10 Travel Tips When Flying With A Toddler

Flying with a toddler involves very specific challenges than flying with an infant. And it’s primarily due to mobility. Toddlers dislike sitting stationary. They’re also more impulsive, prone to meltdowns, and have short attention spans. However, the difficulty of traveling with a toddler does not have to stop with you foregoing air travel until they reach the age of adolescence. It only takes a little forethought, savvy packing, and mental fortitude.

Here are some simple tips and suggestions:

1. Talk to Your Toddler about the upcoming flight: Spend a lot of time before a flight discussing with your child about being on an airplane. Discuss with him what would happen, what he should expect, and what he needed to do. Show your kid some cartoon video or a model plane so they may get a little excited before you start the adventure.
2. Go with a direct flight and one with a lengthier layover: As a parent of a baby or small kid, it is critical to limit the number of connecting flights. Landing usually puts pressure on their delicate ears, generating the agony that causes newborns to cry on aircraft. Furthermore, less time spent on travel implies fewer opportunities for a mid-flight tantrum.
3. Arrive at the airport early: Going with a toddler, especially if they’re walking, takes substantially longer than traveling alone. Arriving 90 minutes to two hours before your flight assures that no matter how long or sluggish the check-in or TSA lines are, you’ll never have to worry about missing your flight.
4. Before your flight, use the airport restroom: When boarding the plane, make one last trip to the airport restroom. While you’re there, double up on the diaper cream and change your kid into a single clean diaper. If you’re traveling with a toilet-training child, you’ll want one last potty break, too. A pre-flight potty break means one less trip to the cramped airline restroom.
5. When boarding, divide into two groups: While many airlines enable parents with children to board first, it isn’t always the best option. Remember that it normally takes a half-hour for everyone else to board and the plane to take off, which is a lot of time sitting in your seat with a restless 3-year-old. The preferable method is for one parent to board the aircraft early to stow carry-ons and gate-check the stroller/car seat. Meanwhile, the other parent walks/entertains the child in the terminal until everyone has boarded, then boards last.
6. If they’re still under the age of two, consider buying them a seat: Obviously, this option depends on one’s financial situation, but if you have the means to afford an extra seat, do so. It’s a game-changer to be able to offer a toddler their own space instead of bouncing them on your lap for three hours.
7. Book a Window and an Aisle Seat: If you choose the lap option, reserve the aisle and window seats while leaving the center one free. Because middle seats are the last to be filled, you have a better chance of getting your child a seat without paying. In the worst-case situation, if someone is already seated there, you may just offer to exchange them for the more coveted window seat. But whatever you do, don’t give up that aisle seat. You’ll want convenient access to the bathroom and the freedom to move around with your child.
8. Dress comfortably in layers: You might be tempted to dress your kid in a gorgeous outfit for the entire journey. But first and foremost, consider comfort and ease. Choosing clothing that is comfortable and simple to replace will make your journey a bit easier.
9. Pack an extra set of clothes for both you and your baby: Of course, you should bring an additional change of clothing in your carry-on for your infant and yourself in case of a mid-flight blowout. A dripping diaper might make you sticky and moist for the length of the long travel. To avoid this hassle, pack a little clothing for yourself in the diaper bag as well.
10. Cheap Toys for Gifts: Obviously, you don’t want to carry a full toy box, but your main goal while traveling with a toddler is to keep them entertained. The more games, toys, or books you bring with you, the easier your work will be. In addition to the toys they already know and love, go to the dollar shop before your travel and fill up on inexpensive items you don’t mind losing or leaving on the plane. Then, as if it were Christmas Eve, wrap them separately in wrapping paper. When your child becomes agitated throughout the flight, bring out a new toy and assist them in unwrapping it.