Airlines actually let you bring LOADS of free items when flying with a baby. So if you’re worried about how much you need to bring – don’t! You don’t need to squeeze it all into that tiny luggage allowance.
Here are seven things you can bring without paying a penny extra – knowing this will make your life SO much easier.
Items you can bring for free when flying with a baby:
1. Nappy Bag
Your nappy bag doesn’t count as hand luggage.
This means you get your normal carry-on, PLUS a whole extra bag just for baby stuff. You can pack all the chaos essentials without sacrificing your own bag space.
Here’s what lives in mine:
- Nappies and nappy bags- I pack one per 2 hours or travel time + 2 extra!
- Wipes (I go through about three packs per flight, no joke)
- Full change of clothes for Roman
- Spare top for me
- Snacks and pouches
- Bottles, milk and sippy cup (btw they might ask you if the sippy cup has sterile water in at security – if you say no they’ll make you throw it away)
- Random toys (the more new ones the better)
- Muslins everywhere
- Teething powder (Ashton Parsons Teething Powder is the BEST I’ve found that works for Roman) and Calpol
- All the bits and bobs you’ll need in a hurry
My tip: Get a nappy bag with compartments. Not just one big black hole where everything disappears!!
I wouldn’t be without this one from Tiba and Marl.
2. Stroller
You can take your stroller for FREE and use it right up until you get on the plane.
Imagine schlepping through the airport carrying your baby, your bags, your coffee… no thanks. Take the stroller!
You’ve got two options:
Gate check it – This is where you use it through the whole airport (great for getting to the gate) then hand it over at the plane door. They’ll give it back to you as soon as you land – though sometimes it ends up on the carousel which could or could not be a faff depending on how many bags you have – ask!
OR stick it in the overhead locker – I like to do this. If you’ve got a compact one that folds up small, you can literally take it on the plane with you then it’s right there with you when you land.
Best compact travel stroller: Joolz Aer
I need to tell you about our travel stroller because I’m actually obsessed with it!! We’ve got the Joolz Aer and it’s been absolutely brilliant for travelling with a baby – 13 countries and still going strong!
Here’s why I love it: it folds with ONE HAND (this matters more than you think when you’re juggling a baby and bags), fits in the overhead compartment on planes, glides like butter, super comfy for Roman and is light enough that I can actually lift it without doing my back in. BUT it’s still sturdy enough for cobbled streets and airport floors and all that.
We’ve taken it everywhere – literally everywhere – and it’s never let us down. If you’re planning to travel loads with your baby, honestly it’s worth it.
What to look for in a travel stroller:
- Folds easily (one-hand is ideal, trust me)
- Light enough to lift
- Small enough for overhead storage if that’s your plan
- Tough enough for airport abuse
My tip: if you’d rather rent your stroller at the destination, check out babyquip! They stock the Joolz aer and cover 2,000+ locations!
3. Car Seat – Free Checked Luggage
Car seats don’t count toward your baggage allowance which is HUGE because have you seen how bulky those things are?
We always check ours in with the regular luggage (allow extra time cause they usually make you take it to the soft / oversized baggage area). I know some people worry about damage but if you stick it in a good car seat travel bag, it’s usually fine – 20 flights down and we’ve never had an issue.
Your options:
Check it in – Most people do this. Just get a padded bag to protect it. We use this one and it’s awesome.
Take it on the plane – If you’ve bought a seat for your baby, you can actually install the car seat on the plane (just check it’s approved for aircraft). Some babies sleep way better in their own car seat.
The Best Car Seats for Travel
For the first 12 months we used the Maxi-Cosi Pebble with adapters. This was brilliant because it’s safe (obvs the most important bit), comfy for Roman, and the adapters meant I could just click it straight onto the Joolz pushchair. One less massive thing to carry through the airport – thank GOD.
If you want to read more about this set up, check out my blog: Best Car Seat and Stroller for Flying with a Baby: Complete Travel Guide 2025
Once Roman was bigger (around 15 months), we switched to the Maxi-Cosi Nomad. This thing is amazing for travel. It’s lightweight, folds up into a little bag and installs really quickly in hire cars and taxis.
The only thing is they can’t really sleep comfortably in the Maxi-Cosi Nomad, so it’s more for when you get to your destination and short trips rather than long car journeys. But for flights and travel, it’s perfect.
Top tips:
- Get a decent protective bag for your car seat
- Take photos before you pack it away (just in case you need to make a claim)
- Check if it’s okay for planes if you’re taking it on board
- Some airports will wrap it for you
Check out this blog for more information: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Travel Car Seats for Toddlers
4. Baby Carrier – How Did Anyone Fly With A Baby Before These Existed?
Baby carriers don’t count as luggage and I genuinely don’t understand how anyone gets through an airport without one.
Having your baby strapped to you means your hands are free for literally everything else.
Plus babies just seem happier when they’re attached to you. When Roman was smaller, the SECOND I put him in the carrier, instant calm. Magic.
Why you need a carrier for flying with a baby:
- Security is SO much easier
- Your baby will probably sleep
- Hands free for coffee (essential)
- Easy to move around the plane
- Navigating crowded airports is way less stressful
My Favourite Baby Carrier(s) for Travelling With a Baby
For Roman’s first year, I had both the Artipoppe carrier and Ergo Baby carrier (I got one given as a gift after already purchasing the other!) Both are super comfortable (I could wear for hours without my back dying), both look good (yes that matters when you’re basically living in it), and Roman loved being all snuggled up. We used it everywhere – airports, cities, anywhere a pushchair was just too much faff.
Then when Roman got heavier, I switched to the Wildride toddler carrier. This is more structured and designed for bigger babies 9m+. It’s been amazing for airports, exploring cities, cruises – basically anywhere Roman wanted to be up and about but was too tired to walk. Saved my back SO many times.
For travel: Get something you can easily take on and off because you’ll need to take baby out for the security scanner. Soft structured carriers or wraps are usually best. I found the artipoppe is the easiest of the two to put on yourself!
5. Breast Milk, Formula, Baby Food & Water – The Liquid Rules Don’t Apply!
Okay this is really important: the stupid 100ml rule DOESN’T count for baby stuff.
I cannot tell you how relieved I was when I found this out. You can bring “reasonable quantities” of breast milk, formula, baby food, and water for bottles.
What you can bring:
- Expressed breast milk (frozen or not)
- Ready-made formula
- Powder formula (plus water to make it up)
- Baby food pouches and jars
- Bottles of water for mixing formula
Getting through security:
Just tell them at security you’ve got baby milk. They might scan it or test it (they usually just scan it), but you won’t have to taste it or anything weird like that.
Pack it separately so you can get to it easily. And “reasonable quantity” basically means enough for your journey plus extra in case of delays.
Nuby RapidCool
If you’re formula feeding, I need to tell you about the Nuby RapidCool Formula Maker because it’s changed my life for travelling with a baby.
This thing cools bottles to the perfect temperature in MINUTES. Which means no more standing around in airport cafés with a screaming hungry baby waiting for a bottle to cool down. We’ve used it on so many holidays.
It’s small enough to fit in your nappy bag and honestly one of the best £40-ish quid I’ve ever spent.
My top tip: Don’t just pack enough milk for the flight. Pack EXTRA. Delays happen. Being stuck on a plane on the tarmac with a hungry baby and no milk is actual hell.
6. Cool Bag and Ice Packs – Yes Really!
Here’s one most people don’t know: you can bring a cool bag and ice packs as extras when you’re flying with a baby.
If you need to keep breast milk or formula cold, airlines get it. The cool bag and ice packs usually don’t count toward your luggage.
The rules:
- Ice packs must be properly frozen when you go through security
- If they’ve started melting = counts as liquid (and over 100ml) I love these that you can unscrew and pour away incase this happens
- Gel packs are usually fine if they’re frozen solid
- Cool bags don’t count as your hand luggage
This is especially important if you’ve got a long journey or you’re connecting between flights.
7. Travel Cot – This Travel Cot is My Favourite Baby Purchase EVR
Having somewhere safe and familiar for Roman to sleep has made SUCH a difference for us. No more dodgy hotel cots or wondering whether he’d actually sleep in a strange place.
Most airlines let you check two free items when flying with a baby – usually a mix of pushchair, car seat, travel cot, or booster seat.
Our Travel Cot: The Bugaboo Stardust
The Bugaboo Stardust is hands down the best travel cot I’ve ever seen. This thing pops open in literally seconds (crucial when you’ve got an overtired baby losing their mind), folds completely flat for packing, and Roman sleeps so well in it.
We’ve used it everywhere. It’s been absolutely brilliant and worth every penny. Better sleep for Roman = better holiday for everyone.
Why you should bring a travel cot:
- Safe sleep space wherever you are
- Baby knows it (better sleep)
- Not relying on hotels/Airbnbs to have one
- Some hotel cots are… let’s just say questionable
What to look for:
- Folds up small
- Lightweight
- Quick to set up – this is KEY
- Comes with a bag for protection
Other Bits That Have Saved My Life
While we’re here, a couple more things that have made traveling with a baby so much easier for us:
Momcozy Travel Bottle Drying Rack + Brush – This little set folds out into a proper clean drying space for bottles. Perfect for hotel bathrooms or Airbnb kitchens where you don’t really trust the surfaces. It’s compact and honestly so handy.
Collapsible Washing-Up Bowl – Hotel sinks are rubbish for washing bottles. This foldable bowl makes it so much easier to clean and sterilise bottles, cups, and dummies properly, then it just folds flat to pack away. One of those things you don’t think you need until you’re trying to wash bottles in a tiny sink.
Check Your Airline First Though!
Right, important bit: every airline is slightly different with their rules.
Everything I’ve mentioned is usually free on most airlines, but there can be differences with:
- Size and weight limits for checked stuff
- Whether things have to be checked or can go in the cabin
- What counts as “reasonable quantities” for liquids
- Specific rules about stroller sizes
Before you fly:
- Check your airline’s website (look for “traveling with babies” or something)
- If you’re flying with different airlines (connections), check EACH one
- Rules change so just double check even if you’ve flown with them before
Quick Packing Tips From Someone Who’s Done This Too Many Times
Don’t forget:
- Change of clothes for YOU (sick goes everywhere, lol)
- Way more nappies than you think you need
- Loads of snacks and pouches
- New toys (they work better than familiar ones)
- Dummy if they use one (helps with ear pressure)
- Calpol (check the liquid rules but you can usually bring it)
Making security less hellish:
- Have everything easy to grab
- Get there really early (add like an hour to what you’d normally do)
- Wear slip-on shoes
- Book assistance if you need it
You’ve Got This
Knowing which free baby items are allowed on planes takes away at least some of that stress. You can pack everything you need without worrying about being charged a fortune at check-in.
Quick recap:
- Nappy bag = bonus hand luggage
- Stroller = free (gate check or cabin)
- Car seat = free checked luggage
- Baby carrier = doesn’t count
- Baby milk/food = liquid rules don’t apply
- Cool bag = usually extra
- Travel cot = free checked item
The stuff I’ve recommended is literally what we use every single time we travel with Roman. Some of it’s not cheap, I’ll be honest, but if you’re planning to travel regularly it’s SO worth it.
And you don’t need all of it to start. We built up our travel kit over time. But the travel stroller, car seat, and carrier? Those three things alone made such a massive difference.
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