If this is your first time flying with children, I recommend reading my Drama Free Flights with Kids post first.
I explain all of the things we do on a plane, the day before, how we make the passport forms easiest etc.
If you’re flying with a baby under one, I recommend reading my post on Flying with Babies here.
THE NAPPY BAG
My nappy bag on planes looks like this:
Once kids are older than 1 year I pack one nappy for every 1.5 hours and then 3-4 more just in case. For newly toilet-trained children I recommend packing as if they aren’t for at least the next 3 months or so. Unless you like playing Crazy-Mommy Russian Roulette.
Then I have a clear bag of gels, creams, medicine, sanitzers like this:
DRINK CONTAINERS
I also find it really helpful to pack an empty water bottle to fill on the plane and a sippy cup.
Also these…
PACK EMPTY BOTTLES LIKE THIS
As you know, kids don’t drink and eat like adults. They sip a drink, then they colour. Then another sip. Then they wriggle. Then they sip.
Take bottles/cups like this because a normal paper or plastic cup sitting on a tray table? You KNOW that is going to spill.
STRAWS
Airlines don’t often have straws so I pack those too. The bendy ones are the best.
WIPES, WIPES AND MORE WIPES
Also include lots and lots of wipes. For hands, for bums and for tray-tables and bathrooms.
GARBAGE BAGS
(2 for each flight – so 4 if we have one plane transfer etc. ) See why in my Drama-free Flying with Kids article.
NURSING/FEEDING CLOTH &/OR FORMULA
If baby is not on food yet, obviously.
CHANGES OF CLOTHES
(If flight is over 10 hours…) Two full sets per child (more if they are babies but see here for my article on flying with babies.)
I mean full sets. 2 X Socks, 2 x undies, 2 x long sleeved trousers, 2 x long trousers. (Airplanes are often very cold.)
It is also a good idea for have a spare set of clothing for adults. I usually pack a few old t-shirts and a pair of light trousers – just incase you get spilled on…or worse.
ENTERTAINMENT FOR KIDS
And I talk about it in great detail in my flying with kids post but … iPads aren’t enough, especially if the flight is longer than a few hours or your little one is a bit too young to have the concentration for a tv show or game for more than a few minutes.
I recommend packing lots of disposable items / old toys to take along with you. I have an extensive list in this article here and also a whole article dedicated to helping parents set themselves up with a “survival pack” here.
There will be some suggestions that surprise you but I swear by, such as balloons and Pringles boxes.
