If you are planning on flying with your toddler in the near future or are still just thinking about it, you have come to the right place. 🙂 The first time I took my oldest on a plane was when she just turned 3 months old, and my youngest was just 2 weeks old. Flying with toddlers and young kids might sound stressful and overwhelming at first, but I’m here to tell you it’s totally manageable if you are prepared.Â
Flying alone can be stressful for some, now add little humans to the mix that need to be fed, changed, and entertained. I was extremely nervous flying for the first time with my then three months old but have learned over the years that being prepared can definitely make a flight with one or multiple children a lot more enjoyable. While I can’t promise you for every flight to go smoothly, I’m here to share all my tips and trips for flying with young children, that have helped us over the years.
This post is all about Tips for flying with toddlers.
7 Helpful Tips for flying with Toddlers
1. Get to the airport EARLY
There has been a couple of times where we ended up getting to the airport later than we had planned and it always ended up being chaotic. We had to wait on ridiculous long security or check-in lanes and then ended up rushing to the terminal with luggage, carry-on bags, AND little kids. By the time we sat in our airplane seats, everyone was exhausted, sweaty, and stressed, including the kids. So, to avoid this, my husband and I said we would never get to the airport less than two hours before the plane leaves. We now always get there around three hours before the departure time. It gives us enough time to go through a possible long check-in lane, we can get something to eat for us and the kids, and most important the earlier you get there the higher your chances are for better seats on the plane. This brings me to my next point
2. Get seats with more legroom
If you fly economy like us, getting seats with enough legroom can definitely make a flight with toddlers a lot more comfortable. I’ve read on a couple of websites that parents prefer to sit in the back of the plane to be close to bathrooms but I have to strongly disagree on that. Who wants to carry all their luggage and kids to the back of the plane? Not this Mama. If it’s possible to choose the seats online, I suggest you do that. Most airlines charge quite a bit for that, so what I do is get to the airport early and ask at the counter if the seats at the bulkhead are still available. Those seats are in the middle aisle, next to the emergency exits and next to the bathrooms. There is also no one sitting in from of you who can recline their seat and you don’t have to worry about kids kicking the seat in from of you. The leg space is super nice and makes it possible for the kids to walk around a bit and change seats if needed with no problems. One of my kids even slept on the floor right in front of us with pillows and blankets. Airlines usually reserve these seats for families with kids or infants, because they also offer enough space to attach a bassinet if needed.
3. Pack fun activities
Do my kids watch a lot of TV during long international flights? Yes. Do I still pack activities for them? Always, because believe it or not, they get over the TV real quick, and then it’s up to me to entertain them. While I don’t want to overpack on toys, I try to have a few different activities for them planned out. I usually pack a few lightweight books, coloring books, and a few crayons, stickers, and then one or two new toys. I usually head to the Doller Store before a big trip and get them a few new toys that don’t cost much but will be a surprise once they get to play with them on the airplane. I’m going to make a separate post on what specific toys and activities I pack for my kids, but here are a few ideas that have kept my kids busy for some time:
4. Pack a change of clothes
Packing a change of clothes for every child and adult is essential. You might be wondering why bring a change of clothes for the adults? Well….let me tell you, toddlers are messy and it didn’t just happen once that one of my kids spilled their drinks and got my pants completely wet. On our last flight, my almost-two-year-old vomited all over me as we landed and my jeans were completely covered in throw-up. Yup! I was so thankful that I had packed an extra pair of pants into my carry-on. Just pack an extra outfit for everyone, and thank me later lol.
5. Pack a Spillproof Water Cup
The fold-out airplane tables, let’s be honest, are not exactly toddler-friendly. The kids can move it up and down and cups can easily be knocked over. Like I explained earlier, we’ve had several spills of water and orange juices, that I have decided to only let them drink out of spill-proof cups while we are on the plane. As soon as the stewardess leaves a drink for the kids, I fill it right into their spill-proof cups and don’t have to worry about any spills. Here is the cup that we are using.
- Spill-Proof Sippy Cups
These cups are super lightweight and the kids can carry them in their own backpacks. We bring them empty to the airport and then can easily refill them at the water fountains inside the terminals.
6. Bring Headphones for the kids
While I don’t let my toddlers watch a ton of TV at home, they are allowed to watch movies on the plane. And let’s be honest, they aren’t just watching one movie during an 8-hour flight to Europe. And that’s fine. The free headphones that they are handing out during most international flights are not great for little kids. We bought both our toddlers headphones that fit their little heads (and can be adjusted) and they are excited to use them every time and make sure to pack them into their own backpacks. Here are the ones we use and love.
7. Don’t forget to bring (A TON) of snacks
I don’t know about yours, but my toddlers love to snack. I find that especially during take-off and landing they can be a little restless, since they have to keep the seatbelts on and can no longer walk around. Snacks always help to keep them occupied and also help with the ear pressure during take-off and landing. I like to pack fruits, pretzels, granola bars, fruit pouches, veggie straws, nuts, and raisins. If your airline offers a warm meal, you can order a kid’s meal online. I highly recommend that, and it’s free if you have paid for your child’s seat.
This post was all about helpful tips for flying with toddlers and young children.
