Travel is this month’s Real Talk with Real Moms topic, and I couldn’t be more excited to share our experience flying with babies and toddlers. We’ve done a lot of family travel recently, and the question I get most often is how to survive plane trips with little ones. This guide compiles our best tips, lessons learned, recommended gear, activity ideas and snack strategies. My goal is to give you confidence to travel with your kids — it’s not always easy, but it’s absolutely worth it.
When’s the best age to start traveling with your child?
Start as soon as you can. The sooner kids experience travel, the more familiar they become with the routine and expectations. Babies are often easier to travel with because they’re portable and adaptable. We flew with our son at six months and continued to travel frequently, which helped him learn the rhythm of travel.
Consider vaccinations and germ exposure — if you’re worried, ask your pediatrician — but many parents travel with very young infants and manage fine. Use your judgment and plan for extra caution if needed.
What time of day should I try to fly?
Choose the time of day when your child is typically at their best. For us, morning flights work well because our toddler is usually happiest then. Plane naps can be unpredictable, so scheduling around your child’s peak mood window usually helps the most.
If you’re crossing time zones, an unsettled nap on the plane can actually help with adjusting to a new schedule by the time you arrive.
Should I book a seat for an under-2 child, or keep them on my lap?
It depends on your budget and your child’s temperament. Infants under 6 months are often easy to travel with in a carrier on the lap. Once they’re more mobile, a separate seat with a car seat becomes more comfortable, especially on long flights. If budget is a concern and you travel with a partner, book a window and aisle seat in the same row to increase the chance of an empty middle seat or an easy swap with another passenger.
Talk to the gate agent on arrival — airlines sometimes reassign seats if there’s space. If your child must sit on your lap, use the floor space in front of you and share movement with your travel partner during the flight.
What seat should I book for a car seat or lap infant?
For safety and in many cases airline policy, install a child car seat in the window seat so others won’t have to climb over it during an emergency. For lap infants, a window seat is useful because it creates a boundary, helps control light for napping and reduces the number of times you need to stand to let people pass.
How can I prevent ear pain during takeoff and landing?
Encourage swallowing: give breastmilk, a bottle, a pacifier or a snack during ascent and descent. Sucking helps equalize ear pressure and reduces discomfort.
Airport and in-flight gear essentials
We’ll post a full gear guide separately, but these are the items we always bring for the airport and plane:
- Travel stroller
- Travel car seat
- Tablet with protective case
- Toddler headphones (if tolerated)
- Formula dispenser (if needed)
- Snack cup
- 360 water cup
- Spare ziplock bags
- Hand sanitizer
- Sanitizing wipes
- Pacifier and clip
- Diapers and wipes
- Compact changing pad
Checking vs gate-checking vs carrying on
If bringing a travel crib, check it. We keep the stroller and car seat with us: the car seat comes on the plane and we usually gate-check the stroller. Strap the child in the stroller as soon as you arrive at the airport to keep hands free until security, then keep them comfortable near the gate. When gate-checking, attach the tag and leave it on the jetway — you’ll pick it up after landing.
Installing a car seat on the plane
You can secure a car seat using the airplane seat belt the same way you would in a car. Facing forward can provide stimulation from the window and cabin screens, which can help with entertainment, but consider seat-kicking and behavior. Removing shoes, clearing the seat pocket and setting clear boundaries about kicking can help manage disruption to the seat in front.
Let them burn energy and timing boarding
Allow toddlers to run near the gate after security (bathroom, food and essentials taken care of) so they board calmer. If traveling with a partner, have one person board early to organize gear and the seat, and the other stay with the child until the last minute. If you’re solo with kids and need space to stow items, pre-boarding can make things easier.
Plane germs and cleanliness
Carry hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. Wipe down tray tables, armrests and window areas, and sanitize hands before snacks. Try to keep items off the floor when possible and limit shared touching.
What to wear and bringing spare clothes
Wear layers and choose separates — that way you can change one piece if something spills. Dress toddlers in separates too (no sleeveless tops if they’ll be in a car seat, and avoid short shorts so straps don’t rub). Bring spare outfits for everyone: baby, toddler and parents. Trust us—having backups reduces stress after accidents.
How to pack carry-ons
Organize by category: activities/entertainment, snacks, tech and baby necessities. We distribute items across diaper bags and backpacks so each parent carries a bag. Strollers and car seats do not count as carry-on items.
Bring bags — lots of bags
Ziplock and reusable bags are indispensable: contain dirty diapers, soiled clothes, used wipes and extra snacks. Pack several sizes for convenience and sanitation.
Changing a diaper on a plane
Most aircraft have at least one lavatory with a fold-down changing table, but not all. Check with a flight attendant if needed. Bring a compact diaper changing kit for the bathroom: a travel changing mat, one diaper, wipes and a small bag for soiled items. If a diaper is very soiled, seal it in a bag for disposal in the lavatory trash.
Napping on an airplane
Plane naps can be hit or miss; we manage to get one about a quarter of the time. For infants, rocking in the back of the cabin can help if attendants allow it. For older toddlers, recreate their nap environment: feed them, dim light, offer a pacifier or comfort object and sing a lullaby. Sometimes they nap during the flight, sometimes they fall asleep on descent. If they don’t nap, it’s usually manageable — you can adjust at your destination.
Shows and movies for infants and toddlers
Tablets are our go-to for long trips. Limit tablet time to special occasions to keep it novel. Download shows or movies in advance (iTunes, Amazon Prime downloads) since inflight WiFi is unreliable. If the plane has seatback screens, be aware that announcements pause programming and can cause upset in sensitive children.
Games and apps that work offline
Some of our favorite offline toddler apps and games include simple drag-and-drop shape puzzles, animal puzzles, Sago Mini titles and alphabet apps that combine sound and animation. Choose age-appropriate apps and preload them so they’re ready without WiFi.
Other non-screen activities
- Busy clutch: a compact activity pouch with small fidget items tailored to your child’s age
- Window clings for decorating the airplane window
- Model Magic for low-mess play
- Sticker books featuring favorite characters
- Walking the aisle when appropriate
Introduce one activity at a time and pace them out — don’t offer everything at once. Some parents wrap small toys and hand them out periodically to keep excitement up.
Snacks to pack and how to organize them
TSA often asks you to remove food from your bag for screening, so pack all snacks in a single large ziplock for easy removal. Choose favorites that are low-mess and familiar. Our go-to in-flight snacks include bagels or croissants, mandarins, grapes, frozen fruit pouches (thawed en route), pretzels, Cheerios, granola bars, crackers, fruit snacks and occasional treats for bribing when necessary.
Use a toddler snack cup to limit spills and refill as needed, and keep extra ziplock bags for portions or crumbs.
Formula, breast milk and TSA rules
You may bring pre-made formula and breast milk through security, but you must remove it from your bag for separate screening. Bottles of water are generally not allowed through security, so bring pre-measured powdered formula in a container and purchase water after security if needed. Check TSA guidance for the most current procedures.
The golden rule on airplanes
Be flexible with your usual rules: screen time, treats and comfort items are acceptable on flights. This is not the time for strict routines — prioritize a calm trip and return to usual rules once you’re on the ground.
Adjusting to time zones
When you land, act according to the new time zone: feed and put your child to bed on the local schedule to help them adjust. Alternatively, you can choose to keep their home schedule if that suits your plans better. Use the change to your advantage based on your itinerary.
Documentation to carry
Carry your child’s birth certificate while flying domestically — some airlines may request proof of age for lap infants. For international travel, a passport is required for every child, and some countries request a notarized consent letter if only one parent is traveling or if the traveler is not the parent.
How fellow travelers can help
Be kind and understanding — traveling with kids is hard. Offer help if you see a parent struggling; small gestures and encouraging words go a long way. Parents, if you encounter impatience from other travelers, remember you have as much right to be there as anyone else and that kindness from strangers can make a huge difference.
I hope this detailed guide makes flying with babies and toddlers feel more manageable. Travelling with kids is challenging, but exposing them to new places and experiences is incredibly rewarding. Safe travels and enjoy your adventures with little ones!