Best Age to Travel with a Baby: Tips for Stress-Free Family Trips

Q: Is air travel safe for an infant?

Yes, it’s generally safe to fly with a healthy baby. Pediatricians often say it’s fine after 2 weeks, though many parents prefer waiting until 6 to 8 weeks when the baby’s immune system is stronger.

Q: What is the best age for a baby to fly?

Many parents find the best age for baby flights is between 3 and 6 months. At this age, babies are less mobile, sleep frequently (including on flights), and have begun to develop more predictable eating and sleeping routines.

Q: What is the best age to go abroad with a baby?

Traveling abroad with a baby is often easiest between 4 and 9 months. During this stage, babies are still small and manageable, sleep a lot, and are not yet fussy about needing exercise.

Traveling with a baby might seem difficult, yet planning and choosing a good time to travel can make the experience easier and even enjoyable. When you are planning a vacation, seeing family, or simply hoping for a change of atmosphere, deciding the right time to travel with your baby will help your journey go more smoothly. You’ll learn in this guide the best age to travel with your baby, the positives and drawbacks of each stage, plus tips and gear to smooth your trip.

What is the Best Age to Travel with a Baby?

0–3 Months: The Sleepy Snuggler Phase

Characteristics:

Babies in this stage need about 14–17 hours of sleep per day and usually drift off no matter where they are.
Needs frequent feeding (every 2–3 hours)
They aren’t well protected against germs and depend on full head and neck support.
Limited to breastmilk or formula; no solids yet

Advantages:

Sleeps often, especially during transit
Because babies can't move, getting around is much easier for parents.
It's simple to keep them close in a sling or carrier.

Disadvantages:

Frequent diaper changes and feedings
There’s a learning curve for parents during the first months with a new baby.
Being in busy places like airports can raise your chances of getting infected.

Travel Tips:

Wait until your baby is having one of their longest naps before starting your journey.
Carrying your baby in a wrap or sling keeps them away from germs in busy environments.
It’s a good idea to pick short and easy trips when you aren’t used to traveling with a baby.

3–6 Months: The Golden Travel Window

Characteristics:

Developing sleep routines; 3–4 naps a day
Most of the diet is milk, and meals are becoming easier to predict.
Your baby hasn’t learned to crawl, so keeping them under control is simple.
Seeing and reacting to faces and sounds more frequently

Advantages:

Keeping to your baby’s sleep and feeding times helps your days go better on the road.
You don’t have to pay for your baby to fly because they are still an infant in your lap (free under 2 years).
Easily goes from being carried to riding in a stroller.

Disadvantages:

Some babies get their first teeth between 4 and 6 months old.
Travel or moving to new time zones might make your baby sleep less than usual.

6–9 Months: The Curious Explorer

Characteristics:

Likely sitting up, may be crawling or rolling
Eating solids along with breastmilk/formula
Very curious—loves people, colors, sounds

Advantages:

Plenty of distractions keep them busy with what they see and hear.
Can fall asleep in a stroller or carrier without missing a moment of travel.
Might be really interested in seeing pools, beaches, or animals for the first time.

Disadvantages:

May not like being held back for a long journey (like a flight).
If the baby crawls, you'll need to clean up the floor spaces more often
When teething or taking naps is tough, your baby’s mood may change.

Travel Tips:

Make sure your baby moves around between each part of the trip.
Don't forget to take snacks, teething toys, and bibs when your baby starts eating solids.
Pick hotels that give your baby enough available floor space for play.

Recommended Products:

Munchkin Soft-Tip Infant Spoons + Travel Case– Perfect for solids while traveling

9–12 Months: The Wiggly Wanderer

Characteristics:

Uses furniture to help them stand and walk
May start walking
Likes exploring and testing limits

Advantages:

Baby can eat different foods now, so bottles aren’t needed as often.
Has fun in interesting new places, such as petting zoos or aquariums.
Children of this age like to play and notice new surroundings.

Disadvantages:

Nap resistance is common
You’ll need to bring more stuff, including toys, snacks, shoes, and high chairs.

Travel Tips:

Head out early in the day so your baby has enough energy from a nap.
Pack quiet things for your baby to do during flights.
It's easier for a baby to settle down if they can look around in safety first.

Recommended Products:

Fat Brain Toys Dimpl Baby Toy– Engaging and compact for travel distractions.

SlumberPod Privacy Pod– Creates a dark, sleep-friendly space in shared hotel rooms.

12–18 Months: The Energetic Toddler

Characteristics:

Likely walking or running
Growing independence and opinions
You may notice nap changes and tantrums at this time.

Advantages:

Better able to play, help out, and explore new things now.
Doesn't have to drink from a bottle every few hours anymore
Eats mostly regular food

Disadvantages:

It may be hard to keep them under control during long journeys.
Tantrums are more likely to happen when your child gets too tired or there's too much going on.
Needs close supervision anytime in new or strange places

Travel Tips:

Keep time open for naps and lots of play.
Pack some snacks toddlers like, in addition to comforting toys, to help on the go.
Choose accommodations with toddler-safe spaces.

Recommended Products:

YETI Rambler Jr. Water Bottle – Durable and easy for toddlers to use without spills.

Hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed – A cozy sleep space when cribs aren’t available

What is the Hardest Age to Travel with a Baby?

Most parents and pediatric travel professionals say that the 9 to 18-month time frame usually makes travel trickiest for babies. During this time, babies go from watching things passively to exploring on their own, which really changes how travel impacts them.

Why is the 9–18 months age range considered the most difficult time for travel with your baby? After the first nine months, babies become less sleepy and much less easily pleased. This age brings extra physical and emotional energy, as well as greater mobility, which can make traveling, including flights and new sleep spaces, a lot harder.

FAQ

Is air travel safe for an infant?

Yes, it’s okay to fly with a healthy baby. While pediatricians typically say 2 weeks is fine for flying, most parents choose to delay travel until their baby is 6 to 8 weeks old, when the immune system is a little stronger.

What is the best age for a baby to fly?

Many people find the best age for baby flights is between 3 and 6 months. At this stage, your baby:

It isn’t very mobile (which makes it simpler to handle them).
Sleeps frequently, including during flights
Has started to follow regular habits for eating and sleeping.

What is the best age to go abroad with a baby?

A lot of parents believe going abroad with a baby is easiest between 4 and 9 months. At this age:

They are still manageable and don’t weigh much.
They still get lots of sleep and aren’t fussy about needing exercise.

Conclusion

Every age has its positives and negatives when traveling with a baby, so there's no best time. Most parents say it's easiest to travel with a baby from 3 to 6 months, but experiences get trickier during the 9–18-month window because kids are on the move and feel things more. Wherever you're off to, the travel is part of the journey.