Will your family travel by airplane this summer? This week we asked the Parenting Panel: What do you pack in your children’s bags to survive airplane travel?
Jen, also known as *Nala*, is an engineer, a Disney fan, and a MouseAdventure fanatic. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and two future MouseAdventurers, ages 5 months and 2 1/2 years. Jen writes:
Flying with a baby and a toddler! That's a scary idea for just about any traveler. While every parent knows the only predictable thing about little kids is their unpredictability, we've definitely found that planning ahead and packing smartly for the flight helps make the experience a little easier for everyone involved.
Both of our kids took their first airplane trip when they were just 4 or 5 months old. Our son, now 2 1/2, has flown about a half-dozen times so far. Our 5 month old daughter had her first trip last month.
For an infant we don't need much in the way of entertainment for the flight. The bulkiest item we bring is a Boppy pillow, as it is a comfortable and familiar place for baby to nap. We also bring bottles and/or a nursing cover, a blanket, and maybe a few small toys. A change of clothes or two is another necessity. We've lucked out so far in that both of our babies took long naps on the plane.
Flying with a toddler is a different story. I remember thinking flying with a baby was difficult, right up until we took our first trip with a walking, opinionated toddler. The key we've found for the toddler is distraction. We take a variety of small, quiet, and preferably new toys, or at least things he hasn't seen in a while. For our last trip, his carry on bag included: several sticker books (the kind where each sticker has a place to go in the book, so it eats up more time to find the right places), Color Wonder coloring books and markers, a small magnetic sketch pad, a set of Cars magnets, some flashcards, and a couple of small storybooks. Thanks to a suggestion I read on the Internet we wrapped a few of the items in his carry-on bag, so that unwrapping them would kill more time on the flight, but that backfired since once he saw that things were wrapped he wanted to open them all at once. When he got bored with the toys, we allowed him to play with his toddler apps on our smartphones, which was a treat in itself as we usually limit him to five to 10 minutes at home.
Another essential thing to bring for toddlers is snacks and drinks. TSA will allow you to bring liquids for babies and toddlers in quantities greater than 3 ounces. You just have to declare the liquid and allow them to scan it, which takes only a couple of minutes in my experience. One thing we learned on our last trip is that if a sippy cup is not transparent, TSA will have to open it for the additional screening, so bring clear cups and bottles if you can and it will save you time.
It probably goes without saying that the most important thing to pack when traveling with infants and toddlers is a ton of patience. In our short few years so far as parents, we've experienced flight delays, last-minute plane configuration changes, and even a cancelled flight. The great thing about traveling with little kids is they have no idea the plane was supposed to leave two hours ago. If you act like nothing is wrong, they will, too.
Mary Kraemer is an avid Disney fan and travel consultant with CruisingCo/MouseEarVacations who loves to travel with her husband and children to Disney destinations as often as possible! Mary writes
Oh my, this is a topic that has morphed over time as my kids have grown up and the limitation of TSA regulations.
Back when my kids were little (and every one of them was buckled into their car seat on an airplane because I’m really a stickler that way), we kept the troops happy by providing a nearly endless supply of toys, books, drinks, and snacks. We also brought a spare set of clothes for the kids, so if someone got messy during a flight, it was no big deal to change. Having a small flashlight is really handy to find an item that’s fallen on the floor.
It was important for us to have three items of the very same thing so there would be no argument over someone getting a ‘better’ item than someone else. Back in the wild and crazy days before TSA screenings and restrictions, one of the favorite airline distractions was party-sized containers of PlayDoh (too bad that can’t make it onto a plane now, because that was a GREAT choice). We also made sure we had new coloring books and crayons; ColorForms; lacing cards; write-on, wipe-off boards; small plastic toys, such as dinosaurs, little metal cars, etc. There are some great items from Klutz books that are perfect for airplane travel (but avoid the ones with a bazillion tiny beads or things that can ruin a project if they get dropped—and they will—during a flight).
The important part of the carry-on packing was that everything was new and never been played with before. The newness immediately made each item interesting, with longer ‘shelf life.’ Pacing was also important to keep everyone happy without running out of distractions too quickly. These items were inexpensive and essentially disposable, so it was no big deal if something was left behind on the plane accidentally. We made sure that everyone had something to drink at take-off to help relieve pressure in their ears; there’s nothing quite like ear pain and screaming to set a bad tone for the rest of the trip. Because the kids had their car seats, they were already used to sleeping in place comfortably.
As they grew older and technology advanced, we brought along books and, before seat-back video, a laptop with a DVD player; we got a splitter cord so we could connect three sets of headphones. Just in case there was turbulence, I’d bring along a bungee cord to keep the laptop tethered to the middle seat’s tray table. Kids were happy…and I made sure I had enough spare laptop batteries to last the length of the flight (ah, the good old days).
Now that we’re firmly in the tech age, my kids have iPads if they aren’t watching video on the plane’s seat-back system. Virgin America has electric plugs at the seats, which is really great. (I find their onboard WiFi especially useful, too, but the kids don’t get to use it.)
I’m fortunate that my kids are readers, so they bring books along for the ride. (We buy books at our local library’s used book sale each month. So for $1 a book, we can leave them behind when we’re finished with them.)
As soon as they were old enough to handle their own bags, every one of the kids was assigned a rolling carry-on bag. They also have backpacks where most of their entertainment items reside since it’s easier to access backpacks underneath the seat than carryons in the overhead compartment.
We bring little pillows on red-eye flights, along with eye shades, blankets, and ear plugs. None of us get good sleep on overnight flights and consider them something of a necessary evil, depending on our destination. Liquid Benadryl used to be the sleep-aid of choice, but now it comes in little foil packets with quick dissolve strips or fast-melt tablets, which is OK by TSA and not as messy as the liquid stuff either!
Parenting in the Parks columnist Adrienne Krock’s three boys are now 13, 11, and 8. They’ve been visiting the Disneyland Resort since they were each just weeks old and Annual Passholders since their 3rd birthdays. Adrienne writes:
For my kids, I want to make sure their three basic needs are met: Comfort, Food and Entertainment, so that they have the best chance for good behavior on board our flights. Each boy carries his own backpack and has his own set of supplies. They carry these themselves and have for several years, from the time they were about 5 years old. If the backpack fits, they can carry them!
Dealing with Comfort and Environment
I always carry basic pharmaceuticals in my own bag, such as ibuprofen for pain relief. As Scouts, at least one of my boys and my husband have a basic first-aid kit in their bags as well. I prefer single dose re-wetting eye-drops and carry those in my bag although the boys rarely need those. Here are some essentials I pack in each boy’s bag:
- A sweatshirt or jacket: in case they get too cool on board but they can take it off if they get too warm.
- Hand sanitizer: To deal with germs (obviously) and messes. Each boy gets his own. The only caveat is to keep my eye on the youngest; he likes to play with it if I look away.
- Lip balm
- Lotion: For if their skin gets dry—usually I just keep this on in my bag, because my boys never use theirs when I put it in their bags.
- Adrienne K’s Nosebleed Prevention and Treatment Kit: A travel-size tube of Aquaphor and cotton swabs, plus gauze pads and a travel pack of tissues. My youngest tends to get nosebleeds when his nose dries out and airplane cabins foster dry environments. Before flights, we put a little blob of Aquaphor on a q-tip and stick it up his nose to moisturize. I prefer Aquaphor by name because this is more than just petroleum jelly but rather a highly refined petroleum jelly. We use it on any dry, chapped skin patches, not only nostrils. We use gauze pads for treating nosebleeds should they happen. Our favorite babysitter is a water polo player and she and her father shared this brilliant tip with us years ago: To stop a nosebleed, take a piece of gauze and roll it up like a small “log.” I usually tear the gauze because an entire piece is too big. Put this gauze under the child’s upper lip, between the gum and the lip. I cannot explain why this works but trust me: It works. The mini-gauze-log will very effectively stop a nose bleed. The tissues (and aforementioned hand sanitizer,) can quickly help clean up the nosebleed.
Avoiding Hunger
Even if the planes will be serving meals, my boys may get hungry before the service starts. We cannot always count on having time on layovers to grab a bite to eat, in case a flight runs late or a layover is short, so I pack a baggie of food. When low-blood sugar hits my boys, it is already too late to rescue their behavior! I need to keep an eye on the boys to make sure they regularly eat before it becomes too late. We also need to balance their sugar to protein intake. Sugar crashes are never a good idea, much less inside an airplane.
- Trail mix: This one is tricky because peanuts on airplanes can be a problem. But we like to make our own homemade trail mix any time we travel, by car or air. We custom mix our own blend with only our favorite nuts and dried fruits. I skip candies because they melt but I do include yogurt covered raisins. Normally I pack these in sealed bags but before my next trip, I plan to ask my friends via Facebook if anyone has a vacuum sealer I might borrow to make packs of trail mix.
- Protein bars: I rarely feed my boys protein bars but they sure are convenient to have on hand in case of a food emergency. For our vacation this summer, we have two very short layovers so I plan to have protein bars on hand just in case.
- Water bottles: We cannot take water through TSA but we can bring empty water bottles. Once through TSA I find drinking fountains or a vendor selling water so we can get some water into their bottles. Again, the flight may provide beverage service but if they get thirsty before the service begins, I want them to have access to something to drink. A Camelbak-type bottle with a built in straw is less likely to spill when they open and drink from their seats.
Keeping them Happy: Entertainment
Naturally, in 2012, we parents first grab the electronic pacifiers! My children are so spoiled and I know they are not alone! But airplanes do have time when electronics need to be turned off and batteries die, so I also have alternatives:
- ONE electronic toy: I have too much to keep track of to watch more than one toy per child. My boys have iPods, DS games, and my eldest saved his money for months to buy own (gently used) iPad earlier this year. Each boy will choose one of his toys and a set of headphones. I prefer headphones to ear buds for my children, and so does our pediatrician. Our boys will probably choose their iPods and iPad because besides games, they have access to their iTunes libraries and television shows or movies. Before we leave, the boys sit down with their father to pick and choose the movies they load onto their devices.
- Pencil bag: Twistable crayons for the 8-year old, mechanical pencils for all three boys and color pencils if the 11 and 13-year olds request them.
- Small book of paper for drawing: I ask my boys what they want. If they ask for a book of sudoku puzzles or a coloring book, a quick trip to a dollar store takes care of this need.
- Book to read: For my older boys. My older two are at ages where they enjoy reading novels, especially science-fiction and fantasy books. My 11-year old brings books for car trips to the grocery store so certainly, we will pack a book or two in his bag.
- Travel journal: Because I always make my boys take a travel journal on a trip. Yes, I’m that mom.
Chris, also known as GusMan, is always planning his next family trip to the Walt Disney World Resort and loves to help others plan their trips, as well sharing his experiences. Chris writes:
When it comes to traveling to your vacation destination, you tend to hear the phrase “getting there is half the fun” more often than not. I would tend to agree—but only if some forward thinking and planning are a part of your pre-trip arsenal. This is especially the case for first time fliers. And yes, I am referring to both children and their parents.
I think one of the first steps my family assessed before our first flight together is think about what sort of things our kids liked to do in the car during a long trip. From there, we needed to adapt that list to more airline-friendly selections, since there is an obvious difference in how many things you can take. After that, consider which of the candidate carry-ons would be plane-friendly. In other words, need to think about items that were easy to get out of a carry-on bag from under the seat in front of you as well as items that were not likely to get lost rolling down the aisle of the plane.
For our younger son, his favorite teddy bear was always a first-round winner. After all, he needed to feel comfortable, and there is nothing better than a favorite furry friend. Of course, a small, light blanket was also stashed in a bag, as well. This was mainly because we tended to arrive home in colder weather and during a time where he would most likely be sleeping. Other favorite activities included multiple packs of crayons and paper. And a tip here—keep one pack for on the way down and one for on the way back. This way, if one gets lost or forgotten in the seatback in front of you, it wont be a big deal. We also included some simple cartoons on an iPod and a set of kid-friendly headphones as well. Include the finishing touch of some simple snacks and he was occupied for nearly the entire way home. Of course, we knew that this would be some good choices since these were some of his favorite “road-trip” activities. Sometimes knowing what works in the past, and not over thinking things can really help.
Our older daughter, even as a tween, tended to stick to simple things such as reading and sketching. A few longer books were included as well as her favorite sketch pad with a book to learn how to sketch Disney characters. She got very good as she practiced during the flights. Even to this day, it’s one of her favorite activities during longer trips. As she got older, her iPod got loaded with some free e-books, which kept her enthralled as well as some of her favorite Disney movies.
As for the waiting at the airport, we tried to keep some of the “plane ride” activities in the bags until that time. What I would do with them at the airport is to point out the different kinds of planes that would taxi by and tell them stories about my many travels. That may seem a little boring, but they really enjoyed asking me thing about my favorite airports as well as some of the more entertaining stories that included crazy layovers, delays, and stories about how some people act at airports.
I think, overall, we would prefer to not fly to our Disney vacations, but sometimes you have to because of time constraints. The key thing is that try to keep your carry-on limited to the things that you think will be really used to entertain. After all, it is inevitable that you will return home with many more things, and some of them will be carry-ons, as well. Don’t be like me and end up having to buy an extra carry-on duffel just to bring stuff home.
It's your turn—keep the discussion flowing!
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