Between us, we’ve taken dozens of flights with babies and young children across Australia, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. These are the lessons we’ve learned along the way.
If you’ve made it this far through our Flying With Kids series, thank you! If you’re just joining us, you can start with Part 1 of our Flying With Kids series, then catch up on Part 2 before diving into this final episode. We clearly had more to say about family flights than either of us realised because somehow one episode turned into three.
In this final episode, we’re chatting about all the little things that didn’t quite fit into Parts 1 and 2. From toys and screen time to baby carriers, landing day tips and even navigating different cultures with young children, these are the practical lessons we’ve learned after years of travelling with our girls.
Here are a few more tips we’d love to share.
1. You Don’t Need Half the Toy Shop
When it comes to toys, our biggest piece of advice is simple – don’t overpack.
It’s so easy to get caught up in all the Pinterest boards, Instagram reels and TikToks showing perfectly organised activity boxes. But in reality, having a bag bursting at the seams can be more stressful than helpful. Especially if the zip breaks!
Instead, pack a few toys you know your child already loves and maybe one brand-new surprise to pull out when you need it most.
Some of our favourites include:
- Mini Play-Doh tubs
- Magnetic drawing boards
- Reusable sticker books
- UNO (for older kids)
- Small matching games
- Bracelet making kit
Try to avoid anything that’s noisy, rolls away easily or has lots of tiny pieces that can disappear under aeroplane seats.
Keeping things simple has always worked best for us.
2. Screens Aren’t the Enemy
Let’s talk about the topic that always starts a debate… screens.
Every family has different rules around screen time, and that’s completely okay.
For us, we use what works.
Carly is happy to use downloaded movies and games while travelling because Chloe doesn’t use her iPad much at home. I haven’t needed screens much with Kaia yet, but I always have a few offline shows downloaded just in case.
The biggest tip? Download everything before you leave.
Don’t assume your flight will have entertainment screens or Wi-Fi. Many budget airlines don’t, and even when they do, it isn’t always reliable.
A little preparation before your flight can save a lot of stress in the air.
3. Screen-Free Entertainment Can Be Just As Good
Not every child needs a screen to stay entertained.
One of my favourite travel discoveries has been the Yoto Player. It’s a screen-free audio player that uses cards for music, stories, games and activities, making it perfect for travel.
We’ve also had great success with:
- Audiobooks
- Music
- Drawing boards
- Sticker books
- Card games
- Colouring
- Magnetic games
The best in air entertainment is often whatever keeps your child engaged the longest, whether that’s an iPad or a sticker book.
There really is no right or wrong answer.
If you do plan on relying on screens for entertainment, make sure everything is fully charged and you have a power bank and cords handy. Not all airlines have charging points on board (in fact, I can’t remember the last time I flew on one that did!), so don’t rely on being able to charge your devices during the flight.
4. Check Your Airline’s Power Bank Rules
This one recently caught us out.
Airline rules around power banks seem to be changing all the time, and they aren’t always the same from one airline to the next. Most airlines won’t allow power banks in checked luggage, and some airlines now have restrictions on using them during the flight. Before you travel, take five minutes to check your airline’s website so you don’t lose an expensive power bank at security or boarding.
It’s a small job that can save a big headache.
5. Team Baby Carrier (Most of the Time!)
If you asked us to choose between a pram and a baby carrier, we’d both pick the baby carrier.
Are they bulky? No. Are they worth it? We think so.
Baby carriers make it much easier to:
- Get in that much needed nap on the go
- Navigate cobblestone streets
- Catch trains
- Walk through busy markets
- Explore hiking trails
- Board boats
- Move through airports
As your child gets bigger, a hiking backpack carrier can be a fantastic next step.
That said, every trip is different. If you know you’ll need a pram at your destination, don’t forget that many places hire them. That can save you the hassle of dragging one across multiple flights and worrying about it being damaged along the way.
6. Keep Landing Day Simple
One of the biggest mistakes we see families make is trying to do too much on arrival day. After a long travel day, everyone is overwhelmed and tired!
The last thing anyone needs is a packed sightseeing schedule.
Instead:
- Keep meals simple.
- Choose familiar foods.
- Let everyone rest.
- Avoid booking too much on your first day.
One lesson I learned the hard way was to always taste your child’s food first when you’re in a new country. What looked like a perfectly innocent spaghetti bolognese in Malaysia turned out to be incredibly spicy, resulting in one very unhappy toddler and one very guilty mum.
Now, every unfamiliar meal gets the parent taste test first!
7. Different Countries Have Different Cultural Norms
Travelling exposes our children to incredible cultures and experiences.
It also exposes us to customs that might be very different from what we’re used to.
In some countries it’s common for strangers to smile at children, squeeze their cheeks, offer them treats or even take photos. Neither of us are particularly confrontational, but we’ve both learned that it’s okay to politely set boundaries if something makes you or your child uncomfortable.
One experience I’ll never forget happened when Kaia was still crawling. A stranger picked her up on the beach and carried her over to his friends, smiling and posing for photos. While there was no bad intention, it was a reminder that cultural norms can be very different from what we’re used to, and it’s okay to politely step in when you’re uncomfortable.
One thing that’s since helped is learning a few simple phrases in the local language, such as:
- “No thank you.”
- “Please don’t touch.”
- “No photos please”
Knowing your own boundaries before you travel makes it much easier to respond confidently if a situation arises.
8. Keep It Simple
If there is one message we’d love you to take away from this entire Flying With Kids series, it’s this:
Keep it simple.
You don’t need every travel gadget.
You don’t need to follow every parenting trend.
You don’t need the perfect itinerary.
Travel days won’t always go to plan, and that’s okay.
The more flexible you can be, the more enjoyable the journey becomes for everyone.
Final Thoughts
Flying with kids isn’t easy, but it does get easier.
Every flight teaches you something and every travel day builds your confidence.
Every little challenge helps you become a more experienced travelling family.
Remember, there is no perfect way to travel with children.
Do what works for your family, trust your instincts and don’t be afraid to adapt as your kids grow.
Most importantly, enjoy the adventure.
We hope this three-part Flying With Kids series gives you the confidence to book that trip you’ve been dreaming about. It might not always go to plan, but we promise the memories are worth it.
Every family travels differently, and that’s okay. These are simply the lessons we’ve learned through our own adventures. Take what works for your family, leave what doesn’t, and keep exploring.
Listen to the Full Episode
In Episode 3 of the Kids Who Travel Podcast, Renee and Carly finish their Flying With Kids series by chatting about entertainment ideas, screen time, power banks, baby carriers, landing day tips and navigating different cultures while travelling with children.
If you’re planning your next family adventure, this episode is packed with practical tips and honest conversations from two mums who’ve learned through experience.
Listen now and start planning your next family adventure.
Have a flying-with-kids tip we missed? We’d love to hear it. Connect with us on Instagram @kidswhotravelpodcast and share your best travel hacks.