Can I take a stroller on Southwest Airlines for free?

One stroller and one child restraint system (car seat) checked free per child at the curb, ticket counter or gate, in addition to carry-on and checked bag allowances. Source: https://support.southwest.com/helpcenter/s/article/flying-with-children

What are Southwest Airlines's car seat rules for babies?

One car seat checked free. Use on board requires a purchased seat (or an open seat if permitted by staff) with an FAA-approved child restraint system; window or middle seat only, never in an exit row. Source: https://support.southwest.com/helpcenter/s/article/flying-with-children

Does Southwest Airlines have bassinets or carrycots?

No onboard bassinets (single-aisle Boeing 737 fleet). Playpens and travel cribs can be checked under standard baggage rules. Source: https://support.southwest.com/helpcenter/s/article/flying-with-children

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Southwest Airlines with a baby: rules for strollers, car seats & infant fares

Key facts

Short answer: Southwest lets babies from 14 days to under 2 fly free on your lap within the US, checks one stroller and one car seat free per child at the gate or counter, and offers Family Boarding between Groups A and B for up to two adults travelling with a child aged 6 or younger.

Flying Southwest Airlines with a baby or toddler? From Family Boarding and the largest overhead carry-on bin allowance in the US (24 × 16 × 10 in) to free gate-checked strollers and car seats, here is everything Southwest's official help pages say about flying with little ones, checked 27 October 2026.

Quick answers

Lap infant fare: children aged 14 days up to under 2 years fly free on an adult's lap on US domestic flights; international flights incur taxes and fees. Always bring a birth certificate or passport to verify age!
Minimum age to fly: a medical release form is required for any newborn under 14 days old.
Free stroller & car seat: each child gets 1 stroller and 1 FAA-approved car seat checked free — at the curb, ticket counter, or boarding gate — on top of your checked bag allowance.
Biggest US overhead bin limit (24 × 16 × 10 in / 61 × 41 × 28 cm): Southwest's generous 24 × 16 × 10 in carry-on limit means almost every compact travel stroller fits in the overhead bin as your carry-on bag.
Family Boarding: up to two adults travelling with a child aged 6 years or younger board during Family Boarding (after Group A and before Group B) — or with their assigned group/seat tier.
Free car seat in an empty seat: if your flight isn't full, gate agents often allow a lap infant to use an FAA-approved car seat in an unoccupied adjacent seat at no extra charge (ask at the gate!).
No onboard bassinets: Southwest operates an all-Boeing 737 single-aisle fleet and does not have bulkhead bassinets.

Why US parents love Southwest Airlines with a baby

Southwest has long been a favourite for families heading to Orlando, California, Hawaii and across the US for three simple reasons: straightforward Family Boarding for parents with children aged 6 and under, no weight limit on gate-checked strollers, and the most generous overhead carry-on dimensions of any major airline in North America (24 × 16 × 10 inches / 61 × 41 × 28 cm).

Because Southwest's overhead limit is 2 inches longer and 2 inches wider than Delta, United or American's 22 × 14 × 9 in sizer, compact travel strollers like the Bugaboo Butterfly 2, Joolz Aer+, Uppababy Minu V2 and Joie Pact Lite fit inside Southwest's carry-on sizing box with room to spare.

Stroller and car seat rules: curb, counter or gate

1 stroller + 1 car seat checked free: Southwest checks one stroller and one child restraint system (car seat or booster) per child completely free, and neither counts toward your checked baggage allowance.
Where you can check them: you can check your stroller and car seat at the curb (skycap), at the ticket counter, or right at the boarding gate. If you gate-check them, see the Customer Service Agent at the gate desk before boarding begins to get a gate-check claim tag, leave them at the end of the jet bridge, and collect them on the jet bridge when you land.
Overhead bin strollers (24 × 16 × 10 in / 61 × 41 × 28 cm): if your travel stroller folds within 24 × 16 × 10 in, you can carry it on board in the overhead bin as your adult carry-on bag. Compare your stroller's folded size in our Cabin Size Stroller Checker.
Reusable padded bags: Southwest sells reusable gate-check bags at the ticket counter (and lets you use your own padded stroller or car seat bag).

Family Boarding & seating together on Southwest

With Southwest's boarding process, up to two adults travelling with a child aged 6 years old or younger are invited to board during Family Boarding, which takes place after the 'A' boarding group has boarded and before the 'B' group begins. Even with Southwest's transition toward assigned seating tiers in 2026, Southwest ensures families with young children can board together and sit together without being split up.

Remember that children under 15 (and any passenger holding a lap infant or installing a car seat) are not permitted to sit in an emergency exit row.

Lap infants, proof of age & FAA car seats

Always pack proof of age: Southwest is famously strict about verifying that lap infants are under 24 months old. Bring a photocopy or digital photo of your baby's birth certificate, passport, or government ID even on domestic flights. You will also need a Boarding Verification Document (or infant boarding pass) before going through TSA security.
FAA car seats on board: if you purchase a seat for your baby, or if the gate agent confirms there is an empty seat available on the plane, you can bring an FAA-approved forward-facing or rear-facing car seat on board. It must be placed in a window seat or a middle seat (never an aisle seat or exit row) so it does not block any passenger's path to the aisle. See our FAA car seat rules on planes guide.
Diaper bags & breast pumps: a breast pump and breast milk cooler bag are medical/assistive items and do not count toward your carry-on limit (1 carry-on + 1 personal item per ticketed passenger). A diaper bag counts as one of the accompanying adult's two cabin items unless the baby has their own ticketed seat.

Summary table

Stroller / pushchair: One stroller and one child restraint system (car seat) checked free per child at the curb, ticket counter or gate, in addition to carry-on and checked bag allowances.
Car seat: One car seat checked free. Use on board requires a purchased seat (or an open seat if permitted by staff) with an FAA-approved child restraint system; window or middle seat only, never in an exit row.
Cot / bassinet: No onboard bassinets (single-aisle Boeing 737 fleet). Playpens and travel cribs can be checked under standard baggage rules.

Official Southwest Airlines page

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

How does Southwest Family Boarding work?

Up to two adults travelling with a child aged 6 years old or younger can board during Family Boarding, which happens after Group A and before Group B.

What is Southwest Airlines' carry-on size limit for a travel stroller?

Southwest's carry-on limit is 24 × 16 × 10 inches (61 × 41 × 28 cm) — the largest among major US airlines. Any collapsible stroller that folds within those dimensions can go in the overhead bin as your carry-on bag.

Does Southwest require a birth certificate for a lap infant?

Southwest states that proof of age (such as a birth certificate or passport) may be requested at the airport to verify that a lap child is under 2 years old, so always carry a copy.

Can I gate-check both a stroller and a car seat for free on Southwest?

Yes. Southwest checks one stroller and one car seat per child completely free at the curb, ticket counter, or boarding gate, on top of your standard baggage allowance.

Does a breast pump or diaper bag count as a carry-on on Southwest?

A breast pump and breast milk cooler bag are exempt medical items and do not count toward your carry-on limit. A diaper bag counts as one of the adult's two cabin bags (1 carry-on + 1 personal item) unless the infant has a purchased seat.

Sources

Southwest Airlines: Flying with Children & Infants (checked 2026-10-27)
Southwest Airlines: Carryon Baggage Policy (24 × 16 × 10 in) (checked 2026-10-27)
Southwest Airlines: Baby On Board Rules (checked 2026-10-27)

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Last checked and updated: 30 October 2026 · Kiddieko · How we check facts