Do you get nervous just thinking about traveling with your toddler? Are you ready to cancel the trip before you even leave your house? Check out these 5 amazing toddler flying tips!
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You’re planning a family trip and the family now includes a small child (or 2 or 3 or more of them). You’ve scoured the internet in preparation for the trip. Now, you’ve finally found what you’re looking for! “5 Amazing Toddler Flying Tips” is just what you need–and a bonus one. And you breathe a sigh of relief as you read on…
It was so easy to travel with a newborn. They don’t move; they don’t need bathroom breaks; they’re not picky eaters. You can basically strap them into a stroller or baby carrier and you’re off. Sure, there may still be some places you can’t take them. But, toddlers and are a whole different story!
I get it. I’ve been there! In fact I’m still there–currently have a two-and-a half year old. Granted he hasn’t been on any flights longer than six hours–yet (COVID baby). But, we do have several long-haul flights coming up and my other kids had been on long-haul flights as toddlers and infants.
Seating
Remember those days of traveling with newborns and you could put them in the bassinet for the duration of the flight? Or just hold them calmly if there was no bassinet?
Well, now that your child has reached the ripe old age of two, you have to buy him a seat. But, if you’ve followed some of my earlier suggestions (5 Advantages of Flying with a Toddler), you may have been doing so all along. If you’re planning to take a car seat with you on the trip anyway, then by all means bring it on the plane and strap your child in. He’ll be more comfortable in a familiar space and the restriction and confinement will help calm him–and possibly even put him to sleep.
Your toddler is no longer in an infant carrier car seat that can just be clicked into the stroller. So now you have to figure out how to get the car seat through the airport. You can use a car seat bag with backpack straps and wheels, a specially designed strap to attach it to your carry on, or a collapsible car seat cart. Or a rather pricey Sit ‘N’ Stroll. Or you can always do this:
Yes, the car seat is inverted on top of the stroller. And yes, the toddler is in the stroller. Hey, it worked!
If you don’t want to shlep the car seat with you. We recently used a different much more compact option. This 5-point harness packs up so small that it can fit in a side pocket of a backpack and literally takes 30 seconds to set up. It wraps around the seat and threads through the airplane’s seatbelt. It even comes with its own carrying case.
So the decision basically comes down to whether or not you want/need to bring the full size car seat. There are pros and cons both ways.
Stroller
As a parent of a toddler, you probably own more than one stroller. You have the jogging stroller–even though you don’t jog. You have the car stroller. And you may even still have the snap-n-go, a double stroller, and at least one or two more. I f you need to take the double stroller with you, then decision made. But, if you only have one child that needs the stroller you have options.
How much are you really going to be using the stroller on the actual trip? Or will you just need it to get through the airport? Will there be a lot of walking? Or mostly some form of transportation (in which case a larger stroller may be cumbersome. Will you be limited to trunk space–especially with the luggage you’re bringing.
Keep in mind that sometimes when you gate-check your stroller you may or may not get it back at the gate. Sometimes you’ll get it back at baggage claim. Although, this is more common for non-direct flights than for non-stop flights, it’s worth asking. Keep in mind that this could be a problem if you actually need it to get through the airport at your destination or during a layover.
We recently went away for just a few days and took our “car stroller”. It was great since it’s so compact that we were able to take it on the plane. Therefore, we didn’t even have to wait for the gate-check items to get off the plane! We have a longer trip coming up with a couple of layovers each way. I plan to do the same, even though this trip will probably have more walking than the last one.
However, we did run into one hitch. The toddler wanted to walk through the airport–of course. So the six year-old decided to go in the stroller. Eventually (or not so eventually), Mr. Toddler didn’t want to walk anymore and the six year-old wasn’t giving up her ride so easily. So, that brings me to the next section…
Carry-On
We’ve talked in the past about tips for added carry-ons (Why Jews (Can’t) Travel Carry-On Only). Well, here’s another chance to do just that. Remember: you’re paying for a ticket for your toddler. So he gets whatever that ticket come with. If it’s a no carry-on ticket, then he still gets a “personal item” and if it includes a carry-on, then he gets that too.
You know that you’re going to be carrying everything anyway, so don’t use kid size carry-on suitcases and backpacks–take advantage of your baggage allowance. There are a few exceptions–like in the above picture when we didn’t need our full allotment anyway. There are carry-on suitcases that are made as ride-ons, but they are very expensive. Besides, how long are you going to be at a stage where you don’t want to push a strolled but you do want to pull a suitcase with your kid riding on it? In any case, you can improvise like above.
Another item on the market is a carry-on with a fold out scooter. Your child can use the scooter to [carefully] get through the airport and the suitcase itself fits under the seat. So, it’s only a personal item not an actual carry-on.
Additionally, a diaper bag does not count towards your allotment. So, bring a full size diaper bag. After filling it with whatever you may actually need in a diaper bag (don’t forget at least 2 changes of clothes, pajamas, food, toys, toiletries, etc. for you toddler), fill it with some other stuff that you didn’t have room for elsewhere! This probably is only allowed if the toddler is still in diapers. But, hey, overnight pull-up are still diapers, right?
What my husband has been able to do is bring his hatbox with his weekday hat as his personal item and the box with his shtreimel as our toddler’s personal item. Or my older son has used our toddler’s allotment for his hatbox and still been able to bring a backpack. Either way, they are able to do this since the toddler gets a carry-on, a personal item, and a diaper bag (which is really just another backpack).
Pro-Tip: Hats don’t actually count as personal items if you are wearing them. So, if you’re really stuck, just skip the hat box and wear the hat onto the plane. But a word of caution, make sure it doesn’t get crushed. You can try to get your actual personal item in the overhead bin so that you can put your hat under the seat. Or, be really nice to the flight attendants and they may put it in the business class closet–just don’t forget it!
Bring More
I am a big believer in less is more. Ask my kids and they’ll tell you that I always say they’re overpacking. How much of what you have is really for “just in case”? Or that extra piece of clothing or an extra outfit or two? If it’s a “just in case” and you can get it within 20 minutes for under $20, then leave it home–not worth the shlep. If it’s an extra outfit, you can probably re-wear whatever you already have; or if you’re going on a longer trip, you’re probably going to be doing laundry anyway.
Pro-Tip: Capsule Wardrobe! Be honest, you probably wear the same two black skirts everyday when you’re home anyway. And do you really need four pair of shoes for a weekend getaway?
So, why did I title this section “Bring More”? Because we are talking about “toddler flying tips”, and toddlers are not just small people! I may not always travel with a bottle of Tylenol for myself, but for a toddler I make sure to bring Tylenol, Motrin, and Benadryl. Chewable or liquid depending on your preference. But, if you’re traveling carry-on only, be sure to keep the TSA’s liquid rules in mind (or the rules for any other country you are traveling to/from).
What’s the difference? I can wait until the morning to go out and pick something up. But, do you really want to have to try to find a 24-hour pharmacy in an unfamiliar (foreign?) place at 2 AM with a sick cranky toddler in tow?
Also, for the flight itself. Even when checking suitcases, I always make sure my kids bring a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a change or undergarments in their backpack. This is the “just in case”. It’s not extra stuff, but it’s just in a different location. In case we don’t meet up with out suitcases right away. Or they just want to freshen up if it’s a longer flight.
However, for toddlers, they need more of their luggage items with them on the plane for “just in case”. They need at least one full change of clothes as well as pajamas (they’ll more likely fall asleep on the plane if you “change them for bed”). And however many diapers and wipes you think you need, take more! You don’t want to be stuck–and remember the lost luggage scenario–or delayed flight? Same for food and drinks. I don’t usually subscribe to taking enough for 40 years in the desert for a 3-hour tour, but for toddlers…all bets are off. You need to make sure they have more than enough and more than enough options. Chances are they’ll eat just because it’s there. So, the food will be finished much sooner than anticipated.
And don’t forget the spill-proof sippy cups, pacifiers, blanket, pillow, and anything else your child finds comforting. Pacifiers and spill-proof sippy cups even if he is too much of a “big boy” for those things in general. They are very helpful on the plane. (FYI: Pillows and blankets don’t usually count either.)
Kali Muriaticum
Kali Muriaticum is a homeopathic remedy traditionally used to treat nasal congestion. However, we use it before take-off (and sometimes landing) to help prevent ear pressure and the associated pain. Especially toddlers who can’t chew gum, may not want a pacifier or a drink, and don’t know how to do the Valsalva maneuver (pictured below).
None of the content contained in this post is intended as medical advice. Consult with your own medical professional.
Bonus: Fun and Games
You know you need to bring some activities for you toddler on the plane, but what about before and after? Or when nothing you have with you is doing the trick during the flight?
Before and After
Most airports have children’s play areas. There may not be one near your gate, but you can check the airport’s website ahead of time to see what your options are. Also, if you have any sort of airport lounge access, most allow children under a certain age in without counting towards your guest limit. And, many have family spaces or a children’s area.
A children’s play area is a good place your your toddler to run around and get some energy out before a flight or stretch their legs afterwards. Maybe there needs to be adult play areas for us to stretch out legs!
During
Even with everything you’ve brought with you, your toddler will still get bored. This is especially true for those of us who don’t allow screen time. So, you will have to get creative. On a recent flight, my daughter made paper airplanes with my toddler for a bit. Then, since it was a night flight, we turned on my phone’s flashlight and did a shadow puppet show on the plane wall. I’m not sure who enjoyed it more, the toddler or the teen!
Hopefully these toddler flying tips have made the idea of travelling with a toddler less daunting. All it takes is a little (or a lot) of planning and things should run not so unsmoothly. Afterall, what is a regular day with a toddler like?
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