Are you looking for ways to entertain a toddler on a plane? This post is full of fantastic tips, strategies, and activities for keeping a toddler entertained during a flight! 

Flying with a toddler can certainly be a challenge.

An airplane isn’t exactly the most toddler-friendly environment. There’s no space to move and explore.

No one wants to hear a toddler shrieking, even with delight.

It’s hard for toddlers to be out of their normal routine and in a cramped and uncomfortable space. 

When you’re flying with an unhappy toddler, even short journeys can feel like long haul flights. 

So what’s a parent to do? 

As a mom of three, I have a lot of experience entertaining toddlers on airplanes! 

Here are my best tips to prepare for flying with your toddler, entertaining your toddler during the flight, and preventing your toddler from getting bored on the airplane, plus tips for packing your diaper bag for air travel. 

39 Great Ways to Entertain a Toddler on a Flight

Best Games and Toys for Entertaining Toddlers on a Flight

To make your travel easier, here are the best toys for entertaining toddlers during a flight, as well as games to play with your toddler on the plane!

1. Duplo Legos — These classic toddler-friendly bricks can engage little ones for a long time.

2. Buckle Toys — This stuffed toy offers sensory activities to keep your child focused and busy.

3. Busy Boards — This busy board is packed with fine motor skills activities your child can do on a plane.

4. Colored Dot Stickers & a Notebook — You wouldn’t believe how much time your child can spend peeling stickers and placing them in a notebook. Also try foam stickers or 3D puffy stickers, which might be easier for your child to place.

5. Post-it Notes — Let your toddler peel and stick Post-It Notes on the tray table or in a notebook.

6. Hand puppets or finger puppets — Entertain your toddler through the flight with these cute puppets.

7. Wiki Stix — These thin wax sticks can be molded into all kinds of shapes! They are great for creative, imaginative play.

8. Small puzzles — Match-it puzzles are the perfect take-along puzzle for toddlers.

9. Pipe Cleaners — Toddlers can bend and shape pipe cleaners into all sorts of shapes. Up the challenge by bringing items to thread pipe cleaners through, like a wiffle ball.

10. Toy Cars — Toddlers can drive toy cars and trucks around their seat, across the tray table, and along the armrest.

11. Pom-Poms in a Pill Case — Your toddler can use their fine motor skills to move pom-poms between compartments. This “toy” takes up almost no space but can be very engaging.

12. Peekaboo — This classic game never gets old with a toddler. With any luck, they’ll even be able to peek around the seat to play Peek-a-boo with another passenger. 

13. Reusable window clings — Your little one will stay busy attaching these to the airplane windows, but they’ll peel right off when it’s time to land. 

14. Magnetic Dress up dolls — Like paper dolls, but magnetic, so the clothes stay on easily! These magnetic dress-up dolls come in a travel tin.  

15. Mini animals — If your toddler likes playing with small animal toys, they’ll love this set. Take sea creatures, dinosaurs, farm animals, and more with you on your flight.

16. Sewing Cards — Your toddler will love these Melissa and Doug lacing cards. Pulling the thread through will help pass the time!

17. Light-Up Wands— These are a favorite travel toy for young kids! They are mesmerizing! )You should plan to use them only in the daytime, as they could be annoying to other passengers when the plane is dark.)

18. Suction Spinner Toys — These spinners can stick to the plane window or a tray table to keep your toddler entertained.

19. Mini Etch-A-Sketch — This small Etch-A-Sketch requires no batteries. Your toddler can turn the knobs to draw, then shake to erase!

20. Colorforms — A classic toy, Colorforms stick and re-stick as your toddler creates story after story.

21. Card Games — Older toddlers will enjoy playing card games. Simple games like Go Fish and Crazy 8s will make flights more fun.  

Toys I would never take on a flight: Play-Doh and Play Foam. Why? They can be extremely messy and they smell bad! Save these great sensory activities for another time!

Best Books for Flying with a Toddler

Reading books with your toddler on the plane is a great way to pass the time. If your toddler asks for the story “one more time,” you’ll have plenty of time to read it again. 

Best Activity books for Toddlers on a Plane

22. Numbers & Letters Tracing Book — Your toddler can concentrate on tracing numbers and letters in this workbook.

23. Coloring books and crayons — You really can’t beat a classic coloring book! Choose coloring books with pictures of their favorite characters or items they’ll enjoy coloring, like mermaids or trucks. 

Bring these crayons because their triangular shape makes them easy for toddlers to grip and won’t roll off the tray table.

24. Painting Books — Pack a Paint Magic painting book. These clever paint with water books come with a paintbrush and the pages tear out easily.

25. Busy Books — Working the activities on the pages of busy books will help young children develop their fine motor skills, learn colors, and practice matching. The activities in busy books will keep toddlers occupied for a long time. 

26. Dot Marker Books — Toddlers can color with dot markers, which helps them work on their coordination without making a mess. Bring these markers along.

27. Sticker Books — Peeling and placing stickers will keep little hands busy during a flight! I love the illustrations in this sticker book and how it lays flat, so it’s easy for toddlers to use. Reusable sticker books are great fun for toddlers.

Picture books for toddlers on a plane

28. Richard Scarry Books — Books by Richard Scarry are always a great option! I recommend Richard Scarry’s Busy Busy Airport or Richard Scarry’s Planes for entertaining a toddler on a flight!

29. I Spy Books — “I Spy” books are so fun for toddlers! (And honestly, older kids love “I Spy” books too!)

Story books for flying with a toddler

30. Maisy Goes on a Plane —Your toddler will love this book about a first flight!

31. Llama Llama Family Vacation — Toddlers love Llama Llama books, and this one is perfect to read when you’re heading off on your own family vacation!

32. Grumpy Monkey — This book is excellent to help toddlers understand their emotions and overcome a meltdown!

33. Good Night Our World — The Good Night Our World board books let toddlers say “good night” to destinations around the world, including Paris, New York City, and London, as well as US destinations like Nantucket and Texas.

34. The Gruffalo — Such a great story about bravery when going on a journey!

Technology Essentials for Flying with a Toddler

35. Erasable LCD Drawing Pad —This LCD drawing tablet lets toddlers doodle, mess-free, then erase the screen to start a new drawing!

36. Kid-sized headphones — The toddler headphones come in variety of patterns and colors, so you can find your toddler’s favorite color. There’s a volume limit and the headphones are sized for small children.

37. iPad Tablet — For portable entertainment, bring an iPad. Before your flight, download your toddler’s favorite videos with nursery rhymes, tv shows or movies and games. Then, if the inflight entertainment system doesn’t have something that engages your child, you’re prepared.

If you don’t normally allow your child to have much screen time, don’t worry about limiting technology during a long flight!

38. Portable charger — You don’t want to risk your phone or tablet running out of charge when you’re traveling with your toddler. I like this power bank portable battery, because charging cables are built in!

39. Kiddopia Phone App —Kiddopia is a great phone app to entertain a toddler on a flight.

30 Best Tips for How to Fly with A Toddler

Before Flying with a Toddler

If you’re flying with a toddler, especially for the first time, here are some top tips to make your flight go more smoothly. 

1. If you’re flying internationally, try to book an overnight flight. Your toddler will be more likely to fall asleep on the flight, since it’s at night. This will help avoid jet lag.

2. If you’re flying during the day, try booking a flight during regular nap times. Flight times may change, so this might not work out if you have flight delays, but it’s worth a try!

3. Book a direct flight whenever you can! If you can reduce your overall travel time it might be worth the extra cost. And you don’t want to risk missing a connecting flight, especially if you’re booked on the last flight of the day.

4. Consider if you want a window seat or an aisle seat. Looking out the airplane window is a fun way to see the world through your toddler’s eyes! Aisle seats make it easier to go to the lavatory.

5. Plan ahead to be sure you have everything you need—and extras. Bring more than you think you might need in case there is a flight delay, the bottle spills, baby gets diarrhea, etc. This is extra important on long-haul flights!

5. If you are flying alone with a toddler, ask your airline for assistance from check-in to aircraft and from aircraft to baggage claim. 

6. Arrive at the airport early to give yourself plenty of time to check in and get through security.

Consider getting TSA Precheck so you and your kids can skip the long security line.

7. Find out if there will be a play area at the airport. (The Stuttgart Airport has a great one, if you happen to be flying to the Baden-Wurttemberg region of Germany.)

If you can’t find a play area, try to find a quiet seating area and let them run and roam. With any luck, your toddler will wear themselves out before boarding the flight. 

8. Have a last bathroom break and diaper change right before boarding. 

9. Use priority boarding for a little extra time to get settled on your flight. Ask flight attendants if you need help. 

10. If you’re traveling with a one-year old small enough to comfortably carry, wear a baby carrier.  Your hands will be free, and your little one will be close to you and easy to comfort. 

11. Whether you’re traveling with a younger toddler or an older toddler, it’s a good idea to bring a lightweight stroller that you can open with one hand.

A lightweight travel stroller is extremely handy for getting through the airport quickly. Gate check the stroller so you’ll have it when you disembark the plane.

If you’re traveling with a toddler as well as older children, consider getting this sit-and-stand stroller, so preschoolers or elementary-aged kids can hitch a ride too. 

12. Or, trade the travel stroller for a ride-on kids suitcase. Ride-on luggage lets kids burn some energy, take responsibility for their own suitcase, and frees up your hands.

13. Explain the rules of flying to your toddler and tell them what to expect on the flight. Let them know that they will have to stay seated and use indoor voices. Tell them they won’t be able to walk around, unless it’s to go to the lavatory.

14. Be willing to accept and ask for help. If other travelers in the airport or fellow passengers on your flight offer to help you, accept the help. If you are struggling, ask a flight attendant or someone nearby to lend a hand!

Experienced Moms’ Favorite Tips for Toddler Plane Activities

15. Pack toys in these mesh bags and pencil pouches to make busy bags and keep toys organized (a bag for stickers, a bag for coloring supplies, etc.)

As your flight progresses, rotate activities to keep your toddler engaged. This is especially key on a long haul flight, when you need to keep them engaged the entire time!

16. Bring enough new toys or books so that you can give your toddler a new toy or a new book every hour.

They’ll look forward to the new item, and the toy itself will help pass the time. Don’t let the kids see the new toys and games until they are on the flight. 

17. Wrap each new toy. It will take your toddler a few minutes to unwrap each new toy, and every minute of entertainment counts! 

18. Alternate activities. Sticker book, story book, activity toys, etc. Offering a variety of small activities is one of the best ways to keep younger children from getting bored on a plane trip. 

19. Put toy straps on toys to keep them from falling. Lanyards are a great idea to keep from losing small toys on the plane. 

Eating Tips for a Toddler on an Airplane

20. Pack lots of snacks.  Some healthy snacks include cut up fruit and vegetables, whole grain crackers. Pack things you know your toddler will eat.

21. Bring multiple packages of snacks. Pack snacks into small containers so that you can offer snacks throughout the journey, instead of it all getting eaten (or worse, spilled!) all at once.

22. Make eating take time. Your best bet is to make your toddler work for their snacks! Toddlers can spend a lot of time taking snacks out of this container. And it’s practically spill-proof!

23. Give your toddler lollipops for takeoff and landing. Toddlers are too young to chew gum, so lollipops help equalize the ear pressure and prevent ear pain.

24. Bring a few drinks. Pack small juice boxes or milk boxes in your diaper bag with freezer packs. (Just be sure to declare everything when you go through security screening.)

Your toddler can get milk or juice on the flight, but having some ready-to-serve drinks will be handy in the airport.

Transportation Security Administration rules allow for toddler food and drinks, as well as ice packs.

25. Bring a toddler water bottle and fill it once you’ve gotten through airport security.

Sleeping Tips for a Toddler on an Airplane

26. Be lenient with nap time and bedtime. It might really hard for your toddler to adjust to changing timezones, so be flexible. Try to get them back on a bedtime routine once you get settled at your final destination.

27. Pack a comfort item, like a blanket or toy. However, leave the favorite lovey at home. Pack a “travel buddy” lovey instead, so no hearts are broken if the toy gets lost.

28. Noise canceling headphones can really help little kids sleep on the plane, because they minimize all the distracting airplane sounds.

Packing Tips for Flying with a toddler

Diaper Bag Essentials for Flights with a Toddler

29. Before you fly with your toddler, pack your diaper bag efficiently.  Include a diaper pouch so you don’t have to take the large diaper bag to the lavatory. The small diaper pouch will make diaper changes so much easier!

In your diaper bag, you’ll want to have:

• Diaper pouch
• Lots of diapers or pull-ups
• Wipes
• Changing pad
• Diaper cream
• Plastic bags for dirty diapers
• Wet bag for soiled clothes
• Lotion
• Lip balm
• Sippy cup and snacks
• Bib that catches crumbs
• Water bottle and snacks for parent
• Spare bra, shirt, breast pads for nursing moms
• Scarf instead of a nursing cover

30. Organize the diaper bag so that you can easily find what you need when you need it. Pack toys and games together.

Pack all liquids together in a plastic bag to take out before going through security (wipes, purified water, breast milk, juices, etc.)

FAQs About Flying with a Toddler

Can a Toddler take a Carry-On Bag on a flight?

If your toddler is two or older, you’ll be required to buy them their own seat. In that case, your child can also bring a carry-on bag. Give your toddler a toddler-sized backpack. 

Pack your toddler’s carry on with a change of clothes, some toys, a water bottle, and snacks. Don’t make the bag too heavy, because if your toddler tires of carrying it, you’ll have to carry it!

Should I take Carry-on Baggage or Checked luggage?

Whether to pack a carry-on bag or check a suitcase is always a topic of debate, and people have strong personal preferences. When flying with a toddler, I always vote for checking the luggage. 

Going through the airport with a toddler and a diaper bag–perhaps with a stroller—do you want to have to deal with a carry-on bag, too? 

If you are flying solo with a toddler, consider checking a bag, instead of carrying a bag. You’ll be juggling enough already, and will appreciate having one less thing to keep up with! When two parents are flying with a toddler, a carry-on bag could be more doable. 

If you are an experienced minimalist packer flying solo with a toddler for a brief trip, maybe a carry-on bag (plus the diaper bag) is a better choice. Choose what would be easiest and less stressful for you!

Will my toddler need their own seat? 

Under age two

If your toddler isn’t two years old yet, they can fly without a seat of their own on domestic flights. Your child will be considered a lap infant.

Your toddler will have to sit on your lap for the entire journey, and you won’t have much room. Does your toddler like being held? Do you want to hold your toddler for the duration of the flight?

If you only want to buy one ticket, consider if the additional charge for first class would be worth the extra space. You’ll have more room and get more attention from the cabin crew.

If you are flying internationally, your child may need their own ticket, but not their own seat. Make your reservation directly through the airline.

If you buy a ticket for a child under age two, you can bring their car seat. It’s a safer option for young children than the standard airplane seat belt, and your child might fall asleep more easily in the familiar seat.

On international flights, you can reserve bassinet seats for babies, but most toddlers exceed the height and weight limits. (If you’re flying with a one year old toddler, you might find these tips for traveling with a baby to be helpful, too.)

Over age two

Children two years old and older must have their own seat. If your toddler is over age two, you’ll have to buy a separate seat.

While you might not love paying for an extra seat, the good news is that the additional cost will allow you to spread out a bit. You’ll be able to open your airplane tray table.

And you can put your toddler’s car seat in the airplane seat. A toddler car seat is the safest way to keep toddlers buckled in during a flight, and a comfortable way for many toddlers to sleep during a flight. 

The Federal Aviation Administration offers guidelines on installing child car seats in planes.

If only one parent is traveling, do we need a parental consent letter?

In a parental consent letter, one parent grants permission to the other to take the child out of the country.

You will only need a parental consent letter if you are traveling on international flights. Actually, you may not ever be asked for it, but if you have one, you’ll avoid any hassles at customs. 

Check the policies of the countries you’re visiting to see what requirements they have. Some may require a certain online form to be filled out, and others might require a notarized letter. To be safe, you should also bring a copy of your child’s birth certificate.

If you write a letter, you need to list approximate travel dates, the phone number for the other parent, countries where you’ll be traveling, and any other significant details. 

Final Thoughts on Traveling on a Plane with a Toddler

Traveling with a toddler on a plane can be stressful. But airplane travel days can also be fun adventures!

With careful planning before flying with your toddler, you’ll be ready to keep your toddler entertained on the plane and minimize the stress of flying.

Choose the right toys for the toddler stage your little one is currently in. Use this list of toddler airplane activities and travel games to make your flight as much fun as possible! 

Keep in mind that flying can be hard for everyone. If you’re dreading your flight with your toddler, being prepared will help you feel more in control of the situation.  Check out my favorite mom travel hacks for more ideas about preparing for travel with kids.

Then just relax and try to enjoy this great opportunity for uninterrupted time with your little one! 

These tips and activities for flying with a toddler will also be useful when you arrive at your hotel room or venture out on a road trip at your destination.

Whether you’re taking a short flight or heading halfway around the world to explore new places or take a family gap year, these toddler tips for flying will make the journey easier for your whole family.

I hope you loved these great ideas to keep a toddler happy on a flight!

(If you want to post about your adventures on Instagram, here are the best captions for traveling with your little one and awesome captions about flying.)

Have the best time on your wonderful adventure together!