5 Tips to Survive a Toddler’s First Flight

AIrplane Snacks for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Pack Lots of Snacks on your Toddler’s First Flight

1. Pack lots of snacks and bring a water bottle or sippy cup. No one wants to get soaked when a drink spills, I always bring a water bottle or sippy cup to avoid messes with kids! Even if your kids are great with a cup, you never know when the tray table might get bumped and juice will go flying!

Some of our favorite airplane snacks can be found here.

Check out this post if you are looking for information about Airplane Travel with Car Seats

Yes we pack the iPods for some quiet time on the flight!

Depending on your destination you may want to bring something to help your child sleep. Check out the best toddler travel bed here.

2. Bring an assortment of activities to kill time.

We love wikki stix and new coloring books. For more activities check out my post on What to pack: Airplane Activities for Toddlers

Killing Time before we Board

3. With the above post in mind, do not pack TOO MUCH! You will end up lugging too many bags, as well as children and will likely get frustrated while trying to squish everything under your seat or in the overhead bin!

Check out this post on the top rated backpack diaper bag!

Take Advantage of the InFlight Magazine on your Toddler’s First Flight

4. Take advantage of the inflght magazine, let the kids read it, use it as a “look and find” book as you ask them to identify things on the pages or letters or words depending on their ages

Sit back and Relax

5. Try not to worry about the other people around you. Toddlers are unpredictable! Even with plenty of toddler toys! Yes you child may scream or cry, but most other passengers will not even bat an eye. If they have their own children, they can sympathize with you. There is no expectation of peace and quiet on an airplane. It is a public place! It’s their problem if they are upset, not yours!

BONUS TIP!

While almost all airlines allow families with young children to board first, why have your toddler in a small space for longer than absolutely necessary! We always get on last and then the flight is rolling away from the gate before we even know it!

If you are still feeling nervous, check out these travel tips for moms!

Hope you enjoy your toddler’s first flight! Let me know how it goes in the comments!

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Lindsay Nieminen

Lindsay Nieminen hails from Vancouver, Canada and shares her love of travel on this website. She is passionate about showing others that they should not put off traveling the world just because they have young children or are single parents. She aims to encourage them to seek out adventure, whether it is at home or abroad by providing information on how just about everywhere can be a destination to explore as a family.

andrea

Friday 28th of July 2017

5. Try not to worry about the other people around you. Yes you child may scream or cry, but most other passengers will not even bat an eye. If they have their own children, they can sympathize with you. There is no expectation of peace and quiet on an airplane. Its their problem if they are upset, not yours! . I DISAGREE! . People do NOT like screaming kids on a flight! I'm a mom myself and I sure do not like it when a kiddo is kicking my seat behind me and screaming to boot. However, I have found that a trip to the toilet closet helps, walking the baby or toddler up and down the aisle helps (and helps give the person in front or back of you a break). . I also have a good friend who is NOT a parent who is a flight attendant. It is his job to pick up the cheerios and other items your kiddo leaves on the ground. While it is not expected of the parents to pick up the mass quantities of food dropped and thrown on the floor of the airplane, an apologetic attitude afterward is a kind and polite thing to do. I know the flight attendants understand, but it doesn't mean they like it and a few words of acknowledgment go a long way. . Not all people can fly first class, therefore it is important to try to help your kids not kick the seat in front of them. I know you cannot please all people and I understand that if people have a problem with you, it's their fault, not yours. However, not everyone is ZEN and can practice letting go. We are all sharing a cramped air space. It's not right to think my screaming kid is their problem, not yours. We have a tolerance for our own children that is much higher than the common strangers. We need to be responsible parents and have a kind regard for our fellow passengers.

I'm a fan of your site and I read all of your articles, but I hope that my comment here is not taken lightly.

Please just remember, the airplane is a shared space and we need to be respectful as much as possible to our fellow travelers. THAT is what will make us good and happy and respectful travel stewards.