Delta Air Lines with a baby: rules for strollers, car seats & infant fares
Key facts
Short answer: Delta lets babies under 2 fly free on your lap within the US (10% of the adult fare + taxes internationally), checks one stroller and one car seat free per child at the ticket counter, curbside or gate, and offers free SkyCot bassinets on select widebody international flights for babies up to 20 lbs (9 kg) and 26 in (66 cm).
Flying Delta Air Lines with a baby or toddler? Here is everything Delta's official infant travel and baggage pages say about lap infant tickets, stroller and car seat allowances, overhead carry-on limits, SkyCot bassinets, FAA car seats and breast milk, checked 27 October 2026. Rules change, so confirm with Delta before you fly.
Quick answers
- Lap infant fare (US domestic): children under 2 fly free on an adult's lap within the US (and between the US, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands). International flights typically cost 10% of the adult fare plus taxes and fees, even for newborns.
- Minimum age to fly: babies must be at least 7 days old to fly without medical clearance. Infants under 7 days old require a physician's approval letter.
- Free stroller & car seat: one stroller (pushchair) and one car seat per child are checked completely free of charge — at curbside, the ticket counter, or the boarding gate — on top of your standard baggage allowance, including Basic Economy.
- Cabin carry-on stroller limit: 22 × 14 × 9 in (56 × 35 × 23 cm). A ultra-compact travel stroller that folds within these dimensions can go in the overhead bin in place of your carry-on bag.
- Diaper bag & breast pump: a breast pump and small cooler bag of breast milk/formula do not count toward your carry-on limit. A diaper bag counts as the adult's personal item unless the infant has a paid seat.
- SkyCot bassinets: free on select international widebody aircraft (bulkhead seats) for infants up to 20 lbs (9 kg) and 26 in (66 cm) long; up to two SkyCots per cabin, requested through Reservations and confirmed at the gate.
- Family boarding: families with children in strollers or car seats board early (after pre-boarding and Delta One/First Class, before general Main Cabin zones).
At a glance: Delta baby & stroller rules
Delta is widely considered one of the most family-friendly mainline US carriers thanks to free stroller and car seat check-in at the counter, curbside or gate, dedicated family boarding, and SkyCot bassinets on long-haul routes. Delta's children's items page checks one stroller and one car seat free per child at the ticket counter, curbside or gate, and doesn't state a stroller weight limit.
Whether you are flying domestically to Orlando for Walt Disney World or taking a transatlantic widebody to London, Paris or Rome, adding your infant to your reservation early ensures your boarding pass reflects 'Infant in Arms' and unlocks bulkhead or adjacent family seating options.
Stroller and pushchair rules: cabin vs gate-check
- Free gate-check or counter check: Delta carries one stroller and one car seat (or booster seat) free per child. You can check them at the curb, at the ticket counter, or roll your stroller all the way down the jet bridge to the aircraft door.
- Gate-check pink tag: ask the gate agent for a pink gate-check tag before boarding starts. Fold the stroller at the aircraft door, lock the brakes, remove loose cup holders or toys, and pick it up on the jet bridge when you deplane.
- Overhead bin strollers (22 × 14 × 9 in / 56 × 35 × 23 cm): if your travel stroller folds within Delta's standard carry-on size limit of 22 × 14 × 9 in (45 linear inches / 114 cm including wheels and handles), you can bring it on board in place of your adult carry-on roller bag. Strollers like the Joolz Aer+ and Bugaboo Butterfly 2 are popular choices — check exact sides in our Cabin Pushchair & Travel Stroller Size Checker.
- Stroller wagons: Delta permits collapsible folding wagons to be checked as your stroller item at the gate or counter, though oversized non-folding wagons must be checked at the ticket counter. Remember that if you are flying to Orlando or California for Disney, Walt Disney World and Disneyland ban all stroller wagons inside the parks.
Lap infant vs buying a seat on Delta
On US domestic flights, one infant under 2 years old can travel free of charge on the lap of an accompanying passenger aged 18 or older. You can add a lap infant during online booking on delta.com or afterwards under My Trips. Even when free, every lap infant must be listed on the reservation, and it is smart to carry a copy of their birth certificate (or passport) in case airport staff verify that the child is under 24 months.
On international flights — including Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia — Delta charges an infant fare (typically 10% of the adult fare) plus international taxes and government fees, even when the baby rides on your lap. Your baby will need their own passport and a ticketed infant boarding pass before you can clear security or board.
One adult can travel with two infants under 2 only if you purchase a confirmed seat for the second infant and bring an FAA-approved car seat for them to sit in. Because aircraft rows have a limited number of extra drop-down oxygen masks (usually four masks per three-seat section), only one lap infant is allowed per row segment.
FAA car seats, boosters and bassinet (SkyCot) rules
- Using a car seat on board: to use a car seat in the cabin, you must purchase a ticketed seat for your child (unless an adjacent seat happens to remain unoccupied at departure and the crew permits you to use it, which is never guaranteed). The seat must bear the official FAA approval label: 'This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft' (or an equivalent foreign government / UN ECE R44/R129 or Canadian CMVSS approval).
- Where car seats can be fitted: Delta requires car seats to be placed in a window seat so they do not block another passenger's exit path. Car seats cannot be installed in emergency exit rows, the rows immediately in front of or behind an exit row, aisle seats, or flatbed Delta One suites with airbag seatbelts. Check seat widths (typically 17.2 to 18.5 in in Economy) and read our complete FAA car seat rules guide.
- CARES harness & prohibited devices: Delta accepts the FAA-approved CARES harness for children weighing 22 to 44 lbs (10 to 20 kg) in their own purchased seat. Backless booster seats, belly loop straps (unless provided by non-US partners where required), and inflatable foot-well beds that block floor access or attach to the seat in front during taxi, take-off and landing are not permitted for safety phases.
- Delta SkyCot (bassinets): on select international widebody aircraft equipped with bulkhead wall mounts (such as Airbus A330, A350 and Boeing 767 jets), Delta offers complimentary SkyCots for infants weighing up to 20 lbs (9 kg) and up to 26 in (66 cm) long. Call Delta Reservations after booking to request a bulkhead bassinet seat, then speak to the gate agent before boarding to confirm availability. SkyCots must be stowed whenever the seatbelt sign is illuminated.
Breast milk, formula, diaper bags and TSA screening
Under both Delta policy and US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) 3-1-1 exemptions, breast milk, infant formula, toddler drinks (including water for mixing formula) and baby food pouches are allowed through security in quantities greater than 3.4 oz (100 ml), even if your baby is not travelling with you. Pack them where you can easily lift them out for separate bin screening at the TSA checkpoint.
On Delta, a breast pump and an insulated cooler bag containing breast milk do not count toward your carry-on or personal item limit — they fly free as assistive medical items. However, a standard diaper bag counts as the accompanying adult's personal item unless you bought a separate seat for your infant (in which case the ticketed infant gets their own full carry-on + personal item allowance).
Delta flight attendants can provide hot water to warm a bottle in a cup and ice to top up your breast milk cooler bag, though aircraft do not have microwaves or sterilisers.
Practical tips for flying Delta with a baby
- Avoid Basic Economy if seat selection matters: Basic Economy does not include complimentary advance seat selection. While Delta aims to seat young children next to at least one accompanying adult, booking Main Cabin lets you pick bulkhead or window+aisle pairs right away.
- Check aircraft seat widths before bringing a wide convertible seat: Delta's Boeing 717, 737 and Airbus A320 family seats are around 17.2 to 18 inches wide between the armrests; compact infant carriers or narrow convertibles (under 17 inches wide) fit much more easily.
- Pack a padded gate-check bag: even when gate-checked at the jet bridge, strollers and car seats ride in the cargo hold and can pick up grease or scuffs on rainy tarmac.
Summary table
- Stroller / pushchair
- One stroller (pushchair) and one car seat checked free per child, on top of baggage allowance; check at the ticket counter, curbside or at the gate.
- Car seat
- One car seat free per child. Use on board requires a purchased seat and an FAA-approved (or foreign/UN-approved) child restraint or CARES harness. Booster seats not allowed for take-off/landing. Window seat preferred.
- Cot / bassinet
- SkyCots: free on select international widebody flights for infants up to 20 lbs / 9 kg (up to 25 lbs / 11.3 kg on some aircraft) and 26 in (66 cm) long; max two per cabin, request via Reservations and confirm at gate.
Compact strollers & pushchairs for flying
| Product | Weight | Folded size | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bugaboo Butterfly 2 | 7.3 kg (16.1 lbs) | 44.8 × 24.5 × 55.5 cm (17.6 × 9.6 × 21.8 in, IATA cabin-compatible) | £435 RRP / $479 MSRP | Check price at Bugaboo |
| Joolz Aer+ | 6 kg (13.2 lbs) | 53.5 × 45 × 21.5 cm (21.1 × 17.7 × 8.5 in) | £419 RRP / $449 MSRP | Check price at Joolz |
| Stokke YOYO3 (Babyzen YOYO) | 6.2 kg (13.6 lbs) | 52 × 44 × 18 cm (20.5 × 17.3 × 7.1 in, IATA cabin-size) | £399 RRP / $449 MSRP | Check price at Stokke |
| UPPAbaby Minu V2 | 7.7 kg (16.9 lbs) | 58.4 × 45.2 × 29.2 cm (23 × 17.8 × 11.5 in) | £399 RRP / $399 MSRP | Check price at UPPAbaby |
| Joie pact lite | 5.35 kg (11.8 lbs) | 46.8 × 26 × 54 cm (18.4 × 10.2 × 21.3 in) | Around £160 / $199 (varies by retailer) | Check price at Joie |
Blank cells: not yet verified from the maker's official page.
FAQ
Does Delta charge to check a stroller or car seat?
No. Delta checks one stroller and one car seat per child completely free of charge, whether you drop them at curbside, the ticket counter, or the boarding gate.
Does Delta have a 20 lb weight limit for gate-checking strollers?
Delta's children's items page doesn't state a stroller weight limit: one stroller and one car seat per child are checked free at the ticket counter, curbside or gate. (American's 20 lb figure is a limit for carrying a stroller on board, not a Delta rule.)
What size travel stroller fits in a Delta overhead bin?
A folding travel stroller must fit within Delta's standard carry-on size limit of 22 × 14 × 9 inches (56 × 35 × 23 cm), including wheels and handles, and counts as your carry-on bag.
Does a diaper bag count as a carry-on on Delta?
For a lap infant, Delta counts the diaper bag as part of the adult's carry-on allowance (1 carry-on + 1 personal item). However, a breast pump and breast milk cooler bag are exempt and do not count toward your limit.
What is the weight limit for a Delta SkyCot bassinet?
Delta's SkyCot bassinets on select international widebody flights are designed for infants up to 20 lbs (9 kg) and up to 26 inches (66 cm) long. Request one via Delta Reservations and confirm at the gate.
Do babies under 2 fly free on Delta?
Yes on US domestic flights (plus Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands) when sitting on an adult's lap. On international flights, lap infants typically pay 10% of the adult fare plus taxes and fees.
Sources
- Delta Air Lines: Infant and Children Travel (checked 2026-10-27)
- Delta Air Lines: Children and Infant Baggage Items (checked 2026-10-27)
- Delta Air Lines: Carry-On Baggage Size Restrictions (checked 2026-10-27)
- TSA: Traveling with Children (Breast Milk & Formula Rules) (checked 2026-10-27)
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