Flying with Kids: An Age-by-Age Guide
Published by FlyingWith4 min readSources checked
Airline and government rules change. Check your airline's current rules before you travel.
FlyingWith editorial team
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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.
Scope: General tips for families. Official rules quoted are Canada's requirements for seating children near a parent and U.S. DOT family seating information; health points come from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Airline policies on bassinets, strollers and unaccompanied minors vary and aren't listed.
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What helps a 6-month-old on a plane is different from what helps a 6-year-old or a teenager. Here are ideas by age, plus the official rules on seating children with you. Every child is different, so treat these as ideas to try.
Part of: Flying with a Baby, Flying with Kids
What changes by airline
- Bassinet availability and limits
- Family seating commitments and seat-selection fees
- Rules for lap infants and car seats
- Unaccompanied minor age limits, fees and requirements
General advice: applies wherever you fly
Infants (0–12 months)
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests delaying travel for a few weeks after birth when possible, to protect a newborn from colds, flu and other illnesses. If you're flying with a baby, ask the airline early about a bassinet: they're only available on some aircraft, spaces are limited, and each airline sets its own limits.
The AAP says changes in air pressure during takeoff and landing can make babies uncomfortable, and that feeding from the breast or a bottle, or sucking on a pacifier, during takeoff and landing can ease discomfort. If your child had ear surgery or an ear infection in the two weeks before your trip, the AAP advises asking their doctor whether it's OK to fly.
Pack more diapers and a spare change of clothes than you expect to need, for yourself as well.
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Official rules: United States (AAP recommendation)
Lap or own seat
The AAP notes that the FAA doesn't require tickets for children under 2, so an airline can't stop you from holding your baby on your lap. The AAP strongly discourages this, because adults can't always keep a firm grip when the plane rocks or shudders, and recommends an FAA-approved child safety restraint instead. Rules on lap infants and car seats differ by country and airline, so check before you book.
General advice: applies wherever you fly
Toddlers (1–3 years)
Toddlers want to move and cannot yet wait patiently. A parent beside the aisle can make bathroom trips easier when the seat belt sign is off; keep the child and their belongings clear of passing carts. Bring small, screen-free activities for takeoff and landing, with one new toy in reserve.
Snacks help. Pack more than seems necessary, choose ones that take a while to eat, and offer something to drink during descent.
General advice: applies wherever you fly
Young children (4–7 years)
Download shows and games before you leave, since not every flight has Wi-Fi or seat-back screens, and bring headphones sized for a child.
Let them take part: carrying their own small backpack, holding their boarding pass at the gate. Many children cope better when they feel involved.
General advice: applies wherever you fly
School-age kids (8–12 years)
The challenge often shifts from restlessness to boredom. A mix of a book, a game and a notebook for things they spot out the window lasts longer than a tablet alone.
It's also a good age to explain what's happening: why ears pop, what turbulence is, what the safety briefing covers.
General advice: applies wherever you fly
Teenagers
Teens often mostly need charged devices and downloaded entertainment. Where they may need help is with the parts of travel that are new: reading a boarding pass, security screening, or finding a connecting gate.
If a teen will fly without an adult, check the airline's unaccompanied minor rules, since age limits, fees and whether the service is required differ by airline. Walk through the itinerary together, including what to do if a flight changes and how to reach you.
Official rules: Canada (CTA)
Seating children with you — Canada
For flights to, from and within Canada, the Canadian Transportation Agency says airlines must help seat children under 14 near their parent, guardian or tutor at no additional charge, at the earliest opportunity: a child 4 or younger in a seat adjacent to the adult; a child 5 to 11 in the same row, separated by no more than one seat; and a child 12 or 13 no more than one row away.
If seats can't be assigned together in advance or at check-in, the airline must ask for volunteers to switch seats at the gate and again on board before takeoff if needed. The airline may still charge its usual fee if you choose to pre-select particular seats.
Official rules: United States (DOT)
Seating children with you — United States
The U.S. Department of Transportation encourages airlines to guarantee that young children are seated next to an accompanying adult without an extra fee, and publishes a dashboard showing which U.S. airlines commit to it for children 13 and under. At the last verification, some large U.S. airlines committed and others didn't, so check your airline on the dashboard before you book.
General advice: applies wherever you fly
What helps at every age
Book seats together when you book, if you can, rather than hoping it gets sorted out later. And build in extra time for security, boarding and connections.
Official sources
Rules and amounts change. Before you rely on anything marked as an official rule, check the source. These are the official pages we used.
- Flying With Baby: Parent FAQs & Tips · American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- Seating of Children with an Accompanying Passenger on an Airplane: A Guide · Canadian Transportation Agency
- Airline Family Seating Dashboard · U.S. Department of Transportation
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