ou’ve patiently awaited your bundle of joy and finally they are here - you can’t wait to show them off! Or you have a family commitment that you can’t get out of. In either case, you may be facing travel with your baby long before you’re ready.
You are probably full of questions and anxieties about the trip ahead. Here are some answers to basic questions about airplane travel for your newborn to six month old. (Beyond six months, the advice changes as do the traveling challenges - crawling, teething, and packing real food all come into the picture.)
How young can I take my baby on an airplane?
Check with your airline for specific rules. Southwest Airlines, for example, requires a medical release for infants younger than 14 days but will allow them to travel.
Although the airline may allow it, air travel with an infant that early is not advisable. According to Dr. James Weidman, Pediatrician in West Hills, CA, you are better off waiting until the baby is at least 6 weeks old when their immune system is more likely to have “kicked in” or after their 2 month pediatrician visit where they receive their first vaccination.
Should I buy a separate seat or keep them on my lap?
This is a loaded question considering safety, cost, and ease of travel.
Safety while Traveling - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says the safest way to go is to secure the infant into a child restraint device (CRD) and strap them in their own seat instead of sitting the infant in your lap. If this is the way to go for you, you should know the following:
Not all car seats qualify as a CRD. "Any CRD must have both of the following labels: "This child restraint device conforms to all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards" and "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft."¹ Your car seat probably has both labels unless you have a large car seat. If your car seat is larger that 16” across the back, you should double check it’s appropriateness with your airline.
The FAA requires safety seats to occupy the window seat only and never in the emergency exit aisle. If you plan to travel on a full flight with your child in a car seat, make sure you are assigned the window seat and seat next to it. If you can’t get that online, call the airline directly. If you are flying an airline that doesn’t assign seats, arrive in time for early boarding.
Cost – A lap child is under 2 years old and sits on your lap instead of taking up a designated seat (thus the name). They travel free on most airlines that operate domestically.
If you decide to purchase a separate seat for your baby, many airlines offer a “child seat discount” off full-coach-fare. Beware, this is somewhat of a joke. When you book a ticket online, you are likely getting a discounted rate already. Full coach fare can be twice as high as the cost of an online discounted ticket. Therefore, even 50% off full coach fare could be more than the entire cost of your discounted ticket.
Confused? Consider traveling from Los Angeles to Las Vegas where you could pay $59 each way with an online discounted fare compared to $129 each way for a full coach fare. Assuming the “child seat discount” is 50%, the result would be $64.50 each way. That is more than it would cost if you just purchased another seat at the online discounted rate at $59 (which is what you should do!). You do not have to purchase a seat with the child’s discount; just make sure the airline knows the seat is for a child. If cost is a consideration, call your airline for details.
Ease of Travel – If you decide to skip the cost of an extra seat, traveling with a lap child in a baby carrier is much easier! You have hands free ability to get yourself settled, the child is more likely to sleep, and you don’t have as many worries about strapping in a bulky car seat. If you can, ask for a noisy seat (usually above the engines in the back) which will increase the chance that your baby will sleep the length of a short flight (usually 3 hours or less).
Another Option – For longer flights (international flights especially) there is another option. Check if your airline provides any special flying apparatus for babies. Some carriers have infant bassinets and will seat you in the bulkhead. It is easier to care for your baby if you have space to change diapers or clothes (although the person next to you might not appreciate the smell of a diaper change).
