5 Tips for Traveling with Toddlers on a Plane

Traveling with 2 toddlers is quite a feat and well worth a Maui vacation, or 5.  We were a little nervous when we booked our Maui vacation since it was the first time traveling with a 2 year old AND a 1 year. Yikes – holy moly luggage!

It’s taken a few trips but it’s gotten easier with each trip.

5 Tips for Traveling with Toddlers

• Snacks snacks snacks:  Keep snacks handy for the wait to board and for the plane ride.  So long as it’s not in liquid form, you can carry them through to security.  I like to keep them easily accessible at all times so they stay in the carry on, under the seat.
• Share the adventure.  Explaining the adventure going into our vacation helped a great deal to avoid any surprises and to keep it a positive experience.  We explained early on that we would be riding an airplane.  We’d search the skies for planes and explain how we’d be up in the air too.  Turning it into a game of “find the plane” added to the excitement when we got up close to one.
• Keep it clean.  Make sure all of the nooks and crannies of your stroller are free and clear of items.  It makes it easy to just close it up and get it scanned than having to empty things out (and getting re-scanned).  Trust me, I learned this the hard way.  Yikes!  I also like to travel with a cheap umbrella stroller.  I don’t feel so bad when they’re tossed around and they’re so compact and lightweight.  This one from Cosco is one of our favorites.
• Fill drink bottles with fluids before take-off, even if it’s just water.  You never know when you may sit on a tarmac for long periods.  When the kids were infants, it was very handy to have water available to mix their formula without having to wait for the seat belt sign to go off or the beverage cart to make their way over.
• Toys & Activities.  We always have a little “adventure bag” that we give the kids.  It has snacks, crayons, coloring books & mini puzzles for them to go through during the flight.  For longer flights, we turn to the iPad.  Our iPad includes puzzles and activity apps.  We’ll also make sure a Disney movie or cartoon is uploaded.  If they can sit through Moana, they made it through almost 2 hours.  Score!

What are some of your favorite tips for traveling with toddlers?

Share them in our comment section!