Flying with a newly turned 2-year-old and a 3-month-old baby was one of the toughest experiences I’ve ever had. We were moving from Colorado to Florida, and my son was terrified of planes at this point in his life. He didn’t want to get on the plane and hated the airport, which made the whole thing extremely challenging. Add to that the fact that I also had my newborn baby to care for, and you can imagine the chaos. The entire journey was a whirlwind of tears, tantrums, and stress. Needless to say, we try to forget this whole experience ever happened.
However, amidst all the chaos, I am incredibly grateful that I brought along so many fun things to keep my son occupied on the plane. At that time, he was really into farm animals and vehicles, so most of the items I packed were related to those interests. These toys and activities were a lifesaver, providing much-needed distractions and moments of calm during the flight. If you’re about to go on a similar journey with a toddler and a baby, I hope these tips and ideas can help make your trip a little easier too. Here’s what I brought to make the journey a little more bearable.
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Traveling with a Toddler and Baby
Traveling with a toddler and a baby requires a lot of preparation, and I learned a few tricks along the way to make the journey smoother. One essential item I brought were hand sanitizing wipes. These were great for keeping his hands clean while traveling and gave me peace of mind.
I also brought along Contigo water bottles, which are fantastic because they don’t leak and fit perfectly into the cup holder in his car seat. Speaking of car seats, we brought his car seat on the airplane and used a carrier bag that lets you carry it on your back like a backpack. This made it much easier to manage all our gear and get through the airport.
A double stroller was an absolute must for us. It made getting through the airport with both kids so much easier, providing a place for my toddler to sit and for me to stash the carry-on bags. Additionally, having a baby carrier was invaluable. This is the one we have and after using a cheap one with my first baby… I can’t believe I made it this far without it! It allowed me to keep the baby close and my hands free (and also feeling comfortable!), which was a huge help while managing everything else.
Amazingly, I was able to fit all the items I brought into a carry-on bag. One trick to stay organized is to put all the activities (or as many as you can) in individual zip lock bags. This way, everything stays together, and you don’t have random pieces floating around your bag. When your kid needs a new activity, all you have to do is pull out another bag and everything is right there, ready to go.
Lastly, always bring more snacks than you think you’ll need. I bought him some plain pasta and sauce at the airport so he would have something more substantial in his belly, but I also brought all his favorite snacks. Keeping his tummy full and happy was crucial for a smoother journey. With these tips and preparations, our challenging flight became a little more manageable and a lot more organized.
Kid’s Headphones
During this time, my son was really into music and audiobooks, so having a pair of kid’s headphones was an absolute lifesaver. Not only did they keep him entertained during the flight, but they were also a great distraction while waiting around at the airport. Initially, it took him a bit to get used to wearing them. At first, he wouldn’t even put them on his head. But after some practice and realizing what they did, he loved them and always asked to wear them. Plus, he thought the removable cat ears were so cool!
These headphones come with volume control, ensuring the volume can’t go too high and damage his hearing. I tried them out myself, and the sound quality is pretty good. Before the trip, I downloaded some audiobooks and his Spotify playlist with all his favorite songs. The headphones connect easily via Bluetooth, making it simple to set up. These headphones became an essential part of our travel journey, and provided hours of entertainment and helped to make the journey more bearable.
Melissa & Doug Puffy Sticker Set
The Melissa & Doug puffy sticker set was another fun item I brought along. I bought him the farm set and the vehicle set, and he played with the farm stickers for an entire hour! The stickers are puffy, making them easier for little hands to peel off the pages and play with. Each set comes with double-sided fold-out scenes, so kids can create and recreate different scenarios on two different backgrounds.
Some of the stickers were a bit small, and he kept dropping them on the floor, but it kept him busy for so long that it didn’t matter! He even had fun putting some of the stickers on the airplane window. He listened to his music through his headphones, had a snack, and played with these stickers so I could tend to the baby for a bit which was a much needed moment!
Crayola Mess Free Markers
Another great item we brought on the plane was the Crayola Mess Free Markers. At this age, my son wasn’t super into coloring or drawing yet, but he loved to scribble and ask me to draw specific things like chickens or cars. These markers were a lifesaver because they only draw on the special paper they come with. So, if he were to scribble on the airplane wall, table, seat, or even his own hands, nothing would show up!
While these markers are a bit wide and make it challenging to draw fine details, my toddler didn’t care at all. He was just happy to have a fun activity to do with me. The markers and paper provided a great way for us to bond and kept him entertained for a good chunk of the flight. This was definitely a win for both of us, as it kept the mess to a minimum
Crayola Mess Free Finger Paints
We also brought along the Crayola Mess Free Finger Paints, which turned out to be a big hit. These paints come with a special ink pad that kids can use to “paint” on the special paper, and the ink only shows up on the paper—not on clothes, the airplane, or anywhere else. It’s perfect for keeping the mess contained while still allowing for some creative fun.
For this activity, I also brought some little paint brushes. With the paint brushes, you have to really make sure you rub them into the ink pad to pick up enough color, but it was still a fun activity and something my son had never done before. He loved experimenting with the finger paints and brushes, and it was a great way to keep him engaged and entertained. The mess-free aspect made it stress-free for me, which is always a bonus!
Melissa & Doug Water Wow! Books
Another fantastic item we brought along was the Melissa & Doug Water Wow! books, specifically the vehicle-themed one. These books come with a special paintbrush that you fill up with water. When you “paint” in the book, the pictures magically turn to color. Once the pictures dry, you can redo it again and again, providing endless entertainment.
On the airplane, I used my water bottle to fill up the pen, but you could also fill it up in the bathroom if needed. These books come in a variety of themes, and they are always a big hit with kids. My son loved watching the colors appear as he painted, and it kept him happily occupied for a good amount of time. The reusable aspect of these books makes them a perfect travel companion for little ones.
Vehicle “Can You Find It” Book
We also brought along the Vehicle “Can You Find It” book, which was a huge hit. These books are similar to the traditional I Spy books, and my son absolutely loves them. He had a blast looking at the detailed pictures and trying to find all the hidden items. We brought both the vehicle-themed book and the farm-themed book, giving us plenty of variety.
During the flight, we spent a lot of time talking about all the items on the pages and searching for them together. It was not only entertaining for him but also for me, making it a fun activity we could enjoy together. Even now, I often catch him in the playroom or his bedroom, staring at these books, searching for the hidden items. They are definitely a favorite and were a lifesaver on our trip!
Travel Felt Board
Another fun item I brought along was a travel felt board, specifically the farm-themed one, of course. It comes with 37 different farm-related pieces, perfect for keeping my son entertained. At home, we have a big wall-sized felt board that he loves to play with, so I knew bringing this mini one for the airplane would be a hit.
The pieces are high quality and stick really well to the felt board, making it easy for him to play without losing any pieces. He especially loves when I make up stories with all the little animals and people, creating fun and imaginative scenarios. It was a wonderful way to spend time together on the plane, and it kept him engaged and happy.
Melissa & Doug Sticker Pad
I also brought along another Melissa & Doug sticker pad, which was a big hit. We play with these a lot at home, so I bought a brand new one for the plane that he had never seen before. Instead of bringing the whole book, I took out one scene page and one sticker page and put them into a gallon-sized zip lock bag. I had to trim an inch or two off the pages to get them to fit into the bag, but this helped save so much space.
The sticker pads are pretty big and an awkward size to bring along on a trip, so this little hack made it much more travel-friendly.
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