Be prepared to provide passports for all international travelers, including infants and newborns, as mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration. For domestic travel, identification is unnecessary for anyone under 18 years old. Some airlines do reserve the right to require proof that a child is under 24 months. This is to prevent abuse of the policy allowing children under 2 to fly for free in the U.S. if they are held on the lap of an adult. Carry your child's birth certificate in case those circumstances arise.
Avoid being weighed down by strollers. Most airlines do not include them in the standard luggage allowance, and they are exempt from baggage fees. But if you do need help maneuvering your youngster through the airport, use a lightweight umbrella stroller that can fit in an overhead bin of the aircraft, or check it in at the gate.
Explain the airport security checkpoint to your child ahead of time if she's old enough to understand, as the process can be scary. The Transportation Security Administration requires screening for everyone, regardless of age. If your child is too young to walk, you can carry her through the metal detection arch, but you may both be searched.
Although liquids and gels are normally restricted to 3.4 ounces, you can reasonably exceed those limits for medications, formulas and other liquids your baby might need during the flight.
Use any spare time at the gate for bathroom trips or snacks before checking into your flight. Secure your seat assignments before the day of travel to ensure that your family sits together. This is especially important since some airlines have eliminated preboarding for families, and there are places on the aircraft where children will not be permitted to sit; the exit rows, for example.The FAA recommends also that you take aboard an approved child restraint for additional safety during the flight.
