If you are flying for the first time with a young baby then you should definitely take your baby carrier with you!
In this article, we will discuss how an airline will view your baby carrier and how it sits within their carry-on luggage policies – so there are no nasty surprises on the day.
In This Post:
Are Baby Carriers Considered as Carry-On Luggage
Most baby carrier designs are not considered carry-on luggage. The parent would likely be wearing the carrier with a baby inside when in the airport and boarding the plane.
Airlines will treat a baby carrier the same way they treat your clothing and it will not count towards your carry-on luggage size or weight allowance.
Carriers are usually not mentioned in airline child travel policies for this reason.
For example, the American Airlines policy treats items such as play pens, wagons, cribs, and pack and play items like regular carry on and they are subject to the same size and weight restrictions as regular carry on.
What Baby Carriers Can I Fly With
You cannot have carry-on luggage if you cannot get your carrier past security. The good news is that most baby carrier types will not attract the attention of airport security because they are small.
Airlines are also very accomodating of parents with young babies. As long as you can wear the baby carrier while you sit down then you are unlikely to have any issues.
What Baby Carriers Can I Take On a Plane?
The following common baby carrier designs are all ok to take on-board:
- Soft-structured carrier
- Hipseat carrier
- Baby wrap
- Ring sling
- Mei Tai
Once you board the plane and place your baby in a bassinet or child seat the carrier, all of these designs can be folded up and stored without taking up much space.
What Baby Carriers Can’t I Take On a Plane?
There is one type of baby carrier that you cannot take on a plane, the backpack hiking carrier.
These have a hard frame and will not fold up in the same way as other types of carriers and are therefore much too large to bring on a plane.
You will not even make it past security!
Why Baby Carriers Are Great for Air Travel
Flying with an infant can be a rough ride for any parent! Using a baby carrier for travel is one of the best things you can do to keep your baby calm and happy throughout the journey.
A carrier can instantly relieve the stress of the situation due to the following:
- Creates a safe environment for your baby when the surroundings are unfamiliar.
- Easy to navigate crowds in the airport and getting through security.
- You can use it for breastfeeding in the airport or on the plane.
If your child will not settle in a bassinet on the plane you always have the option to sit them in the carrier while flying to get them to sleep. Being able to soothe them quickly will make the trip less stressful for you.
Final Word
The quick answer is that a baby carrier is not considered as carry-on luggage by most airlines. This means that you will not have to worry about paying extra fees or being turned away at security.
We think that you should always bring a baby carrier when traveling all the way through the toddler years. You never know when it will save you!
