Last Updated on April 18, 2024

The thought of a long haul flight is enough to make even the most seasoned adult traveller anxious, so think about how a long haul flight must be for a toddler.

I’ve done quite a few long haul flights with a toddler, once I even did a UK to Australia flight solo, but that’s a story for another time!

Ryan has been very fortunate to do a lot of plane travel. By the time he was 18 months old, he had done 32 flights, with seven of these being long haul flights between Australia and the UK. The reason he flew so much due to us moving to the UK from Australia.

The upside of all this travelling means that I’ve been able to develop a few tips to make long haul travel with toddlers a little more bearable.

These tips range from what to pack, what seats to ask for, what to do with your toddler at the airport, how to entertain a toddler on a plane, and other toddler plane travel tips.

Here’s the tips I’ve picked up to make long haul travel with toddlers more bearable.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE FLYING LONG HAUL WITH A TODDLER

Here are some tips on things to do before you travel with a toddler.

What to pack in your toddler’s carry on

I pack Ryan’s carry on items in my carry on suitcase, so I don’t have to try to fit too much in the overhead storage.

Here’s what I pack for Ryan:

• Two sets of clothes
• Two sets of pyjamas
• A blanket for whilst he sleeps
• Snacks
• A bottle and long-life milk
• Entertainment options

What liquids can you take for toddlers on a long haul flight?

In my experience the 100ml maximum liquid rule doesn’t apply when travelling with babies or toddlers.

When Ryan was on formula, I would fill eight bottles with boiling water (which would be cool by the time they were needed) and place them in their own bag, which could be easily produced during security. The formula would be stored in a separate container together with the eight bottles.

Now that Ryan’s off formula, I take the amount of long life milk and bottled water that he’ll need during the flight. I don’t open any of these until they’re needed.

In both cases, all I’ve ever had to do when I reach security is tell them that the liquids were for my baby or toddler, and once checked I was free to go.

This is also the case for Calpol and Nurofen. I take full bottles of each, and have had no problems.

Make sure that you take enough liquids to get you through the flight, don’t pack too much, as you may have trouble explaining large amounts

How to help your toddler sleep on a long haul flight

Think about your toddler’s sleeping habits, and try to book the longest part of the flight during their bedtime.

This means that you’ll also get some sleep, but if you’re too nervous to sleep during this time, you can at least have some time to watch a movie, or listen to some music.

Seat choice on long haul flights

Most airlines make you buy a seat for any toddler over two years old, which makes it easier for them to sleep, as they have their own space.

Before any long haul flight, I ask the airline if there are any bassinet seats available. Ryan’s too heavy for a bassinet, but if there are only a few babies on the flight then bassinet seats are sometimes available, which means that there’s leg room for Ryan to sit on the floor and play, without disrupting other passengers.

Having a bassinet seat also means that you can use the bassinet to store snacks, spare clothes, nappies, or anything else your toddler needs regularly.

Toddler snacks and meals during flights

Some airlines require you to special order your toddler’s meals weeks, or days, before your flight. Make sure you check the airline’s website for details on this, as chances are you won’t get a meal for your toddler if you fail to pre order.

Packing snacks for your toddler before any flight, and in fact for me before any outing, is a must do. Having plenty of snacks for your toddler that they can eat during the flight will come in handy for avoiding boredom, and tantrums.

Some snacks you can pack are:

• Dry cereal
• Apples
• Plain pasta
• Sandwiches
• Dried fruit
• Crisps
• Sweet or savoury muffins
• Carrot sticks
• Sweet treats they don’t normally have

WHAT TO DO AT THE AIRPORT WHEN TRAVELLING WITH TODDLERS

Here are some ideas on what you can do with your toddler at the airport, before embarking on a long haul flight.

Find a toddler friendly play area, or open space

Some airports have family friendly areas with soft plays, seating for adults, and arts and crafts stations.

If there isn’t an area like this at the airport you have to go to, then try to find somewhere near your departure gate where your toddler can run around, without disrupting too many people.

Letting your toddler get their energy out increases the chances that they’ll tire themselves out, before having to sit for a long period of time.

Airline travel with a stroller

If you’d like to use your stroller throughout the airport, then ask to have it checked to the gate at check in.

This means that you can use your stroller right up until boarding time. Once you’re ready to board, all you have to do is fold your stroller and give it to the airport staff, who will then place it in the airplane’s hold.

Just make sure to ask where you have to pick your stroller up from once you reach your destination, as every airport is different.

Look for a family security area

Some airports have a separate security area for families. This means the lines are shorter, and everyone understands that it may take you longer to get everything on the conveyor belt.

HOW TO ENTERTAIN AND CHANGE TODDLERS DURING A LONG HAUL FLIGHT

The hardest part of travelling with toddlers is keeping them entertained, and changing them during a flight.

Here are some tips on how to make these two things easier.

How to entertain a toddler on a plane

It’s harder to keep toddlers entertained on flights compared to at home, but it’s not impossible. Some toddler plane entertainment ideas include:

• Filling a bag with small toys or puzzles and giving your toddler one at a time.
• Ryan went through a stage of ripping magazines, it would keep him entertained for ages. So now I bring a magazine that I don’t mind him ripping up
• Buy a new toy and give it to your toddler for the first time during the flight. As it’s something they’ve never played with before, chances are it will keep them entertained longer than a toy they’ve seen before
• Load a phone or tablet with your toddler’s favourite shows.
• Sticker books are a fantastic way to entertain your toddler on a flight, even if you end up covered in them
• Colouring books are also a great toddler aeroplane activity.

Or you could make a kids travel activity pack, which makes packing up these items super easy, if you’d like to learn more please read how to make a kids travel activity pack.

Changing your toddler’s clothes or nappy on a plane

This can be super tricky, as once you put the change table down in an aeroplane toilet, there’s hardly any room to breath.

To make sure you have as much space as possible, don’t take a nappy bag into the aeroplane toilet. Instead, put everything that you need for one nappy change, or one clothing change into a zip lock bag. Have as many pre packed zip lock bags as you need for the entire flight in your carry on.

This means that each zip lock bag will contain one nappy, and a few wipes, with a couple of them also storing a change of clothes.

When it’s time to do a nappy or clothing change, take one of the zip lock bags with you to the toilet.

For long haul flights that go overnight, I usually prepare six zip lock bags, where two will have a change of clothes in them.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON HOW TO SURVIVE LONG HAUL FLIGHTS WITH TODDLERS

I still get nervous before stepping onto any flight with Ryan, especially if it’s a long haul flight.

I worry that Ryan’s going to be noisy, that he won’t sleep, or that he’ll want to run up and down the aisles.

The best advice that I can give, and in fact follow myself, is to just relax, breath, and try not to worry about what will happen.

There will undoubtedly be other toddlers, and even babies on your flight who have parents who are just as stressed, or even more stressed than you, and who have more energetic babies or toddlers than you do.

It’s just one flight and you will get through it. And if other passengers give you dirty looks, who cares. We’ve all been on flights with adults who behave like toddlers, and with poor parents who have babies who have not settled.

So, on your next flight with your toddler just take each hour as it comes, and think about the other stressed parents. You’re not alone, and you’ll be just fine.

Do you have any tips on flying with toddlers?