Our trip to Minnesota was great! Way to fast, but great. We loved seeing family and friends again and I’m already looking forward to our next trip. The flying, on the other hand, was rough. I won’t lie, flying with a toddler is hard. So, here are some tips for making flying with a toddler easier!

Flying with a Toddler:

Toddler Flying Tip: Book your trip during nap time or night time.

Sleep is beautiful. It’s also quiet, requires little space, and your little one lies still. So, plan your trip’s major flying chunks over sleep times. Of course, your toddler won’t fall asleep as easily or for as long as he would at home with a normal sleep routine, but any amount of sleep during the flight cuts down MAJORLY on the awake, hyper, busy, gotta-move-scream-and-wiggle time.

Toddler Flying Tip: Run during Airport Time

The opposite of sleeping on the plane is totally wearing your kiddo out in the airport. Don’t let him sleep! You want to rest in the chair and read a book, but trust me, running down the hall or on the moving walkways is totally for your benefit. Airports are busy places, so find your gate and then find the nearest area for playing. Some airports actually have play areas, which are awesome. Others have hallways that are less-used (on our 6-hour-delayed-layover in St. Louis we chilled in a hallway with stairs and a ramp and Micah mastered going down 4 stairs and ran like a crazy man on the ramp and around the railings). Other airports have moving walkways which are incredibly fun for a little one, just be considerate of others walking and careful to hold his hand for the step-on and step-off.

Toddler Flying Tip: Pack Snacks and Drinks

The sippy has to be liquid-free through security, then fill it with water. Pack liquid-free snacks (they let our fruit cups through but they didn’t have to). Snacks will keep the little one happy both in the airport and on the plane, and you need snacks too! Of course, pack toys for airport and plane entertainment too (like in our Cozy Coupe backpack and Skip Hop Diaper Bag), and don’t forget to pre-download kid-friendly apps on your smart-anything.

Toddler Flying Tip: Soft Shoes!

Our Robeez Soft Soles were perfect for Micah as a lap baby. Normal sandals or shoes are hard on my legs and knees when Micah sits on my lap, so the all-leather soft soles were perfect, no scratches on me!

Toddler Flying Tip: Lap Baby

A child can be a lap baby until they are two. Depending on the baby’s activity and energy level, this is ok. Micah was incredibly energetic, and my pregnant belly made it harder for him to be a lap baby, but we did it. We flew Southwest, which means no pre-assigned seats, but families with children load before other regular passengers (after those that paid more), so we would take our seats then let Micah play in the third seat until someone else took it. We got super lucky and one flight wasn’t full, which meant no one ever asked for the seat Micah was playing in and he got his own seat! Not the norm, but totally awesome!

Toddler Flying Tip: Don’t Travel Alone

With an infant or for short trips, traveling alone would be ok. Pregnant with a toddler, no way. I needed Peter for another set of hands, feet and lap both on the plane and off. Traveling all day is exhausting and we took turns entertaining Micah in the airport. Plus, having two of us meant two laps Micah could switch between.

Toddler Flying Tip: Pick a Window Seat

The aisles are more spacious for Peter’s long legs, but the window offered entertainment for Micah during loading, take off and landing. Plus, the window seat meant Micah couldn’t just climb over Peter’s lap to the aisle and want to run. No access to the aisle = no temptation for little man to run.

Toddler Flying Tip: Be Flexible

Toddler-person will mess with your plans. Things won’t go perfectly. Weather delayed us for 6 hours in St. Louis and an hour in Minneapolis. Take a deep breath and go with the flow. It’s going to be ok. Use your resources, even if it’s the cute old people sitting next to you who are happy to interact with the little guy, or the other lady with her toddler (mini airport play date!).