Whenever someone asks me how to survive a flight with a toddler, I tell them, “Bring lots of snacks.”

I truly believe that snacks are the best way to survive a flight with a toddler.

I also tell them to lower their expectations and be okay with the snacks not being the healthiest of the healthy. It’s usually just a couple of hours and then you can get back to your normally balanced diets. Of course, you don’t need to bring candy bars and M&Ms for the whole plane ride (I’d save those M&Ms for emergencies!), and there are healthier snacks you can tote along.

But regardless of what you bring – small and mess-free is ideal for young kids. Snacks are just a great way to help pass the time and keep your tinies occupied for a while! With older kids, you can often have other airplane activities but toddlers have such a short attention span, coming up with activities can be tricky (especially if you are opposed to screen time).

The number one rule I have about snacks? Make sure they are easy to clean up – and bring some wet wipes, because even a less messy snack can turn into a huge mess with a toddler – at least, if yours are like mine at all!

I have flown many times with toddlers and little kids, so I think I’ve got a pretty good handle on what snacks to bring and how to bring them. Here are some of my best snack ideas and some of my best tips for success. Please let me know if I missed any of your favorite airplane snacks for your toddlers!

Pack for the TSA

Before we get into the snacks, I wanted to mention how we pack our snacks.

Once upon a time, we were flying out of Denver International Airpot. They pulled us aside and said they had to swab EVERY. SINGLE. SNACK. we brought because they couldn’t see inside.

We had about 20 packages of fruit snacks, and they swabbed each one. It took forever, and we almost missed our flight.

Now, I haven’t had this happen at other airpots, but I have been pretty determined to never have it happen again. So, before we leave, I always take all the food that I can out of their original packaging and put them in see-through containers.

We have had several TSA people thank us for doing this. It just makes life easier for everyone in the security line. I’ll share some different snack containers at the end, but we love using our ZipTop Reusable silicone bags. They have so many sizes – including cute little snack ones that look like animals. We really love using them on the airplane – you can use the code CLARKSCONDENSED15 to get 15% off.

Make sure you either pack them in a separate bag or in an easily accessible place in your carry-on bags to make life easier for everyone as well. Regardless, make sure you give yourself enough time to get through security just in case something doesn’t go as planned.

Types of Snacks

There are different types of snacks you should consider bringing on the plane – they are great options for different purposes and adds variety. I usually recommend choosing a couple different snacks from each category. With my kids, I never know what snacks they are going to want. On our last flight, all my son wanted were apples and clementines!

I do recommend having most of your snacks be ones you can keep at room temperature. While you can definitely bring an ice pack, I find it to be much simpler to have snacks you don’t have tow worry about at all during your air travel.

Also keep in mind that many airlines still provide snacks at some point during the flight, so that can be an added bonus. However, not all do – so don’t bank on that for being your snack plan!

Healthy Snacks

It’s a good idea to bring some healthy snacks so your child doesn’t get all hyped up on junk and sugar. Healthy snacks can feel a little trickier to bring on the plane, but there are plenty of options that are easy to pack and won’t be too messy. If you bring something that has a peel or rind, bring along an extra Ziploc bag to put the waste in.

String Cheese – Kids can eat these by themselves and they’re high in calcium which is good for kids’ bones. You will need a freezer pack for these.

Blueberries– It’s easy to pack a container of blueberries so toddlers can munch on them throughout the flight without making too much noise or spilling anything onto other people.

Yogurt– This is fairly easy to bring and can have some nice protein. However, I would recommend getting the pouches that aren’t refrigerated. It’s a little easier to manage

Carrots are a healthy snack for toddlers on airplanes. They are high in vitamins A, C, and K as well as fiber and water content. They can be a choking hazard, though, so I would pre-cut them or get the pre-sliced carrots.

Homemade Muffins – My son loves when I make homemade muffins, and he doesn’t mind at all when I make more “veggie” based muffins. You can make a batch at home before you go – mini muffins are even better!

Sauce pouches – Apple sauce is what we always go for but there are lots of varieties you can choose from.

Hard Boiled Eggs – Might be a little smellier of an option, but they are filling and have a good amount of protein. You will want to have a freezer bag for these.

Hummus or Guacamole– You can buy the little individual containers of hummus or guacamole at the store to bring along – they can be a bit more filling. They will probably need to be refrigerated. Make sure to bring something to dip in. These can be a little messier.

Apples – People have different comfort levels when it comes to apples. Our toddler can eat a whole one (while being watched, of course), so I just wash them before we go and bring the whole ones on the plane. This way it doesn’t get all brown. However, if you don’t feel comfortable with that, you can easily pre-slice some apples and sprinkle it with either lemon juice or some fruit fresh.

Clementines – These are my toddlers absolute favorite! Easy to eat. Bring a bag for the peels.

Grapes – Obviously make sure you pre-slice these ones before you get on the plane!

Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwich– this lunch staple is easy to make at home or buy from a nearby store if you’re making your own snacks before the flight. See my note about allergies at the bottom of the page.

Easy to Eat Snacks

These are those snacks that are usually small and easy to eat – and there are larger quantities so they might keep your child occupied for longer.

Keep in mind that if these snacks spill, they will go everywhere. So be careful!

Cheerios – Always a favorite for toddlers! Really, any cereal will do. Just be c

Goldfish – Another great finger food option for kids, Goldfish are low in sugar and have great flavor. They are a great snack cracker that children love.

Cheese and Breadstick Dippers

Rice Cakes – My kids always love these. Lots of different flavor options, too!

Granola Bars – We love granola bars. They can get kind of messy though. I recommend steering clear of those Nature Valley Oat bars – not sure if that’s the name, but they are SO crumbly and get everywhere. I like ones Nutrigrain bars (or a toddler equivalent)

Annie’s Bunnies – Similar to Goldfish but there are some different varieties. They might be a little healthier?

Trail Mix – You could make a toddler-friendly trail mix with chocolate chips, raisins, etc. I would skip the nuts, though, since those aren’t particularly good for toddlers.

Animal Crackers

Pretzels

Veggie Straws – my kids always love these!

Sweet Snacks

I always enjoy something sweet while flying, and I know my kids do, too. Try not to go too overboard, but these can be fun to have.

Fruit Snacks– Always a popular option!

Fruit Leathers – I almost put these in the healthy section, because they can be. However, they do tend to be higher in sugar, and they definitely can satisfy a sweet tooth!

Raisins – For an extra yummy treat, spring for the yogurt covered ones! They can be a good source of fiber for helping with any travel tummy issues.

Teddy Grahams – I personally love Teddy Grahams. I think they have some really nice sweetness to them, and they definitely feel like a treat.

Graham Crackers

Emergency Snacks

These are the snacks you pull out when your child (or you) are about to lose it! Definitely use them as a last resort or bribe. Yep, I’m not above bribery when it comes to flying!

Mini M&Ms

Chocolate Chips

Licorice Nibs – These are sweet, but my mom swears they also help with constipation. Win-win!

Drinks

One of the most miserable flights I have ever been on was with my second son. He was a toddler at the time, and there was a lot of choppy air, so they weren’t able to do the food and drink service.

We had forgotten to fill up our water bottles because we got to the airport late and were rushing. He got SO thirsty and had a complete meltdown over it. It was probably a good hour of him screaming, “I want water, I want water” over and over again. I can’t say I blamed him – I was thirsty, too!

After that experience, I have always made it a priority to have plenty to drink. I recommend having a larger water bottle that you can refill one of their sippy cups for.

You could consider bringing some juice boxes, too, if you give your kids juice. This juice box holder could be handy!

We have a handy silicone sippy cup lids that you can stretch over cups, which we’ve used an airplane cups. However, we often request for our kids to get a lid and straw with their drinks, which is really nice for preventing spills. We usually just get them water, but I will usually ask for the whole can so we can fill up extra.

How to pack snacks for toddlers on airplanes

Pack snacks in a checked bag and make sure they’re not liquid. You can take ice packs, so long as they are completely frozen.

1. Pack perishable snacks in a soft sided, insulated lunch box (or something of the sort). , such as a Rubbermaid Lunch Blox or an insulated lunch box with ice packs.

2. As I already mentioned, try and separate items into see-through bags, such as plastic bags or the ZipTop bags that I already mentioned.

3. Be careful about bringing anything too smelly on the plane. If you do, make sure you have a way of disposing of the items after you are done eating.

4. Bring a separate backpack or carry-on (if allowed) where you can put all your snacks that is separated from the rest of your belongings. It’s much more convenient to have them in one designated spot.

5. Make sure you pack things so you don’t have your whole fruit and granola bars being smooshed to pieces at the bottom!

6. If you have multiple children, you can either divide snacks ahead of time into individual portions and put them in a small backpack for them, or bring everyone a bag to divvy up during the flight.

7. Pack reasonable quantities for the length of the flight. If your flight is only one hour, you won’t need nearly as many snacks as you might need for a long trip.

What to Bring

We’ve already talked about what snacks to bring – but let’s chat a little bit about different containers and items to bring to make it easier.

Definitly bring bags or containers that can be closed with a lid or zipper. You don’t want snacks just flying all over your bag and on the ground. As I mentioned, we really like the ZipTop silicone bags. They stand up straight and close really easily.

If you want to bring a little snack container, you might want to bring one that has a suction cup so your toddler can’t as easily just fling it across the airplane. Same goes for little plates if you want to bring something like that. I really like the EzPz brand.

Sippy cups are great. I would avoid straw cups just because they can easily get lost. You can also bring that stretchy universal lid I mentioned earlier.

I have never tried these squeeze pouch containers before, but I’ve heard rave reviews. It makes it so you child can’t just squeeze all the contents out at once (making a huge mess).

I love catcher bibs. They are probably one of my all-time favorite baby products. Great for bringing on the plane for quick clean up and making things less messy. You could also bring silicone placemats to make things even less of a mess.

Wipes – I am sure you probably will have wipes already but don’t forget it! You will want them not only to clean up your toddler but any mess they inevitably will make.

Rules for snacks on airplane

The rules for snacks on airplanes are simple. You can bring your own food on an airplane, though always check with your carrier to see if there are any specific rules.

Additional Tips and Tricks

There are many allergies that people have. Allergies to nuts are very common. You can bring nut-based snacks, but Iwould suggest leaving them at home if at all possible. While some people may speak up and let the airline know that it needs to be a nut-free flight, not everyone will.

Obviously you can’t control all the allergies – if you skipped everything people were allergic to, you wouldn’t ended up with very many options. However, just be aware of the people around you, a nd if someone tells you that there are allergies, be kind and considerate.

On the flip side, if your child has an allergy, make sure you pack plenty of allergy-friendly snacks. Notify the airline ahead of time so they can make an announcement on the plane about what snacks should be limited.

Always buy your snacks before you get to the airport! They are always way more expensive and more limited in option.

And finally, don’t get all the snacks out at once! I like to have bigger bags of snacks that I can portion out throughout the flight into smaller bags (like these ZipTop Kid Snack bags). If they eat all the snacks at once, and you have a long flight ahead of you, it can make life a lot harder! This is especially true if you dont’ have a direct flight

and you are going to need good snacks to last through the next flight. Start with the least desirable snacks and build up from there.

It may seem like a lot of work upfront, but I promise, it’s worth it to be prepared.

I hope that this was helpful in helping you coming up with the best snacks! for your next trip. Honestly, these are great travel snacks for kids of all ages! Try not to overthink it and bring a variety of snacks your toddler while enjoy. Good luck!

More Posts You Might Enjoy:

• Five Pro Tips for Flying on an Airplane with Kids
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• The Best Rides for Toddlers at Disney World + Disneyland

The post 20+ Airplane Snacks for Toddlers + Expert Tips for Success appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

From the time my first kid was four months old, I’ve been traveling cross-country to see family regularly. Over the years, I have gathered lots of tips and tricks to make travel with kids less stressful, from getting through TSA to maneuvering through the airport and surviving the plane ride. These tips are actually helpful without adding more to your to-do list or increasing the stress you’ll have while traveling.

Be Prepared

The more prep you can do before flying, the less stressed you will be on the day you travel.

What to Pack in a Carry-on for Kids

First, only take necessities as carry-on. Keep in mind as you pack: Everything you take on the plane has to be carried… by you. Limiting what you pack will make screening at TSA, walking through the terminals, and sitting on the plane a whole lot easier. Pack what you need to get through the flight, plus an extra change of clothes, pajamas, and sleeping essentials like blankets and toothbrushes. Check the rest to give yourself a break.

Prepare your Devices

Second, don’t forget to charge your devices, and load them with content! Tablets drain battery life even when they’re not used, and most content you upload expires after 15-30 days. Load or refresh the content before both legs of your trip, and make sure they’re fully charged. We love the Amazon Fire for kids, and it goes on sale several times a year. It comes with a very durable carrying case, which is great for travel.

Organize Your Bags

Third, organize your bags. There’s nothing more stressful than searching through your bag at 30,000 feet looking for a beloved stuffed animal or favorite snack.

I break mine by use: What we will use for entertainment goes in one area, food in another, clothes in a third area, and things we won’t likely need for the plane goes in a carry-on I store overhead.

Arrive Early

Fourth, get to the airport early. Especially these days with labor shortages, you need to plan for extra time. Lines everywhere are long, you’ll be more likely to check bags, TSA takes longer with kids, and you can’t run through a terminal with a crying four-year-old. Add 30 minutes to your arrival time. It’s better to be at your gate early enough to get a treat and use the bathroom than it is to worry you might have to sleep overnight in Terminal A.

PACK FOR THE FLIGHT

Best Travel Advice Ever: Pack a complete change of clothes for every person, in a Ziploc bag, and keep it within arm’s reach. Travel can make kids’ tummies unpredictable, and messy.  

I’ve only had a travel blow-out one time, but I will never forget that trip. Having the clothes (and diaper and wipes) for my infant son, as well as a complete (down to the undies) change for my husband made a really messy experience a lot less awful.

Along with clothes, you need diapers and wipes. I bring extra diapers, and undies for older kids, and shove them in cracks and corners. Messy tummies, flight delays, and travel jitters are real. You’ll want to have five to ten extra diapers, plus wipes and disposal bags to go with them.

Snacks are essential, too. Bringing single or small portioned snacks will stave off temper tantrums (and not just for the kids), save money, and make the trip more exciting. Airport food is about twice as expensive as regular take-out, and can quickly bust your budget. It’s also unreliable, slow, and not always available in your terminal.

Everyone wants a treat. Having a fun treat can be a great way to motivate a tired or fussy kid. Reminding them they can have M&Ms once you’re through TSA or in your seats can stave off a meltdown mid-terminal. And don’t forget snacks for you!

PLAN FOR TSA

Security has been around for a long time, but going through TSA with kids is a whole different experience.

TSA singles out food, baby wipes, formula, in addition to electronics and shoes. They may not announce it, but they will visually search food and wipes, so it saves a lot of time if you have these items pulled out and placed in a bin before your bags go through the screener. Yes, even baby wipes. These seem to set off alarms more than anything else, so save yourself the hassle, and pull them out every time.

I literally pack all my food in one small bag, my tablets and electronics in another small bag, and other items I know will be pulled out at TSA (liquids, baby wipes, and more) in a third. All these bags go into one larger bag that I empty in the security line. This way, I’m only dealing with one bag, not rummaging through everything and risking losing items or having personal things fall on the floor in public.

Pro Tip – If you have snacks that are in non-see-through bags, they may have to swab them individually. Taking them out of the bags and putting them into Ziploc bags can save you a lot of time and stress. Not all airports do this but many larger ones do.

Because you have to pack specifically for TSA, plan to take a few minutes to rearrange your bags at the gate. Give the kids their personal items in their backpacks, put the snacks together, entertainment in one place, and items you don’t plan to need for the flight in another place.

Pro-Tip – Consider getting TSA Pre-check for you. It’s under $100 for five years, and children under 15 automatically will get TSA Pre-check clearance alongside you. TSA Pre-check can save you so much stress, and it can make it so you don’t have to get to the airport (and entertain your children) for quite as long.

Masks on Airplanes for Kids

One of the biggest stresses these days is the thought of getting kids to wear masks and be compliant for an entire flight. It is important to comply with federal guidelines about mask compliance, and being prepared will make things much less stressful.

Let me reassure you, in reality, most flight attendants and airline staff are kind and understanding about children in masks. The horror stories we see are the exception, not the norm.

If your kids don’t wear masks often, practice wearing masks with your kids before your trip.

Masks don’t have to be worn during eating, so if your kids need a break, feed them snacks. This is especially helpful advice at the start of the flight when most compliance issues come up.

Because my toddler struggles with masks, we wait to board until the very last minute. That way, we’re less likely to draw the ire of a flight attendant if my child is having a tough moment.

Don’t forget to take extra masks. Masks fall on the ground, they attract germs and moisture, and you’ll want several extra on hand. Use a small laundry bag for clean, and another for dirty.

Bonus Tips

If everything goes sideways, just remember that eventually, the plane will land, you’ll get off, and never have to see the other passengers again.

• Use those tablets and electronic devices. Now is not the time to restrict tablet time; this is survival. Let them watch as much as they want to keep them entertained and happy on the flight.

• Bring snacks, treats, rewards, and other activities. You can get these at the Dollar Tree, Target in the cheap section, or print things off the internet. Bring extra crayons, and store them in a sealed baggie for easier travel.

• Don’t forget the headphones. You can get cheap kid headphones from Amazon for under $15, and you won’t regret it. The big earphones make them easy for kids to wear, and the volume control keeps them from damaging their hearing.

We like these ones; they have a volume control, they fold up so they don’t break when stored, the cord can plug into either ear, and the plug can come out from the device and the headphone, making it safer if kids accidentally jerk on the headphones.

• Accept and ask for help. Most people are kind, and willing to help, whether it’s lifting a bag or watching one kid while you attend to the other.

Pro Tips

Dress for success. Wear comfortable clothes that can be layered. Lugging everything plus the kitchen sink is a sweat-inducing workout, but airplanes are chilly. Be prepared for both climates, as well as the one at your destination. And do the same for kids–comfy clothes, jackets or sweaters if possible, and coats if you’re landing in a wintery climate.

You can check car seats at the check-in counter for free. Some airlines and airports have free bags to protect the car seat, but availability is not guaranteed. If you’re concerned about the safety of your car seat, you can buy a bag from Amazon for under $20. Keep in mind, they go through considerable abuse and handling while in transit, so don’t be surprised if the bag only lasts a few trips.

We love this bag; it’s lasted a few short-haul and two cross-country trips!

If you check a car seat, you can stuff things in the bag at check-in, like coats, jackets, or bulky items you didn’t fit into the luggage.

Take advantage of Amazon, Target, Shipt, and other delivery services. Ship things like soap, sunscreen, diapers, and wipe to your destination to avoid having to haul them cross country. Have a grocery pick-up scheduled for after you land to get items you need right away, to start your trip off right.

With these tips and tricks, your trip will be smoother and less stressful. And, as I always remind myself: The plane will land and I’ll never have to see these strangers again!

More Posts You Might Enjoy:

• 15+ Tips For Flying With a Baby (And Not Going Crazy)
• The Best Rides for Toddlers at Disney World + Disneyland
• Multigenerational Family Vacation to Disney – Tips for Success!

The post Five Pro Tips for Flying on an Airplane with Kids appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.