Thanks to all the time we spent last year traveling back and forth between the Northeast and Florida, Nate had completed over 8 flights by the time he was 1 year old. Since he’s still in the baby stage, my goal is always to get him to sleep during the flight (which is incidental) and if he’s awake, I try to keep him busy with breastfeeding, haha. Flying with Baby Nate is one thing, but Toddler Nate is a whole different ball game, so I wanted to share our flying gear + some toddler travel tips!
- kids headphones| 2. heavy duty iPad case| 3. busy board| 4. wipeable pad| 5. travel snack tray| 6. reusable fluffy sticker playbook| 7. disposable bib| 8. spill proof cup| 9. cotton sweatshirt| 10. kids jogging pants| 11. high top sneakers| 12. stroller travel bag| 13. foldable stroller
We used all of this gear on our recent trip to Florida and the Bahamas! We were lucky that the flights aligned with his wake up window, so I just made sure there was plenty to keep him entertained (aka snacks, iPad, books, and toys). I also included everything we carry with us that we usually take with us when we go out to eat at restaurants – disposable bibs, a mat to put on the table + his water cup.
Travel Tips
If you have children under the age of 2, please consider purchasing your own seat for them. Of course, if your flight is not full, you may end up getting lucky and having an extra seat in your row, but that’s not guaranteed. I flew with Nate as a kid and bought him his own seat, and I prefer the latter. Even if your child sits on your lap for most of the flight, it’s still nice to have room to unfold and put them down if needed. I usually always breastfeed Nate during landing and takeoff, so having an empty seat next to me is a game changer, not only for our comfort, but also for privacy.
What about the car seat + stroller? Here’s what we do: When we arrive at the airport, we immediately check the car seat as baggage and then we carry the stroller with us until we board and check it in at the gate. I’m almost certain that every airline must waive baggage fees for car seats and strollers, so you can always bring those items for free. When we flew when Nate was a little younger, there were times I did bring his car seat on the plane for him to sit in (I bought him a ticket w/ his own seat.) If you’d like that, just make sure your car seat is FAA approved. We had no problems with the UPPABaby Mesa! We are big fans of the UPPABaby Vista when it comes to strollers. Yes, it’s a little heavy, but the quality is unmatched and it’s easy to break down and fold. Highly recommend purchasing the Vista travel case. When we were at the airport, we folded it in the bottom stroller basket as carry-on luggage and then packed the stroller once boarding began. It has wheels so you can roll it right up to the gate.
Snacks, snacks and more snacks. Our last flight Nate was snacking almost the whole time. I think he really enjoyed the endless food more than his iPad LOL. How cute is this rotating travel snack tray? I plan to pack it with all of his favorite foods on our flight to the Bahamas. Other essentials: a wipeable pad to put on the airplane tray, travel mug for water/milk, and disposable bibs. In terms of specific snacks – I packed a bunch of squeezable bags, crackers + some chopped fruit and cheese for Nate.
The screen time rule doesn’t apply when traveling. While we’re not at home watching screens, the flights are different and totally fair game. As an adult, it’s hard for me not to go crazy on the plane …… Can you imagine what it’s like for little kids? On our last flight, we went ahead and prepared a lot of Netflix downloads for the iPad. I chose slower paced series like Llama Llama, Trash Truck, and Puffin Rock and avoided the overly exciting shows, aka Cocomelon, Baby Bum, Gabby’s Dollhouse, etc. We also use these toddler headband headphones, which have volume limiting to protect little ones’ ears.
Save new toys + books for flying. If you can, try packing some new activities that you can “give” to your kids on the plane. Last time we traveled, these reusable sticker books were a hit! I’ve heard great things about these poppers.
Try booking a morning flight / during your child’s wake-up window. That way your kids will be well rested, so if there are no naps – it’s not the end of the world. You are also less likely to experience flight delays and problems at the airport. If a morning flight is not an option, then I would choose a flight during the wake up window (unless you are sure your child will be sleeping on the plane.)
Get to the airport early. Especially if you have a lot of luggage or no TSA pre-check. We all know that it takes 2-3 times longer for kids to do anything. Plan accordingly!
