So you’ve decided to take a toddler on a plane.
Maybe because you have to, or hopefully because you’re going somewhere fabulous. Problem is you’ve heard all the horror stories so you’re starting to panic a little bit. I don’t have time to make party bags for every single person on a commercial plane, you think – I have a life!
Well fret not because you’re in the right place – because honestly with a bit of preparation taking a toddler on a plane is no where near as bad as most people tell you. You want to know more? Well read on, you jetsetter you.
1. Babywearing FTW
While toddlers by definition can walk, I guarantee you you will end up carrying yours at some point. They will either go limp and refuse to go any further or run like the dickens through the entire airport. You don’t want to be carrying them like Rafiki up there so borrow a toddler carrier to keep your hands free and keep them out of mischief. Just make sure to practice in the lead up to your flight so you get used to the weight.
2. Be Like Scar
Preparation is key. Rather than trying to think of activities for two hours, try to break the time down into 30 minute blocks. This makes it easier to pack multiple activities for the flight, should you not want to rely on screens. For our recent flight to Hobart, Bear had some toy trains and and an iPad with the movie Garfield. Didn’t hear a peep! Do make sure not to pack anything with small pieces that you don’t want to have to constantly pick up off the floor during a flight. This is not a time to get out the 1000 piece puzzle or the Lego.
3. Bring All The Wipes
Seriously, all of them. All that sitting in one place and eating will make them sticky. Pack them where you can easily find them because I guarantee you will need like a bazillion.
4. Welcome To The Suck
Sucking can help with ear pressure on take off and landing so give your child something to suck. We went with a dummy as our toddler was sleeping on and off during the flight anyway, but you could also grab a lollipop for take off and landing. The fun treat will be a distraction from the strange noises as well.
5. Lounge It Up Fuzzball
When we were leaving Hobart, our flight home was delayed by almost 2 hours. Had we been out in the airport we would have had to keep a cranky toddler entertained while trying not to burn through our carefully prepared plane entertainment, which would have been the total worst. As we had used our Frequent Flyer membership to gain access to the QANTAS lounge, our toddler spent those 2 hours stuffing himself with free pancakes and playing with the provided toys. It made life so much easier for everyone, so its really worth asking the question of your airline before travelling.
6. Only Here For The Food
Research ahead of time what food you can and cannot take on the plane. For instance, you can’t take fruit interstate in Australia – you have to eat it all on the plane so it might be easier just to skip it. Again, planning and packing carefully is key here – don’t rely on the plane food because it’s pretty much all salty nonsense that will just make your kid thirsty. Which leads to extra toilet trips and we absolutely do not want that.
What’s your best tip for taking a toddler on a plane? Have you done it and lived to tell the tale?
28 comments
I don’t have kids but agree that preparation is key.
I know I sometimes get annoyed by crying babies on a plane but I’d only ever internally eye-roll as I know the parents are probably stressed out of their minds and the kids aren’t doing it on purpose.
I once flew from Cambodia to Thailand and a baby screamed the entire time and really didn’t cope with the air pressure or something. It was quite agitated. EVERYONE was looking fraught by the time we arrived!
Oh goodness! That just sounds horrid.
When Mr 22 was 15 months old I flew with him to NZ for a funeral. Luckily even at the last minute we were able to get one of the seats with a cot that folds down in front – he didn’t sleep in it, but it WAS a great play pen where he could sit and play and relax (and I could too!)
Oh that’s fantastic! Would have made life so much easier!
Awesome tips here and I love the Lion King imagery and gifs – gets your points across very nicely!!!
Thanks Kirsty!! Xxoo
No tips but it sounds like you had it as much under control as you could! And nice Star Wars reference 🙂
Why thankyou man :p
Fortunately we’re way past the toddler stage! Unfortunately it’s way too expensive to travel OS as a family because we now have to pay four adult fares. OUCH! Great tips, though.
Oooh that’s rough!!
OMG. I remember having toddlers on planes. Those long haul flights to the USA were a NIGHTMARE! It’s hard to tell a little one who has just found their legs that they aren’t allowed to use their legs. Thank goodness those days are behind me.
Great tips!
It’s so hard for them isn’t it? We are pretty lucky nowadays with iPads and such / don’t know how people used to do it!
ABSOLUTELY AGREE! Especially with the “babywearing” (errm, toddlerwearing). I flew alone with my 2.5 year old son when I was a few months pregnant. So many sideways looks and comments about how heavy he must be, how hard it must be to have him loaded on my back (fun fact, I actually felt pretty good because he was counterbalancing my belly) But as tiring as carrying a toddler through the airport while pregnant was, it was certainly easier than chasing him or trying to make him walk in a straight line. Also bringing all the snacks is wise. And he was still breastfeeding so that took care of the sucking – though – it sucks trying to feed a kid sitting in a seat next to you on a plane.
It’s so much easier! I can only imagine the logistics of the feed – hats off to you!
Thanks for these tips! We haven’t taken our kids on a plane yet but we maybe this year!
Good luck!
Excellent ideas- I’ve never been brace enough to do it!
It’s definitely tough!
I’m adding ‘wipes’ and ‘lollipops’ to our list for our big family trip in June!
Glad it helped! 🙂
We’re going on a flight in a few weeks, so this was timely! Babywearing solves all parenting problems – it’s great isn’t it! I really like the idea of 30 min blocks too, I will try this out 🙂
I don’t think I could live without baby wearing! So glad our doctor suggested it.
Love the lion king memes/references. Very cleverly done!
Hahaha thanks so much!
Great tips, especially the babywearing one! We nailed dozens of trips with our toddlers with the assistance of an ergobaby, an ipod and a dummy!
Sounds like a good toolbox to me!
Thanks for all those awesome tips. I hope to be able to take a flight somewhere this year with all my little ones {three under four}. Thanks for linking up for the Ultimate Rabbit Hole xox
Best of British luck 🙂 I bet you’ll do fine.