Every little one is going to be different when it comes to traveling on a plane. I wanted to share our experience and tips with how our first time flying with our 13 month old baby girl went. I will say it was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be. Just be prepared to bring lots of baby stuff! Here’s how to fly with a toddler.
Easy Tips for Air Travel
These easy tips to remember can help air travel with your little one a heck of a lot less stressful!
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Fly Around Nap Time
Late morning is best if that is around your little one’s nap time.
I always thought the best time was first thing in the morning between nap times. That may work for others, but we learned that traveling during our daughter’s snooze time was the best way to go!
The vibration and humming of the plane was a nice surprise to us. Baby girl went right to sleep!
Get a Direct flight
Another thing you will want to remember is to get a direct flight if possible! Especially if you are flying domestic.
No stops is the way to go when it comes to traveling by plane.
Less of a hassle when you can get where you need to go without any layovers.
Make a Check List
I have definitely learned this the hard way.
I should have made a list and checked it three times to make sure we grabbed everything before heading out the door.
Let’s just say things were forgotten.
Just go ahead and make a packing list! Save yourself the trouble of having to scramble to find a charging cable for the baby monitor.
Diaper/Purse Bag
Most flights, if not ALL will allow you to bring one personal item/bag and a carry-on. Usually this would be a purse and a carry-on bag.
I just went ahead and put my wallet in the diaper bag, and that eliminated the purse altogether.
Pretty sure most mama’s do this anyway, but figured I’d share that tip.
This is what I like to keep in my diaper bag!
Ready to Go Bottles
If your little one is still taking the bottle, make sure you have one ready to go for take off. Ascending into the air can cause those little ears to pop.
As long as your little one has a bottle or a pacifier in their mouths, that will take away a lot of that pressure they could feel at take off.
I personally always have three bottles ready at all times.
A little obsessive, but it works perfectly for us.
Be careful how you pack the liquids!
**Most BIG airports will only allow a certain amount of milk. Be sure to have your diaper bag/cooler bag organized to avoid any security delays. I will definitely make sure to be better organized for those flights.
On our return flight home, we spent quite a while going through security because I had a bottle filled with water, two bottles filled with ready to go milk- she had already downed the first milkies, and a couple bags of frozen milk just in case.
But the problem was- I had filled some of the bottles too much ( OVER 4 oz) which is what she drinks normally.
Luckily the woman at security was gracious enough to not have us empty some of the breast milk out. -I was about to lose it!!–
But now we know how to fly with a toddler.. so next time.. we will for sure be better organized!
Carry-on Toy Bag
This bag will be your baby entertainment bag for the most part.
What I did was stocked it with toys, books, and snacks for my baby girl.
Best Toys to Keep Your Little One Busy During the Flight:
Anything that rattles or makes a little bit of noise.
Of course- you don’t want to bring something that will completely annoy those around you! But just a little rattle and shake should do the trick.
Fidget Toys
I know our baby is the most content when she has something to keep her little hands busy.
This can be something as simple as links, or a toy that has a “spinning” object.
These things keep her busy during long car rides, so why not bring them on a plane?
Here are a couple of our baby girl’s favorites!
BOOKS
Books are a great way to keep your little one entertained.
Honestly- I would try books before busting out any sort of electronic. Once the screen comes out, and that fails…well it could make for a long trip.
Make sure the book has vibrant colors to keep that attention towards the page.
Reading in different voices makes for great entertainment as well.
I made sure to pack a few books just in case we got stuck with any flight delays-which of course did happen on one of our flights home.
Also you can’t have too many books, especially if you are going to be spending some time in a hotel.
Got to keep that little one entertained!
Don’t Forget the Blankie!
Airplanes are not always the coziest, so make sure you bring a little extra comfort from home. The plane can get a little chilly, so make sure you grab a blanket to wrap that baby up with.
The blanket could also be used as an arm pillow to save your elbows!
A Less Stressful Way to Travel
There you have it! That’s How to Fly with a Toddler.
I know this wasn’t a huge list, but this is what has worked for us! I was pleasantly surprised at how well our daughter did. Just a few things from home, and a bottle of milk for the air.
If you have traveled with your little one- I’d love to hear your stories!!