I just took my first solo flight with both girls! I was nervous heading into this, but prepared well and it went so much better than expected! Keep scrolling for a list of my Toddler Travel Must Haves for both kids and mom.
AIRPLANE PREP BOOK
I bought this book to read to both my kids before their first flight. I love using books to help prepare them for things. It’s basic but to the point and uses real photographs taking them through the whole process of what they can expect at the airport and on the plane. It helped both my kids tremendously.
TODDLER TABLET
My kids don’t use tablets but I bought two to keep specifically for plane or long car rides. It’s come in handy because they get REAL excited to see them and will typically sit and watch a show the majority of the flight. I have the smallest version which I think is plenty big enough at this age.
HEADPHONES
These are the headphones we have and I’ve been happy with them! They’re not wireless (which was a requirement for me) and seem to be comfortable for the kids.
TABLET HOLDER
I also grabbed the simple tablet accessory, which turned out to be quite the game changer for the plane! It’s a flexible device that simply slips into the handle of the tablet and can be bent to use as a stand or hanging device. It makes viewing the tablet much easier for the kids and also frees up a bunch of space in front of them. Completely eliminates the need for them to look down at a tablet on their laps or to use the tray table to prop it up. 10/10 recommend this! We have the Amazon fire tablet 7 and this fits perfectly.
TODDLER BACKPACK
I always have my kids travel with backpacks so that they can hold all of the items they plan to use on the plane. I purchased this small, toddler size backpack for my two-year-old. It doesn’t fit a ton but it’s big enough for everything she needs and is the perfect size for her to carry around the airport.
My older daughter just used her pre-school backpack linked HERE.
DISCOVERY GAMES
These little handheld search + find games are cute to keep the kids busy. The first one has a key card that tells you which items to search for and they have to find them in the toy. The second is discover putty where they can find a bunch of cute little objects to play with. There are a bunch of different designs and options available.
FIDGET TOYS
I always throw a few fidget toys in their backpacks as well. These giraffe have little suction cups and were a hit! The unicorn light up fidget toy from my reel is from the target dollar spot.
BUSY BOOK
A busy book is a great option for travel. It is another item I keep stowed away for long trips so it’s something they get excited about when they see. This one in particular has a bunch of Montessori style puzzles and learning games included. Everything is either attached to the book or velcros on.
MESS-FREE ACTIVITIES
Here are a few great mess-free drawing and sticker activities. My kids love all these!
TRAVEL STROLLER
One of the BEST tips I got for toddler airplane travel was to bring a stroller. It’s a game changer. You can keep your kids in the stroller from the minute you get to the airport until you step onto the plane (with the exception of walking through security.) This helps keep them contained so you can focus on doing everything else. Its also super helpful to have a place to store your bags, drinks, etc. I honestly don’t think I could’ve done this on my own without taking a stroller.
This is the stroller that we currently use and LOVE! It’s perfect size and weight for travel. It also has a decent size storage space underneath (especially for being a compact stroller) The seats are comfortable for the kids and recline all the way back if needed. It folds up easy too. I 10/10 recommend if you’re looking for compact double stroller! There’s not one thing about it I don’t like – I feel like they’ve thought of everything.
MOM HOOKS
If you’re heading to the airport with a stroller (which I highly recommend!) be sure to grab a heavy duty hook or two to keep on your stroller. These are great for holding bags or backpacks while you’re traveling through the airport. An absolute necessity when I’m traveling with my girls solo!
PORTABLE CHARGER
I always pack a portable charger with me to have in case any of our devices need it throughout our journey. I love this one in particular because it’s compact and has 3 different charging ports to accommodate most all devices. I can typically charge a device 2-3 times.
ANTIBACTERIAL WIPES
I always travel with hand sanitizer but found these antibacterial wipes that I thought would be great for the kids. Also great for wiping down surfaces.
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