Flying With a Baby on Ryanair: Everything You Need to Know (2026)

By BabyTravel UK Editorial Team · Last updated April 2026

Infant lap seat policy and fees

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 enforces a strict one infant per adult rule, and no more than four infants are permitted on any single flight. If you are a single parent travelling with two children under 2, you will need a second adult on the booking to cover the second infant.

Pushchair and stroller rules

Ryanair does not permit pushchairs in the cabin — even compact, cabin-sized models specifically designed for air travel such as the Babyzen YOYO², Bugaboo Butterfly, or Joolz Aer+ are not allowed in the cabin. Your pushchair must be gate-checked at the boarding gate, free of charge, regardless of its folded size.

You keep your pushchair with you through the terminal, fold it at the aircraft door, and collect it either at the jet bridge on arrival or at baggage reclaim — this varies by airport. A thin gate-check bag offers basic protection from dirt and grease. If you have a more expensive pushchair, consider a padded travel bag.

For guidance on the best pushchairs for flying, see our complete flying with a baby guide or check our stroller airline checker. If you're comparing pushchair options, our cabin-approved stroller guide covers the top models — though bear in mind none will go in the cabin on Ryanair.

Bassinet / skycot availability

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.

Car seat policy

Ryanair does permit car seats in the cabin, but only if you have purchased a separate seat for your child. The car seat must fit under the seat in front or in the overhead locker — this rules out most infant and convertible seats, which are too large. In reality, very few car seats meet these size constraints on Ryanair's 737 cabins, so most families either hold the baby throughout or use a travel seat such as the CARES harness for toddlers over 1 year old.

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 a full breakdown of what you can take through security, see our guide to breast milk and formula at UK airport security.

Nappy bag and extra hand luggage allowance

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:

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.

Booking tips: how to add an infant to a Ryanair booking

Ryanair only allows one infant per adult on the booking, and infants cannot be added after check-in has closed. Here is how to do it correctly:

• During checkout: On the passenger details step, select "Add Infant" beneath the adult passenger entry. Enter the baby's name and date of birth.
• After booking: Log in to "Manage My Booking," select your flight, and use the "Add Infant" option. Do this well before check-in opens.
• Seat selection: Ryanair recommends sitting in rows 1–5 or the emergency exit rows (which are not available with an infant). Book seats near the front to minimise walking with a baby and to be among the first off the plane. Bulkhead seats do not offer any additional benefit since there are no bassinets.
• Check in online: You can check in online with an infant 48–2 hours before departure. You will be asked to confirm the infant's details. Bring the infant's birth certificate to the airport.
• Priority boarding: Ryanair offers priority boarding to families with children under 12 as an add-on purchase. With a baby, it is genuinely worth it — it gives you time to stow your bag, get settled, and avoid boarding in a crush while holding an infant.

Our take on Ryanair with a baby

Ryanair is not the most family-friendly airline, but it is a perfectly workable one — especially for short trips under 3 hours. The key is going in with realistic expectations. The infant fee of £25 per flight is standard for budget carriers, the no-bassinet policy is a consequence of the aircraft and route type (not a deliberate choice against families), and the extra infant bag is a genuine practical plus. Where Ryanair can catch you out is on priority boarding — without it, you're boarding in a scrum with a pushchair and a baby, which is stressful. Pay for priority boarding, arrive at the gate early, and you'll find the experience far more manageable. The short flying times are also a genuine advantage with a baby: most Ryanair routes are under 3 hours, which means you rarely hit the difficult stretch where a baby has run out of patience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do babies fly free on Ryanair?

No — Ryanair charges £25 / €25 per infant per one-way flight. A return trip with a lap infant costs £50. Jet2 is currently the only major UK airline offering free infant travel. The fee must be paid at the time of booking or via Manage My Booking before check-in.

Can I take a stroller on Ryanair?

Yes, but only as a gate-check — not in the cabin. You use your pushchair through the terminal and fold it at the aircraft door. Ryanair staff take it from there and load it into the hold. It is returned either at the jet bridge or baggage reclaim on arrival. Gate-checking is free on all Ryanair flights. Even compact cabin-sized strollers such as the Babyzen YOYO² or Bugaboo Butterfly are not permitted inside the aircraft on Ryanair.

Does Ryanair have bassinets?

No. Ryanair does not offer bassinets (sky cots) on any route. The airline operates short and medium-haul flights on Boeing 737 aircraft, which are not fitted with bulkhead bassinet attachments. Your baby will be on your lap for the entire flight. Bassinets are only available on long-haul carriers such as British Airways, KLM, and TAP Air Portugal.

Does Ryanair offer priority boarding with a baby?

Ryanair does offer priority boarding to families with children under 12, but it is a paid add-on — it is not automatically included with an infant booking. It is well worth purchasing when travelling with a baby, as it gives you time to board calmly, stow your bags, and get your baby settled before the main cabin crush. You can add it during booking or via Manage My Booking.

Does Ryanair have baby changing facilities?

Ryanair's Boeing 737 aircraft have limited lavatory space, and not all toilets have a fold-down changing table. On shorter flights, some parents manage a quick nappy change in the lavatory; on others you may need to change your baby at your seat. Pack a compact travel changing mat in your infant bag so you can manage wherever you are. Most UK airports have excellent baby changing facilities in the terminal for pre-boarding changes.

What baby items can I bring on Ryanair?

You can bring nappies, wipes, formula, breast milk, baby food, a portable changing mat, a spare change of clothes, and any baby medicines your child needs. Formula and breast milk are exempt from the 100 ml liquid rule at UK airports. Your extra infant bag (up to 5 kg, 45×35×20 cm) is the right place to store all of these. See our baby hand luggage checklist for a full packing guide.

Is Ryanair good for flying with a baby?

For short European trips, Ryanair is a perfectly reasonable choice. The fares are low, the routes are extensive, and the extra infant bag allowance is useful. The main limitations — no bassinets, no automatic priority boarding, no cabin pushchair access — are typical of budget short-haul carriers. With a bit of planning (priority boarding, aisle seat, infant bag packed smartly), most families find Ryanair manageable. For longer hauls or if you value family-specific amenities, a full-service airline will serve you better.

Last updated: April 2026. Ryanair policies are subject to change — always verify on Ryanair's website before travel. Compare all airline baby policies on our airline comparison page.

Compare other airlines

Every airline has a different baby policy. Compare your options before you book:

• easyJet — ~£27/flight, cabin stroller, infant 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.