What to Pack for a Toddler on a Plane
Your checked bag is out of reach once you board. Everything your toddler might need for the next few hours, plus a delay, has to fit in your carry-on and personal item. Here's what to put in them, in order of how often parents say they needed it.
Pack three spare outfits, not one
This is the tip parents repeat most. Spills, leaky diapers and airsick moments happen, and one change of clothes runs out fast. One mom who flew with twins now packs at least three sets per child.
- 2 to 3 full outfits for your toddler, rolled tight in a zip bag
- A spare shirt for you (you'll be glad you have it)
- Extra socks, since planes get cold
- A large zip bag or wet bag for dirty clothes
Diapers for the flight plus a delay
Count the diapers you'd use for the flight, then add a few more for a late departure or a missed connection.
- Diapers or pull-ups
- A pack of wipes (they clean hands, trays and seats too)
- A thin changing pad
- Diaper cream in a small tube
- A few disposal bags
Even potty-trained toddlers can have accidents on a plane. If yours is newly trained, bring a pull-up or two just in case.
More snacks than seems reasonable
Snacks keep a toddler busy and happy, and planes run out of food or don't serve any. Pack small, easy, low-mess snacks your child already likes, plus one or two special treats.
- Crackers, cereal pieces, pouches and cut fruit
- A snack cup that keeps crumbs inside
- An empty water bottle or sippy cup to fill after security
Liquids for a child, such as formula, breast milk and juice, follow different rules from the 3.4-ounce limit at U.S. airport security. Tell the officer you have them, and check the TSA's current rules before you fly.
A small bag of quiet toys
Pick a few toys and keep them in your bag, not loose on the seat. The ones that work best on a plane are quiet, have no batteries, and have no small pieces that roll away.
- One soft busy book or buckle toy, like the deMoca Quiet Book
- One mess-free coloring or water-reveal pad for kids 3 and up
- A couple of board books
- One new toy saved for the second half of the flight
- A tablet with downloaded shows and kid-size headphones, as a backup
Leave behind anything loud, anything with lots of small pieces, and regular markers or play dough.
Sleep and comfort items
If the flight crosses nap time, bring what helps your child sleep at home.
- Their favorite blanket or stuffed animal
- A light layer or sleep sack
- A pacifier, if they use one, plus a spare
Losing a comfort item on a trip is hard on everyone. Clip it to the bag or keep it in a zip pocket when it's not in use.
The small things parents forget
- Medications your child takes, in their original containers, in your carry-on
- A thermometer and the child's usual fever medicine, in case they feel unwell on arrival
- Hand sanitizer and a few disinfecting wipes for the tray table and armrests
- Bandages
- Phone charger and a power bank
- Copies of documents: ID or birth certificate if your airline asks for it, and passports for international trips
What to leave out of your carry-on
Every extra thing makes the bag heavier and harder to dig through in a tight row. Skip:
- Big bags of toys (a few good ones go further)
- Bulky toys that take up the whole tray table
- Glass bottles or jars
- Anything you won't need until you land
A packing tip that saves time
Pack in small zip bags or pouches by type: one for diapers, one for clothes, one for snacks, one for toys. When your toddler needs something, you grab one pouch instead of unpacking the whole bag in the aisle. Put the diaper pouch on top, because you'll reach for it first.