12 Essential Tips for Flying with Toddlers: A Parent’s Guide

Flying with toddlers can be a challenging yet rewarding experience. If you’re traveling with a toddler for the first time, or even if you’ve done it a few times, you know it’s a whole different ballgame compared to flying with a baby. Here are 12 tips for flying with toddlers that will hopefully make your next trip a little easier!

It was a 2:30 p.m. flight- a little before my son’s nap time. He was 10 months then and as routine abiding as he was, I was confident that he would fall asleep in the flight.

Well, as you may have guessed, things took a sharp turn. Instead of a peaceful nap, I found myself trying to contain a cranky but excited toddler who didn’t give me a moment to relax. There was crying, shouting, and the constant pressure of keeping him entertained and comfortable throughout the flight.

Although the incident now, only brings a smile to my face, I honestly went through a lot in that flight. I was flying alone and nobody offered to help (not help with the baby but a little help with luggage or seating or just some patience from fellow passengers would have been appreciated).

Another thing I learned is that flying with babies is very different from flying with toddlers. Babies tend to sleep more easily during flights, but toddlers—especially the walking ones—are in the midst of a curiosity explosion. They’re more likely to be thrilled by the new environment and eager to explore, making it harder to keep them calm.

A few flights later, after a few wins and a few battles, I’m finally ready to share some tips on what has worked (and what hasn’t) when flying with a toddler!

Schedule the flight wisely

If possible plan your flight trips early in the morning. There are less chances of delay in take-offs and landings and your toddler hopefully, will already be sleeping.

You could also book the flight at a time when you know he or she will be in a happy mood. Scheduling a flight around a nap time can lead to an overstimulated cranky situation, like the one I had to deal with.

Check in early

It’s best if you have the “Web check in ” and “Baggage drop” facility with your airline. We always drop our baggage one day before and web check in too, to avoid any hustles and mayhem on the D Day.

This not only saves us time, but it helps in reducing the waiting period, before boarding. Sometimes, when the waiting gap prolongs to 2-3 hours, you end up chasing your toddler all around the terminal, which can again lead to a cranky situation. (Yes, it did for me!)

Keep them comfortable

It’s always better to dress them in layers in case there are changes in the cabin temperature, else a simple loose tee or dress would do. Slip on shoes or just slippers, also work better than laced ones while flying.

Avoid the isle seat

From my experience, never choose the isle seat if you’re flying with a toddler. It’s not only dangerous when flight attendants hover during service, but it’s another stimulating factor for them and they will instantly want to explore the flight.

If your little one hasn’t started to walk yet, trust me- he won’t let you sit- once he discovers the magic isle!

Prepare your kits

This is a basic. These kits are essential not just in the flight, but wherever you take your toddler to. 

Changing kit– Consists of extra diapers, spare clothes, wash cloths, waste cloths, diaper cream, wet wipes, dry tissue, and a changing mat.Vomiting kit- Although the airline provides vomit paper bags, its best to carry your own bag and extra towels. 

Medicine kit– Consists of go-to medicines like Crocin, Nasal spray, band-aid, mosquito repellent fabric roll on, antacid for kids, and some cotton balls for the ears.

Snack kit– Consists of cut fruits like grapes, apples, oranges , cut vegetables like carrots, cucumber, dry fruits like resins, seedless dates, walnuts, bread-sticks, rusks, cake etc

Feed during ascent and descent

The common pressure change that we experience during flight take offs and landings can be really uncomfortable and even scary for your toddler.

Since the Eustachian tubes are not as effective in toddlers and especially during a flu, the pain or discomfort might prolong further- although this is temporary.

So its good to either breast feed the baby/toddler or offer them water through out the flight in small amounts and especially during ascent (first 15-20 minutes) and descent (last 30-40 minutes).

You can even give your toddler something to eat during these times too. Basically- anything to get their jaws moving!

Bring some surprises

Get some gel stickers, or a new story book or a small puzzle or just some random stuff to put in and out of plastic boxes. These really excite toddlers and they tend to focus for a little while.

Of course tabs and videos always make a toddler glued, but the no tech entertainment is what really makes them enjoy and learn.

Get creative

Toddlers love scrap and can be quite inventive. Think of what you can do with the props that you get with your meal. Or try reciting some rhymes, or animal sounds or simple songs.

Talk to your toddler. From my experience, they are best behaved when you make the effort of spending some real time with them.

Don’t expect help but try asking for it

It can be quite a struggle if you’re in the middle of a toddler tantrum. So, why not request the flight attendant to help you with a secluded seat or if there is anything that the toddler can play with or chew on.

You can even ask friendly passengers to help you with the luggage, while you’re handling your toddler.

Don’t force the naps

Its quite possible that your toddler gets up in between a nap owing to the plethora of sounds coming from everywhere. Or he or she may not be interested in taking a due nap because of all the stimulation around.

In either case, its best to leave them to their wishes. The more you force, the more they would fight. The next strategy then, should be on how to make them as quiet as possible and pray that the skipped nap doesn’t produce a tantrum.

Expect the unexpected

Despite planning ahead and keeping everything under control, there will be times that everything backfires.

Delayed flights, crowded terminals, packed flights, cramped cabin spaces, scary passengers- just anything can create emotional outbursts in a toddler.

In a particular flight, my son raised an alarm, when I had to put the baby belt around him. He’s had the belt before and I was right there with him. Yet, he refused to be consoled and took a good 15 minutes to understand that everyone had belts and he was not being bound in any way.

Keep calm

As a parent, make sure you have the needed rest, before the trip. Eat well and beforehand, so you’re happy enough to be creative and play along with your toddler’s moods and tantrums.

Do you know of other tips and tricks to a calm flight with a toddler?

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