Flying with a toddler is one of those things that might make you never get on a plane again… or it might go so well that you book your next family vacation before you even get home from the first one! If you have an upcoming flight and are looking for the best way to minimize the chance of an airport meltdown and figure out if flying with a car seat is worth it, I’ve got you covered.
Check out these tips for travelling with a toddler on a plane to help ensure a smooth flight for the whole family!
7 Tips for Flying With A Toddler
Here are my favorite ways to minimize stress when we are flying with a toddler:
- Snacks
- Entertainment
- Incase of an Emergency Item
- Plan Ahead
- Pack Extras
- Flying With a Car seat
- Have Grace
1. Snacks
I don’t care if your flight is 90 minutes or 9 hours, you need to have snacks. I find having a variety of snacks is the most helpful because when you are flying with a toddler, the toddler friendly in-flight snack options available are usually pretty limited. Unless you like paying $9 for a few pieces of cheese 😉.
Snacks such as apples, bananas, mixed nuts, goldfish, crackers, baby carrots, black olives, peanut butter and jelly sandwich are safe to fly with on the plane and they have all been toddler approved mid-flight!
And don’t forget to have a water bottle available during the flight too! Most airports these days have filtered water bottle fountains available to fill them up before you board your flight. I’ve found it much easier to have one of my kids cups available during the flight than trying to have them sip off the wide mouth of the small plastic cups they give you.
And don’t forget to keep the snack bag within reach!
2. Entertainment
There is the obvious choice, a cell phone or an iPad so your child can watch a movie during the flight. If you find yourself travelling with a toddler on a plane solo, this is probably one thing you want to have at least available as an option!
Otherwise, what we usually do is have a backpack for each kid that has a few of their special toys. Books, a stuffed animal and the Target dollar spot has these awesome little packs that have a small color book, a few crayons and stickers with their characters that we always include!
3. Incase of an Emergency Items
While we all have parenting standards, the bar lowers on the day when we are traveling. I appreciate that we are all outside our normal routine, the days are usually long and can be a bit stressful for everyone. As a result, these are the days that we always make sure we pack an emergency treat (or 2!) and have absolutely zero guilt over it.
Easy to travel treats for the plane ride:
Small packaged candy, granola bar, cookies or really anything that is small, doesn’t take time to prepare and your child will come out of a meltdown for!
4. Be Prepared Ahead of Time
The secret to success when travelling with a toddler on a plane? Make sure to have yourself organized a head of time. Flying with a toddler can actually really be a good experience if you spend a few minutes to make sure you have your basis covered.
Like anything in life, knowing what to expect can dramatically reduce your stress level! You know that you are going to have downtime at the airport while you wait for your flight so take a few minutes and google if your airport has an indoor play structure.
You know that you will have some coordination to do once your flight lands to get your bags, rental car etc. while you have your toddler(s) at your feet. So, make a plan with whoever is picking you up a head of time as a way to reduce the need for extra phone calls and wasted time.
In my opinion any wasted time with kids is just asking for hiccups! Check out this system for making sure you don’t forget any stops along the way you might need to plan for when travelling with kids!
5. Pack Extra Clothes
Packing extra clothes when flying with a toddler on a plane is an absolute must. Spills and accidents happen anywhere, and you definitely don’t want to find yourself mid-flight with no options.
6. Flying With A Car seat Is Totally Worth It
Personally, after having done It a few times, I am convinced flying with a car seat when you are flying with a toddler is well worth it! Toddlers like to be on the move and honestly, it is nice to have a place to contain them!
Having them safely strapped in allows us to be hands free to take care of whatever we need to without worrying as much. My children also nap much better in their car seat as it is familiar to them and that alone makes the day go smoother!
Check out the airline website you are flying for any specific information but here is the TSA general information for flying with a car seat.
7. Have Grace With Everyone- Including Yourself
Unfortunately flying with a toddler still means you are susceptible to early flights, delayed flights and jam-packed flights. These situations can add stress to everyone so it is really important to take a step back and give yourself, and your kiddos, a little grace on these days!
Be extra patient, pick your battles and try and approach temper tantrums with distraction instead of punishment to help you get through your travel day!
Travelling With A Toddler On A Plane
I’ve tested these tips and they have never failed me, on a plane or on a road trip . Being prepared and always having that “in case of emergency” treat will always serve you well.
All you have left to do before your big trip is implement these 7 tips for flying with a toddler, sit back and enjoy your upcoming trip! Oh yeah, and pack 😉
Don’t forget to pin this to your favorite board!
Safe Travels!
