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When I was preparing for my first airplane trip with a toddler, I read advice saying to have one activity for every 30 minutes of the flight. Following this advice, I went to work researching activities.... our first flight was 4 hours, so I had a lot to cover!

I made sure not to give the toddlers any of the items before the trip - we all know that new items are more exciting for them! Of course, if they have any favorite activities you already own, you could hide them for a week or two before your trip and then give them back during the trip.

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Toddler Busy Boards and Quiet Books: Busy boards or books come with a variety of activities to keep their hands and minds busy. They are perfect in the car, airplane, at dinner, in the stroller... you name it.

Gel Window Clings: I cannot say enough good things about this one - the gel window clings are great for kids to stick on the window or tray table, they do not damage the plane and can be reused if taken care of. Search for window clings in a theme that is interesting to your toddler such as animals, cars, dinosaurs.

Reusable Sticker Books: Similar to gel clings, but different enough you could use both! You can find sticker books in many different themes and sizes.

Water Wow Coloring Books: These coloring books only require water and are reusable. This is a great alternative to having multiple color crayons or markers to keep track of. Fill the pens with water from your water bottle or before you get on the plane.

iPad & Headphones: If you have a toddler who enjoys movies, download their favorites to an iPad for the plane or airport. There are a variety of headphones for toddlers available. If your toddler hasn't used headphones, be sure to get some practice in at home before the trip. Also, if you use bluetooth, do the pairing and testing before the trip as well! Many of the bluetooth headphones come with a wired connection to use optionally.

Travel Essentials

Through trial and error, in good times and bad, these are the items we've needed and used while traveling with small children.

Toddler Travel Tray: These travel trays are an awesome way to give your toddler a surface for snacks, drinks, and their entertainment. The ones linked here have storage pockets and features that help keep you organized.

Wipes, Wipes, MORE Wipes: I don't think you can have enough wipes - from sticky hands, toys, cups, tray tables, etc. you will use more wipes than usual because you don't have access to a sink. Boogie Wipes brand are my personal favorite because they do not leave any residue behind on your hands or theirs. Boogie Brand has a bunch of other products that we love including their hand sanitizer spray.

Snacks: This goes without saying - every toddler parent knows you need snacks on hand at all times. Airlines don't cater to children (or adults these days!) so, make sure you pack your kids favortie items. Pack more than you need in case of delays, or the worst: being stuck on the tarmac. These snack containers from Whiskware come in different size, twist together, and have a variety of characters. We use these at home as well!

Wet/Dry Bags: These are great for storing a change or two of clothing and also for storing any dirty/wet/smelly clothes along the way. I also use these at home when we go to the pool or to kids sports events, and also the gym. They come in a bunch of different patterns and sizes.

Medicine: Airline travel in particular can be unpredictable, so we like to keep a few items with us in case of the unexpected fever, upset stomach, bug bite, rash, etc.

Stroller & Car Seat

Strollers:

If you travel a lot and you can invest in a super light weight, packable travel stroller, do it! If you're the occasional traveler, or just looking for something more economical, there are several good options.

I love strollers from Mompush - they are mid-tier in price but top-tier in features and they come with a rain cover, which will save the day during an infamous Florida downpour.

If you're planning to travel a lot, the Bugaboo Butterfly stroller may be the way to go. It is compact, and fits in the airplane overhead bins! So you won't have to worry about what is happening to your stroller or wait after the plane arrives for it be brought back up.

Car Seats

This is a hot topic among traveling parents. My personal opinion is to bring the car seat, especially with younger toddlers and most especially if it is their first airplane trip. A lot of parents say the car seat helps their kids relax and sleep or at least keeps them stay seated since they are familiar with it already. On the plane, the car seat has to go in the window seat, so plan accordingly!

If you're worried about getting settled on the plane - this is exactly what family boarding is meant for, so take advantage of the extra time ahead of the rest of the passengers.

To ease your trip through the airport, use a carseat bag with backpack straps or a luggage strap to attach the seat to your rolling luggage. You will have to remove the seat from the bag during secuirty unfortunetly.

As the kids get older and/or more comfortable with airplane rides, I check the car seat at the ticket counter to make the trek through the airport easier. Car seats, strollers, and other baby items are free to check on nearly every airline. Check with your airline ahead of time for their specific rules.

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