Sleep On a Plane: Options When Flying With Kids

Sleep Options on Planes

Options when flying with kids. From bassinets, car seats, inflatable sleep devices and what you can do if none of these are an option.

Sleep options for a baby under One

This is a great age with so many options for sleeping on the plane for little ones!

flying with a baby in an Turkish Airline bassinet

Those are:

  • Airplane Bassinet: If your child meets the airlines bassinet weight, height and age requirements, then this a baby bed that the airline provides. My two used various bassinets til around the age of one.
  • Car Seat: If you have purchased a seat for your little one, then you can bring your airline approved car seat aboard – as long as it meets your airlines car seat rules.
  • Buy an additional seat and they sleep in that.
  • Sleep on you: This often happens even if you have one of the above options, e.g the seat belt sign is on and they need to get out of the bassinet or they need feeding, a cuddle etc. I’ve held my 11 month old for 9 hours before and it was actually much better than I thought it would be.
BA bassinet

Sleep on a Plane Options for Babies and Toddlers Aged One-Two

It is less likely a bassinet will work due to thwir size, but still check the airlines bassinet requirements. BA have a recliner style which is a generous size and Singapore Airlines offer one of the longest bassinets.

  • Car Seat: If you have purchased a seat for your little one, then you can bring your airline approved car seat aboard – as long as it meets your airlines car seat rules.
  • Buy an additional seat and they sleep in that.
  • Sleep on you: This often happens even if you have one of the above options, e.g the seat belt sign is on and they need to get out of the bassinet or they need feeding, a cuddle etc. I’ve held my 11 month old for 9 hours before and it was actually much better than I thought it would be.
kids asleep on flyaway mattress and plane pal on Singapore Airways

Sleep On a Plane Options for Children Aged 2- 7

  • Own Seat: Kids aged over 2, must have their own seat. You can use an inflight bed like an inflatable cube that goes in the footwell or like the Flyaway Bed to make a flat sleeping surface. Alternatively, you can lift the armrest up and they can lie on you and some of their own seat.
  • Car Seat: If you have purchased a seat for your little one, then you can bring your airline approved car seat aboard – as long as it meets your airlines car seat rules.

Sleep Options for Kids aged Over 7+

Options are really narrow here. They can lift the arm rest and lean on you a bit. To increase the chances of a spare seat, you can also try the spare seat ‘trick’. Choose a window and aisle and leave the middle seat empty. If the flight is full, the person is very likely to be super happy moving from a middle to either the window or aisle seat. And best case, you could luck out with an additional seat to spread out.

Air NZ sky couch

If you are flying with Air New Zealand – then the Sky Couch is an option. You purchase a special row of seats which can be made wider and into a bed!