Air Travel with Babies, Toddlers and Kids

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The idea of flying with kids is probably the biggest single cause of stress for traveling parents. Nobody looks forward to lugging a lot of luggage through the airport with a tired and unhappy child (or children) in tow, and the prospect of keeping them seated and happy for hours on end can be terrifying. While we can't promise that your kids won't have a melt down, our travel tips will help streamline your travel and keep everyone in a better mood! We also have helpful advice for streamlining travel with young babies.

Getting Ready

The first step is to get to the airport early. It is time consuming to get through the airport and security in any circumstances and you won’t be as able to make a last minute dash to your gate as you would without a child (or children) in tow.

When possible, check in and secure your seat assignment online before you leave for the airport. Don’t forget to print the boarding passes & put them in your carryon!

Be sure to pack your itiniary (including any phone numbers you'll need) and a map of your destination in your carryon. Nothing is worse than struggling to find your hotel with tired children in tow.

Need help packing your carryon? Check out our helpful Carryon Packing List for Babies, Toddlers, and Kids

Getting to the Airport

Unless you live in an urban environment with good public transportation, getting to the airport can present a challenge. The need to bring a car seat makes it difficult to have a friend drop you off or take a taxi, but it can cost a fortune to park at the airport.

We use off-airport parking for short trips. A shuttle picks us up at our car and drops us off in front of our airline which reduces the amount of schlepping we have to do with the luggage. For longer trips, we found a local car service that provides a car seat. Other services will use your seat and store it until they pick you up for the return drive. They pick us up at our door and drop us at curbside checkin. The cost is similar to a taxi.


Checking In

Hopefully you have already checked in online & just need to drop off your baggage. If the line is long, the big spaces in the airport can be a good place to let the kids run a little while one parent waits in line to check the bags. Remember to stay close in case the gate agent needs to see each of the passengers or check id.

Don’t check your stroller unless you plan to carry your child in a sling. Most airlines will allow you to take your stroller all the way to the gate. They’ll then check it at the gate and have it waiting for you outside the plane door when you deplane. Some airlines will even let you bring a small stroller on board if there is space. Make sure that your stroller has a tag with your name, address, and phone number. If you do check your stroller, consider packing it in a bag as many airlines consider strollers “fragile items” and will not reimburse you for damage.

If you are travelling with a lap infant in a carrier car seat, consider keeping the car seat with you until you find out whether there is a free seat on the plane that you can use for the baby.

Check with your airline in advance about baggage restrictions. On international flights, some airlines will allow a lap infant to check baggage, other airlines exclude baby items like a car seat or stroller as part of the parent's baggage allowance.

Flying with Car Seats? Read our the helpful four part series from our Travel With Kids Blog:

Part I: Who Need a Car Seat Onboard A Plane
Part II: Checking, Renting and Carrying on a Car Seat When Flying
Part III: Airport Car Seat Carriers (Product Reviews)
Part IV: Travel Car Seats (Product Reviews)

When possible, we avoid bringing our car seats. Checking them worries us (Remember that advice about not using a car seat after it's been in an accident? Do you think that the baggage handlers use kids gloves with car seats or anything else?) Onboard, we use a CARES Airplane Seat Harness and we try to use trains and subways at our destination.


Getting through Security

The most important thing you can do to ease your trip through security is to have everything organized in advance. Having lots of loose items, stuff hanging off the stroller and in the basket underneath will make it take forever to gather everything and you’ll risk leaving something behind.

Explain to your child exactly what will happen. It can be scary for them to put their shoes and lovey on the conveyor belt and say goodbye to them. Put everything on the security belt and remove everyone’s shoes before you remove your child from the stroller, then wait until you can get your child back in the stroller before gathering up your items

Keep your tickets and ID easy to get to until you board the plane. Babies and children are not required to have ID for US domestic flights (neither are adults, but adults are required to go through extra security screening if you do not have identification)

If you’re travelling with an infant, it’s often easiest to get through security with the baby in a sling. They can sleep without being disturbed, and on my most recent flights I have not been required to remove the baby from the sling. I have been told that this is the new regulation, but it seems likely to vary from airport to airport. Note that you will be required to remove the baby from the sling before takeoff.

For more tips, check out our Step-By-Step guide to Breezing Through Airport Security With Kids in the DeliciousBaby Blog.

For the latest security regulations regarding children and their food and drinks, visit TSA Travelling with Children

After Security

Your kids have cooperated (or not) with a lot of craziness up until this point. Hopefully you’ve allowed yourselves enough time at the airport that you can give them a break and take care of their needs now. Get them a (non sugary) snack, change diapers or visit the restroom, and spend a little time exploring with them. Now is also the time to wear your kids out so that they will sleep on the plane. Many airports have a play area (ask a gate agent for details), but if yours doesn't there is often an empty gate area to play in. Even though you’re probably exhausted from packing and getting through security you need to resist the urge to keep them seated or contained in their stroller while you rest. There will be plenty of time to sit down once you board.

Use this time to pick up any drinks or snacks you will need on the plane. Not all flights carry milk, and airplane tap water is not considered safe to drink (especially for children or babies). Furthermore bottled water supplies can be limited. Buy what you need now.

If you weren’t able to get the seat assignments you needed or want to know whether there is an empty seat available for your lap infant, now is a good time to talk with the gate agent.

Wondering about nursing or pumping in the airport? Here are some Practical Tips for Breastfeeding and Pumping in an Airport

Boarding

As flight time nears, stay close to your gate and listen for the agent to announce pre-boarding. It’s helpful to get on the plane first and get yourself organized before everyone else is trying to board. If you are able to split up, send one person ahead with the carryon baggage and any car seats while the other parent stays with the kids. This way the first parent can get everything organized and ready while the kids have a little more time to move around (the second parent and kids can be among the last people to board)

Once on-board, make sure that you keep any items you need during takeoff or the beginning for the flight within your reach while seated.

If you are gate checking your stroller, make sure it has a tag with your name, address, and phone number and get a claim ticket from the gate agent. At the bottom of the jetway, collapse your stroller and remove any loose items. Don’t expect that the airline personnel will know how to collapse and stow your stroller without damaging it. It is also a good idea to put your stroller in a plastic or cloth bag to protect it from damage. Most airlines consider strollers to be fragile items and will not reimburse you if they are damaged or destroyed.

If you expect your child to sit in their own seat during takeoff, discuss your expectations before the final seatbelt warning. You don’t want to be one of the handful of families each year who delay (or are removed from) flights because their child refuses to be belted into their seat.


Flight Delays with Kids

Here are some ideas for dealing with a flight that has been delayed after boarding.

  • Try to get your kids moving. If the plane door has not been closed yet, ask whether you can let your children walk and play on the jetway. Flight staff are often cooperative (they don't like crying children either.) Try walking your children up and down the aisle.
  • Get your children involved in some positive play with the neighbors in front of and behind you. (Peekaboo is hard for even the most stoic travellers to resist). They'll be a lot more understanding when your children have a difficult time later if they've seen them being cute.
  • Even though you're frusterated, try not to let your kids know it. They'll only pick up on your mood.
  • Resist the temptation to keep your kids (temporarily) quiet with juice or sugary treats, it will only make them harder to manage later.
  • Engage your kids in quiet play. If they're old enough, try making up stories about why the flight is delayed (maybe squirrels in the cockpit?), where the plane should go instead, or make a list of things you would pack if you were staying at your destination for a year
  • For more ideas, check out our blog article on Surviving Flight Delays With Kids

Takeoff

Babies and young children do not know how to clear their ears to reduce the pressure during takeoff and landing. Unless your child is asleep, you will need to help them. For older children, gum is a good aid. For babies, nursing, a bottle, or a pacifier will work. In addition to helping with ear pressure, milk also acts as a mild sedative, so feeding your child can set the stage for drifting off to sleep.

If your child is tired, consider going through as much of your sleep routine as possible during takeoff (reading stories, singing quietly) and tell them that you’ll be sitting for a long time, so this is a good time to sleep. Young babies often sleep well in flight with the motion of the plane and the engine noise providing a very soothing environment.


In Flight

Set expectations about what behavior you expect before your child gets into trouble. Acknowledge that it’s really hard to sit still for so long and tell them that you know they can do it and that you will help them when it gets difficult. Remind them about all the fun things you will get to do when you land.

You need to make your travel toys last, so try not to bring them out until your child asks for them or gets bored. They’ll probably be amused for quite a while with just looking around, talking to the neighbors, and having some one-on-one time with you. When you do get out toys, get out one at a time so that each has a period of novelty. It’s fun to have some (or all) wrapped as gifts. The wrapping won’t add significantly to your load, but it will provide a little extra excitement and entertainment for your child.

Not sure what to put in your in-flight busy bag? Check out our helpful tips for:

Keeping a Child Occupied on a Plane
Ten Great Travel Toys You Already Have at Home
Our Favorite Travel Toys

In turbulence, the FAA recommends that "Adults holding infants should provide as uniform support as possible to the infant's head, neck, and body, and lean over the infant to minimize the possibility of injury due to flailing."

Baby noses sometimes get stuffy during flight. Consider bringing along some saline drops (available at the pharmacy) and a small syringe. You can drip a few drops into baby's nose during or after the flight to clear things up. Some sources also say that cleaning the nose helps reduce baby's chances of getting sick Others recommend using expressed breast milk (if you have it) because it is non-drying and antibacterial.

Will you be nursing on the plane? Check out our helpful guide to Nursing and Pumping On an Airplane

Landing

As with takeoff, you’ll have to help your child with pressure in their ears during landing (if they are awake). If you need milk, water, or juice, get it from the flight attendant before the landing process begins.

After landing, it’s easiest to wait until the other passengers have de-planed to gather your belongings and children. Despite your best efforts, some of their toys will be scattered on the floor or around the seat, and you won’t want to lose anything. If you’ve gate checked a stroller, it won’t be available immediately anyway, so you might as well wait in your seat instead of at the bottom of the airplane door. Best of all, not being part of the crush of passengers exiting the plane will also give your children a chance to peek in the cockpit.

Read Our Blog for More Tips and Advice on Traveling With Kids

 Related Links:
Helping Your Child Sleep on a Plane Keeping a Child Occupied on a Plane
Ten Great Travel Toys You Already Have at Home
Our Favorite Travel Toys
Practical Tips for Nursing and Pumping On an Airplane
Flying with a Carseat
Part I: Which Babies, Toddlers and Kids Need a Car Seat Onboard A Plane
Part II: Checking, Renting and Carrying on a Car Seat When Flying
Part III: Airport Car Seat Carriers (Product Reviews)
Part IV: Travel Car Seat (Product Reviews)

Comments

  1. Biggie @ Lunch in a Box

    October 2, 2007 at 5:47 a.m.

    What a great list! Thanks for this; some of the ideas will come in handy on an upcoming flight to Australia (ugh -- so long!).

  2. ELISHA

    November 8, 2007 at 6:24 p.m.

    I WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT I CAN GIVE MY 3 YR OLD DAUGHTER TO SLEEP WHILE WE FLY?

  3. Debbie @ deliciousbaby

    November 14, 2007 at 4:34 a.m.

    Elisha, If you want to use a sedative, you should talk to your doctor about what to use and proper dosing. If you do decide to use something, consider trying it in advance to make sure that your daughter doesn't have an adverse reaction.

    Other things you can do to encourage your child to sleep are: put on Pajamas, go through your sleep routine, create a restful environment by closing the window and turning off your overhead lights, and singing quietly or playing restful music through headphones. Milk has a light sedative effect, and we find that the combination of milk, a sippy cup, and the lulling motion and noise of takeoff are very soothing for our two kids.

  4. Julie

    November 19, 2007 at 2:05 p.m.

    Thank you, Thank you! We are getting ready to take our first flight with our 1 1/2 year old. We have tried to schedule flights for when he will normally sleep, but the excitement could be too much for him.
    I have heard you can try Benedryl to help children sleep on flights, but I have also heard it makes some children hyper - the absolute opposite effect wanted. I plan on talking to our Pediatrician about this and melatonin as back-ups should we need them for our trip. After we land we will still have a three hour drive to make, so the four - five hour plane trip isn't all I am concerned about. :-/

  5. Debbie

    November 24, 2007 at 7:42 a.m.

    Julie,

    I'm glad you liked the tips. Good luck with your trip. If all else fails, keep reminding yourself that they always fall asleep eventually!

  6. Jas

    December 22, 2007 at 9:46 p.m.

    awesome tips! We flew to California this summer with our 2 year old. One way that we prepared her was to create an excitement about airplanes in our house a couple months in advance. we found videos of planes landing and taking off on u tube and played those for her. we taught her to identify the wings, tail etc of planes, bought her a toy airplane that she became very attached to.

    She is now crazy about airplanes and loves everything about them. She enjoyed the flight esp the landing and take off. She loved being "up in the sky"
    whew!!

  7. Debbie

    December 23, 2007 at 3:46 a.m.

    Great ideas! It always amazes me how well kids step up to the task at hand if they're prepared.

  8. jennifer

    January 16, 2008 at 11:39 a.m.

    I'm so glad I found your Blog! You have wonderful ideas. We have a 9 hour flight to Hawaii next month with our 20 month old daughter. I'm very nervous but I really like some of your suggestions. I will be giving them a try.

  9. RookieMom Heather

    January 24, 2008 at 11:06 p.m.

    Debbie, I love your site. I just started digging in and now I can't stop. Like you, my husband and I traveled a bunch before having a family and we'd like to get back into it. We hope to take our two young sons on a real vacation (someplace other than seeing our relatives) this summer. I'm thinking Scotland, Portugal, Thailand, Paraguay, Australia... then the rest of the world!

    I like your practical tips and the encouragement to get out there. You go girl!

  10. Lynette

    January 26, 2008 at 8:11 a.m.

    Hi! I'm so glad that I came across your site. We'll be flying from Sweden to Singapore in a week and I wonder if you have any tips for where or how my 11 month old daughter can sleep on the plane. She doesn't have her own seat and is too heavy for the bassinet. It's a long flight so I hope we also will be able to get some rest on the plane.

  11. Debbie

    January 28, 2008 at 2:08 p.m.

    Before you get on the plane, ask the gate agent how full the flight is. You might be able to arrange to have an empty seat in your row. For a row with three seats across, you can book a window and aisle seat towards the back of the plane. Since the plane is filled from front to back, if the flight isn't full, you're likely to end up with that seat free.

    If the flight is fairly full, try to book the bulkhead row. You may be able to get some extra blankets from a sympathetic flight attendant and make a little "bed" at your feet to lie her down in once she's asleep.

    For tips on getting your daughter to sleep on the plane, check out this article: http://www.deliciousbaby.com/journal/...

    Finally, have a great time in Singapore! I hear such great things about all the fun activities for kids there.

  12. Jackie

    February 29, 2008 at 9:57 a.m.

    This has been a great site for us. We are moving to Japan in a few months and I am trying to prepare now as my children will be 19 months and 37 months. We however need the carseats to travel with us since this is a move for us, and my 19 month old is less than the 22 pounds for the airplane restraint you suggested. Instead I found a product that attaches to the carseat and allows your child to ride in their carseat as a stroller, cutting down our need for that as well as the carseats. The product is called the Travelmate by Go Go Kidz. It is rather expensive but 30 hours from the time we leave until we get to the hotel required some major thought form us. It will be well worth the money!

  13. Nicole

    March 5, 2008 at 10:45 p.m.

    We have had nothing but TERRIBLE flights with our 3 year old, and now we have a six month old too! We are flying to Australia next month, it is such a long trip, I am dreading it. I have tried every sedation drug over the years and nothing works on my older child, do you know of any herbal remedy that won't necessarily put her to sleep but will just calm her a little?

  14. Debbie

    March 6, 2008 at 11:10 p.m.

    Nichole,

    The trip to Australia really is quite long. I can understand why you are looking for solutions!

    I'm not really a fan of using a sedative, especially one you haven't used before (you never know what the result will be).

    Hopefully you can wear your 3 year old out before you get on the plane and she will sleep most of the time. I have some other tips on encouraging your toddler to sleep at
    http://www.deliciousbaby.com/journal/...

    I also have some suggestions for encouraging quiet play in this article: http://www.deliciousbaby.com/journal/...

    I hope this helps,
    Debbie

  15. Melissa Parlaman (Graco contributor)

    March 7, 2008 at 9 a.m.

    Thanks for the travel tips. I am flying with my very active 2 year old this June & not really looking forward to it. I have travelled a lot for business but traveling with her is a whole other story. We are flying to Disney so hopefully everyone will understand if she starts yelling mid-flight..

  16. Debbie

    March 7, 2008 at 9:50 a.m.

    Melissa,

    Good luck on your flight. On a flight to Disney, there will be lots of other kids on the flight. At two, she might be interested in "making friends" and you might even be able to arrange a toy swap for part of the flight.

    Debbie

  17. Crystal B.

    March 9, 2008 at 1:54 p.m.

    Thanks for some great tips. We will be flying home for a friends wedding at the end of the month with our 7 month old and I still have one question...Can I check his pack n play as my checked baggage? We will be staying with family and will be needing the pack n play. I sure hope so... if not I guess he'll be sleeping in bed with us!!! (He'll really like that! :))

  18. Debbie

    March 9, 2008 at 4:20 p.m.

    Crystal,

    As long as you are within the baggage limits for your airline (check their website for details), there is no reason you shouldn't be able to check your pack n play.

    Have a great trip!

  19. Need A Nap2

    March 14, 2008 at 11:46 p.m.

    www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/business/1...

    Our friend sent us this article. Quite frankly, I'm really worried about this because we're going to be traveling soon with our 9 month old on international flights. The baby's breastfeeding so I'm not worried about formula. But I'm planning to bring all of the baby food we'd need for the trip (most of it will be in checked baggage) but we have 2 traveling days so I need a lot of baby food to be carry-on.

    Do you know if anyone else has had trouble with carrying on baby food? Is there a "right amount" to bring in the carry-on?

    Thanks for any help/recommendations!!

  20. Debbie Dubrow

    March 15, 2008 at 1:33 p.m.

    This is the only incident I have heard of, though I suspect there have been others where the parents weren't as savvy about publicizing their experience. I've also had a run in with an British Airlines agent about 18 months ago who confiscated some of my baby food.

    I blogged about this article a few weeks ago at:
    http://www.deliciousbaby.com/journal/...

    The article includes some helpful ideas for packing baby food and working around this issue.

    I wouldn't be overly worried about this though. Since the guidelines aren't completely clear, it really depends on the TSA agent you get and what sort of mood they are in. They certainly wouldn't confiscate everything, and I suspect that they'll be careful about more negative feedback in this area.

    If you have time, you could ask your doctor to fax you a note stating that your child has special food requirements and that you need to carry their food with you to ensure that it isn't lost or delayed. You should also carry a copy of your complete itinerary so that you can explain the quantity of food you have.

    At nine months, even if you do run short, you should be able to make do with banana and yogurt purchased after the security checkpoint.

    I hope this helps.

  21. Rachel Lopez

    April 3, 2008 at 5:35 a.m.

    I will be travelling alone with my 20 month old son from Paris to San Diego on April 9th. I am not sure whether or not to check my car seat. I bought William his own seat but because I live in France I will not have the time to order and receive a care belt. My husband thinks that lugging aroung a car seat, toddler, and multiple bags is not a good idea. I also would like to know if you think it is worth bring along a portable dvd player. Thank you for your advice. The blog is great!

  22. Barbara

    April 9, 2008 at 11 a.m.

    I will be taking my 17 month old on a trip from CT to NC in May. We have one stop along the way too. My son is a busy body, loves to walk around and explore. We also opted to not purchase his own seat (which is silly now, because he is pushing 30 pounds!) - SO I am interested to hear any advice on this.
    This trip will be kind of a practice for when we go from CT to Disney World in June.

  23. Debbie

    April 9, 2008 at 2:39 p.m.

    Good luck on your trip.

    You have a couple of options for getting your son OFF your lap. If the flight is not full, you can look into purchasing a ticket for him now. Many airlines offer a discount for children under 2. Alternatively, if the flight is not full, you can book the window and aisle seats in a single row and hope that the center remains empty (your best bet is to sit near the back of the plane). Consider buying a CARES Harness so that if he does end up in his own seat, he'll be seated safely.

    CARES Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UT...

    If the flight is full (or nearly full) try to reserve the bulkhead row. The extra space in front of you makes a nice little playspace. Also, check out our helpful tips for keeping a toddler busy on a plane: http://www.deliciousbaby.com/journal/...

    Finally, try to keep your son moving and active before you get on your flight and during your stopover. That way, he's more likely to be ready for some quiet cuddling once you get on your flight.

    I hope this helps
    Debbie

  24. amber

    June 15, 2008 at 2:53 p.m.

    Ill be travelling with my four month old baby who is breastfeeding to Switzerland and its a 7 hour flight we are really worried about how to manage him when he cries because even travelling in car can be so hectic sometimes

  25. Debbie

    June 15, 2008 at 2:59 p.m.

    Amber,

    First of all, have a wonderful time in Switzerland.

    Being able to nurse him in the air should help soothe your son somewhat, but to a certain extent, if he cries you'll just deal with it the best you can.

    If you think it is going to be a problem, you can try getting in your neighbor's good graces before takeoff by bringing them a snack (something simple like a small bag of cookies). Beyond that, I wouldn't worry too much about what anybody else thinks.

    When he cries, you can take him to the back of the plane, near the bathrooms and hold him. He'll be less likely to disturb other passengers there and the motion of you rocking him and combined with the plane noise will probably soothe him to sleep. Swaddling helped a lot with both of our kids too.

    Good luck,
    Debbie

  26. Sarah

    July 8, 2008 at 3:18 p.m.

    I am flying from Seattle to NYC alone with my 2-yr-old. I was planning on using the CARES harness so I wouldn't have to lug the car seat around, but just read several negative reviews on the Amazon website. Any thoughts? The main complaint was the chest harness being too close to the child's neck and that the neck piece pushed the child's head forward making it uncomfortable. Also, since there is no strap between the legs, children tend to slide down. What is your experience? Have you had any feedback from others?

  27. Debbie

    July 8, 2008 at 10:25 p.m.

    I have seen that feedback on Amazon, but we haven't experienced any of those problems ourselves. It may be one of those things that depends on the age and size of the child...

    There are a few companies that rent the CARES (some on ebay/craigslist & some baby gear rental companies)

    In Seattle, CryBabyComforts (a company I have not used or reviewed) rents the CARES harness.

    http://www.crybabycomforts.com/vacati...

    Here are their rates:
    CARES Prices:

    Daily: $3.50
    1 week: $22.00
    2 weeks: $30.00
    Orders under $45.00 will need to be picked up as they don't qualify for delivery

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