The Best Airplane Toys for Babies and Toddlers

Your child’s favorite toy at home may not keep their attention for long on an airplane. Certain toys work exceptionally well on airplanes- they pack small, they don’t roll away, and they keep your child’s attention. However, other toys should definitely be avoided, such as those with many small pieces, or those that make noise. Keep reading to find the best airplane toys for babies and toddlers, sorted by age.

Playgrounds and Passports is supported by readers. When you click through links on this site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your continued support!

Best airplane toys for 3-6 month olds

While these young babies will probably sleep most of the flight, a few strategic toys can be helpful. At this age, it’s all about things to chew on! Here are a few of our favorites.

Sophie the Giraffe– We didn’t want to believe the hype behind this, but something about this toy is just addictive for babies. This was Eloise’s favorite toy for months.
Silicone Fruit– Babies love the bright colors, and they are small enough to put in every bag you own!
Munch Mitts– These mitts make crinkly noises, and are great for chewing. Plus, you can attach them to baby’s hand so they won’t fall on the floor.

Best airplane toys for 6-12 month olds

These babies are getting mobile! As a result, they are more easily bored and need a toy that will hold their attention for longer than 15 seconds.

Indestructible books– These books cannot be ripped and can be easily washed after a trip. Plus, they take up virtually no space!
Dimpl– I have no idea why kids find this so fascinating, but it is a crowd favorite for all ages- from chewing to fiddling.
pipSquigz– This toy rattles, can be chewed on, and suctions to the tray table. Plus, it keeps baby’s attention for an extended time and is always in our plane bag.
Wubbanub– We chose these pacifiers as Eloise can easily find it and reinsert it, plus it serves as a comfort item during naptime and bedtime.
Suction Spinner– These spinner toys stick to tray tables and windows and are a fun distraction for baby.
Soft Book– We love this book because it has plenty of “activities” to play with on a long flight- velcro, buttons, loops, etc.

1 Year Olds

One to Two can be one of the hardest ages to fly with. These kiddos are very mobile, very opinionated and impossible to reason with. At this age, novel toys are ideal to keep your little one busy on a long plane ride.

2 Year Olds

Congratulations! You’ve made it to two years old. At this age, your child is still very wiggly, but is able to be occupied by screens much better. Additionally, new toys go a very long way.

Triangle Crayons– Your toddler loves to color, but it gets very messy at this age. One way of containing the mess is by using crayons that can’t roll away.
Water Wow by Melissa and Doug– Another way to contain the mess while getting crafty is with Water Wow books. These books are reusable and come with a magic water marker. Color on the pages and colorful designs appear.
Threading Toy– Work on your child’s motor skills with this threading toy. As they improve, they can try to make designs in the apple.
Safari Animals– Kids this age love to collect treasures. Bring along a few favorite animal toys for your child to play with throughout the trip. These are small, indestructible, and inexpensive, so they are perfect for taking on-the-go.
Reusable Sticker Book– These animal stickers can be placed in their habitat and moved, so your 2 year old can play with it endlessly. The only thing we don’t love about this toy is the size- it is slim and lightweight, but too tall to fit in a child sized backpack.
Magnetic Tin Toy– Like the reusable sticker book, these magnetic toys can be played with for a very long time. It comes in many different designs and is small and compact. We use about a third of the magnets at a time so the tin doesn’t get too crowded. Plus, we can refill it after a trip when pieces inevitably get lost.

3 and 4 Year Olds

Your three and four year old is getting more comfortable with travel, and you can prep them for the trip before you go. Allow them to choose a few favorite toys, and pack a few special toys they’ve never seen before.

Dot to Dot Activity Book– Bright puzzles and activities to keep your child occupied.
Triangle Crayons– Crayons can be fun for many ages! These triangle crayons will stay put on the tray table instead of rolling away.
Doodle Board– These colorful doodle boards are fun for your creative child. The neon colors will keep them entertained, and they can simply erase their art when they are ready to start fresh.
Felt Friends Stickers– A puzzle and craft in one! Build animal shapes with these felt stickers.
WikkiStix– These reusable molding sticks can be crafted into different shapes and objects. They are mess free and great for airplanes.