As the holidays roll around a lot of people will be flying to celebrate with families or for vacation. Our daughter is 16 months and she detests being strapped down.
Three-hour car rides to Chicago are literally torture to me because I still get that feeling in my gut that rips at me any time she cries. BTW, it’s not fair that this physical pain doesn’t happen to Dads!
I wanted to share some of the best tips I’ve been given and have learned from flying with toddlers over the past six years.
Tips for Flying with a Toddler
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- Snacks. Bring all your toddler’s favorite snacks. I choose snacks that take longer to eat but don’t fill them up. Think cheerios or dehydrated fruit and yogurt drops.
- Baby carrier. Even if you are bringing a stroller (flying solo it was super helpful to be able to wear him at fussy times but also helpful to have his stroller to put her in so I could use the bathroom).
- Overnight diapers. And disposable changing pad for the plane. It’s hard enough changing a kid on the floor of a plane so bringing a changing pad helps.
- Toys. Whatever she is into right now. Right now she’s obsessed with books, cars and anything with tons of pieces like this shape puzzle set
or a deck of flashcards. - Pacifier or Bottle. Anything to suck on to help her ears adjust. If your child is nursing this also helps.
- Personal seat. Many airlines charge now for 2 and under so you’ll have the choice to have them fly free. Paying that much money for a child that might not use the seat is insane BUT it will help your sanity if they DO sit and play in their own seat. I’ve had better success when they have their own seats (even if they fight and cry at the beginning while being strapped in).
- Schedule an earlier flight. Most toddlers are happier in the mornings giving you a better chance at success. If you can’t book a morning flight, consider doing red-eye where they will be exhausted and hopefully sleep.
- Get there early. They’ll be sitting on a plane for the next 2+ hours so give them a chance to run around a bit before boarding. Some airports even have little play areas now!
Let me know what other tips you have for flying with young toddlers. Communication is so difficult at this stage. They’re not yet talking but they can understand a ton! Keep in mind that your emotions rub off on them so the calmer and kinder you are, the calmer and kinder they’ll be.
Safe travels!
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We always bring sanitizing wipes and headphones. Our little guy loves music, so we can help him with some familiar “Coco” or “Moana” tunes. We also have the GB pocket stroller which you can take all the way to your seat on the plane with you – sure beats waiting for a checked stroller to be returned, especially if you have transfers. Good luck with your travels!
Oh I love the tip of taking a collapsable stroller to not have to wait! So when are you flying to Chicago or Indy next?!