Tested Tips to Manage Plane Travel With Toddlers

No. I don’t get paid for any of the products I might mention. I will be satisfied knowing these tips will help other parents, as taking toddlers on a plane ride can be very hard. And, as parents, we are doing one of the toughest — albeit most rewarding and vital — jobs out there.

1. Plan ahead

The days of packing a suitcase on the day of travel are gone when you have a little one (if you can still do this, consider whether you are doing your fair share at home; otherwise, you might be a superhuman).

Planning starts by making decisions pre-trip, which includes asking questions. If you have a partner and he/she will be part of the trip, include them in the conversation since they should be doing their part.

Here are some prompts to start:

Are we taking the stroller? If so, are we taking it on the plane or checking it at the gate? To answer the latter, you must ask whether you will need a stroller to carry your child around an airport. On our way to Berlin, we stopped in Amsterdam for a layover when it was the middle of the night for our 3-year-old. We decided not to bring a stroller and had to carry her for 30 minutes through a huge airport. Besides being heavy, she woke up, making the rest of the day quite hard.

Do we have a child-friendly place to arrive at? (ie. do we have to bring baby proofing or any other tool to keep children restrained for safety). When we went to Berlin, we stayed on the top floor of a beautiful Airbnb, but most windows were very low, so we had to watch our daughter like hawks at all times. Had I thought of safety over beauty, we would have picked another place.

Choosing the proper flight schedule: If a very long trip, is a stopover a better option for you? A direct flight would take about 10 hours when we visit my in-laws. We opted for a stopover because it gives my toddler time to walk around and decompress. We also choose one of the legs at night time if available; this way, she’s asleep for most of that leg.

Car seat essentials: are you renting a car? Do they include car seats? Are you bringing your car seat? Does your car seat even fit the standard in the country you are traveling to? We took my daughter’s car seat to Berlin to find out the setup was not the standard there, so we could not use it since proper installation was impossible.

2. Compartmentalize your airplane backpack

It works for mental clarity, and it works for finding things quickly in your bag. I used to dump a lot of t stuff in a backpack. After four trips, I noticed that my stress level increased significantly when I dug through my backpack pockets to find what I was looking for eventually, and it took way longer than it should have.

Having something like the image below made my last trip feel SO. MUCH. BETTER.

For example, the bag with the diapers included a change of clothes for my toddler and wipes. I could take it out and give it to my husband to take my daughter to the potty, or I could do it. You can also choose which bags to keep in the child’s seat during the flight and put the rest in the overhead compartment. I itemized these pouches as follows, but you should do what works best for you:

Snacks: Bring many snacks! You never know if your child will like what is given on the plane. And we all know what happens when there’s a hungry child.

Things to sleep in for overnight flights (includes a PJ change, toothbrush, etc, to keep her bedtime routine similar to the one at home).

Entertainment (more details on this below).

Change of clothes for husband and I.

Electronics (chargers, tablets, etc.).

Medications and supplements.

3. Dressing for success

If you are like me and most toddlers, you probably like to take your shoes off as soon as you board the plane. If you are also like me, maybe you have looked at Crocs and wondered, “Why do people buy those overpriced plastic shoes for their children?”

I have discovered that Crocs or Croc-like shoes (aka plastic shoes that your toddler can put on and take off easily) are perfect for traveling because:

They can put them on quickly (duh!), and

you can easily wash and dry them if they get messy (I have done this at least on two plane rides). I finally understand the hype.

As for adults, I urge you to wear whatever makes you comfortable and don’t mind getting messy. But also, as noted above, bring a change of clothes for you and your partner. You never know if your toddler made a trip to the potty without needing new clothes because you were the intended victim all along.

4. If potty training (please don’t skip; this can make or ruin your year):

Bring diapers or pullovers. Remember, children are still learning what it means to travel on a plane (aka, they cannot always use the potty as soon as needed). Even if your child has been incredible at potty training, have pullovers in case of an emergency. My daughter had to use the restroom on a flight, but it was clear it would take a while before she could use it because flight attendants were serving dinner. I quickly put the pullover on, and she could use it instead. Mess avoided!

Don’t forget a seat reducer or potty you use at home to keep things as home-like as possible at your intended destination. I cannot stress how important this is. We made the mistake of bringing a portable seat reducer that my daughter had rarely used for a week-long trip. The stress of traveling and the change in her routine made her constipated, which led to a hard and painful bowel movement. Besides having a massive potty regression, we are still struggling with her feeling comfortable pooping a year after.

While traveling, we tend to eat very differently than at home. A probiotic can help your child’s digestion adjust to the changes.

5. Entertainment

We all strive to do less screen time for our children, but we have to balance this with a desire for sanity after a long plane ride. Keeping a child entertained on a plane is an art. Most parents try toys first, screen second, and within the “screen” category, we try games first, shows and movies last.

Toys: bring something new or something you know will keep your toddler entertained for a bit. I encourage you to bring toys that are light, do not use too much space, and aren’t messy. I mistakenly got mini Magna tiles for a flight (see image below) because my daughter likes them. While she was entertained with them for a good 30 minutes, their weight was not worth it. Sticker books and water Wows have been lifesavers.

Screen time: download games, movies, and shows you know your child likes before the trip. You never know if the plane will have good screen entertainment, or any at all. We have been on 6-hour plane rides with no access to screens.

Getting the right headphones: This item gets a dedicated bullet point because a tablet or plane screen is moot if you forget it. But not all headphones are created equal! The ones in the picture do not allow for the volume to go too high, and while they have the option for Bluetooth, they also come with a cable, which is essential if you want your child to be connected to the plane’s screen if provided.

6. Own your place in the world as the guide of our future generation.

It’s easy to react to our child’s behavior based on looks of annoyance from others without taking into consideration whether our reaction is what our toddler needs at the moment. I know I’ve yelled at my kid to show others I’m trying to keep her in line. But this only led to her getting more frustrated and a bit afraid. Let’s not fall for it!

We have one of the world's most challenging and essential jobs — parenting. Without us, there are no children who will take over the workforce and keep the world going after the adults on the plane retire. So remember, your children have the right to exist as children in the world. You are doing what you can as a parent, and if someone else can’t see that, that’s their problem.

Thanks for sticking with me all the way to the end. I promise this post will make a difference on your next trip.