Babies need tickets at some NFL stadiums, even if you plan to hold them all game. The Packers, Patriots, Steelers, and Buccaneers require a ticket regardless of age. Other teams let young children enter without a separate seat, but the cutoff might be a birthday, a height measurement, or a combination of both.
That means buying two adult tickets and bringing a baby isn't a plan you can carry from one stadium to the next. A two-year-old can sit on your lap at an Eagles game. At a Bills game, that same child needs a ticket. In Chicago, you'll need to know their height and collect a lap pass before going through the gate.
Find your team below before you buy. The team names link to our game-day guides; the last column takes you to the official rule.
NFL child-ticket policies by team
Checked September 29, 2026. These rules apply to the teams' home NFL games. Check the event's own guidance for international games, concerts, and college football, even when they use the same stadium.
| Team | Child-ticket rule | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Cardinals | Children 24 months or younger can enter with a lap pass. Request it from the ticket scanner at the entrance; the child must be present. One pass per adult ticket. | Stadium policies |
| Atlanta Falcons | Children shorter than 33 inches can enter free and sit on a guardian's lap. | Stadium guide |
| Baltimore Ravens | Children age 2 and younger can sit on an adult's lap without a ticket. | Fan guide |
| Buffalo Bills | Children younger than 2 can sit on an adult's lap without a ticket. A ticket is required from the second birthday. | Ticket policies |
| Carolina Panthers | Children younger than 12 months can share an adult's seat without a ticket. A ticket is required at 12 months and older. | Stadium fan guide |
| Chicago Bears | Children shorter than 32 inches need a complimentary lap pass from the Gate 8 Ticket Office. Bring the child with you; one pass per game ticket, with no separate seat. | Gameday guide |
| Cincinnati Bengals | Children younger than 2 do not need a ticket to enter. | Fan guide |
| Cleveland Browns | The stadium permits children younger than 2 on an adult's lap without a ticket for most events. Check your game's instructions for an exception. | Stadium guide |
| Dallas Cowboys | Babies younger than 1 can sit on an adult's lap without a ticket. A ticket is required from the first birthday. | Game-day policies |
| Denver Broncos | Children younger than 2 can sit on a ticket holder's lap without blocking another guest's view. A ticket is required at age 2 and older. | Fan guide |
| Detroit Lions | Children age 2 and younger can sit on a parent or guardian's lap without a ticket. Ages 3 and older need one. | Ticket FAQ |
| Green Bay Packers | Every guest needs a ticket, including babies. | Gameday information |
| Houston Texans | Children age 2 and older need a ticket. | Stadium guide |
| Indianapolis Colts | Children 24 months or younger do not need a ticket, but must sit on a guardian's lap. | Gameday guide |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | Everyone needs a ticket. For children from birth through 23 months, contact the Jaguars ticket office in advance about a lap-pass ticket. | Stadium guide |
| Kansas City Chiefs | Children younger than 3 do not need a ticket, but must share an accompanying ticketed adult's seat. | Stadium guide |
| Las Vegas Raiders | Children younger than 24 months can sit on a parent or guardian's lap without a ticket. They must not block another guest's view. | Stadium guide |
| Los Angeles Chargers | Guests age 3 and older need a ticket. | Ticket FAQ |
| Los Angeles Rams | Guests age 3 and older need their own ticket. | Gameday guide |
| Miami Dolphins | Children must be both younger than 2 and no taller than 34 inches to enter free. They share a ticketed adult's seat. | Stadium guide |
| Minnesota Vikings | One child shorter than 36 inches can enter free with one ticketed adult. The child receives a wristband at the gate. | Stadium guide |
| New England Patriots | Every guest needs a ticket, regardless of age. | Stadium guide |
| New Orleans Saints | Children younger than 2 do not need a ticket unless they will occupy their own seat. | Fan guide |
| New York Giants | Children 34 inches tall or shorter can enter free and share a ticketed adult's seat. | Stadium ticket information |
| New York Jets | Children 34 inches tall or shorter can enter free and share a ticketed adult's seat. | Ticket FAQ |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Children age 2 and younger can sit on a parent or guardian's lap without a ticket. A ticket and their own seat are required from the third birthday. | Stadium guide |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Every guest needs a ticket, including a baby held in an adult's arms. The stadium's under-1 exception applies to Pitt games only. | Fan guide, Access/Admission |
| San Francisco 49ers | Guests age 2 and older need a ticket. | Stadium guide, Ticket Policies |
| Seattle Seahawks | Children younger than 3 can sit on an adult's lap without a ticket. A ticket is required from the third birthday. | Ticket policies |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Every guest needs a ticket, regardless of age. | Ticket information |
| Tennessee Titans | Children younger than 2 can sit on an adult's lap without a ticket. Children age 2 and older need one. | Stadium guide |
| Washington Commanders | Children younger than 3 need a free lap pass, available at entrance gates on game day. The child must be present. Ages 3 and older need a ticket. | Stadium guide |
The birthday wording matters
"Under 2" stops at the second birthday. "2 and under" includes a two-year-old. Those phrases look similar when you're skimming a ticket page, but they can change how many seats you need to buy.
Arizona and Indianapolis publish their limits as 24 months or younger. We've kept that wording instead of converting it into "under 2." If your child is right at a cutoff, give the ticket office their age on the date of the game and ask which rule applies. Buying the ticket before a birthday doesn't move the game-day cutoff.
Height rules need the same care. Chicago's rule is shorter than 32 inches, Atlanta's is shorter than 33, and Minnesota's is shorter than 36. The Giants and Jets include children exactly 34 inches tall. Miami requires both the age limit and the height limit to be met.
A lap pass is an extra stop before entry
Being eligible for free entry doesn't always mean you can walk straight to the turnstile.
Chicago is the one to plan around: the Bears direct families to the Gate 8 Ticket Office for the pass. Arizona and Washington issue theirs at entrance gates. In all three cases, the child must be with you when the pass is issued.
Jacksonville needs a little more preparation. The Jaguars tell families with a child from birth through 23 months to contact the ticket office at 904-633-2000 about a lap-pass ticket in advance. Arrange that before game day; don't assume the gate will handle it the same way as another team.
Free entry doesn't give your child an empty seat
Where a rule calls for lap seating or sharing a seat, that is the space you're getting. An empty chair beside you may belong to someone arriving late. If you want a separate seat for your child, buy one.
Think through the length of the outing, too. Holding a toddler during the game is one thing; doing it through the entrance line, warmups, and a long first half is another. The cheaper arrangement may still be the right choice, but it helps to decide with the whole afternoon in mind.
Free admission also doesn't automatically include a giveaway. The Eagles and Raiders both say a child needs a ticket to receive a promotional item.
Before you pack the diaper bag
The ticket rule answers whether your child can enter. Bags, bottles, strollers, and re-entry have their own rules.
Start with your team's game-day guide above and check what you actually plan to bring. A stadium allowing a baby without a ticket doesn't necessarily allow your usual diaper bag. Our NFL bag-policy comparison is a useful starting point, and the official venue guide should settle any exception you need.
Locate the nursing room or family restroom before you choose a gate. Check re-entry before planning a trip back to the car. If you'll be relying on transit, work out the return trip as well as the ride in; our car-free NFL stadium guide covers eight options.
Finally, save the ticket office's answer if you've asked about an age cutoff or a lap pass. A short email confirming the arrangement is more useful at the gate than a vague memory of what another stadium allowed last season.