12 Tips For Making Long Haul Flights Easier with Kids
/If you’re looking for ways to make long haul flights with kids easier, you’re in the right place. Long haul flights with kids do not have to be miserable. In fact, they can be pretty enjoyable. The last long haul flight with kids I took I was flying with my 2.5 year old son and my daughter turned 4 the day we flew. Both kids enjoyed dinner, watching their own movies and then they slept for about 7.5 hours of the 10 hour flight. I caught up on new release movies courtesy of Delta’s in-flight entertainment. I also had a glass (or two) of wine.
So, how can you make a long flight with kids more enjoyable? I have put together the best ways to make long haul flights easier for both parents and kids.
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Here are 12 Tips for Making Long Haul Flights Easier with Kids
This was our first time trying the 2-2 configuration on a Detla flight from Rome to Washington DC.
1) Pick your seats in advance. Where you sit on the airplane matters, especially if you are going to be living in that airplane for the next 8-15 hours. When choosing seats for long-haul flights with children you need to consider things like: proximity to the restroom, proximity to the galley, are you in a good seat configuration for your family size, and are you in a bulkhead, extended legroom, or regular legroom seat. The most important thing for long-haul flights with kids, in my opinion, is choosing the right seats.
When flying internationally with kids, no matter what age they are, we choose to get them each a seat. When flying with family, it’s best for both the parent and child to be comfortable. Having your own seat and your own space is best for everyone. We did our first long flight with baby when our first was 6 months old (a 10-hour flight) and made the mistake of not getting her own seat. That was the last time. It was miserable.
our baby in his own seat on an international flight. It was so nice to be able to set him down.
**I HIGHLY Recommend investing in the CARES harness (seen in the photo) for your young children. The belt is FAA approved and provides a 4 point harness for children. This is much safer than the lap belt only. If your baby will sleep and is comfortable in their car seat, consider bringing it on to the plane.
On this long haul from Atlanta to Amsterdam, we chose the 4 across in the middle. Futher down in this post, you will see the kids asleep in these seats. (ages 1 and 3)
This meal was broccoli, meatballs, grapes, bread with cheese and a dessert.
2) Choose your meal options in advance. One reason we love to fly Delta is that we are able to choose a “Child” or “Toddler” meal for our children online. These meals are delivered before the rest of the airplane, so your child is occupied while the meal service is in progress. The toddler meal on an airplane is usually the same as child’s meal on an airplane. In my experience, they are small sandwiches with fruit, a cookie, and some kind of child-friendly drink.
On a long haul flight with a toddler, food is everything. I also pack an insane amount of our own snacks and food that I know will bring comfort to everyone. One example is that I bring yogurt pouches for the kids on overnight flights because they typically have yogurt before bed at home. Keeping the routine as normal as possible keeps everyone happier.
Never rely on airplane food. I always pack more food than we could possibly eat on a flight. You never know when a delay will happen once you’ve boarded.
3) Invest in an inflatable foot pillow. When deciding what to bring for kids on long flights, make an inflatable foot rest a top priority. These make a long flight with toddler or children so much easier.
I like them laying like this so we can still use the seatbelt - he is 2 here.
We have and inflatable foot rest for each of our children and they are worth their weight in gold. Your child will be able to extend their legs out or lay down flat through the flight with one of these foot pillows. **Not all airlines allow these pillows, so be sure to check your airline’s website before your international flights with children.
Also, check out my guide on the 25 Travel must haves for Babies and Toddler to see more ideas on making long haul travel with toddler easier.
our baby using his inflatable foot rest to sleep. he is 5 months old here.
4) Pre-Load the Electronics. Airline wi-fi is not always reliable, so be ready with some pre-downloaded games, movies, or educational applications. Don’t forget that you can download movies on Netflix, Apple, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, and Disney+ — once they are downloaded, you can watch them without the internet! Read my full list of recommended Educational Applications for Toddlers and Preschoolers HERE.
If you prefer to travel screen-free, check out my guide that shares 15 Ways to Entertain Babies and Toddlers on Flights and road trips! There are so many great ideas for long haul flight toys for toddlers.
when no in flight entertainment is available - i am ready with pre-downloaded movies and games!
5) Take a lap…or two. Even as an adult it can be hard to sit in one spot for several hours in a row. One way to pass the time is to take a walk. Walk along the aisles or do some trunk twists and leg stretches in the open areas. Sometimes I go back to the galley to do a few lounges, stretches, or squats. Just ask the flight attendants if it’s ok first! When on a long haul flight with 1 year old, this can be a great distraction and even calm a fussy baby.
Related Post: 16 Tips for Flying with Kids
Age 4 0n a long haul flight from washington dc to seattle
6) Go to sleep. This is sometimes easier said than done. See our blog with 9 Tips for getting your child to sleep on an airplane! I find it best to keep the same nighttime or nap time routine that we do at home to get babies on long haul flights to sleep. Again, our kids will usually have their own seat, so we have them lay down all the way which helps tremendously.
I created this tent for the kids to sleep from Atlanta to Rome.
If you’re on a long haul flight with toddler on lap, you’ll want to make sure everyone goes to the restroom before you attempt bedtime. Then, try to keep the rest of the routine as similar to home as possible.
While we have many tips to beating Jet-Lag, I understand that not all children will want to sleep on a flight. That’s totally ok. If they go to sleep, HUGE WIN. If they stay awake, that’s totally OK too. Remember to stay calm and roll with the punches on this one.
We recently took a long haul flight with 6 year old and 4 year old. They were content to be awake the entire flight and that was ok.
It is possible to get some sleep while holding a baby on a flight!!
my son always sleeps on the plane, but my daughter likes to stay awake.
7) Invest in Child Headphones. I have found the best headphones for toddlers. Young children need good headphones, but their hearing needs to be protected and their ears comfortable. Anyone heading out on a long flight with a toddler should invest in decibel limiting headphones that are comfortable and inexpensive.
The headphones I have linked also plug into each other, so you have no need for a jack splitter! Simply plug the second pair into the first pair and then plug the first pair into the device! It’s a great way for siblings to watch the same movie!
You can see the kid’s headphone cord running from one to the other as they watch the same movie!
If you’re flying with multiple children - invest in a cable splitter (click image)
Another option is to invest in headphones that can connect to each other (click image to see them)
8) Get comfortable. I always pack a pair of pajamas or soft clothing for my children to change into. I know I like to be as comfortable as possible on long haul flights with kids, so I make sure we are all as comfortable as possible. Check out this awesome zippable wet bag that we use to store our extra clothes in. Wet bags must be a part of any parent’s travel gear in case of diaper blowouts or accidents during travel.
The kids flew in their pajamas. Each brought a blanket and my son even had an eye mask to get comfy.
For myself, I usually bring a toothbrush, hairbrush, face towelette, and a comfy pair of socks. I also bring pajamas for myself; usually leggings and a loose shirt. I like to change after the meal service and get comfortable. I change back to my regular clothes before landing.
Both kids are changed into pajamas - this flight they slept about 6.5-7 hours straight. Their dirty clothes are in the wet bag so we can wash them when we arrive!
9) Stay hydrated. Staying hydrated is one of the classic long flight tips! The aircrew will offer water on their rounds, but having access to your own throughout the flight is imperative. Staying hydrated not only helps you relax, but it helps alleviate jet lag.
Drinking lots of water and electrolytes on long haul flights is so important for both adults and children, so make sure the kids are drinking lots of water in flight if they are awake. I prefer using these cups when flying with kids so they don’t spill in flight. Some water bottle styles will begin to spill over from the pressure change, but we’ve never had that issue with the 360 cups.
10) Accept help if you need it. I have traveled alone with my kids on more flights than I can count. There have been a few instances where I just needed help. Someone offered. I accepted. 30,000 feet in the air is not the time to prove your prowess, it’s ok to need help and it’s definitely ok to accept help!
A complete stranger helped me run from one gate to another in the SEATAC airport. He held my daughters hand until we made it to our seats. He’s also carrying her bag.
11) Get good entertainment! Some flights are not overnight, so you may be wondering what to do on long haul flights with kids. We have flown so much with our kids and we have only a few toys that we use over and over and over again when we travel. These are the best non-tech toys and entertainment for Toddlers and Preschoolers we have found! A big tip is to provide only one toy at a time and rotate through them. When I give too many at once, they are “bored” more easily.
getting creative to keep the baby entertained on a long haul
Far and away, the window clings are the most entertaining on a long haul flight with a toddler. We absolutely love them.
we got the christmas cheer going on a flight from san fran to washington dc!
My kids are obsessed with window clings. They are a really fun and cheap way to entertain little ones.
12) RELAX. Something I always tell people who ask me for Tips on Flying with Kids or traveling with kids in tow is to just RELAX. Travelling internationally with kids is such an incredible experience and the flight the shortest part of the entire trip. You will survive, the kids will survive, and the lady from aisle 14 who’s been glaring at you for the last 3 hours will also survive.
Just relaxing with the kids on a flight from Seattle to Atlanta.
The biggest thing to take away from these tips for long haul flights with kids is that the flight is only a short portion of your trip. It will end at some point and everyone on board will move on with their day and life. If you start to feel overwhelmed, ask yourself what you would do if you weren’t flying. How would you handle it on the ground? Keep an open mind about your flight, be flexible and seriously, RELAX. Long haul flights with children CAN be enjoyable for the entire family.
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