Preparing for Your Child’s First Flight: What Worked for Us

👀 Flying with a toddler? I have additional tips specifically for you! They’ll make flying with your little one way less intimidating!!

What to Expect Depending on Your Flight Time

No matter what time of day your flight is, there are ways to make it smoother. Here’s what to prep for — and what no one tells you until you’ve been through it.

If you’re flying overnight (red-eye):

These can be great — if your kid can sleep in motion.

What helps:

• Do your full bedtime routine at the airport or right after boarding: pajamas, diaper change, bottle, white noise playlist, story if needed
• Use a carrier if they’re used to sleeping on you
• Be ready to sit mostly still. (My arm once went numb for 7 hours, but hey — he slept.)

Set your expectations low for sleep — and if they surprise you by snoozing the whole flight? You’ll feel like you won the parenting lottery.

If you’re flying late afternoon or evening (but not a true red-eye):

This is tricky. Your body clock thinks it’s bedtime, but you land early — and no one sleeps properly.

Be ready for:

• Overtired baby + overtired parents
• Minimal sleep on board
• A grumpy landing followed by customs, luggage, and maybe even a connection

What helps:

• Snacks and entertainment, not sleep pressure
• Pajamas and comfort items to signal wind-down time, even if they don’t sleep
• Low expectations for Day 1 — don’t plan anything big until you’ve had rest

If you’re flying midday or morning:

This is great for shorter flights or babies who don’t nap well in motion.

It’s also a great option if you have a connection to catch. It gives you more flexibility in case there’s a delay!

Expect:

• More awake time = more entertaining to do
• Fewer meltdowns if your kid does best with routine
• A clearer sense of “start” and “end” to the day

What helps:

Use the time before takeoff to let them move around as much as possible

Rotate activities every 15–20 minutes: toy, book, snack, music, walk down the aisle

Bring new or “special” items to keep them curious longer

⏰Pro Tip: If you have a connection, choose flight times with extra buffer built in — and don’t miss my mom-approved tips for surviving layovers with little ones in tow.

Real Airport Tips That’ll Make You Feel Calmer

Here’s what I wish someone had told me before our first flight with our child — the real stuff that makes airports a little less stressful when you’ve got a baby on your hip or a toddler in tow and a boarding pass in your teeth.

Yes, you can bring baby liquids through security

Formula, breastmilk, water, baby food, meds — all allowed.
Just take them out of your bag before the scanner and tell the agent clearly what they are.

You’ll never have issues with this at security screening with your kids.

Pack the lovey where you can grab it — fast

Don’t bury their comfort item under a pile of diapers and spare onesies.

My daughter sobbed the first time her bunny disappeared into the scanner. Now we always say:
“Bunny’s going for a little ride! She’ll be right back.”

That one sentence prevents so many tears.

Use a Ziploc for your “security dump”

I keep one large Ziploc in the outside pocket of my carry-on with:

• Phone
• Passport
• Baby meds
• Anything I’ll have to pull out at security

When it’s go time, you just drop the whole Ziploc in the bin. Easy in, easy out.

Look for airport play areas (they’re game-changers)

Not every airport has them, but if yours does? Use it.

Let your kid crawl, run, flop, stretch, be a kid before being buckled into a tiny seat.

Bonus: it burns off energy and makes sleep on the plane more likely (or at least the nap attempt less wild).

🗺️ Pro tip: Google “[your airport] kids play area” before you leave. Some airports don’t advertise them well — but they exist.

Boarding: Early isn’t always better

Airlines usually offer early boarding for families. But here’s the thing:
You don’t have to take it.

If your baby’s happy playing and moving around? Wait until the last minute to board.
Why? Because once you’re seated, they’re stuck. The longer they’re free, the better.

On the other hand, take early boarding if you:

• Need time to install a car seat
• Have lots of gear to stash
• Just want to settle in without a crowd

Either way, use a carrier so your hands are free, and keep a mini bag of “first 30 minutes” essentials right at the top of your carry-on (pacifier, snack, toy, book, whatever soothes them fastest).

Boarding is less about being “first” and more about setting yourself up for the first stretch of the flight.

On the Plane: What Actually Works

Here’s the stuff I always pack in our carry-ons to save my sanity (and could save yours, too).

Takeoff and landing = ear pressure prep

Help them pop their ears during ascent and descent:

• Babies: nurse, bottle, or pacifier
• Toddlers: straw cups, chewy snacks, or lollipops (bribes welcome)

I’ve done all three — and yes, I’ve handed over a sucker mid-tantrum without an ounce of guilt.

Screens = sanity

This is not the time to enforce screen limits.
We download:

• A couple movies
• Toddler-friendly games
• Spotify playlists of their favorite songs

🎧 Tip: test headphones before the flight. Not all kids like them right away.

Snacks = entertainment

Snacks that:

• Take a while to eat
• Are a little “special”
• Come in fun containers

= tiny miracles.

Bring more snacks than you think you’ll need for the plane. Then pack two extra!!

🧸 Bonus tip: I also pack a few travel toys in my kids’ backpacks. I pick them for the flight, but they’re also useful to keep my kids busy while we wait at the airport!

After Landing: You’re Not Done Yet

Everyone’s tired. Everyone’s done. This is where you need to lower expectations all the way down.

What helps:

• Have a snack ready to go in your diaper bag — don’t go digging
• Know where the bathroom is before you leave the plane
• Skip anything fancy for your arrival day — just walk, rest, maybe eat a croissant and call it a win

This is the last push. You’ll make it through.

FAQ: Flying with a Child for the First Time

Your Next Step to a Smoother Flight

You’ve made it to the end — which means you’re already doing the most important thing: preparing.

Flying with kids, especially for the first time, can feel overwhelming. But with a little planning (and a lot of snacks), it really can be a fun, memory-making adventure for the whole family.

Now that you know how to set yourself up for a smoother flight, the next big question is…

What on earth do you pack in your toddler’s carry-on without overstuffing it or forgetting the one thing they actually need?

👉 Next up: Here’s exactly what to pack in your toddler’s carry-on — and what to skip.
It’s the mom-tested, realistic guide I wish I’d had before our first big trip.

🚨 BONUS: Want to actually feel calm on travel day with your little one?
➡️I’m sharing with you my Airport Day Game Plan!!

This isn’t just a checklist. ❌

It’s a step-by-step plan that walks you through your entire airport day—what to do, when to do it, and how to keep your kids happy (and yourself sane) along the way.
No guessing. No chaos. Just a plan that works in real life.

STEAL MY PLAN!