10 Travel Tips for Flying with a Toddler
Nearly a week ago, Thomas and I were in preparation to get on an airplane with a one year old, in the middle of a pandemic to fly to Salt Lake City, Utah for his first plane ride. Since the beginning of the pandemic we have always been relatively safe when it comes to the places we’ve taken our son, Paxton.
Paxton was born in what I like to call the “unsure stage” of the pandemic (5/2020). When he was born home tests weren’t really a thing, it was nearly impossible to get a lab test, results took days to come back and a COVID vaccine did not yet exist. As such, he experienced many social things a bit later than most babies. Taking him on an airplane was already something I feared in general, but adding a global pandemic to that made my anxiety even worse.
We’re cautious of the things he touches, we sanitize and Lysol EVERYTHING and we ask any individual outside of our normal circle who enters our personal space to utilize masks to try and keep him safe. Paxton has also not been to daycare routinely and has very low levels of exposure to real germs.
As we got ourselves ready for the plane, I felt myself panicking and I thought about the things another mom could benefit from when traveling with a toddler in a pandemic.
Here are a few things I learned through the travel process with a one-year old:
Bring Snacks-
Children get hungry, even if they just ate. Don’t forget to bring them something to snack on while in flight.
Bring music/video playing devices and download Netflix/Amazon episodes in advance
This one’s pretty self explanatory. We love to scream at moms to limit screen time, but kids need entertainment when they’re unable to get up and walk around freely. Download episodes in advance and have devices charged.
Arrive Early enough to check bags and walk through the airport with a child
Time is truly not on your side when it comes to unpredictable children. Give yourself some wiggle room for time. Also, depending on how heavy your child is, consider bringing a stroller and checking it at the gate if possible.
Look for assistance wherever possible
Airports tend to have electric carts that navigate through the airport and between gates faster for elderly travelers and those that need additional assistance. Please use their help if possible. Flights that occur in the daytime tend to have a greater availability for these. USE. THEIR. HELP!
Bring a beverage/bottle/sippy cup etc.
Changing air pressure in the airplane cabin means ears that pop and this can be uncomfortable for some children. Bring a beverage so they can drink and hopefully relieve some pressure in their ears.
Check those bags
My husband, Thomas and I are avid carry-on travelers. We avoid checking bags at all costs, enter a one-year old, that is simply not possible. Paxton’s clothes needed a place to be AND we needed free hands to navigate the airport with him in our hands. Children run off in a moments notice and there’s nothing worse than running off and leaving your carryon bag. Take my advice, beloved, check those bags.
Check your airlines policy on lap-children and tickets
We nearly missed our first flight due to a technicality. Our son is under 2 years old, so he is considered a lap child but he still needed a ticket. To do this, thank God my husband had a photo on his phone with the footprint photo that was taken on Paxton’s birthday. It had to have his name and his birthdate, and he showed the customer service gate agent who was able to print us out a “non-ticketed lap-child” ticket. We got that ticket at the ninth hour, y’all but we made it.
Bring a carry-on bag with essentials and wipe EVERYTHING DOWN
Perhaps this is just a COVID-era thing but I’d like to believe that I’d do this regardless because children put their hands in their mouths SO MUCH! Bring a carry-on backpack or bag of some sort and be sure to have Lysol wipes to wipe things down. Paxton touched EVERYTHING and I was wishing I brought so many more packs of Lysol wipes for the trip.
Don’t forget items for the climate you’re traveling to, with you!
We left Houston with 78 degree weather on Christmas and traveled to Utah where the daily highs were in the 20’s. I accidentally packed his heavy coat in the checked bag so we had to get creative until we could wiggle out his heavy coat. Don’t be like me, be better. Sometimes even the airport in cold climates is chilly. Plan ahead!
Have fun and document for memories!
This is a new experience for your little one. If they’re walking age, they’re desiring to explore everything, try not to totally dampen their excitement. Show them new things at a distance and take photos of them experiencing the airport and airplane. Explain things to them and once you’re done, you can take the photos and send them to a service (straight from your phone) like Chatbooks to create a small photo album to commemorate their first flight.
I hope these tips helped you in your plans to travel with your little one. Just know that you’re doing the best you can regardless of whether your child enjoys every moment or has 15 meltdowns in the airport or on the plane. Thankfully Paxton did really well and slept the entire time on both flights, so I think it’s safe to say he really enjoyed himself.
Let me know if you have any other good tips for me!
Til’ next time!
