Flying with Toddlers: Your Survival Guide for Airplane Travel
Are you putting off a trip because you dread flying with a toddler? Do images of tantrums at 10,000 feet scare you enough to avoid traveling with your child until they are much older?
Well, I believe in traveling with children early and often, and I feel this even stronger since the Pandemic.
Before you give up on a well-deserved vacation, let me share with you my best tips for airline travel with toddlers to make your flights manageable and even enjoyable!
Learn all the tips I’ve gained from my experience flying with toddlers and check out my favorite products that will make your life easier!
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Related: Cruising with Toddlers,
Screen-Free Activities for Kids at Cruise Ship Dinners,
and Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation to Aulani with Kids
Flight Times
First and foremost, take a minute to consider the timing of the flight. I have never flown red-eyes with kids even though others swear by it. I always take an early flight but not before 7am.
I never purposely booked a flight during nap-time hoping my daughter would sleep on the plane. The only time my daughter slept on a flight was as a newborn. So, when she was a toddler, I had to prepare that she would be wide awake the entire flight.
For the Airport…
Let’s talk about packing essentials for navigating the airport. I wish I had bought my backpack on wheels sooner instead of torturing my back and shoulders wearing an overstuffed backpack for years.
This High Sierra backpack is incredibly sturdy with ample storage and many pockets. I like to wear it to keep my hands free to hold onto my child and rolling luggage until I can check in my luggage.
After check-in, I roll it through the airport.
Even when my daughter started walking confidently, I still always brought a travel stroller and gate-checked it. A stroller can carry so much more than a child—it’s so handy!
My favorite stroller is the travel City Select.
Consider this weather shield if rain, sleet, snow, etc, may be a possibility.
This budget Summer 3-D stroller is also a bestseller on Amazon. More on why I recommend a budget stroller for travel below!
A sturdy stroller bag is also essential for gate-checking.
I didn’t have this stroller caddy in the baby and toddler years, but doesn’t it look so helpful to have all your necessary items at your fingertips?
My stroller hook was my favorite accessory for everyday use and for traveling.
I do not recommend bringing a luxury stroller or wagon on a flight. On my first trip with my daughter, my expensive stroller was damaged by the airline on the way to my vacation.
The stroller was broken to the point that it would not collapse, so it had to remain upright and couldn’t be folded into a vehicle.
The most important items to bring on the plane for your toddler are…SNACKs!
I don’t mean grabbing something quick in the terminal gift shop. In my experience, airport food is not particularly toddler-friendly.
You need to think out your snack plan ahead of time—you want a variety of finger foods that are not messy and will not smear all over your child or your clothing. Examples are:
Apple slices
Grapes
Dried or freeze-dried fruit
Cheese bites/cheese stick (However, they have to be stored on ice and eaten first before they warm up)
Freezable Yogurt pouch (same as above, but my daughter loves yogurt and cheese, so both of these were good choices for us)
Airplane Essentials with Toddlers:
A freezable tote is really helpful to bring cold items—I like this Dr. Browns bag
I also have used this Pack-It freezable lunch tote.
Alternatively, you can use a regular lunch bag with ice-packs that pack flat and don’t take up too much space.
I used this tackle-box-style case with lots of different bite-sized snacks which my toddler loved. Bring more than you think you will need.
You never know when your short 2-hour flight is going to end up a 6-hour or longer flight. I also recommend bringing a treat item that your child doesn’t normally get to eat at home.
The treat item can be a reward or can be used to divert a meltdown!
Have a sippy cup or puree pouch ready for the ascent and descent—the swallowing helps with the popping ears.
This Nuk Learner cup is my favorite.
Take and Toss cups are also great for travel because it’s not a tragedy if they get lost or left behind.
In-Flight Must-Have Accessories
I bring liquid baby Tylenol or Ibuprofen and a syringe in my carry-on as well. I always bring a new, sealed bottle to avoid the sticky liquid leaking onto everything else.
However, on my last trip, the TSA opened up all my sealed liquid medications anyway.
In my backpack on wheels, I always brought an EXTRA CHANGE OF CLOTHES for my toddler and myself.
You never know when someone will vomit or have a blowout.
Speaking of which, wipes are essential for hands, noses, butts, etc.
I also bring a travel-pack of Lysol wipes to sanitize the tray table and the arm rests.
Disposable bibs are helpful to keep clothes clean on a plane even if your child doesn’t normally wear a bib anymore at home.
If your child wears diapers, bring more diapers than you think you will need on the flight.
For a toilet-training, child, I liked these training underwear
My daughter loved this portable potty seat for travel.
If your child is apprehensive about public toilets, these long toilet seat covers are portable and cover the entire toilet.
If your toddler is a runner, wearing the Apple Airtag might be a good idea for the airport. This Airtag wristband stays secure and is waterproof.
In-flight Entertainment
Now, let’s talk about activities to entertain your toddler on the flight. I recommend bringing multiple activities other than a tablet or phone.
Remember, there will be times when you can’t use electronic devices. Avoid the meltdown that ensues when you tell your child to turn off the tablet for take-off!
Tablets also run out of battery which could also be disastrous for a toddler. I recommend the tablet being the LAST thing you offer when your toddler has gotten bored with the other activities.
Tip from an Experienced Flyer:
A really important tip is to NOT show your toddler all of the activities at once and tell them to choose one.
Instead, each activity should be presented one at a time.
Also, do not let your child see ANY of these things or let them play with them at home before the trip. Other than their support blanket and plush toy (and tablet), all of the activities need to be NEW.
My first activity is window clings. I love window clings during boarding when the window shade can be up.
Every time I bring them on a flight, passersby comment what a good idea window clings are for small kids.
Window clings are also cheap, toddlers love them, and they’re easy to peel off the window and throw away when you’re done.
I buy window clings whenever I see them at Target or Dollar Tree throughout the year, and save them for a trip.
Magnets and something to place them on like this tin or a magnetic dry erase board are not only educational but really fun and don’t take up a lot of space.
I love everything by Melissa and Doug. The repositionable sticker books are a favorite of mine, especially the puffy stickers that provide sensory stimulation.
The On-the-Go Travel Colorblast coloring pads also pack flat for the plane.
Although it doesn’t pack flat, I brought cups of Play Doh on a flight which kept my toddler busy!
When the tray table can be down, take advantage with a placemat to gather up any Play Doh crumbs.
Even with the best planning, toddlers still sometimes have meltdowns or make messes. Know that you are doing your best, and the flight will eventually come to an end!
I still have gotten annoyed looks from other passengers on flights even when my toddler was behaving really well. What can you do?
I refuse to sit at home not flying anywhere until my daughter is whatever age those people think is appropriate on a flight!
I hope you will brave your first flight with a toddler and find my tips and products helpful in your journey!
Please share in the comments some of your best toddler flying tactics!