18 Tips for Flying with Young Kids on a Plane
[Reading time: 13 mins]
Ways to make flying with kids less of a hassle.
Photo from vecteezy.com
A big reason that families with young kids don’t like to vacation often is because they’re intimidated by having to take a flight with their kids. I’m not gonna lie - it’s definitely not easy and it’s something we dread doing as well, but I’m here to tell you that you can do it! Don’t let the unknown of a plane ride deter you from having a wonderful vacation. Those vacations can create long lasting memories for your whole family. If you can survive the airport and plane ride with young kids, then you can survive anything!
We’ve learned a few tips & tricks along the way to help guide you for your flight.
01. Bring those screens along and let your kids have at it.
Photo via vecteezy.com
Very surprisingly, my family has actually been able to survive long plane rides with no screens. However, I know that this can be nearly impossible for the majority of families! So, even if you’re normally a screen-free or limited-screen family, make those flights the special exception for those kids and bring along a tablet or portable DVD player to keep your kids entertained. Stock it up with kid-friendly TV shows & movies and voila! You’ll have some very-occupied kids in on the plane! Just make sure the devices are charged up and ready to go before your trip and that you pack extra chargers.
02. Stock up on those screen-free travel activities too.
Photo via vecteezy.com
Even if you have your screens all set for the flight, don’t underestimate your child’s want for some traditional activities as well. I have put together a list of our favorite travel games & activities that keep our kids occupied on any flight. You can check it out here:
Screen-Free Travel Activities & Toys for Kids
I also have many friends that swear by the Toniebox or the Yoto Player. We have yet to try one, but they’re great audio devices made for kids, to listen to music, audiobooks or even podcasts.
03. Load up on snacks and bring milk.
Photo via onelovelylife.com
If your kids are anything like most kids, the snacks and food on the airplane just won’t cut it. And you might be tempted to limit how much you bring… DON’T. Think of the largest bag of snacks you can bring and double that. In this case, it is better to have too much than to have too little and run out. In fact, I’ve had a separate carry on bag just for snacks!
If you have toddlers, these snack cups are great to have for those little fingers:
Munchkin® Snack Catcher®
PRO TIP: Plan to bring milk if that’s all your kids drink! On our long flight to Hawaii, we didn’t plan to bring milk, because well, it’s milk. But we thought for sure that we’d be able to find some at the airport or that they’d have some on the plane. Nope. Nowhere to be found! This was a big problem because my twins at the time did not like to drink anything else besides water. And after awhile, they just got sick of water. My poor babies were pretty dehydrated by the time we were able to get some milk in their systems.
These self-stable milk boxes should do the trick!
Horizon Organic Milk Boxes
04. Space out all your activities and snacks.
It doesn’t matter how long your flight is; it could be 1 hr or it could be 11+ hrs. You *have* to space out when your kids get their screen time, toys and snacks. Not only do you have to fill up the time on the actual flight, you also have to account for the waiting time at the airport before boarding AND of course any unexpected delays.
05. Buy a car seat travel cart.
Buy on amazon.com
If your child needs to have a car seat on the plane, then this car seat travel cart is an absolute must. It’s hard enough walking through the airport, trying not to lose your kids, pulling or carrying all your carry on bags and then also lugging around a car seat (or 2!).
These car seat travel carts will make your life so much easier. Just strap the car seat into the cart, buckle in your kid and voila! You just saved yourself a huge headache! The cart itself also folds into a small compact and flat square, that makes it’s very easy to stick into the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you.
PRO TIP #1: You have to unstrap the car seat from the cart and have your kids walk through security, so make sure you are prepared for that before getting in line.
PRO TIP #2: When the car seat is strapped to the cart, it won’t fit through the airplane aisle, so you will again need to make sure everything is broken down and separated before boarding your flight.
06. Buy the Cosco Scenera.
Photo owned by Kristel at On the Go with 4 Kids in Tow
I know the last thing you want to do is to buy another car seat just for flying, but trust me, these extremely lightweight and easy-to-travel with car seats make traveling on a plane so much easier! They are also pretty affordable (for a car seat), so hopefully that helps with making the decision to just buy one.
07. Throw more items into your car seat check-in bag.
Buy on amazon.com
If you don’t need your child’s car seat on the plane and you plan on checking it in, first, make sure you buy a car seat travel bag. But don’t buy those $15-$20 ones- those will rip way too easily.
Once you do have your car seat travel bag, utilize all that empty space and stuff some other items in there! Just don’t go overboard; I like to put our coats or big sweaters in it, or even pairs of shoes. Basically any of those big bulky items that you’d rather didn’t take up precious space in your suitcase.
08. Wear your baby as another option.
Photo owned by Kristel at On the Go with 4 Kids in Tow
When you are traveling with a baby under 2 years old, you may not want to buy an extra seat on the plane. If this is the case, wearing your baby is the best option. This can depend on the age and size of your child, but if you can get away with not bringing a stroller through the airport and to just wear your child the entire time, this gives you one less thing to have to lug through the airport and can keep your hands free to carry other necessary items.
09. Buy a travel stroller.
Photo owned by Kristel at On the Go with 4 Kids in Tow
Speaking of strollers, no matter if you decide to check in your stroller at the check-in counter vs at the gate, it is best to have a lightweight one. Yes, umbrella strollers are good options, but they’re also not the best stroller to have once you’re at your destination.
My favorite stroller [not just for traveling, but for everyday use too] is hands down the Zoe. These strollers are so portable and lightweight, and they fold up very easily for a compact fit. There are many different models [and colors!] to choose from, and they come as a single or double, and there are also options to add on a third seat, as well as a fourth.
But a few main things I really love about the Zoe are the extra large canopy that goes over the head, a spacious under basket and my favorite: the seats recline all the way flat, which is perfect for when those kids want to take a nap.
10. Do not buy a rolling suitcase for your kids.
Photo via fullsuitcase.com
I don’t care how cute that little rolling suitcase is. Do you really think your child is going to roll that thing through the entire airport? Maybe it’s just my kids, but I definitely do not trust any of mine to keep track of their own suitcase. They already complain about how far they have to walk to our gate, the last thing they want to do is be pulling something behind them. And so what ends up happening? I have one more thing to pull or carry, on top of also having to keep track of yet another item.
Instead, consider giving your kids backpacks. Backpacks are so easy for them to carry and keep track of. Bonus if they have that buckle that clips in front of their chest, so that the bag doesn’t fall off their shoulders or their back as they’re walking. Fill up those backpacks with their activities and some snacks to get them excited about it!
11. Enroll in TSA PreCheck.
Photo by monkeybusinessimages via iStockphoto.com
Is TSA PreCheck® worth it? This seems to always be the million dollar question. The answer? ABSOLUTELY.
I’m honestly surprised by how many people don’t have it yet. Applying for TSA PreCheck® is unbelievably simple. And even if you don’t travel often, it’s only $80 for 5 years. Kids who travel with adults with TSA PreCheck®, do not need it for themselves.
Imagine waiting in shorter lines with your kids, not having to take yours and your kids shoes off and not having to take out all liquids and electronics to put them in separate bins. So I ask again, is TSA PreCheck® worth it? 100% YES.
12. Know where the airport play areas are.
Photo owned by Kristel at On the Go with 4 Kids in Tow
Most major airports have a kid-friendly area made just for kids. It could be a play area, unique exhibits for children, a toddler zone, etc. And it may be located in a different terminal than you are in, but it is definitely worth walking your family over to it to pass the time. And bonus because the walk itself will help pass the time too! These play areas are especially helpful if you have a long layover.
13. Know where the nursing room is.
Photo via flyknoxville.com
If you are traveling and still nursing, it is very important to know where the nursing room is, especially if you need to pump. It is very possible that it is on the other side of the airport, so planning ahead for that before your trip, will save you some headaches when you get there.
14. Be one of the first to board the plane and the last to disembark it.
Every airline has their own set of rules about family boarding, so check with the airline you are flying with to know if and when you are able to board early. Even if first class and other priority passengers are ahead of family boarding, it is still very helpful to board before the majority of other passengers.
Not only will you have dibs on the overhead bins, you will be able to somewhat take your time [within reason] to find your seats for everyone in your family. This extra time is so helpful, especially if you have a car seat to secure and multiple kids to buckle in.
The opposite can be said for when you land. Don’t be that family that *has* to get off right away. Trust me, you and everyone around you, will be much happier if you just wait for everyone else to disembark first, before your family and you get off the plane.
15. Be at the ready for ear pressure on the plane.
Photo via traveltips.usatoday.com
For a baby, the easiest way to help relieve any ear pressure during take off and landing, is to give them a pacifier [if they take one!]. The sucking motion of the pacifier will help with their ears popping and will come naturally to them, if a pacifier is something they’re used to.
Bottles and sippy cups are another great way to help relieve the ear pressure for your kids. The key here though, is to plan out the timing of your baby’s feeding, so that it coincides with take off and landing.
For older kids, lollipops should do the trick! My two older kids love this special treat on plane rides.
16. Don’t let your kids sit in the aisle seat.
Photo via today.com
First, if you have a car seat for the plane, you are required to put it in the window seat. This is so that the car seat isn’t blocking anyone from being able to leave the row.
But if your kids are a little older and you don’t have a car seat for them on the plane, I would still recommend you have them sit either by the window or in the middle of the row. The aisle seat isn’t the end of the world, but kids love to keep their little hands and feet in the aisles, which can easily get hit by a person walking through it, or worse, the food cart. Additionally, if your kid falls asleep in the aisle seat and someone needs to get out, you risk waking them up trying to climb over them.
17. Use Turo for your car rental.
This isn’t a tip specific to airports and flying, but I thought I’d stick this suggestion here anyway!
If you are planning on renting a car, I would highly recommend that you check if Turo is operating at your city destination. If you haven’t heard of Turo, it is basically the airbnb or VRBO equivalent for cars. So, much like airbnb and VRBO, do proceed with caution and be sure you are checking reviews before reserving a car with Turo.
In addition to Turo usually being cheaper than the major rental car companies, the biggest perk of renting through them, is you can request that the pick up and drop off is right at the airport parking lot. This means you eliminate the hassles of having to get to the airport car rental agencies [many of which usually require you to take a shuttle] and waiting in long lines to get to the desk to rent your car; because the last thing your kids [and you!] want to do after an exhausting flight, is to add on another 30-60 mins before getting to your hotel or rental home.
18. Relax and don’t worry about what others might be thinking!
Photo by lucas Favre on unsplash.com
I know this is easier said than done, but do what you need to do to get yourself at the most relaxing point that you can. It’s no secret that kids can pick up on their parents’ anxiety. So if they can feel that kind of emotion coming from you, they themselves will also get anxious.
Additionally, I think it’s very natural to worry about what others think; you don’t want your kids to start crying because you worry that those around you will get mad. Or what if the person next to you is judging you because your kids are misbehaving or running around the airport? I’m telling you, find a way to get past these thoughts. Of course you want to make sure your kids are still being respectful, but kids will also be kids. You have enough to worry about when traveling with them— you don’t need to also be worrying about what other people are thinking.
[Disclaimer: If you click on any of the Amazon links and make a purchase, I earn a commission at no additional cost to you. However, all opinions are still my own]
It’s so easy to plan a staycation when you live in or so close to such an amazing city as Chicago. Between the world-class museums, popular tourist attractions, outdoor parks and beaches, broadway theater and so much more, you will never come up short of ideas for the perfect staycation!