What is the best age to travel with a baby?

The best time to fly with kids While you can't always fly at the optimal time (based on your child's age, that is), it's great when you can. The best times, most agree, are between three and nine months, when kids aren't yet mobile, and any time after age two or three.



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9-12 Month Olds At about the time your child starts to crawl in the last few months of the first year, things may start to get a bit more challenging. If your child is active, he or she may want to spend the flight squirming out of your arms and crawling in the aisles.

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Most international flights allow children under 2 to fly as lap children, but with one big difference — it's usually not 100% free. Typically, if you're flying on a revenue ticket, you must pay the taxes and fees for your lap infant plus, in some cases, 10% of the fare.

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Air travel with newborn The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against any unnecessary air travel for babies shortly after birth. Air travel increases a newborn's risk of catching an infectious disease. Babies born prematurely may have problems with the change in oxygen level within the air cabin.

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It's so much cheaper than when they're older: We are all about the rule that most airlines don't make you purchase a second seat until your child is 2 years old. Besides flying, traveling with babies is also cheaper because you don't have to pay for additional meals, beds or entrance fees.

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Still, infants aren't as fragile as parents sometimes fear. And by 2 months old, babies are pretty good candidates for travel, as long as the trip is low-key. They feel at home as long as they're close to you. Plus, they can't run around and get into trouble yet!

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For kids (especially babies and young children), it can feel especially odd and even be scary at first. But it's a common, normal part of flying. This sometimes uncomfortable sensation is related to pressure changes in the air space behind the eardrum (the middle ear).

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If the pressure isn't equalized, the higher air pressure pushes on one side of the eardrum and causes pain. That's why so many babies cry during those last few minutes of the flight, as the air pressure in the cabin increases as the plane prepares to land.

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Helping children prevent airplane ear
  • Encourage swallowing. Give a baby or toddler a bottle to suck on during ascents and descents to encourage frequent swallowing. A pacifier also might help. Have the child sit up while drinking. ...
  • Avoid decongestants. Decongestants aren't recommended for young children.


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However, infant healthcare professionals, safety experts and most car manufacturers recommend that babies should not be in a car seat for longer than 2 hours at a time and they should be taken out frequently. If your trip involves driving for long periods of time, you should stop for regular breaks.

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