Ask any experienced travel nanny what makes the difference between a smooth flight and a chaotic one, and the answer is almost always the same. It’s not the children. It is the preparation.

Flying with kids as a nanny and the travel that follows can be one of the most rewarding parts of this career. But it’s also one of the most demanding. The good news is that most of what makes a flight go well is completely within your control before you ever step foot in the airport. These six tips will help you show up ready.

1) Get Clear on Expectations Before You Fly

One of the biggest challenges with flying with kids as a nanny is not knowing what the parents expect. Before you travel, sort out the details. Are you responsible for packing? Are you handling logistics at the destination? What are the screen time and snack rules? Will the children follow their normal routines while traveling as best as possible? Get specific answers before the trip.

2) Pack Smart

Good packing is the foundation of good travel with children. Make sure the essentials are covered: snacks and feeding equipment, devices and headphones, a few favorite activities, and an emergency change of clothes and everything for diapering.

For babies, pack two zip-lock bags, each containing a diaper, a change of clothes, and wipes. A zip-lock is easy to find by touch and keeps everything together when speed matters.

Choose multi-purpose items. For example, a book with stickers covers both reading and activity time. Cheerios work as a snack and as material for a toddler necklace-making project.

3) Get Creative With Activities

Activities should be age-appropriate but novel. Some travel nannies swear by individually wrapping a few small toys and opening one every thirty minutes. The novelty of unwrapping something buys time through a long flight. Balance new items with something familiar. A beloved stuffed animal helps children feel grounded in an unfamiliar environment.

For younger children, figurines for storytelling or a sketch pad with scratch paper and a glue stick work well. For older children, a Lego board glued to the top of a storage box of bricks provides hours of entertainment. A cheap headphone splitter lets two children plug into one device and watch something together.

4) Babyproof Your Travel

Flying with kids as a nanny gets more complex when there’s a baby involved.

Babywear at the airport if you’re traveling with a young infant. Being hands-free while navigating terminals and security is invaluable. Bring something that smells like the baby’s mom if traveling apart from the parents; a scarf or t-shirt can be a comfort item if the baby gets upset mid-flight.

For feedings, bring pre-measured formula with bottled water or frozen breast milk that can be reheated by asking for a cup of hot water. Know your car seat. It needs to have an FAA approval sticker, and airline rules require it to be in a window seat. Make sure parents understand this before you get to the gate.

5) Use the Airport to Your Advantage

Get children moving before you board. A small ball to kick around, a balloon blown up and deflated before boarding, or a sarong on the ground so a baby can crawl are simple ways to burn energy before you need children to sit still.

Look up play areas ahead of time. Keep older children off screens since they’ll likely use them on the plane. An airport bingo game where children look for specific things as you move through the terminal keeps them engaged. The more energy the children burn before boarding, the smoother the flight tends to go.

6) Stay Calm No Matter What

Children feel your energy. If you’re stressed, they’ll be stressed. If you’re calm, they’ll take their cues from you. Don’t worry about other passengers. Your only job is to be fully present for the children in your care. Focus there and let everything else go.

Things won’t always go to plan. The nannies who handle it well aren’t the ones who avoid problems. They’re the ones who stay grounded and resourceful when problems arrive.

7) Frequently Asked Questions

a) What are the most important tips for flying with kids as a nanny?

The most important things when flying with kids as a nanny are getting clear on parent expectations, packing smart, burning energy at the airport, and staying calm throughout. Preparation and a steady demeanor make a bigger difference than any single item in the bag.

b) How should a nanny pack for flying with a baby?

Pack two zip-lock bags each containing a diaper, a change of clothes, and wipes. Bring pre-measured formula or frozen breast milk and a comfort item that smells like the baby’s parent. Have the car seat FAA-approved and know the airline seating requirements before you get to the gate.

c) How do you keep toddlers entertained on a plane?

A mix of familiar comfort items and new individually wrapped activities works well. Multi-purpose items keep engagement up. Burning energy at the airport before boarding is one of the most effective strategies.

d) What should a nanny know before traveling with a family?

A nanny should know what responsibilities they have, including packing, logistics at the destination, when they’re on duty, and what rules apply while traveling. Getting specific answers ahead of time prevents miscommunication in transit.

e) How do you stay calm when flying with kids as a nanny?

Focus entirely on the children in your care and let everything else go. Children take their emotional cues from the adults around them. A calm, confident nanny creates a calmer experience regardless of what else is happening on the plane.

Found this helpful? Check out our other articles:

• The Ultimate Travel Nanny Playbook: From Packing Lists to Jet Lag Routines
• Traveling with a Car Seat? Here’s What Parents and Nannies Need to Know