Flying to the Other Side of the World with a Toddler (And Somehow Surviving)

Our Story: Amsterdam to Brisbane with a Toddler

It’s 10pm at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. Our bags are packed, Leo should be asleep, and we’re about to start a journey of more than 30 hours door to door.

At Christmas 2025, we flew to Brisbane to spend a month with my mum and sister. Louie was eight. Leo was 18 months, travelling on my lap, and about to meet his Australian family for the first time.

What followed was two long flights, a toddler who decided sleep was optional, and not one but two missing bags. Here’s how it really went, and what we’d tell any family about to do the same.

Long trips aren’t new to us. Marty and I once set off through Slovenia and Croatia with a pop-up tent so small our legs stuck out the bottom. Then someone stole it. 😅 After that, 24 hours on a plane with a toddler didn’t sound so scary. It turned out to be a whole different kind of tired.

The short answer: what helped us most

• A cheap, cabin-size pram we could use right up to the plane door
• A light carry-on, which I learnt the hard way
• Snacks, plus a few small surprise toys handed out one at a time
• A change of clothes for everyone
• A long stopover with a transit hotel on the way home
• A slow first week on arrival, with nothing planned
• Saying yes when people offered to help

Our Journey at a Glance

Two flights, one stopover in China, and a toddler who decided sleep was optional.

Before You Fly: Seats, Prams and Paperwork

Lap or own seat?

Leo was under two, so he flew on my lap. Most airlines treat children under two as lap infants on a reduced fare. From their second birthday, they need their own seat at close to the full price.

A lap infant saves a lot of money on a family fare. The trade-off is 24 hours with a wriggly 12 kg toddler on your knees. We looked into a bassinet, but Leo was already too heavy. They’re based on weight, so they really suit small babies rather than toddlers.

Bring a pram, even a cheap one

When I flew alone with Louie as a baby, I only used a carrier. By the end of that trip, my body was sore and completely exhausted.

This time we bought a cheap, compact pram online. It folded small enough to go in the overhead locker on China Southern, so we used it right up until boarding. We still use the same pram in Vietnam today. 🙌

Cabin pram rules differ between airlines, so check the size limits before you buy.

Check the stopover rules for every passport

Our family travels on Australian and Dutch passports. On the way out, we stayed inside the airport at Guangzhou. On the way home, we left the airport for a transit hotel, which meant going through Chinese immigration.

China currently offers visa-free transit and short visa-free stays to many nationalities, including Australians and Dutch citizens. These rules change often, though. Check the National Immigration Administration of China for every passport in your family before you book.

More on travelling as a mixed-passport family in Where Can Our Mixed-Passport Family Actually Go? Our visa guide for families explains how to check each passport for longer stays.

What We Packed (and What I’d Leave Behind)

The flights are long. Really long. Meals arrive when the airline decides, not when little bellies get hungry.

We packed:

• crackers
• raisins
• fruit snacks
• a few favourite treats

These became lifesavers in tired, restless moments.

I also had lots of small fidget toys ready to pull out, one at a time, whenever someone got restless. This worked really well, better than I expected. A new toy buys you a surprising amount of calm mid-flight. 🧸

Louie had his Nintendo Switch. His favourite entertainment wasn’t a game, though. It was the flight map channel, with all its different views of exactly where we were flying over. 🗺️

Tip: bring a refillable water bottle for everyone and fill it after security. Staying hydrated makes a big difference on long flights.

Don’t overpack your carry-on

I made this mistake. Our bags were heavy, and we dragged them all through the stopover in Guangzhou.

Finding anything during the flight was a challenge too. At one point my feet were resting on something under the seat, and I had no idea what it was.

Pack light, but include:

• one change of clothes for everyone
• extra wipes and nappies
• a small comfort item for each child
• a refillable water bottle

A change of clothes halfway through the journey can make everyone feel human again.

Leg One and the Guangzhou Stopover

Seat space, service, entertainment and how helpful the crew are with families all matter when you’re travelling for more than a day. So does the departure time, although there’s no perfect time to fly with a toddler.

Our flight left at 10pm, which sounded ideal at first. In reality, I was exhausted before we even boarded. I’d spent the whole day packing, cleaning and looking after Leo while Marty was still working.

Leo slept during the first flight, which felt like a small miracle.

After about 12 hours, we landed in Guangzhou for a three-hour stopover. Luckily, we found a clean, spacious nursery near our gate. It was ideal for changing Leo and letting the boys stretch their legs.

They played together happily, slurping noodles and enjoying the open space.

The Second Leg: Daytime for Leo

Everything felt smooth at first. After a 12-hour flight, the second leg was only 8.5 hours. Easy, right?

Then we realised something important. For Leo, it was daytime.

He was wide awake and ready to play for the entire flight. Well, almost. He slept for about 20 minutes.

To be fair, Leo handled it incredibly well and stayed surprisingly relaxed. By the time we landed in Brisbane, though, I was completely exhausted.

Arriving in Brisbane: Two Missing Bags

Every time I land in Australia, the emotions hit me hard. Hearing those familiar Aussie accents after so long away is incredibly comforting. You also hope you don’t look a total fright when your family sees you.

Leo was tired and getting fussier by the minute at baggage claim. Marty and Louie collected the bags while I tried to calm him. Then the belt stopped, everyone left, and Marty’s bag hadn’t appeared.

After what felt like forever at the baggage desk, staff found it. It was still in China. They promised to deliver it in a few days.

Problem solved. Or so we thought.

The second missing bag

After a special reunion with my mum and sister, we drove to Mum’s house. I desperately needed a shower and felt slightly delirious.

The boys wanted to jump straight in the pool. Our pale European winter skin needed sunscreen, and I’d packed two litres of it. When I went looking, the bag was gone.

It held the sunscreen, the Christmas presents and several other essentials. That second bag took about a week to arrive. Honestly, it was so stressful, especially with Christmas coming.

Tip: report missing bags at the airport baggage desk before you leave, and keep the reference number. Keep receipts for anything you have to buy in the meantime. Label every bag clearly, and check you receive a luggage tag receipt for each one at check-in.

Jet Lag: The Real Challenge

The flights may be the hardest part mentally. Once you land, jet lag starts its own adventure.

Brisbane is 9 hours ahead of the Netherlands in December, and 8 hours ahead in the European summer. Everyone’s body clock was completely confused.

Our first days looked like this:

• Leo awake and ready for the day at 3:30am
• the boys asking for breakfast before sunrise
• everyone crashing in the middle of the afternoon

Toddlers don’t understand time zones, and they don’t care about them either.

We gave ourselves a soft landing. We spent the first week at my mum’s house before moving into an apartment for the rest of the month. There was nothing to organise, no shopping, and Mum to help in the early mornings. If you don’t have family at your destination, a quiet first week in an easy family-friendly rental with nothing booked does a similar job.

We got outside as much as we could, spent time in the sunshine and avoided long daytime naps. After a few days, our bodies slowly started to adjust.

Surprisingly, the jet lag was worse going home. Flying west is supposed to be easier, because you gain hours rather than lose them. It didn’t feel that way for us. The early mornings and foggy afternoons dragged on longer than they had in Brisbane.

Tip: a rough rule of thumb is about one day of adjustment for every hour of time difference. For us, it took about a week each way.

The Way Home: A Transit Hotel in Guangzhou

After a month with family, it was time to fly back to the Netherlands. Saying goodbye never gets easier.

The sadness always starts at the airport. You hug your family, walk towards security with puffy eyes and feel like everyone is watching you. Or maybe that’s just how it feels.

On the way home, we had a 16-hour stopover in Guangzhou, so we used China Southern’s free transit hotel. We booked it at the transfer counter after landing.

It made a huge difference. We had:

• a proper bed
• a hot shower
• a short walk through the nearby streets
• breakfast, including delicious Chinese noodles

Louie even got a small glimpse of everyday life in China. After a real sleep, we all felt ready for the next flight.

Tip: China Southern offers free transit hotels on some routes and fares, but the rules depend on your ticket and layover, and they change often. Check the current conditions on the China Southern website before you book. The hotels are outside the airport, so every passport in your family needs to qualify to enter China.

Our Second Long-Haul: Amsterdam to Da Nang at Two

In 2026, we did it all again. This time we flew from Amsterdam to Da Nang with Singapore Airlines, with a four-hour stopover in Singapore.

Leo was two, so he had his own seat. That gave us more space for eating and moving around. Marty wasn’t seated next to us, though, so it was still intense. As a mum, you dig into every bit of energy you have.

We left Amsterdam at 10am, so it was a whole day of travel. By the time we landed in Da Nang, it was about 6am Dutch time. We’d basically pulled an all-nighter.

Two things made the arrival easier:

• Our accommodation arranged an airport pickup. No haggling for a taxi with tired kids.
• Passport control was quick. You can pay for a fast-track lane, and we saw people doing it on the spot. We got through in 20 to 25 minutes without it.

A queue tip: we lined up in the lane next to the fast-track lane. Whenever the fast-track queue cleared, the officers started on our line, so it moved much faster than the middle lanes. That’s just what we saw on our day, but it’s worth a try.

More on our first weeks in Vietnam in How to Start Worldschooling and Worldschooling in Da Nang.

Where It Started: Flying Solo with Louie at Nine Months

This wasn’t my first long-haul flight with a little one. When Louie was nine months old, I flew to Australia with him on my own.

Everything was going surprisingly well. Until take-off.

Just as the plane left the runway, Louie decided it was the perfect moment for a full poo explosion. The seatbelt sign was still on, so I couldn’t get up to change him.

I sat there for 30 very long minutes, holding my sweet baby and silently praying the smell wasn’t travelling through the cabin. Or worse, leaking out.

By the time the sign switched off, I raced to the bathroom with a very messy situation. Looking back, it’s one of those parenting travel stories that still makes me smile.

Louie couldn’t walk back then. Leo definitely could, which made this trip a whole new challenge. If you’re flying with a baby or toddler on your own, our solo parenting guide covers consent letters and more.

Dare to Ask for Help

When you’re travelling with babies or toddlers, don’t hesitate to ask for help.

Many airlines and airports offer families:

• early boarding
• priority queues
• family lanes at security

It varies by airport, so it’s always worth asking. People often kindly offered to let us go ahead of them in queues. In Brisbane and Guangzhou, staff directed us to express lanes, which made the whole process much easier.

What I Would Do Differently Next Time

Every trip teaches you something. Flying halfway across the world with kids definitely comes with a learning curve.

Rest properly before departure

Leaving on a night flight after a full day of packing and preparing wasn’t ideal. Next time I’d try to start the journey with more energy.

Pack a lighter carry-on

I definitely overpacked our hand luggage. It felt safer to have everything with us, but it made the stopover much harder than it needed to be.

Book a longer stopover again

The 16-hour stopover with a transit hotel on the way home was the easiest part of the whole trip. A proper bed and a real sleep made a huge difference.

Prepare better for jet lag

Jet lag hit us harder than expected, especially Leo. Next time I’d plan slower days at the start of the trip and spend even more time outdoors.

Spread essentials across bags

Losing two bags taught us not to pack everything important in one place.

Even though the journey was exhausting at times, it was absolutely worth it.

More Tips for Long Flights with a Toddler

These tips come from years of long-haul flights, first as a couple and now with Louie and Leo, plus what other parents in our community have shared. Some are airline rules worth knowing before you book.

Booking

• Choose seats early, and not near the toilets. Families aren’t always seated together automatically, as we found on our Da Nang flight. Book seats when you buy your tickets if you can, even if it costs extra. Avoid rows near the toilets, too. Years ago, before the boys, Marty and I sat right by them on a long flight. People queued and stood next to us the whole way. With a toddler you’re trying to get to sleep, it would be even worse. 😩
• Ask about bassinet seats for babies. These are usually in the bulkhead row and limited in number. Airlines set a weight limit, so they suit small babies more than toddlers. Leo was too heavy by 18 months. Check your airline’s limit before you book.
• Look at the stopover length, not just the price. We now prefer an overnight stopover. It gives us a proper rest, lets the kids run around and means everyone gets a chance to refresh before the next flight. Some families would rather push through in one go and get it over with, and that’s fine too. It really comes down to how your kids sleep and what you can cope with. Just avoid very short connections, which are stressful with kids and bags.
• Be flexible with dates. Flights are often the biggest single cost for a travelling family, and school holidays push prices up. Our month-by-month guide to the best time for families to travel helps you plan around peak seasons. For the bigger money picture, see what it really costs to live abroad with kids.
• Think about the time difference. A smaller time change can mean an easier first week. Our guide to where to spend winter as a nomad family compares bases by time zone.
• Check passports for every child. Many countries want at least six months’ validity left. Kids’ passports can also expire sooner than adult ones.

At the airport

• Baby food and milk. Most airports allow reasonable amounts of baby food, milk and formula above the usual liquid limit. Keep it separate and tell security staff.
• Change nappies just before boarding. Plane toilets are tiny, and not every one has a changing table.
• Let them run. Use the time before boarding to tire them out, not to keep them still.

On the plane

• Feed or offer a drink at take-off and landing. This helped our boys heaps with their ears popping. Swallowing eases the pressure, so a breastfeed, bottle, dummy, snack or sip of water all work.
• Dress in layers. Planes can be cold, and spills happen.
• Download shows and games before you go. Don’t rely on the in-flight screens or wifi. Kids’ headphones with a volume limit help too. Screens aren’t the only answer, though: for us, a stash of small fidget toys worked just as well.
• Walk the aisle when the seatbelt sign is off. A few laps can reset a restless toddler.
• Don’t give medicine to make kids sleep. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before flying if your child has a cold, ear problems or other health needs.
• Pack a small first aid kit. Children’s pain relief, a thermometer and any regular medicines belong in the carry-on, not the checked bag. Our travel vaccinations guide covers what to sort out before you go.

Travelling solo with kids

• Carry a consent letter. If one parent is flying alone with the children, some countries and airlines may ask for proof the other parent agrees. Our solo parenting guide explains more.

FAQs

Can a toddler sit on your lap on a long-haul flight?

Usually, yes, if they’re under two. Most airlines sell a reduced lap infant fare until the second birthday. After that, children need their own seat. Check your airline’s rules, especially for bassinets and infant seatbelts.

Is a night flight better with a toddler?

Not always. Our 10pm departure meant Leo slept on the first flight, but I was already exhausted from a full day of packing. The second leg was daytime for Leo, and he slept for about 20 minutes. There’s no perfect time, so plan around your own energy too.

How long does jet lag last for toddlers?

A rough guide is one day per hour of time difference. Leo took about a week to settle in Brisbane, and longer back in the Netherlands. Daylight, outdoor time and short naps helped.

Do we need a visa for a stopover in China?

It depends on your passports and whether you leave the airport. China has visa-free transit options for many nationalities, but the rules change often. Check the National Immigration Administration of China before you book.

What should we do if the airline loses a bag?

Report it at the baggage desk before you leave the airport and keep the reference number. Keep receipts for any essentials you need to buy. Check what your airline and travel insurance cover. Our health insurance guide for nomad families explains what to look for in a policy.

Is a long stopover worth it with kids?

For us, yes. The 16-hour stopover with a free transit hotel on the way home was the easiest part of the whole trip. A proper bed beats airport chairs every time. Some families prefer to get it over with in one stretch, though, so it’s a personal choice.

Our Takeaways

Flying to the other side of the world with a toddler is exhausting. I won’t pretend otherwise.

There’s no trick that makes it easy. What helps is lowering your expectations, packing less than you think you need, and giving yourself a slow landing on the other side.

The 3:30am breakfasts and missing Christmas presents felt huge at the time. Now they’re some of our favourite family stories. And when Leo walked into my mum’s house for the first time, every hour on that plane was worth it. ❤️

If you’re thinking about longer travel with your kids, a big trip like this is a good test. You’ll learn a lot about how your family copes with long days, broken sleep and things going wrong. A shorter practice trip to one of these affordable family holiday destinations works too. When you’re ready for the next step, our digital nomad family guide shares how we made it work.

❤️ Vanessa

Have you taken a long-haul flight with kids? I’d love to hear your stories and survival tips too.