Are we there yet? Traveling tips for flying with small children

Written by Emily Roach

Traveling with small children is no vacation.  Getting organized to get through the airport and a flight takes time and some strategic planning.  Here are some tips to help make your trips go a little smoother.  We last travelled on a flight during the Thanksgiving holidays and here is what we did to prepare.

• Pack plenty of snacks for all age groups.  Even better if they can share the same thing.  We packed lots of the new Plum Organic products, such as the Super Puffs and the Mish Mash squeezies.   The squeeze packets are awesome to spoon out just what you need for a feeding instead of packing heavier glass jars.
• Buy kid size headphones. They will not deal with the ear buds (been there, done that) and the in flight head phones are too big.  We generally fly Jet Blue to Florida and love having the TVs.  We bought the adorable Panda Bear Headphones which were a huge success this trip.     (You can purchase them via 
• Amazon)

• Pack entertainment into your Ipad/Iphone that is age appropriate.  My daughter is fluent in navigating the Iphone, so we used it to our advantage for the trip.  Her favorite new apps are the Monkey Preschool, Dr. Panda,  and the Dinosaur Train.  We also downloaded the Bubbles app, which was great for adults too! There is also a new World Atlas app from Barefoot Books that is great for both preschool and school age kids. 
• Bring a stroller.  Either for tired children or for carting your bags.
• Pack empty water bottles for everyone.  Buy the biggest water you can find in the airport to fill them up.  I find that is better than taking the mini plastic bottles during the flight, which are gone in a minute. 
• Pack some burp clothes or flannel wipes.  They clean up messes in flight when you may not have a napkin handy. We had laundry available to us on the other end so this was an easy option for us.

Little miss did great on the plane ride.  I think having her own seat made a big difference.  

For more ideas, check out these sites. 

http://frugalgranola.com/2012/03/10-tips-for-airplane-travel-with-young-children/

http://simplemom.net/how-to-travel-long-distances-with-little-ones-and-not-go-insane/
Packing Checklist for Traveling with Toddlers

Good luck if you are traveling this week.  What are some of your best travel tips?

About the Author

Parent~Foodie~Type A Organizer~Social Media Maven.  Emily lives in Needham with her husband Jim and two children.  After working in retail for 10 years, she decided to stay home with the kids and bake.  Emily is also working with Parent Talk Marketing, the Needham Farmers Market and writes a blog at Random Recycling: Modern Green Living for Busy Families.