What to take on a Long-Haul Flight for a Toddler

Going on a Long-Haul flight with a baby or toddler is daunting, no matter how many adults you have to keep them occupied. You just don't know exactly how they are going to react to the confined space of the aeroplane seat, if they'll eat food, how the air pressure will react to their ears or if they will ever fall asleep. But there are some things you can do ahead of time to help relieve the pressure of the longest flight. Preparation is power when it comes to travelling with toddlers. My experience is that it was much easier than expected, with a bit of planning ahead.  There are also plenty of other people in the same boat, all trying to fly across the seas with babies less than 2 years of age, with no idea what they are doing. You have friends, and that's something to focus on.  Not everyone is looking at you like you are the devil himself walking onto a flight into their personal space looking to keep them awake for 24 hours with your baby. People actually opt to sit in the babies' area with the bassinet for the leg room, and invest in noise cancelling earphones we quickly realised on one of our flights.

Things to take with you on a long-haul flight for 0-1 years old: 

• Bring food, drinks, yogurts or snacks that your baby loves. Usually, an aeroplane has an unlimited liquid amount for carry-on for your babies/toddlers.  For instance, you could take as many snacks as you need to keep your baby happy for the flight. You can take formula, water, milk, creams, toothpaste, and moisturiser all over 100ml if you so desire.  The amount of families queuing at the security family line with 10-15 bottles of liquid is not unusual at the airport. *Check with your flight provider for more specific guidelines on their website before flying.  
• Bring your baby’s sleep gear. Everything you need to put them to sleep, including their sleep sack, comforter, pyjamas, toothbrush, books, and blanket for example.  Try to do a mini version of your nightly sleep routine with your baby on the plane to send sleep signals. Also, know that every baby will eventually get tired and have to sleep – so do whatever you need to survive the flight if they look as though they’ll be awake for hours. You shouldn’t put extra pressure on yourselves to make them go to sleep.
• Bring activities for your toddler’s age. I bought multiple sticker books, that she’d never seen before.  It was a Farm Animals with giant reusable stickers and a Wiggles sticker book with over 100 stickers that entertained her for most of her awake time on the plane.  For you, It could be as simple as blank paper and little stickers.  My toddler also had a little bag with mini wooden farm animals inside that she was taking in and out of the bag and then playing with them. Pencil and paper and colouring books were a big hit for a bit older toddlers on the flight.  The aircraft usually has some screen entertainment for kids as well like games and tv shows, but download some of your toddler’s favourite shows on your phone if you know it will keep them occupied if they really “lose it”. 
• Download some of their favourite shows on your mobile as some babies might be entertained for a few minutes by their favourite Wiggles song or storybook.
• White Noise machine that could be used for the same sleep queues as at home.

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• A Travel stroller. I will sing the praises of the Yoyo Babyzen such a fantastic investment when heading overseas. The small size of the Yoyo Babyzen makes it possible to fit in overhead luggage and most airlines will allow you to carry it onto the flight meaning you can use it door to door without having to carry your baby from one gate to another. Your stroller will help you as it can be used from one airport to the next (even if it’s just as a trolley for all your bags). It folds out in a moment, packs away almost anywhere with a shoulder strap and you can use it to put your baby to sleep, especially if there is a stopover destination on your transit and they have nowhere to sleep. You’ll never look back if you’ve used a good travel stroller. I also have friends who have the Bugaboo travel stroller that they also love.

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• Nappies, wipes and all the normal baby accessories, with about four changes of clothes in case your connecting flight gets cancelled or your bags don’t show up or they spill all the food on three of the outfits.  Better to be prepared, you’ll stress less.  Also, clothes that match the climate you are entering – as you may need a lighter t-shirt or something easy for your baby to sleep in. 
• My time zone advice after travelling the world: It's impossible not to stress at all, but try not to stress about the time change. Your baby may take up to a week to fully adjust to day and night sleep but in my experience, it only took a few days for the sleep to end up about the same as home if you’re following the same sleep queues and making sure they nap at a similar time as home. Have some grace – they’ll catch up like you.

If you have an older toddler, turning or over two years old, you’ll be really glad to have bought them their own seat for the flight (despite you crying over the cost of the seat). It means they’ll be much more comfortable and easier for you to entertain with their own drop-down table for drawing, room for them to sleep better, and luggage weight for all the extra things you buy overseas. You can even buy yourselves the Stokke Bedbox, a ride-on suitcase that turns into an inflight bed. You see them everywhere at the airport, so I can’t wait to use one of these on my next flight somewhere. The activities with a toddler on a long-haul flight will certainly be more advanced and by the age of two, they most definitely understand a lot more of what you are saying and where you are going.  My advice is to prepare them for the flight. Tell them you are going to have a long time on a flight, but try to make it a fun idea. Maybe like going in the car, it’s taking us somewhere for an exciting adventure. Even give them something to look forward to on the flight, like a gift or something special that will keep them excited. Take your headphones for them to listen to things on your phone. Get ready to be up and down the aisles a few times to get their energy out before they fall asleep. 

What to take on Long-Haul flights for 1 –2 year olds+;

• The Stokke BedBox ride-on suitcase and inflight bed. An absolute life-changing suitcase that will allow your toddler to ride on in the airport, and sleep on the plane with a flat leg extension to the seat that feels like a bed for them.
• A few colouring books with pencils and crayons.  Also, Water Colouring books, with a small brush you fill with water and the picture, appears as they paint. They are called “On the Go” by Melissa and Doug.
• IPAD or download all their favourite shows on your mobile.
• Light carry-on books they know and love reading. This is one of my favourite collections for my toddler by Julia Donaldson.
• Book Boards or toys with developmentally appropriate tactile learning, like zippers, buttons, felt pieces, and puzzle bits to fit together. Things that will challenge them so they keep entertained for longer. My two-year-old is obsessed with opening and closing zippers and she will do this for 15mins straight sometimes.
• Small car toys to fit in your handbag.
• Small dollies and clothes to dress and undress, or put nappies on and wipe down.
• Snacks that take longer to eat, like rice crackers, healthy muffins, omelette slices, mandarins etc.
• Empty Water bottles with lids to undo and redo (a really cheap option).

We are here in London, and how exciting it is to leave winter and enter Summer!  We feel like the lucky ones.  Lucky to have you on the journey, follow me for more stories about my trip.