Toddler Plane Travel Toys

Traveling with a toddler? Welcome to the club where snack bags double as entertainment and anything under three pounds counts as a win. After several long haul flights with our son Aydin (and learning the hard way what not to pack), I’ve finally nailed down our go to toddler travel essentials that make flying a little less chaotic and a lot more manageable.

Here are our tried and true toddler travel favorites for the plane. You can find everything linked in one place on my Amazon storefront.

Packing the Carry On: What’s Always in Our Airplane Bag

1. Compact Travel Backpack A lightweight backpack with lots of compartments keeps everything easy to grab without digging around in a black hole of snacks and crayons.

2. Tushbaby Carrier
We don’t travel without this. Great for boarding, airport pacing, and when someone refuses the stroller. It also saves your back!

3. Reusable Sticker Books
These are gold. Zero mess, totally reusable, and they keep little hands busy for longer than you’d expect.

4. Pop Tubes & Fidget Toys
Perfect for sensory play and surprisingly entertaining for long stretches.

5. Mess Free Coloring Pads (like Water Wow)
Aydin loves these! No risk of markers on tray tables or seats.

6. Headphones for Kids
We use these for shows during the flight. Adjustable, volume limiting, and comfy.

7. Collapsible Snack Containers & Spill Proof Cup
Let’s be real, snacks are a travel survival strategy. I pack enough to feed a small village: puffs, pretzels, fruit, crackers, and backups for the backups. When in doubt, offer a snack. When in meltdown mode? Also offer a snack. Just… never run out of snacks.

8. New Toys He Hasn’t Seen Before
This is key. We bring along a few magnetic toys and novelty items that are totally new to him and feel extra special. I even wrap them so it feels like a little gift mid flight.

9. Lollipops for Takeoff & Landing
We love the organic ones from Whole Foods. They help with ear pressure and double as a sweet little distraction when needed.

10. Inflatable Foot Rest Pillow
This little genius item turns your toddler’s seat into a mini bed, making naps so much easier. It fills the gap between their seat and the one in front—highly recommend for long haul flights.

11. iPad + Downloaded Favorites
Controversial? Maybe. But on travel days, there are no rules. We pre download Aydin’s favorite shows, movies, and a few interactive apps. It buys us moments of peace, and sometimes that’s all you need to get through a flight.

Pro Tips for Toddler Plane Travel

Pack a change of clothes (for you and baby)
Bring disinfecting wipes—planes are gross
Skip heavy books and go for lightweight books. I love the indestructible ones linked here.
Use packing cubes inside your carry on to stay organized

I’ve curated all of our favorites in my Amazon storefront list so you can grab what works for your family. These items have saved our sanity more than once and helped turn stressful travel days into smooth(ish) adventures.

Got a must have I missed? Let me know, I love discovering new genius finds!