6 Ways to Make Flying with a Toddler a Breeze
I've been flying with my daughter since she was three months old. She's now almost two, and we have gone on over 30 flights together! It's not always easy (especially if you're flying alone or with multiple kids), but there are a few things you can do to make the experience less stressful for both of you:
Plan your flight around naptimes
This one may seem pretty obvious but planning a flight for AFTER naptime can make your toddler much happier and less likely to be upset on the flight. Its unlikely that they will nap on the plane, which is why I always opt for a later flight. I’ve also found that my daughter is more willing to fall asleep on the plane around bedtime than she is to fall asleep around naptime.
Build a Snackle Box
This is my daughter’s favorite! I got a bead organizer from Hobby Lobby for around $6, and her favorite small snacks like goldfish, yogis, the little puffs, bunny grahams (the cake batter flavor), and a small peanut butter jelly sandwich. There is almost no limit on what you can put in the compartments because you can customize what size they are. I usually have fun with it and make little patterns with the snacks in the compartments. This sounds so simple but it’s her favorite, even more so than her tablet.
Buy an Inexpensive Tablet & Headphones
We got our daughter a Kindle Fire around prime day for about $50 and a pair of toddler over ear headphones, that we only let her use when we drive more than 3 hours or we are flying somewhere. I think that only allowing her to have it during these times makes it more special and entertaining. A few days before the trip we take them out and get her used to the head phones again and also to make sure everything is charged and all her movies are downloaded. She rarely watches a movie all the way through so I download multiple so she can flip through them. Both Netflix and Disney+ allow you to download movies and shows. I also have a drawing application downloaded for her that she really loves.
Always Choose your Seat!
On my last flight, my ultimate nightmare happened. When I booked the flights the airline wouldn’t allow me to choose my seats and when I called they assured me that we would have a window seat only to get our boarding passes and find that we had a middle seat… at the very back of the plane. Don’t let this happen to you, pick your seats beforehand. It’s worth paying the extra $20 to have a window or aisle seat, especially if you’re traveling with more than one child! I’ve seen many people get onto the plane with kids only to realize that they don’t have seats together. Don’t let this happen to you! Also, if you can afford it, I would recommend getting a seat for your toddler if they’re over 1 year old. You can take your car seat on the flight, and it keeps them contained, happier (typically), and it avoids having to wrestle a toddler for hours.
Bring a Color Wonder Coloring Book
My daughter loves coloring but bringing real markers or crayons on a flight is a hard no for me. Color Wonder is great because the markers don’t have any pigment in them until they touch the paper! I always pick one up from Target before we leave for a trip, and she always enjoys coloring on them.
Bring a small blanket, and their lovey (if they have one)
Often times planes can get a little chilly, and I love having a little blanket to wrap around her and make her feel more comfortable. We use a stroller blanket that is really soft, and its just the right size for a plane seat. I also bring her lovey because plane travel can be stressful to a toddler, and I want to provide as much comfort to her as possible.
Overall, the best way to make flying with a toddler more manageable is by planning ahead. You obviously can’t predict when your child will start to get restless and cranky, so it’s crucial to have everything you need packed into one place before boarding the plane. That way, you don’t have to go scrambling around for anything once you’re off the ground! Still feeling unsure about traveling with your little ones? Schedule a consultation with us, and we can help guide you through every worry and planning woe.
