What is the Best Age to Travel With A Baby?: A Guide from an Avid Traveler & Parent
The Big Question: What’s the Best Age to Travel with a Baby?
The best age to travel with a baby varies based on your priorities. Want a quiet, stress-free car ride or flight? The newborn phase (0–3 months) might work best. Hoping for a more interactive but still manageable experience? The “sweet spot” of 4–9 months could be ideal. Or are you ready to tackle the energetic toddler stage? That’s manageable too—with the right tools.
Instead of waiting for a “perfect” time, focus on preparation and flexibility. Every stage has challenges, but with the right strategies, any age can be the perfect age for your family to travel.
Flying with a Newborn (0–3 Months): Surprisingly Manageable
Many parents assume traveling with a newborn is too daunting, but this stage actually has some unique advantages.
Why It’s Great:
- Portability: Newborns are light, immobile, and often sleep for long stretches.
- Minimal Entertainment Needs: Babies at this age don’t require toys or screen time—they’re content with cuddles and milk.
- Cost Savings: Most airlines allow infants under 2 to fly for free on your lap or at a significantly reduced rate.
Challenges to Consider:
- Postpartum Recovery: Adjusting to parenthood and managing your own recovery can make travel feel overwhelming.
- Health Concerns: Newborns have developing immune systems, so you’ll need to be extra cautious in crowded places like airports.
Expert Tips:
- Nurse or bottle-feed during takeoff and landing to prevent ear discomfort from pressure changes.
- Use a wrap or baby carrier to keep your hands free while navigating airports.
- If your budget allows, it is sometimes easier to purchase a seat for your infant and bring a car seat for them to sleep. One thing to note, some airlines will not allow car seats to be in the middle or aisle as it blocks an exit path. We had to change rows and split our family of 4 in order to have our infant car seat in a window seat.
When baby D was three months old, we had to move across the country from California to Virginia for my partner’s job. I was nervous about exposing him to germs, breastfeeding ( I was still getting the hang of it) and also him crying the whole time. I cared less about making plane passengers annoyed by the crying and was more worried about my sensitive mama heart that struggles to hear him cry. Turns out, this would be the easiest flight- he slept the entire time and only woke up to nurse on take off and landing.
The Sweet Spot: 4–9 Months
In my opinion, this age earns the title of the “best age to travel with a child” and for good reason.
Why It’s Great:
- Less Mobile, More Engaged: Babies are generally not crawling yet, making them easy to manage while still curious about new surroundings.
- Established Routines: By this stage, many parents have found a rhythm with feeding and naps, making planning easier.
- Interactive but Not Overwhelming: Babies at this age enjoy observing their environment without needing constant stimulation.
Challenges to Consider:
- Teething Troubles: If your baby starts teething, you may need to pack teething toys and prepare for fussier behavior.
- Nap Challenges: Maintaining sleep routines in unfamiliar settings can be tricky.
Expert Tips:
- Pack a lightweight travel cot or SlumberPod to create a familiar, dark sleeping environment.
- Bring a few favorite toys or books to keep your baby entertained.
At 6 months old, our big kid C was the perfect travel companion. He loved the sights and sounds of the airport and happily napped in my arms during the flight while smiling and interacting with passengers. Our baby D has taken a number of road trips in the age and while I generally still think it’s the easiest age for flying, I do not think it’s the easiet age for driving trips. At this age, for driving trips, I often plan the bulk of driving time to be during nap time and also try to have two grown ups in the car so one can sit by baby. This is not always possible though and long car rides at this age are tough to manage for me. I’d recommend car trips that are less than 2 hours or ones that can be broken up with frequent stops to feed and play.
Flying with a Toddler (10–24 Months): High Energy, High Stakes
Toddlers bring a new level of complexity to travel, but the rewards can be just as high.
Why It’s Great:
- Curiosity in Overdrive: Toddlers love exploring and are often thrilled by the novelty of planes and airports. It’s fun to see their interactions with new experiences and surroundings during family travel.
- More Resilient Sleep Patterns: Many toddlers have transitioned to one nap, making it easier to plan travel schedules.
Challenges to Consider:
- Energy Management: Sitting still for extended periods can be challenging, leading to restlessness or tantrums.
- More Gear: Depending on your destination, you may still need to bring a travel crib, snacks, and toys to keep your toddler occupied.
Expert Tips:
- Bring plenty of snacks and interactive toys, like stickers, or books.
- Read our article Toddler Travel Sleep & Safety Essentials: 3 Must Haves for Simplified Family Travel
This age is the most challenging to travel with in my opinion. On a recent long flight with baby D at 10 months old, he was so wiggly and wanted to constantly crawl everywhere. On our 26 hour travel day, I had no choice but to let him crawl around on the airplort floors and airplane aisles even if it made me cringe thinking of all the germs.
When children are this age, I find that screens tend to not be attractive and people instead are the real form of entertainment. One story I will always remember is coming back from a vacation in Hawaii when C was 18 months old and he was so curious and excited to interact with passengers around him. At one point he tickled the sleeping passenger next to him in the armpit, while he giggled “tickle tickle” I can tell you with 100% certainty, she was not appreciative and glared at him (understandably so). I switched him to the aisle seat so he wouldn’t bother our sleepy neighbor and he escaped from his seat faster than I could unbuckle and untangle myself from my headphones. He ran tot he bulkhead where I found him playing catch with a bag of chips with some friendly, kid loving flight attendants before he ran off to wake up and wreak havoc on other sleeping passengers.
Preschool and Beyond: Confident, Independent Flyers
Preschoolers (3–5 years) bring a whole new level of excitement to travel.
Why It’s Great:
- Increased Independence: Preschoolers can carry their own small backpack with snacks or toys.
- Understanding and Anticipation: They can help with packing and enjoy learning about the destination, building excitement for the trip.
Challenges to Consider:
- Entertainment Needs: Long flights still require a well-stocked arsenal of activities.
- Transition Challenges: Adjusting to new time zones or environments can still be difficult.
Expert Tips:
- Pack a mix of comfort items (e.g., a favorite blanket) and travel-friendly toys.
- Talk to your child about the flight experience ahead of time to reduce anxiety.
- Consider safety options like the RideSafer Travel Vest for car trips or layovers that require driving.
When our big kid C was 4, we flew to Switzerland and Hungary. Both flights were long days of travel coming from the United States, but because we limit screen time on a day to day basis, unlimited screen time on a flight is extra exciting. Flying with C at this age was a breeze and even relaxing. It was the first time in awhile I could read a book and relax on a flight. Sure, he needs help with snacks, going to the bathroom, and tablet games, but overall, this is a much easier and relaxing age to fly with.
Universal Tips for All Ages
Regardless of your baby’s age, these strategies can help make flying easier:
- Choose the Right Seats: Bulkhead rows provide extra space, while aisle seats make diaper changes and aisle walks easier. For our family, if we travel with 2 adults and 2 kids, we like to split up with a row of 3 and then an adult across the aisle. We typically have our oldest by the window, baby in the middle and then the grown ups can easily switch off walking the aisles, going to the bathroom, or resting on long haul flights.
- Plan for Sleep: Bring portable cribs or blackout covers to recreate familiar sleep environments. Find our 2 must have sleep items in this post: Toddler Travel Sleep & Safety Essentials: 3 Must Haves for Simplified Family Travel
- Pack Smart: Include snacks, toys, diapers, and spare clothes for baby and you in your carry-on.
- Stay Flexible: Expect the unexpected—whether it’s a blowout diaper, a delayed flight, or a skipped nap.
Conclusion: There’s No Right Answer for the Best Age to Travel with Kids
So, what’s the best age to travel with a baby? The answer is the age your family feels ready. Each age comes with its own joys and challenges. Whether you’re braving the newborn stage, navigating toddler curiosity and meltdowns, or enjoying the independence of preschoolers, travel with kids offers opportunities for connection, growth, and unforgettable memories.
The key isn’t finding the “perfect” time but embracing the journey—with all its joys and challenges. So pack your bags, grab your little one, and prepare to create memories that will last a lifetime.
What age did you first travel with your baby? Share your stories and tips in the comments—I’d love to hear them!
