Entertain your baby on a flight: Tips and travel toys for infants and toddlers

Entertaining an infant on a flight can be exhausting. Here are the top ways to keep your little one engaged.

As a mom gearing up for my first flight with an infant, I had one goal: keep my baby entertained and (fingers crossed) calm during the journey. The last thing I wanted was to be these guys:

I searched for infant travel toys, but most of what I found was bulky, noisy, or both! I also knew my son would get bored quickly, so I needed to have multiple options. After cobbling together various baby entertainment kits over the course of that first flight and others – here are my top tips for keeping a baby happy on a plane!

TLDR: Here just the list of things I recommend in case you don’t want to read the details!

TLDR: Just a list of recommended items. Read the story for details!

Toys (see recommendations below):
Busy Board
Felt Busy Book
Touch & Feel Board Book
Suction Cup Spinners

LCD Drawing Pad
Other Types of Entertainment:
Various Knick Knacks: post-it’s, clothes pins etc
Wear interesting clothing or accessories
Looking at pictures or videos on your phone

Best Travel Toys for Infants:

Busy Board By around 1 year old, my son was obsessed with switches and buttons. Compact busy boards turned out to be perfect for quiet entertainment. Look for a board with a variety of actions, such as knobs, keys, and sliders. This will ensure your baby can easily engage with some tasks while others provide just enough challenge to keep them intrigued. Bonus: fewer frustrations for everyone!

Felt Busy Book While large felt busy books seem promising, my son was still a bit too young to fully enjoy buckling straps or snapping buttons. I stored it in the laptop sleeve of my backpack, which fit okay but made the bag bulkier and less comfortable. I’d recommend this toy for older toddlers (2+) who show strong interest in these kinds of activities.

Favorite Touch-and-Feel Board Book On our first flight, my son was overwhelmed at times, but a familiar touch-and-feel book became his go-to comfort item. He’d flip through it over and over, seemingly soothed by the sensory input. If your baby has a favorite at home, bring it along—it might work wonders.

Suction Cup Spinners These little spinners were a hit for their novelty and quiet nature. While my son’s interest lasted about five minutes, they’re so compact that packing a few is worth it. Bonus points for sticking them to tray tables or windows.

Erasable Drawing Pad: The recommended age for these is a bit older, but it’s suitable for anyone who can hold a crayon or pen! My son also loved pushing the little button to erase the pad.

Additional Tips for Entertaining Your Baby on a Flight

Toys aren’t the only thing that can occupy your infant during a flight.

Knickknacks Sometimes, the simplest items provide the most entertainment. Sticky notes, clothespins, or small household items can keep tiny hands busy—though they’ll likely end up on the floor or under the seat. Pack extras and don’t expect them to last too long.

Be the Toy: While out an about the other day, my 7-month-old daughter was completely captivated by the buttons on my shirt. Don’t underestimate your own wardrobe! Glasses, sparkly jewelry, or even the pattern on your scarf can become impromptu entertainment. Plan strategically, and you might save yourself some packing space!

A note on Screens: Cartoon shows didn’t really do anything for my son until he was about 1.5, so setting him up with the iPad wasn’t really an option for us. And even now I try to use a show as a last resort to keep him entertained. That being said, we did use our phones to look at pictures. Seeing our family or pictures of himself was something that distracted our son from a young age.

Bonus Item: Earbud Cases Oddly enough, earbud cases were one of my son’s favorite distractions. Both Apple AirPods and Samsung earbud cases are the perfect size for little hands. The soft-close mechanism and blinking light fascinated him. Just remember to secure the earbuds themselves to avoid losses or accidental chewing!