Ryanair With a Baby 2026: £25 Fee, 5kg Bag & Pram
By BabyTravel UK Editorial Team · Last updated September 2026
Ryanair baby allowance at a glance
- Infant fee: £25 / €25 per baby, per one-way flight.
- Baby bag: one 5kg bag measuring no more than 45 × 35 × 20cm for a lap infant.
- Free equipment: one pushchair plus one car seat, booster seat or travel cot.
- Pushchair: use it to the aircraft steps, then expect it to travel in the hold.
- Car seat or harness: book a separate seat and check the exact restraint rules before paying.
- Bassinet: not available on Ryanair flights.
Plan the practical details
Prepare for your Ryanair flight
Ryanair carries pushchairs in the hold after you hand them over at the aircraft steps. A lighter one-hand-fold stroller makes the terminal and gate handover easier, while a padded bag helps protect it during handling. Check another model in our stroller airline size checker.
Bugaboo Butterfly 2
Ryanair will still place it in the hold, but the compact fold and carry strap make it easier to manage through the airport and fold while you are holding a baby.
Check at Mamas & Papas Amazon alternativePadded gate-check bag
A padded cover helps protect your pushchair from scuffs, dirt and loose straps if it is taken at the gate and loaded into the hold.
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Compare cover for medical treatment, cancellations and baggage before departure, then check the policy limits and exclusions for your family and trip.
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Get the free sampleRyanair infant fee and minimum age
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Ryanair's lap infant policy covers babies under 2 years old who sit on a parent's lap throughout the flight. You do not book a separate seat for them — instead, you add the infant to your own booking.
The current fee is £25 / €25 per infant per one-way flight. That means a return trip costs £50 per baby. Unlike Jet2, Ryanair does not offer free infant travel. The fee is payable at booking and applies on all routes, including UK domestic. You can add an infant to your booking online via Ryanair's "Manage My Booking" section or during the initial checkout process. Look for the "Add Infant" option — it appears on the passenger details step.
The minimum age to fly with Ryanair is 8 days old. If you're flying very close to this window, bring your baby's birth certificate and a letter from your midwife or GP confirming they are fit to fly. Ryanair staff can and do ask.
Ryanair allows one infant per adult aged 18 or over. If you are travelling with two children under 2, a second adult must accompany the second infant. If a child turns 2 before the return flight, Ryanair requires a full-fare seat for that sector.
Ryanair pushchair and free baby-equipment allowance
Each child can take two baby-equipment items free of charge, such as a pushchair plus a car seat, booster seat or travel cot. Have the items tagged at the bag-drop desk or boarding gate.
You can normally use the pushchair through the terminal and hand it over at the aircraft steps. It is then carried in the hold and may be returned at the aircraft steps or the baggage hall, depending on the arrival airport. A padded bag such as the Huckaboo Stroller Travel Bag can reduce scuffs during handling. Check your folded dimensions with our stroller airline checker and compare lighter options in our travel pushchair guide.
Three pushchairs suited to Ryanair gate checking
Ryanair carries pushchairs in the hold, so prioritise a model that is light through the terminal, quick to fold at the aircraft steps and easy to protect in a travel bag. These three are practical compact choices for the journey and for your destination.
Bugaboo Butterfly
One-second one-hand fold, self-standing, and a comfy seat for longer days — the most refined of the cabin-sized trio.
Check price on Amazon
Babyzen YOYO²
The original cabin stroller — folds tiny with a shoulder strap for carrying hands-free, and a huge accessory range that grows with your baby.
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Joolz Aer+
At around 6kg it's the lightest here, with a high handlebar that suits taller parents and a one-hand fold that drops into its own bag.
Check price on AmazonSee how they compare in our cabin-friendly stroller guide.
Does Ryanair provide bassinets or skycots?
Ryanair does not offer bassinets on any route. The airline operates short and medium-haul flights only, and its Boeing 737 cabins are not configured with bulkhead bassinet fittings. For your baby's entire journey, they will be on your lap. If you're looking for bassinets, you'll need a long-haul carrier such as British Airways, KLM, or TAP Air Portugal on intercontinental routes.
For a full comparison of which airlines offer bassinets, see our airline baby policies compared page.
Ryanair car-seat and CARES harness rules
Ryanair permits a car seat in the cabin only when you have bought a separate seat for the child. The seat must be forward-facing, no wider than 43 cm, approved for use on an aircraft and fitted with an approved five-point harness. Contact Ryanair before travel if you are unsure whether your model meets its current requirements.
A car seat checked into the hold can count as the second free baby-equipment item alongside your pushchair. See our car seat on a plane guide before deciding whether to use the seat onboard or check it in.
Car-seat and harness options to compare for Ryanair
Flying Ryanair with a car seat? A compact, aircraft-approved seat is easiest to carry, gate-check and use at your destination — and, on airlines that allow car seats in the cabin, on board too (any seat used on board must carry aircraft-approval certification). These three are among the most widely available in the UK; see our full guide to using a car seat on a plane for how they compare.
Maxi-Cosi CabinoFix
The most accessible aircraft-approved infant seat — light, straightforward to fit and widely stocked in the UK.
Check price on Amazon
BeSafe iZi Go Modular i-Size
The strongest safety pedigree here — a Scandinavian i-Size infant seat with an excellent crash-test reputation.
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Doona Car Seat & Stroller
A full infant car seat with fold-out stroller wheels — aircraft-approved and brilliant for travel.
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Ryanair accepts genuine CARES with advance notice
Ryanair lists AmSafe CARES for children 10–20 kg, but does not permit its listed postural supports for children under two. Contact assisted travel at least 48 hours before departure. Our CARES guide explains the fit and counterfeit checks.
Do not assume an inflatable bed or ride-on case fits Ryanair's free small bag or will be usable on board. Our airplane-bed guide explains the crew-dependent issue, while the ride-on suitcase comparison gives the packed dimensions.
Formula, breast milk, and baby food
All UK airports follow government guidelines that exempt baby milk and food from the standard 100 ml liquid rule. You can bring as much formula, breast milk, or expressed milk as you reasonably need for the journey — there is no volume cap. Security staff may ask you to remove it from your bag, and in some cases to open containers or taste the milk. This is standard and not specific to Ryanair.
Once on board, Ryanair cabin crew can warm formula or baby food in a cup of hot water — ask the crew after the seatbelt sign turns off. There is no dedicated baby meal service on Ryanair, so bring everything your baby needs. For sterilising bottles on the go without any electricity, a Milton Mini travel steriliser or a pack of Milton sterilising tablets is the easiest option once you're away from home. For a full breakdown of what you can take through security, see our guide to breast milk and formula at UK airport security.
Feeding kit for the flight and beyond
A few things make bottle feeds far easier once you're away from your own kitchen — somewhere to sterilise, somewhere to wash up, and a familiar bottle that won't leak in the changing bag.
Milton Mini Travel Steriliser
Cold-water sterilising for one bottle at a time — no electricity or microwave needed, ideal for airports and hotel rooms.
Check price on Amazon
Collapsible Bowl & Bottle Brush Set
A packable bowl and brush so you can wash and rinse bottles between feeds when there's no clean sink to hand.
Check price on Amazon
Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Bottle
A widely used anti-colic bottle with a slow-flow teat — keep your baby on the same familiar bottle when you travel.
Check price on AmazonRyanair infant baggage allowance: the 5kg baby bag
This is one area where Ryanair is more generous than its budget reputation suggests. Each infant on the booking entitles you to one additional small bag:
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Standard cabin bag (adult) | 40 × 20 × 25 cm (free, under seat) |
| Extra infant bag | Max 45 × 35 × 20 cm, max 5 kg |
The infant bag is a genuine extra item — it does not count towards your adult cabin bag allowance. This is the bag you should use as your nappy bag. Pack it with nappies, wipes, a change of clothes, milk, snacks, and anything else you need quick access to during the flight. Our baby hand luggage checklist has a full list of what to prioritise.
Organise your nappy bag for the flight
A well-organised bag makes onboard changes and feeds far less stressful in a cramped seat. A backpack-style changing bag keeps your hands free through the airport, and a couple of grab-and-go pouches save you digging around at 30,000 feet.
Joolz Changing Backpack
A backpack-style changing bag keeps both hands free for the pushchair and boarding pass, with insulated bottle pockets and an included changing mat.
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OXO Tot On-the-Go Wipes & Nappy Pouch
A slim pouch that keeps wipes moist and a couple of nappies to hand — grab it and go straight to the aircraft changing table without unpacking the whole bag.
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Skip Hop Grab & Go Double Bottle Bag
Insulated to keep two bottles or cartons at temperature through security queues and delays — handy when you can't count on getting hot water quickly.
Check price on AmazonBooking tips: how to add an infant to a Ryanair booking
- During checkout: Add the infant on the passenger-details step and check the fee displayed for each flight.
- After booking: Use My Bookings to add the infant before check-in if the online option is available; contact Ryanair if it is not.
- Seats: Adults travelling with infants must be allocated a seat with an additional oxygen mask. Follow the seats offered by Ryanair rather than choosing an exit row, which cannot be used with an infant.
- Documents: Check the destination's passport and consent-letter requirements; every infant needs the documents required for that route.
- Boarding: Priority is a paid fare or add-on and is not automatically included simply because you are travelling with a baby. Buy it only if the extra cabin-bag or queue benefits suit your trip.
Our take on Ryanair with a baby
Ryanair can work well for short family trips once you plan around its strict baggage rules. The useful benefits are the separate 5 kg infant bag and two free baby-equipment items; the trade-offs are the per-flight infant charge, no bassinet service and hold handling for the pushchair. Pack to the published dimensions, protect the pushchair and check the latest fee at booking rather than paying for extras by default.
Don't Forget Travel Insurance
Compare family travel insurance policies — covers medical emergencies, cancellations, and lost luggage.
Compare Travel InsuranceAmazon essentials for a Ryanair gate-check journey
These specific items solve common Ryanair problems: protecting a hold-bound pushchair, keeping feeding kit compact and organising the essentials you need within the 5kg baby-bag limit.
Baby ear protection — Banz Earmuffs
Noise-reducing earmuffs help a sensitive baby settle and sleep through engine drone (feeding, not muffs, is what eases ear pressure).
Check price on Amazon
Travel steriliser — Milton Mini
Cold-water sterilising for one bottle at a time — no electricity or microwave needed, ideal for hotel rooms and airports.
Check price on Amazon
Stroller gate-check bag — Huckaboo
Ryanair gate-checks every pushchair, so a padded bag shields yours from scuffs and grime in the hold.
Check price on Amazon
Portable changing mat — Skip Hop Pronto
A padded, wipe-clean mat with built-in wipe and nappy pockets — a lifesaver in cramped aircraft toilets and unfamiliar bathrooms.
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Portable blackout blind — Tommee Tippee Sleeptight
Hotel and apartment curtains are rarely truly dark. This suction-fit blind gives your baby a familiar, dark room for naps and early mornings.
Check price on Amazon
White noise machine — Yogasleep Hushh
Rechargeable and pocket-sized, it masks unfamiliar hotel noise and recreates the sleep cues your baby knows from home.
Check price on AmazonTravelling light? Check whether your pushchair fits the cabin with our free Stroller Airline Size Checker. Ryanair gate-checks all pushchairs whatever their size, so a compact, easy-fold model like the Bugaboo Butterfly, Joolz Aer+ or Cybex Coya makes gate-checking quick — and all three fit the overhead lockers on airlines that do allow cabin pushchairs. See our cabin stroller guide for the full picture.
What to do if your Ryanair flight is delayed or cancelled
Keep your booking details, disruption messages and receipts for reasonable meals, transport or accommodation. Ask Ryanair for the cause of the disruption and what it will provide before arranging alternatives yourself. Depending on the route, delay length and cause, you may also be able to claim compensation; the checker below can give you an initial indication.
Flight Delayed or Cancelled? AirHelp helps you claim up to €600 in compensation — even for past flights.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ryanair baby airfare fee?
Ryanair currently lists a £25 / €25 charge for a lap infant on each one-way flight. Confirm the exact fee displayed when booking because charges can change.
Can I take a pram or pushchair on Ryanair?
Yes. A pushchair can be one of the child's two free baby-equipment items. You normally use it to the aircraft steps, where it is tagged and placed in the hold. Collection may be at the steps or the baggage hall depending on the airport.
What is Ryanair's infant baggage allowance?
A lap infant gets one baby bag weighing up to 5 kg and measuring no more than 45 × 35 × 20 cm. This is in addition to the accompanying adult's allowance. Two baby-equipment items, such as a pushchair and car seat or travel cot, can also travel free.
Does Ryanair have bassinets?
No. Ryanair's aircraft do not offer bassinets, so a lap infant remains with the accompanying adult during the flight.
Does Ryanair offer priority boarding with a baby?
Travelling with an infant does not automatically include Ryanair Priority. It is a paid fare or add-on, so compare its queue and cabin-bag benefits with what your family actually needs.
Does Ryanair have baby changing facilities?
Yes. Ryanair's current guidance says baby-changing facilities are available onboard, at the rear or middle of the aircraft depending on the aircraft type. Ask the crew which lavatory to use.
Is Ryanair good for flying with a baby?
It can be a practical low-cost choice for a short flight. The separate 5 kg infant bag and two free equipment items help, but you should budget for the infant fee and expect the pushchair to travel in the hold.
Ryanair policies are subject to change — always verify on Ryanair's website before travel. Compare all airline baby policies on our airline comparison page.
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Compare other airlines
Every airline has a different baby policy. Compare your options before you book:
- easyJet — £25/flight, cabin stroller option, changing bag allowance
- British Airways — 10% fare, free bassinet long-haul
- Jet2 — Free infant travel, cabin stroller
- TUI — Variable fee, gate-check only, no bassinet
- Wizz Air — £27–32, rear-facing car seats only
- Vueling — Flat fee by route, extra 5 kg baby bag
- TAP Air Portugal — 10% fare, bassinet on A330/A321LR
- KLM — No minimum age, bassinet, 12 kg baby bag
- Aer Lingus — Transatlantic bassinet, no cabin car seats
- Lufthansa — Long-haul bassinets, Frankfurt/Munich hub
- Emirates — All-fleet bassinets, baby meals on request
- Turkish Airlines — Bassinets, wide global route network
For a full side-by-side table covering all airlines, see our airline baby policies compared page.