Moms and Dads

Air Travel Tips for Families with Babies and Toddlers

Flying out of the country soon? Before you start packing, make sure to follow these air travel tips—especially if you’re with a baby or toddler!

Going out of the country with the whole family to explore and experience new things can be very exciting. But it can also be exhausting—especially for families with babies and toddlers who have more needs as compared to older children. However, there are a few things you can do to make traveling with a baby or toddler a breeze. Check out these air travel tips!

A child about to travel

Air Travel Tips for Families with Babies and Toddlers

1. Try to stay hands-free

Once you arrive at the airport, you’ll have to go through different areas—from check-in or baggage drop-off to immigration. This can get chaotic, so as much as possible, try to stay hands-free. This means bringing a backpack as your carry-on and having a small, sling bag for the rest of your essentials such as your wallet, passport, phone, pen, and more.

2. Wear comfortable clothes with lots of pockets

Dressing comfortably is another travel tip so that you can move around with ease as you run from immigration to your boarding gate. Moreover, it helps to have lots of pockets where you can temporarily place items you might need to take out often while at the airport—such as your pen, passport, and boarding pass.

3. Take advantage of priority lines

For parents with toddlers under two years old, you’re allowed to use the priority line! This helps you avoid fussiness, especially when your toddler wants to go down the stroller to walk around.

4. Consider investing in a stroller that fits the plane’s overhead bin

Having a stroller with you the whole time saves you a lot of back pain. Thankfully, there are many compact and lightweight strollers that can be folded to fit the airplane’s overhead bin—such as the Joie Pact Lite, Babyzen YOYO 2, and Bugaboo Butterfly.

A mom with her baby and a stroller

5. Time your toddler’s nap with your flight

Though this can be tricky depending on the time of your flight, it helps if you can get your toddler to sleep during the flight. This way, they don’t get bored or fussy.

6. Bring snacks

You don’t want to have a hungry toddler during your trip so be sure to pack a lot of snacks that can keep them full. Moreover, having them chew on snacks when the plane is about to land can help distract them from ear pressure.

7. Pack interactive toys that can keep them entertained

Interactive toys like stickers, magnetic boards they can draw on, and bubble pop fidget toys can keep them entertained during the flight.

8. Download their favorite shows on your phone or tablet

As a last resort to keep them entertained, download their favorite educational shows on your phone and tablet so that they can watch in airplane mode while on the flight.

A family about to travel by air

Let these air travel tips help!

With these travel tips that make things a little bit easier for everyone, your family will surely have a wonderful time making core memories together.

Read more travel-related stories on Modern Parenting:

What Travelers Need to Know About the eArrival Card

5 Beachfront Resorts Near Metro Manila the Family Can Enjoy

17 Travel Essentials for Infants

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