Travelling with Kids a Story From 36,000Ft In The Air

Travelling with Kids: A Story from 36,000 Ft in the Air

Travelling with kids is beautiful in theory — the memories, the bonding, the adventure. But for me, it all started with a flight I’ll never forget… and not for the right reasons.

Hi, I’m Jenna — founder of Let’s Travel Baby. And here’s the truth: I never had any interest in starting a business. I was a happy stay-at-home mum, and life was full. But sometimes, life hands you an opportunity you just can’t ignore.

This is the story of how a disastrous flight, a little desperation, and a whole lot of sisterly teamwork turned into a business that’s now helping families fly all over the world.

😰 The Flight That Changed Everything

A few years ago, my husband and I boarded a short-haul flight from Perth to Bali. You’d think a three-hour flight would be easy — boy, was I wrong.

We had our three young kids with us: a six-month-old baby, a three-year-old deep in his tantrum era, and a five-year-old. I’d done what most parents do — downloaded shows, packed snacks, crossed my fingers. But within minutes of takeoff, it was clear we weren’t prepared.

My toddler screamed for almost the entire flight. Loudly. Relentlessly. There was nowhere to go — 36,000 feet in the air, I genuinely considered opening that plane door and jumping (not really, but you get what I mean). I felt completely helpless, and nothing in my bag was helping.

I remember the looks from other passengers. Whether they were sympathetic or judgmental, I couldn’t tell — but it felt like all eyes were on me. Someone even asked if I needed help, and I snapped internally: “What, you don’t think I’m doing a good job?” I was beyond exhausted, embarrassed, and emotionally stretched thin.

When we finally landed, I was shattered. And when the flight home was just as bad, I said to my husband, “I am never travelling with kids again.” I meant it.

✈️ Then Came the Wedding…

A few months later, we were invited to a close friend’s wedding — in Croatia. A 24+ hour journey with three kids? After what we’d been through on a 3-hour flight to Bali? The thought made my stomach turn.

We weren’t willing to leave the kids behind, but I couldn’t imagine reliving that experience. So I turned to Google and searched “travel entertainment packs for kids on planes.”

What I found… was underwhelming. A few basic fidget packs, colouring books, and some toys I knew wouldn’t keep my kids engaged for long.

🧩 So We Made Our Own

Luckily, my sister Kelsie was also coming to Croatia with her toddler. We decided to create our own travel entertainment packs. We researched, sourced, and trialled toys, games, and puzzles that ticked every box:

• Lightweight and easy to pack
• Quiet and screen-free
• Open-ended and engaging
• Genuinely fun for our kids
• Travel-tested by real families

We boarded that long-haul flight with our kids — and for the first time, I felt prepared.

And it changed everything.

I had a plan. I had tools. I had ways to stop a meltdown before it happened. I didn’t once say, “Just watch a show.” I didn’t have to.

That 24-hour flight was a thousand times better than the Bali one — and when I landed, I knew this was something other families needed too.

👩👧👦 From Chaos to a Company

When we got back, Kelsie and I couldn’t stop talking about how life-changing it was to travel prepared. That’s when Let’s Travel Baby was born.

At the time, I had a 2, 4 and 6-year-old. We built our first collections around those ages because I could test every single toy, game and puzzle with my own kids.

As they grew, so did our product range. When my eldest daughter hit 8, we launched our 8+ collection — filled with logic games and puzzles. Some were so tough I couldn’t even finish them (and still haven’t). But that was the goal: toys that would last entire flights, not just five minutes.

🎯 How We Choose Our Toys

We’ve tested hundreds of toys now, and the process is simple: if they don’t follow our rules, they don’t make the cut.

Every toy must be:

• Travel-friendly – Compact, light, and easy to carry
• Quiet & screen-free – No flashing lights, loud noises or batteries
• Open-ended & engaging – Fun without needing constant supervision
• Kid-tested – Tried on real holidays by real kids (ours!)

If a toy doesn’t spark excitement or keep kids entertained for more than a short-haul Perth to Bali flight, it’s gone.

Choosing the toys was the easy part. Starting and growing a business? That’s a whole different story.

🌟 Sisters Make It Possible

There have been a lot of highs and lows — but definitely more highs. And I know without a doubt that working with my sisters is what made it all possible.

There were moments where one of us wanted to quit, but the others pushed through. Between the three of us, there’s always someone ready to handle the chaos, solve a problem, or remind us why we started.

We’ve cried. We’ve laughed. We’ve packed orders in the middle of the night. And somehow, we’ve built something real — together.

✈️ From That One Horrible Flight to Families Flying All Over The World with LTB!

Today, thousands of our toddler and kids’ travel entertainment packs are flying around the world — helping families have a stress-less travel experience whether is be on the road or on the terrifying none stop Perth to London (Haven't done it yet!).

What started with two handmade entertainment packs has grown into over 80 tested-and-loved products designed to make family travel easier, smoother, and more fun.

🔮 What’s Next for Let’s Travel Baby?

Our vision is big.

We don’t want to stop at kid travel toys. Our end goal is to offer everything travel-related for babies, kids, and teens — and one day, adults too.

We’re working toward:

• Custom-designed carry-on and checked luggage
• Complete travel essentials kits
• Packing cubes, compact cosmetics, and more

We’ve already launched our own matching travel range including:

• Kids Carry-On Backpack
• Travel Pillow
• Blanket
• Insulated Water Bottle 

And this is just the beginning......