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Plane Travel [Flying] with a Toddler
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Blog, Parenting, Travel

Plane Travel [Flying] with a Toddler

January 5, 2022
-
Posted by Lauren Rodych-Eberle

Often you hear people talk in amazement when they hear about someone travelling with a young baby, but I think parents of young children can attest, those baby months are the easiest times to travel. Not easy like “travelling-alone, taking a nap, doing whatever you want on the plane” easy, but more like “as long as I snuggle & feed my little baby, they should be content on the plane” easy. Once little ones get to the age where they are wandering around on their own, they by no means want to be confined to your lap, or a seat, for hours upon hours. After travelling many times with my little one, even during Covid (which is a whole other kind of travel), and experiencing it solo versus with people, experiencing carry-on versus checking, experiencing infant-in-arms versus getting an extra seat, and experiencing packing a stroller versus packing a carrier, I have some tips…or at least a break down that you can pick and choose from.

Infant in Arms or Extra Seat?

I am all for the “children under age 2 are free” policy, and I was planning on taking full advantage of it, but there have been times where I’ve either regretted not having the extra seat, or found the extra seat super necessary. Here’s my thoughts: if you’re travelling alone with your little and you have the means to buy an extra seat, it is well worth it. For one, the extra space allows you to simply dump things you need during the flight, and for two, you can avoid getting too cozy with the person beside you (by that I mean making sure your kiddo doesn’t accidentally kick them a million times). If you’re travelling with another adult, the infant-in-lap option may be okay, as they can jump from one adult to the other. The other thing to keep in mind is the duration of flight. For a 2-hour flight, I’ve found C in my lap very do-able, but for a 5-hour flight, we definitely enjoyed having separate seats to at least have snacks and spread out a little here and there! Also, seeing as my 1.5-year-old is the size of a 3-year-old, it got to the point where the second seat really just made sense. If you talk to a car seat safety consultant, I’m sure they would suggest having your child in their own seat (as well as using a car seat on the plane), but we never went that route. On that topic…

Car Seat – Check or Gate Check?

I have seen too many bad things happen to my friends’ car seats at airports, in terms of being damaged or lost. The one time I did check a car seat, it was damaged. And although you can get reimbursement, it still is an extra process and an arrival headache, so I’ve now vowed to always gate check my car seat. The challenge is having to carry your car seat through the entire airport until flight time, but for me, it’s worth it. Once you are through security, you can get a gate check tag (I suggest having your car seat in a bag) from someone working at your gate, so once boarding comes, you are already set! Then, once you board, you drop off the car seat (and stroller if you have one…more on that next) right before you get on the plane. You’ll find it in that same spot once you disembark!

Stroller or Carrier?

Okay, in truth, I’m team just carrier at the airport, if I had to choose just one. My reasons: Baby/toddler is close up against you and happy, you can often go through security with them still strapped onto you, you don’t have to spend time looking for elevators so you can dash anywhere super quick, and it’s less to lug around, plus your baby/kiddo can take a nap on you when needed. That being said, if you need a stroller at your destination, you’ll have to bring it. When I’ve been travelling solo, I’ve seen some benefit in having the stroller, so I could stash all my other stuff in the bottom of the stroller. And of course, the stroller is a great place to nap too! Just give yourself more time, because throughout the airport you will often be waiting for/finding elevators, since you won’t be able to do the stairs or take the escalator. Even with a stroller, I’ve always still packed the carrier – it’s key if kiddo has gotten overstimulated, or if it’s been a long day of travel/waiting/lines. [I love my Tula Free to Grow or Tula Toddler carriers, and you can use LAURENEB5 for 5% off all things Tula, if you wish!] With the stroller, you’ll do the same thing I mentioned above – once at your gate, prior to boarding, ask the desk for a gate check tag!

Airport Entertainment

There are some cases where you may be dashing to your plane and only have enough time for a quick pee break (if you have little ones out of diapers, offering a toilet break before boarding is very important)! But other times, you’ll have a long time to wait. So here’s what we’ve done for airport entertainment.

Check Out All the People

People watching…is there anything better at any age? Endless entertainment, really. And at the airport, you can spot the planes coming in and taking off. You can see people running to their planes. You can check out the water fountains, and suitcases, and people people people.

Get Some Food

Packing snacks for kids is key always!! But it can be tricky if you’re flying internationally to know what you can and can’t pack – usually the rule of thumb is no fruits and veggies across borders. So, unless I’m travelling domestically, I’ve stuck to pretty basic snacks – granola bars and crackers. And then I’ve ordered some food at the airport. That’s entertainment enough for a kiddo – to get the food and then eat it while you’re waiting!

[Afterword: Some of you mentioned that any food or drink for young children under 2-years-old is allowed through security. Which is supposed to be true, however, if it is allowed through, it will require testing at security, so give yourself lots of extra time. And then, in many circumstances, I heard from you that even formula and pouches were removed from you at security (formula and breastmilk should always be allowed, as it is a necessity), but just something to take note, and for your to evaluate how and what route you want to take in the food department!].

Find a Kid’s Play Area

Most airports should have a kid’s play area, or two or three, close by your gate. That’s a great spot to burn some energy and stretch the legs before take off.

Plane Entertainment

It’s boarding time! So far I’ve lived by the policy that I try and push off even pulling out toys as long as I can, so that when they do come out (and then one at a time), they are exciting! We start by simply watching – the people coming on the plane, everyone stowing their luggage, what we can see outside the plane window! Then once it’s time to pull out the toys, I pull out one, we play with it for as long as we can, before pulling out something else new and exciting. Here’s what we usually pack on the plane (the amount and the types have changed depending on age of my kiddo at the time and duration of flight).

Snacks

Again, you always need snacks!

Books

If your kiddo has a favourite book or two that they can read over and over and over again, now is the time to pack that! I’ve always liked packing smaller board books, or thin soft cover books, so they are easy to fit into my carry-on.

Colouring

There are some great colouring options that don’t make too much of a mess either. There are water brush colouring books. There are magic colouring books. And there are mini crayon travel packs! Or, if you have a mini magnetic doodle board, those work great too! Another idea is reusable sticker books. You can always pack options!

Squigz & Post-It Notes/Painter’s Tape

Squigz are a fun toy to play with always – we love them at home and in the bath too. They attach to everything, including themselves, so, you can attach them to the plane tray table, or just build a little squigz-puzzle. You don’t need to pack too many of them to have fun. When my daughter was younger, I also packed post-it notes and painter’s tape, and cut them into strips – she would remove them and reattach them to the tray table…I know, super exciting, but really, it works!

PomPoms & Small Wooden Puzzles

You guys know we love our pompoms over here. You can pack any sort of small box or container with an opening, and pull the pompoms out and put them back in, again and again. Small Wooden Puzzles are great too!

Play Dough

If your kid is already an expert in play dough and it won’t be a crazy airplane mess, this is one we love!

Pop It!

I don’t know how many times I was told about the Pop It, before I finally caved and got one. And wow…one day, I swear C played with this for 9 hours of our 16-hour travel day!! No regrets from this purchase!

Naps

And then, what a gift is it when the plane just lulls your little one to sleep? Everyone arrives at the destination well-rested, and happy as clams!

Videos

We don’t normally do screen time or have iPads over here yet, but I know for some, they are helpful on the plane, so something to consider! As a last resort on long travel days, I’ve pulled out my phone for C to watch some videos of herself, or of course, to play some Raffi songs.

I hope this was helpful for you to give you some ideas for your next travel day with kiddos. It’s a lot for a little one, even when everything goes smoothly, but having some options prepped, and keeping a calm, positive attitude, will hopefully make the travel day an adventure!

Happy Travels!

January 5, 2022
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I’m Lauren and I have a deep passion for music, food, the outdoors, and travel. I love random questions and fun facts, and am always searching for better ways to bring wellness and health into my life. I am the owner of Miss Lauren’s Music Studio, where I teach voice, piano, ukulele, and preschool music classes – via Skype and within Calgary. I am a Senior Consultant for Pampered Chef, which has inspired me over the years to write two cookbooks (plus one mini ebook cookbook), that have food preparation made easy in the forefront.
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Ready to hear my biggest overwhelm? The stuff. I Ready to hear my biggest overwhelm?

The stuff. I know this is a privileged point, so please be kind. I’ve always attempted to be a wannabe-minimalist (seeing as I have two of everything living between two places, but I want everything to have a purpose and a ‘home.’). 

I’ve very much noticed this be a trigger point for me since having kids, because J and I both have big families, and although their gift giving comes with so much heart and generosity, I’ve tried to find ways to bring in less stuff and to teach my kids to appreciate each gift, sooo less is more. 

Many years ago, my siblings adopted Sibling Christmas where instead of gifts, we have a special night out together! We love this tradition. After the overwhelm I felt this Christmas, being generously gifted Eberle gifts for now TWO kids, I asked J’s siblings if we can adopt a family-friendly event next year and remove all aunt/uncle/cousin gifts. Shout out to all my brother/sister-in-laws for getting on board. 

With C’s birthday party coming up, she asked for no gifts (OR a book as a gift).

Small steps, but always trying!!

Have you found any ways to minimize the stuff chaos in your house?!
You know what’s the trickiest thing to navigate You know what’s the trickiest thing to navigate while solo parenting?

Taking your car to the shop with car seat aged kids. 

Do you hang out in the shop with the kids for hours? Do you bring travel car seats and install them to get them home? Honestly, what have y’all done? Having another human help isn’t the solution here for me this time…😅
There is no one more present than a baby. Our kidd There is no one more present than a baby. Our kiddos have so much to teach us. 

#babyrodycheberle2
🎶’Cause I got a roof over my head I got a war 🎶’Cause I got a roof over my head
I got a warm body in bed
I'm doing alright right where I'm at
With what I have

[I got a Jeep, I got a dog]
I got what they call a dream job
Plenty to want, nothing wrong with that
But I'm happy with what I have

I got the air, good eyes to see
Got so much more than I'll ever need
Even the bad days ain't all that bad
With what I have🎶
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It’s not a competition, but if J was trying to w It’s not a competition, but if J was trying to win at Christmas, he did. For my gift he booked @throughcarrieslens to come follow our family on our Anniversary hike this year and take pictures of our butts…🤣 Maybe it’s because he knows pictures of him wearing our babies has me like…😍

Countdown to see you, @throughcarrieslens!
“Don’t worry so much about raising good kids t “Don’t worry so much about raising good kids that you forget you already have them.”🤍
J: Can we start weekly date night again? Also J: J: Can we start weekly date night again?

Also J: Okay, see you in two weeks after our road trip. 

[A real conversation we had recently…
Appreciate the sentiment, AND weekly may have been a bit ambitious.]
Thank you to @babyknitsco for this toque. Thank yo Thank you to @babyknitsco for this toque. Thank you to @schoenanigans for this onesie that will live on for every kiddo. Thank you to my non-Instagram husband for these babies.
Ready to hear my biggest overwhelm? The stuff. I Ready to hear my biggest overwhelm?

The stuff. I know this is a privileged point, so please be kind. I’ve always attempted to be a wannabe-minimalist (seeing as I have two of everything living between two places, but I want everything to have a purpose and a ‘home.’). 

I’ve very much noticed this be a trigger point for me since having kids, because J and I both have big families, and although their gift giving comes with so much heart and generosity, I’ve tried to find ways to bring in less stuff and to teach my kids to appreciate each gift, sooo less is more. 

Many years ago, my siblings adopted Sibling Christmas where instead of gifts, we have a special night out together! We love this tradition. After the overwhelm I felt this Christmas, being generously gifted Eberle gifts for now TWO kids, I asked J’s siblings if we can adopt a family-friendly event next year and remove all aunt/uncle/cousin gifts. Shout out to all my brother/sister-in-laws for getting on board. 

With C’s birthday party coming up, she asked for no gifts (OR a book as a gift).

Small steps, but always trying!!

Have you found any ways to minimize the stuff chaos in your house?!
You know what’s the trickiest thing to navigate You know what’s the trickiest thing to navigate while solo parenting?

Taking your car to the shop with car seat aged kids. 

Do you hang out in the shop with the kids for hours? Do you bring travel car seats and install them to get them home? Honestly, what have y’all done? Having another human help isn’t the solution here for me this time…😅
There is no one more present than a baby. Our kidd There is no one more present than a baby. Our kiddos have so much to teach us. 

#babyrodycheberle2
🎶’Cause I got a roof over my head I got a war 🎶’Cause I got a roof over my head
I got a warm body in bed
I'm doing alright right where I'm at
With what I have

[I got a Jeep, I got a dog]
I got what they call a dream job
Plenty to want, nothing wrong with that
But I'm happy with what I have

I got the air, good eyes to see
Got so much more than I'll ever need
Even the bad days ain't all that bad
With what I have🎶
-Kelsea Ballerini
It’s not a competition, but if J was trying to w It’s not a competition, but if J was trying to win at Christmas, he did. For my gift he booked @throughcarrieslens to come follow our family on our Anniversary hike this year and take pictures of our butts…🤣 Maybe it’s because he knows pictures of him wearing our babies has me like…😍

Countdown to see you, @throughcarrieslens!
“Don’t worry so much about raising good kids t “Don’t worry so much about raising good kids that you forget you already have them.”🤍
J: Can we start weekly date night again? Also J: J: Can we start weekly date night again?

Also J: Okay, see you in two weeks after our road trip. 

[A real conversation we had recently…
Appreciate the sentiment, AND weekly may have been a bit ambitious.]
Thank you to @babyknitsco for this toque. Thank yo Thank you to @babyknitsco for this toque. Thank you to @schoenanigans for this onesie that will live on for every kiddo. Thank you to my non-Instagram husband for these babies.
In honour of @michaelferraro_music’s birthday, h In honour of @michaelferraro_music’s birthday, here’s a serious throwback. Go give his band @pinebarren.music a follow!

#lebsinging #nashvillecover
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Owner of Miss Lauren’s Music Studio. Author of the Brownie Pan Every Damn Day Cookbooks. Consultant for Pampered Chef. Lover of Random Questions.

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