Flying with a baby or toddler
Most of flying with a little one comes down to what you sort before you go, the seats you book, the paperwork, what's in the hand luggage and a plan for ear pain on take-off and landing.
On this page
Booking and seats
The seats worth choosing when you book, from lap infants and bassinets to when a toddler needs a seat of their own.
It's worth a few minutes on the seating when you book, and it starts with adding the baby to the booking so they're on the ticket. A child under two usually travels as a lap infant, sitting on your knee for a reduced fare or a small charge rather than having a seat of their own. That's cheaper, but on anything longer than a couple of hours a lot of parents pay for a seat and bring an approved car seat, or book a bassinet. A child who turns two before you come home needs their own seat both ways, so check their age against the return date, not just the outbound.
Bassinets and bulkhead rows
Long-haul aircraft fit bassinets to the bulkhead wall, the row with extra space in front. They suit younger babies up to a weight and length limit the airline sets, so check yours before you count on one. Bassinets can't be reserved freely. You usually request one after booking, by phone or at the desk, and they go quickly.
- Request the bassinet as soon as your booking is confirmed, not at the airport.
- Ask the airline for the exact weight and length limit, as these vary by carrier.
- The bassinet can't be used during take-off, landing or turbulence.
Choosing your seats
If a bassinet isn't an option, the aisle makes trips to the loo and the galley easier. Some parents prefer the window so a curious toddler isn't grabbing passing trolleys. Pick whichever trade-off fits your child.
Book a flight that lands in the early evening where you can. It keeps the travel day shorter and gives you a chance at a near-normal bedtime once you arrive.
What to pack
The hand luggage that gets you through the day, and the passport that needs sorting weeks ahead.
Pack the hand luggage carefully, since it's the bag you live out of for the journey. Keep everything you might need in the air within reach, and take about double the nappies and feeds you expect to use in case of a delay.
The cabin bag checklist
- Nappies, wipes and a couple of nappy sacks, packed for the whole journey plus delays.
- A full change of clothes for the baby, and a spare top for you.
- Feeds: formula and a flask of cooled boiled water, or your usual feeding kit.
- A muslin, a comforter and one familiar toy that reliably settles them.
- Calpol or your usual infant pain relief, in case of teething or ear pain.
- A lightweight blanket, because cabins run cold even on a summer route.
Passports and documents
Every child needs their own passport, a newborn included, and a first one can take several weeks to come through, so it's the job to start early rather than the week before you fly. Check the name on the passport matches the name on the booking. If you're travelling without the child's other parent, some countries ask for a letter of consent, so it's worth checking the entry rules for where you're going before you travel.
- Keep passports and boarding passes somewhere you can reach without unpacking the whole bag.
- Check how much validity your child's passport needs for the country you're visiting, as several want a few months left on it.
- Photograph the passports and keep the images on your phone, in case one goes missing.
Getting through the airport
The buggy, the car seat and the baby milk through security, then the pressure change that unsettles little ears.
Most UK airports have family security lanes if you ask. You can take a buggy right to the aircraft door, where staff tag it at the gate and it comes back to you on arrival. A car seat can usually go in the hold for nothing, so if you'll need one at the other end for a hire car or a transfer, it can travel with you. Baby milk, water and baby food are allowed through security above the standard liquid limits, though you may be asked to open and taste them, so check your airport's current rules before you travel.
- Give yourself more time than you'd take on your own, so security and boarding aren't a rush.
- Keep passports, boarding passes and any infant documents in one easy pocket.
- Ask about priority boarding, which many airlines offer to families with young children.
Take-off and landing ears
The pressure change is the part most likely to upset a baby, because little ears struggle to equalise. Sucking and swallowing help, so have your baby feeding or using a dummy during the climb and, more importantly, the descent. An older toddler can chew a snack or sip a drink through the same stretch. If your child has a heavy cold or an ear infection, mention it to your GP before you fly, since blocked ears make the pressure harder to clear.
Try to keep a feed in reserve for the descent rather than feeding the moment you board. Landing tends to be worse for ears than take-off, and a hungry baby will be keen to feed right when you need them to swallow.
Surviving the flight
Keeping a small child content once you're up, then handling feeds and nappy changes in a tight space.
A baby will often sleep to the hum of the engines. A toddler does better with a steady trickle of small distractions than everything at once. It's worth downloading a few shows onto a tablet before you leave home, since there's rarely reliable wifi in the air, along with a set of headphones sized for small heads. A content child is the aim, and the occasional cry is normal.
Distractions worth packing
- A few wrapped surprises, handed out one at a time across the flight.
- Sticker books and reusable colouring, which are mess-free and last surprisingly long.
- A tablet with downloaded shows and small headphones, if your child will tolerate them.
- Snacks they rarely get at home; novelty buys you a good twenty minutes.
If your baby does cry, put your attention on settling them rather than the other passengers. Most people have either been there themselves or can barely hear it over the engines.
Feeds and changesNappies and feeding
Most aircraft toilets have a fold-down changing table, though they're tight. Change your baby before boarding, then again only when you need to, and use the nappy sacks to keep things tidy in a small space. For feeding, you can use ready-made formula or ask cabin crew for cooled boiled water, giving them a little notice as they're busy on the cart.
- Pack one nappy for roughly every two hours of travel, plus a few spare.
- Breastfeeding is welcome on board; bring a muslin if it helps you feel comfortable.
- Ask crew early for hot or cooled water, as they're busiest during the meal service.
Change your baby before you land as well as before you board, so you come off the plane with a fresh nappy for the queue at passport control.
Last updated 5 August 2026.
