Handling infant children is already a medal-worthy challenge, but travelling away from home on airlines with tiny people certainly adds to this stress of the trip. Simply pack up and go just got much more complicated! It’s safe to assume that your primary concern is being able to transport your precious infant safely and reduce anxiety and discomfort as much as possible – for both of you! While airline policies for infant travel can vary, we’ve highlighted a few things you should consider before booking your next air trip:

Seating:

• If your infant is under two years of age, you will be permitted to hold them on your lap while flying and not need to book a separate seat. Some airlines don’t charge, while others levy a fee – usually 10%, so check with your chosen airline when booking. You will be provided with a seat belt extension for you and baby if this is your chosen option, but to avoid delays and frustration, make sure you stipulate this request when reserving your ticket.
• You are only allowed to hold one infant on your lap. If you have more than one infant, you will need to book a separate seat for every additional child. Check the airline policy to meet the minimum accompanying adult requirement for more than one infant.
• Booking a bassinet for your baby is first prize, but this absolutely must be done when you are booking and not on arrival at the airport, as these are not always available. As a rule, a bassinet is only allowed for newborns up to 2 years of age and has a weight limit of up to around 9kg.
• If you book a separate seat for your infant, then they will have to be seated in a specially approved carrier for this purpose. Most airlines do not provide these, so check with the airline to make sure that the seat you will be bringing is the correct seat. If it’s not, you may be prevented from flying.

Luggage:

• Strollers and car seats generally don’t count as luggage, but check this with your airline. Take measurements and ask specifically what their policy is regarding prams on board. You also might be allowed to check these in at the check-in gate to avoid possible damage that comes with leaving luggage “behind the scenes” for long periods.
• Infants travelling on their parents’ laps don’t qualify for their own luggage allowance.
• If you’ve booked your baby its own seat, then you will bring your approved car seat on board.

Meals:

• It’s always advisable to provide your own infant food and formula. These items often don’t need to meet the onboard liquid criteria stipulated by airlines. Again – check this with your airline prior to your flight date.
• Some airlines offer infant meal options on long international flights, but you will need to advise the airline at least 24 hours in advance.
• Ask the airline crew to assist with the warming of formula or meals where necessary.

Some extra sanity savers:

• While the minimum age for infants to be able to board commercial flights is only about 7 days, it is worth considering that the crowds in airports and closed spaces in planes can increase your infant’s exposure to infectious diseases at a young age. It’s not always possible, but try to delay flying until your baby is a couple of months old.
• If your infant is unwell, make sure you’ve checked in with your doctor to make sure it’s appropriate for them to fly.
• Factor in unexpected delays on board and pack enough infant food, medicines and hygiene supplies for this possibility. No need to say any more about the implications of no fresh diapers or a hungry little tummy!