Before you ask: yes, I was absolutely insane. No, I don’t recommend it.

Let me set the scene: Ash had just turned 2. Barely. The ink on his age was still wet when my older sisters called with the kind of invitation that sounds fun in theory and terrifying in execution: a week in London for my eldest sister’s 50th birthday.

Here’s what that “yes” actually meant: change my existing solo trip to Central Europe (RIP, that itinerary), cancel hotels, rush a passport for a toddler who had no idea what a passport was, and spend $650 I will never see again. His flight ticket? Covered by credit card points, which is the only reason I didn’t fully spiral. Small wins.

And also, this would be my first time traveling internationally with Ash. Alone. In another country. With less than two weeks to prepare.

I went into full over-planner mode (shocking, I know). I made lists. I researched. I bought all the toys and things other parents said that would keep their toddlers preoccupied for the plane ride. I stress-scrolled every “flying with a toddler” thread on the internet at 11pm like it was my job. We borrowed a stroller from my cousin’s friend (you’re the GOAT Jazzy!) one less thing to haul through Heathrow, and confirmed that the UK doesn’t require car seats when traveling by public transport, so that was also off the packing list.

Before you get on the Plane

Here’s the move that actually saved my sanity before boarding: check out the airport ahead of time and find the family/kid areas. Most larger airports have designated spaces with play areas, soft play structures or at least seating designed for families with little ones. If your flight has a long layover or if you’re arriving early, these are gold!

What actually saved my sanity on that trip: a rotating army of activities, Ash’s iPad loaded with enough content to survive a transatlantic flight, and my Mia carry-on — which, by the way, got so many compliments at the airport that I almost forgot I was running on three hours of sleep and sheer determination.

 

 

The Arsenal (What Actually Worked)

I came prepared with hours of entertainment because if I was going to be trapped in a flying metal tube at 35,000 feet with nowhere to run, I needed a solid plan.

iPad with Youtube Kids and Educational Games

This was the MVP! I have his Youtube Kids locked down with only approved content because a lot of the content was still not age appropriate for him. I also had LingoKids on there with some Pink Fong apps. Do I pay for subscription? Yes! But I also pay for my peace of mind that can last for a while without a meltdown.

Toys, Activities and all the Snacks

I brought a weekender carryon that pretty much housed a lot of his things. I brought a mix of small toys, activities and his Toy Story tray that would prevent things from flying off the slippery plane tray. This setup worked for us because the tray had a lot of small pockets for me to easily rotate toys and coloring books to keep him entertained for hours. It also had a water bottle attachment for when he gets thirsty in between activities. And obviously we can’t forget the mountains of goldfish, cereal and granola bars for the trip!

 

And then the Overnight Happened

I had prepped his bed and he fell asleep. I breathed a sigh of relief. But somewhere over the Atlantic at 2 AM when literally everyone else was asleep, when there was absolutely nowhere to go and nothing to do except sit in a seat the size of a shoebox with a tiny human losing his mind, he lost it and even kicked the passenger’s seat in front of us. Not like small kicks but full-on rage kicks. I was apologizing to her profusely, embarrassed that she had been woken up by Ash.

 

I walked the aisle at 2 AM with a screaming toddler, hoping that everyone didn’t glare at me like I’d personally betrayed them. Nothing worked. It was just one of those moments where he was tired, overstimulated, and in a weird environment, and no amount of entertainment tricks could fix it.

But here’s the thing: most of the families toward the back of the plane got it. The parents were understanding. No eye rolls. No sighs. Just knowing nods from people who’d been exactly where I was. There’s a special kind of solidarity in the back rows of an international flight when tiny humans are falling apart. Misery loves company, and that company felt like a lifeline.

So I just went to the back of the plane, holding him. Apologizing silently to the flight attendant and every other passenger. Wondering if I’d made a huge mistake. After maybe 20 minutes, he finally settled down in his makeshift bed and fell asleep.

The Weirdly Honest Part

Here’s the thing nobody tells you: you survive it. Not because you’re amazing. Not because you had the perfect entertainment strategy (you won’t). But because you’re also stressed, you’re also exhausted, and honestly, you both just get through it somehow.

We made it to London. I had barely slept and emerged looking like I’d been in a minor car accident. But we did it.

The Real Takeaway

Now, Ash is older and he absolutely loves planes. He understands so much more, and honestly? He doesn’t cry when we travel anymore. In fact, he’s the one asking when we can go on the plane next. He’s asking about the next trip before we’ve even finished unpacking from the last one.

That’s what I want for him. I want Ash to grow up as a world traveler. To see places, to be curious, to know that the world is something he can explore. And I’m not going to let one brutal overnight flight—one 2 AM meltdown at 35,000 feet—be the thing that keeps him from that. One bad experience doesn’t get to define his relationship with travel or adventure.

If you’re considering flying alone with a toddler: the snacks and the iPad will help. They’ll buy you time. They’ll make things easier. But they’re not magic. Sometimes your kid is going to lose it at 35,000 feet, and you’re just going to have to sit with that. The good news? Everyone on that flight will forget about it by the time you land. And more importantly, it probably won’t break your kid either. He might even end up loving it.