Best Travel Gear for Flying with Kids
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If you’re flying with kids any time soon, I know how overwhelming it can be to pack and prepare!
We have been flying with our children for over eleven years, with multiple flights per year. Three kids in, I’m confident in saying we have it down to a great system. In today’s post, I’m sharing all of the best travel gear for flying with kids. These are items I rarely travel without, and I know they will help you as you prepare for your next flight.
If you’re looking for more travel-focused tips, I’ve written a ton of content and have lots of videos on this topic! Make sure you check out these other posts and videos:
- Tips for Flying with Kids (2022 Version)
- 5 Tips for Flying with Children
- My Best Tips for Traveling with a Baby
- Why We Travel with Our Kids
- Tips for Flying with Young Kids
- Air Travel Under 2
I hope those are helpful pieces of content for you! Now let’s get to our favorite travel gear!
As a side note, I have an entire Travel List on my Amazon Storefront with even more of my favorite travel gear!
Best Travel Gear for Flying with Kids
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Ready to shop all of the best travel gear for flying with kids? Here’s everything I mentioned in the video… and more!
The Best Travel Gear for Flying with Kids – SHOP!
Travel Backpack
This backpack is an amazing carry on! It has so many different compartments, a spot for your laptop, spot for a water bottle, a place where you can attach a portable charger, a spot to put a pair of shoes, and even a zippered portion where you can throw clothes in case they get wet and you don’t have a plastic bag!
Small Belt Bag
I really like traveling with a belt bag, and this one is a great small one to keep! You can use it kind of like a wallet and keep it on you while the rest of your stuff is stowed away. I wore this all around Disney World last summer and it was nice to keep it on me as I rode rides!
Lightweight Car Seat – Rear and Forward Facing
For our toddler son, having a lightweight car seat for the airplane was a game changer. It really makes flying easier when he’s strapped in and secure. We have traveled with two different ones and recommend both. They are both SUPER lightweight (under 10 lbs), and are not car seats we keep in our cars – they are our travel car seats. This one is either rear or forward facing for the smaller infants and toddlers. Keep scrolling for the backpack we put it in to make it even easier to lug around the airport.
Lightweight Car Seat – Forward Facing / Booster
This is the car seat you’d want for toddlers and older kiddos who are forward facing. It is the same brand as the other one and is super lightweight. Game changer for squirmy toddlers on the plane!
Foldable Car Seat Backpack
Lugging a car seat around the airport can be cumbersome, but this collapsible backpack makes it so easy! We stuff the car seat inside and once we get on the airplane, we collapse this under the seat in front of our kiddo.
Car Seat Luggage Strap
If you want another option for traveling with a car seat, this luggage strap is also a great option! We prefer the backpack now that we have 3 kids and a lot more luggage to lug around, but we did use this strap when we only had one kid, lol. It works great!
Family Passport Holder
If you’re doing any international travel with your family, this family passport holder is a lifesaver! It holds up to 6 passports, which makes life really easy when getting through customs. I arranged mine in birth order so we always know whose passport we are pulling out.
Kids Headphones
Headphones are an absolute must when it comes to air travel with kids. I’ve actually heard a lot of flight attendants lately ask all passengers to use headphones with devices so they do not disturb other passengers. If you’re looking for an affordable pair of over-the-ear headphones, these are great!
Leak-Proof Water Bottle
I’ve started taking our reusable water bottles on flights with us because our kids get so incredibly thirsty. There are lots of water bottle refill stations in airports. Bring your empty water bottles and save on ridiculously expensive bottled water past security. One other amazing tip I recently learned is you can fill your water bottles with ice and bring them through security! I did that my last flight and it worked! My girls and I have this specific water bottle (my son has the toddler version) – it’s amazing and truly leakproof. It has a straw but also a spout where you can sip. Super easy to clean.
Space Saver Bags
I have had these for over five years and will never travel with them ever again. These bags make packing so much better and saves so much room in your suitcase! I prefer these to packing cubes, and there’s no vacuum needed. You just roll them to get the air out and vacuum seal them. If you roll/fold your clothes you don’t get that many wrinkles. To me, it’s more important to save space in my suitcase than to have perfectly wrinkle-free clothes. I can always iron or steam when I get to my destination.
Travel Toiletry Bottles
I’ve been through quite a bit of travel toiletry bottles and these are simply the best. They DO NOT leak! Seriously do not buy from Target or your local drugstore, because those leak and spill all over your bag. I use these to pack my kids’ toiletries (and my own), because I buy a lot of their items (shampoo/conditioner/body wash/baby wash) in bulk sizes.
AirTags
If you’re checking a bag (especially if you have a connecting flight), AirTags give peace of mind! We’ve recently started AirTagging our luggage and it’s awesome to have in case you run into any issues. Don’t forget to also grab a few holders so you can attach them inside luggage!
Reusable Ziploc Bags
These little reusable Ziploc bags are great for your carryon to put medicine, liquids, etc. Sometimes other bags can be a little bulky but I really like how flat these lay and keep everything organized.
Baby Wipes
It’s always good to have some baby wipes on hand, no matter how young or old your kids are. You just never know.
We Also Like to Travel With:
- Portable Charger
- Kids Kindle Fire
- Water Wow Coloring Book
- Window Clings
- Lots and lots of snacks
- A change of clothes for everyone (you never know)
Don’t forget to check out this list on my Amazon Storefront for more travel goodies!
