Tips for Flying with a Toddler

We all love to travel, don’t we? Especially after these three years of travel bans, dangerous travel locations, and rising costs. Travel can be a lovely experience. It can be a relaxing and life-changing experience. With all the highs of travel, we must accept the lows with it. If we are being honest with ourselves, travel can sometimes be stressful. There is the fear of missing flights, being in a foreign place, getting lost, or falling for a scam. There is always a hustle and bustle and certain hidden anxieties when traveling. One thing that doesn’t make it any better is traveling with a toddler. Traveling with toddlers takes one stressful thing and forces it together with another stressful thing. And as we know, two negatives don’t make a positive. Traveling is stressful and traveling with toddlers adds another layer of stress to an already stressful situation. If you are traveling and looking to save your sanity and enjoy your vacation, here are some tips for flying with a toddler to help you get through it. 

Fly according to their schedule

The first tip for flying with a toddler is to fly according to their schedule. Structure is so important for toddlers. It is important at home, at preschool, and even more important on a flight. The best way to avoid a fussy toddler is to adhere to their natural structure and circadian rhythm. This means keeping an eye on their nap time, their sleep time, and their eating time. If possible, book your flight at the time that works for you. If you would like your toddler to be sleepy and fall asleep during the duration of the flight, hoping it will ease your troubles, then book the right time. This means booking a flight during their usual sleep time and making sure to pack a sleep mask, blanket, and anything else to make sure they can sleep comfortably during the flight. 

If you are on the opposite end and would like your toddler to stay up during your flight, do not book the flight during the nighttime and force your toddler to stay up to watch the window. It will only lead to fussiness and overall discomfort for your little one during an already unknown experience. 

Bring their favorite snacks

Next, when flying with a toddler you will want to bring their favorite snack. This is my favorite go-to tip anytime I’m traveling with any toddlers or young children in the family. This tip is forgotten so many times because most people don’t know what is allowed on the flight. Every flight I have been on and researched allows you to bring your own snacks! This is a must-know for everyone, toddler or no toddler, but especially with a toddler. With a long list of TSA restrictions, it is easy to understand how you wouldn’t think snacks are allowed but they are. 

Of course, you don’t want to bring a giant box of Cheez-Its or family-size Cheerios through TSA, nor do you want to bring a giant carton of milk. However small ziplock bags in your personal item or bag are allowed and makes for a great soother for any uncomfortable toddlers. Along with this, airplane food is not the best for toddlers. Airplane food is not the best for anyone. The flavors are strange, it is either cold or improperly heated, or simply isn’t good enough for picky eaters. Carrying your own snacks ensures that your toddler gets to eat when hungry and won’t feel any stomach pains among the ear-popping and tight seatbelt. The goal is really to make your toddler as comfortable as possible. 

Dress them comfortably

Next, you will want to dress your toddler comfortably. In this day of TikTok and fashion, it is a trend to dress up at your best during your flight. This strange trend has families dressing themselves and their toddlers in fancy clothes, large shades, matching sets, and designer shoes. You’ll find small toddlers dressed in pretty dresses and button-ups and wondering why they are crying throughout the flight. Obviously, you don’t want to give in to this trend. It is uncomfortable and useless unless the president of some prince is picking you up from the airport. 

You will want to dress your toddler in comfortable layers. This means a regular T-shirt, comfortable sweatpants, and a removable jacket. Airplane temperatures are unpredictable. Most are either too cold or uncomfortably warm. Dressing in comfy layers ensures your ability to bundle them up if the air conditioning is kicking and dress them down if they are uncomfortable and squirmy. Then make sure to dress them in socks and a good-fitting pair of shoes. This way, TSA checks are easy and the flight is most comfortable. 

Toddler earplugs and chewing crackers

One of the worst parts of flying for anyone is the change in pressure and popping of the ears. We know this, older kids know this, but this will come as a complete shock to our young toddlers. People often like to freak out about crying toddlers and babies on flights as it takes off. The problem is that the toddler is uncomfortable and their ears are in immense pain and they don’t know why.

Here is where you want to invest in earplugs. If cleared by your toddler’s doctor, look into toddler-safe plastic earplugs and practice keeping them at home a few times before your flight. This way your toddler’s ears will be protected and they don’t have to feel that uncomfortable pop during the pressure change. If your child is unable to use any earplugs, have no fear, crackers are great as well. In your snack bag, bring a pack of crackers for your toddler to chomp on to ease discomfort.

Prepare them beforehand 

This is one of the best tips for flying with a toddler! You must prepare them beforehand. Many of the reasons toddlers are fussy during a flight are because they are confused and don’t know what is going on or what to expect. This can cause discomfort and some anxiety. Sometimes preparing them beforehand can help so that they know what to expect and feel a bit more confident with the procedures. 

But how do we prepare them for a flight at home? Luckily we live in the great age of YouTube. On YouTube, there are tons of play videos of kids boarding flights, rolling their luggage, buckling in, and following the pilot’s instructions. These expertly made videos turn a stressful situation into a fun experience. There are also some videos of kids going through TSA checkpoints unafraid and feeling rewarded for it. There are so many good resources that can help your toddler prepare for their flight. A week or two before your trip, spend a couple of minutes playing airplane with them and following the guides in the video. This way, when the flight comes, your toddler won’t be completely overwhelmed with all the hustle, bustle, and demands of the airport. 

Give in and bring the iPad

Lastly, on the tips for flying with a toddler: give in and bring the iPad. Just do it. I know you made a vow not to stuff a table in your child’s face dooming them to become a tablet baby, but in this one moment, it is necessary. To put it simply, bringing a bunch of travel toys and games takes up so much space. So many travelers will advise you to bring dollar store games, wooden puzzles, and doll sets, but where is that going to fit? There is no space in your bag for it, nor is there space on the tray table to play it. Yes, you can bring one of your child’s favorite toys or stuffed animals, but don’t bring the toy box. Just a single toy and the iPad will do. 

Bringing a tablet saves so much space and keeps them entertained. On one screen there is a multitude of games, music, and movies right at their fingertips. It is essential to keep your toddler entertained during the flight. With the iPad or kid’s tablet, you won’t have to scour through your bag for pieces of a toy or game and won’t have to experience their inevitable boredom. If you have to make an exception, make it just this once for your sake and your toddler’s sake. It will make the flight go by so much smoother than without it. 

Keep your cool!

All in all! Though flying is stressful, traveling is stressful, and flying with toddlers is stressful, there are many ways to lessen the discomfort of it all. Just take deep breaths, focus on yourself and your toddler and you will get through it. Try not to stress too much. I often feel that when we are stressed, the toddlers around us can feel it too. Follow these tips for flying with a toddler and your experience will be so much better than without!

Traveling to Orlando with your toddler? Here is Universal Orlando for toddlers!