Ryanair with children and infants: baby bag, pushchair, seats

On Ryanair, infants aged 8 days to 23 months travel on the lap of an adult aged 18 or over (one infant per adult), with a free baby bag of up to 5 kg. You can bring 2 items of baby equipment per child free of charge, such as a pushchair and a car seat, and children aged 2 to 11 always sit next to an accompanying adult. Here are Ryanair's family rules, checked on its help centre, and what to do if the flight goes wrong.

Ryanair passenger types by age

Ryanair does not accept babies under 8 days old and advises checking with the doctor that flying is safe for a very young infant. A mother can fly 48 hours after giving birth if there were no complications; after a caesarean or other surgery she needs at least 10 days and written approval from her doctor. Age counts on the date of departure: if your infant turns 2 before the return flight, the full fare applies to that flight, and Ryanair recommends booking two one-way flights.

Luggage and baby equipment

• a lap infant has no bag allowance of their own, but you can bring a free baby bag of up to 5 kg measuring 45 × 35 × 20 cm;
• 2 items of baby equipment per child are free: pushchair, car seat, booster seat or travel cot;
• they must be tagged at the check-in desk or the boarding gate; you can use the pushchair up to the aircraft steps;
• on arrival you collect it at the aircraft steps or in the baggage hall, depending on the airport: ask the ground staff;
• further baby equipment beyond the two free items can be checked in for a fee, up to 20 kg.

Ryanair recommends arriving at the check-in or bag drop desk 2 hours before departure when you travel with baby equipment. There are baby changing facilities in the toilet at the rear of the aircraft, but no bottle warming service.

Using a car seat on board

A car seat can only be used during the flight if it is forward-facing, no wider than 43 cm (17 inches), has a five-point harness and is approved for use in both motor vehicles and aircraft, with a label to prove it. For an infant under 2 to sit in it, you need to book an extra seat; otherwise the infant travels on your lap.

Family seating

1. Choose between reserved seats and free random allocation: families can do either.
2. If you reserve seats, children's seats must be next to the adults' reserved seats; online check-in then opens 60 days before departure.
3. With random allocation, children are seated next to an accompanying adult on the same booking for free; other adults and teens may be seated separately.
4. If there are no seats together on the flight, Ryanair asks you to choose a different flight.

For general advice on documents and travelling with little ones, read our guide to flying with children and babies.

If your Ryanair flight is delayed or cancelled

Children have the same rights as adults: if the flight arrives 3 hours or more late, is cancelled with less than 14 days' notice or you are denied boarding, compensation of €250, €400 or €600 is due to every passenger with their own ticket, and to an infant who is not travelling free. A family of four on a flight under 1,500 km could receive €1,000 in total. Everything is on our Ryanair delays and compensation page. With DelayFlight24 you can check for free in 2 minutes whether the whole family is owed compensation: you pay nothing upfront and our fee is 25% + VAT only if you get compensated.

Frequently asked questions about children on Ryanair

How old does a baby have to be to fly with Ryanair?

At least 8 days old. Up to 23 months they travel on the lap of an adult aged 18 or over, one infant per adult.

Do infants get a baggage allowance?

Not their own, but you can bring a free baby bag of up to 5 kg (45 × 35 × 20 cm) and 2 items of equipment such as a pushchair and car seat.

Do I pay for a pushchair on Ryanair?

No, it counts as one of the 2 free items per child. It is tagged at the desk or gate and you can use it up to the aircraft steps.

Will my children sit with me without paying for seats?

Yes, with random allocation children aged 2 to 11 are seated next to an adult on the same booking for free.

My child turns 2 during our holiday: what should I do?

The full fare applies to the return flight. Ryanair recommends booking two one-way flights and then linking the bookings by contacting customer service.

Find out more

• Air passenger rights
• Delayed flight: when you can claim compensation
• Cancelled flight: refund and compensation
• Overbooking: what you are owed
• What our service costs

Article updated on 22/10/2026 by the DelayFlight24 editorial team.