Toddler Air Travel Must Haves

Flying with a toddler doesn’t have to be stressful. After multiple long-haul flights and layovers with our busy toddler, these are the only items we never travel without—they’ve saved us from meltdowns more times than I can count.

While children 2 and under can lap sit for free, we almost always purchase a seat. For our active toddler, having his own space—especially with a travel car seat—makes a huge difference in comfort, sleep, and overall sanity on the plane. A few things that we always ensure is in our airplane travel bag can be found below.

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1. Busy Boards
Best for: keeping toddlers occupied during boarding, delays, and cruising

The busy board we always bring along can be found here

Our toddler loves busy boards, and we truly appreciate this particular one as it allows us to unzip the pages so he doesn’t have all the pages at once. This feature not only keeps things interesting for him, but it also enables us to rotate the activities based on his mood and interest levels. Each page offers a different challenge, which keeps him engaged and promotes learning through play. Additionally, they are light and easy to keep in a backpack, making them a perfect traveling companion that we can take on the plane or during road trips. We can easily switch out the pages, preventing any boredom and ensuring that our little one stays entertained and stimulated no matter where we are.

2. Window toys
Best for: calm, quiet play during the flight

Our favorite window toys can be found here

If you are able to secure a window seat, I love placing these suction cup spinners on the windows! Not only do they catch the light beautifully, creating a mesmerizing display, but they also kept our toddler entertained quietly without bothering others around us. The rhythmic spinning and colorful patterns draw his attention and spark his imagination, allowing him to enjoy the view outside while remaining calm and engaged. It’s a simple yet effective way to make the journey more enjoyable for everyone, as we can relax knowing he’s happily captivated by these fun little toys.

3. Airplane tray holders
Best for: snacks, small toys, and minimizing mess

Our toddler’s airplane tray holder that has saved many items here

These trays slide effortlessly onto your airplane tray and keep everything from sliding off, providing a secure and organized space. We used to not have this, but after sending many snacks, toys and my phone on the floor, we had to find a way to stop loosing things. If your child has lots of snacks or smaller toys, this is especially great for keeping everything together, ensuring that their favorite treats are always within reach and preventing any potential mess. The design allows for easy access, making travel more enjoyable for both you and your little one, as they can easily grab their snacks or toys without the risk of them falling onto the floor. Additionally, the trays are lightweight and portable, making them a convenient addition to any travel kit.

4. Toddler Snack Tray
Best for: takeoff, landing, and preventing meltdowns

Check out our favorite toddler snack tray here

Having some of their favorite snacks on hand is a life saver, especially with changing altitudes and small ears popping during flights. The familiar tastes can provide comfort and help alleviate discomfort, making the journey seem less daunting for little ones. We try to avoid pulling out the snacks that we bring, especially those that are his all-time favorites, until needed on the plane; otherwise, we are sure he’d eat through them before we even get on the plane. To prevent this, we often pack a variety of snacks that are less sought after as distractions, saving the sought-after treats for those crucial moments when we truly need to divert his attention or calm him down.

5. Car Seat
Best for: takeoff, landing, and preventing meltdowns

My favorite Convertible Car Seat for Travel
My favorite Infant Travel Car Seat

We’ve always purchased a separate seat for our toddler — even when he was an infant — and it has made traveling so much easier for our family. Having his own space on the plane means we can keep our hands free, stay more organized, and help him feel comfortable during the flight. He’s always slept best in his car seat, which makes naps while traveling much smoother for everyone.

As he’s gotten older, we transitioned to bringing his convertible car seat when we fly. Not only is he familiar and comfortable with it, but it also gives us peace of mind knowing the seat arrives safely and hasn’t been mishandled or damaged. This is especially important on trips where we’ll be renting a car.

We also prefer using our own car seat because we know exactly how to install it correctly and safely. In our experience, rental car company car seats can be very hit or miss — sometimes worn down, questionable in quality, or difficult to install properly. Bringing our own eliminates that stress and helps us feel confident that our toddler is riding as safely as possible throughout the trip.

Traveling with a toddler isn’t always easy, but having the right items can make a big difference. These are the things we consistently pack and rely on for smoother, more enjoyable flights—for both us and our toddler.