Hello, I’m the wife.
Occasional blog hijacker, chaos coordinator, and currently, your source for battle-tested tips on surviving long-distance flights with a tantrum-prone toddler. We fly intercontinentally a lot (hello, in-laws), and let’s just say… we’ve earned our air miles and our gray hairs.
So here’s my lovingly curated list of how to keep your little one entertained at 36,000 feet — without fully losing your mind or all your snacks. Note: this post contains links and some affiliate links with products we have tried and tested and help support our blog.
Strategy First: Know Your Battlefield
1. Keep special toys hidden ‘til takeoff
That toy they haven’t seen before? That’s gold. Don’t give it early — unveil it mid-meltdown or as soon as the seatbelt sign lights up. Peak novelty equals maximum distraction.
2. Don’t sit down until the plane seat
Rookie mistake: collapsing in the gate lounge while your toddler runs circles. That’s valuable steam-release time. Shoutout to Madrid Airport, where nearly every gate has a toddler playground.
Berlin Airport? Absolute toddler purgatory. Do better, BER.
3. Snack like it’s a mission
Snacks are life. Invest in one of those rotating snack spinners and fill it with every treat your toddler worships. Dino chips? Organic puffs? Raisins that you’ll find in your bra later? Yes, yes, and yes.
Toys & Tiny Distractions
All items fit in a special see through bag (roughly A4 sized) with a lot of small inner pockets and can be reused throughout the trip (or in restaurants, trains, existential parenting crises…).
Here’s what I packed from my Flying Tiger spree:
Mini Play-Doh trolley set – palm-sized cuteness.
Passport-size LCD drawing board – magic with zero mess.
Coloring block + envy-inducing pens
Mini camera-style projector – a hit in dim airplane lighting.
Puffy sticker books – stick to windows, you, the plane.
Matchbox car + road tape – boom, instant race track.
Color-in plush toy + special felts
Finger football set – mainly for Dad, but toddler-approved.
Sticker stamps + gem stickers – let them decorate your suitcase like a disco cowgirl.
Temporary tattoos – applied with wet wipes, last for days, zero regrets. She loves tagging us for hours. Might even open up a tattoo parlor at 36,000 feet
Mini face paints – because why not turn into wild animals mid-flight?
Blow up fairy wings + inflatable sceptre – we arrive in style.
Polly Pocket poodle salon – might be too early and every little piece gets lost, might be genius.
Mini “Wimmelbücher” – one farm, one construction site.
Travel-size Magnatiles – small but mighty as the big ones are her favorite toy at home.
Gear You’ll Actually Thank Yourself For
Toddler luggage = emotional support item
We have a Princess Traveller, but there are tons of ride-on or drag-along options. Take your little one luggage shopping – you’ll be shocked what they love pushing.
Outfit overload
Bring multiple changes. Not just for them, but for you. There’s always a mystery stain you didn’t plan for.
Safety first
Airplane seatbelts aren’t safe for toddlers. In fact they are actually dangerous. We got a TÜV-certified CARES harness.
Tablet or No Tablet?
Ah yes, the eternal parenting debate.
We chose no kids tablet (yet). She’s already glued to the tv at home — we’re trying to delay the inevitable. But: plane screens do exist, and we accept that. (and sometimes thank the lord for it)
To make it work, we got her Skullcandy Grom headphones – built for little ears, with volume limits and a decent fit.
That’s it from me
If you made it this far, you’re probably already packing too much or not enough, or both. That’s the reality. But with a few tricks, a toy stash, and snacks you’ll never confess to having brought, you will survive. And maybe even enjoy the ride.
Send this to a fellow parent flying soon — and may your next flight be tantrum-free(ish).
You got this.
— The Wife 
odjgergerpger
odjgergerpger
