How to Survive International Flights with a Two-Year-Old Who Has Their Own Seat

(Or, How to Wrestle a Toddler at 35,000 Feet and Somehow Still Arrive in One Piece).

Now that your kid is 2+ and the lap infant days are behind you, there are some new rules to play by. Traveling internationally with a toddler who has their own seat is like embarking on an epic quest. Will you survive the journey? Will you unlock new levels of patience? Will your toddler decide that the back of the plane is their personal marathon track?

My son has visited 16 countries now, 3 of which we visited after he turned two (Iceland, Switzerland, and Italy, all of which required a 12+ hour flight). Here’s how I’ve managed to survive flying across oceans with my two-year-old, and how you can, too.

1. Packing the Diaper Bag (aka Bag of Infinite Tricks)

Forget packing light. You’re basically moving onto the plane with a toddler who has the attention span of a butterfly. Your bag needs to be armed with every possible distraction known to humankind. We love the Milk x Whiskey diaper bag since it’s equipped with everything you could need (read my review):

• Snacks Galore. Think of it as snack-tainment. You’ll need something crunchy, something squishy, something healthy (for the illusion of balance), and something sugary (for when all else fails). Here are some of our favorite travel snacks. Put them in fun containers—toddlers love the thrill of opening things.
• A Water Bottle They Can’t Spill. It’s essential. Not only will they drink more when they have their own cup, but it’ll save you from mopping up seat 23B while your neighbors look on in horror.
• Mini Toys. Small and captivating. I’m talking about stickers, mini puzzles, and figurines that keep their attention. Bonus points if it’s something new you can pull out like a magician mid-flight. Stickers have been our go-to, since it’s not a big deal if we lose a few under the seat and they can’t be thrown like projectiles.
• Spare Clothes. There will be spills. On them, on you, on anyone within a four-foot radius. There will potentially be accidents. Bring a TON of ultra absorbent travel diapers and changes of clothes. We particularly like bamboo joggers for their temperature regulating properties and comfort.
• Tablet and Headphones. I am adamantly against screens in every scenario except for flights. My son doesn’t get screens at any other time other than when we file his nails, so he has some familiarity with Ms. Rachel, and he will sit still and watch, and even fall asleep to, Ms. Rachel on a plane. He doesn’t even mind if he can’t hear it (he’s not willing to wear headphones). Be sure to download and save these prior to takeoff.

2. Get Ready for Takeoff (and Landing)

So your kid is now two, which means they’re very interested in asserting independence. Like a mini lawyer, they will challenge every rule you try to lay down. When it comes to takeoff and landing, though, there’s no negotiating: ear discomfort is real, so plan ahead:

• Bottle, Binky, or Chewy Snacks. No binkies anymore? Try anything chewy to help pop those little ears, or consider nursing or bottle feeding at takeoff and landing. This has been our MO since day one and it’s always worked for us.
• Turn It into an Adventure. Toddlers are easier to distract if you make it fun. “Can you feel the plane zooming up? Let’s zoom with it!” My son is stoked about trucks, planes, and trains, so the airplane is exciting for him.

3. The Art of Entertaining Them During the Layover

Gone are the days when a long layover was a chance to relax with a latte and a good book. Now? It’s a parenting Olympics event. Here’s how to tackle it:

• Find the Playground. Many airports have little play areas that are toddler heaven. If your airport has one, go there and let your child go wild. They’ll tire themselves out, and maybe, just maybe, that translates to some sleep on the flight.
• Scope Out Windows for Plane Spotting. They can watch the planes land and take off like they’re at an airshow. Add some airplane facts (“Did you know that plane is taking people to Paris?”) and your toddler might think you’re a genius.
• Let Them Push Something (In a Safe Area). You may become the unofficial toddler wrangler of Gate C14, but trust me, letting them burn energy before the flight is worth the stares. My son is obsessive about getting to push the carry on suitcase around (or ride on it!), so we try to find an empty area, let him go nuts, and hope he’ll sleep once onboard.

4. Winning at the In-Flight Experience

Two-year-olds + confinement = recipe for chaos. But with a little planning, you can keep them semi-contained.

• Seat Belts Are Non-Negotiable (Sort Of). If you’ve brought their car seat, congrats! They’re already familiar with it, and it might help them stay seated (or at least seated-ish) and may even help them sleep. A CARES harness is another option if you don’t want to be stuck with a car seat for 12+ hours. I tend to opt for the car seat for shorter flights, or the CARES for longer ones where we want that extra space. I like the Cosco Scenera since it’s so lightweight, though we’ve tested out the WayB Pico as well for shorter flights.
• Timing for Sleep. It may or may not work, but I prefer an overnight flight when possible for the long hauls just to have at least some time spent sleeping. In terms of how to help them sleep, we’ve had the most success just letting him put his head on one of our laps, which allows him to stretch the rest of his body across his seat while still having the seatbelt on. Unfortunately, I’m not a fan of the FlyAway bed (here’s why).
• Let them walk. Never underestimate the power of a couple of walks up and down the aisle of the plane. If your little one is a ham, they’ll appreciate the opportunity to be adored as they walk by.

5. Business Class, Baby (Or at Least a Little Extra Space)

Let’s face it, having a little extra room can be a lifesaver. If you can swing business class (we’ve often done it on miles, and it’s worth every single point), here’s why it works:

• Lie-Flat Seats. A miracle. Your kid will think it’s a playground and then (hopefully) fall asleep in a little cocoon of coziness.
• More Room for Wiggles. The extra legroom means more space for tiny feet to kick without impacting the back of the seat in front of them (as much).
• Easier Diaper Changes. The bathrooms are less impacted and frequented, and stay a bit cleaner in business class.

Worried about flying with your 2+ year old in business class in their own seat? I was, too. Here’s how we navigated it.

6. Go With the Flow (Mostly)

This one is for you: keep expectations low, because toddlers are unpredictable, and there’s no way to know if your kid will love flying or be ready to stage a mid-flight protest. But remember, you’ve got tricks up your sleeve:

• Treat It Like an Adventure. Toddlers love adventure—try to lean into it. “Look at us flying above the clouds!” works better than “Please, for the love of everything, sit still.”
• Know When to Let Things Slide. If they want to wear their dinosaur pajamas for 20 hours straight or only eat crackers the whole way, fine. Some battles aren’t worth fighting, and hey, travel’s weird for everyone. Toddlers just show it a little louder.

7. Enjoy the Chaos (or at Least Laugh About It Later)

Let’s be honest: it won’t be the easiest flight of your life. There will be spills, tears, and at least one moment where you question your life choices. But then, you’ll get off the plane in some beautiful place, and your toddler will grin up at you like it’s the best day ever—and maybe you’ll start believing it, too.

So gear up, pack that snack arsenal, and try to savor the chaos. Because one day, you’ll laugh about the time they refused to wear pants halfway to Tokyo and wouldn’t stop singing “Wheels on the Bus.” And you’ll realize, somehow, that it was all worth it.

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