Tips for Flying With a Toddler

Air travel with a toddler is about as relaxing as a root canal without novocaine. No matter how exciting the destination, keeping your little one entertained from takeoff to landing is no easy task, especially when cantankerous passengers sound an endless chorus of "quiet that kid!" But before swearing off family vacations for the next 18 years, take some advice from Jessica Bowers, the Dallas-based travel aficionado who writes about criss-crossing the globe on her website Suitcases and Sippycups. She offers some fool-proof tips for making flying with toddlers not so miserable and possibly even enjoyable, for both you and the angry guy in seat 26A.

Bring a few toys on board, but don't overdo it, suggests Bowers. "It’s likely that your toddler will be fascinated by the novelty of the airplane and not need a huge collection of playthings," she says, pointing out that most planes come with limited overhead and under-seat storage space. "Choose toys that have open-ended play options and leave behind anything that is noisy or has small parts."

Toddlers love to sing, which makes song time a safe bet on board, notes Bowers. "An aptly chosen song can stop a meltdown in its tracks or make a difficult transition a little easier," she says. Just remember to choose a song (and at low volume) that won't disturb all those potentially grumpy passengers who want a quiet ride.

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Your best defense against up-in-the-air meltdowns and temper tantrums is a great sense of humor, Bowers says. "The sheer exhaustion of traveling with a 2-year-old can make even the sunniest parent lose their smile," she points out. "A little game of peek-a-boo or tickles can cheer up both of you in an instant."

A long flight with your little tyke is definitely not the time to enforce strict rules as you do at home, says Bowers. "Even if you banish movies and candy at home, these little treats can be your best friend while traveling," she explains. "A portable movie player, iPad filled with games or a lollipop can be just what you need to get through the flight."

It sounds obvious, but the best thing you can do to ensure a smooth takeoff and landing is to feed your little one a full pre-flight meal. "Full bellies make happy travelers," notes Bowers. She also recommends having a stash of snacks to curb your toddler's appetite, especially in case of a flight delay. Nothing worse than a hungry toddler holed up in a grounded plane.

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While beating the stampede of passengers onto the jetway and pre-boarding with your toddler sounds like a great idea, it actually means more time on the plane to entertain your little busybody, Bowers points out. "Instead, wait until the last minute to board and stay in the terminal to get the wiggles out," she suggests.

Sometimes little ears just can’t adjust to the altitude changes as easily as adults can, which can result in excruciating ear pain for a toddler. "If drinking or eating doesn’t help, ask the flight attendant for a small cup with paper towel soaked in hot water at the bottom," Bowers suggests. "Place the cup over your child’s ear and the steam will help relieve the pressure."

You don’t have to pack an entire extra wardrobe in your carry-on, but you do want to make sure you've got a change of clothes handy at all times — for both you and your toddler." Always pack extra clothes, extra diapers and extra underpants," says Bowers. After all, accidents can happen, and the last thing you want is to have to sit in pants soaked with grape juice for the next six hours.

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