How long can a baby be to fly?

In general, doctors recommend you wait to fly until your baby's immune system is better developed. This could be as soon as one month for full-term infants, though most doctors recommend anywhere between three months and six months.



There is no universal "maximum length" for a baby to fly, but there are strict physical limits if you plan to use an airline-provided infant bassinet. Most airlines, such as British Airways, Delta, or Emirates, restrict bassinet use to infants who are no longer than 29 to 30 inches (74–75 cm) and weigh less than 22 to 25 pounds (10–11 kg). If your baby exceeds these dimensions, they will not fit safely in the wall-mounted cot. In terms of age, babies can fly as early as 7 days old (with some airlines allowing 2 days with a doctor's note), but once they reach their second birthday, they are no longer permitted to fly as a "lap child" and must have their own purchased seat. For tall or older babies, many parents prefer to bring an FAA-approved car seat, which provides a familiar and safe environment regardless of the child's length, provided the car seat fits within the standard 17-inch aircraft seat width.

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Every US citizen, regardless of age, must have a passport to travel abroad. Newborn babies, infants, and toddlers all need a passport to leave and enter another country.

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Instead, you can use their birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or other documentation that identifies them. When crossing state lines, you may need to provide sufficient proof of your relationship with the infant.

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Additional infants under 2 years old must be ticketed and occupy an infant safety seat or in a separate aircraft seat. The infant must be under 2 years of age for the duration of the trip. If they turn 2 during a trip, they will need their own seat for the remainder of the trip.

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Young babies have not developed the ability to regularize their ear pressure by yawning or swallowing, so they don't know how to relieve the abrupt changes in pressure when the plane is taking off or landing. To prevent ear pain and discomfort, babies should wear ear protection whenever they're travelling on a plane.

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A pacifier might ease discomfort during flights. Babies can't intentionally pop their ears by swallowing or yawning to relieve ear pain caused by air pressure changes. Sucking on a pacifier might help.

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For small infants, feeding can help, as the sucking and swallowing can help to equalize pressure more quickly. Encourage older kids to take small bites of a snack, sips of a drink with a straw, or keep chewing gum throughout takeoff and landing to help equalize the pressure.

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In general, doctors recommend you wait to fly until your baby's immune system is better developed. This could be as soon as one month for full-term infants, though most doctors recommend anywhere between three months and six months.

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An infant is considered fit to fly if:
  • You can produce a passenger medical form, also known as a medical release for travel, signed by a physician stating that the baby is healthy enough to fly.
  • You have a copy of the baby's birth certificate as proof of age.


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U.S. law requires all travelers, regardless of citizenship, age or destination, to hold a secure document such as a passport to depart the United States by air. While it is not required to have a passport to make flight reservations, it is strongly recommended.

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He recommends traveling with the child's birth certificate and passport, as well as a handful of documents that only a parent would have, such as a school report card or health records, which can go a long way in defusing suspicion at a security checkpoint.

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