First Time Flying with a Baby: Packing and Boarding Tips

My little (will be 6.5mo at the time of travel) will be traveling with my husband and I for a conference in March. We have never flown with him before and I’m looking for tips and tricks because I don’t know what I don’t know. The flight is 2+ hrs long and we have a fairly chill baby who sleeps well.

What I’ve been told so far:

• keep him in your lap, don’t bother with a car seat at this age. Take your stroller instead and check at the gate

• take a lot of clothes for yourself and baby because the change in pressure can lead to all kinds of accidents/blowouts

• feed or have paci in at takeoff or landing (baby is EFF)

• bring a cooler with you and if you need to have pre-prepped bottles you can bring warm water with you as long as the thermos is in the diaper bag

• don’t get on first when they call for families to board. Get on last while baby wearing. Also, some airlines now don’t have the early boarding policy. 🤷🏻‍♀️

What else?

ETA: just checked this during a break from work! THANK YOU!! This is fantastic!

• snacks
• planes are giant white noise machines - don’t worry about noise cancelling headphones or anything, the engine noise is soothing!
• snacks
• we found that as plane toilets are so tiny, having several wet bags each with a diaper, wipes and a change of clothes was really helpful, much easier than taking a full diaper bag into the toilet for a change.
• snacks
• have a spare top for yourself in your hand luggage
• snacks
• if you can gate check your stroller, it’s really helpful to do that so you have it in the airport
• snacks
• if you have a carrier, it’s useful to take that on board with you too in case you need to soothe by walking up and down
• snacks
• the entertainment screen was great - I put it on the map and she scrolled around on that for ages without getting bored
• snacks
• feed on takeoff and landing to help ears equalize
• did I say snacks?

One thing on feeding, ear popping doesn’t really happen til about 10,000 feet+. So we feed once the plane is ascending and not at actual takeoff. I think a lot of people think once the plane starts to taxi, time to feed. Otherwise you risk them drinking all the milk/formula and being out of it when you really need it.

Hi all, i’ll be flying with my 10-month-old for the first time this month and would love any advice or tips and tricks that you learned flying with your babies for the first time. Anything you wish you knew beforehand? thanks

If there are 2 adults going, send 1 on the plane at family boarding to load in all your stuff. Other one can stay out with baby until the last set of passengers board, thereby cutting their wait time down on the plane before takeoff

I flew with my baby back in November and I would say, silicone toys that are easily washed helped because she was constantly tossing them. I breastfed and that helped a lot cause I could just feed her to sleep and she was okay for about half the flight. I also let her play with the screens on the back of the seats. I made sure to pack the antibacterial wipes in the diaper bag and wiped down everything once we were on the plane. The seats, belts, screens, arm rests, everything. Cause I knew she would touch it at some point. I honestly liked getting on first cause I was able to clean the seats and get comfortable with her while the rest of the plane boarded. I see you’re not breastfeeding, but do you have one of those pillows? It might be nice to have to feed your baby and it’s easier to hold them when they are asleep when you have something under your arms. It’s also nice to sit by the window so you can kind of use the plane to prop your arm up if he falls asleep.

Oh, I would also bring his birth certificate. We ended up not needing ours when we flew, but you never know if you have to identify him when checking in. Couldn’t hurt.

But it seems like you got a good list of things to go by! Good luck! You got this.

I just flew transatlantic alone with my 7 month old on my lap. I could not have survived without my baby carrier - I just wore him through the airport and for most of the night on the plane.

Ask the flight attendant when you board to reserve any sets of empty seats for you.

Bring a bottle of formula or nurse during takeoff or landing - distracts baby and helps their ears pop.

Don’t stress if they cry! And do not worry about those cutesy treat bags for fellow passengers. Babies have just as much right to exist in public as anyone else on that plane!

Babies cry and that's ok. Most people have headphones in so don't stress about fussing or full on crying. Do your best to comfort your little one. You've got this!

The liquid rule doesn’t apply to breast milk, formula, and baby food. Breast pump is a medical device and doesn’t count as one of your carry ons 

We're planning our first flight with our little one (she'll be exactly 4 months old when we travel), and I’d love any advice or insight from parents who’ve been through it! It’s a direct flight from LA to the East Coast, about 6.5 hours.

Here are a few specific things I’m wondering about:

• Airlines: Are some domestic airlines better than others when flying with a baby? Any standout experiences (good or bad)?
• Sleeping gear: Do you recommend bringing your own pack ‘n play (we have the Guava Lotus) or renting one at the destination?
• Seats: Is it worth paying extra for more legroom or to choose our seats?
• Luggage: Is it easier to check bags or manage with carry-ons when traveling with an infant?
• General advice: What do you wish someone had told you before your first flight with a baby?

Thanks so much in advance — all tips welcome!

My daughter was 20 months when we flew, so a little different, but she technically could have been a “lap infant”. I highly recommend bringing a car seat. Yes, plane travel is far safer than driving as far as take off and landing are concerned, but you will want her secure in case of turbulence and you will want your arms free at some point.

Think of it this way, too: Everything on that plane will be strapped down, all the way down to the coffee pots, EXCEPT a lap infant. You’re basically not even allowed to hold something larger than a tablet even except for a lap infant 🤷🏻‍♀️

Traveling with infant hacks

Hi All! First time parents flying next month with my 6 month old (first flight yay!). It’s going to be a short flight (2 hrs) but still nervous! I’d love to hear any tips and tricks you might have to make this less stressful and more enjoyable!

The car seat is a free checked bag. Stuff as much baby essentials in there as you can. E.g., diapers, pjs, wipes, etc.

Edit: I have a car seat cover

I flew mine as a lap infant, if your baby is in a separate seat you should use a car seat. I checked mine at entry with the stroller, since I needed both when I landed. Doing it while pumping isn’t impossible but it’s hard. I recommend going with another person, doing it all on my own was hard.

Try to hold off feedings for take off and landing, if you can, it makes ALL the difference. Had one happy camper but he was a touch cranky in the waiting area.

Do not give one single fuck if your baby cries about anyone but your baby. We’ve all sat on a flight with a crying baby. We lived. If someone didn’t get noise canceling headphones in 2025 that’s on them.

Stroller and car seat fly for free? What other perks do I not know about?

EDIT- Thank you everyone for the amazing advice! I feel more confident going into this flight. Will definitely be telling the crew it’s her first flight!!!!

Bring an extra change of clothes for YOU in your carry on in case you get thrown up or blown out on.

Also bring more diapers and formula than you think you’ll need.

Flying next week with our infant (5 months old) - flight is about 3 hours. I'm trying to make sure we have everything we need and am open to any and all advice!

I'm looking into car seat carry cases right now. Are those absolutely necessary? Any recommendations?

Thanks!

Not maybe perks but things we do

• put baby/toddler in overnight diapers when traveling.

Sometimes with a long drive to the airport, then TSA, boarding and flight. There are long periods of time you may not be able to change a diaper as you normally would.

• Always pack some clear ziploc bags. Quart size, 1 gallon, 2 gallon.

You will always use 1 or more somewhere during your trip.

• always gate check the stroller

You may not need it at your departure airport. But some destination airports are crazy long. Plus i’ll use it to carry our bags and car seat. Takes a load off.

• baby carry or use a hip seat

We used a hip seat because I could easily throw our little one on it and take some weight off holding him or transfer him to mom in seconds.

• you can bring as much water as you want even if not for you. Just say it is for the babies formula.

Hey all! 👋 I’ll be travelling by air with my 5-month-old infant for the very first time, and I’d really appreciate some guidance from experienced parents.

Please share all dos & don’ts, tips and tricks to make the flight as comfortable and stress-free as possible for my baby (and for the other passengers😅).

Some specific things I’m confused about:

✈️ Do you keep the baby on your lap ?

🔒 What’s the seat belt situation for infants during take-off, landing, and turbulence?

👂 How do you manage air pressure / ear discomfort for the baby?

🍼 Feeding during take-off and landing — what works best?

🧷 What if you need to change a diaper mid-flight — how do you manage that?

🧳 What are the must-carry cabin items vs things that can go in check-in?

Also, are there any important points I haven’t covered but should know as a first-time flyer with a baby?

Would love to hear real experiences — what worked, what didn’t, and anything you wish you knew earlier.

Thanks in advance! 🙏

Give yourself plenty of time! The last thing you want is to be rushing with a baby. Sucking on something like a pacifier, bottle, or breast can help to alleviate pressure in the ears. Which I would recommend during take off and landing. Your baby can pick up on your stress. Try your best to stay calm and just do your best. I know it can be tough but this really helped me when I was traveling with infants.

In my experience most people (especially most women) are pretty understanding of traveling with a baby. Best of luck. You got this❣️

We are taking my daughter on her first flight in 2 weeks. I'd appreciate any tips/advice/things to keep in mind.

We have an hour ride to the airport, a 2.5 hour flight, then another hourish ride to where we are staying.

My pediatrician told me to nurse her during take off and landing to help with ear pressure, so I plan to do that. I'm also ordering some things from Target and having them delivered to where I'm staying so we're not being down a box of diapers, formula, etc.

We're going to Florida and taking her swimming too, so I'll take any insight for that as well.

TIA!

Pack a few emergency blow out bags. A ziplock gallon bag with a diaper, some wipes in a smaller ziploc bag, and doggy bag. That way in a pinch you can grab and go and not mess with the whole diaper bag on the plane.

Keep any allowable liquids over 3oz and anything else that might raise TSA red flag in its own bag so the extra screening is simple.

When boarding, 1 parent goes on during family pre-boarding with all the bags. 2nd parent and baby board last, like wait past your zone last. All the people and commotion are stressful and it takes a long time, so hopping on last minute can work well. Wouldn’t do this if you don’t have assigned seats though!

Nurse, bottle, or paci for takeoff and landing helps with ear popping.

Traveling with that age is really awesome! A lot of the time, my daughter would stay asleep because it was similar to a car ride to her but any type of distraction works. My daughter played with cups on the plane. lol.

Like the title says...

We are about to fly for the first time with our LO. We were avid travels prior to baby, so have TSA precheck and lounge access. But I was the type of traveler to only bring a backpack most places, and bring as little as possible.....which I know is not possible with a baby. It would KILL ME before to have to check a bag, even on a 2 weeks trip across Europe, I would make a carry on work. So I need to adjust....

Baby will be 3.5 months old at time of travel.

Please give ALL your tips and tricks for making traveling with a baby easier! Give me even the wacky out there things that have worked well for you!

Thanks!

Our baby will be freshly 9 mos/o in October when she will travel for the first time on a plane. For context, it’s a 4hr flight. My husband and I are using points to travel in first class (one thing we never do) with the hope that the extra space brings us a tad more comfort on our first in-air journey as a family. However, I’ve been ridiculously anxious leading up to our trip because idk how she will react and I fear the unknown. Our baby is objectively super chill/easy but this will be a new environment for her so I’m not sure what to expect. Additionally, I see so much chatter online about how much other travelers hate dealing with kids on flights, so I’m super nervous. Before kids I traveled often and sort of just went with the flow. But going with the flow/wherever the wind takes me is not a safe option with a baby. So this is new territory for me and I would love ANY advice from people who have successfully navigated this experience. I’m honestly telling myself to hope for the best ( a peaceful trip) but expect/prep for the worst (hours of screaming and discomfort). Please hit me with any advice you’ve got!