Flying with a Baby
Asking for a bassinet seat, packing formula and baby food, when to board, and ear pressure on takeoff and landing.
Text updated
FlyingWith editorial team
How we check our sourcesQuick answer
Bassinet seats are limited and assigned by the airline, so call as soon as you've booked. Formula, breast milk and baby food are generally allowed above the usual liquid limit, but the allowance is set by your departure airport's screening authority rather than the airline.
Choose airports, dates and passengers in the flight-search form, then compare on Trip.com.
Find the answer you need
General advice: applies wherever you fly
The basics
Request a bassinet seat early
Bulkhead seats with fold-out bassinets are usually free to request but limited in number. Airlines set their own age, weight and length limits for them, and the bassinets themselves differ between aircraft, so ask the airline what their limits are for your exact flight and aircraft. Call directly after booking: bassinet seats are assigned by the airline rather than through seat selection, and they go long before departure.
Packing formula, milk, and baby food
Formula, breast milk and baby food are generally allowed in carry-on bags above the usual liquid limit, but the exact allowance, and whether you have to declare them, is set by the screening authority for your departure airport rather than by the airline. Look up your departure airport's screening authority before you pack, and tell the officer you're carrying them as you reach the checkpoint. Allow extra time: they're often screened separately.
Read the guide: Flying with Medication and Medical DevicesChoosing the best boarding time
If your airline offers families pre-boarding, take it. It buys you time to get settled without an audience. If it doesn't, consider boarding last instead, so your baby spends less total time strapped into a seat before takeoff.
Surviving takeoff, landing, and ear pressure
Nursing, a bottle, or a pacifier during ascent and descent helps little ears equalize pressure. Pack a small 'go bag' with extra diapers, wipes, and a full change of clothes for both baby and you. Turbulence and blowouts have famously bad timing.
Plan beyond the flight
Plan how you will get from the airport to your room with the baby, bags and stroller. Ask the property about a cot, its sleeping setup and access to a fridge if you need one. Keep feeding and changing supplies accessible until you reach your accommodation, rather than packing everything away after landing.
Take it with you
What to confirm with your airline
Everything here is drawn from the advice above. Airlines and airports set their own rules, so these are the things to ask about for your own flights.
Tick a point once you have confirmed it. Download a PDF with your current checks to take with you.
0 of 4 checked
Your checks stay in this tab and recover on reload. Clear them before leaving a shared device. Browser session restore may keep them.
Helpful guides
How to Choose the Right Seat for Your Travel Situation
Choose by situation: an aisle near the front for quick access, a window to sleep, and for mobility needs an aisle seat with a movable armrest. U.S. rules require those on at least half of the aisle seats in eligible rows of aircraft with 30 or more seats.
Flying with Kids: An Age-by-Age Guide
Plan around your child's age and book seats together when you can. On flights to, from and within Canada, airlines must help seat children under 14 near a parent or guardian at no additional charge; in the U.S., check the DOT family seating dashboard for your airline.
Travelling Abroad with a Child: The Consent Letter
If a child crosses a border without every parent or guardian, carry a signed original consent letter. Canada recommends one and strongly recommends having it notarized; destinations and airlines may have their own rules.
One Adult Flying with Two Young Children
Before comparing fares, enter the children's exact ages on every flight date. In Canada, one passenger cannot be responsible for more than one infant under two during a flight, so if both children are under two, another passenger must accompany one of them.
Using a Car Seat on an Aircraft
A car seat that is legal in a car is not automatically accepted on an aircraft. Check the certification label, the manufacturer's aircraft instructions, the width of the seat and the operating airline's policy before you travel.
Questions before you book
What should I compare besides the ticket price?
Check the total for your travelling party, seating choices, bags and any baby equipment. Ask about the bassinet arrangement on the actual flight before choosing a ticket around it. Keep the airline’s reply with your booking.
How can I make a connection easier?
Map out feeding, changing and getting between gates. Ask where your stroller will be returned and how assistance works during the connection. Keep a backup change of clothes and essential supplies in the bag that stays with you.
Travel essentials
Complete your travel plans
Choose the service you need, then compare the offer and its terms with the provider.
Mobile data for your trip
Compare an eSIM with your carrier’s roaming offer and a local SIM. An eSIM only helps if your exact device and the plan suit the trip.
Affiliate partner options
Affiliate links through Travelpayouts. FlyingWith may earn a commission on an eligible purchase or paid service.
Build my eSIM shopping list →Checks before choosing
Installing an eSIM and starting its validity period can be different events. Follow the chosen plan’s instructions. The checklist is a reminder, not an automatic device check.
- Check the device model, purchase region and network lock with the provider before paying.
- Compare the countries covered, data allowance, validity start, hotspot rules and any speed limits.
- Check whether calls and SMS are included. Save maps, the hotel address and installation instructions for offline use.
Getting from the airport
Compare the airport’s official public transport and taxi information with a prebooked transfer. Choose based on the whole journey to your accommodation.
GetTransfer is a transfer marketplace. Availability and suitability depend on the offer; a listed vehicle does not confirm accessible transport or a child seat.
Affiliate partner options
Affiliate links through Travelpayouts. FlyingWith may earn a commission on an eligible purchase or paid service.
Take these details to your airport pickup quote
Copy these questions into your request. A marketplace listing alone does not confirm a child seat or accessible vehicle.
0 of 4 pickup details reviewed
Checks before choosing
- Confirm the exact terminal, meeting point, luggage space and contact method if your flight changes.
- Ask for written confirmation of any child seat, pet or mobility requirement before payment.
- Read the total price, waiting policy, cancellation deadline and refund method for the specific offer.
The provider handles prices, booking terms, payment and support. Review the details there before paying.
Sources checked
This page is general preparation guidance. Rules change, and this page does not state any official one: where an official detail matters, the linked guides quote it, cite the authority that sets it and show the date it was checked. Confirm anything that affects your booking with the airline, the airport or the authority concerned. The date at the top is when this page's text last changed. It is not a verification of any rule.
Share this guide
Saves a reading copy on this device, visible to anyone using it. Checklist answers and bookings are not saved. Browser storage can be cleared automatically; check your saved guides before travelling.
Help keep this page accurate
Opens an email draft with this page’s public link. You can review it before sending.