You can fly with a baby very early on: the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) generally considers flying safe from 7 days old, while advising that it is ideal to wait until 2 to 3 months. Naître et grandir, a Quebec parenting website reviewed by a paediatrician, recommends waiting 3 weeks for a flight of more than 2 hours. After that, the real preparation comes down to three things: the seat, the ears and the rhythm of the day.
From what age can you fly with a baby?
There is no single minimum medical age. The published guidance points the same way:
- From 1 week: most healthy babies are fit to fly, according to Naître et grandir and the AAP.
- After 3 weeks: the threshold Naître et grandir advises for a flight of more than 2 hours.
- Around 2 to 3 months: the ideal age according to the AAP, mainly to limit exposure to viruses.
The main concern is germs. The AAP points out that crowded airports and the cabin increase the risk of a newborn catching an infection. Where possible, pushing the trip back by a few weeks is the more cautious choice.
When to ask the doctor before flying
Naître et grandir advises seeing a doctor before you leave if your child has an ongoing ear infection, a severe allergy, a heart or breathing problem, sickle cell disease, epilepsy or recent surgery. The AAP adds ear surgery and any ear infection in the two weeks before the trip. Airlines also have their own rules for newborns: check them before booking.
On your lap or in a car seat: which is better?
Under 2, a child can travel on a parent’s lap; from 2, they need their own seat, Naître et grandir reminds us. Fare rules vary from one airline to another.
The AAP nevertheless advises against lap travel. It notes that turbulence is the leading cause of injury to children on planes. It recommends a child restraint approved for use on aircraft, fitted on a booked seat, or failing that, asking whether there is a free seat next to you.
The car seat on board
- Check the label: some car seats are approved for use on aircraft, others are not. The manual and the airline have the final word.
- Booster seats and safety harnesses cannot be used on board, Naître et grandir specifies.
- The AAP suggests boarding early to fit it, and choosing the window seat for a rear-facing car seat.
- Avoid the aisle seat: the trolley and passengers brush past your child’s head and arms.
You will need the car seat on arrival anyway, in a taxi or a hire car. Our guide to choosing a baby car seat that meets the R129 standard helps you check this before you leave.
The cabin bassinet
Some airlines offer a bassinet (or skycot) attached to the bulkhead for babies under 12 kg who cannot sit up yet. It must be booked in advance. The AAP reminds parents that the baby should sleep in it on a firm, flat surface, with no blanket, pillow or toy.
Ears at takeoff and landing
Pressure changes are strongest at takeoff and landing. They can make your baby uncomfortable, or even cause pain. The fix is simple: get them to feed or swallow at those moments.
- Offer the breast, a bottle or a dummy during the climb and the descent.
- For an older child, offer water or a straw, or show them how to yawn.
- Chewing gum and lozenges are only suitable after age 4, according to Naître et grandir.
- No decongestants under 6 without medical advice, and no antihistamines to make them sleep without a doctor’s advice, the AAP insists.
The descent often begins well before the landing announcement. Save the feed or the bottle for that moment rather than giving it just before. If your baby uses a baby dummy, pack a spare one fixed to a clip.
Milk, water and meals during the flight
Cabin air is dry. Naître et grandir advises offering your child water every hour, especially under 2, on top of the usual breastfeeds or bottles for a young baby.
- Keep formula, breast milk and medicines in the cabin, labelled.
- Baby milk is allowed through security in reasonable quantities, outside the liquids limit.
- Bring easy-to-serve meals such as baby food jars or purée, and a spoon in a clean bag.
- For wind, a gentle tummy massage helps, Naître et grandir specifies.
For feeds to take with you, our article on bottles on the go sets out how long they keep.
Packing the cabin bag
- Nappies and wipes for at least twice the length of the flight.
- A change of clothes for the baby, and a top for the parent.
- A muslin or a light blanket: the cabin is often cool.
- One or two familiar, quiet toys, and a cloth book.
- Your child’s health record and identity documents.
As for paperwork, every child travels with their own documents, even a newborn. The rules vary by destination: check them before booking (for departures from France, on the French government website service-public.gouv.fr).
Planning the travel day
Choosing the flight time matters as much as everything else. A flight timed around a nap or the night often helps a young baby sleep. An 18-month-old, on the other hand, copes better with a flight where they can move around before boarding.
- Arrive early: checking in the pushchair and getting through security take time with a baby.
- The pushchair can usually be left at the aircraft door and collected on the way out.
- A baby carrier frees your hands in queues and corridors.
- Change the nappy just before boarding: the toilets on board are cramped.
The approach is similar to a long train journey, covered in our article on travelling by train with a baby. If your stay takes you to high altitude, the article on babies in the mountains adds to this guidance. And for the night at your destination, our guide to staying in a hotel with a baby helps you prepare the sleeping arrangements.
Key points to remember
- Flying is possible from 7 days, ideally after 2 to 3 months according to the AAP.
- For a flight of more than 2 hours, Naître et grandir advises waiting 3 weeks.
- A car seat approved for aircraft use protects better than a lap in turbulence.
- Feeding or drinking at takeoff and landing eases the ears.
- No medicine to make them sleep or to decongest without medical advice.
Sources
- Naître et grandir, “Voyager en avion avec son enfant”, scientific review by Dr Anne-Claude Bernard-Bonnin, paediatrician, updated October 2024.
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org, Jennifer Shu and Claire McCarthy, “Flying With Baby: Parent FAQs & Tips for Safer, Easier Air Travel”, updated 03/03/2026.
