Tips Traveling With Baby On Plane – Flying with an infant can be very economical, but not always the easiest! Following these tips for flying with an infant on your lap will help you be better prepared and reduce the stress and headaches that can come with flying with young children. After all, a little preparation can make all the difference between an absolute breakdown and just a few normal hiccups.
These tips and tricks will help you get better prepared for flying with your little ones and save you stress and headaches!
Tips Traveling With Baby On Plane
Before we get into specific tips for flying with an infant on your lap, it’s important to answer some of the common questions that come up when flying with a baby! Knowing this general information will help you be even better prepared for a long flight with an infant or other young children.
Best Tips For Flying With Infants And Children
Here are some of the most common questions and answers about flying with an infant on your lap. This section will cover everything from how much it can cost to the safest option and everything in between.
A lap or lap infant is a child under 2 years of age who is flying WITHOUT their own seat and instead sits on their caregiver’s lap.
Some airlines, such as American Airlines, allow a child to fly when they are only two days old. Others have a more standard 14 day rule. If you’re unsure, it’s best to check with your airline service provider first.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends that the safest way for your little one to fly is to sit in their own seat in an appropriate FAA-approved restraint. However, flying with a baby on your lap is still statistically safer than traveling with a baby in a car seat. This is why the FAA recommends that children have their own seats and use a car seat, but do not require it. When you are determining what to do and what is best for your family, be sure to check with your pediatrician.
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Just like adults, babies can develop ear pressure on an airplane, especially during takeoff and landing. The best way to combat this is to stock up on a pacifier or bottle for your baby during takeoff and landing. If you’re not sure if your baby will take a pacifier or be hungry for a bottle, it can be beneficial if your baby is old enough to fill the bottle with their favorite juice or drink they don’t drink often. This will help encourage them to drink to relieve pressure in their ears and reduce fussiness or crying.
If you are flying overseas then yes, your airline will check age as they require a passport. However, on most US domestic flights, your child’s age is not verified once you provide it when booking your flight.
When you fly with a baby on your lap, you will need a separate ticket issued by the airline, even if it is free. You can do this by calling the airline and asking them to add the child to your ticket. They usually ask about your child’s age and then any other specific information they might need. They will then give your little one a special “Baby Carry Ticket”. If you are flying abroad, you definitely need a passport for your infant (more on this below)!
Also remember that if you are flying overseas with your child and the other parent is not present, you will need a travel consent form.
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If you’re flying overseas, yes! Any infant or child will need a passport for an international flight, regardless of age.
On most major U.S. airlines, diaper bags can be taken with you in addition to carry-on luggage and personal items. This means that as a parent, you can take hand luggage, a purse/backpack and a diaper bag with you! However, some discounted airlines such as Allegiant and Spirit may charge you for them.
Most domestic airlines allow infants to fly for free as a ticket for infants under two years of age. At the age of two, airlines will require your child to have their own seat and you will need to pay for it. International flights and airlines are slightly different. Flying with an infant under two years of age as an infant in your arms with international airlines such as AirFrance, KLM, etc. will usually cost you around 10% of the regular ticket price.
Most domestic airlines in the United States (Delta, United, JetBlue, American, Southwest, Alaska, etc.) give free “baby in lap” or “baby in arms” tickets. Air Canada also issues ‘baby lap’ tickets for free on domestic flights in Canada. However, other international airlines such as Qatar, Singapore Air, KLM, etc. charge a small fee (usually a small fee and then taxes and fees) to issue a ticket for an infant with a weapon. The best way to find out if the airline you’re flying with will charge for a ticket for a lap infant is to search the airfare website for ‘baby lap’ or ‘baby in arms’, or call customer support.
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In most cases, yes! In fact, Delta Airlines and other carriers have even issued statements in support of parents who carry babies in their arms or babies on their laps in first class.
*We flew first class with a baby in our arms several times. I will say that all our impressions were positive. However, right now, with Benson REALLY active and kind of a nightmare on flights, I’m sticking with the mid-range airfare class (in Delta, it’s Comfort+). Before spending a lot of money or points on first class, you might want to consider whether you can use the facilities if you’re struggling with your child, and whether it would be better to save that money or those points for a first class flight later.
You can pack the diaper bag as usual. Any fluids must be checked at security checks. Just make sure you don’t have scissors or sharp objects.
Yes! The TSA allows water, infant formula and food to be carried in “reasonable quantities” in carry-on baggage. However, keep in mind that it will most likely go through a quick additional verification process.
Tips For Flying With Kids
If you can, try to score a series of bulkheads and avoid the back of the plane. The further you sit in the tail of the plane, the more you can feel the turbulence. Holding a baby during severe turbulence can be a little intimidating for some. There is a bit more room in the rows of bulkheads, which can be very useful if you need to rock a baby or get up and walk around.
Yes, in fact, most airlines do not charge you extra for taking a breast pump with you. If you’re planning on breastfeeding or pumping on an airplane, you might consider booking a window seat if you’d like a bit more privacy.
Most airlines allow the use of baby carriers during flight, except for takeoff and landing. Some airlines also allow you to carry a child during takeoff and landing. If you’re wondering what your airline’s rules are, just call and ask ahead of time.
Yes! Make sure you don’t store anything in any of the compartments and that it doesn’t have metal buckles.
Tips For Surviving (and Parenting) Crying Babies On Planes
Now that we have the answers to the most common questions about flying with an infant in a case, let’s take a look at the top tips for flying with an infant on your lap.
We suggest that you allocate at least an additional 30 minutes when flying with a child. Adding another 30 minutes to your airport routine will help minimize the stress of running around the airport. You never know when you’ll need a diaper change, a feed, etc., and a little extra time can ease your mind.
TSA Precheck or Clear is a game changer when flying with children and infants. Life becomes much easier when you’re not trying to get all your liquids and electronics out of your bag, take off your shoes, take off your jacket, and pick up your baby. The best part of TSA Precheck is that if you as a parent have a pre-check, it is automatically passed on to your children under the age of 12.
If you don’t want to pay for TSA Precheck or Clear, here is a list of some of the credit cards that currently give you free TSA Precheck or Clear credit.
Tips For Traveling With Babies
Nearly every flight I’ve taken with my toddlers has attracted me with at least one dirty or annoyed look. To be honest, most people will be very supportive and kind, but be prepared that there might be someone who won’t. Let go of those people and focus on the people around you who are happy and pleasant. Don’t worry about pleasing the person 3 rows away from you who keeps giving you dirty looks.