.svg){kind=small}
Yesterday I took two flights with a connection with my kids (ages 4, 8, 10) and husband. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of finishing preschool, moving up grade levels in elementary school, and all the theme weeks and parties and concerts that go along with these weeks which means very little time to focus on packing up everyone for our trip! Luckily, after much trial and error on many family flights packing has become easier, and I feel confident that what we bring on the plane will help us keep the kids entertained and comfortable throughout the flights. Something that I’ve also learned through trial and error when packing my family for a trip is that an area that used to be an afterthought has turned out to be one of the most important things for me to focus on - packing MY carry-on bag.
So much of the focus of family travel is what the kids need - especially when thinking about airplane flights! We want to make sure they have food if they’re hungry, water if thirsty, activities to stay busy, things to feel cozy/calm, etc. But, when traveling with kids, parents really need to keep in mind the saying “put your oxygen mask on first” - it of course actually applies in a very practical way (which we hope to never use!), but it also applies for the more common use of that phrase because it’s crucial that you take care of yourself so that you can take care of others. YOU need to prepare YOURSELF for the flight because if you aren’t prepared and you lose strength and patience, then the kids will lose strength and patience, and then the travel day will fall apart - trust me I’ve been there and it’s not pretty!
Now that summer break and summer travels are here, I thought it would be timely to share what I have learned works best for me to be prepared on flights with my kids (don’t worry - preparing carry-on supplies for kids will be addressed in another article!).
First, make sure you have the obvious items that are personal to you - wallet, ID, phone, sunglasses, laptop, medicine, makeup, work items, chargers.
Once those things are sorted you can move on to packing the items that will help make your trip easier for you - aka a “travel survival bag”! See below for a list of items check off as you pack your bag so you can be the best you for your travel days😀
The Bag - I always use a backpack for my items when traveling with kids - it keeps my hands free, it has many pockets to organize my stuff, and because I have hands/arms free I can carry a tote with my kids’ stuff in it on my shoulder. I love my Patagonia backpack because it’s super functional and durable (mine is over 8 years old and still going strong!).
Change of Clothes in a Plastic Ziploc Bag - Yes, I pack an entire change of clothes for me - I have had many experiences where I needed to completely change my clothes on a plane - kid airsickness, kid diaper explosion while on my lap, juice spilled all over me and more! I was so glad I had clothes to change into and a bag for my soiled clothes! These clothes can also serve as emergency clothes upon arrival in case your checked luggage gets lost.
Food - I think of food for me as being necessary for survival - I always think I’ll have time at the airport to grab food but then we get there it is often chaotic between security screenings, settling the kids, everyone using the restroom, getting ready to board, etc., so it can be hard to focus on what I need to buy for me. So I’ve found that packing snacks from home is the best plan. I choose food items from 4 categories:
- Hydrating: fruit or veggies
- Stomach Settling: plain crackers, rice cakes
- Salty & Filling: salted nuts, granola bar
- Boost of Energy: chocolate or other treat
Drinks - I bring an empty water bottle on the side of my backpack to fill up at a filling station once I’m past security, and then I bring some favorite tea bags for comfort and electrolytes for hydration.
Lysol Wipes - I use these to wipe down the seats, the tray tables (inside and outside!), armrests, and seatbelt buckles - and anything else that needs to be sanitized (usually for kids that means the windows and window handles!).
Purell - For my (and anyone else’s) hands!
Cough Drops - I hate having a dry mouth and then a dry cough on a plane.
Mints - Helps me feel fresh when we land.
Chapstick - Lips are always dry on planes!
Hand Cream - A small jar just to help with the dryness on a plane and to add a nice smell.
Hair Tie - You never know when you’ll need your hair tied out of your face!
Book - Wishful thinking but I do pack one to keep up the hope that I may have time to read…
Notepad and Paper - A small set just to jot notes or play a quick tic-tac-toe or hangman with the kids as needed.
Post-it Notes - These often come in handy - notes to kids, reminders to myself, marking a page in a book, etc.
Sharpie - To fill out bag tags and to write initials on any snacks or drinks I purchase for me or the kids so nothing gets mixed up!
Band-Aids - Always be prepared in case a blister or a cut happens, and I’ve even used band-aids for tape when I needed to tape something together!
Excedrin - I carry this for emergencies - my migraines seem to start on travel days…
Kleenex - Just in case!
Smaller Bags - I organize all of this by type (food or medical or chargers or comfort items) before putting it in my backpack. I put each group of items into small fabric pouches (they’re lined in case of a small spill) from Sugar Paper - I also use them as clutches when I travel so this is a good way to make the most of bringing them with me! You can use Ziploc bags too - the idea is that grouping by type makes it easy to grab what you need instead of digging through your bag.
Something else to consider is packing what you will need to get through the night if your luggage is delayed - items like medicine, sleep mask, and whatever weather needs you’ll have like hat/coat/gloves or sunscreen.
I hope this list can help you pack YOUR carry-on bag so that you’re confident that you will be prepared for whatever you come across during your travels. Have a great trip!
PS - If this list is helpful for you then check out my list for what to pack for a day at a theme park because that will help you too!
