The Best-Ever Tips For Traveling With Baby On A Plane

Last Updated on Dec 12th, 2024 by Renu Dahiya, Leave a Comment

Planned to travel with your baby on a plane? Great! Parents with little ones need to travel too because life doesn’t end when you have a baby. We understand that flying with a baby is the last thing anyone wants to do. It’s stressful, time-consuming and it can be downright uncomfortable. But, with a bit of preparation, you can take to the sky with your baby in tow. Here in our guide, we’ll go through some amazing tips for traveling with a baby on a plane or to help things go as smoothly as possible. 

10 Amazing Tips For Traveling With A Baby On A Plane

1. Check With The Airline About Bassinets

Before booking a flight, always check with the airline about the bassinets. Some airlines have them on Board, while others don’t. Some airlines charge a fee if they do have bassinets and require you to reserve a bassinet in advance (often at an additional cost). Many airlines will provide a baby carrier that can be used as an infant seat or stroller when traveling by air. However, these baby travel essentials must be purchased separately from your ticketing process.

2. Be Flexible When Booking

It’s important to book your flight as early as possible, especially in the case of international flights such as Atlanta to Hyderabad flights. This will give you the best chance of getting a good seat, and it can also save you money. If there is a lot of competition for those seats and price rises when they’re available at short notice from the airline (which may be common), then booking late could end up costing more than booking early. So, it is always advisable to book your flights at least 2 months in advance. 

3. Pick Your Seat Carefully

When you’re booking your flight, there are a few things you should keep in mind when determining where to sit. 

• Avoid bulkhead seats: There are middle rows of seats on either side of the aisle and they tend to be noisier than other rows because they have more people moving around them. 
• Avoid seats near bathroom areas: This is especially true for families with small children who might need help getting up from their seats if an emergency arises (or even just if someone needs some privacy). 
• Avoid seats near gallery areas: These seats are in front of each row, so if you want peace and quiet while eating or drinking something during take-off/landing procedures, avoid these spots!

To know more about the best seats on a plane, check out our handy guide here. 

4. Book A Hotel Near The Airport

If you’re flying with a newborn, it’s best to stay near the airport. If you’re staying at an airport hotel, there will be fewer people and less noise than if you were in a city enter. Additionally, if there are any delays or cancellations on your flight because of weather conditions or mechanical problems (both common), it may be more difficult for you to find parking close by when you arrive at the airport without knowing what those conditions might be like beforehand.  

5. Arrive Early At The Airport

When traveling with an infant or toddler, the first rule is to get to the airport as early as possible. Even, if you have made every necessary preparation and are ticked off every box on the checklist, there may be unexpected mishaps or delays. You can find this tip even in the TSA guidelines for traveling with infants. So, by arriving early, you and your child will experience far less stress. If you want to know more about ‘how early should I get to the airport?’, check our handy guide. You’ll get all the answers you need. 

Tips:  If you are confused about do your child need ID to fly, then go through our detailed guide here. We have covered almost everything.  

6. Pack Baby Travel Essentials 

First of all, planning is everything. Pack everything you might need during your flight journey and always take more than you need in case of delay. 

• Bring enough disposable diapers to last the trip.
• Bring baby wipes and hand sanitizer.
• Bring a change of clothes for your baby and for yourself too. 
• Don’t forget to bring a water bottle. (Make sure you clean the bottle before use!)
• Take moisturizing cream, nappy cream, and sun cream. 
• Pack milk/powdered milk and some food & snacks. 

Always pack smart and take all the necessary items that will make your and your baby’s trip comfortable and enjoyable. You can check other Top travel essentials you need for an untroubled long-haul flight here. 

7. Take Food And Drink For Yourself Too

It’s important to take food and drink for yourself as well. This is because flying with a baby or toddler can be very stressful on your body. The reason why it is recommended to take food for you on a plane is that it will help you stay alert during your journey. So, if someone offers you something from the plane’s snack bar (such as a sandwich), accept it gratefully – but only if it is something that won’t throw off your digestion!

The following food options will be perfect for you – 

• Fresh fruit smoothies made with milk or yogurt instead of water
• Canned fruit packed in syrup
• Whole grain crackers

You can even make special food requests to the airline while booking a flight or at least 24 hours before the departure of your flight. Know everything about airplane food here.

8. Wear The Baby During Security Screening

Wearing the baby during security screening is a great way to keep your child comfortable and happy while you have a chance to relax and get the formalities done easily. It can take longer than usual due to all of the items being searched through by security personnel – especially when traveling on international flights, such as New York to Delhi flights, where there may be stricter rules about what type of clothing travelers must wear upon entering certain countries’ borders, airports, etc. 

Also, avoid bringing car seats through airport security checkpoints because most of the airports don’t allow strollers into airports; however, if someone needs help getting around, then maybe ask an attendant at gate check-in. 

9. Consider Flying During Nap Time

The best situation while traveling on a flight is for a child to sleep for as much of the flight as possible. It will also give you a chance to sleep, relax, read books, or watch in-flight films with your partner. So, to maximize your chance of this, book your flight that coincides with a time when your child is usually asleep. If your baby is walking, let them run around and tire themselves out at the airport so that they can sleep on a flight easily.

10. Essential Tip for Take-off and Landing

Being a traveler, we all know the feeling of air pressure building up in our ears during a flight and this can happen to your child too. Their ears are especially sensitive to the changes in air pressure during those phases of the flight. The best way to relieve it is by swallowing, so a good idea is to feed your baby on take-off and landing, or a dummy also works. 

Note: If your minor child is traveling alone, then make sure you choose the correct airline and opt for an unaccompanied minor policy. You can check everything about American Airlines minor policy here. 

Conclusion 

While flying with your baby can be stressful, it doesn’t have to be! Just remember that there are a lot of things you can do to make the experience more enjoyable. The most important thing is communication between you and the airline, which will work with you on every aspect of your flight. As long as everyone stays on top of things, there should be no reason why you won’t enjoy yourself with the baby both during travel time and when getting home at the end of it all! 

Always remember that it’s your holiday too, and good preparation can take some of the worries out of traveling with your littluns. 

Check out some more amazing tips for family travel here and make your family vacations easy-breezy. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do babies travel free on international flights?

A:   In most cases, yes. Children under 2 do not have to pay for seats as they are allowed to sit on you, but some flights have a surcharge for babies, so you do end up paying something. 

Q: At what age is it okay for my baby to fly?

A:   When planning to travel with a baby on a plane, you need to do a bit of research with your airline to find out their rules on traveling with a newborn on a plane. In general, most airlines ask that babies are at least 2 weeks old when traveling, although some may allow 7-day-old infants to fly. 

Q: Can I bring a car seat on a plane?

A: Most airlines do not allow bringing car seats on a plane. So, it is always advisable to check with your airline in advance. If it is allowed, then we recommend you carry a car seat with you because it will give your child something familiar and comfortable to sit in for the whole journey. 

Q: Does a baby need a passport to fly?

A: Yes, a baby needs a passport for international travel, but not for domestic travel. 

Q: Can I bring milk or baby food on a flight?

A: Yes, you can Airlines have some special rules and regulations for baby milk and food on flights, so you can exceed the general 100ml rule of liquids. They get checked at security but are allowed through.

Consider these best-ever tips the next time you plan air travel with your infant or toddler. You will surely have an amazing time on your journey and trip. 

We hope this guide answered all your questions regarding how to fly with a baby. Let us know if there’s anything we’ve missed – our team, at MyTicketsToIndia, will be happy to answer your questions.

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