Packing and Flying
Make a master packing list that includes both food and non-food items. Save it on your phone or print and laminate it for reuse.
The first thing we pack is a backpack filled with snacks, meals, and activities to keep the kids entertained on the plane. In addition to sandwiches and their favorite snacks, we bring along some kid-friendly airplane activities and headphones that are compatible with the in-flight entertainment system.
Activity Ideas:
Crayola mess-free activity books
Once we arrive at our destination, this backpack becomes our daily companion. We pack each day’s lunch and snacks into the backpack, along with any other supplies like bathing suits or towels.
For multi-day trips, especially road trips, we use packing cubes. Each cube contains pajamas and clothing for the next day. This way, instead of dragging suitcases in and out of hotels, we simply take the cube from the top of the pile. Each morning, we return the previous day’s laundry, including pajamas, to the cube. We also keep a cube filled with toiletries that comes in with us each evening.
Packing cubes come in different sizes, so choose one that works best for your needs.
To make the airport experience as stress-free as possible, we check in as much as we can in advance, allowing us to move around the airport freely with only our backpacks as hand luggage.
If you are using hand luggage, it may be useful to purchase kid-friendly suitcases. Some have built-in scooters that your children can use to navigate around the airport, while others have a seat for younger children to sit on as you pull them, reducing the amount of walking they have to do.
If you have a scheduled stopover, we recommend placing AirTags in your suitcases so you can track them and locate them in the case of lost luggage.
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We’ve found that for toddlers and young children, flights tend to go more smoothly, and naps are more likely when they feel safe and comfortable. Using their car seat or booster seat on the plane, securely buckled into their assigned seat, gives them a familiar and cozy space, which can make it easier for them to relax and fall asleep.
If it’s within your budget, we highly recommend booking a separate seat for children under 2, especially on longer flights. On our first flight with our baby, we brought her Doona and secured it in the extra seat. It made feeding and nap time so much easier and more comfortable for both mom and baby.
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Additionally, baby gear is typically free to check in, so if you don’t plan on using the car seat on the airplane, feel free to bring it along and check it as an extra piece of luggage. It usually arrives with the rest of your luggage at the carousel, but on occasion, we've found it at the oversized luggage carousel instead.
If you are renting a car, we highly recommend choosing an airport-based rental service rather than one that requires a shuttle.
Additionally, for late-night flights, be sure to check that the rental office will be open when you arrive.