The thought of flying with a baby or toddler is one of the most stressful aspects of planning a family vacation. Prior to building Have Baby Will Travel I was bombarded with headlines of families getting kicked off of planes for not being able to settle their toddler. Later, it was praising parents with tiny infants for preparing in-flight goody bags to keep adults happy.
I don’t want you to stress out about flying with a baby as much as I did. My hope is to one day outrank those stories on the internet. And I want to highlight the instances where people are kind and helpful to harried parents on planes. There is over a decade and a half of experience in travel with small children behind the family travel advice on this site. And then you can graduate to Have Kids Will Travel 🙂
So don’t put off planning your much-needed family vacation. Prior to flying with a baby, be sure to print out our baby travel packing lists and check out this handy link to all the baby travel kit necessities you’ll need.
Here is our complete list of resources and tips for flying with a baby or toddler:
Here is a complete list of resources and tips for flying with a baby or toddler that are available on Have Baby Will Travel. We have over a decade and a half of experience with flying with babies and toddlers at every age and stage. We are here to help relieve the stress of flying with a baby or toddler!
Tips for Flying with an Infant or Toddler at Every Age & Stage
Whether it's your (or your baby's) first fight or 50th, a lot changes depending on your baby's age and stage. This is a list of tips for flying with infants and toddlers for every age and stage.
Travel During Covid with Babies and Toddlers
I’m prefacing this post by saying that you should not travel during Covid. To stop the Coronavirus Pandemic we all have to do our part. Stay home, wear masks, and respect the public health protocols established by where we live.
But if staying home is not an option, here are some suggestions to travel more safely during Covid with a baby or toddler...
Flying with Baby: Travel Tips for Flying with a Newborn
The thought of flying with a newborn is terrifying, especially for a first-time parent. Our tips for flying with a newborn address the baby's and the new mom's (or parent's) needs.
Flying with Baby: Travel Tips for Flying with an Infant 3-6mos.
As baby get older, they get a little more predictible. But it might feel scary to risk that predictability by going on a trip. Our tips for flying with a baby ages 3-6 months addresses this issue and more.
Flying with Baby: Travel Tips for Flying with an Infant 6-12mos.
This is probably one of the busiest ages for flying with a baby, especially if your baby is newly mobile. We've actually flown with our kids the most at the age but have the least amount of pictures. We were VERY BUSY!
Flying with Baby: Travel Tips for Flying with a Toddler 12-24mos.
I was most terriried about flying with a baby this age and I lucked out and was pleasantly surprised. Yes, you are dealing with a small human who does not like to be contained, but they also are starting to understand what is expected of them. AND, this is the devil you know, so you can start bribing with treats, etc. 🙂
Flying with Baby: Travel Tips for Flying with Toddlers & Preschoolers
For us, flying with a baby at this stage was probably the easiest, since we'd been working hard all along to get to this point. That's not to say a three-year-old won't throw down with a massive tantrum... ours sure did! Thankfully by this age you are better-equipped to manage.
Tips for Flying with a Sick Baby
It's really scary to think you might have to cancel your trip if baby starts to sniffle a day or two before you're supposed to leave. It's even scarier to think your baby might get seriously ill if you decide to fly with thim. Sometimes it's ok to still go but it's wise to research some advice and tips for flying with a sick baby.
10 Dos & Don'ts for Flying with Babies and Toddlers
A lighthearted round-up of some Dos and Don'ts for flying with babies and toddlers based on actual, awful things parents and families have done while flying with their kids.
Flying with a Baby or Toddler: The Ultimate Tip List
This is the compendium of all the bullet point tips for flying with a baby or toddler gathered from this site and from family travel writers and bloggers.
Hell In The Skies? Tips for Flying with a Large Family
Julie Cole of Mabel's Labels has six (6!) kids and has been making the trek to Australia every other year since her eldest was an infant. She has some great tips for surviving flying a super huge distance with a very large family.
Gate Checking Your Stroller When Flying with Baby
Gate checking your stroller before flyling with my baby was the one element of the travel day that really freaked me out. I spell out the process and share all the airlines' stroller travel tips.
Surviving Early Morning Flights with a Baby, Toddler, or Young Child
At first I could not wrap my head around how we were going to get to the airport a full two hours earlier than we usually work up. Was there even any point in going to bed? I figured out how to manage and now it's my favourite time to book a flight for..
What to Wear When Traveling with a Baby, Toddler, or Young Child
It may seem obvious to you but it wasn't to my mother. A white pantsuit is not really a suitable travel outfit when flying with a baby or toddler. We'll help you figure out what to wear based on comfort and convenience.
Flying with Car Seats and Booster Seats
I know this probably isn't what you want to hear, but in most cases when flying with a baby or toddler, you should bring your car seat. Yes, it is a total pain but it's really not so bad once you've done it a couple of times.
Tips to Clear Airport Security with Babies, Toddlers & Young Children
Going through airport security with a baby or toddler in tow is just another of those "fun" things we have to grit our teeth and get through. As with anything, it's forgotton the minite you're done so these tips will help make that transition a litttle smoother.
A Complete Guide to Booking and Using an Airplane Bassinet
Everything you need to know about booking and using an airplane bassinet, plus a complete list of airlines and their bassinet usage policies.
Have Baby Will Travel‘s mission is to inspire, motivate, and help families travel with babies, toddlers, and young children. We want to prepare you for flying with a baby or toddler. Our goal is to have the flights be the least worrisome part of planning your trip. Wouldn’t it be nice to stress out over where to go or what to do instead?
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Thanks for sharing with us, your sites are amazing and helpful.
Thank you for the awesome article. I learn a lot from this post. Keep it up.
Thank you for sharing these invaluable resources and tips for flying with a baby! Traveling with little ones can be challenging, but with the right guidance and preparation, it can also be a rewarding experience. Your article provides great insights on how to make air travel smoother and more enjoyable for both parents and babies. Happy travels to all the adventurous families out there!✈️
Thank you for sharing the tips! Those tips are very helpful!
thanks for the awesome tips!