Flying with Kids? Our Top 5 Carry-On Essentials for Stress-Free Travel
What are the essential things to pack in your carry-on when flying with kids? Pack snacks, entertainment, sleep items, spare clothes, and medicine. These 5 essentials help keep your kids comfortable and happy, making your flight smoother and less stressful — especially when traveling with babies or toddlers.
What are the essential things to pack in your carry-on when flying with kids?
Flying with babies and toddlers can be challenging, but having the right essentials in your carry-on bag can make all the difference. From keeping your little ones fed and entertained to ensuring they stay comfortable and healthy, packing smartly helps prevent common travel headaches. In this guide, we share our top 5 carry-on must-haves for stress-free flying with kids, so you can focus on enjoying your journey together.
Quick Summary: 5 Carry-On Essentials for Kids
🍎 Snacks – keep hunger and meltdowns at bay
🎲 Entertainment – toys and activities to keep kids busy
👕 Spare Clothes & Diapering Essentials – diapers, wipes, and extra outfits for messes
😴 Sleep Items – comfort items to help with naps
💊 Medicines & First Aid – for health and emergencies
Flying with young kids: what we’ve learned
Flying with a baby or toddler? We’ve been there — and we know it can feel a bit overwhelming. Packing your own carry-on is one thing, but figuring out what your little one needs mid-flight? That’s a whole new level.
After multiple long-haul trips (including to Bali with a baby and later with a toddler), we’ve fine-tuned our carry-on strategy to what actually works — simple, practical items that make a real difference in the air.
In this post, we’re sharing the 5 carry-on essentials we never travel without. Whether you’re flying short-haul or heading off on an adventure like Bali, these kid-approved items help keep things calm, fun, and a little more predictable.
👉 Planning a trip to Bali with young kids? Don’t miss our full guide to visiting Bali with a baby or toddler — packed with tips, family-friendly spots and personal experience.
1. Best flight snacks for toddlers and babies
Kids and planes? Snacks are your secret weapon. Whether it’s a short hop or a long-haul flight, a well-packed snack stash keeps little ones calm, busy, and content — especially when routines go out the window.
Here’s what we always bring in our carry-on:
- 🧃 Refillable water bottle – usually allowed when flying with kids
- 🍌 Fruit – like bananas, apples, or fruit pouches (baby food squeeze packs)
- 🍿 Puffed corn snacks – like toddler corn sticks (low mess, easy to hold)
- 🥨 Rice cakes or breadsticks – simple, dry, and travel-friendly
- 🍬 A small treat – a few crisps or a sweet as a reward or distraction
💡 Crew Tip: Avoid sugary snacks right before nap time or bedtime on the plane — they can make it harder for your child to wind down.
2. Entertainment essentials: keeping kids happy and busy during flights
Flying with toddlers or babies means you need a few tricks up your sleeve to keep them entertained and calm.
Here’s what we always bring on board:
- 📚 Favourite book – bring a book that your child loves, something familiar and engaging
- 🎧 Tablet and kid-friendly headphones – bring kid-sized headphones to protect their ears and keep noise down
- 🎨 Compact coloring set or sticker book – small coloring set or sticker book to keep little hands busy, choose mess-free options
- 🧸 Small comfort toy – a familiar toy or cuddly item to help your child feel secure and calm
💡 Crew Tip: We usually bring several small, inexpensive surprise gifts. Just opening them can be fun — and they come in handy during trickier moments.
3. Carry-on diapering & spare clothes: what to pack for babies and toddlers
Let’s be honest — kids are adorable, but they’re also tiny chaos machines. Whether it’s a diaper blowout, juice spill, or an unexpected case of interesting smells, you’ll want to be prepared.
Here’s what we always bring in our carry-on to keep everyone clean, dry, and (relatively) fresh::
- 👶🏻 Diapers – Pack enough for the whole flight, plus a few extras — just in case of delays or surprises.
- 🧻 Baby wipes – Not just for diaper changes! Super handy for sticky hands, messy faces, and even cleaning airplane trays.
- 👕 Spare clothes – For your baby or toddler (and optionally for yourself). A clean outfit can really make a difference.
- 🧴 Diaper cream & foldable changing pad – Helps avoid irritation and makes public changing tables less of a horror show.
💡 Crew Tip: We keep all our clean-up essentials together in one small, easy-to-grab pouch — no more digging through the entire bag when disaster strikes mid-flight.
4. Sleep Items That Actually Work on Planes
Getting kids to sleep on a plane can feel like wishful thinking — especially on long-haul flights. But with a few familiar items, you can give them the best possible chance to rest (even if just for a little while).
Here are our go-to sleep essentials for flying with babies or toddlers:
- 🧸 Comfort item – Whether it’s a pacifier, lovey or a soft toy, a familiar item can make a big difference when it’s time to relax.
- 💺 Inflatable footrest – These little travel pillows can help toddlers lie flat or stretch out a bit. Not every airline allows them, but when they do, they can really help.
- 🍼 Milk or bedtime snack – A familiar routine that helps little ones wind down, just like at home.
- 🧦 Extra layer or hoodie – Airplanes can get cold, especially during night flights. A warm jumper or hoodie can help your child stay cozy and comfortable.
💡 Crew Tip: What works best for our kids? Not forcing sleep. Instead, we just stay calm and keep the lights low — and usually, once they’re truly tired, they drift off naturally.
5. What to Pack: First Aid & Medicine Kit for Flying with Kids
Being prepared with basic first aid and medicines can save a lot of stress during travel.
Here’s what we always pack for our little ones:
- 🩹Band-Aids – For tiny cuts and scrapes that happen even on smooth flights. (Also called adhesive bandages)
- 💊Children’s pain and fever relief – Paracetamol or ibuprofen, in child-appropriate doses.
- 🤒Thermometer – Handy to check if your child has a fever.
- 🧴Antiseptic cream or wipes – For cleaning minor wounds before applying a band-aid.
- 🤧Allergy medication – If your child has known allergies, never forget the antihistamines or epipen.
- 😵💫Motion sickness remedies – If your child is prone to travel sickness, pack appropriate medicine or natural remedies.
Final Thoughts: Flying with Little Ones Gets Easier
Traveling with a baby or toddler definitely takes some extra prep — but with the right carry-on essentials, your flight can be a whole lot more manageable. These are the items we always pack, and they’ve made a big difference on both short and long-haul journeys.
Looking for more tips on traveling with little ones?
👉 Don’t miss our ultimate guide to traveling with a baby or toddler to Bali — full of real-life advice, destination tips, and packing tricks for stress-free family adventures.
Save this post on Pinterest for later — and follow us on Instagram for more real-life family travel inspiration and tips.
Flying with Babies and Toddlers – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
✈️ Can I bring baby food and formula through airport security?
Yes! You’re allowed to bring reasonable amounts of baby food, formula, and breast milk through security — even if it exceeds the 100 ml liquid rule. Just separate it and inform the security staff.
👶🏻 How many diapers should I pack for a flight?
Bring more than you think you’ll need. A good rule is one diaper per hour of travel, plus a few extras in case of delays or accidents.
🎒 Can I bring a diaper bag in addition to my carry-on?
Most airlines allow a diaper bag in addition to your standard hand luggage when traveling with a baby. Always check your airline’s policy, but you’re usually allowed some extra flexibility.
🍱 What snacks are best for toddlers on planes?
Think low-mess, easy-to-eat snacks like fruit, rice cakes, puffed corn sticks, or fruit pouches. A small treat like a few crisps or sweets can be helpful too — especially during tricky moments.
😴 How can I help my baby sleep during the flight?
Bring familiar sleep items (like a comforter, pacifier, or footrest pillow), and try to follow your usual nap routine. Don’t force sleep — sometimes just staying calm and letting them doze off naturally works best.
