Flying With a Baby: Everything We Learned After 10+ Flights
From a six-week-old's first flight to long-haul international travel, here's what actually worked, what didn't, and what we'd do differently.
Flying With a Baby Isn't Relaxing... But It Isn't as Scary as You Think
If I had to describe flying with a baby in one sentence, it would be this:
It's the opposite of relaxing.
Someone always needs something. You're constantly entertaining, feeding, changing diapers, or trying to encourage a nap. By the time the plane lands, you probably won't feel like you've just had a relaxing flight.
But here's what surprised me...
It also wasn't nearly as scary as I expected.
Before Parker's first flight at just 6 weeks old, I spent weeks worrying about what everyone else on the plane would think if he cried. Now, after 10+ flights - including a long-haul trip to Thailand, domestic flights around Canada, and international travel to Panama, I can honestly say my biggest worry was also my biggest waste of energy.
People were kinder than I ever expected. Flight attendants were incredible. Other passengers offered to help with bags, grabbed things I couldn't reach while holding Parker, and encouraged me when I was travelling solo.
If you're feeling nervous about your baby's first flight, I hope this article helps you skip some of the stress I created for myself.
Before You Book
One question I get asked all the time is whether it's worth buying a seat for your baby. For us, the answer has always been no. Parker has flown as a lap infant on every flight. Would having his own seat be more comfortable? Absolutely. Would I spend the extra money? Probably not.
Airfare is already one of the biggest travel expenses, and we'd much rather put that money toward another trip. If budget isn't a concern, an extra seat would certainly make long flights easier. But if paying for one means not travelling at all, I'd choose the lap infant option every time.
💡 Little Parker Tip: Don't let the lack of an extra seat stop you from travelling. Millions of families successfully travel with lap infants every year.
Choosing Flights
One thing that might surprise you...we never tried to plan flights around naps. Sometimes they lined up. Sometimes they didn't. Babies have a funny way of ignoring our carefully made plans anyway.
What mattered much more was where we sat. We almost always choose an aisle seat. Being able to quickly get up without asking strangers to move has been incredibly helpful. If possible, we also try to sit near the galley or bathrooms. Not because it's quieter... Quite the opposite. Those areas usually give you somewhere to stand and bounce your baby if they're getting restless without blocking the aisle.
Bassinet or No Bassinet?
We've only used an airplane bassinet once. It was nice...but probably not for the reason you'd expect. Parker wasn't allowed to sit up in it, so we couldn't use it while he was awake. Where it really helped was during meals. Having somewhere safe to lay him down for a few minutes meant we could actually enjoy a hot meal and hold a drink without juggling everything in our laps.
Would I specifically book a bassinet again?
If it was available, absolutely.
Would I pay extra for it?
Probably not.
Before You Leave Home
The easiest part of flying starts before you even leave for the airport. We always make sure everything is completely packed the night before. The last thing you want on travel day is running around looking for a forgotten soother or charging cable while trying to get everyone out the door.
We usually arrive about 90 minutes before departure, and honestly, traveling with a baby has often made airport security faster rather than slower. Most airports have family lanes, and we've consistently found staff to be patient and incredibly helpful. That was one of our biggest surprises.
💡 Little Parker Tip: If your airport has a family security lane, use it. Our experience has actually been smoother with Parker than before we had him.
What We Carry Through the Airport
We've naturally fallen into a routine. I carry Parker and the diaper bag. Chris carries our main carry-on. That way, everything Parker needs stays with me, while the heavier luggage is someone else's problem. We also carry both a diaper bag and a backpack. The backpack holds our travel gear. The diaper bag holds everything we'd need during the flight. Inside the diaper bag is one item I'd never fly without again...
The Mini Airplane Diaper Kit
Changing a diaper in an airplane bathroom isn't difficult. It's just... small. Really small.
Instead of bringing the entire diaper bag into the bathroom every time, we keep a small waterproof wet/dry bag packed with:
One diaper
A small pack of wipes
A portable changing pad
That's it.
When it's time for a diaper change, I grab one small bag instead of dragging everything through the cabin. It's one of those tiny changes that makes flying feel much easier.
💡 Little Parker Tip: Think of your diaper bag like a suitcase. Pack smaller bags inside it for different jobs so you're never digging around while holding a baby.
What We Actually Packed Too Much Of
I packed entertainment for myself.
Books.
Things to read.
Things to watch.
I don't think I touched any of them.
Flying with a baby is surprisingly busy. When Parker was awake, I was entertaining him. When Parker was asleep, I was usually eating, drinking some water, or just enjoying having two free hands for a few minutes.
Now I save the packing space for snacks instead.
Takeoff & Landing
If you've spent any time Googling "flying with a baby," you've probably seen the same advice over and over again:
Feed your baby during takeoff and landing to help with the pressure changes.
We followed that advice when the timing worked. If Parker was hungry, I'd breastfeed during takeoff. If he wasn't? A soother worked just as well.
Thankfully, he's never seemed bothered by the pressure in his ears, and we've never had any issues with takeoffs or landings. I know it's something a lot of parents worry about, but in our experience, it ended up being a complete non-issue.
💡 Little Parker Tip: Don't stress if feeding doesn't line up perfectly with takeoff. A pacifier or soother can work just as well.
Sleep on the Plane
One thing we learned pretty quickly... you can't force sleep on an airplane. Sometimes Parker would fall asleep almost as soon as the engines started. The steady white noise was surprisingly good at helping him settle. Other times? He'd happily stay awake for five or six hours.
Babies don't seem to care that you've booked an overnight flight. They'll sleep when they're ready.
Over our flights we've done just about every sleeping arrangement possible. Sometimes he slept in our arms. Sometimes in the airplane bassinet. Sometimes in the carrier. And occasionally we'd manage the world's slowest, most careful transfer after he finally drifted off.
Those transfers felt like defusing a bomb. Move too quickly... start over.
Keeping a Baby Entertained for Hours
This was, without question, the hardest part of flying. Keeping an increasingly curious baby entertained for hours in the same seat.
Some things were huge successes.
Things Parker loved
✔ Teethers
✔ Toys with lots of different activities (buttons, switches, spinning parts)
✔ Plastic cups
✔ The airplane safety card
✔ Watching people walk by
Sometimes the most entertaining toy on the plane wasn't actually a toy. It was whatever happened to be sitting in front of him.
💡 Little Parker Tip: Bring fewer toys than you think you need, but make sure the ones you bring have lots of different ways to play.
When Nothing Worked...
Sometimes... nothing worked.
We'd walk the aisle. Sit back down. Immediately stand back up again. There were flights where Parker was perfectly happy, as long as I was walking. The second I sat down... the crying started.
Those moments were exhausting.
On one particularly difficult flight, we eventually let him watch TV without the sound for a little while.
Was it something we planned to do? No.
Did it help? Absolutely.
Sometimes surviving the flight is more important than sticking perfectly to your normal routine.
Baby Meals
One thing that pleasantly surprised us was the baby meals. On longer flights, we requested them ahead of time. They usually included baby food pouches and jars, and were delivered before takeoff in their own little bag.
The only downside? Pouches can become surprisingly messy if your little helper decides to squeeze instead of eat.
His favourite airplane snacks became simple foods he could feed himself.
Puffed cereal
Baby crackers
They kept him busy, were easy to clean up, and bought us a few peaceful minutes when we needed them.
Airplane Bathrooms Are Tiny... But They're Fine
Airplane bathrooms are exactly what you'd expect. Small. Really small. But honestly? Diaper changes were much easier than I expected. Having our little diaper kit meant we weren't dragging an entire diaper bag into the bathroom every time.
The only truly memorable bathroom experience happened on my very first solo flight with Parker. I suddenly realized... I needed to use the toilet. There was nobody to hand him to. So... I laid him safely on the fold-down changing table above the toilet... and used the bathroom underneath him.
Was it elegant? Not even a little. Did it work? Yes. Looking back, I probably could have kept him safely in the carrier instead, but in the moment you just figure it out. That's parenting.
What If Your Baby Cries?
Let's talk about the thing almost every parent worries about.
Before Parker's first flight, I was convinced everyone on the plane would be annoyed if he cried. The reality couldn't have been more different. Has he cried? Of course. Usually because he was bored. Sometimes because he wanted to move. But the reaction from other passengers has consistently surprised me.
People smiled.
They encouraged us.
They offered help.
When I travelled alone, strangers grabbed bags, passed me items, and made the trip feel much easier than I expected. The flight attendants have also been incredible every single time we've flown.
❤️ The biggest lesson I learned wasn't how to calm a crying baby.
It was realizing that most people are far kinder than I gave them credit for.
One thing I kept reminding myself was this:
People are entitled to a child-free life - not a child-free world.
Babies are allowed to exist in public spaces, including airplanes. If someone wants complete silence, noise-cancelling headphones have never been easier to find.
Don't let the fear of bothering strangers stop your family from exploring the world.
After Landing
After every flight, our routine is pretty simple. Parker goes straight into the carrier. Having both hands free makes collecting luggage, finding transportation, and navigating a new airport so much easier.
When we travel internationally, we also try to book accommodation close to the airport for the first night whenever possible. After a long travel day, the last thing you want is another complicated three-hour journey. Even better if the hotel offers airport transportation.
As for jet lag... we didn't overthink it. We followed Parker's cues, let him nap when he needed to, and within a couple of days he usually adjusted faster than we did.
Things We'd Never Fly Without Again
After around ten flights, these are the items that have earned a permanent spot in our carry-on.
⭐ Baby carrier
⭐ Mini diaper bag
⭐ Wet/dry bag
⭐ Soother clip
⭐ Teethers
⭐ Puffed cereal & crackers
⭐ Multi-activity toy
⭐ Two spare outfits
⭐ Snacks for the adults
Things We'd Pack Less Of
Flying has taught us that more isn't always better.
Next time we'd happily leave behind:
❌ Books for ourselves
❌ Too many toys
❌ Lots of random "just in case" items
Instead, we'd pack a few versatile toys, lots of snacks, and organize everything into smaller pouches so it's easy to grab exactly what you need.
Final Thoughts
When Parker boarded his first flight at just six weeks old, I was convinced the hardest part would be everyone else's reactions. I couldn't have been more wrong. The hardest part wasn't the crying. It wasn't diaper changes. It wasn't security. It was simply accepting that flying with a baby is busy.
It's not a holiday. It's parenting in a very small space at 35,000 feet.
But it's also completely worth it. Watching Parker experience new places, adapt so easily, and become such a confident little traveller has made every long flight, every delayed nap, and every lap around the cabin worthwhile.
If I could go back and tell myself one thing before that first flight, it would simply be this:
Babies fly every single day. Yours can too.
You don't need to wait until they're older. You don't need to be the "perfect" travelling family. You just need to be willing to start.
