Travel is never stress-free, but with a baby in tow, there are definitely extra layers of stress to work through–even after being a professional traveler for nearly 20 years! But it’s not impossible, and it doesn’t even have to be overwhelming. Just take everything one step at a time, and keep reading. Here is your ultimate guide to fly with a baby within the USA!
Two Choices: Buy a Seat or Add as a Lap Child
When you fly with a baby under two years old, you have both of these options. If you have the means and feel more comfortable buying a seat for your baby, you can do that. Just make sure you have a car seat that can fly in the seat as well, because baby will need to be strapped in. The car seat linked below is FAA approved for just that.
If you prefer to keep your baby in your lap, you will need to indicate that when you book your ticket. They will be able to fly for free on all domestic flights on United States-based airlines. This is a great option for the budget-conscious, and for those with children, like my daughter, who want to be held all the time anyway. I’ve tried both, and I prefer to just hold her. She doesn’t like to be in her own seat, and she sleeps better while I’m holding her anyway. I don’t know how we’re going to cope when she turns two!
Read on: How to Treat Yourself as a Single Parent on Travel
Know what You Can a Carry On
The good news: You can bring more with you on an airplane when you fly with a baby. The bad news: That’s a lot to carry along with a baby. Pick your poison here! You will want to check your airline’s website, but in general, you can bring onboard with you a carry-on, personal item, enough food for you and the baby, and a diaper bag. Your car seat, stroller, travel crib, and anything else that won’t fit in the overhead bin can generally all be gate checked. Additionally, you can ask if there are extra seats on your flight. If there are, you can bring your car seat on board as well, and sit your baby in it for free.
Also helpful: How to Pack the Perfect Carry-on
Wear the Baby in the Airport if Possible
When you fly with a baby, it’s often easiest to wear them in a wearable carrier. If you need the stroller, you do you, but for me, having my hands free is essential. I need to be able to roll my carry-on, carry my coffee, and have my hand available to pull out my phone as needed. Also, as previously mentioned, my baby sleeps best on me, especially when I’m walking. She has gotten many a wonderful nap while I make the rounds in the airport.
More here: Tips for Taking Uber with a Baby
Don’t Wear Your Baby for Taxi, Take-off, or Landing
Unfortunately, you’re not supposed to wear your baby for taxi, take-off, or landing on United States carriers. (It’s the opposite in Europe.) Instead, you will be asked to hold your baby, facing you, with legs and arms wrapped around you. Your arms will need to be wrapped around the baby as well. Snuggle up, Buttercup!
Read next: What to Do When There’s No One to Watch Your Baby on Travel
Look for the Changing Table Symbol on the Lavatory
This is the most important symbol you’ll need to know. Not all lavatories have a changing table in them. When you need one, you’ll be glad you know what to look for. It looks like a lady bending over a baby on a table. But don’t worry, when my husband was alive, he changed almost every airplane diaper for my daughter. Men are allowed to change babies on airplanes as well.
Keep reading: The Top 7 Reasons Why Single Parents Should Travel with Their Kids
Check the Carseat (at the gate if possible) and Track It
If you want to check your car seat, you can do so for free, whether you check it at the counter or at the gate. I don’t like to wait for my luggage at baggage claim, and often car seats come out with the oversized luggage, which can be somewhere other than where the rest of the luggage comes out. So often, I try to gate check my daughter’s car seat. It’s more cumbersome in the airport, but I never have to wonder where or when it’s coming out at baggage claim!
No matter how you check it, though, always put an AirTag or similar device into it so you can track it. The only time I’ve ever had any luggage lost was the car seat. It was left in Cairo, even though we checked it at the gate. We didn’t know until we arrived in Frankfurt to make our connection home to DC. I wish I’d had an AirTag in the car seat carrier then, instead of wasting time waiting for it plane side in Frankfurt and later at the customer service desk. I never travel without one now!
Pro tip: Put as many diapers and wipes as you can in the car seat bag when you check it! They take up so much space, so don’t try to pack these items in your luggage if you don’t have to.
Read on: My Honest Review of the Apple AirTag for Travel
Bring a Swaddle
My daughter hasn’t been swaddled in over a year, but I always travel with a muslin swaddle. They’re so absorbent, so they’re perfect for swiping up inevitable messes, drool, food, water, the list goes on. I often wear one like a scarf, and I’m always glad I have it within easy reach! I love the one below with airplanes on it!
More here: How to Get Your Baby’s First Passport
Bring a Change of Clothes for Everyone
Similarly to being prepared with a swaddle, it’s also good to be prepared with a change of clothes–for baby, for you, and for any travel companions you may have. It’s true that all my daughter’s and my clothes are in my carry-on, but it’s best to have something you can access more easily, so that you don’t have to unpack just to change clothes. I keep a change of clothes for my daughter in the diaper bag, and a change of clothes for me in the outer pocket of my personal item. I was so glad I had a change of clothes on my husband’s and my first trip with our daughter. She had a blowout–on me–before we even boarded the flight. Thank goodness for easy access to a clean pair of pants!
Also helpful: 10 Things I’ve Changed My Mind about in 20 Years of Travel
Use Snap-on or Velcro Booties
Now that my daughter wants to be standing or walking so much of the time, we don’t go barefoot on planes anymore. I love these little booties because they stay put, yet they also allow for freedom of movement for her developing feet. They can be thrown in the washer and dryer afterward, too, which I love. Regular socks don’t stay on her feet, and more traditional shoes are too rigid for baby’s growing feet and toes, so these are a great option.
Keep reading: Top 7 Things to Consider when Booking Flights
Have a Great Diaper Backpack
I’m a huge fan of backpacks over shoulder bags, or even cross-body bags. My alignment is too important to walk around with so much stress on one side, and so is yours! This backpack diaper bag has so many great zippered pockets, which help me stay organized, and the main pocket has loads of space for diapers, wipes, a spare outfit, extra swaddle, diaper cream, and any last-minute items that I always end up tossing in before we walk out the door. I love it, and I think you’ll need it next time you fly with a baby!
Read next: The Best Bags for All Your Travels
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Great tips!
Thank you for saying so!