Flying With a Baby: Car Seats, the FAA Rules, and Gear That Fits (2026)

Flying with a baby for the first time raises the same questions for most parents. Does the baby need a seat? Can you bring the car seat on board? Which seats are allowed? And what happens to the formula at security?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) answer most of these directly. This guide sets out what they say, then compares light car seats, bags and travel strollers for the trip. Every pick is sold by Amazon.com. We chose them from their listings and did not test them. Prices are the regular list price.

Flying With a Baby: The Short Version

Lap Child or Own Seat?

The FAA's rules let a child under 2 fly on an adult's lap. Its advisory circular on child restraint systems (AC 120-87C) says that during takeoff, landing and movement on the surface, "a child under the age of two may be held in an adult's lap."

Allowed isn't the same as safest. The FAA's child safety flyer for parents says: "The safest place on an airplane for children under 2 years is in an approved child car seat or device based on the child's weight." It suggests you consider purchasing a ticket for your child so you can use one. The AAP's holiday travel tips add that though airlines allow children under 2 to sit in an adult's lap, little ones can get hurt during turbulence.

Key point: if you buy the child a ticket, the airline can't refuse an approved car seat. AC 120-87C says no aircraft operator may prohibit a child from using an approved child restraint when the parent or guardian buys a seat for the child. If the seat doesn't fit the assigned seat, the airline must accommodate it in another seat in the same class of service.

The Label That Makes a Car Seat FAA-Approved

The FAA says to look for the required label: "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft." Find it on your seat before you book, not at the gate.

The FAA flyer also says baby carriers, booster seats and backless child restraints are not allowed during ground movement, takeoff or landing. AC 120-87C explains why: in FAA testing, booster seats could expose a child to abdominal injury from the seat back breaking over and an adult seated behind.

In our convertible car seats guide, Chicco says the Fit360 is FAA certified for aircraft use, and the UPPAbaby Rove's listing says it is FAA certified. Those are big seats for daily use in the car. For flying, a lighter seat is easier to carry.

Light Car Seats for Flying

The Graco Contender Slim ($189.99) is the one pick here whose listing says it is "certified for aircraft use." It rear-faces from 5 to 40 lb and forward-faces with a harness from 26.5 to 65 lb, per Graco, and the listing gives its weight as 16 lb.

The Safety 1st Ellaris ($99.99) is lighter, at 12 lb per the listing, and costs about half as much. Its listing calls it "airplane ready" with a compact design for travel. It doesn't quote the FAA label wording, so check the label on the seat you receive before you rely on it for a flight. It rear-faces from 5 to 40 lb and forward-faces from 30 to 65 lb, per Safety 1st.

Pro tip: measure the seat's width and compare it with your airline's seat width. AC 120-87C says airlines operating under part 121 must publish the width of their narrowest and widest passenger seats in each class of service on their websites, to help you work out whether a child restraint will fit.

The FAA flyer points to NHTSA's rear-facing advice: it says NHTSA recommends that children remain in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for securing it in an airplane seat. The NHTSA car seat guide explains the car seat stages by age and size.

The CARES Harness for Toddlers

Once a child weighs at least 22 lb, there's an alternative to carrying a car seat on board. The FAA flyer says: "AmSafe's CARES device is FAA-certified for children who are up to 40 inches tall and who weigh between 22 and 44 pounds." It's a harness with a strap that goes around the airplane seat back, per AC 120-87C, so it weighs far less than a car seat.

The limits matter. AC 120-87C says vest- and harness-type devices that attach the child to the parent, the parent's restraint system or the aircraft seatbelt are prohibited during ground movement, takeoff and landing, unless the FAA has approved them. Many harnesses sold online look like CARES but aren't approved. AC 120-87C says the AmSafe CARES device (Part No. 4082) is the only device that may bear a label showing FAA approval under 14 CFR § 21.8. We haven't listed a CARES product because we couldn't confirm that the Amazon seller is the maker, so buy one from its maker and check for that label.

Remember that CARES is for the plane only. You still need a car seat at your destination.

Where the Car Seat Goes on the Plane

The FAA flyer says car seats generally must be installed in a window seat, cannot be placed in an exit row, and must not block an escape path in an emergency. It also says to check with your airline before your flight to make sure your family is seated together and that your car seat is suitable for air travel.

One detail catches parents out. AC 120-87C says some airplane seats have inflatable seat belts, and that a seat belt extender must always be used with a car seat installed in one. Ask the flight attendant if you're unsure.

Getting the Seat Through the Airport

TSA's page on traveling with children says strollers, baby carriers, car and booster seats and backpacks must be screened by X-ray. Equipment that doesn't fit through the X-ray machine gets a visual and physical inspection by TSA officers.

If the seat won't fly in the cabin with you, gate-check it or check it with your bags. The J.L. Childress Gate Check Travel Bag ($19.99) is a thin cover that keeps a seat clean at the gate and folds into a diaper bag, with an AirTag pocket. The J.L. Childress Padded Backpack Car Seat Travel Bag, Ultimate ($39.99) adds padding and backpack straps, so you can carry the seat hands-free. J.L. Childress says to measure your seat and confirm it fits before you order.

Key point: a car seat checked as luggage is handled out of your sight. If a checked seat arrives damaged, check the manufacturer's manual before using it. A seat you carry on board and use at your seat stays in your hands the whole way.

A Stroller for the Terminal

A light stroller carries the baby, and sometimes the bags, from the curb to the gate. These two come from our travel strollers guide:

• gb Pockit Air ($189.99): 10.4 lb, per the listing, and gb says it's carry-on compliant. It seats a child from about 6 months to 5 years, up to 55 lb.
• Graco Ready2Jet ($189.99): 13.2 lb, per the listing, with a one-hand automatic fold that stands on its own.

Whether a stroller fits in the overhead bin depends on the airline, aircraft and crew. Our stroller fold size and weight chart lists folded sizes where the brands publish them.

Formula, Breast Milk and Ears

The TSA says formula, breast milk and juice in quantities over 3.4 oz are allowed in carry-on bags. Tell the TSA officer at the start of screening that you're carrying them, and take them out of your carry-on for separate screening. The TSA also says ice packs, freezer packs, gel packs and liquid-filled teethers are allowed in carry-ons.

For takeoff and landing, the AAP's holiday travel tips say giving your child a bottle or cup to sip on may help, especially during takeoff. For winter trips, the same page says children riding in car seats should wear thin layers, with a blanket over the harness. Too much fluff under the harness can create slack, so take off the puffy coat before you buckle up.

This guide is not medical advice. For car seat fit, a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician can check your installation, and the NHTSA car seat page has a free car seat inspection finder.

Bottom line: the FAA says the safest place for a child under 2 on a plane is an approved car seat or device, not a lap. Check for the "certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft" label, book a window seat, and bring a gate-check bag. For toddlers of 22 to 44 lb, the FAA-certified CARES harness is the lighter option. To time bigger purchases, compare prices in our Black Friday baby gear guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my baby need their own seat on a plane?

No. The FAA allows a child under 2 to be held on an adult's lap. But the FAA says the safest place on an airplane for children under 2 is an approved child car seat or device, and suggests buying a ticket so you can use one.

How do I know if my car seat is FAA-approved?

Look for the label "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft," usually in red on the side or back of the seat. Booster seats and backless restraints can't be used during taxi, takeoff or landing.

Can I use a CARES harness instead of a car seat?

Yes, for the right size of child. The FAA says AmSafe's CARES device is certified for children up to 40 inches tall who weigh 22 to 44 pounds. Other harnesses that attach a child to the aircraft seatbelt are prohibited unless the FAA has approved them.

Can the airline refuse my car seat?

Not if you bought the child a seat and the car seat is approved. FAA advisory circular AC 120-87C says operators may not prohibit a child from using an approved child restraint when a seat is purchased, and must find another seat in the same class if it doesn't fit.

How much formula or breast milk can I take through TSA?

More than 3.4 oz is allowed in a carry-on. The TSA says to tell the officer at the start of screening and remove the items for separate screening. Ice packs, gel packs and liquid-filled teethers are allowed too.