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Activity items – bag of items to keep kids busy – paper, notepads, colored pencils, crayons, stickers, small books, small toys, action figures
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Bag – a carry-on bag that you can carry or pull, and still keep track of your children (and push stroller, hold children’s hands, …)
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Bag – a small backpack or rolling bag that your child can carry themselves, and put a few fun items
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Birth certificate for each child (not always needed, but airlines/airport can request it)
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Cash
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Change of clothes, underwear, socks for each child
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Change of clothing for you – if possible, at least put in an extra shirt for you – kids can tend to create messes on their mom’s shirts!
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Emergency contact phone numbers – for your own purse, but also put a copy in a pocket of each child’s clothing, in case you were separated
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First-aid kit
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Gum – chewing gum for take-off and landing
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Items you would need if your checked luggage was lost overnight, or if you were stuck at the airport
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Light jack or sweater for each child
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Luggage tags – label EVERYTHING with your contact information (I put a label on my son’s new winter coat once, and the airport called us to mail it back when we left it at security)
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MP3 player – or iPod – with music and audio books, headphones (and video if you have it)
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Over-the-counter remedies (Tylenol, allergy, cough, cough drops, nausea, diarrhea) - 4 oz. or smaller
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Photo of each child in your wallet – in the horrible, but unlikely chance, that you were separated
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Cell phone & extra battery if you have it
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ID – your drivers license or state ID, plus school IDs if you
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Placemats – plastic placemats with sticky strips – to protect eating surface for your child
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Plastic bags for messes
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Portable DVD player – movies & headphones, fully charged battery – keep kids entertained for a few hours
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Prescription medications
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Rest of your luggage/clothing – you have plenty to carry on just to keep your children happy and safe on the flight – don’t try to bring all of your luggage on the flight – check those bags!
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Shoes – each family member should wear comfortable walking shoes, so that they can easily walk through big airports
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Snack container – no-spill with a lid
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Snacks – a few fun snacks as well (plain M&Ms or Skittles are good, hand over one at a time)
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Snacks – enough for airport and flight
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Snacks – healthy ideas – crackers, cheese, grapes, raisins, cereal, fruit, salt-free pretzels
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Stroller – umbrella or small folding (ask for a gate check tag)
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Toys – a variety of small toys, pull out one at a time
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Travel itinerary
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Water – buy a bottle of water for each family member after you go through security
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Water – empty water bottles to fill after security
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Wet wipes