Flying with a Toddler in 2025 – Real Tips from a Mom Who's Done It

What Are the Rules for Flying With a Toddler in 2025?

Most airlines allow kids under two to fly on your lap, but once they turn two, they need their own paid seat. You can bring an FAA- or EASA-approved car seat if it fits the airplane seat and you’ve booked one for your child.

When flying with a toddler, pack their passport and, on some routes, a birth certificate or consent letter if one parent isn’t traveling. Airlines usually let you check strollers and car seats for free. Baby liquids like milk, formula, and pouches are allowed in reasonable amounts. Just show them at security.

Let’s Make Flying With Toddlers Easier

I used to love flying before having kids. I could relax, watch the latest movies, and enjoy being served. Flying with young children is a completely different game.

When we started our journey as a digital nomad family in 2019, our first 12 hour flight to Thailand with our two year old was pure chaos. We were not prepared at all. Tantrums in the aisle, routines out the window, and parents who arrived more exhausted than the toddler.

Fast forward to now. Lila is eight, Ruby is four, and flying with a toddler or preschooler feels almost normal. We still have tricky moments, but we also have flights that are calm and even fun.

In this guide I share my real life tips on flying with a toddler. What works for us, what I would do differently, and how you can make your next flight a lot less stressful.

Quick Tips
🎧 Ears: Give water, a bottle, or a lollipop during takeoff and landing. Here’s my list of Toddler Travel Essentials.
🎒 Bag: Pack snacks, wipes, spare clothes, and 3–5 favorite toys. For more ideas, see my post on How to Entertain a Toddler on a Plane.
📋 More help: Read about the best airplane beds for toddlers, our favorite travel pillows, and baby headphones that are actually worth packing.
💊 Compare our travel health insurance pick, the plan we actually use as a digital nomad family.

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Why Flying With a Toddler Is (Kind of) Worth It

Flying with a toddler is hard. It is honestly the most intense age to travel with kids. Tantrums happen, strangers give you looks, and any idea of a calm routine on travel day can feel like a joke. We have been THAT loud family at the gate and the one with the screaming baby on the plane.

I remember staring at solo travelers with noise-cancelling headphones and a window seat and thinking, “That must be nice.”

But then there are the good parts. The little nose pressed against the window. The happy voice telling everyone about the “big plane adventure”.

How To Prepare For Flying With a Toddler

Book Smart

• When you book, think about what helps your family most. Bulkhead seats give more space for wiggly toddlers. An aisle seat makes bathroom trips and little walks so much easier.
• If your budget allows it, book an extra seat for your two or three year old. Having their own space changes everything. Many parents love bringing a travel car seat on the plane. It feels familiar and helps kids sleep better on long flights.
• Always check your airline for family perks. Some offer pre boarding for families, kids meals, or activity packs. The best kids set we ever had was on Turkish Airlines. They even gave tiny soft slippers. Emirates comes second for our girls.

💡 Pro Tip: Timing Is Everything
Try to fly close to nap time or bedtime if you can. A sleeping toddler means fewer tears for everyone. I also prefer direct flights. Fewer takeoffs and landings means less ear pressure and less stress. If you need a layover, pick one that is long enough for a proper walk and toilet break.

Packing Checklist For Flying With a Toddler

Packing smart will save your sanity. Start with the non negotiables.

• Snacks your toddler already loves
• 3–5 small toys or activities
• Comfort item like a blanket or soft toy
• Full change of clothes for your child
• Simple spare top or leggings for you

For toys, I like sticker books, magnetic drawing boards, Water Wow, small puzzles, and one or two surprise toys. Avoid anything noisy or with a million tiny pieces.

Try not to overpack. I know it is tempting to bring half the playroom on your first flight with a toddler. Remember that you have to carry all of it through the airport. I focus on compact items that do more than one job.

Have Backup Plans For Delays

Delays with a toddler feel ten times longer than delays alone! I always pack extra snacks, more nappies or pull ups than we “should” need, and one or two bonus activities that stay hidden until a delay happens.

It is much easier to handle a delay when you can pull out a new sticker book or a fresh bag of snacks.

How To Prepare Your Toddler For Their First Flight

Talking about the flight before you go can really help. Explain what will happen in simple words. The big plane, the seat belt, the noise at takeoff, and the fun part, like the snack trolley or watching shows.

If they will use headphones for the first time, try them at home. Watch a short show together so the new feeling is not a surprise.

Do not forget comfort items. A loved teddy, a worn out blankie, or a pacifier can be magic in a busy airport. Preparing your toddler in advance turns the whole thing into an adventure instead of a shock.

💡 Checklist: Toddler Travel Essentials
– Comfort items: A favorite blanket or stuffed toy
– Snacks: Crackers, fruit pouches, lollipops for ear pressure
– Entertainment: Sticker books, magnetic boards, or a kid-friendly tablet
– Extra clothes for you and your toddler

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Create the Right Mindset for Yourself

I know this might not be the quick fix you’re hoping for, but trust me—getting your mindset right is where it all begins! Here are a few perspectives that have really helped me:

• Traveling with kids is completely normal. Your toddler is allowed to exist in public and to have feelings. They will be loud sometimes. That does not mean you are doing it wrong.
  If someone rolls their eyes, that is their problem. We have met so many kind people on flights. People who smile, play peekaboo, or tell us stories about their own kids.
• Traveling with toddlers isn’t the same as solo travel. Let go of the idea of long deep talks with your partner or three movies in a row. Those moments might happen, but not every time. When you expect less “me time” you feel less disappointed.
• Travel days are about survival, not perfection. On flight days we are much softer with screen time and treats. A bit more sugar or extra cartoons on a twelve hour flight will not ruin your child. It might save your sanity.

💡 Mindset Hack: Go with the Flow
Expect delays, tantrums, lost socks and sudden toilet needs. If you treat the whole day like an adventure with bumps, the bumps feel less dramatic.

Flying With a Toddler: At the Airport

When To Arrive At the Airport

Try to arrive early enough for check in, security and a toilet stop, but not so early that you have three hours to fill with a bored toddler.

For us, about one and a half hours before a domestic flight and two and a half hours before an international flight works well. It gives us time to move slowly without hanging around forever.

Help Your Toddler Burn Off Energy

Flying with a toddler is easier if they move a lot before boarding. Look for play areas in the airport. If there is none, make your own games.

Race between chairs, play “Red Light, Green Light”, or walk along a line on the floor like it is a balance beam. A small balloon can be a life saver in a quiet corner. Ruby and Lila also love little “jobs” like throwing something in the bin or running around one row of seats ten times.

The more they move now, the calmer they usually are on the plane.

Security And TSA Tips With a Toddler

Pack liquids like formula, breast milk or juice in containers you can easily pull out. Keep them in one small bag at the top of your backpack. On many routes, you are allowed to bring more baby liquids than the normal limit, but you have to show them.

Snacks are almost never a problem, especially dry ones like crackers or rice cakes. I avoid anything very sticky that could cause questions. I also put nappies, wipes and a small changing set together so I can grab it quickly.

Boarding Strategy With a Toddler

There are two main ways to board when you are flying with a toddler.

Pre boarding:
You get on early, find your seats, and have space in the overhead bins. The downside is that your toddler has to sit longer while everyone else boards.

Boarding last:
You stay at the gate as long as possible and let your child play until the last minute. Then you walk on when most people are already seated. This is our favourite way. It keeps sitting time short.

If your airline offers family boarding you can still say no and board later. You know your child best.

💡 Did You Know?
Many airports offer family-friendly amenities like play areas, stroller rentals, or express security lines. Check ahead to make the most of your pre-flight time.

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What To Do With Strollers And Car Seats

Having your own stroller and car seat can make travel days much smoother. Here is what has worked for us.

1. Gate Check for Convenience
Most of the time we take our stroller and car seat through the airport and gate check both. That way, we can push tired kids and pile bags on the stroller. If you fly with a lap toddler and there is an empty seat, you already have the car seat with you.

💡 Pro tip: Ask the staff at the counter or gate if there might be a free seat next to you. Sometimes they are happy to move you.

2. Check at Baggage Drop
If you prefer walking light through the terminal, check everything at the counter. Then use a baby carrier for your toddler. Having both hands free at security feels amazing.

3. Bring a Stroller on Board
Some travel strollers fold small enough for the overhead locker. If you own one of those, this can be a great option, especially on long layovers.

4. Rent at Your Destination
In many big cities you can rent strollers and car seats. This is perfect if you want to travel with hand luggage only.

Whatever you choose, protect your gear. A protective travel bag for your stroller and car seat helps keep straps clean and safe. For gate check items I always bag them first and ask for a tag early so we are not stressed at the door.

👉 You might also like:
– How to Travel With a Toddler
– 50 Must-Try Beach Activities for Kids of All Ages

In-Flight Survival When You Are Flying With a Toddler

Comfort Essentials And Ear Pressure

Planes can feel cold and then suddenly warm. Dress your toddler in comfy layers. Leggings, a soft top, a hoodie and socks that can come on and off fast.

Ear pressure at takeoff and landing is the number one reason many toddlers cry. Help them swallow during those moments. Offer a bottle, breast, water bottle, pouch or lollipop. Older kids can use chewing gum.

I always carry two to four lollipops in my bag. They are my emergency weapon for ears and moods.

Keeping Your Toddler Entertained On a Plane

A bored toddler on a plane is a loud toddler. Before every trip I plan a simple “entertainment flow”.

Start with looking out of the window and talking about clouds and tiny houses. Then move to books, sticker books or a magnetic drawing board. Save screens and new toys for later in the flight or for tricky moments.

💡 Entertainment Hack: Surprise Factor
Wrap one or two new toys like tiny presents. Unwrapping feels special and buys you a few more quiet minutes.

Let each child carry a small backpack with their own snacks and toys. They feel proud and you carry a little less.

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Toddler Travel Toys: Real Plane Activities That Work

The secret isn’t bringing more toys — it’s bringing the right ones. Small, quiet, and fun to rotate throughout the flight. Here are the travel toys that have actually worked for us again and again.

1. Sticker Books and Reusable Sticker Sets

Sticker books are our biggest hit. I talk about them days before the flight so the girls look forward to them. We save them for long waits at the gate or the moment everyone is tired and grumpy.

2. Magnetic Drawing Board and Magnetic Games

No crayons rolling under seats! A magnetic board lets your toddler draw, erase, and start again. Perfect for quiet creativity mid-flight.

3. Water Wow Books (Mess-Free Painting!)

A genius invention. You fill the pen with water, and the colors appear on the page. Once it dries, they can do it again. No stains, no tears.

4. Window Clings and Simple Sensory Toys

Perfect for takeoff and landing when your toddler needs distraction. Stick animals, cars, or shapes on the airplane window (and of course, remove them before landing)!

I also keep one or two push pop bubble toys or fidget spinners for long-haul boredom.

6. Surprise Toys and “Busy Bags”

Before every flight, I pack a little “busy bag” for each child. Nothing fancy, just small surprises in drawstring pouches.

7. Travel Tray for Easy Play

8. Kids Tablet and Headphones

Screens are a tool, not the enemy. I download shows and games in advance so everything works offline.

8. Bento Boxes and Snack Spinners

Technically not toys, but they act like them. Snack boxes and spinners double as entertainment. Toddlers love opening, closing, and choosing what to eat next.

9. Activity Books for Curious Toddlers

Snacks Save the Day

Snacks are magic on flights with toddlers. They distract, comfort and help with ear pressure.

I pack:

• Fruit pouches
• Crackers or breadsticks
• Small granola bars
• A few treats like gummy bears or cookies
• Lollipops for takeoff and landing

Use a leak-proof snack box or spinner so everything stays in one place. Bring a spill-proof cup plus a refillable water bottle. Flight attendants are usually happy to refill it.

👉 You might also like:
– How to Travel With a Toddler
– 50 Must-Try Beach Activities for Kids of All Ages
– The 5 Best Toddler Travel Beds in 2025
– Car, Plane, Train: The Perfect Travel with Toddler Checklist

Handling Toddler Meltdowns On a Plane

Meltdowns happen, even with perfect planning. The cabin is noisy, the seat belt sign is on, and your toddler is tired.

First, breathe. You are not the only parent who has been here. Then try one of these:

• Offer a snack or drink
• Change the scenery with a short walk in the aisle
• Start a simple game like “I spy something blue”
• Whisper a story in their ear and hold them tight

We have had so many strangers help us. People making funny faces, picking up dropped toys or telling us about their own kids who once screamed the whole way to Australia.

On one long flight Ruby cried for a very long time when she was one. I apologized to the couple in front of us. They just laughed and said, “That is what noise-cancelling headphones are for. Anyone still angry about a baby crying has their own issues.” I still think about that sentence when things get loud.

You are not alone in this.

Special Tips For Long Haul Flights With a Toddler

Sleep Tips For Long Flights

• Stick to Bedtime Routines
  Try to copy your normal bedtime routine as much as you can. Put your toddler in pajamas, read a short story, brush teeth, then cuddle. Even on a plane this sends a clear message that it is time to sleep.
• Use Travel Pillows and Blankets
  Bring a small travel pillow and your toddler’s own blanket so their seat feels like a tiny bed. A simple sleep mask and soft kids headphones can help block out light and noise.
• Create a Comfy Space
  If your airline allows it, an inflatable footrest can make the seat longer and more comfortable. Always check rules in advance, because some airlines do not allow these. Here’s a list of my favorite inflatable footrests and airplane beds.

Move Often

On long flights with toddlers we walk a lot. Short walks up and down the aisle, little stretches near the galley, or a “wiggle break” at the back of the plane. These tiny movement breaks make a big difference.

💡 Pro Tip: Divide and Conquer
On overnight flights my husband and I work in shifts. One parent is “on duty” with the toddler while the other eats slowly, reads a book, or even watches half a movie. Then we swap. Our shifts are about 90 minutes. It keeps both of us more patient.

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Adjusting After Landing With a Toddler

Landing is another ear pressure moment. Use the same tricks as takeoff. Drinks, bottle, pacifier or something chewy.

After a long flight toddlers are usually tired, wired, and confused. We always go straight to our hotel or apartment. The girls either jump into a bath or into the pool, depending on the time of day. Then we eat together and keep the evening very simple.

This little landing routine helps everyone reset and start the trip with better moods.

Key Takeaways for Flying With a Toddler

• From age two, your child needs their own seat. A travel car seat keeps them safer and calmer.
• Rules differ by airline, so check ID, stroller, and baggage policies before you book.
• Pack light: one toddler backpack, one parent bag, and only true essentials.
• Ease ear pressure with drinks, bottles, or lollipops during takeoff and landing.
• Bring a few favorite or new toys and plan for some screen time.
• On long flights, keep parts of your bedtime routine and take turns resting.
• Meltdowns happen. Stay calm, offer snacks, and remember most passengers are kind.

Final Thoughts: You’ve Got This!

Flying with a toddler is never going to be perfect—and that’s okay. Even when things go sideways, you’re creating memories you’ll cherish for years.

What always helps me is the thought that it gets easier with the little ones every year. One day, they’ll be teenagers, and we’ll be lucky if they even want to sit next to us on the plane!

Do you have your own toddler travel tips or funny stories? I’d love to hear them! Please share them in the comments below!

Thank you for reading and for making me part of your day! Yours, Lulu

FAQ About Flying With a Toddler in 2025