Flying Safely with Infants
Flying with an infant is generally safe for healthy babies, but although very rare, inflight deaths can occur. They are most likely on very long flights and can occur unrelated to a crash or turbulence. There are several medical, safety, and comfort risks that can be reduced with careful planning.

Main risks

• Ear pain and discomfort
  Rapid cabin‑pressure changes can cause painful ear “popping” in infants who can’t equalize pressure well.
• Infection and illness
  Airports and planes are crowded and expose infants to germs; babies have immature immune systems and can get sick more easily.
• Injury from turbulence or movement
  Unrestrained infants on laps can be thrown about during turbulence or hard landings; studies show unrestrained infants have a much higher injury and mortality risk in crashes.
• Dehydration and feeding issues
  Dry cabin air and long flights can lead to dehydration; changes in routine may disrupt feeding and sleep.
• Underlying medical conditions
  Premature babies or those with heart, lung, or sickle‑cell disease may have trouble with lower cabin oxygen levels.

How to minimize medical risks

• Check your baby’s health first
• Avoid flying in the first 7 days of life; many pediatricians recommend waiting until 2–3 months if possible.
• Ask your pediatrician about flying if your baby was premature or has heart/lung problems, or if they are currently sick.
• Reduce infection risk
• Use hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes on tray tables, armrests, and high‑touch surfaces.
• Breastfeed or bottle‑feed during takeoff and landing to help with ear pressure and keep baby hydrated.

How to reduce safety risks

• Use an approved child restraint
• It is understandable that parents may be reluctant to purchase an additional seat for a baby or drag around a car seat on a trip. However, researchers note that there is an increased risk of death for an infant when sleeping in the same seat as an adult––perhaps from accidental compression and suffocation or sleeping on their stomach rather than the recommended position on their back. The safest place for an infant is in an FAA‑approved car seat or airplane harness, properly installed with the plane’s seat belt. This is especially important for babies under the age of two. See Timely Topic: Sleep Safety for Infants.
• Avoid holding the baby on your lap or using a baby carrier during takeoff, landing, and turbulence.
• Manage turbulence and movement
• Keep baby buckled whenever seated; avoid bassinets once baby can sit or roll.
• Choose window seats to reduce exposure to service carts and falling luggage.

Comfort and logistics tips

• Timing and routine
• Fly when your baby usually naps or sleeps, if possible.
• Bring familiar toys, books, or a small tablet (for older infants) to help with boredom.
• Packing essentials
• Extra diapers, wipes, clothes, blankets, and feeding supplies (formula, bottles, or pump parts) in case of delays.
• Dress baby in layers so you can adjust for warm or cold cabin temperatures.

What FAA-approved child safety seats work on planes

Several types of FAA-approved child safety seats work on planes, but they must be clearly labeled as certified for aircraft use and installed correctly in a forward-facing seat.

What “FAA-approved” means

• The seat must have a label that says something like “This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft” (or similar wording).
• It must be used in the forward-facing direction on the plane, according to the manufacturer’s instructions, even if it can be rear-facing in a car.

Types of FAA-approved seats that work

• Infant car seats (0-1 year or so)

Examples of commonly used FAA-approved infant seats include:

• UPPAbaby Mesa / Mesa V2 / MESA MAX
• UPPAbaby Aria
• Clek Liingo
• Cybex Aton G / Cloud G Lux
• Maxi-Cosi Peri / Aton-style seats
• Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 (approved without the base)
  
  
• Convertible car seats (infant–toddler, rear- or forward-facing in car) Many popular convertible seats are FAA-approved for use on planes in 5-point-harness mode, such as:

• Nuna Rava
• UPPAbaby Rove
• Britax Poplar
• Diono Radian 3R
• Clek Fllo
• Maxi‑Cosi Pria Chill
• Cybex Eternis S (only in 5‑point harness, not booster mode)
  
  
• Special-needs and adaptive seats
  Some adaptive car-seat systems (e.g., Special Tomato MPS) are also FAA-approved for aircraft use.
  
  
• Harness-only option: CARES
  The CARES Child Aviation Restraint System is an FAA‑approvedharness that attaches to the airplane seat belt; it is not a car seat and is only for children 22-44 lb and up to about 40 in tall who can sit upright alone.