Last Updated on July 20, 2026 by Tori Pines
Let me just start by saying something that I think a lot of parents need to hear: traveling to Europe with little kids is absolutely, one hundred percent doable. Is it easy? No. Is it worth it? YES. A thousand times yes. We just got back from Italy with our three year old and our 11 month old and I am already planning the next trip. But before I dive into all the magic that awaits you on the other side of that very long flight, let me give you all the real, honest tips that made our trip so much smoother and that I desperately wish someone had told me before we boarded that plane.
Whether you’re in the planning stages or you’ve already booked the tickets and are now mildly panicking about the flight, this post is for you.
Our Experience Flying to Europe with a Toddler and a Baby
Flying from The US to Europe is not a short trip, and I want to be straight with you about that upfront. We live in Nashville, so we had to have a connecting flight since there are no direct routes to Rome, with the most common layovers through cities like Washington Dulles, Newark, or Houston on United Airlines. Our total travel time, including the layover, was well over 12 hours each way, and the transatlantic leg of the journey alone is about 9 to 10 hours.
I know. I know. That sounds terrifying with a toddler and a baby. But here’s the thing: we survived traveling to Europe with kids, and I am going to give you every single tip and trick that got us through it.
Our flight there was a short 2 hour flight to Dulles with a quick 1 hour layover to hop on our next plane. The first flight was easy and stress free, but then we got on the second flight to Rome and it was all downhill from there. Our plane sat on the tarmac for 4 hours before deplaning us and making us wait another 4 hours at the gate for them to ultimately cancel the flight.
By the grace of God we ended up getting on another flight that night to Rome and were finally on our way at the time we were supposed to have landed in Rome originally! We were furious and exhausted but at least we got on the next flight (at 1:30am!!!) and were on our way. By the time we actually took off the kids were exhausted and basically slept the first 6 hours. It took more than 24 hours but we made it to Europe!
Flight Home
For the flight home, we had no issues, but since you’re flying against the jet stream the flight is about an hour longer, plus we had a brutal 4 hour layover in Newark. Then finished up with our2 hour flight back home to Nashville. Not to mention the flights back to the US are always during the day, so the kids were not exhausted and barely slept. Sooooo that was an experience!
All that to say, we know how to survive long flights to and from Europe and have many, many great tips for you to make this as enjoyable as possible for everyone involved!
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Tips for Flying to Europe with Kids and Toddlers
When traveling to Europe with kids and toddlers theres a bunch of things you should plan in advance. Here’s my most important tips that everyone should know!
P.S. I havre a full packing list for toddlers that has so many awesome packing specific information!
Pack the iPad Like It’s the Most Important Thing You Own
Because it is. I’m serious. Load that iPad up with downloaded movies, shows, games, apps, whatever your child is currently obsessed with, before you leave the house. Do not rely on the in-flight entertainment, even though most long-haul flights have great screens at every seat. Having the iPad fully charged with familiar content ready to go is your most powerful tool on a long international flight. We also brought a pair of kid-sized headphones (these are the ones that we have and love!), which made a huge difference since the airline ones are way too big for little ears.
For our 3-year-old we downloaded movies like sing and minions plus shows like Ms. Rachel, Llama Llama, Blippi, Gabby’s Dollhouse and more on Netflix. She also LOVES the Netflix Playground App which has a variety of fun games themed around her favorite Netflix shows! She also enjoys a simple coloring app and a Bluey game app too!
Snacks, Snacks, and More Snacks
Pack more snacks than you think you need. Then pack more. Our snack situation was an absolute lifesaver and I cannot overstate how much easier a fussy moment is when you can immediately produce a pouch of applesauce or a bag of goldfish. The airlines do serve meals, but the timing never lines up perfectly with when your toddler decides they’re suddenly starving, so having your own stash on hand is everything.
Make a Snackle Box
If you haven’t heard of a snackle box, this is your sign to immediately purchase this box from Amazon before your trip. It’s essentially a compartmentalized snack container, and it is a GAME CHANGER for long travel days. Fill each little section with something different, crackers, raisins, mini pretzels, fruit snacks, mini M&Ms, Teddy Grahams, and let your kid pick what they want. The novelty of it alone buys you a solid chunk of time, and the variety keeps things interesting when the 8th hour of flying starts to feel very long. The key here is to include junk snacks that you don’t normally let them have at home. It makes it extra exciting.
Put Them in Pajamas
This one sounds so simple but it makes such a difference. Dress your kids in their coziest pajamas for the overnight flight. The sensory cue of being in their sleep clothes helps them settle, it’s one less thing to pack for the next day, and honestly it’s just really adorable to see tiny pajama-clad toddlers wandering the airport. We put our two year old in her favorite soft Little Sleepies PJs before we left the house and I truly believe it helped her sleep on the plane.
Pack New Toys They’ve Never Seen Before
When traveling to Europe with kids you’ll want to bring them a few brand new toys. Go to the dollar section at Target or the dollar store before your trip and grab a handful of small, new toys and activities your child has never seen. Wrap them if you want to make it even more exciting! The novelty factor of a brand new toy is SO powerful for toddlers, and staggering them throughout the flight, one every hour or so, can really help break up the time. We had a couple of small activity books, some stickers, a new coloring set, and a little figurine, and each one bought us a good stretch of content time. Here’s some links to my favorites from Amazon!
Sticker Books for Toddler
Skillmatics Dot It Sticker Art
Dinosaur Color Sorting Sensory Toy
Paint with Water Coloring Books
Mini Magnetic Tiles
LCD Writing Tablet
Melissa & Doug® Ms. Rachel™ Water Wow!
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Pack an Extra Set of Clothes for the Kid AND for You
Trust me on this one. Pack a full change of clothes for your toddler in your carry-on, because something will spill, an accident will happen, something will make a mess. But also, and this is the tip most people forget, pack an extra shirt for yourself too. I learned this the hard way on a previous trip and this time I came prepared. A clean top on a 10 hour flight can make you feel like an entirely new person when you land. Tuck a change for each of you in a small zipper bag in the top of your carry-on so it’s easy to grab in a hurry.
I loooove these wet bags to hold my spare clothes because it keeps things organized, but then once you have any wet clothes once you change it keeps the mess contained!
Consider Bringing a Toddler Airplane Bed
We have this inflatable toddler airplane bed and love it! We have used it for several past trips with our toddler and it worked like a charm and allowed her to get comfy and sleep well.
But I will be honest, we surprisingly did not actually use it on this trip. She just laid sideways in her seat and rested her head on one of us and passed out no problem. I think because we had the baby with us we just had so much going on that we didn’t take the time to get it out and blow it up. PLUS they’re not technically allowed on all airlines. And I know United is one of those airlines. So whether the flight attendants would have allowed it or not, I’m really not sure. Maybe the fear of getting told no made me not pull it out.
Consider Children’s Melatonin Gummies
If you think your kid might have trouble winding down and falling asleep on the plane, you might want to get some children’s melatonin gummies. We brought them and ended up not needing them, although my husband and I probably should have taken some to help us sleep honestly!
Look for Kids Play Areas in Airports
This one was such a great discovery for us! A lot of major airports have dedicated kids’ play areas tucked somewhere in the terminal, and they are worth seeking out during your layover. Our daughter completely loved finding one during our connection, and getting to run and climb and play for 20 or 30 minutes before boarding a long flight made a huge difference in her mood and energy level. Before you travel, look up the airports you’re connecting through and search for their kids’ areas or family zones so you know exactly where to find them without wandering the whole terminal. This one was in the Newark Airport and it was great and filled with kids at 8pm!
Pack Lots and Lots of Patience
I know this isn’t something you can actually put in a suitcase, but it is genuinely the most important thing you can bring when traveling to Europe with kids. There will be a moment on this flight, probably around hour seven, when things feel really hard and you wonder why you thought this was a good idea. That’s normal, that’s every parent on a long international flight, and it passes. Give yourself and your kids a ton of grace. Lower your expectations for how the flight will go, celebrate the small wins, and remember that you are literally taking your babies to Europe and it is going to be incredible on the other side.
Tips for Flying with a Baby
Taking a baby on a long-haul flight to Europe is a whole different conversation that comes with different difficulties, different tips, and a much different packing list.
P.S. I have a full packing list for babies you should check out next!
Breastfeed or Bottle Feed on Takeoff and Landing
The change in cabin pressure during takeoff and landing is uncomfortable for little ears, and swallowing helps relieve that pressure in the same way yawning does for adults. Have a bottle or breast ready to go during both takeoff and landing, and try to time a feeding to line up with those moments. It soothes the baby, keeps the ears comfortable, and keeps them calm and occupied during those first and last stretches of the flight. This works like a charm and is probably the single most effective baby flying tip out there.
Bring an Inflatable Nursing Pillow
Stop what you’re doing and run to Amazon to buy this inflatable nursing pillow. It is the single most important thing you must pack when flying long flights (especially overnight ones!) with a baby. Whether you’re breastfeeding or not, you’ll want a comfortable surface to rest your baby on during the flight, an inflatable nursing pillow is an absolute must-pack. It takes up very little space in your carry-on when deflated, and once you’re on the plane and settled, it gives you something to rest your arms on and a supportive surface for the baby during those long stretches. A long international flight is a lot of hours to be holding a baby without support, and your arms will thank you for this one.
It clips in the back so it stays on you without sliding off. Plus it has a little pillow up top to keep the baby contained to your lap. It’s the perfect place for baby to lay and sleep happily on you, while you can also get comfy and sleep too. I seriously would not have gotten a single minute of sleep without this thing and love it SO much.
Call the Airline in Advance to Request Bassinet Seats
This is the biggest, most life-changing tip I have for flying internationally with a baby, and I want to make sure every parent reading this hears it loud and clear. CALL THE AIRLINE BEFORE YOUR TRIP AND REQUEST BASSINET SEATING.
Here’s how it works: on most international long-haul aircraft, United included, there are bulkhead seats at the front of each cabin that have a foldable bassinet attached to the wall in front of them. These are essentially little infant beds on the plane, and they are a game changer for a 9 or 10 hour overnight flight. United offers bassinets on select international aircraft in both economy and Polaris business class, and here’s the part I love most: when you call and request bassinet seating, they will move you to those bulkhead seats at no additional charge, even if those seats normally carry an upgrade cost. We called weeks before our trip, made the request, and they upgraded us to the bulkhead seats completely free of charge.
The extra legroom alone at the bulkhead is worth calling for, but the bassinet itself meant our 9 month old had somewhere to actually lie down and sleep during the overnight portion of the flight, which was genuinely incredible. Bassinets do have weight and size limits (typically around 20 to 25 pounds and a specific length), so check with your airline for the specific requirements, and definitely call as early as possible since the bassinet seats are limited and fill up fast.
Wear baby in the Mabe Baby Carrier
By far my favorite way to travel with my baby is in the Mabē baby carrier! I have tried many carriers and this is by FAR the most comfortable carrier I own. I absolutely adore wearing my baby in this thing and the comfort allows me to wear her for hours on end. I wore her all through the airports and onto the plane. I even wore her during the long flight to help her relax and fall asleep! Plus it doesn’t hurt that it’s SO cute! Use my link for a 10% discount on yours!
Stock Up on Baby Snacks Before You Leave the US
This is a hard lesson I learned and I want to spare you from it! Once you’re in Europe, while the food is absolutely spectacular and you will eat the most incredible things of your entire life, finding American baby snacks and pouches is genuinely difficult. We ran out of our baby’s favorite food pouches and puffs about halfway through the trip and spent way too long searching Italian grocery stores for something comparable. Pack way more baby snacks than you think you need for the trip home. You will thank yourself later.
What to Expect When You Land
After that long journey traveling to Europe with kids, you and your little ones will be tired but I promise the adrenaline of arriving in Europe will carry you further than you think. A few things to know for when you land in Europe:
Families with young children get to fast-track most lines! I had heard this was a thing but wondered how true it was. And when we landed in Rome and headed to border control they pulled us from the line of other travelers and showed us to a special (and much, much, much shorter) line since we had young kids! We were never told explicitly, but it looked like if you had a stroller you were guided to that line. Families with slightly older kids who were not in a stroller had to remain in the normal line. So if you are in the fence about bringing a stroller, I highly recommend you bring it! We were able to “cut” the line so many times during our trip and it was wonderful!
Another thing to consider when traveling to Europe with kids is car seats. Since public transportation is so easy and accessible throughout Europe, we decided not to bring car seats on this trip. It was so much easier to not have to lug them around, and we opted to take trains and buses all vacation. It worked out great for us. But if you plan to rent a car, just know you do have the option of renting car seats with the car for an added charge!
Packing List for Flying to Europe with Kids and a Baby
Here’s a quick rundown of everything we packed in our carry-ons when traveling to Europe with kids that we were most grateful for:
Toddler:
- iPad fully loaded with downloaded content, and kid headphones
- Snackle box filled with a variety of snacks
- Extra snack stash in a ziplock bag
- 4-5 new small toys wrapped for surprise factor
- Full change of clothes in a wet bag
- Cozy pajamas worn on the flight
- Favorite comfort item (stuffed animal, blanket, etc.)
- Inflatable Airplane Bed
- Children’s Melatonin Gummies
Baby:
- Plenty of bottles or nursing cover
- Inflatable nursing pillow
- More food pouches, puffs and snacks than you think you’ll need, for the whole trip
- Extra outfit (or two)
- Sleep sack or swaddle blanket for the plane
- Baby carrier for the airport, so much easier than the stroller in tight spaces
- Diapers and wipes, more than you think, always
Mom & Dad:
- Extra shirt tucked at the top of your bag
- Your own snacks because you will forget to take care of yourself
- Headphones
- Melatonin if you use it, to help reset sleep schedules on arrival
- A fully charged portable battery pack
A Few Final Thoughts
Traveling to Europe with kids and babies is one of the most adventurous, exhausting, and genuinely rewarding things you can do as a family. Will the flight be easy? No. Will there be hard moments? Absolutely. But will you land in Europe, make the most incredible memories with your family and be so proud of showing your kids the world? One hundred percent yes.
Start planning, pack the snacks, call the airline about that bassinet, and go. The world is so big and so beautiful and your kids are going to grow up knowing that. That’s the whole point.
Now go book those tickets. You’ve got this!
More Kid Travel Tips:
- 25 Toddler Travel Essentials: Ultimate Packing List for Toddlers
- Baby Packing List: What to pack for a Vacation with a Baby
- Top 15 Places to go for Christmas with Kids in the USA
- 10 Best Things To Do in Charleston, South Carolina With Kids
- Top 10 Best Things to Do in Myrtle Beach with Kids (Other Than the Beach!)
Save this guide to traveling to Europe with kids for later!
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