What to pack for air travel with children

Air travel with children and babies can be fun & exciting, especially if you are prepared. Plan ahead for your next plane trip, so that the kids are comfortable, happy, healthy and safe. Be sure and check current airline, airport and air travel guidelines and regulations. Following is a list of items that you may want to pack in your carry on bag for air travel with your children, and special items if traveling with a baby. Have a fun trip!

Activity items – bag of items to keep kids busy – paper, notepads, colored pencils, crayons, stickers, small books, small toys, action figures
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, …)
Bag – a small backpack or rolling bag that your child can carry themselves, and put a few fun items
Birth certificate for each child (not always needed, but airlines/airport can request it)
Cash
Change of clothes, underwear, socks for each child
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!
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
First-aid kit
Gum – chewing gum for take-off and landing
Items you would need if your checked luggage was lost overnight, or if you were stuck at the airport
Light jack or sweater for each child
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)
MP3 player – or iPod – with music and audio books, headphones (and video if you have it)
Over-the-counter remedies (Tylenol, allergy, cough, cough drops, nausea, diarrhea) - 4 oz. or smaller
Photo of each child in your wallet – in the horrible, but unlikely chance, that you were separated
Cell phone & extra battery if you have it
ID – your drivers license or state ID, plus school IDs if you
Placemats – plastic placemats with sticky strips – to protect eating surface for your child
Plastic bags for messes
Portable DVD player – movies & headphones, fully charged battery – keep kids entertained for a few hours
Prescription medications
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!
Shoes – each family member should wear comfortable walking shoes, so that they can easily walk through big airports
Snack container – no-spill with a lid
Snacks – a few fun snacks as well (plain M&Ms or Skittles are good, hand over one at a time)
Snacks – enough for airport and flight
Snacks – healthy ideas – crackers, cheese, grapes, raisins, cereal, fruit, salt-free pretzels
Stroller – umbrella or small folding (ask for a gate check tag)
Toys – a variety of small toys, pull out one at a time
Travel itinerary
Water – buy a bottle of water for each family member after you go through security
Water – empty water bottles to fill after security
Wet wipes

If you are traveling with a BABY - you might also want to pack these items in your carry on bag:

Baby bowl, spoon
Baby flight vest travel harness – to secure your baby to your chest, and protect from turbulence
Baby lotion
Baby over-the-counter remedies – 4 oz. or smaller
Baby powder
Bathing supplies
Bibs
Blanket
Bottle fed babies – bottles, formula & water, your milk if nursing/pumping
Bottle or pacifier – for take off & landing
Bottles, nipples, caps
Burp cloths
Car seat – bring to the gate – even if your child is under 2 (and traveling on your lap) – you don’t want it to get lost, so you can gate check it; and, if there is an extra seat on the flight, the airlines will probably let you have a child for your seat, and you can use the car seat to keep your child extra safe (ask for a gate check tag) – consider buying a seat for your infant
Changing pad
Clothing – several outfits
Collapsible stroller
Diapers – plenty of disposable diapers, more than you think you will need, at least enough for 24 hours
Formula
Front or back child-carrying pack, or sling style
Grocery sacks or white trash bags for wet or soiled clothes
Juice (check airline/airport rules – small quantities are okay for babies)
Layers – dress children in layered clothing
Nose aspirator
Nursing cover-up
Nursing pads
Pacifiers – a few extra, plus something to secure one to your baby’s clothing
Stuffed animal or other cuddle object
Sweater or jacket
Teething ring
Thermometer
Toys – small, soft toys – pull one out at a time
Waterproof sheets
Wet wipes
Zip-loc plastic bags

Check out this list for items you might want to pack in your checked luggage for your baby:

http://www.myplanninglists.com/packing-for-babys-first-trip.php

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What to pack for air travel with children