Let’s be real: flying with a toddler can feel like preparing for a mini adventure—complete with unexpected surprises and a side of chaos! If you’re anything like me, the thought of a long flight with a busy little one can be a bit daunting. I mean, who wants to deal with a bored toddler and the potential meltdowns that come with it?
But fear not! With a solid packing list tailored for toddlers, you can navigate the skies with confidence and keep your little one entertained (and nourished) throughout the journey. After all, a well-prepared mom is a happy mom!
I still remember my first flight with my oldest, Serena, when she was a toddler. We were heading to Orlando, and I thought I had everything figured out until I realized I needed to pack a few more fun distractions. Now, after multiple flights with my two kiddos, I’ve learned a thing or two about what to include in our carry-on. So, buckle up, mama; here’s my ultimate toddler airplane packing list!
Access our free printable carry-on packing list for toddlers.
Type of Carry-On: Backpack
Just like with babies, I swear by using a backpack (basically our diaper bag or a bigger backpack) for our carry-on! It keeps my hands free for managing documents and juggling luggage. For my family of four (two adults, a toddler, and a baby), I usually bring two backpacks: one as a diaper bag for essentials and snacks, and the other for my personal items like a laptop and jackets. This way, everything is organized and easy to access.
💡 Pro Tip: Always keep your diaper bag carry-on with you on the flight and store it under the seat in front of you. This way, you can quickly grab snacks or toys without having to dig through overhead compartments!
What To Carry-On the Flight
Important Documents
Don’t forget the paperwork because you literally can’t travel without it. Here’s what you’ll need:
For Domestic Travel (U.S.)
- Minors: A birth certificate (a printed copy or a photo on your phone) or passport.
- Adults: REAL ID or passport.
For International Travel
- Passports: For everyone, including babies and toddlers. Apply early—it can take up to 3 months! Also, make sure that you’re not 6 months within the expiration date. I learned that the hard way.
- Visas: If required by your destination country.
- Notarized Consent Form: If traveling without the other parent, it’s better to have it just in case.
Learn how I took my baby’s passport photo step-by-step and printed it for just $0.14! You can do this for any child or adult.
Potty and Diapering Essentials
Packing the right diapering supplies can make all the difference.
If your toddler isn’t potty-trained
- 6 Diapers: I always pack more than I think I’ll need—better safe than sorry! You never know when there might be delays, lost check-in baggage, or extra pooping or blowouts if elevation or airplane food affects your child differently (this happened to my mommy friend while traveling back from the Philippines!)
- Wipes: At least half a pack to keep things clean.
- Changing Mat: Prevents direct contact with the public changing tables to keep your child clean (as clean as they can be).
- Diaper Trash Bags: Trust me, you’ll want these for dirty diapers or soiled clothes!
- Antibacterial Wipes: Great for cleaning your toddler’s hands and surfaces before they touch anything (because they will touch everything).
If your toddler is mostly potty-trained
- Wipes: To keep things clean. I just always bring wipes for young kids.
- Foldable Travel Seat: This makes it easier for small toddlers to use the bigger toilets, and they don’t have to touch the public toilets.
- Travel Potty Seat: Lots of parents bring this along for their travels when they are potty-training. I personally would bring this on a car, but not a flight because there are bathrooms everywhere on the airplane and at the airport, although sometimes you have to wait for the airplane bathrooms. I wanted to mention this just in case your child can’t wait.
Extra Clothes and Accessories
Accidents happen, especially with little ones. Here’s what I recommend:
- 1 Extra Change of Clothes for Everyone: You never know when a spill or blowout might occur. My kids have never thrown up on the plane (yet, knock on wood), but I have seen other kids throw up on flights. There is usually a paper bag in front of each seat for this reason. Two of my mommy friends also said their child threw up on them, and they ended up smelling the whole flight. Don’t let that be you! Bring an extra outfit for you and your child.
- Jackets: Airplanes often have air conditioning on blast, so I pack jackets for everyone.
- Waterproof Bibs: Always handy for preventing a mess at feeding time!
Snacks and Drinks
Depending on how you’re feeding your toddler, here’s what to bring:
- If Breastfeeding:
- Nursing cover (if preferred)
- Nursing pads
- If Bottle Feeding:
- Milk bottles or sippy cups
- Milk
- Whole milk (can be half-gallon or pre-poured in a milk bottle or smaller juice box sizes)
- Formula powder or premixed liquid formula
- Pumped milk in milk storage bags
- Cooler with ice pack
- If Pumping: On The Trip
- Breast pump
- Milk storage bags
- Cooler with ice pack
- Solid Foods:
- Pureed pouches
- Dissolvable puffs
- Cereal
- Cut-up fruits
- Empty Water Bottle: To bypass additional screening for your liquids, you can bring an empty water bottle through TSA and fill it up with water after passing security.
Exemptions to the TSA Liquid Rule
Did you know that you can bring more than 3.4 oz (100 ml) of these because they are considered “medically necessary liquids?
- whole milk
- formula (pre-mixed) or even water for the formula
- breast milk
- toddler drinks (like juice boxes)
- baby/toddler food (like pureed pouches)
- ice packs required to cool above items
- liquid/gel medications and creams
Learn how to bring breast milk and formula through TSA on the plane for your baby.
Get tips on bringing pureed food pouches through TSA on the plane for your toddler.
See our free printable packing list for each form of feeding baby (breastfeeding, bottle-feeding whole milk, bottle-feeding pumped milk, bottle-feeding formula) in Checklists For Flying With a Toddler.
Keeping Your Toddler Engaged
When it comes to keeping toddlers entertained on a plane, picking the right toys is a total game-changer! We all know how long flights in a cramped space can feel, especially when all they want to do is run around. And let’s not even talk about those pesky airport delays! Having a few carefully chosen toys ready to go can really help prevent those grumpy traveler moments.
Bring 2-3 toys on the flight that are:
- Lightweight: Choose toys that fit easily in your diaper bag to avoid adding extra weight.
- Reusable: Select toys that can entertain your child multiple times during the trip, not just once.
- Few Detached Pieces: Avoid toys with many small parts to prevent having to search for them during a moving flight or train ride. It sucks (from my real experience digging for marker caps on the flight).
- Don’t Mind Losing: Not their absolute favorite toy because it’s easy to lose things during the travel chaos.
- “New-ish” Toys: Opt for toys your child hasn’t seen in a while or new toys altogether to capture their interest and keep them engaged longer. Kids just like new toys.
Our favorite toddler toys on the plane
Discover more tried-and-true airplane toy ideas that my toddler loves!
Electronics for Entertainment
When all else fails, electronics can be a lifesaver:
- Phone and Charger: Always bring these for essential travel documents and confirmations. Plus, you can use your phone to show baby pictures or videos of family and friends.
- iPad/Tablet and Charger: Download some favorite movies or games to keep your little one entertained.
- Laptop and Charger: While I don’t usually use my laptop during the flight, I prefer to keep it with me rather than check it in, just in case.
- Headphones: Perfect for watching a movie or TV show if you care about sound quality (I personally don’t). Airlines often provide these on longer flights.
FAQs About Carry-Ons for Flying with a Toddler
Traveling with a toddler can raise many questions, especially regarding what to pack in your carry-on. Here are some frequently asked questions to help you navigate the process of flying with your little one:
What about the rest of my stuff?
Toss it in your check-in bag! Then “drop it like it’s hot” at the ticket counter. Make sure to put any large liquid/gel toiletries over 3.4oz (100ml) in your check-in bag, so they won’t be thrown out during the security check.
Do you really need a birth certificate when traveling with a toddler?
A birth certificate proves your child’s age and shows who their parents are.
Out of the 14 flights I’ve taken with my kids, I’ve only been asked for a birth certificate once. I didn’t have it on hand that time, and since I never changed my last name when I got married, I didn’t share the same last name as my daughter. The airline agent ended up listing my daughter as a lap infant (she was a little under 2 years old at the time) under my husband’s name since they shared the same last name. Since then, I’ve made it a point to keep a photo of both my kids’ birth certificate stored on my phone, just in case I need it!
Since airlines are one of the first lines of defense when it comes to child trafficking, agents are more likely to ask for a birth certificate if you don’t share a last name, if you appear to be of a different race than your child, if you are in a same-sex relationship, or if you are traveling alone with a child. Try not to take offense if you’re asked for it. The agents are just doing their job to protect children and keep everyone safe.
Do you really need a consent form if you’re traveling without the other parent?
The rule is that any child under 18 traveling internationally without both parents or without one parent should provide a notarized consent form.
That being said, my husband has flown with my daughter to meet me up on a work trip (US domestic flight), and no one asked him for this. I’ve heard that most parents traveling solo with their children aren’t asked for this, but I have heard of one instance where a mom was asked, so I would rather have it than not have it if I was traveling with my kids without my partner.
Does a diaper bag count as a carry-on when traveling with a lap infant (under 2 years old)?
It depends on the airline. Most airlines allow each passenger to bring 1 carry-on and 1 personal item. Some airlines extend this allowance to lap infants, meaning that if you travel with a lap infant, you can bring 1 additional carry-on item (like a diaper bag). However, other airlines do not, so the diaper bag may count toward the adult passenger’s carry-on limit.
Personally, I typically travel with just 2 backpacks for my family of 4 (2 adults and 2 kids)—one backpack as a diaper bag and the other backpack for my laptop, iPad, and light jackets for the family. This way, I don’t stress too much about carry-on limits.
Does a cooler for milk, juice, and snacks count towards a carry-on limit?
This depends on the airline, so it’s best to ask. In my experience, it is considered “medically necessary” and won’t count towards your carry-on limit. It’s also pretty small, so it’s usually a “personal item” rather than a “carry-on,” so you can put it under your seat or in the overhead bin.
How can I keep my toddler entertained during the flight?
Pack 2-3 lightweight toys that fit easily in your diaper bag—trust me, you don’t want anything adding extra weight to that already heavy load! Choose reusable toys that can keep your child engaged throughout the trip, whether on the plane, at the airport, or in restaurants.
It’s best to avoid toys with lots of small pieces since it sucks to try to find them on a moving plane or train. Also, pick toys you wouldn’t mind losing because it’s easy to lose things in the hustle and bustle of travel. Lastly, opt for “new-ish” toys that is either new or a toy that your child hasn’t seen in a while to capture their attention longer.
Our favorite toddler toys on the plane
Discover more tried-and-true airplane toy ideas that my toddler loves!
Can I bring my car seat on the plane?
If you purchased your toddler their own seat, and you reserved a window seat that is not in an exit row (different airlines have different rules about where the car seat is allowed to be installed), then you can bring and install your car seat on the plane. However, if you have a lap infant, then you cannot bring your car seat on the flight because your child is sharing a seat with you.
To learn more about this, check out my post on How To Fly With Toddler Car Seats.
How can I bring whole milk, breast milk, or formula on the plane? How can I get it past TSA if there is more than 3.4 oz of it?
TSA (Transportation Security Administration) has specific rules about liquids, but luckily, there are exceptions for parents traveling with little ones. You can bring more than 3.4 oz of certain liquids because they’re considered “medically necessary.” This includes whole milk, breast milk, formula, drinks, pureed food pouches, and ice packs to keep these items cool.
Find out more on my post on How to bring breast milk and formula through TSA on the plane for your baby?
What if I forget something important?
Don’t panic! Most airports have shops where you can buy toddler essentials. However, it’s best to double-check your packing list before you leave home.
I have definitely forgotten some important things like a baby carrier, in which my first Uber ride was to Walmart to buy one. Other handy options are buy items through a Target drive-up order or ship what you need to your destination through Amazon.
Final Thoughts on Packing for Your Toddler’s Flight
So there you have it! With a little planning and the right carry-on essentials, you can transform the daunting task of flying with a toddler into a manageable adventure. Every flight is a new opportunity to learn and adapt—just like parenting itself!
Flying may not always be a walk in the park, but with the right tools and a sprinkle of humor, you can conquer the skies with confidence. So, take a deep breath, channel your inner travel ninja, and get ready to make some unforgettable memories with your little one.
Printable Toddler Packing List: And don’t forget to grab our free printable toddler packing list to help you stay organized for your next adventure. Happy travels, and may your flights be smooth and your toddlers blissfully entertained! Safe skies, super moms! ✈️💖
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