Flying with a baby on long-haul flights: practical tips

All ages · Travel · Reviewed 20 June 2026 · All articles

The idea of a long-haul flight with a baby can feel overwhelming, but millions of families do it every year and most arrive at their destination in one piece. Whether you are visiting family overseas, taking a holiday, or relocating, a little preparation makes an enormous difference. This guide pulls together evidence-based advice from paediatric organisations, aviation safety authorities, and airline policies to help you plan, pack, and stay calm from gate to gate.

Age and readiness: when is it safe to fly?

There is no universal minimum age for flying, but guidelines from organisations such as the NHS and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) lean toward waiting until a baby is at least 2 weeks old, and ideally closer to 2 to 3 months. Here is why that window matters.

In the first weeks of life, a baby's immune system is still developing. Aircraft cabins recirculate filtered air, and the humidity inside a pressurised cabin can be lower than 20 percent, which dries out mucous membranes. For a newborn, this combination raises the risk of picking up respiratory infections that a slightly older baby would handle more easily.

Premature babies are a separate conversation. If your baby was born before 37 weeks, speak to your paediatrician or neonatologist before booking any flight. They may want to confirm that your baby's oxygen saturation is stable at altitude-equivalent conditions before clearing travel.

From the airline side, policies vary. Many carriers set a minimum of 7 days old, while a few allow 48 hours with a doctor's letter. Always check the specific policy of your airline and any codeshare partners before purchasing tickets, since the rule may be different on a connecting leg operated by a partner carrier.

Once your baby is past the newborn stage, there are very few medical reasons to avoid flying. Healthy infants over 3 months typically tolerate cabin pressure well. The main challenges from that point forward are practical ones: ear pressure, sleep disruption, feeding needs, and keeping your baby comfortable across many hours in a confined space.

Booking a bassinet seat

On long-haul flights, most wide-body aircraft offer a bulkhead bassinet: a small cot that attaches to the wall in front of the first row of a cabin section. A bassinet seat is one of the most valuable things you can secure for a long flight because it means you are not holding your baby for twelve or more hours.

A few things to know before you book:

Managing ear pressure at take-off and landing

Ear pain during ascent and descent is one of the most common concerns parents have before a first flight. The discomfort comes from a pressure difference between the middle ear and the cabin air as the aircraft changes altitude. In adults and older children, yawning or swallowing opens the Eustachian tube and equalises the pressure. Babies cannot do this deliberately, but they do it naturally when they swallow.

The most reliable strategy is to feed your baby during take-off and during the descent phase. Breastfeeding or bottle feeding encourages frequent swallowing, which keeps the Eustachian tube open and prevents the painful pressure build-up. If your baby is not hungry, a dummy (pacifier) achieves a similar effect for babies who use one.

Try to keep your baby awake for both of these phases. A sleeping baby may not swallow enough to keep up with the pressure change, whereas an awake, feeding baby swallows continuously and naturally adapts. This is the one time on the flight when you actively do not want your baby to sleep through something.

If your baby has a cold, ear infection, or any upper respiratory illness, flying may be more uncomfortable. Speak to your GP or health visitor before travelling if your baby is unwell. In some cases they may recommend rescheduling; in others they may suggest infant saline nasal drops to reduce congestion before and during the flight.

Car seat safety on board

The AAP recommends that children under 40 lb (approximately 18 kg) use an approved child restraint system (CRS) rather than travelling as a lap infant. The reasoning is straightforward: turbulence and sudden deceleration can generate forces that exceed what any adult arm can withstand, and a restrained baby in an appropriate seat is significantly safer than one held on a parent's lap.

To use a car seat on a plane you need to purchase a separate seat for your baby. Not all car seats are cleared for aircraft use. In Australia, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) requires that any child restraint used on an aircraft must be approved by the seat's manufacturer for aviation use, and the label on the seat must state this clearly. In the United States, the FAA approval label says "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft."

If you choose to travel as a lap infant (which is permitted and common), the airline will provide an infant loop belt that threads through your own seat belt. This restraint is not equivalent to a car seat in terms of protection, but it does keep your baby from becoming a projectile in turbulence. Always use it when the seat-belt sign is on.

Some families choose to bring an umbrella stroller and check their car seat at the gate, then request a gate-check tag for the stroller. This lets you use the stroller through the airport and hand it over at the aircraft door, where it is placed in the hold and returned to you at the gate on arrival.

Feeding on board: breastfeeding and formula

Breastfeeding on a plane is permitted on all major carriers and is the most straightforward feeding option for long hauls. A nursing cover or muslin cloth can offer privacy if you prefer it, though you are under no obligation to use one. The bassinet seat position at the bulkhead gives you a little more room to manoeuvre.

For formula-fed babies, preparation requires a bit more planning. Most airlines will provide hot water for mixing formula on request. Bring pre-measured powder in small separate containers rather than trying to measure from a large tub in a cramped space. Ready-to-feed formula in individual cartons is a convenient alternative: no measuring, no mixing, and the cartons double as a feeding vessel with the right teat attachment. Security rules in most countries allow formula and breast milk through screening in quantities reasonably needed for the flight, even exceeding standard liquid limits. Carry documentation of your baby's age if you want to avoid any discussion at the checkpoint.

Breastfeeding on demand through a long-haul flight can be tiring. If you are travelling alone with a baby, ask a cabin crew member for help early in the flight. Most airlines train crew to assist parents travelling solo with infants, and they can hold your baby while you eat, bring you water, or help you access the overhead locker.

Sleep, routine, and jet lag

Long-haul flights almost always cross multiple time zones, which means jet lag will affect both you and your baby on arrival. Babies under 3 months have not yet developed a strong circadian rhythm, so they often adapt to a new time zone faster than parents expect. Older babies, particularly those on a well-established nap and night schedule, may take a week or two to fully adjust.

A few strategies that help:

In terms of getting your baby to sleep on the plane itself, darkness and motion help. A light blanket over the bassinet creates a darker, more enclosed environment. Wearing your baby in a sling or carrier (where the airline permits it during cruise) can help settle a baby who associates motion with sleep. Check with your airline whether babywearing is permitted during cruise altitude, as policies vary.

What to pack in your carry-on

Your carry-on bag is your lifeline on a long-haul flight. Here is a practical packing list based on common advice from travelling parents and paediatric travel guidance:

Keep everything you will need during the flight within reach from your seat, not buried at the bottom of the bag or in the overhead locker. A small pouch or packing cube at your feet with the most-reached-for items (wipes, nappies, dummy, muslin) saves an enormous amount of fumbling.

Staying calm when things go wrong

Babies cry on planes. Delays happen. Nappy explosions occur at the worst possible moment. Every parent who has done a long-haul flight with an infant has a story. The single most useful mindset is to accept that some of this will be uncomfortable, that it is temporary, and that other passengers on a long-haul route have almost all seen a baby before.

If your baby is crying inconsolably, check the basics: hunger, nappy, temperature, and ear pressure. Walk the aisle if the seat-belt sign is off. A change of scenery and gentle motion calms many babies. Cabin crew on long-haul routes are generally experienced with travelling infants and can often suggest practical help or find you a quieter spot if the aircraft is not full.

Travelling with a partner or another adult if possible makes an enormous difference. Having someone to swap with, even for twenty minutes while you eat both hands-free or use the lavatory, reduces exhaustion significantly. If you are travelling alone, brief the crew early and do not hesitate to ask for small forms of help throughout the flight.

Frequently asked questions

When can a newborn fly on a long-haul flight?

Most airlines allow babies to fly from 7 days old, but many paediatric organisations recommend waiting until at least 2 weeks of age, and ideally until 3 months when the immune system is more developed. For premature babies, consult your paediatrician before booking. Check the individual airline's minimum age policy, as requirements vary between carriers and codeshare partners.

How do I stop my baby's ears hurting during take-off and landing?

Swallowing helps equalise the pressure in the middle ear. Breastfeed or offer a bottle during take-off and the descent phase. If your baby is over 6 months, a dummy can also help. Try to keep your baby awake for these phases so they are swallowing actively. If your baby has a cold or ear infection before travel, speak to your GP as congestion can make pressure equalisation harder and more painful.

Should I bring a car seat on the plane?

The AAP recommends that children under 40 lb (18 kg) travel in an aviation-approved child restraint rather than on a parent's lap. A rear-facing infant seat is the safest option for young babies. Not all car seats carry aviation approval, so check the label on your specific seat. You will need to purchase a seat for your baby to use the restraint in-flight. Travelling as a lap infant with the airline-provided loop belt is permitted but offers less protection in turbulence or sudden deceleration.

What should I pack in my carry-on for a long flight with a baby?

Essentials include: more nappies than you think you need (at least one per hour of travel), nappy bags, wet wipes, two changes of clothes for your baby and one spare top for you, feeding supplies (formula, bottles, or nursing cover), a muslin cloth, a comfort object or toy, any prescribed medication, saline nasal drops, a portable changing mat, and snacks if your baby is on solids. Keep liquids like formula and breast milk in your carry-on in quantities needed for the flight; security rules typically allow reasonable infant feeding amounts above standard liquid limits.

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