Flying With Kids: Tips and Tricks for a Stress-Free Family Flight

Flying with kids can feel overwhelming, especially the first time. Between packing diapers, snacks, toys, extra clothes, and everything else your family needs, it’s easy to feel like you’re preparing for a major expedition instead of a vacation.

The good news? It gets easier.

Over the years, we’ve flown with our kids through just about every stage—tiny infants, busy toddlers, curious preschoolers, and now elementary-aged kids. Our children are currently almost 7, 5, and 1, so we’ve experienced everything from nursing a baby during takeoff to keeping energetic toddlers entertained in a crowded airport.

Along the way, we’ve learned a lot through trial and error (including accidentally leaving our one-year-old’s pacifier at home before a flight—definitely a mistake I don’t recommend 😅).

Whether you’re preparing for your baby’s first flight or traveling with multiple kids, these are the tips, tricks, and travel essentials that have helped make our family flights smoother, less stressful, and a lot more enjoyable.

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1. Double Check Comfort Items Before Leaving Home

Learn from my mistake: I accidentally left my 1-year-old’s pacifier at home before our flight. We didn’t realize it until we were already at the airport. If your child has a comfort item—whether it’s a pacifier, blanket, stuffed animal, or special toy—double check that it’s packed before you leave the house. Trust me on this one. 🤦🏼‍♀️

Trying to keep the one year old entertained on the flight
Dad holding our sleeping son. Text on the image says “Mike, My Hero” becuase he was able to get our one year old asleep on the flight despite us forgetting the binky!

2. Pack More Snacks Than You Think You’ll Need

When flying with kids, snacks are your best friend.

One of my favorite travel tips is to pack a variety of snacks, but only offer one at a time. If kids can see every option right away, they tend to get bored more quickly.

Instead, let them enjoy one snack before introducing the next. Rotating snacks throughout the flight helps keep things interesting and can buy you a few extra minutes of peace and quiet when they start getting restless.

I always pack more snacks than I think we’ll need because travel days rarely go exactly as planned.

3. Pack a Change of Clothes for Everyone

I learned this lesson on my very first flight alone with my oldest daughter when she was just three months old.

Everyone was seated, buckled, and ready for takeoff when she had a massive blowout. I watched in horror as it started coming out of her onesie. I quickly grabbed her and rushed to the front of the plane to get her cleaned up.

Thankfully, I had packed extra clothes.

Whether it’s a diaper blowout, spilled drink, motion sickness, or an unexpected mess, travel days can be unpredictable. I always pack at least one extra outfit for each child in our carry-on, and if possible, an extra shirt for myself too.

Trust me—you’ll be glad you have it if you need it.

4. Don’t Stress About What Other Passengers Think

During that same flight, the pilot saw me trying to manage a blowout right before takeoff and immediately jumped in to help. He handed me a garbage bag and laughed, saying, “I remember those days.”

That moment stuck with me.

Before I had kids, I worried that everyone on the plane would be annoyed by a crying baby or a restless toddler. But after years of traveling with little ones, I’ve found that most people are incredibly kind and understanding.

Many passengers have raised children of their own, and seeing a baby or toddler often brings back memories of that season of life. More often than not, people are cheering you on, not judging you.

So if your baby cries, your toddler has a rough moment, or things don’t go perfectly, give yourself some grace. Most people understand more than you think.

5. Flying With a Baby Is Easier Than You Think

I remember being so anxious before my first flight with my oldest daughter when she was just three months old. I worried about everything—Would she cry? Would I bother other passengers? How would I manage a flight by myself with a baby?

Looking back now, after flying with three kids through every stage, I realize that was actually one of the easiest ages to travel.

Babies aren’t mobile yet. Most of the time, they just want to eat, sleep, snuggle, and be close to you. As long as they’re fed, clean, and comfortable, many babies do surprisingly well on flights.

If you’re preparing for your first flight with a baby, try not to let anxiety steal the excitement of your trip. In many ways, flying with a baby can be much easier than flying with a busy toddler who wants to explore every inch of the airport.

You’ve got this.

6. Let Kids Burn Off Energy Before Boarding

If you’re traveling with toddlers or young kids, don’t expect them to sit quietly at the gate before a flight.

Instead, let them move.

We try to walk around the airport, ride the moving sidewalks, watch airplanes out the windows, and explore as much as possible before boarding. Some airports even have small play areas where kids can climb and burn off energy before getting on the plane.

The more opportunities kids have to move before boarding, the easier it is for them to settle into their seats once the flight begins.

Think of it as getting the wiggles out before asking them to sit still for the next few hours.

7. Download Shows and Games Before Your Flight

Trust me on this one: don’t wait until you’re at the airport to set up the iPad.

There’s nothing worse than handing your excited child their tablet only to realize there are no shows, movies, or games downloaded. Not only is the iPad suddenly useless, but now you have a disappointed child who doesn’t understand why they can’t watch their favorite show.

The night before your flight, take a few minutes to check that everything is downloaded and ready to go. If you use Netflix or Disney+, remember that downloads can expire, so it’s worth opening the apps and making sure everything is still available.

One thing that has worked really well for our family is saving iPads for special situations. Our kids don’t use tablets at home, so when we bring them out for a flight or a long restaurant meal, they’re incredibly effective.

Every family is different, but for us, keeping screen time limited has made travel days much easier because the novelty never wears off.

8. Bring a Small Surprise Toy or Activity

One of my favorite tricks when flying with kids is packing a small surprise toy or activity and saving it for when I really need it.

It doesn’t have to be expensive. Sticker books, coloring books, Busy Books, small fidget toys, or activity pads can all work great.

The key is keeping it hidden until your child starts getting restless. A new surprise can buy you valuable time and help break up a long travel day.

I like to think of it as having an emergency backup plan in my carry-on. You may not need it, but you’ll be glad you packed it if you do.

9. Give Yourself More Time Than You Think You Need

When you’re flying with kids, something will almost always take longer than expected.

Maybe someone suddenly needs to use the potty. Maybe you need an unexpected diaper change. Or maybe you have a child like our second-born, who somehow manages to move even slower the more of a hurry we’re in.

I’ve learned that rushing kids through an airport usually creates more stress for everyone. Giving yourself extra time allows for bathroom breaks, snack stops, and all the little delays that come with traveling as a family.

Whenever possible, arrive earlier than you think you need to. It’s much more enjoyable to relax at the gate with time to spare than to sprint through the airport with stressed-out kids in tow.

10. Wear Your Baby Through the Airport

If you’re traveling with a baby, I highly recommend bringing a baby carrier and wearing your baby through the airport whenever possible.

Not only does it keep your hands free for luggage, boarding passes, and helping older kids, but it also keeps your baby close and comfortable throughout the travel day.

I especially loved babywearing when my kids were little because it helped limit how much they touched airport surfaces and how many well-meaning strangers wanted to reach out and touch them. Having your baby safely snuggled against you can provide a little extra peace of mind, especially during cold and flu season.

As an added bonus, many babies are happy to nap in a carrier, making airport travel much easier for everyone.

  • The baby carrier I used with all three kids

Flying With Kids by Age

Flying With a Baby (0–12 Months)

In my experience, babies are actually one of the easiest ages to travel with. Most babies are happy as long as they’re fed, dry, comfortable, and close to a parent.

A few things that helped us:

  • Bring extra clothes for both baby and parents.
  • Wear your baby through the airport whenever possible, our favorite baby carrier.
  • Pack comfort items like pacifiers or favorite blankets.
  • Feed during takeoff and landing to help with ear pressure.

Flying With a Toddler (1–3 Years)

Toddlers are often the most challenging age to fly with because they want to move, explore, and touch everything.

A few things that helped us:

  • Pack plenty of snacks.
  • Bring a surprise toy or activity (the Busy Book)!
  • Download shows and games ahead of time.
  • Let them burn off energy before boarding.
  • Give yourself plenty of extra time.

Flying With Preschoolers and Elementary-Aged Kids

As kids get older, flying becomes much easier. They can carry their own backpack, help with travel days, and stay entertained for longer periods of time.

A few things that helped us:

  • Let them help pack their carry-on.
  • Bring headphones and downloaded shows.
  • Packing coloring books and markers or crayons.
  • Pack travel games and activities.
  • Encourage them to walk around the airport before boarding.
  • Give them small responsibilities to help them feel involved.

Every age comes with its own challenges, but every stage also gets a little easier in different ways. Before you know it, you’ll look back and realize your nervous first flight with a baby wasn’t nearly as scary as it felt at the time.

Our Favorite Travel Essentials for Flying With Kids

Final Thoughts on Flying With Kids

You’ve got this. We’ve now flown with our kids as infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-aged children. While every stage comes with its own challenges, family travel has given us some of our favorite memories. Don’t let the fear of flying with kids keep you from taking the trip. Pack the snacks, download the shows, give yourself extra time, and go make the memories. 💜✈️

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🎒 The Ultimate Disneyland Packing Checklist for Families

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