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Travelling on a plane with a baby was something I was definitely nervous about, especially when it came to keeping him entertained for the journey.
I didn’t want to pack our entire toy collection into our hand luggage, so for our recent trip to Greece, I chose a small selection of toys that were small, easy to carry and, most importantly, toys I knew he’d actually enjoy.
Now that we’ve actually travelled with them, I thought I’d share the six toys I took on the plane, what he thought of them and which ones were worth making space for in our hand luggage.
Here is the list of the six toys I took on the plane with us.
1. Suction Cup Spinner
First up is our suction cup spinner, which I’m taking because it’s small but keeps little hands busy.
I love that it’s something he can interact with rather than just look at, and the suction cup makes it particularly useful when we’re travelling.
There are also a few different places to stick these, including windows and the tray tables available.
It’s also the kind of toy that doesn’t take up much room in my hand luggage, which is exactly what I’m looking for when we’re already trying to fit in nappies, snacks and all the other baby essentials!
Why I took it on the plane:
- Small and lightweight
- Keeps little hands busy
- Easy to pack
- Something he already enjoys
2. Our Busy Book
Our busy book was definitely coming with us.
There are lots of different things for him to look at and explore, so this was definitely a good option when we needed something to keep him occupied for a little longer.
I also like that it’s essentially several activities in one, without needing to pack lots of separate toys.
Why I took it on the plane:
- Lots to explore
- Multiple activities in one
- Easy to pack
- Good for keeping him occupied
3. A Soft Toy
I also packed one of his favourite soft toys.
This one is more about having something familiar with us while we’re travelling. Being on a plane and travelling somewhere new is a completely different experience for him, so I liked the idea of having something he knows and loves.
And, of course, soft toys don’t take up too much space!
Why I took it on the plane:
- Familiar and comforting
- Lightweight
- Easy to pack
- One of his favourites
4. Matchstick Monkey Teether
A teether is another must-have for our hand luggage.
Our Monkey teether is one he enjoys, and it’s small enough to pop into the changing bag without taking up much room.
I think having something he can chew on was very useful during the journey, particularly when he got restless and wanted something different to play with.
Why I took it on the plane:
- Small
- Easy to carry
- Useful for teething
- Something he already enjoys
5. Sensory Relax Bars
These sensory sticky relax bars from SHEIN are another toy I took with us.
I wanted to have a mixture of different types of toys rather than taking six things that all work in the same way.
These give him something sensory to explore whilst also providing a bit of variety during the flight.
They have suction cups on the bottom so they are easy to stick to different surfaces. We bought the pack with eight pieces and used two at a time on the plane so that we wouldn’t loose pieces.
Why I took them on the plane:
- Different type of sensory play
- Small and lightweight
- Something new to explore
- Easy to fit into hand luggage
As with any toy containing small or detachable components, I’ll be using these according to the manufacturer’s age guidance and supervising him while he plays.
6. Little Dutch Rattle
Last but definitely not least is his Little Dutch rattle.
It’s a simple toy, but sometimes those are the ones that get the most attention!
It’s small, lightweight and easy for little hands to hold, so it’s an easy one to throw into the changing bag.
I’m also hoping that having a few familiar favourites with us will make the journey feel a little more comfortable for him.
Why I took it on the plane:
- Lightweight
- Easy for little hands to hold
- Familiar favourite
- Takes up very little space
Bonus Travel Essential: Silicone Toy Holder
Bonus Travel Essential: Silicone Toy Holder
This isn’t actually a toy, but it was something I found so useful when travelling with the toys.
I used a silicone holder from SHEIN to attach his toys to things like the highchair, table, on the plane or his pushchair, so one end could be wrapped securely around the surface while the other end was attached to his toy.
This was particularly handy when we were eating or sitting somewhere where I didn’t want his toys constantly ending up on the floor!
It also meant his toys stayed within reach, which made it much easier for him to pick them up and carry on playing.
The item is known as a soft silicone teething/pacifier clip, but I’ve found it really useful for securing his toys and even bottles while we’re out and about.
Why I found it so useful:
- Keeps toys within baby’s reach
- Helps prevent toys being dropped on the floor
- Useful on highchairs and tables
- Small and easy to pack
- Can be used with different toys
Why I’m taking More Toys for the Hotel
Although I’m taking six toys in our hand luggage, I’m planning to pack a few more in our suitcase for the hotel.
I don’t want to give him everything on the plane because I think having some toys that he hasn’t seen for a while will give us something new to bring out once we’re at our destination.
I’ll be able to rotate the toys throughout the holiday, rather than carrying our whole collection around with us.
For the plane, I’m mainly looking for toys that are compact, familiar and easy to get out when we need them.
My Tip for Travelling With Baby Toys
I tried not to overthink the amount of toys we take.
It’s tempting to pack absolutely everything because you don’t know what your baby will want on the day, but realistically, our hand luggage is already going to be full!
Instead, I choose a handful of toys that I knew he would enjoy and that give us a bit of variety.
I also kept some of them tucked away rather than giving him everything at once. This became handy when we need the distraction later in the flight, bringing out a toy he hasn’t seen for a while makes it feel new and exciting again!
Final Thoughts
Looking back, I’m really glad I kept the selection of toys for the plane fairly small. I didn’t need to take loads of toys with me, and having a few familiar favourites meant I knew there was a good chance they would keep him interested.
Some toys were definitely more useful than others, but having a mixture of sensory toys, something to chew, a soft toy and a few activities gave us plenty of options throughout the journey.
I also liked having extra toys packed away in our suitcase for the hotel. It meant I could keep some toys back and bring them out later in the trip, rather than him having everything available at once.
If you’re travelling with a baby, I’d definitely recommend choosing a few toys you already know they love whilst also introducing totally new ones to keep them interested. You never know what will keep their attention on the day, but familiar favourites are a good place to start!
These are the toys that worked for us, and I’d happily pack them again for our next flight. ✈️🧸
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