10 Travel Essentials That Make Flying With Kids Easier
Flying with kids can be very overwhelming for both parents and kids.
Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of the links, TravelWithKids may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Over time, a few simple things have proven especially useful on family flights. The best travel essentials are not necessarily the biggest or most expensive ones. Often, it is the small things that make the biggest difference.
From keeping kids entertained to making snacks easier and creating a little extra comfort, here are 10 things worth considering for your next flight with kids.
1. Kids’ Headphones
A good pair of headphones is one of those things that is easy to appreciate once the flight gets underway.
Whether kids are watching a movie, listening to music, an e-book or playing a game, having their own headphones makes screen time much easier.
For younger children, look for headphones that are lightweight, comfortable and easy to use. A volume limit can also be a useful feature to keep those tiny ears safe.
Travel tip: Keep the headphones somewhere easy to reach in the hand luggage. There is nothing quite like trying to find them at the bottom of a packed backpack once everyone is seated.
A reusable water bottle is a simple travel essential for the whole family.
A stainless steel bottle is sturdy and can be used throughout the journey , at the airport, on the plane and once you reach your destination.
For younger children, a bottle with an easy-to-use lid can make it much easier for them to drink independently.
Remember that bottles normally need to be empty when going through airport security and can be filled again once through security. Check the liquid rules for flying with kids/babies/toddlers on your airport website.
Snacks are a big part of getting through a long travel day with kids.
A small snack box keeps everything together and makes it easy for children to see what is available. It also helps avoid having a whole collection of snack packets rolling around at the bottom of the hand luggage.
There is no need to pack an enormous selection. A few familiar favourites can go a long way.
Crackers, sandwich and dried fruit can all work well, depending on the child’s age and the destination.
Travel tip: Pack a few snacks that take a little longer to eat. It can make a surprisingly big difference when there are still hours left of the flight. Eksampel: instead of a bag of candy, bring a lollipop which takes quite a while to get through. Bonus tip, for bigger kids, a lollipop can also help reduce pressure in their ears from going up/down the air.
Not every minute of a flight needs to involve a screen.
An activity book can be a simple way to add some screen-free entertainment to the journey. Look for books with a mix of drawing, colouring, puzzles, mazes or other age-appropriate activities.
They are also easy to pack and take up very little space in a carry-on bag. An activity book can also be used while on vacation for those typical waiting moments, like on a restaurant.
For younger children, a familiar type of activity can be especially useful because there is no need for a long explanation before getting started.
When it comes to toys for a flight, small is usually better.
Compact puzzles, magnetic activities, building toys and other quiet activities can keep little hands busy without taking up the entire tray table. For babies and toddlers, spinners can be a fun activity.
Rather than bringing a large number of toys, a few small activities can be enough.
Travel tip: Keep some activities hidden until later in the flight. Bringing out something new after a couple of hours can feel like a little reset when everyone is getting restless.
Small building toys such as Plus-Plus can work surprisingly well for travel.
The pieces take up very little space, but there are plenty of possibilities for building and creating. A small container or zip bag can help keep everything together in the hand luggage.
They can also be a great screen-free option for children who enjoy building and creating.
Travel tip: A small selection is often enough. There is no need to bring the entire collection on holiday.
A small LEGO set can provide a focused activity during a flight without taking up much room. Smaller sets are also easier to manage in the limited space available at an airplane seat.
For travel, it can be useful to choose a set that can be completed in one sitting rather than bringing a large box with hundreds of pieces.
And just like with other small toys, keeping the set packed away until later in the flight can make it feel like something new and exciting.
9. An Inflatable Footrest
Airplane seats are designed with adults in mind, which means that smaller children can sometimes struggle to get comfortable during a long flight.
An inflatable footrest can give little legs somewhere to rest and may make longer periods of sitting more comfortable.
These products are not permitted by every airline or in every situation, so always check the rules of the airline you are travelling with before bringing or using one. Some airlines may also have restrictions during take-off, landing or turbulence.
Sleeping on a plane is not always easy for children.
A compact travel pillow can provide some extra support and make it easier to settle in for a nap, especially during longer flights or overnight journeys.
Look for something that is comfortable but does not take up too much space in the hand luggage.
For younger children, it can also be helpful to choose a pillow that is easy for them to position themselves.
What to Pack in the Kids’ Hand Luggage
The goal is not to fill the entire hand luggage with toys and activities.
A few carefully chosen things can be more useful than a bag packed with everything.
A simple combination could be:
Something to listen to Kids’ headphones
Something to do An activity book, stickers or a small building toy
Something to eat A small snack box
Something to drink A reusable water bottle
Something for comfort A travel pillow or, where permitted, a footrest
Something for just in case moments An extra spare of clothes is always a good idea, especially on a long flight. For babies a small hat to cover their ears can be useful, as the flights overnight can get quite cold.
The right combination will always depend on the child’s age, personality and the length of the journey.
A Few Extra Tips for Flying With Kids
Keep the important things within reach
The things that are most likely to be needed during the flight should not be buried at the bottom of a suitcase.
Headphones, snacks, activities and a water bottle should ideally be easy to reach from the seat.
Bring familiar things
A flight is not necessarily the best time to test ten completely new activities.
A mix of familiar favourites and one or two new surprises can work really well.
Pack small
Airplane space is limited. Compact activities that can be used at the seat are generally much easier to manage than large toys.
Don’t bring everything at once
There is no need to unpack every activity as soon as the plane takes off.
Keeping a few things tucked away means there is always something else to bring out later.
TravelWithKids’ Flight Essentials
Looking for everything in one place?
Here are some of the family travel essentials that can make a long flight a little easier. From entertainment and snacks to comfort and practical things for the hand luggage.
Flying with kids does not have to mean bringing an entire suitcase of entertainment.
A few small, well-chosen essentials can help make the journey more comfortable, keep little hands busy and make those long hours in the air feel a little easier.
And sometimes, the simplest things — a favourite snack, a good pair of headphones or a small activity saved for later, are the things that make the biggest difference.
Have a safe flight! And as always, feel free to ask questions below.
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of the links, TravelWithKids may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
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