20 Tips for Traveling on Flights with Kids

Whether your kids are well traveled or they are about to embark on their first flight, you never really know how they are going to behave. I’ve compiled 20 tips for traveling on flights with kids to help you on your trip.

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We’ve experienced just about everything when traveling with our kids. Flights that go smoothly and depart/arrive on time, cancelled flights, 8 hour flight delays and even missed flights. We have had amazing flight attendants that are understanding and helpful and we have also had flight attendants that were rude and made things so much harder.

Traveling is stressful for any parent. Things could be going perfectly and all of sudden everything just goes left.

Here are some of my tips for traveling on flights with kids.

Click on the links throughout the post to shop some of the items that we use or scroll to the bottom to check-out all of the links!

Preparing For Flights With Kids

1. If possible, try to schedule your flight around your child’s sleep schedule. Taking a short flight? Try to find a flight at around the normal nap time. Need to take a long flight? Try to schedule one during their typical night sleep schedule.

Of course, scheduling a red eye flight isn’t always the most fun for parents but it may be easier than the alternative.

2. If a layover is required, make sure to allow yourself enough time. It is amazing how quickly a hour and a half layover goes by when making your way to the next gate with children. Don’t forget the bathroom breaks, food stops, etc..

When you have gate check your stroller, you’ll also need to wait for them to bring it up to the jet bridge which can take a few minutes.

3. I went from the days of sitting as close to the front of the plane as possible to deplane faster to almost always being at the back of the plane so we can be near the bathrooms.

This is especially important if you are the only adult traveling with multiple children. Don’t get yourself in a situation where one of your children falls asleep and the other immediately needs to go to the bathroom. If your seats are right near the restrooms, you won’t need to wake your child to walk to the bathrooms.

Keep this in mind when choosing your seats while booking the flight.

4. If you are on a flight that includes meal service, request a children’s meal ahead of time. Although you typically need to do this by phone, it is worth it to make sure that your child has something to eat that they will enjoy.

Not every airline or flight has meals specifically for children but it’s worth asking. These kids meals could be anything from spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, pizza to nuggets. The sides and desserts are also kid friendly such as fruit salad, yogurt, applesauce and cookies.

Even if your child doesn’t particularly like the food (it IS airline food after all), the meal service helps pass the time.

5. If your children use electronics, have an electronics break prior to the trip. For the two weeks prior to any trip, our kids take a ‘break’ from using their handheld electronics. This always makes it more exciting for them when they get to use their iPads, tablets or video games after not having them for a little while prior.

We travel with iPads and our Nintendo Switch. Typically if the airline doesn’t have individual tv’s, the iPads and Nintendo are extremely helpful. It is important to make sure the electronics are in protective cases in case of any drops or spills.

We love our iPad Airs because they are so lightweight. We have them in both silver and rose gold. Our youngest uses this shockproof case and screen cover and our oldest uses this hard shell cover with hand strap. Both of them have worked perfectly and have lasted years!

For our Nintendo Switch, we use both this travel case and this screen protector.

6. Download all apps, movies and games before leaving. Prior to any trip I always make sure that all iPad updates are complete, movies are downloaded on Netflix and Disney and that they are fully charged. Make sure to pack chargers, batteries and battery backup in the carry on bag.

The battery backup is crucial, especially on flights that don’t have chargers! Even with bringing multiple chargers, my phone never seems to get its chance to charge and it would be a huge inconvenience for it to die right when I need to call an UBER, scan an electronic ticket or even just take a picture.

Some airlines allow you to watch movies and tv for free, but it must be from your own device and you will need to have their app downloaded prior to flying.

7. Use packing cubes. Each family member gets their own packing cube (you could even have each person get their own color!) to keep their clothes organized in the suitcase.

These packing cubes have worked so well for us. Our suitcases have never been more organized. They come in multiple colors and sizes and save so much space once they are zipped up.

If you bring your suitcases as carryon’s and you need to get something out mid-flight, it will be so much easier having everything contained rather than opening the suitcase and everything falls out.

8. Our kids love their Pottery Barn Kids backpacks for traveling. One of the reasons I love these backpacks is that they have cupholders on both sides. On one side we put a reusable cup and the other side we use as a blanket holder. As long as you have a thin or small blanket, you should be able to roll it up and stick it in one of the cup holders!

The straps on the front are great for keeping neck pillows attached. Our son loves his dinosaur neck pillow and our daughter loves this neck pillow. It’s small and not too bulky for toddler. We use these blankets for traveling because they are light weight and are so easy to wash.

Allow your child to choose a few items to go in their own bags. Although we never bring our kids favorite toys (in case they accidentally get lost), we always let the kids pick out a few things to put in their own bag. This is something they always get excited about!

For more on what I pack in my kids’ travel backpacks, check out my post What to Pack in Your Kids Travel Backpack!

9. Pack an empty reusable water bottle. Most airports have water fountains once you get past security. This will also help prevent spills on the plane (rather than having them drink out of the airline cups). Make sure to fill the water bottles prior to getting on the plane or buy beverages before boarding.

Although flight attendants are typically very accommodating, don’t get yourself in a situation where you have a screaming child that needs a drink and the attendants have not started their beverage service yet.

Fun fact, pressure will build up in kids water bottles during the flight and cause a really fun geyser when you open. Keep this in mind when opening mid-flight and make sure to pack those extra clothes for when you forget and are all of a sudden soaked in apple juice (I speak from experience). To prevent this, untwist the top just enough to let some of the pressure out and then reseal.

For smaller kids, I LOVE these no spill cups with lids. They are perfect for travel and the lid helps keep all of the germs off of the mouth piece.

10. Snacks, snacks and more snacks. It’s amazing the amount of snacking that kids like to do on airplanes. I always make sure to pack some of their favorite snacks to keep them occupied. Packing snacks in hard containers prevents them getting smooshed.

I’ve found that, most of the time, a tantrum can be prevented with a favorite snack.

These reusable containers are great for travel to keep all the snacks together.

11. Bring a change of clothes on the plane in a Ziploc bag. Motion sickness, bathroom accidents, spilled drinks, there are a million reasons why you might need a change of clothes on the plane.

Seal the dirty clothes in the Ziploc after changing. The Ziploc can also double as a sick bag if someone has an upset stomach. ALWAYS be prepared for sick kids. It will happen when you least expect it.

For a reusable option, these wet bags are great for keeping dirty clothes separated. Just throw them in the wash with the dirty clothes and they are as good as new again! These are another great travel item for beach/pool vacations for keeping wet clothes contained.

We also always pack pajamas if arriving at night. We get the kids changed into their pajamas before they fall asleep on the plane. This way they are already comfy and ready for the night!

Click on the image above to see my suggestions for What to Pack in Your Kids Travel Backpack!

12. To save a little of my sanity at security, I make sure to pack all electronics and liquids in my backpack and disperse afterwards. Since the electronics and liquids all need to be removed at security, it will take additional time to get everything out of each bag.

I always pack our iPads, Nintendo Switch, liquid medicines, apple sauce pouches, etc. in my backpack. Once we get through security and we are at the gate, I put the kids items in their backpacks for the plane.

13. Pack a small first aid kit. From shoes giving blisters to scraped knees from falls, there is a very good chance that you will need a Band-Aid and Neosporin at some point on the trip. Something like this tiny first aid kit is perfect for throwing in your bag, just in case.

14. Pack a small pouch for yourself. With all the worrying about having everything for the kids, it’s easy to forget something for yourself. By the time I get the kids situated, I realize that all of my things are at the bottom of my backpack that is already shoved under the seat.

Now, I use a small makeup bag that I can easily place in the seatback pocket. This way, I have easy access to my ear buds, Chapstick, Dramamine, gum, cell phone charger, Tylenol, etc.. Having it in a small pouch that I have right in front of me on the flight makes it so much easier than having it buried in the bottom of one of the bags.

15. Although it seems impossible before each trip, I always make sure to clean our house before we leave. I know this won’t always be possible but it makes such a HUGE difference. There is nothing better than coming home to a nice, clean house.

Traveling on flights with kids can be stressful, even if everything goes smoothly. It’s THE BEST to come home to a nice, clean house. As soon as we get home, I throw the dirty laundry in the washer and put away our toiletries and we are right back to being in our routine.

While Traveling with Kids

16. Get some energy out before boarding. Rather than sitting at the gate, I let the kids walk around the airport prior to boarding. This helps them get some energy out. Many airports have play areas for children too!

Right before boarding begins, we head to the bathroom for one last potty break.

17. We always gate check our stroller rather than at check-in. Don’t forget that most airlines allow each child to have both a stroller and a car seat at no additional cost!

Having our stroller with us in the airport is incredibly helpful because it can be used for a place for the kids to lay for naps, allows us to get around the airport faster and can be used to hold all of our stuff rather than having to carry everything.

This lightweight travel stroller is dream. We also LOVE our travel double stroller!

This travel stroller bag has worked perfectly for our single stroller (although it states that it fits double stroller, it doesn’t fit ours) and this bag for our double stroller.

18. Keep the kids buckled up when in their seats if they are starting to get sleepy. Technically, you’re always supposed to have your seatbelt on when seated on the plane regardless of if the seatbelt light is on or off.

Don’t make the mistake (like I have!) of finally getting your child to fall asleep just for the stewardess to come through and tell me that they need to put on their seatbelt. For me, moving a sleeping kid equals waking up a kid. Loosen the seatbelt to get around them while they are laying down.

19. It’s easy to remember to use the restroom before you board the plane but don’t forget to also use the restroom before landing. Depending on where you are traveling, you may get stuck in a long Custom’s line, no bathrooms at baggage claim, etc.. After making it through the flight, the last thing you want is to have an accident when arriving.

20. Separate clean laundry from dirty laundry in your suitcase. This makes it much easier when getting home. I use a reusable laundry bag and put all of the dirty laundry in one side of the suitcase and the clean on the other side. This cuts back on the amount of laundry that needs to get done when returning home.

If I am staying at an Airbnb or hotel that has a washer & dryer, I always do laundry when packing to go home so that I have less to do when I get home.

I hope that these 20 tips for traveling on flights with kids were useful for you. Comment below and let me know if you tried any of them out!

Click on the links below to shop some of the items that I use when traveling!