Flying With a Toddler Under 2: Complete Guide
The idea of flying with a toddler under 2 instantly brings on anxiety for most moms. The vision of your screaming child, angry passengers, and being trapped in one place for hours is truly a nightmare.
It’s true, there are a lot of things that are out of your control. But, with a little preplanning, you can set yourself and your child up for success. After all, toddlers feed off of your energy. If you feel confident and relaxed, there is a better chance they will be too.
I’m here to help you figure it all out:
Picking your flight: Which is best?
What time of day is best?
When you are flying with a toddler, this might be the first question you ask yourself. Before flying with our 21-month old, I had read online that flying over nap times can be better because it doesn’t mess with their normal sleep schedule.
However, when you factor in all the time it takes to go through security and all the stimulation that comes with going through an airport, assuming that your child might nap like normal might set you up for failure.
I’m not going to lie. There was a lot of winging it and just hoping for the best when it came to flying with our toddler.
Generally speaking though, I found this to be a good starting point:
Morning Flights: Best for flying east to west. This gives your child plenty of time when you arrive to start adjusting to a new time zone. Keep them up a little longer or allow them to take multiple naps if needed.
Midday Flights: Best for flights 3 hours or less. These will fall relatively close to nap time. Worst case, if your child chooses not to nap, the flight is short enough that you might be able to survive.
Evening Flights: Best for flying west to east. Kids are more likely to be tired at night and can hopefully sleep overnight, making it easier to adjust to the new time zone.
Nonstop vs Connecting Flights
I always opt for nonstop flights when possible. The act of getting on and off the flight alone can be a lot with all the gear that comes with traveling with a toddler, so I like to minimize that whenever possible. Plus, if I have one bad flight, the last thing I want to do is get on another one.
However, if you are flying across the globe or nonstop flights just don’t exist, then sometimes a connecting flight is a must. If you have to take a connecting flight, I recommend making sure your layover is at least two hours long. This gives your toddler time to stretch their legs, get something to eat, and make it to your next gate without feeling rushed.
As a mom, do you really want to be running to your next gate while carrying all the baby gear and a toddler? Give yourself some time to make it to your next stop peacefully and enjoy the layover.
How Long Should the Flight Be?
Personally, a 3-4 hour flight is the sweet spot for me when flying with a toddler. It gives your child an opportunity for a nap, but if they happen to skip it, it’s probably not the end of the world. However, sometimes a long flight is unavoidable.
If it were me, I would try to avoid a flight that stretches across two nap times (unless you are flying with a newborn). Maybe it is just because my daughter is not the best sleeper, but I feel lucky if I can get her down on a plane… period, let alone twice.
If you happen to have an extra long flight though, I would make sure you have double the amount of snacks, entertainment, and patience.
Plan More: Taking the longer flight? Keep yourself comfortable with these tips and tricks to surviving a long flight!
Should You Buy Your Toddler Their Own Seat?
Most major U.S. airlines allow children under the age of 2 to fly for free when sitting on an adult’s lap. Sometimes though, it is worth the splurge to buy your child their own seat.
Note: While the lap infant option exists for parents, the FAA strongly recommends children under the age of 2 travel in an approved child restraint system rather than fly as a lap infant. This is for their safety in the event of severe turbulence or an emergency.
Option 1: Lap Infant
Using the lap infant option is great for shorter trips. My personal limit is about a 3-4 hour flight before I start to get uncomfortable and wish my child had their own seat.
This option also works well for budget-conscious families. When you’re looking at $500+ a flight ticket, it can be much more appealing to take advantage of the lap infant option while your child still qualifies.
Option 2: Buy Their Own Seat
This works better for longer flights. Our daughter slept really well on our most recent flight, but I found that I was so uncomfortable holding her that I wasn’t able to get the rest I needed. For this reason, I recommend getting their own seat for longer flights.
We have also lucked into our daughter getting her own seat when there was enough space on the plane. That extra space made a huge difference. It allowed her to move around and stretch her legs, while simultaneously giving ourselves a break. With plane seats getting notoriously smaller, the added space can be worth the money, especially on longer flights.
For me, the decision of whether or not to buy our toddler their own seat largely comes down to the decision of how long the flight is and whether I can make it work with our budget.
Note: If your child is under two years old on your outgoing flight, but turns two before your return trip, you will need to purchase a separate ticket for their return flight.
Can I use a car seat on the plane?
Yes! In fact, the FAA strongly encourages using an approved child restraint system as the safest way for toddlers to fly. However, that choice is ultimately at the parent’s discretion when a child is under 2 and flying as a lap infant.
Personally, there was absolutely no way my daughter was going to sit still in her car seat on a plane. Being on a plane was a totally new experience for her, and I knew once I took her out of her car seat to stretch her legs, there was no way I was going to be able to get her back in it.
If you choose not to take your car seat on the plane, you still can check it for FREE if you need it at your family destination. I recommend putting it in a carrying case to protect it from the elements and decrease the chances of it getting damaged during transport.
What car seat works best on a plane?
We have flown with the Cosco Scenera car seat, which remains a popular favorite for air travel. It is lightweight and very basic, which makes it easy to travel with. The Maxi-Cosi Romi is another great option if you want something with a little more cushion.
Note: If you are traveling internationally, I encourage looking into car seat laws at your destination before you go. Car seat standards can vary between countries and the car seat you use in the U.S. may not meet the requirements in another country. This is particularly true if you are traveling to Europe. In this case, I recommend renting a car seat upon your arrival.
Navigating the Airport with a Toddler
Between luggage, baby gear, possibly a stroller and car seat, plus a wiggly toddler, it begs the question: Do I really need all of that?
I am a firm believer in trying to keep things as minimal and hands-free as possible when traveling with a toddler.
Here are some tips:
Taking a Stroller to the Airport
I love to take a lightweight, easy-to-fold, travel stroller when traveling with my toddler. It is easier to navigate complicated airports with people moving all over the place, and you don’t have to worry so much about your toddler getting lost in the commotion. It is also helpful to have the extra place to drop backpacks and personal items.
Strollers are most helpful during layovers when you have time to travel, sometimes great distances, between gates.
You can take your stroller through TSA, although it will need to go through additional screening. Just make sure that the pockets and everything are empty before going through security.
On the flight, you will have to collapse your stroller and either gate-check it or, if it is small enough and there is room, place it in an overhead bin. I recommend having a travel stroller bag to give it some protection.
When gate checking your stroller, you will typically drop it at the end of the jetway right before boarding the plane and pick it up in the same spot when you arrive at your next destination.
Note: Sometimes, certain flights will require your stroller to be picked up at baggage claim of your final destination rather than at the gate. I would just clarify this with your gate agent before dropping your stroller so you know where to expect it when you land.
What is the best travel stroller?
This depends on your priorities for a travel stroller.
I personally love the Inglesina Quid3, which has a one-hand fold, a large ventilation window, and is lightweight (only 14lbs!). It also folds smaller than your carry-on luggage and has a zero-gravity strap, making it extremely easy to carry while holding multiple things.
If you have a newborn as well, I love the Mockingbird Travel Stroller, which lies flat and features a newborn nest mode. It also has a large ventilation window and auto-fold feature.
If you are looking for a budget friendly option, then the Mompush Lithe v2 is my tried-and-true favorite travel stroller. It is a one-hand fold, has a newborn bassinet mode, and comes with an included snack tray. And it’s less than $200!
Using a Baby Carrier in the Airport
When making your way through airport security, baby carriers can make your life a whole lot easier. It allows you to be hands-free with your toddler while you navigate loading luggage and everything through security.
When wearing a baby carrier, you generally will not have to go through the scanners with your child. Instead, you will go through the metal detector, and you typically will not have to remove your baby. Honestly, this is great if you are taking an early flight and might have a little one who is still sleeping.
My personal recommendation is for the Ergobaby Omni 360, which offers a great structured carrier for kids of all sizes.
Take a Car Seat in the Airport
As noted above, some families might choose to purchase a separate seat for their toddler and bring their car seat.
One of the easiest ways to travel with a car seat is to purchase a carrying bag with backpack straps, once again leaving you a little more hands-free. Another option would be to bring bungee cords and strap the car seat directly to your stroller.
What to Pack on the Plane for Toddler
When packing for a toddler, I like to keep all of their gear in one bag that goes under the seat in front of me. This includes diapers, food, and entertainment.
Diapering
I like to create a “go bag” when on the flight with a toddler. This is just a small Ziploc bag with maybe 2-3 diapers, a small container of wipes, diaper cream, and a small fold-up changing pad. That way, you don’t need to grab your whole backpack to go to the bathroom. You can just grab the essentials.
With a toddler who can stand, I actually found it easier to use pull-on style diapers so we didn’t have to touch anything in the bathroom. I prefer flying with overnight diapers, which allows us to get through shorter flights without any diaper changes at all.
I also recommend having small doggie bags to throw particularly stinky diapers in, or to use for dirty clothes if needed. It is always best to pack a spare outfit or two just in the event of a blow-out or other accident. This means extra clothes for yourself too!
Hot Tip: Usually, one of the bathrooms in the back of the plane has a changing table above the toilet if you need it. Ask a flight attendant to show you which one has that feature.
Food & Drink
Snacks help keep a fussy toddler happy on the flight so definitely don’t skimp here! I recommend packing your own in case food service is delayed or cancelled due to turbulence.
To help avoid a toddler meltdown, encourage your little one to eat or drink during takeoff and landing. This encourages them to swallow, which can help their ears adjust to the changes in cabin pressure.
We like to pack snacks like Cheerios (my #1 choice), blueberries, and food pouches. Our daughter also takes a no-spill sippy cup. On long flights, it is especially important to make sure your toddler stays hydrated.
Comfort
If this is your toddler’s first flight (which it probably is if you’ve landed on this page), then help them feel comfortable by packing the items that give them the most joy, such as a familiar blanket or lovey. This might also be something like a pacifier, which can help with ear pressure too!
For our daughter, this was her favorite doll (conveniently named Dolly) and a Buzz Lightyear rubber duck. It made it feel like she was on this flight with her best friends for the first time, rather than experiencing it all by herself.
Entertainment
I like to pack a bunch of toys that create minimal mess. In our bag, we had:
- Lift-the-flap board books
- Water WOWs
- Reusable, puffy sticker book
- Wikki Stix
- Magna-Tiles
- No-mess coloring pages & markers
- Amazon tablet
I recommend bringing small new toys that they have never seen before, which will keep them interested longer. Also, be sure to only bring out one toy at a time to stretch how long each one keeps them engaged.
If you are flying with other people, simply passing your toddler around to hang out with different members of the family can provide entertainment and pass the time. Also, don’t underestimate a stroll down the plane aisle or a trip to the bathroom, which can easily buy you 15 minutes of entertainment.
What about screens on a plane?
I would say there is no shame in using screens on a flight. I am a firm believer that it is the one time when screentime rules can go out the window, regardless of your stance on screens.
I prefer to bring out the tablet as a last resort, though, trying to rotate through all of our toys first. Honestly, our daughter was so interested in the new toys we had that we only brought out screens for maybe ten minutes.
Hot Tip: Remember to bring headphones so you don’t disturb your neighbors! Experiment with them in the months leading up to your flight so your child is used to wearing them though. We failed in this department, so we ended up watching Toy Story in silence.
Extra Supplies
Unfortunately, flying comes with a lot of things you can’t control such as delays and cancellations. It is important to be prepared for the unexpected.
Therefore, it is best to double what you think you might need. I like to keep extra diapers and outfits in our carry-on that goes in the overhead bin. I also bring a few more snacks than we would usually go through because toddlers are somehow unusually hungry on flights.
Have a Back-up Plan
I think having a general backup plan is also a good way to mentally prepare for things that might go wrong. My biggest fear when flying with our daughter for the first time was that she wasn’t going to sleep on a red-eye flight and keep everyone awake and miserable.
At first, I knew I would attempt to feed her and pray she fell asleep like normal. When that didn’t work, I planned to strap her to me in the baby carrier and rock her in the back of the plane. I figured if that didn’t do the trick, then we would just snuggle and eat Cheerios while watching Toy Story and hope for the best.
Honestly, I think having backup plans helped my sanity and kept me a little more patient. I knew that if something wasn’t going to plan, I had something else I could try in my back pocket.
Maybe you could call it overprepared, but ultimately, I knew what I was going to do if sh*t hit the fan.
Tips for Smoother Flying
BEFORE THE FLIGHT
- Enroll in TSA PreCheck.
When going through security, you will already likely be wrangling a stroller, car seat, snacks, and your toddler. You don’t really want to add taking your shoes off and getting out your liquids and electronics, too. Make it one step easier on yourself by enrolling in PreCheck.
- Keep your child in a hands-free baby carrier.
Being hands-free is the most important part here, giving you the ability to get everything up on the x-ray machine. You will not have to remove your child from the carrier, which also keeps them from getting lost in the chaos of airport security.
- Dress your child in pajamas.
This works well for early morning and evening flights. We just scooped our daughter up out of bed for our early flight, encouraging her to go back to sleep. Naturally, for a night flight, pajamas also helped cue her that it was time to go to bed.
- Remember to charge any devices the night before!
The last thing you want is to rely on a tablet that doesn’t work. Also, make sure to download any content as not all flights have wi-fi or in-flight entertainment.
- Let your child run it out before the flight.
Give them a chance to get some energy out before you ask them to sit still on a plane.
DURING THE FLIGHT
- Consider when you want to board.
Some families swear by having one parent board early to get settled, while the other waits with your toddler to board last, cutting down on the actual time in the plane.
If it is your child’s first flight, I actually preferred to board during family boarding because it gave my daughter some time to get used to being on a plane without everyone else around. I also didn’t feel pressured to get myself situated quickly with people waiting all around me.
- Change their diaper when they are about 10 minutes out from boarding.
If you are lucky, you won’t have to deal with any diaper changes on the plane itself.
- Make sure your child drinks or eats something during takeoff and landing.
This will encourage them to swallow and may help their ears adjust as the cabin pressure changes.
- On particularly long flights, get up and walk the aisle with your toddler.
It can help them reset if they are starting to get a little restless.
- Remember that there is no shame when it comes to screentime on planes.
Use screens when you need to, especially when jumping multiple time zones. A 2 a.m. movie session? No problem. 4th movie in a row? Who cares.
- If a meltdown happens, don’t panic.
There are other people who have been in your shoes before. Sometimes the only way out is through.
AFTER THE FLIGHT
- Don’t forget to pick up your stroller from gate check!
Perhaps you are running to get to your next gate or just eager to get off the plane, but you don’t want to leave your stroller behind.
- Wait to get off the plane last if you aren’t in a rush.
While yes, this will increase your total time on the plane, for me personally, it keeps me stress-free. I don’t have to worry about wrangling a toddler and our bags while everyone around me is trying to get off the plane quickly.
- Find an empty spot in baggage claim and let your toddler run it out.
Send one parent to get bags while the other hangs with your toddler to let them get out all that pent-up energy.
- Keep your travel days easy with no extra activities planned.
Your toddler may need some time to recover after a travel day so keep the day light if possible. Just relax and enjoy your trip or vacation. You made it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to fly with a toddler in the morning or at night?
For shorter flights or when flying east to west, I recommend booking a morning flight. If you have a longer flight or are flying west to east, then night flights tend to work better.
Should I buy my toddler their own seat?
The safest way to fly is to get your child their own seat and put them in a car seat. But, you know your child best. If you don’t think they will sit still, then getting an extra seat will allow them a little more space to move. I personally recommend getting them their own seat for any flight over 3-4 hours.
Can my toddler sit in a car seat on the plane?
Yes! You can bring an FAA-approved car seat. You can find a list of FAA-approved car seats here: Safe in the Seat – What Car Seats are FAA Approved
Can I gate-check a stroller?
Yes! You can take your stroller through security and ask your gate attendant for a gate-check tag. You will then drop it at the end of the jet bridge when boarding. I recommend getting a travel bag to help prevent it from getting damaged during transport.
What is the best travel stroller?
There are many different options available right now. I personally love the Inglesina Quid3, which has a one-hand fold, is smaller than your carry-on luggage, and has a zero-gravity strap making it easy to carry.
The Mockingbird travel stroller is also a great option. For a more budget-friendly option, I love the Mompush Lithe v2.
Can I bring milk through TSA?
Yes! Bring it in a small cooler and make sure to alert TSA that you have milk with you prior to screening. They will just have to run additional tests on it. The same goes for liquid food pouches.
How many diapers should I pack on my flight?
Depending on the length of your flight, I recommend having a “go bag” that is easily accessible under your seat. In it, I keep 2-3 diapers, a portable changing pad, a change of clothes, and a small pack of wipes. This helps you be prepared in the event there are delays or emergencies.
I tend to pack a few more diapers in my carry-on in the event our flight gets cancelled.
What are the best airplane snacks for toddlers?
Fruit, granola bars, cereal, and food pouches work great for travel.
How do I keep a toddler entertained on a plane?
Keep a bag of new toys under your seat, bringing out only one at a time to keep them interested. You can also walk the aisles or take a trip to the bathroom as a change of scenery. Last resort, there is no shame in screen time on a plane.
How do I help with ear pressure?
Make sure your toddler eats and drinks something during takeoff and landing to encourage them to swallow, which may help relieve ear pressure.
Final Thoughts: How to Survive
The best way to travel with a toddler is to expect the unexpected and be prepared to pivot when necessary. Traveling is part of the adventure and doesn’t need to be the part you dread.
The most important decisions to make are what time of day you plan to fly and if you want to purchase a separate seat for your toddler. Otherwise, pack smart, be prepared for the things you can control, and give yourself grace if things don’t go according to plan.
You got this.
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