Best tips for flying with a toddler

Traveling with toddlers is arguably the most difficult age to travel with. Just like toddlers are arguably the most difficult age to do anything with. Flying with a toddler doesn’t have to be scary though. Follow the tips below and you’ll be fine!

I would consider a toddler to be younger than preschool, and as young as crawling. This may not be the official age range, but once they start to crawl it’s all hands on deck, especially in flight! 

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In Flight

For shorter flights (2-4 hours), try to schedule your flight in the morning. For starters, these flights are less likely to be delayed. You also won’t be relying on your toddler taking a nap. If they do nap, that’s great! But if not, you won’t be as stressed since they’ll (hopefully) have had a good night’s sleep before the flight. 

For long haul and international flights, aim for flights that take off an hour or two before bedtime. This gives your toddler the opportunity to check everything out and have dinner or a snack before they’re tired enough to sleep. Expecting your toddler to fall asleep right away will only lead to meltdowns, especially if they’re over-tired, and will result in sleep for no one (including your fellow passengers). 

Always book a window seat. It may seem like a good idea to book the aisle so you can walk up and down with your toddler, but from the beverage and meal carts to other passengers walking in the aisles, there are a lot of opportunities for little fingers to get pinched or heads to get bonked. Plus, watching out the window is easy, screen-free entertainment! Bring some fidget spinners to stick to the window for hours (or minutes) of entertainment on a cloudy day! 

Looking for more entertainment? Check out my Essential Toddler Travel Gear post!

If you’re flying with 2 adults, 1 parent/adult should board first and take all the gear. The second parent/adult can play with your toddler until the final boarding call. This will help them calm down in flight.

Bring sanitizing wipes for absolutely any surface your toddler can (and will) touch. You know those hands (germs) are going straight to their mouth. The gate agents do wipe down in-between flights, but not nearly as thoroughly as you want.

Security

Wear your toddler in a metal-free baby carrier through the metal detectors. I like a hands-free way to carry my toddler through the airport and always use a baby carrier instead of using a stroller anyways.  

Looking for more on strollers and car seats? Check out my Travel with Strollers and Car Seats post!

The 3.4 oz rule doesn’t apply to baby/toddler liquids (milk, water for formula, puree pouches, etc.) in the US. Just make sure you tell TSA before placing through the scanner!

If you have TSA PreCheck, any child under 18 on your reservation does too! You can sign up for TSA PreCheck on TSA’s official website.

If you have Global Entry, all children under 18 can apply, too, for free! Bonus: Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck! Find out more information about applying on the US Customs and Border Protection’s official website.

Layovers with toddlers

If you can book a direct flight, do it! Living in a town with a small airport I know this isn’t always possible, so if you do have a layover (or 2 or 3), plan them accordingly. With a toddler, you’ll want enough time to change their diaper or go potty and to get a meal or snack.

Find the airport playground so they can burn off some energy before boarding the next flight, and allow plenty of time to find your next boarding gate. 

Diaper changes and potty time

Diaper bags do not count towards your carry-on limit. I recommend wearing a backpack style diaper bag to keep your hands free throughout the airport.

When boarding your flight, ask your flight attendant which bathroom has the changing table – not all of them have one! Bring a couple of washable changing pads for keeping clean on the go. 

My toddler wears overnight diapers on travel days so we can minimize changes in-flight. Try practicing stand-up diaper changes as the changing table on the plane might be too small for your tot. Try overnight pull-ups to make this easier on both of you!

Pack a couple wet bags with everything you’ll need for 1 diaper change, so you don’t have to bring your entire diaper bag into the tiny airplane bathroom. I love these wet bags for any cloth that gets spilled on or just needs to be changed. We use these for our swimsuits, too, and they don’t leak! Just make sure you let them air dry after washing them, so they don’t lose their waterproofing. 

Is your toddler using the potty? You don’t have to lose all your progress while traveling because the seats are too big for little butts! This Frida Baby Potty Seat folds up and has an included little travel bag to carry it in. 

Miscellaneous

As soon as you start booking your baby/toddler their own seat, set them up with an email address and then sign them up for frequent flyer programs! Some airlines offer miles that never expire (Delta, United), so they can be racking up points to use when they’re older. 

Travel Insurance

I highly recommend family travel insurance for every vacation. This gives you peace of mind should anything go wrong before or during your trip. Getting a blanket policy to cover every aspect of your trip means you only have to contact a single company, rather than one for each trip component (flights, hotels, tours, etc.).

I use Arch RoamRight for my family insurance when traveling. Get your personalized quote here!

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What tips for flying with a toddler did I miss? Tell me in the comments!

You might also like:

• Essential gear for flying with a toddler
• Travel with strollers and car seats
• Best vacations with babies and toddlers

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