Should I Buy My Baby a Seat on a Plane? Lap Infant vs. Own Seat

If you’re flying with a baby under 2, one of the biggest questions is whether you should buy your baby their own plane seat or fly with them as a lap infant. After more than 20 flights with my kids, I’ve done both.

I’ve flown 11 hours internationally with a four-month-old on our laps, purchased a seat for a four-month-old when I was flying alone on a red-eye, and bought my one-year-old his own seat only to have him spend much of the flight wanting to climb all over me anyway. My biggest takeaway is that there isn’t one answer I use for every flight.

Whether I buy my baby a seat depends on their age and mobility, whether I’m flying alone, whether we’re taking a daytime flight or red-eye, the length of the flight, and how much the additional ticket costs. There is also an important safety consideration: although children under 2 are allowed to travel as lap infants in the United States, the FAA recommends that young children travel in their own seat using an approved child restraint system.

Here’s how I personally decide between flying with a lap infant and buying my baby their own seat.

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Does a Baby Under 2 Need Their Own Seat on a Plane?

In the United States, children under 2 generally do not have to have their own airplane seat and can travel on an adult’s lap as a lap infant. However, being allowed to fly with a lap infant and determining the safest way for your baby to fly are two different things.

The FAA recommends that children under 2 have their own seat and be properly secured in an approved child restraint system during the flight. If you purchase a seat for your baby and plan to use a car seat onboard, make sure your particular child restraint is approved for aircraft use and check your airline’s requirements before flying.

Lap Infant vs. Own Seat: What’s the Difference?

The biggest benefit of flying with a lap infant is cost. On many domestic U.S. flights, a child under 2 can travel on a parent’s lap without purchasing a separate ticket, although you still need to add the infant to your reservation and airline policies can vary.

Buying your baby a seat gives you more physical space and allows you to use an approved child restraint system. But from a practical perspective, I’ve learned that purchasing an extra seat doesn’t necessarily mean your baby or toddler will happily sit in it for the entire flight. My one-year-old definitely didn’t.

My First Lap Infant Flight Was 11 Hours to London

My son’s first flight was from Los Angeles to London when he was four months old. We planned to use an airplane bassinet, so we did not purchase him a seat. Unfortunately, we didn’t end up getting the bassinet, which meant my husband held our son while our son slept for essentially the entire 11-hour flight.

Surprisingly, it worked pretty well. My husband doesn’t sleep much on airplanes anyway, and at four months old, our son wasn’t trying to crawl around or explore. The downside was that my husband was essentially stuck underneath a sleeping baby. Getting up, going to the bathroom or simply changing positions wasn’t particularly easy.

It taught me something I wouldn’t fully appreciate until later: flying with a four-month-old lap infant is very different from flying with a mobile baby approaching their first or second birthday.

When Does Flying With a Lap Infant Get Harder?

In my experience, flying with a lap infant became much harder once my son could crawl and walk. A four-month-old may be content sleeping in your arms, while a 14-month-old may want to stand up, climb on you, reach for the seat in front of you, turn around and see what’s happening behind you, and generally explore an airplane that was definitely not designed for toddlers.

Once my son became mobile, having extra space became much more valuable. Even if your child doesn’t actually sit in the extra seat the entire time, you’re gaining some breathing room and don’t have to worry quite as much about your child invading the space of the passenger sitting next to you.

When I Buy My Baby Their Own Plane Seat

There isn’t a specific age when I automatically start buying my baby a seat. Instead, there are a few circumstances that make me much more likely to pay for one.

When I’m Flying Alone

If I’m flying without my husband, I am much more likely to purchase a seat. When my daughter was four months old, I flew alone with her on a red-eye and bought her a separate seat. I brought our Doona onboard and used it as her carseat.

It was one of the best travel decisions I’ve made. She fell asleep in the Doona at the airport, but our flight was delayed, and after we boarded we had a mechanical issue that left us sitting on the plane for a while. Because there was no movement, she eventually started waking up. I gave her a bottle, we finally took off, and she slept the rest of the flight.

Having a familiar place for her to sleep while I was traveling alone was 100 percent worth the cost of the extra ticket for me. Had my husband been traveling with me, I might have made a different decision because we could have taken turns holding her.

When We’re Taking a Red-Eye

I’m also more likely to buy a seat for an overnight flight. If I’m flying across the country during the day with my husband and a six-month-old, I may be perfectly comfortable having the baby on our laps and passing them back and forth.

A red-eye changes the equation for me because I want to give everyone the best possible chance of sleeping, especially if I’m traveling alone. Having a separate seat also gives me more space for a long overnight flight when I know I’m going to be exhausted too.

When My Baby Is More Mobile

Mobility is a major factor for me because once babies start crawling, pulling up and walking, keeping them on your lap for hours can become exhausting. An additional seat gives your family more space, even if your baby doesn’t spend every minute sitting in it.

I also find myself thinking more about the passengers around us as my kids get older. Having an extra seat gives a mobile baby or young toddler a little more room without constantly reaching into someone else’s space.

When It’s a Long Flight

Flight length matters too. The difference between holding a baby for a one-hour flight and holding them for six hours is significant, so the longer the flight, the more valuable I find having additional space.

That doesn’t mean I automatically buy a seat for every long flight. My son flew 11 hours to London on our laps at four months old, and it worked for us. But length is definitely one of the factors I consider when deciding whether the additional cost is worth it.

Does Buying a Toddler a Seat Make Flying Easier?

Yes and no. When my son was around one, I bought him his own seat for a red-eye to the East Coast. I was traveling with my sister and her son, but because she had her own child to take care of, I essentially needed to plan as if I were flying alone.

I thought having his own seat would make everything significantly easier, and it helped, but he still wanted to move. I didn’t bring a toddler car seat onboard, and he had very little interest in simply sitting in the airplane seat. He was curious and wanted to explore.

Eventually he fell asleep and slept for the rest of the flight, which made having the additional seat very worthwhile. That experience taught me that buying a seat doesn’t automatically mean your mobile baby or toddler will sit nicely in it. Sometimes you’re paying for the extra space as much as the actual seat.

Should You Bring a Car Seat on the Plane?

If I’ve purchased a seat for a younger baby, I personally love using the Doona. When I flew alone with my four-month-old daughter, having her in the Doona made the flight substantially easier.

I don’t typically bring my older child’s toddler car seat onboard. He likes being able to move around, and when he sleeps on the plane, he often prefers lying across us. That’s simply what works for our family.

From a safety standpoint, the FAA recommends using an approved child restraint system for young children. If you’re bringing a car seat onboard, check the label to make sure it is certified for aircraft use, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and confirm your airline’s policies.

What About Using an Airplane Bassinet Instead?

An airplane bassinet can be another option for a younger baby on certain long-haul flights, but I would never assume you’re guaranteed one just because you requested it. I learned that the hard way on our first flight to London.

Bassinets can also complicate your seating arrangement because they are typically located at bulkhead seats. Depending on the aircraft, bulkhead seats may have fixed armrests, which can matter if you’re traveling with older children who like to stretch out across family members when they sleep.

I’m dealing with this exact decision right now. We’re flying to South Africa for my sister’s wedding in a few months, and my daughter will be almost one. I’m debating whether to buy her a seat, try for a bassinet or have her travel as a lap infant.

At the same time, my son likes to lie across us to sleep. Choosing bulkhead seats for the bassinet could potentially make his sleep setup harder, which is a perfect example of why I don’t have one rule that I follow for every trip.

How I Decide: Lap Infant or Own Seat

For my family, I’m more likely to purchase my baby a seat when I’m flying alone, taking a red-eye, traveling on a long flight or flying with an older, more mobile baby. I’m more likely to consider a lap infant when my baby is younger, I’m traveling with my husband, we’re taking a daytime flight or the price of the additional ticket is particularly high.

Thanksgiving is a perfect example. We’re flying from Los Angeles to the East Coast when my daughter will be around nine months old, and I purchased her a seat for the red-eye there. For the return flight, Thanksgiving weekend airfare was so expensive that I decided not to purchase the extra seat, so she’ll fly home as a lap infant.

Same baby, same trip, two different decisions. Of course, cost and convenience aren’t the only considerations, and the FAA recommends that children under 2 travel in their own seat using an approved child restraint system. Parents can consider that guidance alongside the practical factors when deciding how to book their flight.

Is It Worth Buying a Baby Their Own Plane Seat?

For me, there have absolutely been flights where buying my baby a seat was worth every penny. My solo red-eye with my four-month-old is probably the best example because having her sleeping in the Doona while I had my own space made traveling alone substantially easier.

There have also been plenty of flights where I was comfortable having my baby as a lap infant, particularly when they were younger and I was traveling with my husband. I don’t have a rule that says once my baby reaches a certain age, I automatically purchase a seat.

Instead, I look at the entire trip: Who am I flying with? What time is the flight? How long will we be in the air? How mobile is my baby? What does the extra seat cost? And how much would having that space improve the experience? Those answers can change from one flight to the next.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do babies under 2 fly free?

On many domestic U.S. flights, children under 2 can travel on an adult’s lap without purchasing their own seat. You still generally need to add your baby to the reservation, and airline policies, documentation requirements, fees and international fares can vary, so always check directly with your airline before traveling.

Is it safer to buy a baby their own airplane seat?

The FAA recommends that children under 2 travel in their own seat and use an approved child restraint system. Although lap infants are permitted, the FAA recommends an approved restraint rather than having a young child held on an adult’s lap.

What age is hardest to fly with a lap infant?

There’s no universal age, but in my experience it became much more challenging once my babies became mobile. Holding a young baby who is content to sleep can be very different from trying to keep a crawling or walking baby on your lap for several hours.

Can I use a Doona on an airplane?

Some Doona car seats are certified for aircraft use when used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Check the certification label and instructions for your specific model and confirm your airline’s policies before your flight.

Is buying a seat worth it for a red-eye?

For me, red-eyes are one of the situations where I’m most likely to purchase an extra seat, especially if I’m flying alone. Having my four-month-old in her Doona in her own seat made our overnight flight significantly easier, but whether the additional cost is worth it will depend on your particular trip and family.

The Bottom Line

So, should you buy your baby a seat on the plane? From a safety standpoint, the FAA recommends purchasing a separate seat and using an approved child restraint system for children under 2. From a practical standpoint, I’ve learned that every flight is different. I’ve happily traveled with my babies as lap infants, and I’ve had flights where purchasing that extra seat was worth every penny.

My biggest lesson after 20+ flights with kids is to think beyond your baby’s age. Consider who you’re traveling with, how mobile your baby is, the length and timing of the flight, your sleep plans and your budget. Sometimes I’ll pay for the seat, and sometimes I’ll choose lap infant. Apparently, sometimes I’ll do both on the exact same trip.

Planning a flight with a baby? Read my guides to flying with a baby, airplane bassinets, getting an empty seat for a lap infant, what you can bring through TSA for a baby, and my favorite travel gear for flying with kids.