Toddler Flight Tips! How to Survive a Long-Haul Flight with a Toddler (or any airplane trip!)
My experience flying with a toddler
Going into motherhood, I heard time and time again “travel with your baby in the first year, because when they become a toddler it will be SO MUCH HARDER and you won’t travel anymore!” As someone who travels for a living, this definitely incited some fear in me – will it really be that impossible to travel when he hits his toddler years? But what about all of the places I imagined us traveling as a young family? I was definitely a little intimidated by the idea of traveling with a toddler! Which was honestly probably great because it DID push me to travel as much as I could in that first year, which made us more and more equipped at traveling with kids.
Traveling with a baby IS easier than traveling with a toddler, for sure. Toddlers are on the move, they rough house, they get into everything, they have a ton of opinions and a ton of energy! But, traveling with a toddler is that much more rewarding, too. Your little guy or gal has so much personality now!!! And they are truly soaking in the trips you take them on, vs just being along for the ride. My 2-year-old son is constantly asking to see pictures of Bora Bora, Disney World, and Bali (his three favorite trips) and he even remembers and will recite Spanish words he learned in Mexico traveling there MONTHS ago. It’s incredible the impact that travel has on these little ones – it widens their world, and seeing the world through their bright eyes is unlike any feeling I’ve ever experienced – it’s magical.
Over the last couple of years, going on nearly 100 flights with my son, all over the world, I have learned so much! From the airplane essentials for toddlers, how to keep them happy and best occupied, ways to avoid meltdowns on planes, how to manage time zone changes, and so many strategies and tips to get out of any stressful travel/airplane/airport day scenarios unscathed.
I think it’s easy to overthink it and get overwhelmed, but that’s what I’m here for! The amount of times I’ve heard from you guys on instagram that traveling with your baby or toddler went WAY better than you expected makes me so happy. Like with anything with kids, patience, optimism, and practice is how you get better and more comfortable with travel! The more you travel with your toddler and family, the more comfortable both you and your little one become!!! And while not every travel day will go perfectly (as we know, toddlers have MOODS!!!), I’m here to make sure you’re as prepared as possible to make most of your travel as a family go smoothly.
Now, let’s get into these key flying with toddler tips and hacks so your family can jet-set away!
Don’t be the first to board, be the LAST to board!
When traveling with a toddler, family boarding is not necessarily the best time to board. By pre-boarding, you’re sometimes adding 45 whole minutes onto your flying time – and it’s a stressful time for toddlers, with everyone walking past them, bumping bags onto the aisles, etc. This is my expert tip on what to do instead:
Have dad board first, during family boarding, with the bags, gate check the stroller, and claim the seats. Then, mom boards LAST with the kid(s). I’m talking last person on the jet-way!! This way, you maximize time getting energy and zoomies out in the airport vs stressful time forced in a seat on the plane, and you minimize your time spent in flight!
Have your toddler walk vs stroll in the airport so they get some energy out before sitting for a long time!
We will try to have our son walk vs. sit in the stroller when we’re going through the airport so he gets some energy out ahead of the flight! We’ll also play running games, or even bring a ball to play around with pre-flight. An added bonus to this strategy? The stroller becomes storage for my many bags to stroll them vs carry them on my shoulders!
Pack some mini post-its in your carry on for the plane!
These mini post-it notes are an easy, simple idea to keep a toddler busy on a plane (or at a restaurant, etc!). It’s easy to peel on and off, and they’ll love it! It’s always the simplest things that keep them the most entertained, am I right? These post-its will keep my toddler entertained for so long!!!
Pack a LOT of travel toys!
Our two year old doesn’t do screens yet, and has been on nearly 100 flights in his lifetime – without a screen – which I did not think would be possible before we had him, but he really hasn’t needed them! (I know every baby/toddler is so different!) So, without screens to occupy him on a flight, we like to pack a lot of toys, activities, and things he hasn’t played with before so they’re new and exciting to him, as well as some go-to favorites. Here is my Amazon list of all my toddler travel favorites!
A tablet for the flight
If your toddler does do screens, you’ll want to pack a tablet for them for the flight (and headphones, of course!)
Snacks, Snacks, Snacks
Snacks on a plane with a toddler are KEY!!!!! As well as great to have once you’re in your destination as well! We like to bring a variety of snacks as well as a ton of pouches too!! He loves pouches so these are always exciting – and a way to guarantee some fruits and veggies on a busy travel day. Another snack he loves in flight is an almond butter & jelly sandwich! Easy to pack and store for a travel day.
Plan ahead and bring some of their favorites from home since you don’t know what you’ll have available in your destination.
Bring a water bottle or a bottle of milk
You’re actually allowed a water bottle or other liquid through security when traveling with a baby or toddler if you say it’s for them! I also like to bring an empty water bottle for myself and fill it up after you get through security.
Turn your toddler’s standard airplane seat into a bed!
JetKids by Stokke Travel Toddler Bed in a Box
Traveling on a flight that you want your toddler to be able to sleep on? Pack this ride-on, carry-on and sleep-on suitcase for kids, the Travel Toddler Bed in a Box turns a standard seat in planes into a first-class experience by expanding the leg room into a lay flat seat! Inspired by Scandinavian design and aviation-inspired style, it features shock-absorbing, front swivel wheels for maneuverability and adjustable straps for pulling or carrying. A spacious interior stores all your child’s essentials, while a mattress and soft-side panels provide a comfortable sleep space.
how cool is this?
Pack a full spare change of clothes for everyone in your carry-on.
There will be accidents!!! You will be glad you have extra clothes for your little one – and for you!
By the way – these are some of my favorite carry on bags right now! I love the ability to get into the bag from the front (and the laptop sleeve) on this one! and I love the versatility of this duffle/garment bag! Fits SO much.
Check a Car Seat
You will need one for your destination! (Unless you have pre-arranged one through your hotel’s transportation for coming from the airport and you don’t plan on leaving the resort or driving!). But, most trips, we are bringing one. And it is annoyingly bulky once they grow out of their infant car seat, but we have one that we love – this Cosco one, that only weighs 10 pounds, doesn’t need a base with it to work great ( just attaches with the seat belt!), and, the best part? He LOVES to nap in it. It’s comfy and cozy! (even for my BIG boy!)
We do not bring a car seat with us on the plane with a toddler (but we always did as an infant).
Bring a really good travel stroller (or your regular stroller!)
Keep in mind that standard baggage allowances make exceptions for baby gear: Most airlines will allow you to check a stroller and car seat for free!
There are so many travel stroller options out there – which is why I wrote this big comparison post comparing and reviewing all the best travel strollers! The Uppababy MINU is my top travel stroller pick thanks to its ease of opening and one-handed fold-down, compact design, storage, and all-around simplicity of operation. I also love the way it handles tougher terrain (read: from cobblestones in Europe, to dirt-paved paths in Hawaii). The storage is unbeatable – and I always have it full of baby stuff, and the UPF 50-plus sunshade lends sun protection on a walk or if you want your baby to take a nap in the stroller at the beach.
Here’s what I love about our travel stroller
- One hand, one-step fold
- All-wheel suspension
- Roomy seat with adjustable recline and leg rest
- Large, easy-to-access storage basket that we always use for all of our baby gear!
- Extendable, zip-out UPF 50+ canopy for protecting your babe from the sun!
- 16.9 lbs – lightweight!
- From-birth option using the UPPAbaby Bassinet, or the ARIA infant car seat – which we used for the first year!
I also added these handy hooks so that I can hang random bags on the stroller bar (very handy in the airport, but please be careful not to put anything too heavy on there that would tip the stroller!!!!!) and I added a stroller caddy and a cupholder from Amazon – highly recommend! I love that this stroller has so much storage (for a travel stroller!)
Gate check the stroller, don’t worry about putting it in the overhead bin
Unless you’re traveling internationally somewhere where you won’t be able to pick it up at the gate during your layover (when you’ll need it!). But most places around the world, we choose to gate check the stroller for ease (less things to bring on the plane when I already have enough in my carry on’s for the whole family!)
Consider the Bulkhead Seats
I like the bulkhead when flying with a toddler because it becomes my son’s play space on a long flight! Especially when he was traveling as a lap-child under two, it was a godsend to have somewhere to sit him to play that wasn’t my lap even if only for a few minutes! And, once they’re a full-blown toddler, it gives them an area to stand and get their zoomies out a bit!
However, if you’re planning on sleeping and using the Stokke Jetkids bed, bulkhead might not be the best choice, since you’ll want the ‘bed’ to be flat up against the seat in front.
And, for once you arrive to your destination:
How to Manage Time Zone Changes with a Toddler
Navigating time zone changes with a toddler is definitely one of the most common questions I get every day on instagram. Trust me, it’s less scary than you think!!! We went all the way from the USA to Japan to Bali with a toddler, and back, and now, I feel like we can do anything!
If you’re going far away, it will take at least a couple of days to adjust to a new schedule with your child. But remember, that’s about how long it takes you, as well! So give yourselves and your toddler grace when it comes to adjusting. Your sleep may not be perfect those first couple nights – but wouldn’t you rather have a worse night’s sleep in paradise than a perfect night’s sleep at home? I know I would.
We’ve also had a lot of success breaking our longer-distance trips up a bit, so stopping over in California for a few days on the way to Hawaii or Bora Bora, for example, can help a lot with the time zone change!
Travel Day = Anything Goes
You’ll likely want to do everything in your power to plan your travel day out perfectly, including when your little one will sleep. And while it’s helpful to prepare, it’s also important to realize most travel days don’t go perfectly according to plan – your child may fall asleep sooner than usual, much later than usual, or they may skip a nap altogether – or take multiple naps! And that’s okay! We adopt an ‘anything goes’ attitude toward travel days (and the day we arrive to our destination), and we’ve found that works well for helping to adjust.
Get on the new time zone right away
Jumping into your new time zone as quickly as possible (and eating on your new schedule!) will not only be helpful for your toddler’s adjusting to a new time zone, but for you, too!
Get Outside!
Science has proven time and time again one of the best (and easiest) ways to fight jet lag is to get some UV LIGHT!!! I like to plan on spending some time outside shortly after we get to a new destination to help our bodies acclimate! This could mean a family beach walk, a quick stroll into town to get groceries, an ocean swim, anything! If it’s night time when you arrive, take a little stroll in the dark so your child’s body can register it’s night time, and then head to bed.
Create a great sleep Environment
Setting up a good sleep environment when traveling is so important, especially with changing time zones!
This handy contraption goes with us on every trip, along with this travel noise machine. Why? Because it sets up a pitch-black, ideal sleep environment for him AND means that our son can sleep in our same hotel room and we can be doing other things like moving around the room, watching a show or movie, etc. Whether it’s nap time or an early bedtime, this is a travel GAMECHANGER. We don’t travel without ours!!!
Consider a hotel room with an extra bedroom or a closed off area for sleep
If you can, look for a hotel room that has a separate area for closing off so that your toddler can sleep there, and everyone else can still be awake and up and about. If you have a deep sleeper, the slumberpod is great for this and can even allow you to be in the same room, but with lighter sleepers (or noisy toddler sleepers!!) it can be super helpful for them to have their own space.
Bring Special, Familiar Items from Home
This goes along with creating a perfect sleep environment, since you want your toddler to feel as comfortable and ‘at home’ as possible, even on the road.
Bring a favorite stuffed animal of theirs, their favorite bedtime books that they always have you read, and if your baby or toddler still wears a sleep sack (this is our favorite that we use!), bring it with you!
Managing nap times when traveling with a toddler
For toddlers on a one nap schedule, or older kids who don’t nap anymore, you actually have so much more flexibility! That is not to say they won’t still struggle with jet lag a little, but their little body clocks are easier to sway because they can handle being awake longer than usual. Practice naps on the go ahead of your trip if you can. And, once you’re on vacation, try to time naps well so they are either around activities you have planned or they’re while you’re traveling if your baby will nap in the car, in the stroller, etc. And then be prepared to be flexible, have different plans for if napping isn’t going well (maybe have a low-key catch up more restful day planned in the middle of your trip), and work as a tag-team with your partner so that you’re not both going crazy trying to make your little one sleep! Take turns!
Try not to overpack!
Always ask for what child amenities are available at your hotel ahead of time! I learned early on in traveling with a baby that every luxury hotel we went to would leave baby amenities in his crib when we requested a crib (things like baby soap, shampoo, baby lotion, etc) meaning I didn’t have to bring his special shampoo, which was one less thing to pack. At some of the nicer hotels we stayed (like Rosewood Mayakoba, they even had diaper pails, a baby bath, a bottle sanitizer, and a monitor ready for us in our room!).
Also, before you go packing everything in your house for a trip – look up this company! They offer baby / child equipment rentals in destinations all over!!! You can rent clean, safe & insured baby gear rentals – things like strollers, cribs, wagons, beach gear, toys, high chairs, baby baths, bouncers and swings, etc! It’s a genius company, that makes travel so much easier for parents who already have so many bags to bring!
