Make your next flight a smooth one by bringing along a few of the best airplane snacks for toddlers for your kiddo to enjoy. One of the most important things to remember to pack when flying with toddlers is an abundance of snacks! There isn’t much that the right snack can’t solve in my experience with toddlers and I always have several on hand. Including a hidden bag of yogurt melts, my son’s favorite, for emergencies!
Keeping your tot’s tummy full will make it much more likely to make it through the flight without a meltdown. Nobody is themself when they are hungry and hangry moods are real in adults and kids alike. Here are 35 of the best airplane snacks for toddlers that work well for airplane travel and even road trips. Which ones you pack should be based on your child’s current favorites in each category.
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Preventing Toddlers from Getting Hungry During a Flight
Traveling with toddlers can be a lot of work, especially if it involves a long airplane ride. Dealing with a meltdown in a confined space, in close quarters to strangers is a parent’s worst nightmare. And yet it can feel like that is what is waiting for you on an airplane. However, with some extra preparation before your trip, many of these tantrums can be avoided.
To make sure you don’t have a meltdown on your hands due to hunger mid-flight, it’s wise to pack lots of snacks for toddlers. Bring slightly more than you think would be necessary – it never hurts to have an extra helping of snacks on hand! If you overestimate the amount needed, that’s okay too, leftover snacks may come in handy during your vacation as well.
Not only will this prevent any grumpiness because of hunger pangs, but it also gives toddlers something productive and fun to do when they feel bored. It’ll help pass the time so both you and your kids can make the most of your flight experience! Extra bonus a full belly is the best way to help a toddler sleep on a long flight.
More on Airplane Travel with Toddlers:
- Ultimate Guide for Bringing Car Seats on Airplanes
- New Travel Parents Guide to Changing Diapers on a Plane
- Top Tips to Help Your Toddler Sleep on a Plane
The Best Airplane Snacks for Toddlers
When picking a great snack for planes look for small, mess-free (fast clean up!) items to pack that include a couple of healthy options such as slices of apples or small carrots. Reserve snacks like fruit snacks and small chocolates as special little treats for especially rough moments when kids need some extra attention. This way, hopefully, your child is happy, full, and content throughout the flight.
Dry Airplane Snacks
- Baby puffs
- Cheerios
- Pretzels
- Rice cakes
- Granola bars
- Mini Muffins (homemade to make healthier)
- Wheat Thins
- Crackers
- Pirates Booty
- Veggie Straws
- Goldfish
- PB&J
- Chips
Sweet Snacks
- Fruit Snacks
- Raisins
- Graham Crackers
- Juice Boxes
- M&Ms or Chocolate Chips
- Lollipops
Refrigerated Snacks
- String Cheese or Babybel Cheese
- Cuties
- Grapes
- Blueberries
- Apple Slices
- Baby Carrots
- Cucumber Slices
- Hard-Boiled Eggs
- Strawberries
Healthy Travel Snacks for Toddlers
- Fresh Fruit
- Fruit Leather
- Yogurt Melts
- Homemade Oat Bites
- Fruit Pouches (such as applesauce or pears)
- Trail Mix
- Smoothie Pouches
- Yogurt
How to Pack Airplane Snacks for Toddlers
Packing the best toddler airplane snacks can be simplified using a few simple tricks. This will help with going through security as well as during the flight itself.
First, it helps to have snack containers or bags that allow the snacks to be seen. This will make security happy especially if a snack sets off the scanner. It is also nice so that kids can see their snack choices and make their own snack decisions. When I pack snacks for a long trip plastic bags don’t take much space and are my go-to.
Secondly, bring along an empty water bottle that you can fill with water or juice from the attendant or extras that you brought yourself. This will help prevent liquid spills that are hard to clean up. It can also be a good idea to pack easily dumped snacks into a spill-proof snack container. It is no fun to pick up 80 small pieces of cereal from the floor and seats and flight attendants don’t want to clean up a huge mess either.
Along those same lines, turning snacks into an activity can be fun with snack containers such as this monthly pill box or a snack spinner that rotates the snack options.
Finally, a great way to save space is to take the snacks out of their original packaging, especially bulky boxes or bags. If you have multiple kids you will also want to make sure to separate the snacks into pre-portioned snack bags that you can hand to each child. Having individual portions can help prevent fights between the little kids.
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How to Choose Snacks for an Airplane Ride
On a short or long flight, snacks can go a long way in keeping travelers happy. The length of your flight will simply change how many snacks you bring along and if you are going to have a long travel day try to make the majority of your snacks ones that can be kept at room temperature. Don’t forget that most flights offer snacks and long flights offer meals. However, it is good to be prepared in case turbulence interrupts any scheduled meals.
To prevent creating a hyper toddler on board, it will help to choose snacks that aren’t too sugary and will help keep them occupied during the journey. Healthy snacks like dried fruit or granola bars are great options as they taste good and hunger while being filling and nutritious.
The last thing to consider when picking airplane snacks for toddlers to bring is allergies. Their own allergies of course, as well as the possibility of other passengers having allergies. I have only run into a peanut allergy once on a flight but they made an announcement asking guests to refrain from eating snacks with peanuts or peanut butter. If you run into this on a flight it is nice to have other options on hand to eat instead. Plus it is a good idea to have enough variety so your kid has several options. Who knows what a toddler will want to eat on any certain day!
Tips for Transporting Airplane Snacks for Toddlers
- TSA rules allow certain airplane snacks to be brought onto the plane with you such as yogurts as long as they are 3.4 oz or less. TSA liquid exceptions come in handy since you can bring items like formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food on board with you that are more than 3.4 oz. Just make sure to declare them at security.
- Don’t forget to pack empty water bottles for each child (and adult) – this way you can easily fill them up once you have passed through security.
- Always keep the airplane snacks somewhere easily accessed throughout the flight. I like to keep some in both my bag and my husbands so either of us can grab them. You can store extras in your carry-on bags if needed. A small backpack your toddler can carry also works well and allows young kids to feel involved and helpful.
- Make sure to bring Lysol wipes and sanitizer to wipe down the seat back tray and your childs hands for a clean eating space.
- Finally, I always bring along a silicone bib to help keep little faces clean and prevent as many dropped snacks as possible! Wet wipes are also a must for wiping my toddler down after eating, even dry snacks leave a little mess somehow.
More Tips for Traveling with a Toddler:
- Best Toddler Travel Toys for Road Trips and Airplane Rides
- 11 Best Baby Carriers for Travel and Sightseeing
- 17+ Baby Travel Essentials to Simplify Family Travel
- 11 Beach Essentials for Toddlers to Bring on Your Next Tropical Vacation
FAQ’s
Can you bring milk on an airplane for toddlers?
If your toddler is a fan of milk, it is allowed to bring some onboard. According to TSA rules, supplies for children such as formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, ice packs, baby food and toddler food including puree pouches are permitted onto airplanes. Milk falls under toddler drinks so it is allowed.
When going through security tell the TSA agent before you are scanned that you can liquids for a child that exceed 3.4 oz. Liquids will be scanned separately if they can be opened. If a liquid or food pouch cannot be opened or you do not want it x-rayed then the agent will clear the liquid by other methods AND you (the adult traveling with the liquids) will undergo additional screening including a pat down. Make sure to leave extra time for these security measures when planning to make your flight.
It is a good idea to read the full TSA article on traveling with liquids for children on the TSA website and screenshot it in case a TSA agent is not fully aware of their policies.
What food and snacks are not allowed on a plane?
Honestly, just about any solid food items are good to go without any issues. Any liquids or creamy foods such as hummus, dressings, creamy cheeses, yogurt etc are subject to the 3.4oz rule or else they will get tossed at airport security. The only exception is if it is a toddler’s food or drink, that will be subject to further screening.
Beyond that, you can’t bring alcohol over 140 proof and ice packs are only allowed if they are fully frozen, under 3.4 oz, OR needed for breastmilk, formula, or baby/toddler supplies. Freezer packs are allowed even if breastmilk is not currently present.
What foods can help prevent “airplane ears” in toddlers?
Adults deal with “airplane ears” and make their ears pop fairly easily on a plane by chewing gum, yawning, or eating. However it can be harder for toddlers, but there are a few foods that can help them out. If a young toddler still uses a pacifier, that is my favorite method. Otherwise, lollipops, ice, or gummies can be very effective. The sucking motion on a lollipop or ice can help ears pop. The vigorous chewing a gummy bear requires is also effective.
Favorite Airplane Snacks for Toddlers
The best airplane snacks for toddlers are honestly very similar to what they eat most days anyway. With a little bit of planning, you can make sure your toddler has a great experience flying. Keep them fed and hydrated with easy-to-eat snacks that won’t make a mess for a happier toddler all around. Packing these airplane snacks for toddlers before your flight will save you time, money, and hassle at the airport.
Now it’s your turn! What are your go-to toddler airplane snacks? Let me know in the comments below.
