Top 5 Tips for Flying with Children Under 3

Hey Mama, we have been there, and we know that one of the most stressful parts of any vacation starts before you even arrive. Between missed naps, lost snacks, and a possible meltdown while waiting to board… we have done it all! Here are our top 5 tips for traveling with those little ones whether its their first plane ride or they are a traveling pro! 

• #1 Bring That Baby/Toddler Carrier 

Even if you do not use your carrier at home anymore, at both Disney and the airport you will be so grateful you have one! I strap my baby/toddler to my front, but as they get bigger, a back carry may become more comfy! Having a carrier makes it so much easier to get through TSA (you do not have to go through the traditional scanner), and it makes it so little one cannot run away when you are in tight areas like TSA and boarding and unloading. Quick tip: You do have to remove baby for take off if they are in a carrier! 

•  #2 Bring Something to Suck 

Whether it is a bottle, boob, binky, or sucker, bring something for your little one to suck on during take off and landing! The pressure of the airplane can mess with their ears, and a lot of times they are too little to tell us their ears are hurting! Bringing SOMETHING to suck on will really help relieve that pressure and hopefully lead into a nap! 

• #3 Nap Time Flights  

Now every baby is different, but we find more often than not babies love to sleep on the plane rides. The motion of the flight is usually the perfect thing to lull them right to sleep, because of this, we try to schedule our flights for really early in the morning where baby will want to go back to sleep once we get on the plane. Alternatively if you have a napping little one, look for a midday flight to try and get as much snooze time while in the air as possible!

• #4 Invest in “New” Toys 

New toys are always a great ideas before any type of trip because new things will hold the kids interest for longer than things they have had for a while! Alternatively, you can hide some of their favorite toys a week or two before travel so that they feel new when you bring them out on the plane! Some of our hit toys have been buckle stuffed animals, pop it toys, drawing boards, and toys that stick to the plane window! 

• #5 Changing Mat 

The best thing I ever bought for both the plane and Disney was a changing mat that holds a few diapers, wipes, and rash cream. Depending on the size of the mat you buy, you could also have an emergency change of clothes. This makes diaper changes so much easier because all you have to do is grab the mat and everything is all together! 

You got this! 

We all know how stressful just getting to your destination can be, but just know you got this! Flying with those tiny humans definitely takes a little bit more planning, but with the right prep, and a little bit of grace, you’ll be amazed at how smoothly it can go… and if it doesn’t that’s okay too! We have all been there!