Last reviewed: October 2026. We haven’t tested individual products. This guide describes types of toys and what to look for.
Two is a tricky age to fly with. Your child is too big to sleep the whole flight in your arms, too young to follow a film for two hours, and very keen to explore the tray table, the window blind and the seat in front. The right toys don’t need to be clever or expensive. They need to be quiet, hard to lose, safe for a child under three, and new enough to hold attention for ten or fifteen minutes at a time. This guide goes through the kinds of toys that tend to work, the ones that cause trouble at 35,000 feet, and how to hand them out so they last the whole flight.
Quick answer
- Think in short bursts. A two-year-old will play with most things for minutes, not hours. Pack several small activities, not one big one.
- Silent, mess-free and few loose pieces beats educational or expensive.
- Something new, even a cheap sticker book, holds attention longer than a favourite toy they’ve seen a hundred times. Bring the favourite anyway, for comfort.
- Check that toys are made for under-3s. Small parts are a choking hazard, and button batteries are a serious danger if swallowed.
- Keep a screen as a backup, with downloaded content and child-sized headphones.
What makes a good plane toy at two?
Before you buy anything, it helps to have a few simple tests. A toy that passes most of these will usually earn its place in the bag:
- Quiet: no beeps, songs or rattles. The people around you will thank you, and so will your nerves.
- Few pieces: anything dropped on a plane rolls under the seat in front, and you may not be able to reach it until landing.
- Works on a tray table or a lap: small, flat and stable.
- No mess: no paint, play dough that sticks to seat fabric, or glitter.
- Safe for under-3s: no small parts, no button batteries, no small magnets.
- Light and flat: it has to fit in the under-seat bag along with everything else.
Decision table: types of toys for a flight with a two-year-old
| Type of toy | Noise | Loose pieces | Mess | How long it tends to last | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reusable sticker books or sticker pads | Silent | Stickers only | Low | Often a long stretch, peeling is absorbing at this age | Stickers ending up on the window and seat; easy to clean off |
| Magnetic drawing board with attached pen | Very quiet | None if the pen is tethered | None | Medium | Small detachable stamps or magnets |
| Water-reveal colouring pads (pen filled with water) | Silent | One pen | Very low | Medium | Refill pen with water after security; a leaking pen |
| Board books and lift-the-flap books | Silent | None | None | Short, but can be repeated | Weight: pick one or two small ones |
| Busy board or quiet book (zips, buckles, Velcro) | Quiet (Velcro is noisy) | None if well made | None | Medium | Small sewn-on parts that could come loose |
| Small figures, animals or vehicles | Quiet | Several | None | Medium | Size: must be large enough not to be a choking hazard; they roll away |
| Pipe cleaners, stacking cups, lacing cards | Quiet | Several | None | Short to medium | Sharp ends on pipe cleaners; laces as a strangling risk if unsupervised |
| Tablet with downloaded shows and headphones | Silent with headphones | None | None | Long | Battery, child-sized headphones, use as backup |
| Snacks in a container with several compartments | Quiet (avoid crinkly wrappers) | Many small pieces | Medium | Medium | Choking risk of whole grapes, nuts and hard foods for young children |
“How long it tends to last” is a general observation from parents, not a measured test. Every child is different.
Recommended options, by situation
Take-off and landing
During take-off and landing your child must be buckled in or held, and you can’t stand up to get anything from the overhead locker. This is also when ears may hurt from pressure changes. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests breastfeeding, a bottle or a dummy during take-off and landing for babies. For a two-year-old, a drink from a cup with a straw or a snack to chew can do the same job. Keep the cup, the snack and one small new toy in the seat pocket before the doors close.
The long middle of the flight
This is where the bag of small activities pays off. Bring them out one at a time, with breaks between. A good rhythm for many families is: an activity, a snack, a walk up and down the aisle when the seatbelt sign is off, a book, a nap attempt, another activity. When something stops working, put it away rather than pushing it. You can bring it back an hour later and it will feel almost new.
The last hour
Two-year-olds are often at their most tired and least patient towards the end of a flight. This is where the tablet earns its place, if you use one. The AAP says screen time isn’t recommended for children under two but can help during travel. For a child over two, a few downloaded episodes they know and love, with child-sized headphones, can get you through the last stretch.
What to leave at home
- Anything that makes a noise and can’t be switched off or set to silent.
- Toys with lots of small parts: puzzles with many pieces, building bricks in small sizes, beads.
- Play dough, slime and paint. They get into seat fabric and onto other passengers.
- Crayons and pencils that roll: choose chunky triangular crayons, or skip them.
- Balls, including soft ones.
- Toys with button batteries that a child can get into. See the safety section below.
- The whole toy box. Five or six small things are enough for most flights.
Safety checks for under-3s
A plane is a confined space, and you’re often tired. That’s when small risks get through. Two things in particular are worth checking before you pack:
Small parts
In the US, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) bans small parts in children’s products intended for children under three, because they can be a choking hazard. Toys for older children may contain small parts and should not be given to a two-year-old. Look at the age marking on the packaging, and if a toy has a “not suitable for children under 3” warning, leave it at home.
Button batteries
Light-up toys, musical cards and some small electronics contain button or coin batteries. The CPSC warns that a swallowed button battery can burn through a child’s throat in as little as two hours. Toys for young children should have a battery compartment that is screwed shut. Spare batteries should stay out of reach. If you think your child has swallowed one, treat it as an emergency and get medical help immediately.
Cords and laces
Headphone cables, lacing cards and long ribbons are fine with you watching, but put them away if your child is falling asleep.
How to pack and ration the toys
- Buy or borrow a few new, cheap things a week or two before the trip, and hide them.
- Wrap each one in paper or put it in a small bag. Unwrapping is part of the fun and buys a few more minutes.
- Pack them in one pouch at the top of the under-seat bag, so you’re not digging around on your lap.
- Put one or two in the seat pocket before take-off, so you don’t need the bag during the climb.
- Hand them out one at a time. Don’t bring out the next one until the current one has really stopped working.
- Save the best one for the hardest moment, which is often a delay on the ground or the descent.
Our under-seat bag packing list covers the rest of what goes in the bag: food, nappies, clothes and the liquids rules.
Shopping by category
If you need to buy something, these Amazon searches cover the categories in the table. Look at the age marking before you buy: reusable sticker books, magnetic drawing boards, water-reveal colouring pads, quiet books and volume-limited toddler headphones. We haven’t tested these products and don’t rank them.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Read our affiliate disclosure.
Next steps
Once you’ve landed, the toys that worked on the plane will work in queues and restaurants too. For days out with a two-year-old, see theme parks with a toddler and our city break with a toddler packing list. For the flight itself, read flying long-haul with kids.
Frequently asked questions
How many toys should I bring on a plane for a two-year-old?
There is no rule, but five or six small, quiet activities plus a comfort toy and a backup screen are enough for most flights. Rotating them works better than bringing more.
Are screens OK on a flight for a two-year-old?
The American Academy of Pediatrics says screen time isn’t recommended for children under two but can help during travel. Use downloaded content and child-sized headphones, and keep it as a backup rather than the whole plan.
What toys are not suitable for a plane?
Noisy toys, toys with lots of small pieces, balls, play dough and paint, and anything with a loose button battery.
Should I buy new toys for the flight?
A few new and cheap things help because novelty holds a two-year-old’s attention. Bring a familiar comfort toy as well, especially for sleep.
Can toys go through airport security?
Yes. TSA says toys go through the X-ray machine with your other carry-on items.
What can help my two-year-old’s ears on take-off and landing?
For babies, the AAP suggests feeding or a dummy. For toddlers, drinking or chewing a snack can help. If your child has had an ear infection or ear surgery in the two weeks before flying, ask your doctor first.