10 tips for flying with babies and toddlers from Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports

Tried-and-tested hacks I've learnt from flights with my toddler to help make your next trip as stress-free as possible

Etihad Airways has trained crew members to be in-flight nannies to young passengers. Photo: Etihad Airways

Summer is in full swing, and while some travellers are off on trips with friends or on solo retreats, many of us are travelling with far less predictable companions. For parents flying with babies or toddlers, the prospect of air travel can be daunting.

“Pre-travel anxiety is incredibly common, especially before flying with young children for the first time,” says Sreevidhya Srinivas, a clinical psychologist for children and adolescents at Dubai’s Medcare Camali Clinic. “Parents aren’t just handling the logistics of travel, they’re also managing uncertainty, expectations and the emotional weight of worrying that things might go wrong.”

Having taken 17 flights with my now 22-month-old daughter, I get it. Gone are the days when my biggest concern was the in-flight movie. Now, flying means juggling naps, snacks and toddler moods. But what I’ve learnt is that it can go smoothly. And even when it doesn’t, it is short-lived.

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Here are 10 tips to make your next flight with little ones as fuss-free as possible.

1. Babies can travel earlier than you might think

My daughter’s first flight was at three months. She had reflux, colic and was entirely unpredictable. But the eight-hour flight from Dubai to Glasgow, although intense and sleepless, was manageable. The upside of flying with such young babies is that they’re immobile, small enough for the bassinet and mostly unaware of the chaos around them. The downside is their constant, unpredictable needs and that parents are navigating the journey on newborn-induced fatigue.

Airlines in the UAE, including Emirates and Etihad, usually allow babies to fly from seven days old, although medical clearance may be needed for those under two weeks or born prematurely.

“Most healthy, full-term infants can safely fly from two weeks,” says Dr Mohammed Harriss, a pulmonology specialist from Medcare Royal Specialty Hospital. “Where possible, I recommend waiting until they are six to eight weeks old. By then, babies have had their first vaccines and are more resilient to germs in crowded spaces.”

2. Master the airport experience

Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport has a children's play area. Pawan Singh / The National

Skip duty-free shopping and instead use airport time to manage nappy changes and let toddlers burn off energy. I recommend arriving about two hours before your flight to check in, pass security and navigate terminals with little ones in tow.

If you’re flying with young children, you can’t use UAE e-gates, but family lanes at both Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports help speed up immigration. At security, laptops or iPads typically need to come out of bags, so have them handy. Flag to staff that you have baby liquids with you as these may need to be swabbed, but there’s no limit to how much you can bring. Whether you have to fold your pram depends on the airport and, in my experience, on the staff on duty. It’s best to be mentally prepared for it. A baby carrier can help here.

Once through formalities, Dubai International has a small play area near the B-Gates with a slide and climbing frame. Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport has a play space for under-sixes just after passport control, and a sensory room, which is great for early or late flights.

“These rooms serve as excellent environments for self-regulation,” says Dr Srinivas. “They reduce auditory and visual input and help facilitate emotional downregulation.” You can prebook a 45-minute slot or just turn up and see if there is space.

Many airlines also offer early family boarding, a small but useful win for getting settled before passengers join.

3. Book a neighbour-free seat

Neighbour-free seating is a gamechanger. Hayley Skirka for The National

My number one travel hack when flying with little ones is to go with Etihad and take advantage of its Economy Neighbour-Free seats.

I’ve paid between Dh250 and Dh650 for this service, which allows you to block the seat beside you, giving your infant their own space for a fraction of the cost of a child’s fare. It’s not guaranteed, as it depends on flight loads, but it’s saved me hundreds of dirhams compared to buying a second seat.

Emirates and Qatar Airways offer similar options, but these can’t be pre-booked and can only be requested at the airport, subject to availability. If you do get the extra seat, your child still needs to be on your lap for take-off, landing and turbulence, but the added space is a game-changer.

4. Request a bassinet

Bassinet seats are usually in the bulkhead row, meaning more space. Even if your child has outgrown the bassinet itself, which is likely given they are restricted for children who are more than 11kg or 75cm on both Emirates and Etihad, the extra legroom is still valuable. Call your airline to reserve the seats, a service that is free of charge when travelling with a child under two.

Stretching out in the bassinet. Hayley Skirka for The National

My daughter is petite, so she fit in the bassinet until around 15 months. Even after that, I continue to book the seats for the extra room.

5. Anticipate take-off troubles

“Ear discomfort during take-off and landing is common due to changes in cabin pressure, and it can be particularly uncomfortable for infants and toddlers because their Eustachian tubes are still developing,” says Dr Harriss. Babies can drink milk or water during ascent and descent to help swallow and equalise pressure, while older toddlers can suck on a straw or sippy cup. Snacks also help.

Just remember elevation changes typically last longer than you think, so don’t go too fast with drinks, or have a second one ready.

6. In-flight entertainment

The in-flight information card can double up as a toy. Hayley Skirka for The National

Unpredictably, some of my daughter’s favourite in-flight toys have been a roll of painter’s tape and an in-flight safety card.

I now pack a few cheap surprises such as stickers, figurines and water colouring books, and wrap them in foil to hand out throughout the flight. Unwrapping is part of the fun, and foil makes security checks easier if you need to reveal what’s inside. If your toddler will watch a show, pre-download it and check it’s still valid while you have Wi-Fi. Some Netflix downloads expire in 48 hours.

Finally, don’t underestimate the joy of a friendly neighbour sat behind you. Games of peekaboo have been some of my daughter’s most fun in-flight moments.

7. Feeding time tips

For bottle-fed babies, the easiest option is ready-to-feed formula. Decant into sterilised bottles and ask the crew to heat them. If you have an impatient baby, it’s worth investing in a Nuby RapidCool. This insulated container chills milk back to drinking temperature in two minutes and is a lifesaver when crew hand you back an almost boiling bottle.

If you’re breastfeeding, it’s even easier, simply throw a scarf in your bag if you want some privacy. For older babies and toddlers, freeze food pouches before the flight. They’ll thaw gradually and be ready to eat mid-journey.

8. Pack a travel health kit

As well as travel essentials such as nappies and wipes, pack a health kit when you fly. “Essentials include a digital thermometer, pain relievers, saline spray and a bulb syringe or nasal aspirator for congestion,” says Dr Udhayesan Cherayil Nanu, a specialist paediatrician at Aster Clinic in Sharjah.

Admittedly, I only started doing this after flying from Japan with my daughter when she developed a fever mid-flight. The Etihad crew were fantastic and brought me a thermometer, but when they offered to call a doctor on the ground, my panic levels rose. If I’d had my own thermometer and medicine, I could’ve monitored and treated her calmly, without the drama.

9. Reconsider the red-eye

Red-eye flights can be great if your child nods off easily, but I’ve accepted they’re not for us as my daughter refuses to sleep more than half an hour when travelling and I end up stressed trying to keep her quiet while others rest.

“Red-eye flights can work well if your child has a predictable bedtime routine and is comfortable sleeping in different environments,” says Dr Yasir Shafi, a homoeopathic practitioner at Wellth Clinic. But, as he adds: “There’s pressure to keep the child quiet, which isn’t always realistic.”

If you do go red-eye, try to recreate bedtime. “Familiar routines are powerful sleep cues, even in-flight,” says Dr Harriss. “Bring a sleep sack, familiar pyjamas, white noise and a bedtime book.”

10. Stay calm

Meltdowns mid-air feel more intense, but they’re rarely as bad as you think. “Flying with young children can be unpredictable and, while preparation is important, flexibility is just as vital,” says Dr Nanu.

If a meltdown occurs, stay calm. “Your toddler feeds off your energy,” says Dr Srinivas. “If you panic or get flustered, they escalate too.” Acknowledging their emotions, offering comfort, and gently shifting their focus with a toy, snack or book can help.

I can personally attest that things don’t always go to plan when flying with toddlers, but for those hours you’re on the plane, focusing on your family's comfort is the best you can do. “Staying calm, compassionate and responsive is more important for children than perfect travel plans,” says Dr Shafi.