Feeling nervous or worried about flying with your baby or toddler? These 19 tips for flying with a baby or toddler will help you feel less stressed and more prepared for your upcoming travels!
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Tips for Flying with a Baby
1. You Can Bring Liquids Through TSA for Baby/Toddler
You can bring full, unopened bottles of water, and you can bring milk (cow’s milk, breastmilk, and/or formula) through airplane security despite the liquid rule. We have also brought a full-size bottle of Aquaphor in our changing pad and liquid children’s Tylenol with no problems at all.
2. Dress Comfortably and in Layers
Wearing comfy clothes will keep the whole family happier and more at ease. I’ve been on flights that are miserably hot and others that are freezing cold, so dressing in layers helps you to be prepared for anything.
3. Bring Extra Clothes for Everyone
Blowouts. Throw Up. Spilled food or drinks. It is best to be prepared for anything. We always bring a couple of extra outfits for baby and an extra outfit for mom and dad in our carry-on luggage. This is also helpful just in case your checked luggage happens to get lost.
4. Use a Baby Carrier for Boarding and Deplaning
It is nice to have baby in a secure place and to be hands-free when you are trying to find your seat, wrangle all of your bags, pick up everything that was dropped during the flight, get out of your seat without bumping your head, etc. We have 2 different Ergobaby carriers that we really like.
5. Gate Check or Put Stroller in Overhead Bin
I personally love keeping our stroller with us until we board the plane. It is a safe, secure place for a baby or toddler to be while navigating through check out, security, and through the airport.
You can gate-check your stroller for free on most airlines. We have the GB Pockit stroller, which we LOVE for traveling. It folds up so small that it fits in the overhead bin. I like keeping the stroller in the overhead so we know it isn’t getting beat up or damaged below the plane. Some airplanes even have wide enough aisles for you to push the GB Pockit stroller right down the aisle to your seat!
Click here for a full list of our must-have travel products: 27 Practical Toddler & Baby Travel Essentials
6. Have Baby Suck On Something During Take-Off & Landing
Try to have baby/toddler suck on something when the plane is ascending and descending. The sucking sensation helps to neutralize ear pressure and helps with ear discomfort. You can breastfeed, offer a bottle or sippy cup, or use a pacifier or some kind of toy that baby could suck on.
7. If Possible, Plan Flight Times Strategically
When possible, plan to travel at times that you think will work best for your little one. If your baby or toddler is good at sleeping on the go, then it could be beneficial to fly over nap time or late at night.
Sometimes it can be hard to predict, but if you have a feeling that your baby or toddler will not sleep well on the go, then a morning flight could be your best bet when your little traveler will hopefully be happy and fresh.
8. Use Overnight Diapers During the Flight
Overnight diapers have extra absorbency. This means fewer diaper changes and possible blowout prevention. We use Hello Bello overnight diapers. Most brands offer some kind of overnight option. These Huggies Overnights are great too.
9. Bring Ziplock Bags or Reusable Wet Bags
Contain any wet or dirty clothes, dropped toys or pacifiers, empty cups or bottles, etc. We usually bring a couple of gallon ziplock bags and one of these reusable wet bags.
10. BRING SNACKS! Lots of Snacks & Entertainment
Snacks provide entertainment and keep baby or toddler full and happy while you are on the go. I always make sure to bring a variety of snacks. We love these snack cups so baby/toddler can feel independent and self-feed.
Our Favorite On-the-Go Snacks
- Freeze-dried fruit
- Goldfish
- Applesauce pouches or other food pouches
- Cheese stick
- Granola Bars
- Veggies – carrots, peppers, celery
- Fruit – apple slices, bananas
Bring some of your baby or toddler’s favorite toys and check out these great on-the-go entertainment ideas.
11. Let Airline/Airport Staff Know You Are Traveling with Small Children
We have been given seat upgrades with more legroom, have been moved to a row without any other passengers, skipped long lines through customs and security, and received treats or extra little perks because we had a baby with us. Most airlines and airports want to make travel easier for families. It never hurts to ask!
12. Pump Bags & Diaper Bags are Free
We have flown with many different airlines (Delta, United, American, Allegiant, Frontier, etc.) and have always been permitted to bring both a diaper bag and a pump bag for free, AND these do not count as a personal item for paying passengers.
So for example, my husband and I could each bring a personal item, plus we could bring our diaper backpack for our son (even though we didn’t purchase a seat for him), and bring my pump bag (which is considered a medical device), all for free. You can always call your airline before your flight or look online to confirm that these items would be free if you are worried about it.
13. Use Familiar Sleep Routines/Cues During the Flight
If your baby or toddler uses a sound machine, sleepsack, lovey, or whatever it may be, make sure to bring these items with you if possible. These familiar sleep cues and routines just might help you get your little one to sleep during the flight! Fingers crossed.
14. Consider Purchasing a Seat & Bringing Your Car Seat
Domestic U.S. flights are free for all kids under 2 if they are sitting on your lap. But if you want to purchase a seat for your little one, you can bring a car seat onboard and strap them in to keep them contained. If your baby or toddler does well in a car seat, then this could be a big stress reliever and make the flight much more calm and relaxing!
This is our favorite car seat for travel because it is very lightweight, compact, and affordable.
15. Consider Paying to Check Bags & Be Hands-Free
We have not personally done this because we are cheap and will shove as much as possible into a free carry-on or personal item. But I will admit that it would be VERY nice to not be lugging 6 bags and a baby throughout the airport and on/off the plane. If it gives you more peace of mind to pay a little extra to check bags and be more hands-free, then definitely do it.
16. Use Packing Cubes
Packing cubes are so helpful, not only for keeping checked luggage organized but also for diaper bags and personal items. In our diaper bag/personal items, I always have a packing cube filled with toys, another with snacks, one with electronics and chargers, and another with medicines, Kleenex, wipes, and other personal items.
This makes is SO much easier to stay organized on the plane and in the airport. I am not constantly digging through our bags or having to take things out of the overhead bin. I recommend clear bags like these so you can easily see what you have inside.
17. Arrive at the Airport Early
Give yourself plenty of time to get to your final destination. Leave earlier than you think you need to if you are flying. I would MUCH rather be extra early than to be running late and feeling stressed and frazzled.
If you have extra time in the airport, let your little one stretch and have tummy time if they are not mobile yet, and run or crawl around if they are mobile. Get as many wiggles out as possible!
18. Take It Easy On Yourself
Travel is unpredictable, and traveling with babies and toddlers is even more up in the air. I think it will help if you go into it with the mindset that things may not go as planned, but it will be okay.
Don’t be afraid to do things you don’t normally do. Maybe you don’t typically feed your baby any sugar, but baby is reaching for the Biscoff cookie they pass out on the flight and you know it will provide happy entertainment for 15 minutes. Maybe you don’t normally allow screen time, but your toddler will sit quietly and watch a movie for an hour. Do what you need to do to make your travel experience smoother and calmer.
19. You Will Likely Never See the Other People on the Plane Again
If your baby screams for an hour during the flight or your toddler won’t stop repeatedly kicking the seat in front of them…. just let it go. You will likely never see these people again.
Most of the people that we have encountered on flights are understanding and kind. But even if they aren’t, don’t let it get to you. Worry about yourself and your family, and ignore the haters.
You WILL eventually land and get off of that airplane, and the chaos will soon be forgotten as you make priceless memories on your family adventure.
Good luck with your upcoming flight! Hopefully, you found these tips useful and feel more prepared and at ease about flying with a baby or toddler!
