Are you worried about what to do on a flight with kids? A long flight with your little ones can feel overwhelming and stressful, but you’ve come to the right place.
We took our 3 kids to Hong Kong which is a 17-hour flight (the longest AA flies). And no one complained (for too long!). Prepare for your flight by reading this guide explaining exactly what to do on a flight with kids.
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#1 Piece of Advice for What to Do on a Flight with Kids: Relax
My best piece of advice to parents traveling with young kids is always to relax. Your kids are experts at reading the human condition and they will notice if you are stressed or anxious. Misbehavior may increase due to their reaction to you and being in an unknown environment. The best advice for what to do on a flight with kids is to be calm and cool. Even when, NO, especially when your child is not.
I know relaxing while you travel can be difficult with all the unknowns and hassles you will have. Giving yourself plenty of time, being packed in advance, and spending time connecting with your child will help with this.
Connection is the best form of entertainment for your child. I’ve found that when I travel I have more time to connect with my little kids. If I am intentional about spending that time talking and laughing with the kids, they love all the attention. Typically, better behavior will follow when your children feel your love first.
If you are afraid of flying, you may be able to change that like I did. Read my experience here.
In this guide, you will find more information on what to do on a flight with kids in these areas:
- Play
- Food
- Movement
- Sleep
- Take a Break
- Books
- Screen Time
- Car Seats
Play
Kids love something new and novel. At home, I have a box filled with items new to my kids that they are not allowed to use unless we are on a plane. This includes tablets, dollar store items, color wonder markers, water wow, and more.
When I pre-pack my travel bag, I throw in new things that may entertain them. Since the products are unique, they are more likely to engage and keep their attention.
For specific ideas of toys and entertainment, follow these links to my other articles.
- 17 Practically-Free Toddler Toys
- Compiled from expert travelers around the world, here is our top 50 Toddler Travel Toys.
- Travel tips for a baby
- Shop at my Amazon Store Front for all our favorite Travel Items
Frequently, we stop at a dollar store right before a trip and let the kids pick 1-2 things. They know the rule is they can’t open until they are seated on the plane, but the excitement and anticipation builds.
Have the toys easily accessible under the seat in front of you or your child for that time when you need an emergency new item.
Final piece of advice on toys; Most kids will hit a point when no new toys will do. If your child is rejecting everything you hand their way, it is time for a change of scenery, or a nap or something else. Don’t keep trying to hand them new toys when what they really need is movement, food, sleep or connection with mom or dad.
Take time to look in their eyes, blow on their hands, start an interactive game, laugh with them or get up and walk around. Variety is perfect for what to do on a flight with kids.
Snacks and Food
Find a list of kid-friendly options for on-the-go eating in this article on What to feed kids on an airplane.
Making eating a long process and part of a game can help to make the time pass quicker.
Most plane foods aren’t very kid-friendly, so make sure to think ahead with your child’s favorite snacks. A lollipop or small treat that lasts a long time is perfect for a flight.
Always bring a sippy cup or other cup with a non-spill lid. Inevitably, your child will be thirsty during take-off or landing and you can’t get drinks then, so have one on-hand. We bring an empty cup through security and fill it up inside the airport.
Movement
Just like in everyday life, kids will want to move, move move. Trapped in a tiny tin can 35,000 feet in the air can make movement difficult. But allowing them to move is essential to their survival on long flights.
Pre-flight exercise
Before the flight, we typically have a long walk to the gate. Plan enough time to let your child walk themselves. Where possible we let the kids move, run, do cartwheels and exercise. We try to find an open space where we aren’t distracting or in the way of other passengers.
In-flight Movement
With little kids, we walk the aisles several times. If there is a galley area, we stand up and allow them to stretch their legs.
A trip to the bathroom can be a fun field trip. We wash our hands multiple times. Playing in the soap and pushing all the buttons. I let the kids stand on the toilet and try to keep their balance. Spending time in the bathroom lets the child move a little and be noisy if they need to be.
If kids are small enough, doing some yoga-type movements on the seat and on your lap can give them the freedom they need.
Using the window to open and close, stick on clings or look outside can help with movement. Unload and reload the seat-back pockets.
Play games where kids touch parts of their bodies. Especially if you can help them to cross their centerline, it can help them to stay calm. For example, put your right hand on the left ear and left hand on the right ear.
When there isn’t turbulence, let them stand in front of their seats and play games on the seat. Even sitting on the floor doing an activity is fun.
Reading Books
Bring a stack of favorite books that you allow your child to look through. The paperback books from chick-fil-a are perfect lightweight and can be new for every flight.
You can read to them, but I also like allowing them the opportunity to self-entertain and read on their own. This way they get a break from me and can imagine themselves with familiar books.
Sometimes I can even take a small break to read or watch a part of a show if the child is entertained. Modeling reading to my child helps them to want to read on their own, too. Enjoying yourself is an important aspect of what to do on a flight with kids.
Sleep
Trying to get the kids to sleep when it isn’t their natural sleep schedule is an uphill battle. Refer to my first piece of advice. Don’t stress if they aren’t sleeping exactly like they do at home. Getting into sleeping battles on a plane isn’t worth it. They can catch up once you are on the ground! However, if it is their natural time to sleep (or close to it) a few things can help.
Get ready for bed
Bringing PJs, a familiar blanket or stuffed animal. Go through the same motions as you would do at home (brush teeth, say prayers, sing a song, read a book, etc)
Make a ‘Bed’ Area for the Child
Lay them down. Try the jet pillow or just sit on the edge of your seat until they fall sleep.
This isn’t airline approved, but usually, on the long-haul flights, we put our kids on the floor with a blanket under them. The white noise, darkness, and ability to stretch out helps them sleep for hours.
Block out the Light
Close the windows (and hopefully your neighbors will as well!) Eye-masks are very helpful to my children and myself to block out the light and help us know it is time to sleep. Practicing with eye masks or earplugs in advance will help this go smoother on a plane.
White Noise or Music on Headphones
A plane naturally has white noise that muffles a lot of sounds. But if your child needs more, put on headphones with music or white noise to drown out other sounds.
I also travel with silicone earplugs for kids. It is like wax you put on the outside (not inside!) the ear canal to lessen the noise.
Sleep-Aids for Kids
Melatonin is a natural supplement that can help children fall asleep. My kids only need 1-2 grams to help them to sleep within 30 mins of taking it. These chewables are our favorite! But only give melatonin if there is a long sleeping period. My kids turn into angry monsters if they don’t get to sleep soon after taking it. So be all the way ready for bed.
Dramamine for kids can help with motion sickness and sleepiness. My daughter who always throws up on flights has completely stopped puking AND has a nap every flight. Win-win!
Some parents love Benadryl for helping kids to be drowsy. For us, it just made our kids grumpy and I couldn’t get them to ingest it. But if your child has alleries it may to the trick! Travel size Benadryl available here.
Getting a Break
With a family of 6, I usually don’t get to sit with my husband. We always trade-off with the difficult kid (i.e. toddler) so that we get a true break from active involvement with the child. This changes the scenery for your child and allows the parent to be refreshed after some time off. Plan a time to switch with your partner.
If you only have one kid, instead of both of your entertaining all the time, take turns being fully responsible so you can have time off later.
Just because some people give judgy glares doesn’t mean that everyone hates kids. If a kind neighbor is having fun with your child or offers to help, accept it. It takes a village to raise kids! Sharing the joy of your children with someone else can improve their flight and yours! I’ve had multiple strangers say they enjoyed sitting next to my kids and talking to them.
Using Screens and Technology
When kids are old enough (typically over 2) screens and technology use is a great option for traveling.
Set Technology Limits at Home
We are very strict with screen time at home. School days we have no screen time (except for homework). Sundays are also reserved for family and worships. So basically we only watch TV, movies or other screen activities on Friday night and Saturday. And even then it is limited to 1-2 hours.
However, when we travel we allow basically unlimited screen time on the flight. Because this is a rarity, the kids are glued to it like zombies. They love going on vacation because they get access to something they love. Isn’t that what we are all seeking on our travels?
Save Tablets for Flights Only
We own tablets for each of our kids that they can only use while in-flight. We have a few games and apps to play or movies and shows for them to watch. The rule is they have to wait until they are buckled in their seat to start watching.
For us, the reason screen time works so well to entertain our kids on long flights is because they don’t get to watch it all the time at home.
Create motivation or rules for watching movies
On flights longer than 3 hours, I do set rules for screen time for my school-aged kids. They have to complete a school work page, read a couple of chapters in a book or complete a journal entry about our trip between every movie they watch.
My daughter watched 6 movies on the way home from Spain. In between each movies, she wrote her journal about all 6 days of our vacation in Barcelona on the way home. So while I know she wasted a lot of time, she was also motivated to write and now has a book of her memories to keep forever.
Car Seats for Baby or Toddler
I always recommend bringing a car seat on a flight. It is safer for your child AND it makes the flight easier. It is a bit cumbersome to get on the plane, but worth it for those long-legs.
If you have a seat (or there is an extra next to you) consider bringing a car seat on for your baby or toddler. This way they are more comfortable and are locked into a seat. This helps with nap time, tablet time and even keeping snacks and toys contained.
We always travel with a car seat until the toddler is tall enough to kick the seat in front and then we transition to the plane seat. I love to be able to lock my baby into a safe and secure seat. They are use to traveling this way in the car so in some ways, it is more comfortable that squirming around on a big airplane seat.
On a long flight, they will need to get out, move around, climb backward on the seat and probably take your seat for a while. But still, having some hands-free time on the plane will be essential for your survival and will be beneficial for your toddler as well.
The only downside to the car seat is that the tray-table won’t come down when the car seat is there. To color or play on the tray they will need to be in a seat without a car seat.
If the plane has seat-back screens the car seat is perfect for the toddler. The child is at a better level for viewing the screen, but far enough away that they can’t touch the buttons and cause frustration.
After 8 years of flying with kids, I have lots of ideas, but I am always open to suggestions! Do you have ideas for what to do on a flight with kids? How do you make sure you all survive or even thrive on the long haul flight?
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