Travelling With Babies and Toddlers: Realistic Tips for Long Flights and Busy Travel Days

Travelling with babies and toddlers can feel overwhelming, especially when you are facing a long flight or an extended travel day. We recently travelled to Jamaica with our little one, and while the flight itself was about eight hours combined, delays and time spent on the tarmac turned it into a fourteen hour travel day. Going into it, we knew preparation would be everything.

If you are planning to travel with a baby or toddler soon, these tips helped us survive a long flight and actually enjoy the experience as much as possible.

1. Using screen time strategically while travelling with kids

In our home, we usually keep screen time to a minimum and many days we do not use it at all. Travel days are the exception. Long flights, airport delays, and unfamiliar environments can be a lot for little ones, so allowing screen time can be incredibly helpful.

We used a tablet holder that attaches securely and made screen time easy and hands free. While I do not believe screen time is something we need to rely on daily, it can be an amazing tool when travelling with babies and toddlers and can help everyone have a calmer and more enjoyable flight.

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2. Baby headphones for flights

We also tried Bluetooth headband headphones made specifically for babies. I truly think this is such a great invention, although my baby personally did not tolerate them well. We introduced them before the trip, but she struggled with having something over her ears and would pull them off right away.

If your baby enjoys wearing headphones though, I would absolutely recommend them for flights and long travel days. We will keep ours and continue trying them for future trips, especially to avoid everyone having to listen to children’s shows on repeat.

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3. Bringing a car seat on the airplane for toddlers

If you purchase a seat for your child, you are also able to bring a car seat on board. After months of having a very active baby, I knew there was no chance of keeping a walking and talking toddler on our laps for an entire flight.

Having a car seat on the plane was truly a lifesaver. Being able to safely buckle her in made a huge difference in her comfort and our peace of mind. We purchased an affordable travel friendly car seat and it made the entire flight feel significantly more manageable.

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4. Dollar store toys for long flights and travel days

This tip was the biggest win for us. For takeoff, landing, and the in between moments when screen time lost its appeal, we brought brand new toys that our toddler had never seen before.

We picked up inexpensive items from the dollar store like gel timers, small water games, plush toys, slinkies, cars, and tiny interactive books. Every thirty to sixty minutes we would introduce a new toy, which kept her engaged and excited throughout the travel day. New and novel toys can make a huge difference when travelling with babies and toddlers.

5. Snacks for travelling with babies and toddlers

Snacks are essential when travelling with little ones. Bring more than you think you will need. Even simple snacks can double as entertainment, like shaking a puff container or exploring new textures.

It is also helpful to bring something your baby can chew on during takeoff and landing, especially if they are not interested in nursing or taking a bottle. This can help with ear pressure and keep them more comfortable during the flight.

Final thoughts on travelling with babies and toddlers

While we travelled by plane for this trip, these tips also work incredibly well for long car rides and road trips with babies and toddlers.

One of my favourite things a flight attendant shared was that if people are bothered by babies crying, most travellers have noise cancelling headphones and can manage just fine by themselves. Also that they will forget about it by the next day- in saying that I truly feel like as soon as people see a baby their first thought it, oh boy. People don’t appreciate all the effort parents have to put in during such a long flight that it’s unrealistic that a baby doesn’t cry at all.

Babies cry because it is their only way to communicate, and that is completely normal.

It is easy to worry about inconveniencing others, but in reality, a bit of fussiness will not ruin someone’s day. All we can do as parents is prepare as best we can and give ourselves grace. Travelling with babies and toddlers is not always easy, but with the right tools and mindset, it can absolutely be doable.