Right, so. You’ve got a baby. You’ve also got a holiday booked – whether that was pre-baby optimism, a family wedding abroad, or just sheer confidence that a tiny human is not going to stop you ever leaving the country again. Either way: respect.
But now you’re in a little panic mode, with a million questions running through your head. Can they fly? What about their ears? Do I need a passport for an actual newborn? What if they scream the whole way and everyone hates me forever?
Been there. Done that. Got the sick-stained hoodie to prove it. Let me answer every single thing so you can actually relax before the trip.
How old does my baby need to be to fly?
This is always the first one, isn’t it. And the answer is: most airlines will take babies from 7 days old, but most doctors and most sane people will tell you to wait until they’re at least 2–3 months. I waited very patiently till 3 months.
Newborns’ immune systems are basically non-existent, and a plane cabin is essentially a recycled air tin full of strangers. Not ideal. Give them a few weeks to get a bit more robust before you put them on a plane, is my advice.
Obviously if you have to fly sooner – medical reasons, family things, you booked before you realised how early ‘early’ actually is – it’s not the end of the world. Just check with your GP and your airline first. I’d factor in leaving it a little longer if baby was premature or had any complications.
Do I need to wait until my baby has had their vaccinations before flying?
The short answer is: you don’t legally have to wait, but most GPs will strongly recommend you do. In the UK, babies receive their first round of vaccinations at 8 weeks. Before those vaccinations, your baby has very limited protection against some genuinely scary illnesses.
Planes are enclosed spaces with recirculated air and people from all over the world. The risk of picking something up is higher than in your average supermarket. So while nobody can tell you that you absolutely cannot fly before the 8-week mark, most medical professionals will tell you it’s worth waiting if you possibly can.
We went to Africa and India with Roman at 9 months and those destinations required additional vaccinations – however we were told those additional vaccines – yellow fever for example – can’t be given to babies under a certain age – so Roman went without and I was just meticulous about hygiene and mosquito protection. A travel clinic or your gp can advise on this.
Does my baby need their own seat?
Under 2s can sit on your lap as a ‘lap infant’. Jet 2 are the only British airline that don’t charge for this – others will charge a small fee for short haul or long haul can be around 10% of the adult fare. So technically? No seat needed.
BUT. And this is a big but. The safest option is always to book them their own seat and strap in a proper car seat. But I’ll be honest, I’ve flown with Roman as a lap infant over 20 times at this point. He’s now 22 months old- and only now have I started booking him his own seat. Mainly because he’s a little more feral and we need more space.
Is it more expensive? Yes. Is it always possible, especially with the cost of living being what it is? No. But if you can do it, do!
What about their ears? Will it hurt them?
Yes, the cabin pressure changes can cause discomfort – the same reason your own ears pop. For babies, the best remedy is swallowing, because it helps regulate the pressure. So: breastfeed, bottle feed, or use a dummy during takeoff and landing. That’s it. That’s the hack.
Keep them feeding or sucking as you feel the plane start to climb, and again as you come in to land. It won’t eliminate every scream, but it genuinely does help. And if your baby does cry through it – they’re not in agony, I promise. They’re just confused and uncomfortable, the same as everyone else on a Ryanair flight. If crying is something you’re worrying most about, I wrote a whole post on that which might help.
Can I bring formula and breast milk through security?
YES. Absolutely yes.
Formula, breast milk, and baby food are all exempt from the usual 100ml liquid rule. You can take as much as you reasonably need for the journey. Ice packs and gel packs to keep it cool are also allowed through. You may be asked to open the containers so they can be tested.
If you want the full picture on feeding on the go – timings, what to prep, how to keep things cool, all of it – my baby feeding guide covers everything in one place. Knowing this stuff in advance will save you from the very specific kind of airport rage that involves crying quietly while a security guard throws your baby’s lunch away right before they eat it.
How do I sterilise bottles abroad?
Cold water sterilising tablets are fantastic when travelling. Milton tablets or own-brand equivalents – chuck them in a collapsible washing up bowl of cold water with your bottles and you’re done in 30 minutes. No fancy equipment, no electricity, works anywhere in the world. Pack enough tablets for the whole trip and a small bottle of fairy liquid for washing.
Microwave steriliser bags are great solid option if you know you’ll have microwave access – most hotel rooms do. They’re compact, reusable, and take about 90 seconds. The mam bottles are my favourite and can also be sterilised in the microwave without the bags.
If you’re completely stuck, boiling is always an option – submerge everything in a pan of boiling water for 10 minutes.
What you should not do is assume your destination will have the same sterilising products available. Pack everything you need from home, bring more than you think, and don’t rely on being able to find it when you get there.
Should I preboard or not?
Genuinely controversial opinion incoming: I don’t always preboard.
I know, I know. Every travelling with a baby article ever written tells you to preboard so you can ‘get settled.’ But more time on the plane equals more time to keep a baby entertained in a tiny space. And that maths does not work in your favour.
If you’re travelling with a partner and have luggage to sort, yes – one of you go on early, get the bags in the overhead, set up the seat. But if you’re flying solo or you’ve already checked bags? Wait in the gate area where there’s space to move around, and get on as late as you reasonably can.
Obviously if your baby is tiny or a dream who loves sitting still and gazing serenely at the seat pocket in front of them, ignore everything I just said.
What do I actually need in my carry-on?
You will overpack the first time. Everyone does. Here’s what you actually need:
Nappies – bring more than you think. Nappy changes on planes take three times as long as normal because you’re in a cupboard designed by someone who has never met a baby.
A change of clothes for baby – at least two. One for the inevitable explosive nappy, one for the sick that will happen precisely as you reach cruising altitude.
A change of clothes for you – yes, you.
Snacks if they’re old enough. A dummy if they use one. Something for the ears (see above). And your chosen entertainment – whether that’s a tablet loaded with In the Night Garden or just your boobs, no judgement whatsoever.
Calpol or infant paracetamol if they’re old enough. And btw – teething gel only works if it’s IN your bag.
I’ve put together a full packing checklist so you don’t have to keep a running list in your head – print it off, tick it off, done.
Can my baby sleep in a bassinet on the plane?
Some airlines offer bassinet seats which attach to the bulkhead wall. If this exists on your flight, book it. Book it immediately. Book it before you’ve even sorted your own seat, practically.
There are usually restrictions: most require your baby to be under around 6 months and under a certain weight, and they can’t be sitting up independently yet. Check with your specific airline because it varies.
The seats around bassinets also tend to be decent ones – more legroom, near the front. The only downside is you can’t have bags at your feet during takeoff and landing, so think about what you’ll need within arm’s reach.
What if my baby won’t stop crying?
They might cry. They probably will cry at some point. And if they do, you are not ruining anyone’s flight. You are a parent with a baby, doing your best, on a mode of transport that is already a bit rubbish for everyone.
The strangers giving you The Look? You will never see them again. Focus entirely on your baby, do what you need to do, and mentally check out of caring what anyone else thinks.
Most people – genuinely, most people – are kind. You’ll get smiles, offers to help, someone making silly faces to distract a grumpy baby. The loud sighing minority are the exception, not the rule.
And for what it’s worth: a crying baby is far less annoying to other passengers than a crying adult. Everyone knows a baby doesn’t know better. Nobody is judging you. They’re judging the person who’s moaning and sighing. If you want to read more about navigating the crying on flights, I’ve written about it properly over here.
Does my baby need a passport?
Yes. Yes they do. Even a 2-week-old needs their own passport if you’re travelling abroad. And getting a passport for a newborn is a bit of an ordeal, mostly because you have to get a photo of a baby who cannot sit up or hold their head still and must have their eyes open and their mouth closed and no visible hands in shot.
Get on this early. Passport offices are not fast!
Should I try to stick to my baby’s routine while travelling?
Ha. Hahaha. Ha.
Yes, in theory, keeping some sort of routine helps. Babies like predictability. Nap on the plane if they normally nap at that time, feed when they’d normally feed, keep bedtime as close to normal as you can when you arrive.
But also: you’re on a plane. Delays happen. Babies lose the plot. Time zones exist. You will do your best and it will be imperfect and that is completely fine.
The goal is to arrive at the other end, baby alive and in your possession, with enough energy left to have at least one nice holiday moment. Everything else is a bonus.
Got another question? Message me!
Travelling with a baby is hard, full stop. It is also completely worth it, full stop. The logistics are stressful and the packing is a nightmare and yes, there will be A Moment – there’s always A Moment – but on the other side of it is your baby seeing somewhere new, experiencing something different, and you proving to yourself that your life didn’t end when theirs began.
If you want everything in one place – the packing lists, the feeding prep, the routine guides, all of it – my Parent Travel Toolkit has got you covered. It’s basically everything I wish someone had handed me before that first flight.
Safe travels!!!
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