5 Toddler Flight Essentials

Whether you’re on a short flight or settling in for the long haul, keeping your toddlers entertained while flying is a top priority. That’s why we’re sharing our top 5 toddler flight essentials to keep little hands and minds busy. 

Fidget Toys

Keep those little hands busy with an assortment of fidget toys. We love this pack from Amazon for little fingers. Before the flight, I split them into two equal small bags, and throw one of them in my checked bag. That way, our kids can have “new” toys on the flight back. When you’re at home, keep these toys tucked away, so they only come out for plane travel. This ensures that your kids aren’t already bored with them. If your kiddo is into dinosaurs, I also recommend adding a few of these squishy stress balls into the mix. They’re even fun for adults!

Electronics

Our screen time rules go out the window on flights. As long as our kids are entertained, anything is game. For toddlers, we like the Kindle Fire Kids. It comes loaded with a ton of games and videos that are geared towards kids under seven, and it doesn’t require Wifi. Don’t forget the extra long charging cord, so they can use it while waiting in the terminal as well. Don’t forget your toddler-friendly headphones!

We additionally download some apps on our phones for the kids to use if they’re getting impatient with their electronics. Our favorites for toddlers are Duolingo ABC, which is a letters and reading learning app, and Candy Crush.

Snacks

We let our little guys choose (as much as possible!) what snacks they want for the plane. This is definitely not an area to skimp since you never know when you’ll get stuck. In addition to some of their favorite snacks below, we also usually pack a PBJ sandwich from home just in case. Right now, our kids are loving the Mickey Goldfish, and we always make sure to have a ton of YumEarth Organic Lollipops available (sucking on lollipops can also help with ears popping). We pack the loose snacks like Goldfish into these super cute reusable Skip Hop snack cups. If your kid is picky about snacks, pack a plastic snack bag of their snack in your carryon or checked bag for the ride home. Any don’t forget a reusable water bottle. Most airports have stations where you can fill those for free, and you can also refill them with the bottled water that’s handed out on planes.

Noise Canceling Headphones

This is one of those you-didn’t-know-you-needed-it-until-you-didn’t-have-it items. Most small kids have sensitive ears, and planes can be really noisy depending on where you’re seated. You don’t want to get into a situation where your little one is crying because it’s too loud, especially if you expected a nap on the plane. These from Headtek are a great size for small heads/ears, and they don’t take up a lot of space in the bag. They also come with their own carrying case.

Toddler-Sized Backpack

Last but not least, you need something to carry it all in! Most toddlers who are walking well can carry these small items in their own bag, which will help you out more than you think. We love these cute Skip Hop animal backpacks.

What are your toddler’s flight essentials? Let me know in the comments!