Top tips for traveling with a toddler on long-haul flights
Last updated on October 22nd, 2025 at 04:54 pm
These top tips for traveling with a toddler on long-haul flights will help you survive those excruciating hours on a plane!
A long haul flight, for example, NZ or Australia to Europe, (24-30+ hours) can be arduous on your own, let alone with younger kids, unless of course you can afford first class! Don’t worry if you can’t make it to the upper deck, these tips should help you get through in good old cattle class…..
1. Choose your airline well
First – it’s really important to stick to the better airlines. Google what the latest is, but you are generally safe with any of the main Asian or Middle Eastern airlines – Singapore, Thai, Emirates, Qatar, Cathay Pacific, Etihad, JAL, ANA, as well as Qantas, Air New Zealand, and the better European airlines such as Lufthansa.
Also, if your toddler is over two years, look for options like the Air New Zealand’s sky couches, which allow you to buy a row of three seats and provides you with a ‘mattress’ etc to go with it. It costs more but adds to the comfort levels dramatically.
2. Use the stopovers
If you’re traveling with a toddler on long-haul flights, try and take a stopover halfway so you do a couple of 8 -12 hour trips rather than the one big one! Clearly, this depends on your circumstances – time and cost.
Alternatively, and easier, if there is an option of about 8-10 hours stopover and an hotel or sleeping rooms in the airport itself, consider a few hours out in a hotel.
If you do decide to grit your teeth and keep going, make the most of your transit time in the short refueling stopovers. Even if you are exhausted, get your kid to run around. Don’t worry about what people think, just get them running and moving as it will pay off later. Of course Murphy ’s Law is that all kids will finally fall asleep just as you arrive at the stopover (but wake them up anyway and do your best to exhaust them)!
Note: There are more and more direct long flights happening – but 19 hours with a toddler on one flight would be too much for me. Its up to you but in this post, I take long haul to be two 8 -12 hour flights (or even just one of those)!
3. Get the right seat
A business seat of course! Haha.
Ok, if your child is under 2 you want a bulkhead bassinette seat. Book this – even if you have to ring the airline to do it. They are great and absolute life-savers.
If your toddler is over two they get their own seat so you can make a bed on that for them. When you get on the plane make sure you all have blankets and pillows. the good airlines supply these automatically, but make sure none are missing, or ask for extra if you think you will need it.
At check-in try and get a spare seat next to you (even if you have a bassinette) so you can have a bit of space. If you manage it, its a life-saver for traveling with a toddler on long-haul flights!
4. Wear the right clothes
Have comfort as the priority when it comes to choosing what clothes to wear – your toddlers and yours. No fashion show – just plain good comfort.
Take spare clothes for the little ones on the plane with you. You are very likely going to need them.
5. Exhaust them before departure
Keep your kids up and about and make them as exhausted as you can before you leave. Make them run, jump hop, skip, run some more. Don’t let them sleep, and yes they may be unpleasant at the airport, but get on the plane and with any luck they will sleep like angels not long after.
6. Get rest when you can
With a toddler on a long haul flight? Yes, I know, – it’s a bit of a joke!
If they sleep, try and sleep yourself. Forget the movies – even if you are just closing your eyes it helps.
7. Take extra food for your toddler on a long haul flight
Make sure you have the extra food you need for your toddler. They are not going to want to wait patiently for the meals at set times – take extras and yes consider taking some ‘treats’ too!
Again another reason to stick with the better airlines is to make sure that they will give you boiled water if needed, clean the bottles if needed etc.
If you are not breast-feeding, always make sure you have a bottle ready for take-off and landing. It not only distracts the little one when they are being made to sit with a seatbelt on but also helps prevent ear pain. Just be wary of liquid allowances at security – take formula and mix it on the plane. Air stewards should be happy to help. Be prepared to get on the plane and ask for water in the bottle straight away.
8. Take painkillers for your toddler on a long haul flight
Unless you know for sure that your baby is fine on a flight with take off and landing, do not leave without painkillers – this flying lark can hurt ears a lot. As an ear sufferer myself, and the mother of an ear sufferer, I can tell you it’s no joke and the pain can last for days after the flight.
Make sure you always have something for them to suck or chew on for take-off and landings – a bottle, a dummy, a sweet etc. (Forget the normal healthy food rules in this situation – it’s more important you don’t have bad ears for a few days.) Give them the painkillers if it is clear they are hurting.
Remember that if you are flying long haul there is usually a stopover so it’s a minimum of two take-off and two landings.
Also remember that if you are breastfeeding a child over 2, you won’t be able to do this during landing or take off as they have to sit in their own seat.
9. Have some entertainment – it’s necessary on a long haul flight!!
The arrival of personal TV screens on planes was a godsend. If your toddler can watch something – let them. Don’t even think about screentime – just think ‘survival.’
Take a few throw away entertainment items (e.g. coloring books or paper and pens) to keep them occupied. Ask the air steward what they have on board for kids. they are usually happy to help.
Don’t forget aisle walking is always entertaining for them. Just be aware not everyone wants to engage with them and keep moving past those people. It will be obvious.
10. Be careful with what you put in your hand luggage
Its a tricky balance between having the extra clothes, food, entertainment needed, and having too much luggage. Practice beforehand how you will carry your toddler and the luggage.
Traveling with three little ones on my own I always had one in the front or backpack plus a pack for ‘essential gear’ which went front or back depending on where the littlest was. The eldest carried a pack too. I have a handy article dedicated to hand luggage for these flights – it lists everything you need!
11. Be psychologically prepared
Be psychologically prepared – its going to suck! Unless you are one of those lucky few that can get on a plane and go to sleep for hours sitting up, long haul flights are ghastly at the best of times, let alone with kids. Just go into it knowing that, be prepared to smile through it, and arm yourself with the knowledge that it won’t last forever and in a couple of days it will be over!
12. Take two of you!
Take two if you can. Two adults makes life so much easier! You can take turns at dealing with the kids. I never had this luxury so don’t worry if you can’t – I’m still alive and you will survive it.
Afterwards….
Once you have survived the flight, don’t forget to be prepared for a few days of disruption when you get to the other end. Mind you it’s almost always easier for kids to adapt to new time zones than you. This is one of those times I can’t say “enjoy the journey” but I can say have fun when you get there!
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Related Posts
What to take in your hand luggage on a flight – especially long haul!
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