Traveling with toddlers doesn’t have to feel like a survival mission.
By the time our kiddos turned 3 and 5, they had boarded about 20 planes — and surprisingly, we had learned to actually enjoy our flights. But let’s be real: plane rides with little kids can be tricky. Once they’re no longer babies and you can’t rely on the boob to keep them quiet, flying starts to look a lot more like a rodeo.
The good news? It gets easier. Part of it comes with age, and the other part comes from being prepared. Here’s everything we’ve learned — the strategies that saved our sanity (most of the time).
1. Choose Your Flight Based on Timing, Not Price
Take it from us: just because it’s nighttime doesn’t mean your kids will sleep. We no longer book night flights unless they’re longer than eight hours.
Sure, redeyes are usually cheaper, but they are not worth the three-day jet-lag hangover once you land. Afternoon flights have consistently been our sweet spot — the kids get time to run around before boarding, and they settle into “quiet time” more easily once on the plane.
Pro tip:
For night flights, always bring a small pillow and a cozy blanket. Comfort goes a long way.
2. Divide and Conquer: Separate the Team
Our go-to strategy: one parent per child — but in separate seats.
It sounds counterintuitive, but hear me out:
- It reduces sibling fighting
- Each kid gets a window seat (if you check in early)
- They seem to have more space
- And you can swap kids if emotions run high
Sometimes one child has a tougher flight, and being able to say, “Tag, you’re it!” to your partner can be a lifesaver. Your seat neighbors might even appreciate the switch.
3. Bring Just the Right Amount of Toys
Too many toys = overstimulation.
Not enough toys = meltdown.
Stick to a small selection of well-loved essentials. When kids have too many choices, they often end up saying they don’t know what to play with anyway.
Quality over quantity — every time.
4. Screens or No Screens? (The Big Question)
I’m not anti-screen, but I am aware of how my kids behave after too much of it:
✨ overstimulated
✨ overly energetic
✨ melting down the second we land
And that’s exactly when you need them calm — while figuring out transportation, finding baggage, navigating a new airport, etc.
So we don’t hand over the tablet right away. We let them play first and save screens for later in the flight if needed.
Bonus discovery:
Our kids tend to get motion sick with too much screen time while moving, so we switched to podcasts and audiobooks. They LOVE them.
And the teacher in me is thrilled — audio stories help improve focus, listening skills, and early literacy. Win-win!
Final Thoughts
Flying with young kids will never be completely stress-free, but it can absolutely be enjoyable — or at least manageable — with a little preparation and the right mindset. These simple strategies have made our plane rides smoother, happier, and sometimes even… fun.