Flying with Toddler: Your Survival Guide (After 100+ Flights)

I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve flown with our toddlers. We started flying with both our kids as very young babies (from 2 weeks old) and haven’t stopped since. That means we have plenty of experience flying throughout all stages of toddler life as a family with 2 under 2, solo trips, and even flying with a cat. 

While I can tell you with certainty that flying with a toddler is much harder than flying with a baby, it’s not impossible (and can sometimes even be quite pleasant) if you’re prepared. In this guide, I’ve pulled together everything I’ve learned from our countless family trips to help make yours that little bit easier. 

Flying with a Baby vs Flying with a Toddler

The hardest age to travel with kids is without a doubt from 12 to 22 months. Even though it’s a common misconception that traveling with a baby is hard, I can promise you that traveling with a toddler is harder! 

This is because babies will sleep a lot of the flight, won’t want to move or wiggle as much, and take much less effort to entertain. They can’t kick the seat in front of you or run up and down the aisles screaming, so really, there’s not much to worry about.

Toddlers, on the other hand, need a lot more attention and often struggle to keep still. Kids develop at different rates and while they are transitioning from baby to toddler is often the hardest period for travel, but the timing of it may vary.

To be honest, we took a break from flying when Dylan was 14 months old, because it was just too much to handle. With his brother Holden it was fine until about 18 months and then he was just as wiggly as his brother at 14 months. But, from about 2.5 years onwards, flying with both was smooth!

How to Plan when Flying with a Toddler 

A large part of successfully flying with a toddler comes down to preparation. Make sure you read up on the airline’s rules in advance so you know exactly what to expect during your flight because every airline and airport might have different rules!

Rules for Flying with Toddlers

With pretty much all airlines, the rules change at 2 years old. Youngsters under 2 years old at the time of the flight are considered infants, and toddlers over 2 are labeled as children. 

This is important as different ticket and seat requirements depend on the age of your child. Also note that if your toddler is turning 2 during the flight, they will be classified as a child unless you buy two separate tickets.

For toddlers over 2 years old, you will need to purchase them their own seat. Unfortunately, many airlines do not offer a child’s rate which means traveling with kids gets a whole lot more expensive once they get to this age.

Do You Need a Car Seat for Flying with a Toddler?

If your toddler can sit up unassisted and is over 2 years old, it’s not required for them to use an FAA-approved car seat on planes. For those under 2, it’s only required if you prebook a separate seat (but if you just find a spare seat near you then it’s not).

While many parents think it’s safer to use a car seat onboard, if you look at the real statistics there is basically no chance that you will get hurt on a plane. We never bring our car seats on board (not even when they were babies), as we prefer to have the extra space available for them to lie down or play.

When deciding if it’s right for your family, remember that you will have to lug it around the airport and your destination. Plus, even travel car seats don’t always fit in the overhead bins so if you decide to bring it onboard, you’re stuck with it. 

In many places, it’s possible to get around the need for a car seat by taking public transport or requesting transfers with a car seat installed. So we only really bring a car seat on our trips if we plan on renting a car.

Even then, we check in our car seat rather than bringing it into the cabin (make sure you use a car seat cover) and it’s a common procedure on most European airlines and airports, so don’t be surprised if the staff tells you not to bring your car seat for gate checking.

An alternative option to keep your toddler strapped in is to buy a FAA-approved seat harness. But you should know that not all airlines let you use harnesses and some require you to choose a specific seat, so read up on specific airline rules you plan to take

Where to Sit on a Plane with a Toddler

This mostly depends on what other family members you’re flying with and if you choose to use a car seat. In general, it’s always a good idea to plonk toddlers in the window seat so they have one more thing to keep them entertained and less opportunity to go running down the aisle (or things hitting them when falling from the cart or above – I’ve seen this happen sadly).

Most importantly if you’re flying with twins or 2 under 2 due to the fact there’s only 1 infant oxygen mask per row, you cannot sit together as a family of 4. You’ll either have to sit across an aisle or in the row behind.

Furthermore, if you’re hoping to have a toddler in a car seat and a baby in a bassinet, it’s not always possible depending on the airlines as car seats cannot always be used in bulkhead row.

We like to book the two aisle seats in the middle row in front of the toilets. Unless the plane is full, no one in their right mind would book the seats in between so we often end up with the whole row to ourselves.

Flying Solo with 2 Toddlers

Some airlines (and countries like for example Canada) do not allow you to fly alone with two kids under two years old. So check this first before you even begin planning your trip! 

Due to Canadian regulations, each adult is only allowed to travel with one child under 2 years old, regardless of their seating arrangements. The ratio has to be 1:1 because of their evacuation procedures and unfortunately, there’s just no way around it. 

In most countries, airlines allow you to fly with two infants under 2, but you must purchase a seat for at least one child and bring along an approved car seat or harness.

What to Pack when Flying with a Toddler

It can be hard to keep 1-year-olds entertained on flights as they are at quite an awkward age and require a lot of your energy and attention. 2-year-olds can go either way, but by 3 years old, toddlers are usually more self-sufficient and will be happy enough to play with their toys or watch a cartoon. 

Food 

Even if they will serve you food on the plane, you don’t want to deal with a grumpy toddler if the food isn’t to their liking or isn’t served when they’re hungry. I always make sure to bring plenty of snacks that I know the kids will love just in case. 

Just make sure you pick snacks that aren’t going to make a mess, get hands sticky, or spill. I also pack a good leakproof sippy cup to help with that.

Milk, Formula, and Diapers

Technically you can bring as much formula and diapers and milk in your carry-on as you like (within reason), but I always plan to bring enough for the flight plus the first day. You can always buy all these things at your destination. Your kids are going to survive, even if it’s not the same brand as they’re used to.

Also note that European airlines regularly weigh hand luggage and if it’s over 8kg they might force you to check it. It happened to us on numerous occasions, while other times nobody cared about it.

Travel Stroller

At first, I didn’t think I needed a special travel stroller but now I would never go without one. I can’t explain how much having a packable travel stroller will improve your experience traveling with toddlers. 

I’ve tried most of the best travel strollers on the market and can tell you 100% to invest in the Babyzen Yoyo or Zoe Tandem if you have two youngsters. 

Ride-On suitcase

Okay, this one is optional but for toddlers, having a ride-on suitcase does make the flying experience that much more special. There are a few different types to choose from that suit many different age ranges but what I can say is to get one that is sturdy, easy to pull/push, and has 360-degree spinning wheels. 

The Jetkids suitcase is a popular option that also has an airplane bed built in. Just note that not all airlines allow the use of airplane beds for toddlers. 

What to Expect with a Toddler at the Airport

Going to the airport is exciting for most adults so you can only imagine what it feels like for a toddler. Allowing them to be excited while keeping their energy in check can be quite the balancing act. 

What Identification Do You Need to Fly with a Toddler?

If you’re flying internationally, all children need their own passport. There is no exception to this so make sure to organise it in advance as it can take a few weeks to process. 

While adult citizens need to carry a photo ID for domestic flights within the USA, there is no federal rule that requires children under 18 years old to have identification. That being said, airlines may have their own rules so it’s worth checking for specifics before flying. 

Going Through Security with a Toddler

Security checks are different in nearly every airport in the world so I cannot tell you exactly what it will be like for you, but I can tell you that it’s usually pretty hectic with a toddler. 

Since you’ve probably got a million bags and a child to look out for, it can be quite a stressful process. The best thing to do is to be as prepared as possible. Try not to have too many liquids or gadgets that need to be removed from your bag (if you do, make sure they’re easy to get to), and don’t wear a belt or anything else that needs to be taken off. 

Kids will have to pass through the body scanner just like everyone else but they are not usually asked to step through the bigger machines that require you to stand still for a couple of minutes. 

While it’s uncommon for anyone to help you load your stroller into the x-ray machine and you cannot skip the line, the security agents will usually do their best to make sure you stay together as a family. 

Plane Activities for Toddlers 

There are plenty of toys and games designed specifically for toddlers but not all of them are good for airplanes or road trip. Here are some examples of things I do and don’t recommend to bring to keep your toddler entertained onboard. 

How to Make a Toddler Sleep on the Plane

The only time your toddler is almost guaranteed to fall asleep is during landing, right when you need to wake them up. Seriously, it happens all the time and not just to our family! 

Some people like to try and book morning flights so their toddler’s bedtime is unaffected but we have discovered that red-eye flights are the best every single time. 

However, this doesn’t even matter much if you’re dramatically changing time zones. Kids will fall asleep eventually, especially if you’ve spent all that time tiring them out in the airport. If we’re arriving at night, we also make a point of staying calm while collecting our luggage and making it through the airport on arrival, they usually go straight back to sleep.

If Your Toddler is Newly Potty Trained

Short answer: wear pull-ups for the airport and plane ride. Even if your toddler is exceptionally gifted, they still won’t be able to control their movements as much as an adult, and lines for airplane bathrooms can be lengthy. Not to mention potential turbulences.

The first time we flew with a potty-trained toddler was only one month into training. Despite doing well at daycare and home, the plane was a unique experience. 

Don’t worry, using pull-ups for a day will not undo all your work and I’m sure you and all the passengers around you will thank you. 

That being said, also make sure to bring a change of clothes for your toddler just in case, accidents still happen!