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Original poster

Tips for a long-haul flight to Mexico with a toddler

37 replies

JessParrish · 30/07/2026 09:30

Looking for advice from people who’ve actually done a long-haul flight with a toddler! 😊

We’ll be flying from Heathrow to Mexico in November with our daughter, who will be just under 18 months old. It’s around a 10-hour flight and she’ll be travelling as a lap infant. The flight there is daytime annoyingly but the way back is a night flight!

We’re currently booked in economy and have requested a bassinet/bulkhead seat, although I know that’s not guaranteed as it depends on availability and younger babies may get priority.

We’ve already got a cabin-approved pushchair, are looking at headphones (the soft headband style ones), and I’m planning on taking plenty of snacks, toys and activities to keep her entertained.

For those of you who’ve done something similar:
✈️ What were your absolute must-haves?
✈️ Any toys or activities that kept your toddler occupied for ages?
✈️ Any tips for naps or getting them to sleep?
✈️ Anything you packed that you couldn’t have done without?
✈️ Any advice for take-off and landing with little ones?

I’d love to hear anything you wish you’d known before your first long-haul flight with a toddler!

Please keep it positive. 😊 We’ve already booked the holiday, so I’m not looking for opinions on whether we should be taking her—just practical tips from those who’ve done it. Thank you! ❤️

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Original poster
JessParrish · 30/07/2026 20:56

Simonjt · 30/07/2026 20:50

We’ve flown virgin with a bassinet, our daughter was well under the supposed size and weight, she was far far too big for it. We’ve always purchased a seat for an under two, so I guess our survival is different.

We would still book bulkhead and we’d take a blanket so the floor area could be additional play space.

With headphones planes are so noisy you can’t hear via the kiddie ones, you’re better getting good noise cancelling ones on a low volume, you will need to practice with them lots before the flight.

New, small non-noisy toys, stickers have always been popular.

Now we’re possibly evil, but we do everything in our power to prevent airport naps/naps on the day of travel to increase the chance of sleep on the flight.

Bottles for the adults, an open cup is guaranteed to be knocked off.

A change of clothes for everyone.

They do have changing tables, but they’re really awkward, so if you can stand up changes are better.

Food, your toddler won’t get a meal, so lots of snacks.

Thank you! 😊 That’s really helpful. I’m definitely not expecting the bassinet to be a miracle - I’m hoping the bulkhead space will be the biggest benefit if we’re lucky enough to get it. We did try everything we could to get Ada her own seat, but unfortunately both TUI and Virgin said it wasn’t possible on our booking. The scheduled argument comment did make me laugh though… I’ll let my partner know to pencil that in around meal service! 🤣

OP posts:
dairydebris · 30/07/2026 20:58

I used to work in travel and I can promise you the bassinet will not work. Your child will be too big to use it safely.

Resign yourself to it being a sleepless night, its not the end of the world.

Chunk time of 1h each with the toddler so other parent can get a break.

2 spare changes of clothes.

Lucky dip snack bag.

Ipad.

Its just one night, you can do this no problem.

Bitzee · 30/07/2026 20:58

Oh one more thing- if one of you orders a special meal e.g. veggie they usually do those trays first so it might help you better manage meal service as you won’t manage a toddler + 2 meal trays easily.

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Original poster
JessParrish · 30/07/2026 20:58

Doveyouknow · 30/07/2026 16:44

Lots of snacks and also something more substantial for them to eat, as it will be tricky to manage the airline food as you won't be able to get the tray down. We have flown a few times with little ones and have only once got a bassinet (I think we were prioritised as we had a newborn) so don't rely on having space.

We had lots of books, water paint books, sticker books etc. Also screens - we downloaded favourite programmes on to an iPad but they often also used the airplane screens as well. Ahead of the flight get them used to head phones. Fave toys are good, along with a few new ones, but nothing that rolls easily or is very small.

Make sure you have at least one change of clothes each and plenty of wipes. Calpol sachets are also useful if they might be teething.

Mainly accepting it's going to be a tough 10 hrs of full on parenting (but on the bright side this is probably the toughest age to fly with kids, so next time will be better!).

Also I would echo what a previous poster said about planning how to manage jet lag. If you can use naps to keep them going in the day that might help but you will likely get some early wake ups.

Thank you! 😊 That’s really reassuring. I think we’ve accepted it’s probably going to be a tough 10 hours and are just trying to be as prepared as we can! We definitely won’t be relying on getting a bassinet - it was more the extra bulkhead space I was hoping for if we’re lucky enough to get it. We’ve already started making a list of books, stickers, new toys and enough snacks to feed a small army 😂. Thanks for the jet lag tips too - I’m hoping if we can time naps well it might make the transition a little easier!

OP posts:
Original poster
JessParrish · 30/07/2026 21:00

dairydebris · 30/07/2026 20:58

I used to work in travel and I can promise you the bassinet will not work. Your child will be too big to use it safely.

Resign yourself to it being a sleepless night, its not the end of the world.

Chunk time of 1h each with the toddler so other parent can get a break.

2 spare changes of clothes.

Lucky dip snack bag.

Ipad.

Its just one night, you can do this no problem.

Thanks! 😊 I think we’ve accepted it’s going to be a long 10 hours and we’re just trying to be as prepared as we can. We did try everything we could to get Ada her own seat, but unfortunately it wasn’t possible on our booking. I’m definitely not expecting the bassinet to be a miracle either - I was more hoping that if she happened to fall asleep on one of us, we might be able to transfer her for a little while if we’re lucky enough to get one. The idea of splitting the flight into chunks and taking it in turns is a really good one though - and I love the lucky dip snack bag idea!

OP posts:
pambeesleyhalpert · 30/07/2026 21:00

A snack pot with different snacks in. Those LED drawing pads, fidget spinner for the window, her fave shows downloaded

pambeesleyhalpert · 30/07/2026 21:01

Also I know it’s not what you asked but I bought all sorts of fancy pool toys and the winner was a watering can and stacking cups!

Fullofpudding · 30/07/2026 21:22

if your DC is anything like my child at that age there isn’t a chance in hell of them sitting on your lap for 10 hours. What’s the seat configuration? Is she likely to want to be climbing around the person next to you?! 10 hours is a very long time. I wouldn’t have even contemplated it with a short trip to Spain unfortunately.

Original poster
JessParrish · 30/07/2026 21:51

Fullofpudding · 30/07/2026 21:22

if your DC is anything like my child at that age there isn’t a chance in hell of them sitting on your lap for 10 hours. What’s the seat configuration? Is she likely to want to be climbing around the person next to you?! 10 hours is a very long time. I wouldn’t have even contemplated it with a short trip to Spain unfortunately.

Thanks. 😊 The holiday’s already booked, so I’m really just looking for practical tips from people who’ve done it rather than opinions on whether we should be taking her. I can also reassure you we won’t be letting her randomly climb over other passengers! 🤣

OP posts:
hahabahbag · 30/07/2026 21:54

Books, colouring pens/crayons, toys without loose pieces. I travelled ever 6 months with my dc then 2 dc alone long haul, I read books mostly. Tablets didn’t even exist

hahabahbag · 30/07/2026 21:56

Oh and don’t be afraid to accept help, I’ve had cabin crew and fellow passengers walking up and down and reading to mine

FortyFacedFuckers · 30/07/2026 22:15

Take changes of clothes for you and the baby and calpol in your hand luggage

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