Are you looking to travel with a baby and wondering what the best age to take your little one away on holiday might be?
If you’re expecting your first baby, or have only just welcomed your bundle of joy, you may be unsure what the rules around flying abroad may be.
The logistics of travelling with a baby may seem daunting – especially as they seem to come with so much stuff.
But the good news is you can travel with a newborn baby pretty early – ideally from three months.
As a newborn they are sleepy, so will hopefully snooze through much of the flight, they are not mobile so won’t be running up and down the aisle of the plane and can be easily entertained with milk and cuddles.
The things holding you back from jetting off right away are:
- Your own recovery after giving birth
- The paperwork – you need a birth certificate in order to get a passport for travel (applications for passports can take three weeks or more to process)
- Your own confidence – there’s something to be said for pulling up the drawbridge and enjoying time at home with your new baby so you can get used to this new arrival.
- Baby’s routine – Sleep schedules are very unpredictable when your baby is three months or under. It can be useful to wait until you have a handle on your baby’s natural sleep routine to help you book the best travel times.
- Your baby’s vaccination schedule – As airports, trains and buses are germ central, it’s wise to wait until your baby has had their infant vaccinations. For babies under one year they will have had all their doses by the time they are 16 weeks.
This article is going to take you through what the best age to travel with a baby is and the logistics of travelling abroad on holiday with a new baby.
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How soon can you go on holiday abroad with a newborn?
The earliest you can fly abroad with a newborn baby is once they are 48 hours old (if you fly with an airline that will take them at this age, like BA).
But the logistics of trying to get a passport within 48 hours of your baby’s birth mean this is unlikely to happen.
Of course they need a passport to travel abroad and getting one within two days of their birth would be challenging.
You can book fast-track appointments to get a passport, however you would need to time this exactly to fit in with when you want to fly. And as you know, you can’t necessarily know in advance when a baby will be born or when you may be discharged from hospital.
And you need a birth certificate in order to get your passport, which means you also need to have that appointment booked at your local register office.
So, looking at a realistic timeline for getting a passport, assuming you register your baby’s birth in the first week to get their birth certificate, the earliest you could travel with your baby is when they are three to four weeks old.
For internal flights you may not need a passport to travel, but you should check in advance and it’s still sensible to take your baby’s birth certificate with you.
When is the earliest a baby can fly?
There is no legal minimum age for when a baby can fly, but several airlines ask that your baby is 14 days old before they fly.
This is the guidance issued by big carriers such as EasyJet.
However if you fly with British Airways they ask your newborn is 48 hours old and Ryanair will not allow babies aged seven days or under to board.
So as you can see it varies between airlines and you should always check before you book.
The big benefit of flying with a baby under two years old is you won’t need to book a separate seat if they will be travelling on your lap. You’ll still be charged 10% of an adult fare, but it does save you money!
If you do want to bring a car seat on a plane, in order to give your arms a rest and provide your baby with a comfy place to nap, then you’ll need to book a seat for your baby. You’ll also need to check that the car seat you are bringing is aircraft approved.
What is the best age to travel abroad with a baby?
The best age to travel with a baby is between three and nine months. At this stage they aren’t particularly mobile, they’re still napping a fair amount and they are easily entertained with simple things.
At four months they will have completed their under one vaccination schedule (which the NHS completes by the time they are 16 weeks).
In the US infant vaccinations are spread out wider across the first year, but they will have had at least two doses of the main vaccinations by the time they are four months old.
Best and worst ages to fly with a baby
It’s important to note that some babies may well travel better than others.
Like adults, babies have different personalities and traits.
Some babies may settle to sleep like clockwork at the same time every day for a nap, while others may fight sleep at every stage and experience every sleep regression to the max.
As the parent you know your baby best, so it’s important to consider how you think your little one will cope with a flight – with consideration to how long the travel time is to your preferred destination.
To help you make the decision on when to fly with a baby, here’s a handy guide to the best and worst ages to travel with a baby.
0-3 months
I would avoid traveling at this age due to the logistical challenge of getting the paperwork organised and the uncertainty around their sleep schedules.
3-9 months
This is a great time to travel with your baby!
You probably have an idea of their sleep patterns and how to settle them down for a nap.
If you are breastfeeding then you’ll be able to travel much lighter. But if you are formula feeding you can make it much easier by taking ready-made formula in small bottles.
If you’re worried about your baby suffering with ear pain during the flight then you can help with this by nursing them or giving them their bottle to suck. If your baby uses a dummy (pacifier) then this can ease the discomfort too.
9-12 months
At this age your baby will be on the move and probably have started to crawl (unless they’re like my first baby who rolled everywhere instead of crawling).
From 12 months they may be about to take their first steps.
For this reason this age could be a little more challenging when it comes to flying, so distractions will be key.
Taking them for walks down the aisle of the plane to keep them entertained and avoid them getting too fussy with boredom.
12-18 months
At 12 to 18 months your once immobile baby is now on the move and wanting to explore absolutely everything.
The key to travelling at this age will be distractions and snacks.
Although you can still travel with them on your lap at this stage, it’s well worth considering whether having a separate seat with a car seat may be easier for you.
What to pack for flying with a baby
This is a complete list of essentials to pack for your flight. These items also apply when you’re taking a long train or bus journey!
- Enough feeds for the flight – It’s sensible to bring double what you think you will need for the time you will be travelling, just in case of delays
- Nappies – one for every hour of travel plus five spare
- Nappy sacks
- Wipes
- Pacifier (if they use one)
- Favourite toy
- Sensory toys (avoid ones that make loud noises for the sake of other passengers)
- Books
- Anti-bacterial wipes and hand sanitiser
- Solid meals – if your baby is over six months. You can request baby meals from some airlines, but you need to do so in advance. Check with your airline.
- Snacks
- Dress your baby in layers that are simple to remove and put on when baby is on your lap. It may be cold on the plane, but hot where you are going.
- One change of clothes for every three hours of travel (just in case)
- A change of clothes for you – in case of spit-up
- Travel car seat (you may be ok for a younger baby on your lap for the flight but a car seat is useful for naps and rests from six months and over)
- Baby carrier – these are so useful for moving around the airport especially if you’ve had to check in your stroller
Do you need to reserve a seat on the plane for your baby?
If you plan to travel with your baby on your lap then you still need to inform the airline that you will be travelling with an infant.
You can only travel with one lap child per adult and you can only take your infant on your lap if they are under two years old.
Tips for flying with your baby
Request a carrycot/bassinet from the airline
Some airlines will offer carrycots or special infant seats. These are great because they’re a comfy spot where hopefully your baby can get some sleep.
You’ll need to request these ahead of your flight but they can save you from having to bring your own car seat.
Choose your seats
Some airlines will let you pick your seat for free if you are travelling with a baby.
This can be really useful to ensure you are all travelling together and can help each other out with keeping the baby happy.
Check your airline’s requirements
If you want your baby to fly in their car seat then it’s important to check the one you have can be used for your airline.
Checking with the airline ahead of travel is essential.
Get baby used to room temperature food
Some airlines will warm milk and food for you on request, but just in case it’s sensible to get your baby used to having their food at room temperature.
This can be particularly handy if you’re stuck at the airport due to delays and have to feed them without access to a microwave.
Look at policies on car seats and strollers
If you are taking your car seat or stroller away with you for your trip then it’s handy to check what your airline’s policy is on these.
Many will let you check a stroller in for free. Some may let you take them on-board without it counting toward your carry-on limit. But this isn’t guaranteed so you may have to see when you check in.
Final thoughts
When it comes to flying abroad with your baby for the first time, you’ll find the experience easier once your baby is three months and older.
Taking them on holiday before they start weaning can also be a lot easier, as you won’t need to worry about taking their meals with you for the journey, just milk.
Happy travels!
