Best Airplane Toys for Babies (0–12 Months That Actually Work on Flights)
Flying with a baby is completely different than flying with a toddler, and the “toy strategy” looks different too.
We’ve taken short flights, Houston to Orlando with a 2.5 month old, long flights with a 6 month old, from New York to Lima, and ultra long haul flights, from Houston to Tokyo with a 7 month old. And many more with all three of our babies.
If there’s one thing I remember, it’s how little we actually used the toys we packed. Most of the time, they were feeding, sleeping, or just watching everything around them.
That said, there were moments where having the right toy helped.
Here we’ll focus on the baby airplane toys that actually worked for us, plus how to think about what to bring based on your baby’s age and stage.
If this is your first time flying with a baby, it may help to back up a bit and understand the full picture before diving into the toy details. You can start with Baby’s First Flight: What to Expect and How to Prepare.
Jump to: What works, By age, Teethers, Books, Cups, Suction, All-in-one, Musical, Random extras, Quick comparison chart, How many toys, Tips for toys, Don’t bring, FAQs
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If you only bring 3 things
If you don’t want to overthink this, start here.
- A good teether
- One simple book
- One all-in-one sensory toy
That’s it.
You can absolutely bring more, but most babies don’t need a full bag of toys. A few well-chosen items usually go a long way.
What actually works for babies on a plane
Babies are not sitting there playing independently with toys for long stretches.
Most of the time, they are:
- feeding
- sleeping
- being held
- watching what is happening around them
Feeding, especially, ends up being a big part of flying with a baby, whether that’s bottles, nursing, or solids. If you’re navigating airport security or logistics around bottles, this guide on traveling with baby bottles through the airport and security can help.
So when it comes to toys:
- short engagement is normal
- simpler is better
- everything ends up in their mouth
For us, toy use was minimal during the baby stage. But having a few right-fit items helped during awake windows and fussier moments.
If you’re planning your first flight or just want a clearer picture of how the day typically goes, this helps to read alongside Baby’s First Flight: What to Expect and How to Prepare.
Best airplane toys for babies by age
0–3 months (visual and passive)
At this stage, toys are less about interaction and more about stimulation.
- high-contrast cards or books
- black and white visuals
- soft fabric books
These work best during alert windows when your baby is just observing.
3–6 months (grasping and sensory)
Now they are starting to reach and grab.
- lightweight rattles
- crinkle toys
- soft teethers
This is when toys start to become more useful, but still in short bursts.
6–9 months (sensory and early cause and effect)
This is a great stage for simple toys.
- textured teethers
- simple press or pop toys
- early suction toys
More curiosity usually means slightly longer engagement.
9–12 months (more active and curious)
This is where toys start to matter more.
- nesting cups
- interactive books
- suction toys
This stage starts to feel closer to toddler behavior, especially during longer awake stretches.
As babies get closer to one and start needing more interaction, toy needs change quickly. You can see how this shifts in Best Airplane Toys for Toddlers (1–3 Years Old That Work Well for Flights).
If you’re thinking more broadly about when and how to travel with a baby, Best Age to Travel With a Baby — Don’t Wait Until One can help put things in perspective.
Airplane toys for babies that actually worked for us
These are the categories we kept coming back to. Not a huge list, just what actually got used.
Teething toys (non-negotiable)
If your baby is teething, this becomes the priority.
There were phases where our babies just wanted to chew on everything, so having clean, safe options ready made a big difference.
Good options:
Tip: keep one within easy reach at all times.
We also clipped one to our baby or bag when possible, which helped cut down on how often it ended up on the floor.
Simple books (surprisingly effective)
Books were one of the most consistently used items.
Especially:
- soft fabric books
- small board books
- high-contrast books
- simple, repetitive visuals
Good options:
- Hello, My World
- Animal Tails Soft Book
- First 100 Words Board Book
- Indestructibles Baby Books
- Baby Touch and Feel Board Books
These worked well for calm engagement and quieter moments.
Nesting cups (lightweight and versatile)
This is one of those unexpectedly great travel toys.
They are simple, but babies tend to use them in a lot of different ways:
- stacking
- holding
- knocking over
- chewing
Good options:
These are lightweight, but they do tend to get dropped, so keeping them contained or only bringing out one or two at a time helps. I would typically only pack a few, not the entire stack.
Suction toys (better for older babies)
These can be great, but they worked better for older babies closer to 6 to 12 months.
Good options:
All-in-one sensory toys (high-value, low effort)
This is one of the best categories for travel.
These combine:
- soft textures
- crinkle sounds
- tags or ribbons
- teething elements
Instead of packing multiple toys, this gives you variety in one item.
Good options:
- Taggies Crinkle Toy
- Crinkle Sensory Bunny
- Taggies Lovey Blanket
- Freddie the Firefly
- Rainbow Sensory Fish
These are also easier to manage since everything is in one piece, which means less to drop or keep track of.
Musical and light-up toys (use thoughtfully)
These can be a nice reset when your baby starts to lose interest in everything else.
The lights and simple music grab attention quickly, and for some babies this is one of the few things that holds their focus a little longer, especially closer to 6 to 12 months.
A few that worked well for us:
A couple things to keep in mind:
- check the volume before you pack it
- look for toys with softer output or simple controls
- use these in short bursts rather than leaving them on continuously
In my experience, most baby toys are not loud enough to carry over the natural white noise of the plane. They tend to blend into the background more than you would expect.
Since these tend to get handled a lot, it also helps to have wipes nearby if they end up on the floor.
Random household items (don’t underestimate these)
Some of the most used “toys” were not toys at all.
- spoons
- cups
- containers
These were often just as engaging as anything we packed.
Quick comparison: our most-used airplane toys for babies
If you want a quick side-by-side:
| Toy | Best For | Age Range | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sophie la Girafe | Teething | 3–12 months | Lightweight, easy to grip |
| Comotomo Teether | Younger babies | 2–8 months | Soft and flexible |
| Taggies Crinkle Toy | Sensory | 3–12 months | Multiple textures |
| Lamaze Freddie | Multi-sensory | 4–12 months | High engagement |
| Stackable Cups | Simple play | 6–12 months | Lightweight and versatile |
| Sassy Wonder Wheel | Suction play | 6–12 months | Good for cause and effect |
How many toys to bring (and how to rotate them)
It is easy to overpack, but you really do not need much.
In reality:
- babies do not rely heavily on toys during flights
- you will use them in short windows
Focus on:
- a few different types
- easy access
- simple rotation when needed
If you are planning how to feed and get your baby to sleep alongside toys, it helps to think about the full picture. You can read more about feeding your baby while traveling, traveling with baby bottles through the airport and security, and baby sleep while traveling to round out your plan.
Tips for managing baby toys on a plane
The biggest challenge with baby toys on a plane is not what to bring. It’s keeping things clean, contained, and easy to grab.
A few simple things made this much easier for us:
Bring food-grade cleaning wipes
Think bottle or pacifier wipes. If a toy drops on the floor or gets dirty, you can quickly wipe it down and keep using it without stress.
Use pacifier clips for small toys
Anything lightweight enough to clip can stay attached to your baby or your bag. This cuts down on how often things end up on the floor.
Keep toys contained in a small bag
A small packing cube or pouch works well. It keeps everything in one place so you are not digging through your entire carry-on every time you need something.
Take out one item at a time
It is tempting to hand over multiple toys, but that usually leads to everything getting dropped or lost quickly.
Stick to easy-to-clean materials
Silicone, plastic, and wipeable surfaces are much easier to manage than fabric toys that cannot be cleaned easily mid-flight.
These small adjustments make a bigger difference than bringing more toys.
What NOT to bring on a plane for a baby
A few things are not worth it:
- overly loud toys or anything without volume control
- toys with lots of small pieces
- anything that rolls easily
- complicated setups
If it requires setup or cleanup, it is probably not ideal.
Quick cheat sheet by age
- 0–3 months → visual
- 3–6 months → grasping and sensory
- 6–9 months → textures and simple interaction
- 9–12 months → stacking, suction, and books
Flying Long-Haul With a Baby?
If your baby is under one and you’re preparing for an international flight, start here.
Download the Calm Long-Haul Baby Guide — a practical carry-on checklist and sleep strategy framework built for the 0–12 month stage.
Plus, I’ll send one calm, useful email per month with real-world travel guidance.
You don’t have to figure this out alone.
FAQs
What toys should I bring for a baby on a plane?
A small mix of teethers, a simple book, and one sensory toy is usually enough.
How do I keep my baby entertained on a flight?
Toys help, but most babies are occupied by feeding, sleeping, and the environment around them.
Do babies need toys on airplanes?
Not really, but having a few can help during awake or fussy periods.
How many toys do I need?
Usually just a handful.
What actually matters for toys on a flight with a baby
You do not need a huge lineup of toys.
A few simple, well-chosen items go a long way. And often, the simplest things end up being the most useful.
Stay flexible, pay attention to your baby, and adjust as you go.
Planning your flight with a baby?
Start here:
- Best Age to Travel With a Baby — Don’t Wait Until One
- Baby’s First Flight: What to Expect and How to Prepare
Then work through:
- Feeding Baby While Traveling
- Traveling with Baby Bottles: Navigating the Airport and Security
- Baby Sleep While Traveling
For longer trips:
