Do you guys have a strong marriage? I mean, we’ve traveled with a toddler through airports. Everyone asks how we travel so much with kids. The airport is usually the part people worry about most.
After flying to more than 20 countries with our girls, here’s what has made the biggest difference.
Get to the Airport Early
Rushing is what starts the meltdowns. Give yourself extra buffer time at every stage: check-in, security, and boarding.
A calm pace keeps everyone’s stress lower, including yours. That calm tends to transfer straight to your toddler.
Use Lounge Access If You Have It
Lounge access changes the whole waiting experience. The extra space, snacks, drinks, clean bathrooms, and quieter seating make everything easier with a toddler in tow.
If you travel a few times a year, a travel credit card with lounge access is worth considering. See our guide to the best travel credit cards for families for a breakdown of which ones actually pay for themselves.
TSA PreCheck and CLEAR Plus Are Worth It
TSA PreCheck and CLEAR Plus have been worth every penny. Less time in security with a toddler is priceless.
With PreCheck, you usually don’t have to take electronics or liquids out of your bag. That alone removes a lot of the juggling that turns security into a stressful scramble.
Pack More Snacks Than You Think You’ll Need
Whatever amount you’re planning to bring, pack more. Flights get delayed, toddlers get hungry off-schedule, and snacks buy you calm minutes you didn’t know you needed.
Keep an Emergency Candy Stash
We bring an emergency stash of candy or gummies. We save ours for takeoff, landing, or when nothing else is working.
Sometimes one piece of candy is worth its weight in gold. Keep it out of sight until you actually need it, so it still feels special when it appears.
Pack One or Two New Toys
New always wins. A toy or activity your toddler hasn’t seen before holds their attention far longer than an old favorite.
You don’t need much. One or two small, novel items are usually enough to buy real stretches of quiet.
Download Movies and Shows Before You Leave
Do this before you leave home, not at the gate. Airport WiFi is unreliable, and in-flight WiFi often is too.
Having a few shows downloaded in advance means you’re not scrambling mid-flight when the meltdown starts.
Pack an Extra Outfit for Everyone
Trust me on this one. Spills, blowouts, and turbulence-timed juice cups happen to every family eventually.
Pack a full change of clothes for your toddler and, if you can manage the space, for yourself too.
Bring Milk From Home for Bedtime Routines
I always bring Horizon Organic milk boxes. Most flights don’t carry milk, and it’s part of my daughter’s bedtime routine.
I ask the flight attendants for a cup of warm water to warm it up. That small routine helps her settle down and fall asleep, even mid-flight.
Help With Ear Pressure on Takeoff and Landing
For babies, nursing or a bottle during takeoff and landing helps with ear pressure. For toddlers, a drink, gummies, or another chewy snack works just as well.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has guidance on flying with infants and young kids if you want more detail on the ear pressure mechanics and other safety basics.
About the Germs
Before anyone comes for me about germs: I do my best with wipes and hand sanitizer. But she’s also rolled on airport floors, dragged her blanket everywhere, and once tried to lick the floor.
She’s still alive. Sometimes you have to pick your battles.
The Biggest Lesson
Kids feed off your energy. Stay flexible, expect the unexpected, and remember the airport is only the beginning of the adventure.
For more on what happens after you land, check out our family travel packing list for everything we bring beyond the airport.
What’s one thing you never fly without when traveling with kids?
