HOW TO KEEP YOUR TODDLER BUSY ON AN AIRPLANE
As parents, we all know how unpredictable our children can be, especially toddlers. Toddlers seem to have a different rationale and outlook on life. If you are in the throes of the toddler stage, you know exactly what I mean.
Flying with your toddler doesn’t have to be stressful with the right preparation and even if you planned everything we know toddlers will do what they want.
There are a lot of tips for flying with kids, the first being toys.
The best toddler toys for an airplane will keep them busy while learning.
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Related Post: 50 Road Trip Activities for Toddlers
Activities for Toddlers while Traveling on an Airplane
Melissa & Doug On the Go Water Wow!
The Melissa & Doug On the Go Water Wow! are our favorite coloring activities for toddlers, especially on an airplane.
This is a fun coloring activity that your toddler can do without making a mess. It’s the perfect travel activity for toddlers on road trips, at home, or on an airplane.
The best thing about this coloring book is that it’s mess-free. You don’t have to worry about keeping track of crayons or your little one drawing on the tray table.
To use this coloring set, all you need is water. Your toddler can play with this over and over again, as the color disappears over time.
Melissa & Doug Counting Caterpillar
The Melissa & Doug Counting Caterpillar is a fun counting activity for toddlers.
I didn’t initially include it in my list, but many parents have asked for me to add it to my list of airplane travel toys for toddlers.
This wooden caterpillar set helps your little one learn numbers and colors. It’s a fun toy to keep your toddler entertained while on an airplane.
Price
Read More: Best Travel Toys for 3-Year-Old
“Simon, Says”
If your toddler is 2 or older this is a great game to keep them busy on an airplane.
To get them out of their seat use the aisle to play the game. This will help them stretch their legs and have some fun.
Things such as running in place, doing 3 squats, or jumping 2 times could break up the time sitting in their seat or on your lap.
Related Post: Toddler Travel Essentials (That’ll make your life easier)
TRAVEL TOYS FOR BABIES ON AIRPLANES (6 – 12 MONTHS)
Bumpy Ball
The bumpy ball helps your baby develop motor skills.
Our son used this toy from 7 months to 13 months old. He loved to shake it and hear the rattle and chew on the bumps.
Related Post: 25 Travel Toys for Babies
Soft Books
Soft texture books can help your baby with sensory development. We traveled with soft books that our son would play with and chew on to help with teething.
They are made of cloth so they are easy to wash and are soft on your baby’s gums. The books also make a crinkle sound that our little one loved.
Read More: The Best Travel Books for Toddlers
Stacking Cups
Stacking cups are great for babies over 6 months to learn hand-eye coordination. The bright colors are attractive for kids to play with and sort.
There are different numbers and pictures on the bottom of each cup to help your little one learn numbers, sorting, and counting.
They are easy to keep track of while traveling with your baby. The perfect travel toy for babies on an airplane.
Related Post: Best Travel Toys for 1-Year-Olds
BEST TRAVEL TOYS TO KEEP YOUR TODDLER BUSY ON AN AIRPLANE
Our travel journey has taken us on over 15 flights with our little one and we finally have the right combination of toys to keep our toddler busy while traveling.
We know this is not foolproof because he can decide, at any moment, to have a meltdown. Much like the one, he is having now as I write this blog post.
Airplane toys have to be small enough to fit into your bags without taking up a lot of space. We also, like to use inexpensive toys because they tend to get lost.
We use a lot of these items while traveling with our toddler. These are not only great toys for toddlers on an airplane but can be used for long road trips.
Related Post: Best Travel Toys for 2-Year-Olds
Activity Book
This plush activity book is one of the best toys for toddlers on an airplane.
Your toddler can carry this with no problems and learn on the way. It is designed for 2-year-olds and allows them to learn time, shapes, and colors.
This is the perfect travel toy for toddlers because there are no pieces to lose or leave behind.
We received one as a gift when our son was 11 months old and he loves it. There is also a washing bag included for easy cleaning.
Tip: Do not place in a dryer with high heat. The book puffed up and we couldn’t get it back to the original. Plus, it also accidentally burned a few pieces in the book.
Books
Books may not be the obvious choice to keep a toddler busy on an airplane, but they can be great for entertaining your toddler. Although it is not a toy some books have puppets attached making them more fun.
Our son loves books with finger puppets and they are small and cheap.
We find a lot at Dollar Tree, Marshall’s, and Ross. It is a quick and easy way to keep him entertained without taking a lot of space.
Related Post: Travel Books for Toddlers
Buckle Toys
Buckle toys are simple and will keep a toddler busy on an airplane. This toddler toy is best for kids 1.5 to 2.5 years old.
Our son will spend 30 to 45 minutes trying to get the buckles open after clipping them back into place.
What other toddler toys can keep them entertained for this long at a time? We usually change toys after 10 to 15 minutes, but these keep him busy for longer periods.
LeapFrog LeapBuilders
We love LeapFrog LeapBuilders because they have a learning component. They are the perfect toddler toy for airplanes because the pieces are large enough for us to keep track of.
Many other block sets are smaller and have over 50 pieces, but these sets are designed for toddlers and have 20 or fewer pieces.
These blocks include learning pieces that help your toddler learn animals, shapes, colors, and jobs.
We love these so much that we purchased two sets for our toddler for traveling.
Related Post: Affordable LEGO Alternatives for Kids and Adults
Busy Boards
Busy boards are one of my favorite toys for toddlers on an airplane. This toy is designed to stimulate learning for your toddler and is small enough for travel.
There are 9 different developmental activities to help your toddler with numbers, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skills.
If you are looking for the perfect educational toddler travel toy, look no further.
Coloring Books and Triangle Crayons
Crayons and coloring books are essential when traveling with kids.
Toddlers love “writing”, so coloring books are perfect for traveling with a toddler. They do not take up much space and are available everywhere for a cheap price.
We like to use triangle crayons because they do not roll so we do not have to keep picking them up off the floor.
It is a lot less frustrating to use triangle crayons instead of regular circular crayons,
Read More: Best Crayons for Toddlers
Mess-Free Coloring
![Crayola Ultimate Light Board (Red), Kids Light-Up Tracing Pad, Kids Toys, Gift for Boys & Girls, Drawing Light Box, Ages 6+ [Amazon Exclusive]](https://itzafamilything.com/wp-content/plugins/aawp/public/image.php?url=YUhSMGNITTZMeTl0TG0xbFpHbGhMV0Z0WVhwdmJpNWpiMjB2YVcxaFoyVnpMMGt2TlRGMlZVZzBMV1ZXYjB3dWFuQm58MTc1MDUyNTg4Mg=)
Last update on 2025-06-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Doodle Board
The Doodle board is perfect for creative toddlers. This is a throwback to the 90s (I had one growing up), but it is making a comeback and it works.
The magnetic pen and erase brush make it easy for your little one to draw without making a mess.
The less you have to clean up the better in my opinion. There are four different color zones on the drawing screen for your toddler to create (I didn’t have that feature growing up we were stuck with black).
Dollar Store Toys
We love going to Dollar Tree and finding cheap toys for our son. Just today, we purchased building blocks for him for $2 for an upcoming flight to Ohio.
I must admit since we visited LEGOLAND California I’ve been trying to step-up up my building skills.
He is currently in the building phase and I do not want to be embarrassed by a 15-month-old. So far the only thing I have mastered is a tower.
If you are on a budget Dollar Tree should be your first stop for toys for your toddler to keep busy on an airplane.
Read More: 20 Affordable LEGO Alternatives
Flashcards
My wife (Mea) is a preschool teacher, so there has to always be a learning element to everything.
Flashcards are a great way of familiarizing him with letters, animals, numbers, and objects.
You may think that your toddler is too young for flashcards, but they are great to keep a 2-year-old busy on an airplane.
There are different cards available from numbers to games for your toddler. We like to browse the dollar section at Target to find flashcards for our toddlers.
Hot Wheels
We couldn’t write this list and not include Hot Wheels.
Hot Wheels are the go-to for a lot of toddler boys, although who says girls can’t like cars? Kids have the right to play with whatever makes them happy.
Our son is not into them yet, they are the perfect toy for a 2-year-old on an airplane. Just remember, they tend to get lost due to their size.
Magnetic Matching Game
This magnetic matching game is a family fun activity that will keep your toddler busy while flying. This set includes a magnetic tin to keep all of the pieces together.
This travel toy is recommended for toddlers 3 and older since they will have to use their memory. It’s a fun game for siblings, but it can get competitive pretty quickly.
Magnet Puzzles
Magnet puzzles are the perfect alternative to regular puzzles that have a lot of pieces and are likely to get lost.
We love the Melissa & Doug brand because their puzzles are educational and even have sounds of the different animals.
If your kid is 3 or older this is the perfect travel toy. This set comes with a magnetic fishing pole to help your little one catch the right creature.
Motor Skill Toys
Motor skill toys can help your toddler with their hand-eye coordination as they develop better fine motor skills.
These toys help with sorting, colors, counting, shapes, and recognition.
They are certified as a tool for occupational therapy and even used for kids with autism. The set is small enough to fit into any bag and has 24 pieces just in case a few go missing.
Play Foam
Play foam is a lot of fun without the mess and clean-up of playdough, slime, or kinetic sand.
The foam is long-lasting and doesn’t dry out. This is the perfect travel toy for toddlers 3 and older.
There are different colors for boys and girls and allow you to continue to create over and over again. This not only helps your toddler with creativity but improves their sensory development.
Read More: 10 Play-Doh Alternatives for Toddlers
Tablet for Toddler
We couldn’t leave out a tablet for toddlers on this list. This has been a lifesaver with our son. We let him watch 1-hour of Sesame Street a day.
If you are a fellow toddler parent you know how important it is to have that one hour of peace to get something done or to do nothing at all.
A lot of airlines do not have a large selection of kid’s movies and watching the screen may be difficult depending on their height.
If you download their favorite shows before traveling it can help the time pass and keep your little ones calm.
Related Post: If you are looking for an affordable tablet for your toddler check out our post on affordable tablets for toddlers 2 and under.
Related Post: Best LeapFrog Tablet for Toddlers
Tape Activity Book
Our son loves tape and now there is an activity book just for him.
The tape activity book is a spiral-bound activity book that has 20 different reusable pages and 4 different colors of tape.
Your toddler can reuse this tape and book to make endless creations. This is recommended for kids ages 3 and up but can be used for toddlers as young as 2. This is the perfect screen-free way to keep your toddler busy while flying.
Threading Toys
Threading toys are great toys for toddlers on an airplane. They help your little one with fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination by threading lace into holes.
The designs are also fun for toddlers with different shapes and characters.
Melissa & Doug Reusable Sticker Books
I do not know why toddlers love stickers but they are great for traveling with a toddler.
I recommend the Melissa & Doug reusable sticker book because they last longer and have designs for girls and boys.
The books include over 600 sticks with some cling styles that are long-lasting and fun for toddlers.
Melissa & Doug Water Wow!
If you can’t tell by now, I love Melissa & Doug. They are a great brand, Melissa & Doug has almost everything you need for your kids to learn and play.
This fun water-based coloring book is so cool, the markers activate with water.
The pages of the book are reusable, all you have to do is fill them with water, color them, let them dry, and then repeat. There is NO MESS, the markers only work on the pages of the book.
Honestly, I color with him because it is so much fun. He usually ends up coloring on my paper (grrr), but it is still a lot of fun.
Read More: Crayola Color Wonder|Best Mess-Free Markers for Toddlers
Melissa & Doug Travel Activities
Last update on 2025-06-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Window Clings
In our opinion window clings are a better alternative to stickers.
Window clings can be used multiple times and stick better. Our son loves the way they feel and puts them on everything except the window.
Trust us, you will not regret purchasing these as airplane toys. They can even be used for kids up to age 5 or 6.
TIPS FOR PURCHASING THE BEST TRAVEL TOYS FOR TODDLERS ON AIRPLANES (UNDER 2 YEARS OLD)
Compact for carry-on
If you plan on packing your toddler’s travel toys in your backpack or carry-on, make sure they are small enough to not take up a lot of space.
We always recommend having a separate backpack for your little one and their items. This makes it easier to keep everything separate and for you to find something when you need it.
Easy clean-up
Toddlers are messy and this goes double for while they are playing. The best toddler travel toys involve little to no clean-up. Bringing things such as paint are not advisable because of the clean-up involved.
Large pieces
We do not purchase toys with small pieces because our son still enjoys putting toys in his mouth. Travel toys with larger pieces are easier to keep track of without losing.
Small LEGOS are not good for traveling because of their size and price. Building blocks are better because they are larger with fewer pieces.
Inexpensive
Your toddler may likely lose or drop a toy while traveling.
If you must purchase different toys it would be easier if they are inexpensive. That is why we get a lot of his toys at the Dollar Store or purchase them second-hand and wash them.
I know how upsetting it is to spend a lot of money on an item only to lose it or forget it on the airplane. It is no fun dealing with an angry toddler throwing a temper tantrum.
WHAT WE PACK IN OUR BAG TO KEEP OUR 1-YEAR-OLD BUSY ON PLANES
Our Toddler Backpack
We pack all of our son’s toys and snacks in his little travel backpack. This is great because it doesn’t take up space in our carry-on or personal items. He can also walk with it on his back with no problem.
We fly on average once a month and pack our toddler bag with toys along with some in our backpacks if he loses interest in some of his travel toys. Here are the toddler travel toys we use.
- Activity Book
- Building Blocks
- Dollar Store Toys
- Flashcards
- Threading Toys
- Amazon Kids Tablet
- Window Clings
Our 14-month-old is still putting things in his mouth so we cannot have small toys due to his age. Once he is older, we will trade out the toys he has now for older toys like Play Foam and Hot Wheels.
We plan to use the activity book and busy board for at least the next one to two years during our family travels.
Check out our other travel toy and activity guides:
- The 25 Best Travel Toys for Babies
- 20 Toys to Keep Toddlers Busy on an Airplane
- 25 Beach Toys for Toddlers
- Our Favorite Travel Toys for 3-Year-Olds
- 15 Travel Games for Toddlers
- 20 Fun Travel Toys for 4-Year-Olds
- Our Favorite Headphones for Toddlers
- 20 Screen-Free Road Trip Toys for Toddlers
- 10 Mess-Free Travel Activities for 2-Year-Olds
- 50 Road Trip Activities for Toddlers
- LeapFrog Tablets for Toddlers to Promote Learning
- 20 Educational Travel Toys for 5-Year-Olds
- 15 Fun Airplane Activities for Toddlers
- The Best Learning Tablets for Toddlers
- 20 Snow Toys for Toddlers and Big Kids
I like that you suggested a doodle board right below the crayons and coloring books. My son loves to color but I have been a little hesitant to bring them on a plane with me. I think that a doodle board would be an awesome way to let him be able to draw without the fear of spilling crayons all over the plane.