Travelling Low-Cost with an Infant: Hacks for Ryanair & EasyJet (2026)

Flying Ryanair or EasyJet with a baby is doable, but it will cost you more than the headline fare suggests. Between the infant fee, seat selection, and getting your pram on board safely, a family of three can easily add £50–80 on top of the base ticket price per flight. We have flown both airlines dozens of times with our son since he was 4 months old, and these are the hacks and workarounds we have picked up along the way.

The good news: once you understand the baggage rules, you can make low-cost flying with an infant work well — and still save hundreds compared to legacy carriers.

Ryanair vs EasyJet: Quick Comparison

Ryanair

Cabin Baggage Allowance

Ryanair charges £/€25 per infant on your lap, and there is no cabin bag allowance other than a baby bag up to 5kg (45x35x20cm). So if you want your travel-friendly pram (e.g. Babyzen Yoyo) to fly safely in the cabin — and use it right up to boarding and straight after landing — you need to pay for a 10kg additional cabin bag.

What we do is purchase the Regular Fare (Priority & 2 Cabin Bags), which gives you a personal item (40x30x20cm) plus a 10kg overhead cabin bag (55x40x20cm). We use that second cabin bag slot for the pram. If we need more luggage (most of the time), we buy the same Regular Fare plus a 23kg checked bag and use one of the cabin bags for the pram.

A word of caution: the Yoyo folds to roughly 52x44x18cm, which technically exceeds the 40cm width limit by about 4cm. In practice, gate staff rarely measure it, especially inside a pram travel bag — but it is worth knowing.

Adults travelling with infants must sit at a window seat (there are 2 oxygen masks above those seats), and Ryanair charges for seat selection — the minimum is around £/€2 per seat.

See the official resources:

• Bag Rules
• Travelling With Children
• Ryanair’s Bag Policy

Checked Baggage Allowance

There is a free allowance for checked baby equipment. You can bring 2 items per child at no charge — pushchair/buggy, car seat, booster seat or travel cot. These need to be tagged at the check-in desk or boarding gate. You can use your pushchair until the aircraft steps.

If you have a pram with a detachable bassinet, the bassinet and the frame/wheels count as your 2 items.

The catch: depending on the airport, you may have to wait at the baggage carousel for your pram. That means carrying your baby through the terminal, possibly for 20-30 minutes. And airport baggage handlers are not exactly gentle with prams — we have seen ours come out with scuff marks more than once. A padded travel bag is worth the investment if you gate-check regularly.

Other Considerations

• Infants must be at least 8 days old to fly with Ryanair.
• If you bring a car seat and want your infant to sit in it during the flight, you need to book (and pay for) an extra seat.
• If your infant turns 2 before the return flight, they need a full-fare ticket for that leg.
• Children aged 2-11 get free reserved seating next to a parent (up to 4 children per adult with a reserved seat).
• Cabin crew can warm baby bottles on request, and there are changing facilities at the rear of the aircraft.
• Baby food and liquids: formula, breast milk and sterilised water are exempt from the standard 100ml airport security limit. Pack them in your baby bag and be prepared for security to ask you to taste them.

EasyJet

Cabin Baggage Allowance

EasyJet has very similar rules. They charge £25 per lap infant (minimum age 14 days, compared to Ryanair’s 8 days), and there is no cabin bag allowance other than a baby changing bag (max 45x36x20cm) under the seat in front of you. So the same logic applies — if you want your Babyzen Yoyo in the cabin, you need to pay for an extra cabin bag.

The options mirror Ryanair’s: buy an additional cabin bag for the pram alongside your Standard Plus tickets, or buy checked luggage and use one cabin bag for the pram. Seat selection starts at £6.99 per seat, but unlike Ryanair, you are not forced to choose a window seat. One nice perk: EasyJet offers free early boarding for families with children under 5, so you get extra time to settle in and stow the pram.

See all fees here.

Checked Baggage Allowance

Same as Ryanair — 2 free checked baby items per child (travel cot, pushchair, car seat, booster seat, baby carrier). Tag them at check-in or the boarding gate, and use your pushchair until the aircraft steps.

The same caveats apply: you may wait at the carousel, and baggage handlers will not treat your pram like a Fabergé egg.

Other Considerations

• Each adult can travel with a maximum of two infants. If travelling with two, you must buy a separate seat for at least one (only one lap infant per row of three seats).
• If you bring a car seat, it must be forward-facing. Your infant needs their own booked seat, and the car seat must be secured for takeoff and landing.
• Infants with booked seats and children over 2 have the same cabin bag and hold luggage allowance as adults.
• CARES harness: if your child is aged 1-4 and weighs 10-20kg, you can use a CARES aviation harness instead of a car seat. Contact EasyJet’s Special Assistance team to confirm seat compatibility.
• Baby food and liquids: formula, breast milk and sterilised water are exempt from the 100ml rule — EasyJet explicitly allows up to 2 litres per container. Security may ask you to taste them.
• Trunki suitcases: the standard size (46×20.5x31cm) fits as a cabin bag, so older siblings can wheel their own luggage. Larger Trunkis go in the hold.
• Breastfeeding is supported throughout the flight — no restrictions during any phase.
• Check in early: online check-in opens 30 days before departure. Check in at least 7 days early for the best chance of adjacent family seats.
• Full guidelines here.

Tips From Experience

• Book Priority early. The Priority & 2 Cabin Bags add-on sells out on popular routes. If it is gone by the time you book, you cannot bring the pram in the cabin — your only option is gate-checking it.
• Use a pram bag. Whether you are cabin-stowing or gate-checking your pram, a padded travel bag protects it from scratches and makes it look like a regular cabin bag at the gate.
• Bring a baby carrier. If you gate-check the pram, you will need to carry your baby through the airport on arrival. A lightweight carrier or sling makes this much easier, especially if you also have hand luggage.
• Arrive early. Tagging baby equipment at check-in adds time. Give yourself an extra 15-20 minutes.
• Pack essentials in the baby bag. Nappies, wipes, a change of clothes, milk/formula, a dummy, and a small toy. This bag goes under the seat and is your lifeline during the flight.
• Feed during takeoff and landing. The sucking motion helps with ear pressure. A bottle or breastfeeding during ascent and descent can prevent a lot of crying.

What We Pack for a Low-Cost Flight

After dozens of Ryanair and EasyJet flights, this is our standard setup for a family of three:

• Babyzen Yoyo in a travel bag — cabin bag slot
• Baby bag (5kg, under-seat) — nappies, wipes, change of clothes, bottles, snacks
• Personal item (40x30x20cm) — passports, wallet, phone, charger
• 23kg checked bag — everything else
• Baby carrier — worn, does not count as a bag
• Car seat — free checked baby item (tagged at gate)

This setup works for both Ryanair and EasyJet and keeps the add-on costs to around £30-40 per person per flight (Priority + checked bag + seat selection).

Planning Your Family Trip?

If you are flying with a baby to one of the popular European destinations, we have detailed guides on the best family-friendly hotels with baby amenities:

• Best Family Hotels in Ibiza for Babies & Toddlers
• Top Mallorca Hotels for Babies & Toddlers
• Menorca with Children: The Perfect Family Holiday
• Best Hotels with Exceptional Features for Babies in Europe
• Upgrade Your Yoyo Stroller: Top Travel Accessories

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring a pram in the cabin on Ryanair?

Not as a free item. Ryanair does not include cabin bag allowance for infants. However, if you purchase Priority & 2 Cabin Bags (from £/€11.99), you get a 10kg overhead cabin bag (55x40x20cm). If your pram folds small enough to fit those dimensions — like the Babyzen Yoyo — you can use that cabin bag slot for it.

How much does it cost to fly with a baby on Ryanair or EasyJet?

The infant lap fee is £/€25 on both airlines. On top of that, you will pay for seat selection (from £/€2 on Ryanair, from £6.99 on EasyJet) and likely Priority & 2 Cabin Bags if you want the pram in the cabin (from £/€11.99 on Ryanair). Budget an extra £40-60 per adult per flight on top of the base fare.

Can I gate-check my pram for free?

Yes. Both Ryanair and EasyJet allow 2 free checked baby items per child (pushchair, car seat, travel cot, etc.). You can use your pram until the aircraft steps, where staff will tag it and load it into the hold. The downside is you may have to wait at the baggage carousel on arrival.

Do I need to sit by the window on Ryanair with a baby?

Yes. Ryanair requires adults with lap infants to sit in window seats because those seats have 2 oxygen masks. This is not optional, and you will need to pay for the seat selection. EasyJet does not have this requirement.

What happens if my baby turns 2 before the return flight?

On Ryanair, if your infant is 23 months on the outbound but turns 2 before the return, they need a full-fare child ticket for the return leg. The same applies on EasyJet. Plan ahead if your child’s birthday falls during your trip.

Can I bring baby milk and formula through airport security?

Yes. Baby formula, breast milk and sterilised water are exempt from the standard 100ml liquid restriction at airport security. This is an aviation security rule, not an airline rule, so it applies regardless of which airline you fly. EasyJet explicitly allows up to 2 litres per container. Pack them in your baby bag where they are easy to reach — security staff may ask you to taste or test them.

Does the Babyzen Yoyo fit in Ryanair’s cabin bag size?

It is close but technically over by about 4cm on the width (the Yoyo folds to roughly 52x44x18cm vs the 55x40x20cm limit). In our experience, gate staff have never measured it or refused it, especially when it is in a travel bag. But be aware it is not a perfect fit on paper.