Travel essentials for a long-haul flight with kids

I finally learned how to pack light after my daughter was born – for myself at least, with only a minuscule corner of the suitcase left for me after putting in all of the travel essentials she might possibly need. And then a few more items just in case.

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And for those nerve-racking first flights – the very first, the first long-haul, the first solo long-haul – knowing there was a back-up plan in place left me feeling more relaxed about the journey. I doubt I’d have believed that by the time she turned five, I’d be approaching a long-haul flight to Asia with something like nonchalance.

I’m sticking to my mantra that sometimes more is more, especially wipes and snacks when you have 11 hours in a confined space. But with each trip, I’ve learned more about what really are the travel essentials for a long-haul flight with kids… and how to claw back a bit more luggage space for myself by leaving the rest at home.

Thinking back to those baby days, I realised it’s often the little things which made the biggest difference. Major purchases like travel cots, buggies and car seats might have taken the time, but as I sat in my plane seat or watched my baby daughter try to eat the beach, those weren’t the practical essentials I needed. Unlike her beloved ‘babbit’, who’s seen almost as much of the world as she has.

The real travel essentials for a long-haul flight with kids

A baby carrier, for example, was worth its weight in gold. Because while you can normally take your buggy to the gate of the plane, you rarely get it back before baggage reclaim – with bags, immigration queues and a tired small child, my arms wouldn’t have coped otherwise. The fact she dozed off instantly in it was a bit of a bonus.

And muslins. Every new parent gets told they need muslins – but I never realised quite how versatile they are. Ours doubled as a blanket, a bib, emergency clothes, a sun shade, a way to play peekaboo and a comforter, as well as the usual feeding and burping duties.

A fun pattern went a long way to making her smile too – well, who doesn’t love Winnie the Pooh or Peter Rabbit?

The practical travel essentials to pack

If I was doing it all again, I’d look for more battery-powered gadgets or those with a USB charger – rather than fiddling with block plugs and adapters around a single badly positioned socket: the Gro Hush white noise calmer has seen us through flights and bedtimes galore (EDIT: now out of stock although you can find similar white noise devices here), while the Pabobo Super Nomade Night Light charges superfast and is sturdy enough to chuck into a bag.

But my biggest realisation – apart from the brilliance of microwave sterilising bags – was finding the multitasking products. Why put two things into the suitcase when you only need one?

So every toy needed at least two uses. A toy whale works as a distraction on the plane, playtime in the bath and swimming pool, a fun way to rinse shampoo out and wipes clean after a day on the beach. The Happyland range is equally plane, sand and waterproof.

A foam baby mat is great on hard floors, and can be pulled apart endlessly by inquisitive small hands

Anything which plays cheerful tunes or has millions of little pieces can definitely stay at home though, unless you fancy making apologetic faces or clearing up mess for the whole journey.

Finger and hand puppets are a source of endless amusement, while cloth books help lighten the hand luggage load (although stickers and lift-the-flap books should be on the list too).

The Galt Water Magic range means even little ones can colour without accidentally decorating the plane, while once we got past the ‘all things go in my mouth’ stage, magnet games saved me from rummaging around on the floor every two minutes.

The back-up plan

Those just in case scenarios? If I did it again, I wouldn’t rely on a couple of sachets of Calpol in hand luggage – teething can strike in an instant, so a well-stocked family first aid kit is now always to hand.

Download my essential child first aid checklist if you’d like to build your own kit

And if things don’t always go according to plan, every flight must end… eventually. When you’re cuddled up on the beach showing off that holiday wardrobe, sunglasses on, floatseat or floatsuit and snuggly towel at the ready, it’s always worth it.

Happily the final travel essential is one you don’t have to pack: ice cream…

Tips for travelling long-haul with a child

If you believe the nay-sayers, you shouldn’t even consider getting on a plane with a child or baby. And even if you are brave enough to book a flight, the only option is to make it a very short short-haul journey.

Fortunately, if you want to venture further afield than France, this is all rubbish. There’s absolutely no reason why you can’t attempt a long-haul flight with kids… as long as you plan in advance.

Food/drink

There’s no way of avoiding a few meals on board if you’re flying long-haul with a child – if they’re old enough, book a child meal but make sure you have plenty of snacks as well. If you can, eat at the airport before boarding where you can choose something you know they’ll like.

Food and drink for babies/young children is exempt from the usual 100ml rules, although you may be asked to taste it at security.

Pouches travel better than jars and pack extra, as you don’t want to run out at 35,000ft. Most major airlines will heat bottles and food but if your child will drink room temperature milk, it makes travel much easier.

Entertainment

I wouldn’t even attempt a 10-minute journey without some kind of entertainment, let alone 10 hours. But the longer the journey, the more entertainment you’ll need.

As well as a few favourite toys/books, something new (ideally cheap and disposable in case it doesn’t survive the flight) is ideal when they’re flagging. Apps and games on your phone/tablet or mini headphones for the in-flight entertainment also help pass the time.

Check out my top toddler toys for travel

If you’ve got a wriggly toddler, let them burn off some excess energy before you board. An hour crawling around a deserted gate rather than strapped into a buggy might help them tolerate sitting still just a bit longer.

Sleep

Choose an overnight flight if possible. The fear is that your crying child will disturb the rest of the plane but there’s more chance they’ll doze off at their natural bedtime. The low lights and quiet fellow passengers all help too.

If you’re flying with a young baby, speak to your airline about booking a bassinet, although from six-eight months (depending on their size), this will be too small.

As they don’t have their own seat, you’ll be doubling as a pillow. Some airlines will have child belts, but others don’t use them so consider how to keep them comfortable but secure.

Jetlag

The bane of many adult holidays, it’s no easier for children – and as you can’t explain time zones to a 10-month-old, you’ll have to help them adjust. Adapt their normal routine by making small adjustments over the week before you leave so they get closer to the new time zone.

Then stick to the destination time zone as soon as you board, and don’t plan anything for the first day – except trying to get over the night’s disrupted sleep.

For more of my recommendations of travel essentials when you’re flying long-haul with a child, check out my Amazon shop, as well as my essential baby packing list, toddler travel toys and the Shop the Blog page for some of my other favourite travel essentials

*First published 2017, last updated 2025*

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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission. All opinions on the essentials you need for a long-haul flight with kids are my own

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