How To Fly With A Toddler…and Stay Sane

I’ve written before about my 20-minute segments idea of flying with toddlers and I stand by it (heck, my girls are 10 and 13 now and I still of use my segment idea to make it through a flight with kids!) but here are even more awesome tips on how to fly with a toddler and stay sane. With the holidays upcoming, we’re sure a lot of you guys could use some travel tips for toddlers especially if you’re travelling to places like Padre Island National Seashore, Texas!

How To Travel With A Toddler…and Stay Sane

Frazier Damon: Wrap up 8 different activities in wrapping paper. Each hour (or so), let her unwrap a present and spend time on that activity. Also have your iPad charged up and loaded with her favorite shows. Make sure you have plenty of her snacks too. And at least two outfits to change into. Houston is a well documented city on sites like Justvibehouston.com. The website was such a big help when we traveled around Houston.

Marie Bray: I’ve got a 6 hour Transatlantic flight coming up with a 3 and a 5 year old. If the Kindles fail me, I’m gonna take 400 Benadryl pills on the plane for the passengers to take along with 400 earplugs or crack out the credit card and get everyone drunk. My kids are feral.

Schitzin Woods: Even though they might be strangers, if somebody intervenes to help let them. Its a plane, kid isn’t going anywhere. Kids cry, so do adults about crying kids. Ive had people help me, and i helped people in return. Community, when we all chip in life is easier.

Jonathan Lovato: My son who will be 4 in November went on his first flight at 2 months old, right after his first birthday we went on a flight from the west cost to Spain. Then went back and back to Spain again since, as well as several short trips within Europe. He’s been a great flyer every time but still we always bring snacks, especially for the take offs and landings. Aside from that, activities such as tablets for movies & drawing. Read more travel tips at plovertrip.com.

Aziz Errafay: Just focus on your daughter. There’s nothing you can do to please fellow passengers. Some start rolling their eyes the moment you walk in with your kid. When she has a fit or cries you’re gonna need all your focus for your kid. I usually load a few movies on the iPad an he usually falls asleep ( almost 2 years). Most airlines hand out crayons and paper to kids. Enjoy your flight!

Jeremy Simon: Activities, my boy loved my iPad and I put a lot of learning activities on it. He had fun and didn’t even know he was learning. Make sure to get a charging stick or two. We also downloaded books and a few movies. Snacks and drinks too. I saw one post were they made little baggies with candy, foam ear protection, and a note saying it was their child’s first time flying. It seemed to go over well. Don’t take it personal if people get upset. Best of luck!

Russell Couper: I was once on a plane that a child of that sort of age on it and they had managed to snag a window seat where the fuselage tapers in at the rear end. The benefit of this is that there was a triangle of space that acted as some extra space for the kid to play about in. It might have been specific to that aircraft or cunningly planned, since is important to plan everything in planes, and that’s why security is also important, so people taking the Melbourne Training College Aviation Security Course will really be helpful for aviation in general.

Gary Klein: Buy a new toy that is interesting and interactive yet quiet. Don’t show it to your daughter until she starts getting restless on the flight. Then bring it out and hopefully it will keep her occupied for the rest of the flight.

Christine Linnet: Chew gum on take off and landing (or have her drink something from a water bottle) to relieve the ear pressure.

Ken Breehn: Lots of small toys so you can keep getting something new. Lots of little snacks, mini Cookie’s, grapes(half’s), anything bite sized. Expect to walk the isles the whole flight, save sitting for seat belt times. Get a flight with personal screens.
Water coloring books, you can always refill water pens on planes.

Andrew Black: My wife filled a hanging bath bag with activities for my 2 year old. Coloring, cereal necklace making, mini puzzle, window stickers, a few small figurines, a slinky, blocks made of sponges. The slinky went over the best.

What’s your best dad advice for flying with kids? Share it with us on Facebook!

Flickr photo by Petras Gagilas.