Can You Bring a Baby on a Plane?
QUICK ANSWER
Yes, you can bring a baby on a plane. Most airlines allow infants as young as a few days to two weeks old. A baby under two can fly free on your lap or in a purchased seat with a car seat, which is safer. Formula and breast milk are exempt from the 3-1-1 rule.
Flying with a baby is completely allowed, and airlines carry infants every day. The questions parents actually have are about seats, what you can bring, and getting through security with a little one. Here is how flying with a baby works, from the age rules to the extra liquids you are allowed for feeding.
Can you bring a baby on a plane?
Yes, babies can fly, and there is no rule against traveling with an infant. Most airlines allow babies to fly as young as a few days to two weeks old, and some ask for a doctor's note for a newborn under about seven days. For a domestic flight, a baby usually does not need identification, though it is smart to carry a birth certificate to prove age for a lap infant. For international travel, a baby needs a passport just like any other traveler. Beyond that, the TSA makes traveling with a baby easier by exempting baby feeding supplies from the usual liquid limits, which we cover below.
Does a baby need their own seat?
Not always, but it is the safest option. A child under two can fly as a lap infant, held by an adult, which is free on most domestic flights and typically about 10 percent of the fare plus taxes on international ones. Alternatively, you can buy a seat for the baby and secure them in an FAA-approved car seat, which the FAA strongly recommends because a lap-held infant is not protected during turbulence. To use a car seat onboard, it must be labeled for aircraft use and fit the airplane seat. Many parents choose a purchased seat with a car seat for longer flights, both for safety and because the baby often sleeps better in a familiar seat.
What can you bring for a baby?
More than the usual liquid rules allow, which is the biggest help for parents. Formula, breast milk, and juice for the baby are exempt from the 3-1-1 rule; you can bring reasonable quantities over 3.4 ounces in your carry-on, and you do not even need to be traveling with the child to carry breast milk. Just remove these from your bag and tell the officer so they can be screened separately. Ice packs and gel packs to keep them cold are allowed too. You can also bring baby food, water for mixing formula, diapers, wipes, and a diaper bag. A stroller and a car seat can be gate-checked for free, so they stay with you until you board.
How does airport security work with a baby?
It is a straightforward routine. You carry your baby through the metal detector; babies are never sent through the X-ray or asked to be put down on the belt. If you are wearing the baby in a carrier, an officer may ask to swab your hands or do a quick additional check, since you cannot be asked to remove the child. Send the stroller, car seat, and diaper bag through the X-ray, folding the stroller if it fits. Declare formula, breast milk, and juice for separate screening. Give yourself extra time, since traveling with a baby and its gear naturally takes longer, and consider TSA PreCheck for families to smooth the process.
Yes, you can bring a baby on a plane. Most airlines allow infants within days or weeks of birth, and a child under two can fly free on your lap or, more safely, in a purchased seat with an FAA-approved car seat. Formula and breast milk are exempt from the 3-1-1 rule, and strollers and car seats gate-check for free.
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