First Time Flying with a Baby? Here’s What You Need to Know!

Flying with a baby can feel overwhelming—especially the first time. Our son Y’s first long-distance flight was at 9 months old, and it was far from smooth. But in hindsight, it turned out to be a fun and memorable trip, especially for the grandparents who cherished every moment with him. By the time we took his second flight at 15 months, things were a lot better—and so much less stressful.

Whether you’re a first-time parent or planning your next family vacation, I hope our experiences help make your journey easier.

Start Small Before Going Big 

Before flying to Japan, we did a trial trip to Desaru, Malaysia. That short getaway helped us test what worked for Y and what didn’t—without the pressure of being far from home. I highly recommend a short trip as a practice run before your first international flight.

Booking Your Baby’s Flight: What to Know

Choose Flights That Align with Sleep Time

We booked red-eye flights, hoping Y would sleep onboard—and he did. On our return flight, we couldn’t get an overnight slot, so we chose a morning departure. Thankfully, he napped during the flight, which helped a lot.

Reserve a Bassinet Early

Once you book your tickets, call the airline immediately to reserve a bassinet. Even if you don’t use it, the extra legroom is a lifesaver. Also, request baby food in advance—it won’t be provided unless pre-booked.

Seat Placement Matters

Window seats offer more privacy and a place to lean, while aisle seats give easier access for walks. If you’re right-handed like me, a left-side window seat made feeding and handling Y more comfortable.

What to Bring Onboard (And What to Skip)

Must-Haves

• Baby Carrier: Great for hands-free movement. We used a regular one at 9 months and a hip seat carrier at 15 months.

• Stroller: We gate-checked ours and used it as a trolley. Most airlines check strollers and car seats for free.  Check with your airline/airport for their policy. We brought our stroller to the gate and used it as a trolley when Y wasn’t sitting in it. Traveling with elderly parents and a toddler requires a lot of effort!

• Cabin-Size Ride-On Luggage: We brought a mia-milly cabin-size luggage on our second trip, and it was a lifesaver. Y was active, and the luggage kept him entertained. Plus, we could wheel the essentials instead of hand-carrying them. Plus, it was a great help during hotel check in. 

• Milk, Bottles, and Food: Thermal flask with hot water, pre-packed formula, easy snacks, and comfort foods like fruits. A thermal flask filled with hot water is allowed as a carry-on item. We brought a 1 litre thermal flask enough hot water for a day’s supply of milk and packed milk powder into individual packets for easy access. 

  Besides milk, we brought some comfort foods like fruits to keep him occupied during take off. We also brought food pouches, though he wasn’t a fan. Be sure to finish fresh food items before entering your destination country, as many countries have restrictions on bringing fresh produce.

  
  

  I started weaning Y at 6 months and stopped breastfeeding before the trip. If your baby is still breastfeeding, don’t forget your pump and essentials.

• Spare Clothes & Diapers: Bring at least three sets of clothes and a day’s supply of diapers. Pack plastic bags for dirty clothes and diapers. Don’t forget bibs, burp cloths, and a nursing cover if needed. Bring a jacket for layering and adjusting to cabin temperature changes. For winter,  store your toddler winter jacket along. Some airport do not have have direct access to the airport and you might have to use air bridge and shuttle bus to the terminal. When we visited Busan, we had to take a connecting shuttle bus to the terminal. It was cold and thankfully we had ours. 

• Wipes & Sanitizer: Bring multi-purpose wipes, baby wipes, and sanitizer. I wipe down all surfaces as soon as we board.

• Medication Kit: Ours includes Ru Yi oil, Paracetamol, Zyrtec, Baby patches breathe easy patches, and thermometer. Despite these item takes up space, it is essential during long flight. we carried ours no matter how long the flight is. 

• Toys & Comfort Items: Bring a mix of toys, but don’t overpack—Y preferred the plane's safety card and snack containers. His blanket and pillow gave him comfort and helped with sleep.

In Checked Luggage

• Portable sterilizer, bottle brush, and detergent. 

• Electric kettle (not all hotels provide hot water). We brought our own electric kettle to boil our own hot water. On some days, we filled a large thermal flask with hot water from the hotel restaurant, though not all hotels offer this service. If you are travelling to countries without much food option, consider bringing a cooker too! 

• Extra sterilizing tablets and waterproof bags

• Optional: a small cooker if you're headed somewhere with limited food option

Things I Regret Bringing

  Bulky Baby Plates and Utensils:

 I didn’t use any of these because airline provides kids meal and utensils. 

·       Too Many Toys:
I bought several toys based on online recommendations, but Y got bored of them quickly. He was more interested in random plastic containers.

·       Too Much Snack
I had a bag full of snacks because i don't know what he likes the most and they take up space! The next time i would just bring a few and keep the rest in the check-in luggage

Before Setting Off to the Airport

• Dress your baby in layers for temperature changes.

• Change diapers before heading to the gate.

• Plan feeding for takeoff and landing—it helps ease ear pressure.

At the Airport

• Arrive early: Give yourself buffer time for check-in, security, and diaper changes.

• Burn off energy: Y was wide awake before our 1 a.m. flight, so we arrived early to let him play and tire out.

• Plan Your Airport Itinerary Give yourself plenty of time to check in, go through security, and get to your gate without rushing. Consider whether your baby needs to burn off energy before the flight or if they are a deep sleeper. Our flight was at 1 a.m. Y followed his usual routine, sleeping around 8 p.m. We fed him, changed his diaper, and set off around 10:30 p.m. We reach the airport 2.5 hours before the flight. He was wide awake during the car ride and remained excited once we arrived. Thankfully, we had time for him to burn off some energy before boarding.

During the Flight

During the Flight

Takeoff & Landing

Feed your baby (milk, snack, juice, or pacifier) to ease ear pressure. On Y’s first trip, he finished his bottle of milk before takeoff, which made him uncomfortable. Lesson learned: hide the bottle until it’s time or when you hear the annoucement " Cabin crew, ready for take off"   On his second trip, I gave him unlimited blueberries before and during takeoff and it works like a magic.

Feeding & Sleep

Have bottles ready and easily accessible. Pre-mix formula, or use a portable milk warmer. If your baby sleeps through the night, great! If not, have bottles and milk powder easily accessible. If the water is too hot, pour some into the bottle to cool it down, then add the hot water when needed. You might also consider a portable milk warmer.

Activities

Y loved playing with keys and poking holes. I brought coloring books and magnetic blocks—but honestly, he was more fascinated by the emergency card. I allowed unlimited screen time, though he wasn’t interested. Travel rules don’t apply the same way—adjusting expectations helped us stay sane.

Top Tip: Forget the rules you have at home! Y even got to finish a small packet of fruit juice!

Every baby is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. What worked for us might not work for you—and that’s okay. For us, six hours is the maximum flight time we’re comfortable with at this age. If your trip is longer, consider adding a layover.

The flight is honestly the hardest part. But once you get through it, everything else is much smoother. You've got this! It will get easier each time! I hope this guide helps make your journey less stressful and more joyful.

The flight is the most challenging part of any trip. Once you survive the flight, everything else will fall into place! Good luck to all parents! We’ve got this! We have two more trips to go before Y turns 2 years old. Hope this helps!