opinion, meals are among the most trying moments when on air travel with a baby.

Did you know babies automatically get 6 feet long arms the moment they enter an airplane…? At least, that’s what it seems like when you try to have some (usually very hot) food while holding a curious baby in your arms.

If you are two people traveling together, take turns eating.

If not, look around for someone to help you or eat while your baby is asleep.

Of course, if you have an extra seat or a sky cot, this is not an (as big) problem.

Bring fruit, sandwiches, and biscuits that will keep you going if you can’t find time to have the meal served on board.

Diapering

Air travel with a baby means changing diapers in a very small area, usually in the tiny “bathroom”. There, you’ll find a small changing table about 1 foot wide.

Remember, everything works if you have to! Just make sure you hold a steady hand on your baby all the time so that he doesn’t fall down.

Make sure to change your baby’s diaper just before the flight to minimize the number of changes onboard.

Then when it is time, bring as little as you can to the toilet, but make sure to bring enough baby wipes for bigger accidents.

The dirty diaper can be thrown into the bin by the sink; you don’t have to bring it back to your seat and diaper bag.

Clothes

Bring an extra top for yourself and extra pair of both trousers and a top for your baby. Infants can get motion sick, the diaper may leak, and you might spill your food trying to grab something to eat…

There are many reasons to bring some extra clothes for you and your family.

Also, the temperature in an airplane can vary a lot between flights. It is impossible to predict if one particular flight will be too warm, too cold, or just right. Dress everyone in layers and bring extra clothes, so being too warm or too cold will not be an issue.

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Paula Dennholt

Paula Dennholt founded Easy Baby Life in 2006 and has been a passionate parenting and pregnancy writer since then. Her parenting approach and writing are based on studies in cognitive-behavioral models and therapy for children and her experience as a mother and stepmother. Life as a parent has convinced her of how crucial it is to put relationships before rules. She strongly believes in positive parenting and a science-based approach.

Paula cooperates with a team of pediatricians who assist in reviewing and writing articles.