At What Age Can a Baby Travel by Plane?

If you want to know at what age a baby can travel by plane, you'll find all the answers you need in the following article.

Reviewed and approved by the teacher Samanta Ruiz.

Written by Samanta Ruiz

Last update: 27 December, 2022

If you have a family that loves to travel and a new baby has recently been born, then without a doubt, you’re anxious to know from at what age they can begin to travel by plane.

It’s great that you want to integrate your little one into family adventures, but you also need to do it the right way and safely. That’s why we want to help you so that you have the best information available. Take note!

When can we start traveling with the baby by plane?

Except for specific cases, there’s no contraindication for the newborn to travel on an airplane. But if it’s not absolutely necessary, it’s a good idea to avoid exposing them to any closed environment with many people, due to the risk of infections.

In the event that you have an urgent obligation and the journey’s short, you can travel with your baby on a plane once you’ve been discharged from giving birth. But to comply with this premise, you’re child must have been born at full term and be completely healthy.

It’s inadvisable to travel with babies that are premature or that have heart disease or respiratory diseases during the first month of life. This is due to the risks of secondary illnesses due to the variations in pressure and oxygen that occur within the aircraft cabin.

How to avoid earaches in babies when you travel by plane

All people who travel by plane have to deal with the strange sensation in their ears during take-off and landing. In the case of babies, you need to take certain measures in order to avoid this uncomfortable situation:

1. Ensure that the baby suckles in the case of sudden movements (take off, landing, turbulence): Either by holding them to your breast or by giving them a bottle or pacifier. The sucking movement helps to prevent the ears from clogging.
2. Make faces at the baby so that they imitate you: If the baby’s already paying attention to your face, another possible strategy is to play in order to make them imitate your gestures. Opening and closing the mouth achieves the same effect as with suction.

Other tips for traveling with your baby by plane

Before your travel by plane with your baby, we recommend keeping the following points in mind:

Bring a bottle of water

Babies become dehydrated quickly, due to the dry air and the heating of the plane. For this reason, if your baby’s old enough to drink water, then it’s essential that they do so at regular intervals throughout the flight. If your baby is under the age of 6 months, then you should offer to breastfeed or bottle-feed frequently.

Dress the baby in layers

Traveling by plane is beautiful, but at different stages of the flight, we experience different environments and at different temperatures. Therefore, it’s best to dress your little one in comfortable and layered clothing so that you’re able to remove or add clothing depending on the moment.

Carry-on luggage

Take diapers, a changing mat, and hygiene items for the baby with you in your carry-on luggage. Also, don’t forget their stuffed animal and their favorite blanket!

Does your child need their own seat?

This decision must be made when buying the ticket. Always check with the airline, as, in general, children under the age of two don’t pay for a ticket. These little ones don’t have an assigned seat and can travel sitting on their parents’ lap.

There’s also the option of ordering an empty seat where you can put your car seat. However, you should check this with the airline to find out if you need to buy an additional ticket. Although it’s more expensive, it’s the safest way to travel with the baby.

About Air Travel with Babies

Despite the information provided, before traveling with a baby by plane, you should consult with your pediatrician and the airline. This way, you can take the necessary precautions, both to preserve your health and to comply with the policy of the airline.

Now that you know at what age a baby can travel by plane, you just have to pack your bags and fully enjoy your first trip with your little one!