Flying With a Toddler: Everything You Need to Know

By Tear Free Travel

Flying with a toddler can sound intimidating. Toddlers are active, unpredictable, easily bored, and not exactly known for sitting quietly in one place for several hours.

The good news is that flying with a toddler is usually much easier when you know what to expect and prepare for the parts of the trip that tend to cause problems.

From getting through the airport to choosing what goes in your carry-on, keeping your toddler entertained, handling snacks and naps, and surviving the actual flight, a little preparation can make a huge difference.

This guide covers everything you need to know before flying with a toddler.

Flying With a Toddler Doesn't Have to Be Miserable

One of the biggest mistakes parents make is expecting a flight with a toddler to look like a flight without children.

You probably aren't going to spend three peaceful hours watching a movie while your toddler quietly looks out the window.

Instead, think of the flight as a series of smaller activities: have a snack, look at a book, play with a toy, walk to the bathroom, watch a show, color for a few minutes, and hopefully take a nap somewhere in between.

When you approach it that way, the flight becomes much more manageable.

Before You Book the Flight

Your flight time can have a surprisingly big impact on how smoothly the trip goes.

If possible, think about your toddler's normal schedule before booking. A flight that leaves at 5:30 a.m. might be inexpensive, but waking a toddler several hours earlier than usual can make for a very long travel day.

On the other hand, some toddlers do wonderfully on an early flight and simply fall asleep once the plane is in the air.

There isn't one perfect flight time for every family. The goal is to choose a schedule that works reasonably well with your child's normal sleep and meal routine.

Nonstop Flights Are Usually Worth Considering

When the price difference is reasonable, a nonstop flight can be especially valuable when traveling with a toddler.

Every connection means another airport, another boarding process, another chance for a delay, and another period of convincing your toddler to get back onto an airplane.

That doesn't mean you should never book a connection. Sometimes the savings are substantial. But when comparing flights, remember that the easiest itinerary may have value beyond the ticket price.

Should You Buy Your Toddler Their Own Airplane Seat?

Airline rules vary by country, airline, and the child's age, so always check your airline's current policy before booking.

In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration recommends that young children travel in an approved child restraint system rather than being held on an adult's lap.

If you plan to use a car seat on the airplane, confirm that your particular restraint is approved for aircraft use and check your airline's requirements before your trip.

Tear Free Travel has more information about choosing a lightweight option in our guide to portable travel car seats and our toddler travel car seat guide.

What to Pack in Your Toddler's Carry-On

A well-packed carry-on is one of the best tools you have when flying with a toddler.

You don't need to bring your entire playroom onto the airplane, but you do want enough food, entertainment, clothing, and basic supplies to handle delays as well as the flight itself.

Some of the most useful things to have within reach include:

Diapers or pull-ups, if needed
Baby wipes
An extra outfit for your toddler
An extra shirt for the parent
Plenty of snacks
An empty refillable water bottle or toddler cup
A few small toys
Coloring supplies
Reusable sticker books
Headphones sized for children
A tablet with entertainment downloaded before leaving home
A favorite comfort item
Any necessary medications
Plastic or zip-top bags for wet or dirty clothing

If you are still putting together your travel gear, our toddler travel essentials guide includes several things that can make family trips easier.

Bring More Snacks Than You Think You Need

Snacks are entertainment, distraction, and occasionally negotiation currency when you're flying with a toddler.

Pack more than you expect to use, especially if you have a long travel day or a connection.

Good airplane snacks are usually easy to portion, relatively low-mess, and familiar to your child.

Depending on your toddler's age and what they normally eat, options might include crackers, cereal, cheese, fruit, snack bars, dry cereal, pretzels, or fruit pouches.

A divided snack container can be especially handy because opening several little compartments can turn snack time into an activity.

See toddler travel snack containers on Amazon.

Always choose foods that are appropriate for your child's age and eating abilities, and supervise young children while eating.

Know the Airport Rules for Toddler Food and Drinks

If you're flying from a U.S. airport, TSA rules provide exceptions for certain baby and toddler foods and drinks.

Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby or toddler food can be carried in quantities larger than the standard liquid limit. These items may need to be removed from your carry-on for separate screening.

Because security procedures and rules can change, check the TSA website and your departure airport's guidance before traveling.

Get to the Airport Earlier Than You Used To

Everything takes longer with a toddler.

Getting out of the car takes longer. Checking luggage takes longer. Security takes longer. Bathroom trips definitely take longer.

Give yourself enough time that a diaper change, snack emergency, long security line, or toddler who suddenly wants to inspect every airport window doesn't turn into a crisis.

Arriving a little early is usually much less stressful than sprinting through a terminal carrying a toddler and three bags.

Let Your Toddler Move Before Boarding

Once you're through security, resist the temptation to keep your toddler strapped into a stroller until boarding.

If the airport has space where your child can safely walk or play, use it.

This is your opportunity to let your toddler move before asking them to sit for an extended period.

Some airports even have dedicated children's play areas. We have a full list of ideas in 15 Ways to Keep Your Kids Occupied at the Airport.

Don't Bring Out Every Toy at Once

One of the easiest ways to make your entertainment last longer is to introduce activities one at a time.

If you hand your toddler a bag containing eight new toys as soon as you sit down, there's a good chance all eight will be on the floor before takeoff.

Instead, keep most of the entertainment hidden.

When your toddler gets tired of one activity, put it away and introduce something different.

Best Airplane Activities for Toddlers

The best airplane activities tend to be small, relatively quiet, and difficult to scatter across six rows of an airplane.

Some good options include:

Reusable sticker books
Water-reveal coloring books
Magnetic drawing boards
Small board books
Mess-free markers
Simple matching or sorting activities
Small magnetic toys
Favorite downloaded shows or movies

Browse toddler airplane activities on Amazon.

We've also put together a much larger collection of airplane activities for toddlers based specifically around keeping little ones occupied during a flight.

Bring a Couple of New Activities

You don't need to buy an entirely new collection of toys every time you fly.

However, having one or two small activities your toddler hasn't seen before can buy you valuable time.

The novelty is often more important than the price.

A new sticker book or inexpensive drawing activity can sometimes hold a toddler's attention longer than a much more elaborate toy they've already played with dozens of times.

Don't Feel Guilty About Screen Time on the Plane

An airplane does not have to be the place where you enforce your family's strictest screen-time rules.

If a downloaded movie or favorite show keeps your toddler content during a long flight, that may be a very useful travel tool.

The important part is downloading everything before leaving home. Don't assume that airplane Wi-Fi will be available, fast enough, or compatible with the streaming service you want to use.

And don't forget toddler-sized headphones.

See toddler headphones for travel on Amazon.

Pack for Spills and Accidents

Even potty-trained toddlers can have accidents during a long travel day, and turbulence has a remarkable ability to send drinks in unexpected directions.

Keep at least one complete toddler outfit somewhere you can reach it without opening your checked luggage.

It's also smart to bring an extra shirt for yourself.

If your toddler spills an entire drink onto both of you an hour into a five-hour flight, you'll be glad you did.

Think Carefully About Boarding Early

Many airlines allow families with young children to board early.

That can be extremely helpful if you're installing a car seat, organizing several carry-ons, or simply want time to get settled without a line of passengers waiting behind you.

However, early boarding also means your toddler spends additional time sitting on the airplane before it goes anywhere.

If you're traveling with another adult, one strategy is to have one person board early with the luggage and car seat while the other stays in the terminal with the toddler until closer to the end of boarding.

Whether that works depends on the airline's boarding process and your family's setup, but it can be a useful option.

What About Your Stroller?

A stroller can be incredibly helpful in a large airport, even if your toddler usually prefers to walk.

It gives you somewhere to put your child when you need to move quickly and can carry some of the smaller items you're hauling through the terminal.

Airline stroller policies differ, so check whether your stroller can be gate checked and whether there are size or weight restrictions.

If you're shopping specifically for something lightweight, you can compare lightweight travel strollers on Amazon.

How to Handle Takeoff and Landing

Changes in cabin pressure can make some children uncomfortable during takeoff and descent.

Swallowing can help equalize pressure, so having an age-appropriate drink or snack available may be useful.

For toddlers old enough to understand, you can also encourage drinking, swallowing, or yawning.

If your child has ear problems, is sick, or you're concerned about flying with a particular medical condition, ask your pediatrician for advice before traveling.

What If Your Toddler Won't Nap?

You can perfectly time your flight around nap time, bring your toddler's favorite blanket, dim every screen, and still end up with a very awake child.

That's normal.

Try to create the conditions for sleep, but don't spend the entire flight fighting for a nap that clearly isn't happening.

If your toddler falls asleep, wonderful.

If not, switch gears and keep them occupied. Sometimes accepting an unusual travel-day schedule is considerably less stressful than trying to reproduce the exact routine you have at home.

Bring a Familiar Comfort Item

A favorite blanket, stuffed animal, small pillow, or other familiar item can be particularly helpful when everything around your toddler feels unfamiliar.

Just make sure it isn't something that would be disastrous to lose.

If your toddler absolutely cannot sleep without a particular stuffed animal, you may not want to risk leaving the only one you've ever owned underneath seat 23B.

Use the Bathroom Before You Absolutely Need It

Airplane bathrooms are tiny.

Airplane bathrooms with a toddler are even tinier.

Don't wait until your child is desperate if you can avoid it.

For children who are newly potty trained, consider bathroom opportunities before boarding, after the seatbelt sign goes off, and again before descent if practical.

Expect the Unexpected

Your toddler may sleep for the entire flight.

They may happily color for 45 minutes.

Or the expensive new travel toy you carefully selected may hold their attention for approximately eleven seconds while an empty plastic cup becomes the most fascinating object they've ever encountered.

That's toddler travel.

The goal isn't to control every minute. It's to have enough options available that you can keep changing course when something isn't working.

What If Your Toddler Has a Meltdown on the Plane?

First, deal with the basics.

Are they hungry? Thirsty? Tired? Uncomfortable? Bored? Do they need a diaper change or bathroom trip?

If there isn't an obvious solution, stay calm and work through it the same way you would anywhere else.

Most parents who have traveled with young children have experienced some version of an airplane meltdown.

You may feel like everyone on the airplane is paying attention, but most passengers will go back to their books, phones, or movies much faster than you think.

Keep Important Supplies Under the Seat

Don't put every essential item in the overhead bin.

Your most frequently needed supplies should be in a smaller bag that fits underneath the seat in front of you.

That might include:

Wipes
A diaper or pull-up
Snacks
A drink
One or two activities
Headphones
Comfort item
Any essential medication

This is especially helpful when the seatbelt sign is on and getting into an overhead bin isn't an option.

Prepare for Delays

Don't pack only enough supplies for the scheduled flight time.

A two-hour flight can easily turn into a much longer travel day when weather, maintenance, air traffic, or other delays get involved.

Your carry-on should contain enough diapers, wipes, food, medications, entertainment, and clothing to get you through a reasonable delay.

This is one of the times when slightly overpacking your toddler's essentials is worth it.

What You Probably Don't Need

Parents understandably want to prepare for everything, but dragging too much gear through an airport creates its own problems.

You probably don't need ten large toys, an enormous diaper bag packed for every possible disaster, multiple pairs of toddler shoes, or your child's entire bedroom.

Focus on things that solve the problems you're actually likely to encounter.

A few versatile activities are better than a bag overflowing with toys.

A Simple Game Plan for Flying With a Toddler

If you're nervous about an upcoming flight, keep your plan simple:

Choose the most convenient flight schedule you reasonably can.
Check your airline's current rules for children, car seats, and strollers.
Pack plenty of snacks and essential supplies.
Bring several small activities and introduce them one at a time.
Download entertainment before leaving home.
Let your toddler move around before boarding.
Keep the most important items underneath the seat.
Expect your normal routine to change for the day.
Give yourself more time than you think you'll need.
Remember that the flight eventually ends.

More Help for Traveling With Toddlers

If you're planning your first big trip with a toddler, these Tear Free Travel guides can help you prepare:

Final Thoughts on Flying With a Toddler

Flying with a toddler probably won't feel exactly like the relaxing flights you remember from before having children, but it doesn't have to be a disaster either.

Preparation matters, but flexibility matters just as much.

Bring food. Bring entertainment. Pack an extra outfit. Give yourself plenty of time. Expect at least one part of your carefully planned routine not to work.

Then do what parents do best: adjust as you go.

You may even reach your destination surprised by how well your toddler handled the whole adventure.