Flying w/ a toddler - best tips!

We are flying to Orlando soon with our 18 month old and I'd love for everyone to share their best travel tips Not even so much surviving the flight... more navigating the airport, security, etc. We are bringing his car seat and planned to have him sit it in on the plane (he's 30 lbs and I'm preggo so there's not a ton of lap room to go around lol) and then we plan to gate check the stroller... what else?

Please share anything and everything!

eta: we bought him his own seat so I don't know if typical protocol in that situation is have your child in the car seat or just with the lap band?

Message edited 5/12/2015 9:24:31 PM.

Flying w/ a toddler - best tips!

We flew with dd when she was 17 months. Piece of cake. We had her own seat and flew with our britax advocate. Installed it in the window seat and me and dh had the middle and aisle. She slept almost the whole way both ways. Gate checked our stroller. Just brought toys and snacks for her.

Re: Flying w/ a toddler - best tips!

Re: Flying w/ a toddler - best tips!

We don't bring the carseat on but thats just us. I know it is safest to do it that way be we don't.

I would get one of those things with wheels that you can plop your carseat on and wheel around. It can also double as a stroller if your sons legs aren't too long. You can then check the stroller right away instead of lugging that plus a carseat to the gate.

Re: Flying w/ a toddler - best tips!

As for security, she stays in the stroller until we are ready to go through. All my liquids are separated in a bag and I quickly pull it out of the diaper bag. I take my shoes off, and load everything on the conveyer belt, then take her out and put the stroller on the conveyor belt and then we walk through.Or I used to hold her and walk through. 50% of the time I get a bag check so if I am alone I grab our stuff and go over or if hub is there he gets rest of bags while I go over for check. Then she goes back in the stroller. Lately she is better about walking and holding my hand so I don't push the stroller but I still bring it to hold all my crap haha. My diaper bag is HUGE.

As for the flight, will he watch a TV show yet? Before she was into TV I used to go to michaels and target dollar aisle and buy a bunch of random things, stickers, pipe cleaners, little cotton colored puffs, a flash light, any small toys that light up, little matchbox cars, etc. Just a lot of little things and fill up a big ziplock bag. Last trip I found little Peppa Pig toys and she loves them. And some new books. LOTTTTSSS Of snacks. We did a 5 hour flight though.

Also lots of diapers and wipes and 2 pairs of pants - that what we do. You never know when diarrhea will strike! And disposable chaining pads bc I skeeve airport changing tables.

Good luck!

Flying w/ a toddler - best tips!

I agree with everything Puppy-Love says. If you don't already have headphones, pick them up. What airline are you flying? Do you have an iPad or other tablet? Bring lots of snacks too. Since this is a domestic flight you can bring produce.

Flying w/ a toddler - best tips!

get a nice pair of kids head phones - I have the kidz gear ones - I have had them for a few years and they are great - have them practice watching a show with them on -

I bring one ounce containers of play doh - they are great on the plane during the flight

Melissa and doug water wow books are great for the plane

when you install the car seat - don't forget to take kids shoes off- it helps make the kicking the seat in front less

the kids sleep better in the car seat but they can kick the seat in front more - it is a trade off - I prefer them in the car seat for safety

lots of snacks - you can bring sippy cups filled through security - I just have them checked by tsa

Re: Flying w/ a toddler - best tips!

I flew to florida in January with my 18 month old. The best thing that happened was the flights were around times he would take a nap. So we gave him a bottle and he fell asleep in our arms for both trips.

I brought with us though plenty of snacks and little toys that could fit it my bag.

Re: Flying w/ a toddler - best tips!

We have chosen not to use car seat on the plane (I am sure I will get flamed for that but if the plane is going down, it ain't gonna help anyone). When we took the car seat for our florida trips, we checked it with our luggage as it is very difficult to carry yet another heavy thing around the airport.


DS has has his own seat the last 2 trips we took. Portable DVD play has been key, coloring, water wow is great, favorite snacks, a couple of books and the latest saving grace was stickers.

DS refused to nap the last 2 trips (one over 4 hours). He apparently does not like to nap on planes now! So the more tricks you have the better!

Also, he was good with headphones one time and the last time, wanted nothing to do iwth them. We kept the DVD player low and honestly, no one but us could hear it, so don't stress over that!

Re: Flying w/ a toddler - best tips!

this is all great info!! def making me feel better about how this is gonna go!

Flying w/ a toddler - best tips!

Bring a few new toys. I always find something new holds their attention longer than their regular toys!! I haven't used it but I've heard the thing with wheels that the carseat goes in is great for the aiport. He can even sit in it as you pull it through the airport. Might be easier than your DH lugging it around.

Re: Flying w/ a toddler - best tips!

Scope out the bathroom to see where the changing area is before you need it for real! Once I was juggling dd, the diaper pouch, and trying to keep my balance, I was so glad I had already scoped out where everything was and how to flip up the changing table area!

Flying w/ a toddler - best tips!

Have DH board the plane a few minutes before you to get the car seat installed. Remember it has to be installed by the window. Make sure he's aware of how to install the seat on the plane. Makes things a lot less frustrating once you board.

DD is 3 1/2 now but we've been flying with her since she was a baby and have always had her in her carseat. She's much more comfortable because I think she knows what to expect. Last month we flew to Florida and didn't take the car seat. It was the longest 3 hours of my life! All she wanted to do was take off the seat belt!!

I also put an overnight diaper on DD right before we board. I try not to have to change her in the teeny tiny airplane bathroom if I don't have to. LOL. Obviously, this only works for shorter flights.