We have always loved to travel and would consider ourselves pros, but when it came to planning to fly with a baby, there were a lot of unknowns. We had a million questions: What did we need? What could we bring? How could we make sure we all had a good experience?

Our first flight with Brantley was when he was just about 5 months old – a quick direct flight from Charlotte to Boston. We now have several flights under our belts as a family and can’t wait to continue to travel together. We are most looking forward to his first trip abroad! In the meantime, here are our tips for flying with a baby! 

1. Wear Baby in Carrier

We kept Brantley in his carrier through the entire airport. This made it super easy to have both hands, kept my very busy baby calm and content, and TSA allows you to wear it right through security without any issues.

This is our favorite carrier (of the 5 we tried).

2. Get Airport Lounge Access

The lounge is generally less crowded, quieter, and offers better seating options than the rest of the airport. There are also play areas for kids, clean bathrooms, and good food and drink options (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) included as part of the benefit.

We have access to the Amex Centurion lounge through our Amex Platinum Card which is totally worth the annual fee for us because we travel frequently and enjoy all of the other perks too. If you fly less frequently, you could look into day passes to access the lounges.

3. Limit What you Carry On

We have always traveled with just a carry-on and personal item (even for our long Europe trips), but traveling with a baby we have found it is better to carry on as little as possible and check the rest. Carrying on a bunch of bags while trying to hold and get settled with a wiggling baby is not a recipe for success. Here are the things we carried onto the plane:

1. Diaper Bag Essentials

• 2-3 outfits (comfy pjs) 
• Diapers, wipes & disposable bags to tie up dirty diapers
• A changing mat
• Blanket & comfort items
• Snacks, burp cloths & bibs
• Sanitizing wipes & spray
• Travel white noise machine
• Pacifier, extra milk & bottles
• Travel friendly toys

2. Car Seat

Technically the recommended way for a baby to fly is buckled into their car seat. To do this, you will have to either buy them their own seat or happen to have an extra seat available in your row.

If you decide to bring a car seat, but don’t want to bring it on the plane, you can gate check it by putting it in an oversized bag, bringing it to the gate, and picking it up right when you land. We brought ours, and Brantley never sat in it the entire flight because he preferred to be held. For some kids, their car seat may be a familiar comfy spot. 

3. One Personal Bag

We included a few of our own essentials / irreplaceable items we didn’t want to lose if our checked bag was lost.

4. Know the Rules

The rules for flying with a baby are completely different than what we had always known. Here are some of the big ones: 

1. Baby food and drinks are exempt from typical rules. Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food over 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters can be carried in your carry-on without a quart-sized bag. These are considered medically necessary liquids, including cooling accessories like ice packs.

2. You can typically bring on a diaper bag in addition to your own carry-on allowance. Each airline has its own rules regarding diaper bags and breast pumps. Most airlines will allow you to carry on these items IN ADDITION to your typical carry-on and personal item as they are medically necessary items. 

3. Children under two can be added to your ticket as a “lap infant”. Some airlines charge for this, but in most cases it is free. Just make sure you select that option to add them to your ticket when you book or you will have to get your ticket updated at the airport desk when you arrive. It can be tricky to keep a wiggly infant in your lap for a whole flight, so in some situations (like a longer flight or if you have a particularly active baby), it might be worth booking them their own seat for the extra space. 

5. Prepare Entertainment & Snacks Ahead of Time

We packed a couple of familiar comfort items for the flight in addition to some new toys for some extra engagement. If your child has started solids, snacks are another helpful thing to pack. Here are a few of our favorite travel toys and snacks:

• Teether Pop: These are a favorite teether and snack option that we bring along when we travel.
• Spinners: These suction onto the window, tray, etc. for entertainment
• Clip-On Soft Books
• Favorite Teether
• Soft Toy
• Baby Toy Clips: Helpful to keep toys off of the ground
• Pouch Snacks: Keeps the mess to a minimum, and they are an all-time favorite

6. Plan Flight Timing Around Baby’s Schedule

We booked our flight to align with Brantley’s typical nap times. We’ve found that it works well to give him milk during takeoff to help with any ear pressure. When our flights align with his nap times, it is a better flight for all of us! 

Those are all of our top tips for now! Flying with babies is certainly no small task, but with a little planning, preparation, and your best go-with-the-flow attitude, some of your best journeys might be the ones with your tiny travelers. Happy traveling!