We love the innocence, busyness and overall carefree attitudes of small children, but those characteristics we love the most about our little ones don’t always mesh well with air travel. Toddlers have a lot of energy and are trying their hand at a little independence, so when they have to be cooped up in a tight space for several hours, this doesn’t usually make them very happy. So what are you to do when there’s just no getting around a flight with your toddler?
Plane travel with a toddler is a situation that most families will find themselves in at one point or another. So instead of avoiding a vacation you know will bring you joy and memories, you just need to be prepared and have a plan. Here we give you our top 13 tips for getting through the friendly skies with your toddler in tow.
Food is many a toddler’s love language, especially when it involves fun snacks. It’s important to bring along lots of options and ones you know that your toddler will eat. This is not the time to be pushing the healthiest foods you know your little one doesn’t care for and you may even want to consider the sweet stuff you don’t typically let your little one have. Luckily, you’re most likely to see success with nutritious but tasty foods that fall right in the middle. (But having those lollipops on hand can be a lifesaver!) Having snack cups that allow your toddler to access their snacks without making a huge mess is key, as well...be sure to check our post on the Best Snack Cups for Toddlers.
We know paying for the extra seat can be tough to do when it’s not required. But having a toddler on your lap through the duration of your flight really isn’t comfortable for either of you, plus the Federal Aviation Administration even shares that the safest place for your baby or toddler to sit on a plane is in their own seat. So if you can swing it financially, it’s a good idea. Additionally, you’ll want to have them in a government-approved child safety restraint system (carseat) in their own seat, as well. I found this to work very well for my children because they were already used to sitting that way in the car.
Ideally you’ll be traveling with another adult companion, perhaps your toddler’s other parent who can offer equal help, but sometimes that just isn’t possible. In this case, don’t be afraid to ask for help and take it when someone offers. Even with the stress that travel can bring, there are plenty of kind people around who would be more than willing to make your flight go a bit more smoothly. Whether that’s a fellow passenger helping hoist your bags to the overhead compartment or a flight attendant more than happy to entertain your toddler while you get a quick bathroom break, enlisting help can do wonders for making your travels go more smoothly.
You may think it’s best to plan a flight during a naptime, but in my experience, going first thing in the morning when your toddler is well-rested and at their happiest is ideal. The problem with waiting for afternoon nap time is that your toddler is much more likely to be getting cranky and the excitement and hustle from the airport may overwhelm them so much that they end up not falling asleep on the plane at all. Flying early likely means you can free up afternoon nap time when you arrive at your destination which will make your traveling start (or end) on the right foot.
Even if you’ve been in the middle of potty training or you think your toddler is finally getting the hang of it, being on a plane is a terrible time for an accident. You certainly don’t need the added stress of worrying about your little one peeing their pants, especially when the “fasten seatbelt” light turns on and booking it to the bathroom isn’t an option. Putting your toddler in a Pull-Up for a few hours during a flight isn’t going to derail their path to potty training, so you might as well up them in one.
Ear discomfort is common in young children who are flying. This can lead to irritability (for good reason) and it can be difficult to calm them down even once they do start feeling better. KidsHealth provides great recommendations for preventing and/or alleviating any ear pain your child may experience with the change of air pressure during take-off and landing. One of the top recommendations includes giving your baby water in a sippy cup (we love this one from Baby’s Brew that doubles as snack cup) and you can also give them the proper dosage of acetaminophen or ibuprofen 30 minutes prior to take-off with your doctor’s approval.
Plane travel with a toddler is a situation that most families will find themselves in at one point or another. So instead of avoiding a vacation you know will bring you joy and memories, you just need to be prepared and have a plan. Here we give you our top 13 tips for getting through the friendly skies with your toddler in tow.
Top 13 Tips for Plane Travel with a Toddler
We’re not going to try to convince you that flying with a toddler is easy, but we have a lot of experience and know first-hand what can make it go as smoothly as possible. Follow along and we’ll give you our 13 tried and true tips!