Flying with kids can feel overwhelming, especially on long flights with kids or if it’s your first family flight. With the right preparation, snacks, activities and a flexible mindset, flying with babies, toddlers and older kids can be much easier. In this guide we share practical tips for flying with children, including airport tips, airplane activities and advice for traveling with babies and toddlers.
Flying with kids is easiest when you prepare ahead, bring simple activities and keep expectations flexible. Snacks, small games and opportunities to move around during the flight can make a big difference, especially on longer journeys.
Parents often find that flights go much smoother when children have something to do and when the day doesn’t feel too rushed. A relaxed mindset also helps. Kids can sometimes be noisy or restless on a plane, and that’s completely normal. Most travelers understand this, so it helps not to worry too much about what other passengers might think.
In this guide we share practical tips for every part of flying with kids. We cover how to prepare for flights with babies and toddlers, how to keep children busy with plane activities, simple airport tips for families, and ideas for travel day activities that make long journeys easier for everyone.
Quick Summary: Flying with Kids
Flying with kids is easier when you prepare ahead, bring snacks and simple activities, and plan for each stage of the journey including the airport, boarding and long flights.
- 🍎 Pack snacks, wipes and extra clothes in your carry-on bag
- 🎒 Bring simple plane activities for kids, like coloring pages, small games or printable travel activities
- ✈️ Let kids move around during longer flights when it is safe to do so
- 👀 Turn airport waiting time into a game with observation challenges
- 🍼 Plan around sleep and feeding routines when flying with a baby or toddler
- ✈️ Prepare a few activities for long flights or delays
Flying with kids can feel intimidating, especially before your first family flight. We remember feeling exactly the same. Our first trip with a baby felt like a big step, and we wondered how our child would handle a long flight.
We first flew with our oldest daughter when she was about six months old. That trip was relatively short, but it gave us the confidence to try longer journeys later on.
Since then we’ve flown with our kids many times. First with one child, and later with both of our daughters. They are now five and three years old, and over the years we’ve taken flights to destinations like Greece, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and several trips to Southeast Asia.
Of course, not every flight has been perfectly smooth.
There were flights where sleep didn’t work out, where a toddler suddenly had endless energy, or where one of us ended up doing endless walks up and down the airplane aisle.
But those experiences also taught us what really helps during family travel.
What we learned over the years is that flying with kids becomes much easier with a bit of preparation, simple activities and a relaxed mindset. With those things in place, long travel days can actually become part of the adventure.
In this guide we share the things that have helped us most when flying with babies, toddlers and young kids.
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Flying with kids often feels like a bigger challenge before the trip than it actually is. With a little preparation and a few simple activities, family flights can be much easier than many parents expect.
The most important thing to know is that preparation helps more than anything else. Having snacks, small activities and a few familiar routines ready can make a big difference during long travel days.
Quick Tips Before Flying with Kids
- 🎒 Pack a small carry-on bag for your kids
- 🍎 Bring snacks, wipes and spare clothes
- ⏰ Choose flights that fit your child’s routine
- 🎲 Prepare a few simple travel activities
- 😌 Keep your expectations flexible
Preparing the right carry-on bag can make a big difference during family flights. In our guide about Carry-On Essentials for Flying with Kids, we share the five things we always pack for long flights with kids.
Why Preparation Helps When Flying with Kids
When flying with kids, having small games and a few familiar routines ready can make a big difference during long travel days.
It also helps to remember that kids are naturally curious. Even simple things like looking out of the airplane window or walking through the aisle can already feel like part of the adventure.
Helpful Activities When Flying with Kids
Sometimes the most challenging moments during travel are the quiet waiting times. Having a few simple activities ready can make a big difference. We made a free printable airplane activity that works well during flights or airport waiting time.
If you’re preparing for longer travel days, printable games can also help keep kids busy during flights, airports or transfers.
Our 👉 Travel Activity Book for Kids includes 50 printable travel games designed specifically for flights, airport waits and long travel days and works especially well for toddlers and younger children.
Older kids sometimes also enjoy drawing or writing about the journey. Our family travel journals are designed for kids who want to capture their travel adventures during the trip.
👉 Browse the Family Travel Shop
💡 Crew Tip: Before longer flights we pack a small bag with a few tiny surprise gifts like stickers, mini toys or a coloring activity. When the kids start getting restless, they get to open one. It’s a simple trick, but can really help.
What to Arrange Before a Flight with Kids
A little planning before the flight can make the entire travel day much smoother. Taking care of a few practical things in advance helps reduce stress once the journey begins.
Quick Things to Arrange Before Flying with Kids
- 💺 Reserve seats together so the whole family can sit together
- 🛏️ Request a bassinet seat in advance for long-haul flights with babies
- 🚗 Arrange transport from the airport to your accommodation
- 🏨 Make sure your first night’s stay is already booked
- 🕓 Plan a relaxed first day after arrival to recover from the journey
Planning these small details ahead of time can make the start of your trip much more relaxed, especially after a long flight with kids.
If you’re traveling to destinations like Bali or Lombok, it can also help to prepare a few destination-specific things before the trip. In our guide about preparing for a trip to Bali and Lombok with kids, we share the things that helped us most before our flights to Indonesia.
👉 Read our Bali & Lombok travel preparation guide
Below we share our best tips for specific situations when flying with kids.
Flying with kids for the first time often feels more stressful than the flight itself. Many parents worry about sleep, pressure changes during takeoff and landing, or how their child will react in a busy airport environment. In practice, most children adapt surprisingly quickly to flying, especially when the day feels calm and predictable.
Choosing a flight that fits your child’s routine already helps a lot. Bringing familiar snacks, a favorite toy or a simple activity can make the experience feel more comfortable for younger children. Arriving at the airport early also gives everyone time to settle into the travel day without feeling rushed.
It also helps to remember that flights rarely go exactly as planned with kids, and that’s completely normal. Even when sleep doesn’t work or routines shift slightly, most families find that the first flight is much easier than expected once the journey begins.
Flying with a toddler is often the most challenging part of flying with kids, especially during longer flights. Toddlers have a lot of energy and often find it difficult to sit still for long periods of time.
The good news is that with a few simple strategies, flying with toddlers is usually much easier than many parents expect.
Quick Tips for Flying with a Toddler
- 🧸 Bring small toys or simple activities they can use while sitting
- 🍎 Pack plenty of snacks in your carry-on bag
- ✈️ Allow time for short walks up and down the aisle
- 😴 Try to plan flights around nap time when possible
- 🎁 Small surprise toys can help during restless moments
- 📱 Download a few favorite shows or movies on a tablet
- 🛏️ Consider an inflatable airplane bed for longer flights
Toddlers usually do best when they have something to do and when the flight doesn’t feel too restrictive. Small activities, snacks and the chance to move around can already make a big difference during longer flights.
Every child is different, of course. What works for one toddler might not work for another. For us, we’ve learned that it often works best not to force sleep during flights. Instead, we let our kids slowly get tired while watching a show, playing or looking out of the window. Eventually they usually fall asleep on their own when they’re ready.
Some parents try to limit screen time at home, but during long flights a few downloaded shows on a tablet can sometimes be a lifesaver.
Flying with a baby can feel like a big step, especially on your first family trip. Many parents wonder how feeding, sleep and diaper changes will work during a flight.
The good news is that babies often adapt quite well to flying. With a little preparation and a few familiar routines, many flights with babies go smoother than parents expect.
Quick Tips for Flying with a Baby
- 🍼 Breastfeed, bottle-feed or offer a pacifier during takeoff and landing
- 🛏️ Request a bassinet seat for long-haul flights when booking
- 👶 Bring a baby carrier for easier movement through the airport
- 🎒 Pack extra diapers, wipes and a spare outfit
- 🧸 Bring a familiar blanket or comfort item
For longer flights, a bassinet seat can be very helpful. Many airlines offer bassinets for babies on long-haul flights, but they usually need to be requested in advance and availability is limited.
Feeding during takeoff and landing can also help babies adjust to the pressure change. Many mothers breastfeed during these moments, while bottle-feeding or a pacifier can work just as well.
Keeping kids entertained is one of the biggest keys to flying with kids successfully, especially on longer flights. Even simple activities can help pass the time and prevent boredom during flights.
Many parents find that a mix of small games and simple activities works best when flying with kids.
Simple Plane Activities for Kids
- 🎨 Coloring pages or small drawing activities
- 🔎 Window spotting games (clouds, islands, airplanes)
- 🎲 Simple travel games like tic-tac-toe or bingo
- 🎁 Small surprise toys or little gifts to unwrap
- 📚 Small books, sticker books or a travel journal
- 📱 Downloaded shows or movies on a tablet
Even small activities can keep kids busy longer than you might expect, especially when you introduce them one by one during the flight.
We also created a free printable airplane activity that works well during flights and airport waiting times.
If you’d like more activities like these, our Travel Activity Pack for Kids includes 60 printable travel games designed for flights, airports and travel days.
Travel Activity Book for Kids
Travel Activity Book for Kids is a printable bundle packed with fun games, coloring pages and travel activities to keep kids busy, happy and entertained during flights, airport waits and long travel days.
Older kids sometimes also enjoy writing or drawing about their trip. Our 👉 kids travel journals are designed to help children capture their travel adventures along the way.
Airports can sometimes mean long waiting times before boarding. For kids, this can quickly turn into boredom if there is nothing to do.
The good news is that airports can also be a fun place to explore together. Many kids enjoy watching airplanes, walking through the terminal or turning the waiting time into a small game.
Simple Airport Activities for Kids
- ✈️ Go plane spotting and count different airplanes
- 👣 Take a short walk through the terminal to burn some energy
- 🔎 Play a simple airport scavenger hunt
- 🛝 Check if the airport has a playground or kids area
- 🍎 Have a small snack break together before boarding
- 📚 Bring a small activity like a book or travel game
Many larger airports also have play areas or family zones where kids can move around for a bit before the flight. Taking a short walk through the terminal can also help kids release some energy before boarding.
Airports are also a great moment to introduce a new activity before the flight starts. Small games, coloring pages or simple observation challenges can keep kids entertained while waiting at the gate.
If you’re preparing for a longer trip to Southeast Asia, see our guides for traveling Indonesia with kids or Thailand with kids.
Long flights with kids are often the part of family travel that parents worry about most, especially if you’re traveling far from home. But with a little preparation and a flexible mindset, family flights are often more manageable than they might seem.
Breaking the flight into small phases often helps children cope better with long travel days. For example, many families alternate snacks, activities, short walks and rest moments instead of expecting children to sit still for several hours at a time.
It also helps to relax some of the usual routines for a travel day. A bit more screen time than usual, an extra snack or a small treat can sometimes make the journey much smoother for everyone.
Quick Tips for Long Flights with Kids
- 🧥 Dress kids in comfortable layers for changing cabin temperatures
- 🍎 Offer small snacks regularly during the flight
- 🎒 Keep your most important items within reach
- 😴 Let kids fall asleep naturally when they get tired
- 😌 Try to stay relaxed and flexible as parents
Another helpful mindset during flights is not to worry too much about the people around you. Kids are part of travel, and most passengers understand that family flights aren’t always perfectly quiet. Staying calm yourself often helps the whole situation feel easier.
In the end, flights are just the beginning of the adventure. With a few simple preparations and some patience, they can become part of the travel experience for kids as well.
Planning a bigger trip with your family? We share detailed guides and travel tips for destinations across Southeast Asia.
Malaysia
- Kuala Lumpur with Kids
- Sepilok with Kids
- Semporna with Kids
- Kinabatangan River with Kids
- Malaysia itinerary with kids
- Borneo with kids
Indonesia
Thailand
📥 Want more tips? Visit our Family Travel Shop for printables, travel journals, and guides to make your trip smoother.
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Enjoy your next adventure with your family ✈️
The Little Passport Crew
Flying with kids can feel intimidating before the trip, but it is often easier than parents expect with the right preparation. Bringing snacks, small activities and keeping a flexible mindset can make a big difference during long flights. Many families find that children adapt surprisingly well to air travel.
When flying with kids, it helps to pack snacks, wipes, spare clothes and a few small activities in your carry-on bag. Simple travel games, coloring pages or downloaded shows can keep children entertained during long flights. Preparing a small activity bag can make the journey much smoother.
The best way to entertain kids on a long flight is to bring a mix of activities such as coloring pages, small toys, travel games and books. Downloaded movies or shows can also help during longer stretches of the flight. Introducing activities one by one often helps keep kids engaged for longer.
Yes, many babies and toddlers are able to sleep during flights. Some airlines offer bassinet seats for babies on long-haul flights, which can help them sleep more comfortably. Letting children fall asleep naturally when they get tired often works better than trying to force a sleep schedule.
There is no perfect age to fly with kids, as every child is different. Many families start flying with babies from around six months old, while toddlers and older children can often enjoy the experience more actively. With preparation and simple activities, children of almost any age can travel well by plane.