Traveling with a Toddler: What I Actually Pack and Use
Flying with babies and toddlers can feel overwhelming, but with a little prep, it’s totally doable. Here are my tried-and-true travel hacks after dozens of flights with my daughter.
Currently, we’re living in Seoul, South Korea. We’ve had the opportunity to visit quite a few other countries in the area, so we’ve gotten a little more comfortable with long flights.
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PATIENCE
I’m ‘a bit’ of a high-strung traveler and so find myself quicker to get frustrated over things I typically handle better. I always have to remind myself that traveling can be stressful for my kiddo too and remind myself to practice lots of extra patience. Your child will probably get frustrated on the plane and that’s okay. Things probably won’t go exactly to plan and that’s also okay. I try to stay positive and this helps everyone feel a bit better.
A CHANGE OF CLOTHES (ALWAYS!!)
For you and your child. I have no idea why, but for the first year or so of life, my daughter had a blowout on every single flight. I have no idea how that works, but extra clothes for your babies/toddlers is a must. A good wet bag or Ziploc bags are helpful too. I’ve definitely also ended up getting blown out on, so having a change of clothes for myself is now on my list too.
STICKERS
Stickers are one of my daughter’s favorite activities. We buy tons of cheap sticker books and the packs of foam stickers that are super easy to peel off and she goes crazy. Lots of other passengers have been gifted stickers by our social toddler.
NEW TOY/BOOK
Bringing something your child has never played with/read can be a great way to distract them… or they may not be interested at all and just play with all of their normal toys. Safety information cards and the drink menu can count as the new toy too 😉
A STROLLER YOU LOVE
When our daughter was younger and using an infant car seat, we would travel with our Graco Travel System. This was so easy because we could either gate check the stroller and bring the car seat on or gate check the entire system. We absolutely loved our infant travel system. Now that she’s older, we use the Summer 3Dlite+ stroller. It’s fairly compact and is great for gate check. The stroller basket is a decent size, but unfortunately doesn’t compare to our massive Graco basket that could hold at least 2 backpacks. As far as compact strollers go, we’ve been happy. The seat reclines almost all the way, so she naps comfortably and the sun shade comes down further than our infant car seat and is helpful for sunny days. It’s held up really well with lots of flights and tons of miles on bumpy sidewalks.
BABY CARRIER
This is so helpful, especially with smaller children. You’re typically not required to remove the baby from the carrier going through security and it’s helpful to be hands free moving through the airport. We loved our budget friendly Infantino carrier (tons of designs to choose from!).
SNACKS
This is legitimately the easiest way to entertain my child. We load up on her favorite snacks beforehand and will sometimes grab her favorites at the airport (especially overseas where airport convenience stores don’t have a big markup). On international flights, they typically also have snacks in the galley, so you can walk back (and stretch your legs) and let your child choose something there.
Extra tip: Offer snacks as their own activity instead of with a separate activity.
GOOD ROLLER LUGGAGE
When we moved to Korea, we started out with some basic roller luggage. One of the corners on the large suitcase was already bent in by the time we received it on its’ first flight into Korea and then the other lasted a few more trips. We finally decided to upgrade after dragging around two suitcases that didn’t properly wheel in Tokyo 🤪 We chose these Samsonite Tru-Frame Large spinners and have really liked them so far. They have a few scratches after being checked 8 times, but still function the same. I recently traveled alone with my daughter and this suitcase was so easy to wheel with a duffel bag on top while I pushed the stroller.
BASSINET SEAT
On a lot of long haul, international flights, there’s the option to request a bassinet seat if you’re traveling with a lap infant. We have done this on multiple airlines (when our daughter was within the weight limits) and it’s helpful to have a place for her to sit and (sometimes) sleep. She didn’t love sleeping in it, but we were able to transition her a few times. You also get more leg room because there are no seats in front of you and the bassinet attaches to the wall. If there’s turbulence, the flight attendants are required to have you take the baby out of the bassinet, so it’s not the most ideal option for naps on a bumpy ride.
BLACKOUT COVER
We typically stay in hotels when traveling, so we’re usually sleeping and hanging out in the same room where our daughter is sleeping. This cover has been a game-changer. We can keep lights on in the room and don’t feel tied to her bedtime. It folds up flat or is easy to stuff into a backpack. We always choose hotels that offer cribs, so have tried it on a variety of Pack n Plays and wooden cribs and it has worked perfectly every time. It’s super breathable and stretchy- she thinks it’s hilarious to stand up and show us just how stretchy it is. No need to splurge on the expensive, viral tent!
TSA Tip: For U.S. flights, you can bring formula, breast milk, and baby food in larger-than-3oz containers—just let TSA know.
Hopefully this gives you some ideas for your next trip. Just remember to go with the flow and enjoy your time together! Let me know your tips in the comments. This mama is always looking for travel advice.
SHOP THIS POST
Infant Travel System– On the more budget friendly side for travel systems and provides great storage to give your back a break from all the bags.
Toddler Umbrella Stroller– Easy to fold and comfortable for naps or sunny days.
Universal Blackout Cover– Lightweight, easy to throw in your bag, and amazing for reclaiming your nights in hotels.
Roller Luggage– So easy to roll and I love the locking feature. We loved it so much we bought a second.
Baby Carrier– Rolls up and is easy to stick in your backpack or lay flat in a suitcase. Super lightweight and great that you can use multiple ways up to 40lbs.
Favorite Toys- We love these sticker books, foam stickers, spinners to attach to the window (or your forehead 😂), and our daughter loves this play purse.
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