Flying with 5 Year Old Twins Over Winter Break: Survive the Airport, Save Your Sanity

If you’ve ever packed two tiny humans, their clothes, snacks, lovies, and 67 “just in case” items into a carry-on and said, “Yes, we’re flying over winter break,” - congratulations. You are either incredibly brave or deeply sleep-deprived. Possibly both.

As a twin mom, I’ve learned that holiday air travel is a special kind of chaos, and when you’re rolling through the airport with 5-year-old twins, all bets are off. Here are my hard-earned hacks, hot tips, and real talk about surviving the skies this season.

This holiday break was my first time flying SOLO with them. We fly to SLC as a family, but my husband had to leave early for work. And you know what, we all made it! And FWIW, I am team three-in-a-row, Dad on the other side (so I can shamelessly pass him crap at any point in time that I need both hands.

1. Prep Like It’s a Mission: Twinpossible

Don’t just pack. Strategically pack:

• One backpack per kid with snacks, headphones, and a new toy or activity.

• One “mom bag” with wipes, meds, chargers, extra outfits (for them and you), and snacks you don’t have to share.

• Layers. Winter break means unpredictable temps - airports are saunas, planes are igloos.

💡 Pro tip: Wrap a new small toy or coloring book. It turns into an in-flight surprise and buys you 23 minutes of silence.

2. Talk It Out Ahead of Time

Five-year-olds thrive on knowing what to expect. Before travel day, walk through:

• What security is like (yes, shoes off!)

• Why we wait in lines

• How to use inside voices on a plane (lol, but try)

• We will potty before we get on the plane

Make it a game: Can they spot the pilot? Count rolling suitcases? Suddenly they’re distracted and occupied.

3. Board Early (or Late—There’s No In-Between)

If your airline lets families board early, do it. You’ll have overhead bin space and time to get settled. But if your kids are high-energy and likely to lose it after 20 minutes of sitting still? Hang back and board last. Burn the wiggles out at the gate. I’ve done both. Depends on the mood, the meltdown risk, and how strong your coffee was that morning. I am team 'settle in' get to your seat, claim your overhead bin space and mentally prepare for the flight ahead.

4. Snacks Are the Real MVP

There is no such thing as too many snacks. I pack:

• Something chewy and lollipops (for ears popping)

• Something crunchy (for long stretches of “I’m bored”)

• Something bribey (for please just sit still during landing)

And yes, I have hidden snacks in my pockets they don't know about. This is survival, not glamor.

5. Lower Expectations—Like, Way Lower

One kid will need to pee during takeoff. One will kick the seat. Someone will cry. It’s fine. Winter break flights are filled with other families who get it. Smile, apologize once, and move on. You’re doing great.

6. Use Technology Shamelessly

This is not the flight to argue about screen time limits. Download shows ahead of time. Bring the tablet. Headphones with volume control are a must.

Also: don’t forget to charge everything the night before. And bring a battery pack. Because of course the iPad will die halfway through Frozen 2.

7. Celebrate the Wins (Even the Tiny Ones)

Did no one vomit? Amazing. Did one twin help the other buckle their seatbelt? Weeping. Did you drink your coffee while it was still lukewarm? Champion.

Winter travel with twins is hard. But it’s also full of these little moments that remind you: they’re growing, they’re learning, and somehow, you’re all doing this together.

Final Word from One Twin Mama to Another

Traveling over winter break with twins isn’t a vacation - it’s an adventure. It’ll be loud. It’ll be messy. And you’ll definitely forget something. But you’ll also make memories, laugh at the chaos, and maybe even get five quiet minutes to enjoy a snow globe moment in the middle of it all.

You’ve got this. Snacks in hand, plane mode on. Let’s fly.