What to pack in a carry-on bag for kids for long flights
Flying with babies and kids can be challenging but making sure you’re well prepared and pack the right things will make your life a whole lot easier. If you’re planning a long flight you may be wondering what to pack in the carry-on bag for your kids for a long flight.
I have flown a lot with babies and young children, and many times long-haul. I know the struggles when it comes to flying with kids. When it comes to packing for long flights with kids you are having to balance limited space with making sure you have everything you need to make a long flight comfortable for everyone. From my own experience, I have put together comprehensive packing lists for flying with kids of different ages – from babies to older children.
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What to pack in a carry-on bag for kids for long flights
Carry-on bag packing list for babies
#1: Changing bag – An obvious one to start with but make sure you have enough nappies and wipes along with a changing mat.
#2: Plenty of changes for your little one and you! – Managing to keep your little one clean is hard enough at the best of times. But when you’re stuck in your seats on the plane, the chances of getting messy increase a lot. I have been caught out more than once when a drink has been spilt and I’ve just had to sit in wet clothes for the rest of the journey.
#3: Milk and snacks (if they’re on solids) – If you’re not breastfeeding or you’re mixed feeding then you will of course need to bring formula for your baby. On the plane, the air stewards can provide you with hot water and are usually very helpful to parents with babies and young children.
If they’re on solids, then you will want to pack some baby food pouches and some baby snacks. Some good sucky food or teething biscuits are handy for teething babies and also to help with the air pressure.
#4: Foldable buggy – Nowadays there are several lightweight, foldable buggies that are small enough to fit in the overhead locker. This is really handy as it means you can use the buggy up to the plane and then again straight off the plane. This is especially handy when you have a layover as otherwise, you won’t see the buggy until your final destination.
The Mountain Buggy Nano comes highly recommended as a travel buggy. It only weighs 6kg, can fold up using one hand and is suitable for babies up to 4 years.
#5: Sleeping bag/blankets – One of the biggest challenges when travelling on long flights with babies is getting them to sleep. You will be provided with the bassinet which folds out in the front seats of a section of the plane. But as it is an unfamiliar place for your baby to sleep they may not be too happy to sleep there. However, you can make the baby feel more comfortable, with their sleeping bag or blankets that smell familiar and feel cosy for them.
#6: Toys that can stick to windows or tray tables – These are a great way to keep your baby entertained or distracted at least for a little while. Having toys that stick to the window or tray table are a great way to keep your baby entertained on the flight. You also won’t have to worry about them being thrown or getting lost.
Carry-on bag packing list for toddlers
#1: Nappies and wipes – If they’re not toilet trained yet then you will of course need to bring plenty of nappies and wipes. If your toddler is recently toilet trained or you’re not 100% confident they won’t have an accident then it is definitely worth popping them in a pull-up for the long flight. There’s nothing worse than an accident mid-flight.
Wipes will also be your friend to keep your little one clean after snacks and meals. They’re also handy to wipe down the tray tables.
#2: Change of clothes (for them and you!) – You will definitely want to pack spare clothes for your toddler and for yourself. Spillages or messes are bound to happen and you don’t want to be caught out without changes of clothing.
It is also worth bringing pyjamas for your toddler as it helps to settle them ready for sleeping and make it feel like their normal routine.
#3: Toothbrush and facecloth – For long flights, you will need your toddler’s toothbrush and maybe a facecloth to get them ready for sleeping or freshen them up for the morning.
#4: Travel pillow – Helping your toddler get comfortable so they can sleep is absolutely key for long flights. A good travel pillow will support their neck and head. This great travel pillow from Trunki provides great support for toddlers’ necks and has magnetic ends to keep it secure. It also comes in really cute designs.
#5: A footrest so your toddler can lie flat- If your toddler is over two or you have decided to book them their own seat, you may be wondering how to make sure they can sleep well. An inflatable footrest is a clever solution as it is easy to store and inflate on the plane. It fits in between the seats so your toddler can put their legs up and pretty much lie flat. Most airlines seem to allow them too. Please do check that your airline would allow them as not all do or have rules around which seats you can use them in.
#6: Kids tablet and USB charger – The inflight entertainment is great for some but sometimes your toddler might just want to watch Bluey for hours on end, and the flight might not have Bluey. That’s why you need to bring your own device. If you don’t have one already, the best one for young children is the Kindle Fire Kids. It comes with a childproof case and is easy to navigate for young children. They come with Amazon Kids which comes with a huge range of apps and games, videos, books, Audible books, and educational content.
#7: Kids headphones – Whether they are watching on the inflight entertainment system or on their own device, taking their own headphones is a must. Not all airlines offer child-friendly headphones. My girls have these great headphones from Laibuy. Not only do they look great but they can be connected either with a wire or via Bluetooth, so they are a great option for kids for fights.
#8: Kids activities – Having a range of kids activities in their carry on for long flights can help to occupy them. Sticker books, magic colouring books, threading toys and tracing books are all good options for toddlers on long flights. You might want to keep these in your carry-on bag until the flight so you can introduce these in stages rather than all the activities being used up at once. To make it extra exciting you can even wrap these activities up like little presents.
#9: Reusable water bottle – Taking your child’s own reusable water is essential as flights only provide water in tiny cups. You can empty them out before security then find the water refill stations which are usually near the toilets. My kids have been through a range of water bottles over the years with many breaking from being dropped or getting mouldy. I then discovered SHO water bottles and I really cannot recommend them highly enough. They come in a range of gorgeous designs and are so really durable. We have dropped our bottles multiple times on the pavement and they haven’t been damaged. They are also really easy to clean. They have straw lids to make them more suitable for toddlers and young children.
#10: Snacks – Snacks are not only a great way of stopping your toddler from being hungry between meals but also to keep them occupied. However, you are going to want to choose the right snacks. Nothing too messy and sticky. I would always take fruit puree pouches as they’re easy for your little one to consume and are reasonably nutritious. Fruit bars, dried fruit, and small cookies are also a good snack for your toddler on flights. It’s also good for your toddler to have something to suck or eat while the plane is ascending and descending.
#11: Socks – To keep their feet tootsies warm as the air conditioning on planes can get quite chilly.
Carry-on bag packing list for children aged 4 – 10 years
#1: Kids tablet and USB charger – Your kids may enjoy the inflight entertainment system for a while but it’s also good to take their own device as well. A great device for older children is the Kindle Fire Kids for older children. It comes with a childproof case and is easy to navigate. They come with Amazon Kids which comes with a huge range of apps and games, videos, books, Audible books, and educational content.
#2: Kids headphones – Whether they are watching on the inflight entertainment system or on their own device, taking their own headphones is a must. Not all airlines offer child-friendly headphones. My girls have these great headphones from Laibuy. Not only do they look great but they can be connected either with a wire or via Bluetooth, so they are a great option for kids for fights. These Nabevi headphones also come highly recommended and may be more suitable for older children.
#3: Kids activities – Having a range of kids’ activities in their carry-on for long flights can help to occupy them. Sticker books, reading books, and activity books are all good options for children on long flights. Don’t forget their pencil crayons and pens. I like to get my girls to start writing travelling diaries and make a start of them on the plane talking about their excitement and plans for the trip. Then on the way back write about the trip we’ve just been on.
#4 : A change of clothes- It is worth bringing a change of clothes for your children in case they spill something on themselves.
It is also worth bringing pyjamas and/or a onesie as it helps to settle them ready for sleeping and make it feel like their normal routine.
#5: Socks – To keep their feet warm as the air conditioning on planes can get quite chilly.
#6: Toothbrush and facecloth – For long flights, you will need your child’s toothbrush and maybe a facecloth to get them ready for sleeping or freshen them up for the morning.
#7: Travel pillow – Helping your toddler get comfortable so they can sleep is absolutely key for long flights. A good travel pillow will support their neck and head. This great travel pillow from BCOZZY is recommended by many parents. The overlapping arms provide better support for the chin so the neck isn’t strained. It is also machine washable.
#8: Footrest – You may be wondering how to help your child get comfortable to sleep on long flights. The upright seats can be quite uncomfortable especially as they get bigger. A great solution is an inflatable footrest is a clever solution as it is easy to store and inflate on the plane. It fits in between the seats so your child can put their legs up and pretty much lie flat. Please do check that your airline would allow them as not all do or have rules around which seats you can use them in.
#9: Reusable water bottle – Taking your child’s own reusable water is essential as flights only provide water in tiny cups. You can empty them out before security and then find the water refill stations which are usually near the toilets. My kids have been through a range of water bottles over the years with many breaking from being dropped or getting mouldy. I then discovered SHO water bottles and I really cannot recommend them highly enough. They come in a range of gorgeous designs and are so really durable. We have dropped ours multiple times on the pavement and they still look fab. They are also really easy to clean.
#10: Snacks and lollipops – When planning what to pack in your kids carry-on for long flights then snacks are key. A range of easily accessible and non-messy snacks will help to make the journey go a lot more smoothly. Fruit bars, dried fruit, crisps and cookies are all good options for older children. Some treats including lollipops to help with the change in pressure are also a good idea.
I hope these packing lists will help you plan what to pack in carry-on bag for kids for your long flight. If you’re prepared it will really help the journey go more smoothly but of course, with kids you never know how these trips are going to go! Good luck!
For more travel tips for travelling with kids, check out my travel tip page.
