A note before we start: I have flown Ryanair with Nayeli once, Stockholm to Wroclaw, and it was completely uneventful, the seat next to me was even empty, so she had a bit of extra room. This guide combines that real experience with careful research into Ryanair’s official policies, so you have everything verified in one place before you book.
Table of Contents
- Adding an infant to your Ryanair booking
- Infant age, fees, and documents
- Car seat policy
- Baby equipment and baggage
- Bassinets (and why there aren’t any)
- Keeping your family seated together
- Ryanair’s reputation: what it’s actually like with a baby
- Takeoff, landing, and flying solo with a baby
- FAQ
- My verdict
Ryanair has a reputation that precedes it, strict, no-frills, and not always warm towards families if you believe the headlines. The reality for babies specifically is more straightforward than the reputation suggests, but there are a few genuine differences from easyJet and Jet2 worth knowing before you book, especially around pushchairs and seating. Here’s everything laid out the way you’ll actually need it: at booking, at the airport, and on board.
Adding an infant to your Ryanair booking
An infant is always added to an adult’s booking, never on its own. Here’s the process:
Select “Infant” from the passenger type drop-down and enter their name and date of birth. The fee is added automatically.
Log into myRyanair, select “Manage this booking,” then “Add minors” and “Add Infant.” Enter their details and choose which adult they’ll travel with.
Infant age, fees, and documents
Ryanair’s infant policy covers babies under 2 who fly as lap infants for the entire journey. Here’s what it actually costs and requires:
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 8 days old, a fit-to-fly note from your doctor is advisable for very young babies |
| Lap infant fee | £25 / €25 per infant, per one-way flight |
| Infants per adult | One per adult, maximum 4 infants per flight overall |
| Documents needed | Birth certificate or passport at the airport |
| Turning 2 before the return flight | Full adult fare required for that return flight only |
A return trip works out to £50 or €50 per baby in infant fees, since the charge applies per one-way flight rather than per booking. Always confirm the exact amount at checkout, Ryanair adjusts fees periodically without always announcing it formally.
Car seat policy
Ryanair allows car seats on board, but only under specific conditions:
- The seat must be forward-facing and approved for both motor vehicle and aircraft use, look for the certification label on the seat itself
- It must not exceed 17 inches (43 cm) in width so it fits the aircraft seat
- To use the car seat for the flight, you need to buy your baby their own seat, lap infants cannot have a car seat in the cabin
- If your baby is flying as a lap infant, the car seat instead travels as one of your two free carry-on baby equipment items (see below)
Baby equipment and baggage
This is where Ryanair differs most from easyJet and Jet2. Both of those airlines let a compact pushchair travel in the cabin overhead locker if it’s small enough. Ryanair doesn’t offer that option at all, every pushchair is gate-checked, regardless of size or brand.
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Baby bag | Up to 5kg, max 45 x 35 x 20 cm, free in addition to your cabin bag |
| Free carry-on baby equipment | 2 items per child: pushchair, car seat, booster seat, or travel cot, gate-checked |
| Extra baby equipment | Checked for a fee, up to 20kg per item |
The 5kg baby bag is genuinely useful, it’s separate from your own cabin bag, so pack it with nappies, wipes, a change of clothes, and feeding essentials without eating into your personal allowance. Make sure your pushchair and any other equipment are tagged at the bag drop desk or boarding gate before you head through security.
Bassinets (and why there aren’t any)
Ryanair doesn’t offer bassinets on any route. Like easyJet and Jet2, it operates short-haul only, flying Boeing 737 aircraft with no bulkhead bassinet fittings. Your baby will be on your lap for the entire flight, and since almost all Ryanair routes are under 3 hours, that’s a manageable stretch even for very young babies.
There are baby changing facilities at the rear of the aircraft. One thing to plan for: Ryanair does not offer a bottle warming service on board, unlike easyJet and Jet2, which will warm formula or food on request. Bring a pre-warmed bottle in an insulated bag, or feed at room temperature, since crew won’t be able to heat it for you mid-flight.
Keeping your family seated together
Ryanair’s cheapest fares come with random seat allocation, which used to occasionally split families up, including parents from young children. To prevent that, adults travelling with a child are now required to book a reserved seat rather than relying on random allocation.
- Adults flying with a child under 12 must select a reserved seat, typically around £8 per flight for a standard seat
- Children under 12 get their reserved seat free of charge, only the adult’s reservation carries a fee
- Booking this at the same time as your ticket guarantees you’re seated next to your baby rather than hoping it works out at the gate
Ryanair’s reputation: what it’s actually like with a baby
Ryanair’s reputation is strict and no-frills, and some of that is fair. Boarding is enforced tightly, cabin bag rules are checked closely at the gate, and the website’s booking flow is famously easy to get wrong if you’re not paying attention. None of that is specific to travelling with a baby, but it does mean less margin for error than a fuller-service airline might give you.
- Add your infant to the booking as soon as you know their date of birth, and double-check the fee is showing correctly before you pay
- Book your reserved seat next to your baby at the same time as your ticket, don’t leave it to chance at check-in
- Tag your pushchair and baby equipment at bag drop or the gate exactly as instructed, since Ryanair’s ground staff enforce this closely
- Cabin crew are generally professional and used to families, most flights with a baby go completely uneventfully despite the airline’s reputation
In practice, the airline’s reputation is mostly about strict rule enforcement rather than being unwelcoming to families. Flights are short, fares are low, and once you know the booking quirks and pack accordingly, Ryanair with a baby tends to be a straightforward, if slightly no-frills, experience.
I flew Ryanair with Nayeli once, from Stockholm to Wroclaw, a short 2-hour hop, and nothing about the flight itself stood out as difficult. No drama at the gate, no fuss over the pushchair, and the seat next to me happened to be empty, which gave us a bit of extra room. If anything, the harder part came after landing, getting off the arrivals bus at Wroclaw airport onto uneven ground while juggling a suitcase and a stroller at the same time. That’s a reminder that the flight is rarely the hard part, it’s often the bits either side of it.
Takeoff, landing, and flying solo with a baby
Ear pressure during takeoff and descent is usually what unsettles a baby most, not the flight itself. Sucking and swallowing is the simplest fix, so time a feed for exactly those two windows:
- Offer a breastfeed, bottle, or dummy right as the plane starts its takeoff roll, and again as it begins its final descent
- Since Ryanair doesn’t warm bottles on board, have a room-temperature feed ready rather than counting on the crew heating one for you
- If your baby is asleep at those moments, let them sleep, they’ll handle the pressure change better asleep than woken specifically to feed
- Babywearing through boarding and the initial climb keeps your hands free and lets your baby settle against you rather than in an unfamiliar seat
Flying alone with a baby on Ryanair takes a bit more forward planning than on easyJet or Jet2, mainly because there’s no cabin stroller option and no bottle warming to fall back on. Booking your reserved seat next to your baby removes one source of uncertainty entirely. Choose an aisle seat if you can, it makes it far easier to get up for changing or settling your baby without disturbing anyone. Since your pushchair will always be gate-checked, you’ll be pushing your baby right up to the aircraft door and handing it over at the last moment, no lifting it overhead alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Ryanair charge for an infant?
£25 / €25 per infant per one-way flight, so a return trip works out to £50 or €50 per baby. The fee is added automatically once you select “Infant” as the passenger type at booking or add them via Manage Booking afterwards.
Can I take a pushchair on Ryanair?
Yes, but it’s always gate-checked, never allowed in the cabin, even the smallest compact travel strollers. It’s free of charge as one of your two carry-on baby equipment items. You keep it with you through the terminal and hand it over at the aircraft door.
What is the minimum age to fly Ryanair with a baby?
8 days old. Ryanair won’t accept infants younger than that on any flight, and a fit-to-fly letter from your doctor or midwife is a sensible precaution for very young babies even though it isn’t always strictly required.
Does Ryanair have bassinets?
No. Ryanair operates short-haul only on Boeing 737 aircraft with no bulkhead bassinet fittings. Your baby will be on your lap for the whole flight, which on most Ryanair routes means under 3 hours.
Can I bring a car seat on Ryanair?
Only if you’ve bought your baby their own seat. The car seat must be forward-facing, approved for aircraft use, and no wider than 43cm (17 inches). If your baby is flying as a lap infant, the car seat travels instead as one of your two free carry-on baby equipment items, gate-checked.
Is Ryanair good for flying with a baby?
For short, low-cost European trips, yes, once you know the quirks. The main differences from easyJet and Jet2 are no cabin stroller option and no on-board bottle warming, but the 5kg baby bag, gate-check pushchair allowance, and mandatory reserved seating next to your child make it a workable, budget-friendly choice for families.
“Ryanair’s reputation is stricter than the reality of flying with a baby, the rules are clear and the fees are predictable, you just need to pack around the fact that nothing gets warmed on board and no pushchair, however small, makes it into the cabin.”
My verdict: add your infant and book your reserved seat together at checkout, prepare your feed before boarding since there’s no warming service, and don’t fight the gate-check policy on your pushchair, it’s free and it works. For a low-cost short-haul trip, Ryanair with a baby is more manageable than its reputation suggests, the main adjustments are practical ones, not real obstacles.
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