50 Best Airplane Toys for One-Year-Olds (2023)

If you’re looking for the best airplane toys for a one-year-old, you’ve come to the right place. I recently took an overseas flight with my one and three-year-old boys. In addition to our long-haul flight, we’ve also taken several domestic flights. So I know firsthand the challenges that come with keeping little ones entertained on those seemingly endless flights. 

But fear not, because I’m here to share my experience and insights with you!

I’ve compiled a roundup list of the best travel toys for one-year-olds that worked well for me. Also, stick around till the bottom for my free Carry-On Packing List for One-Year-Old PDF. 

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Pro-Tip: Children’s backpacks are adorable, don’t get me wrong. But they are small. If you’re allowed a personal item, grab an adult-sized bag so that you can fit more toys. I tried cramming everything in a kiddie bag once, and I will never do it again. Just taking one toy out felt like a human game of Tetris.

Busy Boards, Busy Books, Buckle Toys, and Fidget Toys

Busy Boards

​A busy board is great for engaging your child with different activities and textures. They also promote fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Melissa & Doug offer great options. 

Busy Books

Busy books are just like busy boards, except each page is a new adventure. They encourage problem-solving skills and keep babies engaged on long flights. It’s a great idea for little kids who might get overwhelmed with a whole busy board. The best part is that the books are smaller so they are the perfect size for little hands and easy to carry in a diaper bag. 

Fidget Toys

You might think fidget toys are just for older kids, but they are the perfect travel toys for young kids and babies too. They are quiet and have all different textures, shapes, and sensory feedback options. 

Buckle Toy

Buckle toys are some of the best toys for long car rides, in a car seat, or in an airplane. They usually have several different types of buckles for kids to tinker with. Buckles usually aren’t as challenging or stimulating as busy boards, so they keep little ones occupied independently (letting you get a few minutes of rest!). 

Reusable Sticker Books, Water Wow Books, Window Clings and Magic Coloring

Reusable Sticker Books

A reusable sticker book is a great toy for small children who like stickers. They provide entertainment without the mess of traditional stickers. There are lots of different themes and sets to keep kids interested. Reusable stickers (usually) stick to the windows of the plane too. They are great for quiet play. 

Pro Tip: Opt for puffy stickers for one-year-olds. These stickers are easier to peel, easier to stick, and less likely to fold on themselves and get stuck.

Water Wow Books

If your child likes to paint, but you’re worried about the mess, Water Wow books are mess-free coloring books with refillable water pens. They are a great way to introduce different colors and shapes to one-year-olds. They are suitable for both older and younger children during travel. The best part is that the pens never dry out. You need about a tablespoon of water (which you can get from the bathroom tap!). 

Window Clings 

You can often find window clings in seasonal decorations (like the Target Dollar Spot or Dollar Store). Kids really love them! My only cautions are:

1. They get dirty (they pick up all of the dirt and dust around them).
2. They look tasty (my son tried to eat them!).

Pro Tip: If you have space, consider packing a few different toys in your checked luggage. These toys can be surprises for the plane ride home. Having different toys for each direction ensures they won’t get bored with the same things.

Electronics 

You might be firmly against screen time for your little one on a regular day, but travel days are a whole other beast, and I’m here to tell you it’s ok to rely on a tablet or phone for a few minutes of peace.

Parent-to-Parent: I will warn you though, I thought my son would be obsessed with screens on our flight (since we never allow them at home for him). He couldn’t have been less interested. So don’t put all of your eggs in this basket, definitely have an assortment of tools for the trip.

Tablets

If you don’t have a kid’s tablet, you might want to invest. They aren’t expensive, and they can hold all of your kids’ games and media in one place. You don’t have to worry about them destroying your $800 iPad.

Headphones

Babies don’t typically like wearing headphones, that being said, I have two options for you. Personally, I had the most success with the headband, but every baby is different.

Parent-to-Parent: On our first flight, my husband and I thought about wired vs. wireless headphones. We decided on wired headphones: they would be easier to set up, less likely to break/ not connect. We were horribly wrong. First, only one of the devices we brought actually had a headphone jack (didn’t think to check this). Second, once we got them working, my son thought it would be fun to pull the cord… He ripped it, and they were done for the whole trip. Take my failure as your sign to get wireless headphones at all costs!

Music Player

If you haven’t had a chance to check out my article on the Best Screen Free Music Players for Toddlers, you definitely should! I think every parent should have a music player that their baby can interact with. You can browse all of my favorites in the article to see which would be best for your baby, but my top pick for traveling would be the Yoto Mini player.

Battery Pack

Some planes don’t have outlets on board (or you might be on an international plane with different outlets). Make sure you have enough battery power to charge all of your electronics.

Pro Tip: Different airlines have different restrictions when it comes to battery packs. Make sure you check with your airline before your trip.

Rechargeable Batteries and Extra Batteries

You’ll want to have extra batteries for any battery-operated toys. Grab some rechargeables that you can plug in during your stay or layover so that they are ready for the next flight.

LCD Writing Tablets and Magnetic Toys

LCD Writing Tablet

LCD writing tablets are a win for parents and babies. Your baby will feel like they are playing with a “tablet,” or something “grown up,” but you know that your little artist is getting creative without screen time. Bonus: they take up very little space in the diaper bag or carry-on, and they are virtually indestructible!

Magnetic Toys

There are lots of different designs of magnetic toys. They are fun and interactive toys with bright colors and different shapes. They are an easy way to engage kids during long journeys without using too much space. They are also convenient because the pieces stick together, and multi-purpose because you can stick them on the armrests, etc.

Pro Tip: Wrap each toy in the bag individually like a present. As your child gets bored with one toy, unwrap another one. The unwrapping can be part of the fun! For babies, wrap with different materials (paper, aluminum foil, fabric) for a sensory activity.

Finger Puppets

These small toys are perfect for imaginative play and storytelling. You can put on a show your little one, or let them play (or chew) on the characters. Finger puppets with grow with your child, so they will play with them in new ways as they get older. 

Board books

Board books are a great quiet book option. They don’t have bells or whistles. They are perfect for unwinding, trying to go to sleep, or just flipping pages and gnawing on the corners.

Crafts and Craft Supplies

Post-It Notes

Grab them from your desk drawer! Post-It Notes are a hit with babies. Stick them all around you on the plane, and let your little one do the fun part of ripping them off. Use them over and over.

Painters Tape

Same idea as the Post It Notes, but a little more challenging. Use painter’s tape if your child can easily pinch things.

Bonus: Use painter’s tape for–literally–everything when you get to your destination. Hang up blackout curtains, make roads on the floor for toy cars, seal containers so they don’t leak, etc.

Crafts

These activities can be done on the tray table. They can get a little messy, but it is a reasonable mess, and easy to clean.

Water Paint Pages

I’m sure you remember these from when you were a kid. All you need is a bottle-cap amount of water (seriously, don’t use any more than that for fear of spilling everywhere on the plane), and a paintbrush or fingers.

Blocks

Teethers, Pacifiers, and Toy Tethers

You can’t predict when those teeth are going to come through ??, so it’s best to pack a few teethers to have on the ready. They also help relieve air pressure (chewing) for take-off and landing.

Toy Tethers

If your child will let you use these, they are a lifesaver. Whether you’re on the plane, in the airport, or in a restaurant, save yourself the agony of picking up that rattle for the 1000th time.

My son took it as a personal challenge to take every toy off the tether… But it kept him occupied regardless, so I’m not mad about it.

Pacifiers and Clips

However many pacifiers you think you need for the trip… Double it. Thank me later.

Comfort Items for Sleep

If you’re planning on getting any sleep on the plane, bring as many comfort items as you possibly can. We’re talking pillows, blankets, stuffies, sleep sacks, whatever will make them feel at home.

Pajamas 

A pair of pajamas can double as a backup outfit. They also signal to your baby that it is time for sleep.

Pillow 

Bring a travel pillow with you! Even if your baby doesn’t sleep with a pillow at home (mine doesn’t), the seats on the airplane are not perfectly flat and will be uncomfortable to sleep on. Walmart sells a toddler pillow in the baby section. They also sell a travel pillow in the pillow section. I also love these mini-pillows for how small but well-designed they are.

Drinks, Meals, and Snacks

Think of your drink and snack choices as extensions of your toy selection. They will keep your little one entertained for 5-15+ minutes, and should not be discounted.

I once famously said, in a moment of peace on our plane ride, that the morale would continue until the Goldfish were gone. No truer words were ever spoken on that trip.

Pro Tip: Use my tips below to get real food in your baby’s belly while traveling. Snacks are fun, but too many snacks can even give an adult a belly ache.

Drinks

Make sure you pack some kind of sippy cup, bottle, juice box, juice pouch, fruit pouch, boob ??, or anything else that your baby can suck on for take-off and landing. Sucking will prevent or release pressure build-up in the ears which is the #1 reason why babies scream on planes.

Snack Cup

If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, I’m sure you’ve seen the viral spinning snack container. It doubles as a fun game to keep your baby entertained while they eat.

Meal Time

Try to get some real food in your baby’s belly. If you are traveling domestically, you should be able to take on any baby food you want. If you’re traveling internationally, you will have to contact your airline or TSA to understand the meat and produce restrictions for that country.

Even if you’re traveling internationally, Gerber sells some fairly decent non-perishable food options that you should be able to take with you. They aren’t amazing, but they are better than only feeding rice cereals, fruits, and snacks. They can be served at room temperature, or heated up if you have a microwave or some hot water.

Thermos

Again, if you’re traveling domestically, grab a thermos and fill it up with your baby’s favorite home-cooked meals. These kiddie thermoses are the perfect size and will keep your food warm for up to 5 hours.

Disposable Place Mats

Next time you’re at Chic-Fil-A, save your disposable place mat (or ask if they would kindly give you another one). They are perfect for eating at tray tables, on the go in the airport, or at restaurants. You can even use them when you’re doing crafts and activities on the plane. Or, buy a pack of these and stash some in your diaper bag!

Plastic Bags

Even if you don’t believe in single-use plastic, take a few Ziploc bags with you. Whether you’re putting away dirty dishes, or trying to cover up the smell of that blow-out-covered onesie, they will come in handy.

Wipes and Bibs

Hand wipes, face wipes, bum wipes, table wipes, flushable wipes, all the wipes. Don’t forget a bib or two!

Free Carry-On Packing List for One-Year-Old PDF

In conclusion, finding the best airplane toys for a 1-year-old can make all the difference in ensuring a smooth and enjoyable journey for both parent and child. From busy boards and books that promote fine motor skills to mess-free sticker books and fidget toys for quiet play, these travel toys have proven to be the ultimate companions on long flights. Don’t forget to grab my Carry-On Airplane Packing List for a 1-Year-Old before your next flight ?️?.