How to keep babies and toddlers busy on a flight
Flying with little ones can feel overwhelming, but with the right tools, you can make the journey smoother. Whether you’re traveling with a baby, an energetic toddler, or both, the key is preparation: sleep support, engaging toys, and plenty of snacks. Here are some of our top tips to help you get through the flight.
6-12 months
How to help babies sleep on planes
At this age, your baby still naps frequently, which is a gift on long-haul flights. To encourage your baby to sleep on an airplane, we recommend these fool-proof tips:
Make sure to book seats that come with extra leg room and a bassinet in advance.
Stick to your usual nap or bedtime routine as closely as possible (change diaper, bottle or nurse, white noise), and pack familiar sleep cues: pacifiers, a soft pillow, or a lightweight muslin blanket for coziness and to block out light.
Use baby carriers to help soothe them while you walk the aisle.
Best airplane toys for babies
Keep it simple, babies are stimulated easily. Here are a few of our favorite plane toys for babies:
The Sunshine Suction Spinner from Mushie is great for keeping your baby engaged on the go with a suction cup that sticks to surfaces so you don’t have to worry about it falling on the floor.
This Stackable Sensory Snail is perfect for throwing in your carry on, plus they encourage your baby’s fine motor skill development.
These Liewood silicon teething rings can be stacked for entertainment and chewed on to relieve your baby’s gum pain during the flight.
2-4 years
How to help toddlers sleep on planes
Sleep and toddlers don’t always go together, especially in an exciting new environment like an airplane. But you can help by:
Timing your flight around naptime or bedtime, if possible.
Bringing a comforting blanket, stuffed animal, or toddler neck pillow for planes.
Using a toddler airplane bed or airplane seat extender to make their seat more comfortable.
Plane activities for toddlers
Toddlers are curious, energetic, and always looking for the next thing to explore, which could make long flights with toddlers a little tricky. The best toddler plane activities are engaging, compact, and mess-free toys that encourage creativity and independent play. Don’t forget headphones and a preloaded tablet with their favorite shows, educational games, or audiobooks to help them wind down mid-flight.
For something more hands-on, try these plane activities for toddlers to keep your little ones entertained and happy on your next big trip:
Sticker books like this Disney Stitch sticker book are the perfect toddler plane activity, with colorful scenes they can complete with stickers—it’s mess-free, engaging, and easy to transport!
Lacing cards to keep little hands busy, like these jungle lacing cards from Wee Gallery, are great airplane toys for toddlers. Not only will they hold your little one’s attention for long periods, it also helps improve their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
The Yoto Player is a screen-free audio player, and the perfect airplane activity for toddlers. It offers white noise for sleep, stories, and music, ideal for keeping your little ones busy without a screen.
Tips and tricks from real parents
Buy your child the extra seat
Until the age of two, you can opt to have your baby sit on your lap for the duration of the flight, however we recommend still buying your little one a seat. Giving your child the space to move around freely might make them more comfortable and help them stay calm throughout the journey.
Pack diapers and bulky items in your car seat and stroller
Many airlines allow you to check baby gear like a car seat and stroller for free. If you decide to check your Doona or Liki, we recommend strapping bulky items like diapers inside them to save room in your carry-on bag for more activities and snacks. Note that the Doona Car Seat & Stroller is airplane certified, so you can also decide to bring it with you on the airplane to keep your baby comfortable for an entire flight.
Bring an extra bag for your little one
Many airlines allow one carry-on bag for infants or babies under 2, regardless of if they have their own seat or not. Pack a separate diaper bag with all of your baby items, or have your toddler carry their own mini backpack with everything they need. Keeping all of your baby and toddler airplane essentials easy to access during the flight will make it smoother.
Prepare your little one for pressure changes
“An especially stressful part of the flight for babies can be takeoff and landing, since pressure changes in the cabin can lead to ear pain, and babies naturally don't know how to relieve the low or high pressure in their middle ear like we do (by yawning, chewing gum or using the "valsalva" maneuver). The solution for these situations is to use a pacifier or even better, to feed them during takeoff and landing. This can help depressurize the middle ear and calm your baby down.” —Doona’s Pediatric Medical Advisor, Dr. Ben P. MD
For more tips and tricks for traveling with babies and toddlers, check out Everything you need to know about breastfeeding while traveling, or Most clever family travel hacks on the Parenting Tips blog. In the meantime, wishing you and your family a safe flight!
At Doona, we’re committed to making parenting simple for every family. That's why we’ve created our innovative and revolutionary Doona Car Seat and Stroller, transforming from car seat to a stroller in seconds; and Liki Trike — the most compact folding toddler trike on the market that grows alongside your toddler from 10-36 months.
