Plane Essentials: 7 Things That Make Flying With Kids Survivable

You know that special look strangers give you when you board a plane with a toddler? The one that says, "Please, dear God, not next to me?" Yeah. We've gotten that look. We've earned that look. And then we discovered the gear that turned us from "the family everyone dreads" into "wow, those kids are weirdly chill."

Here are the seven flight-day MVPs that earn their seat in our carry-on every single time.

1. JetKids BedBox by Stokke

If you've ever held a sleeping child on your lap for six hours while your legs slowly dissolved into mist, the JetKids BedBox is for you. It's a ride-on suitcase your kid can scooter through the airport on, and once you're on the plane, it transforms into a bed extension that turns their economy seat into a tiny lie-flat. It's the closest thing to magic the FAA permits.

Best for: Long-haul flights, red-eyes, kids 3–7

Heads up: Some airlines don't allow it during takeoff/landing — check ahead.

Find it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4n36lK3

2. Inflatable Airplane Footrest

Same general idea as the BedBox, minus the price tag. You inflate it, wedge it into the floor space in front of your kid's seat, and suddenly they have a flat surface to sprawl across. Most fly under the radar, though a few airlines have banned them, so peek at your carrier's policy before takeoff.

Best for: Budget-conscious families, second kid syndrome

Pro tip: Inflate it before takeoff. Trying to puff one up with a sleeping baby on your chest is a special kind of cardio.

Find it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/42GEWEs

3. Toddler Airplane Bed (Hammock-Style)

These soft, fold-up extenders work like a little hammock cradling your kid in their seat. Less bulky than the inflatable kind, lighter than the BedBox, and your toddler will think they're sleeping in a fort.

Best for: Toddlers, families who pack light

Why we love it: It rolls up smaller than a sweater.

Find it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4eTI0nV

4. Airplane Tray Table Cover & Organizer

The seatback pocket has seen things. Diapers. Tissues. The forbidden gum from 2007. A tray table cover wraps the whole horror show in clean fabric and adds pockets for snacks, crayons, and a tablet stand. It's the Marie Kondo of seat 24B.

Best for: Germ-conscious parents, snack-distributing parents (so, all parents)

Find it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3P9Skhj

5. Kids' Volume-Limited Headphones

Brands like BuddyPhones and Puro Sound Labs cap the volume at safe levels, which means your kid can blast Bluey without slowly cooking their eardrums. They're also comfortable enough to actually stay on a kid's head, which sounds simple but is, in fact, miraculous.

Best for: Anyone who'd like to watch their own movie in peace

Find BuddyPhones on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3OVwy0w

Find Puro Sound Labs on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3OB8DDJ

6. Tablet Headrest Mount

Straps to the seat in front of your kid and holds their tablet at eye level. Suddenly your hands are free. Suddenly they're not whining that their arms are tired. Suddenly you're sipping ginger ale like a person.

Best for: Long flights, screen-time parents (which is all of us at 35,000 feet, no judgment)

Find it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4tUHGdp

7. Lollipops or EarPlanes

Ear pressure on descent is the #1 reason babies and toddlers melt down on planes. A lollipop, a bottle, or actual EarPlanes (kid-sized pressure-regulating earplugs) can save you. We pack lollipops in a Ziploc and call them "airplane candy" so they feel like a special treat. They are. The treat is everyone keeping their hearing.

Best for: Takeoff and landing, ages 3+

Find EarPlanes on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4tGaIgH

Find our favorite healthy lollipops on Amazon (perfect to fight off airplane germs and for when the kids are sick): https://amzn.to/48vADiL

The Verdict

You don't need all seven. Pick the two or three that match your kid and your route. But a good headrest mount, a pair of volume-limited headphones, and a tray table cover? That's the holy trinity of flight survival.