9-18 months
This is the age when a baby crawls, then begins to walk. Which makes them mobile, squirmy and overboard active. They’re always looking to be everywhere, doing everything they can get their little hands on. At this point, air travel becomes a nightmare because they won’t sit still. They don’t want to be held for long, or restrained. A few toys may act as distraction, but given their short attention span, they’ll get bored quickly, upset when you don’t let them crawl away and then resort to screaming. And when you finally get to your destination, you’ll forever be on the lookout to make sure they don’t crawl away to danger.
18 months – 3 years
Kids start developing interest in activities that occupy them from around 18 months. This makes them easier to deal with. By the time they hit two years, they can spend long flights without causing havoc or stressing you out. They get engrossed in their toys, especially electronics. They also get better at responding to instructions given. Tantrums might be all you have to deal with when you travel with your child at this age, probably when they get tired.
3-5 years
At this age, your child is not bothersome at all on flights. After pre-school and kindergarten, they get even better at following instructions, making trips more manageable. With enough distraction in terms of games they enjoy and snacks, they’ll hardly keep you from enjoying the trip.
Children aged 9-18 months old are definitely hard to travel with, while three year olds and above do not demand as much attention or anxiety. However, these may still vary with kids according to their temperament.
