Pediatriya.az Presents: Air Travel with Children — Parents’ Most Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Every day, Pediatriya.az receives hundreds of questions from parents concerning children’s health. With the beginning of the summer holiday season, one of the most frequently asked questions is how to plan air travel with young children, what parents should pay attention to during the flight, and how children should be prepared for the journey.
In fact, with proper preparation, travelling by air with children can be both safe and comfortable. Planning according to the child’s age, taking their health condition into account, and anticipating possible discomfort during the flight can help ensure a smoother journey.
Can children travel by air?
Yes. Air travel is generally considered safe for healthy children.
However, several important points should be taken into consideration:
- Air travel is not generally recommended for infants younger than one month unless it is essential.
- Parents of premature infants and children with heart or lung conditions should consult a paediatrician before travelling.
- It may be advisable to postpone the journey if the child has a fever, a severe respiratory infection, a middle-ear infection, or significant diarrhoea.
What does the World Health Organization recommend?
You may have noticed that many of the educational materials published by Pediatriya.az refer to recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO). This is because WHO develops evidence-based international recommendations that are regularly updated and applied in many countries around the world.
Guidance concerning air travel with children is also based on these principles and can serve as a reliable source of information for parents.
WHO recommends assessing possible health risks before travelling. Infants, young children, and children with chronic medical conditions should be evaluated particularly carefully before a journey.
Whenever possible, travellers are advised to seek medical advice four to eight weeks before departure. However, even when less time remains before the trip, consulting a healthcare professional may still be beneficial.
For children with chronic conditions, it is important to prepare all necessary medicines in advance, keep relevant medical documents readily accessible, and consider obtaining appropriate travel insurance.
Ensuring that the child’s routine vaccinations are up to date for their age is also an important part of travel preparation. Depending on the destination, additional vaccinations may be required for entry into certain countries. Parents should therefore review destination-specific health recommendations before international travel.
WHO resources:
https://www.who.int/health-topics/travel-and-health
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241580472
https://www.who.int/travel-advice/vaccines
Preparing Before the Flight
Choose the flight time carefully
Whenever possible, choose a flight that fits the child’s usual sleep schedule. This can be particularly helpful on longer flights, as spending part of the journey asleep may make the experience easier for both the child and the parents.
Arrive at the airport early
Document checks, security screening, and baggage procedures may take longer when travelling with children.
Completing online check-in in advance can reduce waiting time at the airport. Parents should allow sufficient time and avoid arriving late, as rushing through airport and document procedures with an infant or young child may create unnecessary stress for both the parent and the child.
Check all documents in advance
For international travel, parents should ensure that the following documents are readily available:
- passport;
- visa, if required;
- birth certificate, where applicable;
- medical documents;
- prescriptions for regularly used medicines.
For domestic travel to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, the child’s identity card and flight ticket are generally sufficient. For international journeys, however, parents are advised to prepare all the documents listed above.
It should also be noted that when a child under the age of 18 travels abroad with only one parent, the notarised consent of the other parent is required under Azerbaijani legislation. Without this consent, the child may not be permitted to leave the country.
Pediatriya.az will soon publish a separate legal educational article explaining how the matter may be resolved through legal procedures when the other parent does not provide the required consent.
What Should Be in Your Carry-on Bag?
One of the most common mistakes parents make is packing all essential items in their checked luggage.
The following items should always be kept in your carry-on bag:
- A change of clothes for your child
- Diapers
- Wet wipes
- Hand sanitizer or antiseptic wipes
- A baby bottle or drinking water
- Infant formula or baby food, if needed
- A pacifier
- Your child’s favourite toy
- A lightweight blanket or small pillow
- Books and colouring supplies
- A tablet or smartphone with downloaded cartoons or educational videos
- Any medications your child regularly uses
Why Do Children Experience Ear Pain During a Flight?
During take-off and landing, changes in cabin pressure create pressure differences within the middle ear. Young children are often unable to describe this discomfort and may respond by crying.
The following measures can help equalise ear pressure:
Infants
- Breastfeeding
- Bottle-feeding
- Using a pacifier
Older children
- Drinking water
- Chewing gum (if age-appropriate)
- Sucking on hard candy (for older children)
- Swallowing frequently
These simple measures help equalise middle-ear pressure and reduce discomfort.
If the child has acute otitis media or another middle-ear condition, parents should consult a paediatrician or an otolaryngologist (ENT specialist) before travelling.
How Can You Keep Your Child Occupied During the Flight?
Remaining seated for several hours can be challenging for children. Bringing age-appropriate quiet activities can make the journey much more enjoyable.
Recommended options include:
- Colouring books
- Sticker books
- Magnetic travel games
- Small construction toys
- Card games
- Storybooks
- Puzzle books
- Downloaded cartoons or educational videos on a tablet
To ensure a pleasant experience for everyone on board, toys should not produce loud sounds. If your child watches videos on a phone or tablet, headphones should be used whenever possible, or the volume should be kept very low to avoid disturbing other passengers.
Eating and Drinking During the Flight
Hungry children are generally more likely to become restless during a flight.
Healthy, easy-to-carry snacks include:
- Apples
- Bananas
- Dried fruit
- Crackers
- Cheese
- Biscuits
- Nuts (for children old enough to eat them safely)
Parents should also encourage adequate fluid intake throughout the journey to help prevent dehydration.
Important note for infants
Feeding recommendations should always be appropriate for the infant’s age. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life. From six months onward, complementary foods should be introduced while breastfeeding continues until at least two years of age and beyond whenever possible.
Therefore, the decision to offer water or other fluids during a flight should always be based on the infant’s age and usual feeding pattern.
What Should Children Wear During a Flight?
Comfort is the priority when choosing clothing for air travel.
The best option is soft, lightweight, breathable cotton clothing that can be worn in layers. Since cabin temperatures may vary during the flight, it is also advisable to bring a light jacket or cardigan that can easily be put on or removed as needed.
How Should Children Behave on an Airplane?
Before travelling, explain a few simple safety rules in a way that is appropriate for your child’s age.
Children should be encouraged to:
- Keep their seat belt fastened whenever instructed.
- Remain seated unless permitted to stand.
- Avoid running in the aisle.
- Speak quietly.
- Be respectful of other passengers.
For younger children, presenting these rules as part of a game or story is often the most effective approach.
What If My Child Experiences Motion Sickness?
Some children are more prone to motion sickness during travel.
If your child has a history of nausea during transportation, the following measures may help:
- Avoid heavy meals before the flight.
- Encourage adequate fluid intake.
- Looking outside through the window may reduce symptoms.
- Prolonged reading or extended screen time during the flight is generally not recommended.
Any medication for motion sickness should only be used after consultation with a healthcare professional.
Air Travel for Children with Chronic Medical Conditions
Children with chronic illnesses—including asthma, diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, severe allergies, or other long-term medical conditions—may require additional preparation before flying.
Parents are advised to:
- Keep all essential medications in their carry-on luggage.
- Inform the airline in advance if special medical assistance may be required.
- Prepare an emergency action plan before travelling.
The World Health Organization also recommends that existing medical conditions and potential health risks be assessed before international travel.
A Quick Pre-flight Checklist for Parents
Before leaving for the airport, make sure you have packed:
- Passport and travel documents
- Essential medications
- Water and healthy snacks
- Pacifier or baby bottle
- A change of clothes
- Diapers
- Wet wipes and hand sanitizer
- Your child’s favourite toy
- Books and colouring materials
- A mobile phone or tablet with headphones
- Charger and power bank
- A lightweight blanket or jacket
Having these essentials readily available can make the journey significantly more comfortable for both parents and children.
Conclusion
Travelling by air with children is generally much easier than many parents anticipate when the journey is planned in advance.
Assessing the child’s health before departure, preparing according to their age, organising the carry-on bag appropriately, and taking simple measures to minimise discomfort caused by cabin pressure changes can help ensure a safe and enjoyable journey for the entire family.
The World Health Organization also emphasises the importance of pre-travel health assessment, particularly for infants and children with chronic medical conditions.
It is worth noting that most families travelling with children do so for holidays or leisure. By following evidence-based recommendations and preparing in advance, parents can make their trip safer, more comfortable, and far more enjoyable.
References
- World Health Organization (WHO). Travel and Health.
https://www.who.int/health-topics/travel-and-health - World Health Organization (WHO). International Travel and Health.
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241580472 - World Health Organization (WHO). Infant and Young Child Feeding.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infant-and-young-child-feeding - American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). HealthyChildren.org – Flying with Baby: Parent FAQs.
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/Flying-with-Baby.aspx - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Traveling Safely with Infants and Children.
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/children - International Air Transport Association (IATA). Traveling with Children.
https://www.iata.org/en/programs/passenger/travel-with-children/ - Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL). Traveling with Infants and Children.
https://www.azal.az/en/information/passengers-with-children - European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Travelling by Air.
https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/light/topics/travelling-air
About This Article
This article was prepared by the editorial team of Pediatriya.az based on evidence-based recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), and other reliable scientific sources.
In addition to international guidelines, the article incorporates the daily clinical experience and professional expertise of the paediatricians of Pediatriya.az.
Editorial Note
The content of this article was developed by the Pediatriya.az editorial team. Artificial intelligence (ChatGPT) was used solely as an editorial assistant to improve the language, style, and punctuation of the manuscript. All medical content was reviewed and approved by the editorial team before publication.