When we booked our first family holiday to Bali, our son was 18 months old and I had no idea what I was doing. Does a toddler need his own seat? Can the pram come on the plane? Will security let me through with water for his bottles?
After a lot of late night googling, I’ve put everything I wish I’d known in one place: what Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar allow for babies under two, plus what worked for us flying with Virgin Australia to Bali, and on a long-haul flight to LA (booked with Qantas, flown by United Airlines) just after he turned two.
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Does your baby need their own seat?
If your baby is under the age of 2, then no, they don’t need their own seat. Babies under two can fly on your lap, and you’ll be given an infant seatbelt that loops onto yours. Your baby needs to be strapped in for take-off, landing and any time the seatbelt sign is on.
On the way to Bali, we didn’t buy our son a seat, mostly because we didn’t know any better. We got lucky: nobody sat next to us, so he had a spare seat anyway, and that extra room made a big difference.
For the flight home, we didn’t want to risk it, so we paid for the extra seat. On both flights, he sat on my lap with the infant seatbelt for take-off and landing, then used the spare seat to stretch out and play once we were in the air. We had the extra seat for space, but he still flew as a lap baby with the infant seatbelt.
If you’re buying your baby a seat, check the car seat rules before you book. Qantas and Virgin both require an approved child car seat or restraint for an infant in their own seat, and Jetstar only allows it once your baby can sit up on their own. That’s airline policy rather than the law. Australia’s aviation safety advice is that babies under two can sit on your lap with a loop belt, and from two they need their own seat with a normal seatbelt. Not every car seat is approved for planes, so check yours with the airline.
When it comes to choosing seats, there were three of us, me, my husband and our son, so we booked a row of three with a window. If you’re flying with a baby, an aisle seat makes it easier to get up for walks and nappy changes, and the bulkhead row gives you a bit more room (it’s also where the bassinets go).
Qantas vs Virgin vs Jetstar: the rules at a glance
| Qantas | Virgin Australia | Jetstar | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lap baby, domestic | Free | Free | $45 per flight |
| Lap baby, international | 10% of the adult fare | 10% of the fare on short-haul flights like Bali | $75 per flight |
| Baby in their own seat | Full child fare, approved car seat needed | Full fare domestic, 75% on short-haul international, approved restraint needed | Allowed once they can sit up unaided |
| Free checked baby items | 3 (e.g. pram, portacot, car seat) | Up to 3 (pram, portacot, car seat or capsule) | 4 (pram, portacot, highchair, car seat, capsule or booster) |
| Extra carry-on for baby things | A small nappy bag on top of your own allowance | One extra small bag, up to 8kg, that fits under the seat | None, baby things count towards your allowance |
| Pram on board | Up to 7kg and 56 x 36 x 23cm folded, counts as your carry-on | Up to 8kg and 56 x 36 x 23cm folded, replaces your carry-on bag | A collapsible pram that fits the carry-on rules can go to the gate |
| Bassinets | International flights and A330 domestic flights, under 11kg, fee in international Economy | Not listed on Virgin’s family travel page, ask when you book | Only on international 787 flights, request early |
Rules checked October 2026. Airlines change these often, so double check before you fly.
Bassinets: don’t count on one, have a back up plan
Bassinets sound amazing until you read the fine print. There aren’t many of them, they’re only on certain planes, and there are size limits. Qantas bassinets are for babies under 11kg who can lie flat, and they’re about 71cm long. Jetstar only has them on international Dreamliner flights.
If you have a younger baby and want a bassinet, request it as early as you can and have a plan B in case it doesn’t happen.
Prams: ours went in the overhead locker
We took our Karion Kids travel pram, and it folded down small enough to go in the overhead locker with us. Being able to push him right through the airport, then have the pram ready as soon as we got off the plane, made the whole day easier.
If you’re planning to do the same, check your pram’s folded size and weight against your airline’s limits before you go. Virgin points out that “cabin friendly” on the box doesn’t guarantee it’ll be accepted. If your pram is too big, all three airlines will check it for free, and Qantas notes that the major Australian airports have strollers you can use after check-in. Still choosing one? Have a look at our best travel prams in Australia.
One catch with Qantas: on its smaller Dash 8 and E190 planes, prams can’t go to the gate or in the cabin, so they have to be checked in.
Breast milk, formula and water through security
Good news: you can take breast milk, formula and water through security, even over the usual 100ml limit.
Virgin lists baby milk (including breast milk), sterilised water or juice, and baby food as infant essentials you can take over the normal liquid limits. On international flights, it needs to be for the flight itself, and security has the final say. Powdered formula has no limit at all.
I packed formula and water for his bottles, so I could make up a bottle whenever he needed one instead of relying on water from the cabin crew. Take it all out of your bag at screening so it can be checked, and you’ll get through much quicker.
If you’re flying Jetstar, bring everything your baby needs for the whole trip. Jetstar doesn’t carry baby food or drinks on board.
Ear pressure: pack the dummies
Little ears can really feel the pressure change during take-off and landing, and sucking helps them adjust. We took his Philips Avent soothers and they worked really well for us. A bottle or a feed does the same job. Pack a few dummies, not just one, because they have a habit of rolling under seats.
Sleep: bring the sleep sack
I packed his ergoPouch sleep sack to help keep his normal sleep routine. It’s familiar, it smells like home, and putting him in it tells him it’s time to sleep. When everything else is new, one thing that feels like bedtime at home really helps. It worked on the way over, and he even had his usual day nap on the plane.
Snacks. So many snacks.
If I could only give one tip, it would be this: pack more snacks than you think you’ll need, then add a few more. Snacks keep little hands busy and buy you time when they’re getting restless.
Small, easy, not-too-messy snacks work best, like crackers, rice cakes, sultanas and food pouches. Give them out one at a time rather than handing over the whole container.
A heads up for international trips: eat or bin any fresh food before you land. Both Australia and Indonesia have strict rules on bringing food in.
Activities: busy books and small surprises
We packed a busy book and a few small activities, and they kept him entertained for a good chunk of the flight. My tip is to bring them out one at a time. Something new, or something they haven’t seen for a while, holds their attention much longer than a bag of everything at once.
Good options for this age are busy books, sticker books, small board books and a couple of little toys that won’t easily slip down the side of the seat.
Flying with a younger baby
Our son was 18 months old on his first flight, but if your baby is younger, there are a few extra things to know.
- Feed at take-off and landing. A breastfeed or bottle helps with ear pressure, and can help settle them too.
- You can change nappies on the plane. Most planes have a fold-down change table in at least one of the toilets, though not every small domestic plane does. It’s a tight space, so take a small nappy bag (about the size of a small handbag) with just the essentials for that change, and leave the big bag at your seat.
- No bassinet? Plan for them to sleep on your lap. A seat with a bit of extra room, like the bulkhead row, makes this easier.
How our flights actually went
The flight over was great, with no issues at all. The dummies, sleep sack and busy books all did their job, and he slept for his normal day nap.
The flight home was a different story. It was a 5pm flight out of Bali, it was delayed, and by then he was well and truly over it. I tried to get him to sleep on the plane, but forcing it only made things worse. He didn’t sleep until we got home, and he was pretty cranky by then.
In hindsight, I wish I’d been a bit more relaxed about his normal sleep routine. I had very little control over getting him to sleep. Everything was new, he was excited, and there was so much going on around him.
My advice, as hard as it is to take on until you’ve been through it yourself: try to relax about the routine as much as you can. If they don’t sleep, that’s ok. Go with the flow if you can.
Flying long haul at two years of age: our LA flight
About six to eight months after Bali, we flew to LA. We booked with Qantas, but the flight was operated by United Airlines, so it was a United plane and crew. If you book a flight like this, check the rules of the airline actually flying the plane, not just the one you booked with. He’d just turned two, so this time he had his own seat.
It was almost a 14-hour flight, and a completely different experience. Those extra few months made a huge difference, and he was amazing. He had an iPad, some toys and lots of snacks, and he even slept on the plane.
My tips for a long-haul flight with a toddler:
- Book an overnight flight if you can. It’s so much easier when the longest stretch of the flight lines up with their normal night sleep.
- Download shows before you go and pack toddler headphones. Don’t count on the plane’s entertainment or wifi.
- Save the iPad for when you need it. Start with snacks, books and toys, and bring it out when they start getting restless.
- Get up and walk the aisle when the seatbelt sign is off. A little walk breaks up the hours for both of you.
- Pack a change of clothes for both of you in your carry-on. On a 14-hour flight, there will be spills.
- Go easy on yourself when you land. Jet lag can take a few days to settle, so plan a slow first couple of days.
For more ideas, see our tips for stress-free toddler plane travel.
Our flying with a baby checklist
- Passport (international) or birth certificate (domestic) for your baby
- Infant seatbelt (the airline gives you this on board)
- Travel pram, checked against the airline’s size and weight limits
- Formula and water for bottles
- Bottles and a spare
- Dummies (more than one)
- Sleep sack
- Snacks, lots of them
- Busy books, toys and small activities
- An iPad with downloaded shows, once they’re a bit older
- Nappies, wipes and a change of clothes for baby
- A spare top for you, just in case
What I’d tell myself before our first flight
Every flight will be different. Same kid, same bag of tricks, and our two Bali flights couldn’t have been more different. So take it easy and don’t put pressure on yourself.
Don’t force sleep. If they sleep, great. If they don’t, they’ll sleep when you get there.
Know the rules before you book, not the night before. Decide early whether you’ll buy a seat. We were lucky on the way over, but I wouldn’t count on it again.
Pack for the flight, not just the holiday. Snacks, milk, water and a few activities within reach will get you through most things.
And try not to stress about what everyone else on the plane thinks. Most people have been there, or have kids of their own.
Frequently asked questions
Does my baby need a passport to fly overseas?
Yes. Every baby needs their own passport for international flights, including to Bali. For domestic flights, take their birth certificate, as the airline may ask for proof of age.
Can I take baby formula and water on a plane in Australia?
Yes. Powdered formula has no limit, and baby milk, sterilised water and baby food can go through security over the usual 100ml limit, as long as they’re for your baby on the flight.
Is it free to fly with a baby on your lap?
On domestic flights, it’s free with Qantas and Virgin, and $45 per flight with Jetstar. On international flights, it’s around 10% of the adult fare with Qantas and Virgin, or $75 per flight with Jetstar.
How young can a baby fly?
Qantas and Jetstar don’t allow babies under 48 hours old, and babies aged three to seven days need medical clearance. After that, healthy babies can usually fly without it, but check with your airline and your doctor.
Can I take my pram on the plane?
If it folds small enough, yes. Qantas allows up to 7kg and Virgin up to 8kg, both around 56 x 36 x 23cm folded. If yours is bigger, all three airlines will check it in for free.
What’s the easiest age to fly with a baby?
Every child is different, but for us, our LA flight at two was much easier than Bali at 18 months. He had his own seat, the iPad kept him busy, and he even slept on the plane.
