Travel with a Newborn Under 3 Months: Safety Questions to Ask

<p>Sometimes travel with a very young baby is a choice, and sometimes it's a necessity. Either way, you'll have safety questions. This guide sets out what health bodies say about flying, driving, sleep and fever in the first three months, and what to discuss with your doctor before you go.</p>

Last reviewed: November 2026. This page summarises guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the NHS and the UK’s Lullaby Trust. It’s general information, it hasn’t been reviewed by a clinician and it isn’t medical advice for your baby. Speak to your doctor, midwife or health visitor before you travel, especially if your baby was premature or has any health condition. If you’re worried about your baby now, call your local emergency number or healthcare provider.

Most parents don’t plan a big trip in the first few weeks, but life doesn’t always cooperate. A family emergency, a move abroad or a pre-booked trip may mean you’re on the road or in the air with a very young baby. So what do the health bodies say? The short answer is that it can often be done, but that a few rules matter more in this age group, especially around fever, sleep and car seats. Here’s what we found, and what to ask your doctor.

Quick answer

• Flying: the AAP says that ideally you’d wait until your baby is 2 to 3 months old, but that it’s generally safe to fly once your newborn is at least 7 days old. The CDC says air travel is safe for most newborns, infants and children.
• Infection: the AAP says that air travel and crowded airports can increase a newborn’s risk of catching something, and suggests delaying for a few weeks when possible.
• Fever: the AAP says to call your doctor if a baby under 3 months has a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. The NHS lists 38°C or higher in a baby under 3 months as a reason to call 999 or go to A&E.
• Medicine: the NHS says not to give paracetamol to a child under 2 months, or ibuprofen to one under 3 months, unless a health professional tells you to.
• Driving: the Lullaby Trust says to avoid driving long distances with pre-term and young babies, and to take regular breaks.
• Sleep: follow safer sleep guidance at every sleep, away from home as well.

Questions to ask your doctor before you go

Take these to your paediatrician, GP or health visitor. They’re best placed to answer them for your baby.

• ☐ Is my baby fit to travel, given how they were born and their health so far?
• ☐ My baby was premature, or has a heart, lung or other condition. Does this change things? The CDC says children with chronic heart or lung problems or sickle cell disease might be at risk of low oxygen in flight, and should see a healthcare professional before they travel.
• ☐ How will this trip fit in with vaccinations? The NHS schedule gives the first routine vaccinations at 8 weeks and further doses at 12 weeks. Ask what’s due and what to do if you’ll be away.
• ☐ What should I do about a temperature while we’re away?
• ☐ Are there destination risks, such as malaria or other diseases, that make this trip unwise for a young baby?
• ☐ Does my baby need a letter from you for the airline?
• ☐ What do I need for feeding, and is there any reason to avoid a long gap between feeds?

Flying with a very young baby

Age and airline rules

Airlines set their own rules. For example, Delta says a newborn under 7 days may not travel unless accompanied by a letter from a doctor who has physically examined the baby. Other airlines differ. Check before you book, and keep the airline’s reply.

Where your baby sits

The FAA doesn’t require a ticket for under-2s, but the AAP and the FAA both say the safest place is in a certified child restraint, not on your lap. Ask if your seat fits, and whether the airline has a bassinet. Bassinet rules vary, and our guide to airline rules on beds and bassinets has examples.

Ears and feeding

The CDC says that ear pain can be troublesome for infants and children during descent, and that antihistamines and decongestants have not been shown to help. The AAP suggests feeding by breast or bottle, or offering a dummy, during take-off and landing. It also says not to give diphenhydramine without speaking to your doctor. If your baby has an ear infection or has recently had ear surgery, the AAP says to ask your doctor about flying.

Infection risk and hygiene

The CDC Yellow Book says that travellers should wash their hands frequently and thoroughly, and that communicable diseases can be transmitted during air travel. Those who have confirmed or suspected respiratory infections should delay travel. For parents, the CDC also says to wash your hands well after nappy changes. Practical steps can help: choose quieter flights if you can, wash your hands before feeding, and ask well-meaning strangers not to touch your baby’s face or hands. See our guide to keeping kids comfortable and hygienic on planes.

Driving with a very young baby

A car journey needs just as much thought. The Lullaby Trust says to avoid driving long distances with pre-term and young babies. It explains that young babies may be at risk of breathing difficulties if they sleep upright in a seated position for too long, which can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). It advises:

• Stop and take regular breaks on a long drive, taking your baby out of the seat so they can stretch and move.
• Have a second adult in the back with your baby if possible. If you’re alone, use a mirror.
• Take your baby out of the seat as soon as you reach your destination, as car seats aren’t designed to be a sleep space.
• Use a rear-facing seat and fit it correctly.

If your baby’s head slumps forward, stop as soon as it’s safe, and take them out of the seat. The AAP adds that you should never leave your child alone in or around cars. For more on seat choice, see travel car seats.

Sleeping away from home

The Lullaby Trust says to follow safer sleep guidelines for every sleep, day or night, just like at home. The AAP says to use a firm, flat surface and a crib, bassinet, portable crib or play yard that meets safety standards, with only a fitted sheet, and to keep your baby’s sleep space in your room but not your bed for at least six months. The Lullaby Trust says that travel cot mattresses are fine as long as they’re firm, flat, in good condition and meet safety standards, and that you shouldn’t add folded blankets or quilts. Our hotel room babyproofing guide has a checklist for rooms.

Keep the room at a fairly cool 16 to 20°C, as the Lullaby Trust recommends, and read our guide to blackout solutions before you cover anything near a cot.

Sun, heat and bathing water

The NHS and AAP both say to keep babies under 6 months out of direct sunlight. The AAP says to use sunscreen only on small areas, such as the face, if protective clothing and shade aren’t available. For hot destinations, the Lullaby Trust says not to cover prams with anything that stops air from flowing, and to feel your baby’s chest or the back of the neck to check their temperature. See our guide to stroller shade and cooling for more.

Know when to get urgent help

Before you leave, find out how to reach medical care where you’re going, and how to get there at night. The NHS says to call 999 or go to A&E, or use the local equivalent, if a baby or child under 5:

• has a temperature of 38°C or higher and is under 3 months old
• has a very low temperature, below 36°C, or feels cold to the touch or shivery
• is breathing very fast, has difficulty breathing, is making grunting noises or sucking in their tummy
• has a weak, high-pitched or continuous cry
• has fainted, is difficult to wake or can’t be woken
• hasn’t had a pee in the past 12 hours
• is having a seizure

The NHS adds: trust your instincts, and get immediate help if your child is unwell and you’re worried. This isn’t a complete list. Our guide to travelling with a sick child has more.

Step-by-step: planning the trip

1. Ask if the trip can wait. The AAP suggests delaying for a few weeks when you can.
2. Talk to your doctor, using the questions above.
3. Check documents. A newborn travelling abroad needs their own passport, which can take time.
4. Check your travel insurance. The CDC says to verify cover for illness and injury abroad before you leave. Tell your insurer about your baby. See family travel insurance: what to check.
5. Keep the route simple. Fewer changes mean fewer crowds and less time in a seat.
6. Pack a thermometer. You’ll need one to follow the fever advice. See our baby travel packing list.
7. Plan feeds. Our guide to flying with formula, breast milk and pumps covers the airport rules.

Common mistakes and real-world scenarios

• Waiting to see about a fever. In this age group, the NHS and AAP treat a temperature of 38°C or more as a reason to get help promptly. Don’t wait until morning.
• Giving medicine “just in case”. Follow the age limits above, and speak to a health professional first.
• A long nap in the car seat at the hotel. Move your baby to a flat sleep space as soon as you can, as both the AAP and the Lullaby Trust say.
• Bed-sharing because of a poor cot. The AAP advises against it. Ask for a different cot, or check the Lullaby Trust’s guidance on sleep away from home.
• Passing your baby around at a family gathering. Ask relatives who are unwell to wait. Handwashing helps.