Top 10 Items for flying with a Toddler
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Updated: January 12, 2021
Tips For Flying With a Toddler
Flying with a toddler can be a daunting and stressful event. But, from our experience (literally hundreds of flights!), if prepared it can be a fun and exciting adventure for you and your little one! Here at The Kid Packer, we feel strongly that traveling while your child is young is a great time to start exploring. And in order to do that, flying may be required. These are our top tips for flying with a toddler and the 10 items you need on your flying with a toddler checklist! These items can take a flight experience from a possible disaster to success!
If you are flying with a 1 year old or have a younger toddler, then you might want to take a look at our Top 10 Items for Flying with a Baby as well!
#1 Baby Backpack Child Carrier
Our number one recommended tip for flying with a toddler is to utilize a baby backpack child carrier! This is the most versatile child carrying product on the market. Our highest rated baby backpack carrier is the Osprey Poco Plus (full review here).
A baby backpack child carrier is indispensable in an airport. Strollers are just too bulky and always gets in the way. A baby backpack child carrier allows you to keep your toddler close while keeping your hands free. It gives you a safe/mobile place for your toddler to nap, snack and have a view of what’s going on around them. Not only is the baby backpack the way to fly with your toddler, it is the best mode of transportation when you arrive at your destination. A child carrier backpack is the way to go.
The Osprey Poco Plus has a top of the line sunshade and has tons of storage to set you up for a successful day of travel anywhere! Baby backpack child carriers come in all shapes, sizes and price points. The Kid Packer has reviewed a variety of packs and you can find the reviews here: Baby Backpack Reviews. Also, take a look at our blog post entitled ‘Can You Fly with a Baby Backpack Carrier?‘!
# 2 Tablet
The second item on our flying with a toddler checklist is a tablet. We realize that every family has different thoughts on screen time and we totally get that. We found the tablet to be really handy starting around 18 months to 3 years old. When considering how to entertain a toddler on a plane, a tablet is the way to go. We had mostly ABC and 123 style games, Baby Einstein, and Sesame Street type shows. We mostly used it when we were strategically trying to keep our son awake. For instance, we would try to keep him awake until after the first meal service on a long haul flight so that he could have hours of uninterrupted sleep after. A tablet also comes in handy for using our #8 item, a white noise app for sleep time. And, even half way around the world, your child’s grandparents will want to see them. A tablet can come in super handy for FaceTime calls!
Our preferred tablet is the Apple Ipad Mini but, any tablet will work! The Ipad comes in various sizes but, we prefer the Mini because it is lighter weight, takes up less space and, is easier for a toddler to handle.
A few items to make the Ipad Mini (or preferred tablet) the most useful are a travel case specifically for kids, headphones and a battery bank. First, the carrying case. We recommend the LEDNICEKER Kid’s Case because it is lightweight, has a handle and includes stands to prop up the device. For headphones, we prefer the over the ear style (we tried ear buds since they are so much smaller and light weight but, kids just keep pulling them out). We have had a great experience with iClever Kid’s Headphones but, there are a ton of over the ear brands that will work!
Lastly, a battery bank (like this one from Anker) is a really handy item to travel with regardless of having a tablet or not. A battery bank will extend the battery life of all of your devices in a convenient and portable way. One thing to note with a battery bank is that in some countries you will need to remove it from your carry on bag for security along with laptops and tablets.
#3 In-Flight Entertainment
The third item(s) on our flying with a toddler checklist are the fun ones! These items will vary by family and by your child’s interest. Pondering how to entertain a toddler on a plane? We found that young children will play with anything they can get their hands on including items from the meal/drink service but, they will also start to engage with fun activities. This is a fun time for parents as well!
First of all, you know best what your child is interested in so, pack items that you know will be a hit! Our go to brand for entertaining a toddler on a plane is Melissa and Doug. They have created an amazing line of portable and entertaining activities for children of all ages. Our favorite items from Melissa and Doug are the Water WOW, Seek and Find Sticker Pad, and Puffy Sticker Play Set. We usually purchase these types of items and save them for flights so that they are new and exciting for our son. It is really important to save item until the flight so you can be sure that it will hold their attention for as long as possible.
Another item that is always a hit is the Safari Ltd. TOOB sets. We usually purchase a new set based on our destination. For instance, when we went on safari with our son, we purchased the African Animal Set. We also always bring a local bird guide for our destination. An example for South Africa is this pocket guide.
All of the items listed here are labeled for ages 3+. You know your child and what they should and shouldn’t have. Have fun packing in-flight entertainment. It really helps pass the time on a long flight!
#4 Water Bottle
Our #4 tip for flying with a toddler is a pack water bottle. Sounds simple enough but, do you really want to share your drink with a toddler while they pound Cheddar Bunnies? The answer is a big no. Providing your toddler with their own water bottle allows them to have constant access to a drink and protects you from having to drink after them. From our experience, flight attendants have no problem filling up their water bottle.
We recommend the CamelBak Eddy water bottle because it is perfectly sized for little kids, has a soft mouth piece, comes in a ton of fun designs and has easy to find replacement parts as needed. Any small water bottle that your child likes will do!
# 4 Change of Clothes
On a normal day a toddler can go through multiple wardrobe changes. Flying with a toddler is no different and it’s best to be prepared. We recommend dressing your little one in comfortable, breathable pajamas or a similar style garment. We also recommend packing 2 spare changes of clothing in your carry-on bag. In addition, we always keep a lightweight sweater and spare pair of socks with us. Bare feet on a plane are less than desirable. We never recommend flying with a toddler in their best outfit. We realize that its tempting to dress them up for the big occasion but, everything about flying with a toddler is messy. A silicone bib (like this one) can be a garment saver even though they are well past the bib stage!
We recommend Burt’s Bees Pajamas because they are made with soft organic cotton and hold up really well. We also really like Carter’s pajamas or any other brand that your child is comfortable in!
#6 Wet/Dry Bags
Let’s face it, toddlers are adorable, but can make disastrous messes. Having a wet/dry bag (or even a zip lock bag in a pinch) is a must on our flying with a toddler checklist. They make dealing with those undesirable messes less of a hassle. We learned this lesson first hand on our son’s first flight. We experienced an epic diaper blow out and had no where to put the once adorable and now disgusting outfit so, it ended up in the trash! We have never been caught empty handed since! Diaper blow outs are not the only hazards on flights…those lidless complimentary drinks are irresistible to a toddler and can cause quite a bit of mess.
Bumkins has cute wet/dry bags that can be used as your kids get older as well. Great for wet items coming back from the pool or stinky soccer uniforms! Parenting can be a messy affair but, Bumkins (and similar products) is here to help with these handy bags that zip up the mess (and are washable)!
#7 Germ Wipes
The seventh item on our list has become even more important in recent months due to COVID-19. We always carry antibacterial germ wipes on a plane.
After boarding we wipe down all of our trays and seat belts as best we can with antibacterial wipes. These also come in handy when you have a little one potty training… they tend to touch every surface of the airplane bathroom. We gravitate towards Wet Ones because they come in travel packets but, any brand will do! One of our top tips for flying with a toddler, before or after the COVID pandemic, is to fully clean your seating area after boarding.
# 8 White Noise App
Number 8 on our flying with a toddler checklist is a white noise app, it can be a life saver. Imagine trying to get your little one to fall asleep for over an hour and you are exhausted. They finally fall asleep and five minutes later the meal service cart comes down the isle and every single passenger is loudly opening their drinks and treys. You start to sweat knowing that your little one is going to wake up any moment. Then it happens…the scream that makes all of the other passengers turn around and stare. It doesn’t have to end that way.
Having consistent noise in the background will block out the noises from the plane and help your toddler stay asleep longer. We have used a white noise app in more places than imaged like restaurants, touring a new city, hotels and so much more! We recommend searching the app store on your mobile device and choosing a highly rated app there. They are all great.
We also recommend strategically scheduled naps. On many occasions we kept our son awake in the airport so that he would sleep on the plane.
#9 Travel Size Toiletries
Our Number 9 item that we recommend for flying with a toddler is really multiple items and may vary by family. We prefer to pack minimally while we travel but, always carry a travel sized Motrin, Benadryl, and lotion. In most cases we don’t use the medicines but, one of the last places on Earth (or above it) you want to be when your child gets a fever or shows signs of an allergy is on a plane. We have found that Aquaphor works great to protect your child’s skin and lips from the dry airplane air.
When considering what to bring when flying with a toddler, having these small items with you provides peace of mind. Also, always carry any prescription medications with you in your carry on. Our general rule is to carry anything with us that we can’t easily purchase at our destination. Travel sizes of these items can be found at your local pharmacy, Target or Walmart.
#10 Snacks
Snacks can be an amazing crutch when on a flight. Hungry kids are usually cranky kids. This is particularly true on a long haul flight with a meal service. Toddlers are learning what they like and really don’t like when it comes to food. I can honestly say that we made a meal of snacks on more than one occasion when the in flight meal was considered toddler substandard. Snacks can also break up the time on a shorter flight by providing entertainment and a treat for great behavior on the plane.
Some of our favorite snacks for flying with a toddler are from Annie’s and include, Gummy Bunnies, granola bars, Cheddar Bunnies and Graham Bunnies. They are individually packaged for less mess and pre-measured servings. If you can’t find them pre-packaged we recommend putting servings in snack sized zip lock bags. We also recommend a silicone bib for catching missed food items. Another great tip for flying with a toddler is to let your child snack as much as they want while flying. It will keep them occupied nad happy. They can get back on a schedule later :).
Younger Toddlers
We feel this list covers most items needed for an older toddler. If your child is closer to one year old, then you might want to take a look at our Top 10 Items for Flying with a Baby for additional information that may pertain to flying with your little one. If your little one is potty training or not yet potty trained then a diaper clutch (like this one) can be a life saver for diaper duty.
Flying With A Toddler - Summary
Flying with a toddler can be a lot of things including stressful, exhausting and messy but, it doesn’t have to be! Children are so happy to be with their families and on an adventure. We hope these 10 items and tips for flying with a toddler help make your next adventure flying with your little one a confident and comfortable experience for all!
About The Kid Packer
Here at The Kid Packer, we want to help you live your best life. A great baby backpack child carrier can help you do just that! After having used a child carrier backpack for over 1,500 miles of adventuring and exploring, we have a passion for them and know what makes a great pack that both you and your child will love. We hope our comprehensive research allows you to confidently find the right backpack for your needs!
