Packing for the plane

[becpee]

We've never attempted such a long transit before, we have idea how this will go.

I'm looking for ideas of what to pack for my DH and I and DS6 to make it more comfy for us (and everybody else I guess )

Food ideas, comfy clothing etc anything that will help us!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Firstly, (and I'm sure you know this), I would imagine that whatever you normally carry on previous trips would be sufficient.


But in case you need extra hints.

Wear comfortable clothing. Usually cotton and lots of layers.

My must-takes include a spare pair of undies, things to clean teeth, lip balm or chapstick and a pillow. I also take a pashmina and wear it as a scarf. It is great for an extra blanket and it isn't as scratchy as the plane blankets.

Food wise, we usually find that there is plenty on board to keep us full. But we always take some muesli bars and things that we might like to eat. We have taken some of the two fruit snack containers as well. It is sweet without being too unhealthy.

Bring a few small toys on-board for DS. Yes, they will give you the kid's pack but sometimes it doesn't hurt to have some favourites as well. For a treat - maybe one kinderchocolate or something similar?


Have fun!

 

[BecBennett]

phenurgen/sleeping tablets

 

[becpee]

phenurgen/sleeping tablets

Thats my kind of thing LOL

 

[PrincessInOz]

Thats my kind of thing LOL

Much more concise and lightweight than mine!

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

 

[Franrose]

Something to help Miss 6 sit up high enough so she can see the TV in front of her - this is something we struggle with with our kids. We end up using blankets, pillows or those u-shaped travel pillows, the movies are totally what keeps them going (particularly if you have a daytime flight).

(My girls were 4 & 5 at time of travel, at 5 & 6 now they still can't see the screens without sitting up on something.)


...I know this isn't a transit thing, but for flights, it's a must!

 

[RedfromNL]

My must-takes include a spare pair of undies, things to clean teeth, lip balm or chapstick and a pillow.
Have fun!

We also always pack some spare clothes. You never know if your suitcase is the one to get lost and it means you at least can get in something clean before needing to shop.

We also always bring some entertainment: books or magazines usually. But games would work as well.

We have copies of passports and other paperwork with us.
No need to open a suitcase because the only copie of the hoteladress is in there

Anything valuable that isn't prohibited as cabine-lugage.

 

[dabecs]

I have bought my girls (ages 5 and 6) a Disney themed "Search and Find" book each - I bought mine from Target and they are like a big A3 notebook with a tonne of pages. Then when you have circled everything on a page you can use the blank back to draw on.

I am going to buy Olivia (6) a new chapter book to read - that will keep her busy for a few hours - need to find a good one here I come book depository!

We will also have our two iPhones, our iPod touch and quite possibly an iPad (still not sure if I want one) which, along with the in flight entertainment, should keep my girls happy for a while!

I am a tracky daks sort of girl on a plane, this year I have ordered myself a new set from NZ nature (http://www.nznature.co.nz/default.aspx) of yoga style pants and a matching hoodie made out of bamboo. I have one of their bamboo tunics and it is great because it is a natural fiber so it stays warm without being sweaty. And I am totally with PIOz - a pashmina as a scarf is so handy for a cold child, or I always get cold shoulders when I am in planes and it's light and doesn't take up much room.

I think snacks are a necessity with kids because they are used to grazing more than us and if they don't like the plane meal then it's hard going so muesli bars or protein bars (basically anything not too sweet or messy!) are great to have on hand.

It's really exciting when you get close enough to be thinking about what to take on the plane

 

[Franrose]

I am going to buy Olivia (6) a new chapter book to read - that will keep her busy for a few hours - need to find a good one here I come book depository!

You may well have seen these, but... my 6yo has gone from a kid who enjoys reading but doesn't seek out books, to an absolutely sucked in book worm - all in the past week! She is loving "Rainbow Magic Fairies" books by Daisy Meadow (a pen name) which we were recommended by a friend in the US - the set I got her is the Twilight Fairies set (there's well over a hundred different books, grouped together in themes where maybe 5 - 10 books are all based around the one theme). In this set, the main characters (Rachel and Kirsty) are camping with their families, they meet different fairies in each book and solve some kind of mystery from what I can tell. These are her first chapter books, she's not been interested in anything else, but she is absolutely loving these. $7 at K-mart and cheaper from BD

http://www.rainbowmagiconline.com/books/books_night.html

 

[dabecs]

Thanks Franrose - Liv has read heaps of the fairy books I would love to find something similar but Disney

 

[Franrose]

I did suspect that might be the case!

I saw some Tinkerbelle boxed sets while I was shopping, but no idea of the age level. Will be fun to trawl BD

 

[BobbyRach]

We leave next week with my 5 year old nephew and have been searching for ideas to keep him entertained. He has never watched a full movie in his life - he can't stand being indoors and sitting!

Having said that when we took him to DL when he was 3 and he was perfect on the plane. The people behind us even commented when we got off that they didn't even realise there was a child sitting in front of them.

The greatest hit for him was buying some very inexpensive small toys/colouring books and wrapping them up. He loved getting a surprise every hour or so and something new to keep him entertained!

He is older this time but we are doing the same thing - he loves smiggles so have brought him some stationary from there, a puzzle block game, a couple of tech deck skateboards etc.

Hope this helps.

 

[robynrainer]

My rule of thumb for in flight is lots of stuff you can throw away. I carry a small smiggle roll of pencils $5 in my hand bag at all times and if the igen don't want the iPad iPod ir I touch we break out to old fashioned paper!!

 

[5ofus]

I am going to buy Olivia (6) a new chapter book to read - that will keep her busy for a few hours - need to find a good one here I come book depository!

If you are just after good books and don't necessarily want Disney, have you tried the 'Mates' collection of Aussie books? My DS1 (5yo) got "Tomato Sauce of Course!" by Moya Simmons from the library on the weekend and couldn't put it down - unless we made him - until he finished it. We'll be borrowing more of that collection for sure! He was even walking around the house reading as he was walking - he's never been more my son!

As for what to take on the plane, we did little gifts for the boys when we went to Japan. A couple of Matchbox cars that we doled out over the course of the flight. Colouring and sticker books were a big hit too.

Don't forget your chapstick - as has been mentioned - that pressurised air really dries out your lips.

 

[australiankaren]

etch a sketch (travel size) my boys loved them.......
I used to wrap small gifts and hand them out every hour or 2.....
also snacks, non sticky....a change of clothes for everyone..and a lounge pass to have showers and somewhere to chill/ bar.

 

[viaggiamo]

Our children are 2 and 5, we take:

ipod touches loaded with new games

laptop loaded with favourite dvds (our kids are fussy with TV and we often find that we cannot find anything suitable) with their headphones

snacks (homemade stuff, fruit, cheese, special stuff like natural fruit rollups and sultana packets etc...)

notepads and pens; those pens with the different colours to click down are cool

stickers

playdoh stuff called bendaroos, it's like playdoh/pipecleaners, not messy and reusable

small new toys, matchbox cars, tiny dinosaurs

That's it for the small ones.

For me I take a book, face cream, lip cream, change of clothes for all of us, some local currency to where we are going to.

And our tradition that we started with just DH and I, but have continued with the children, is that at the airport we can all choose a trashy magazine each.

Mine is fashion/gossip; I never buy these, ever, so it's a fun treat that I can pop in and out of.

Dh buys golf normally, and the children pick their own. (Tinkerbell, Thomas Tank engine etc)

We are not allowed to read these until on the plane. It takes up an hour or so so is good value. IMO.

C

 

[Caroline NZ]

And our tradition that we started with just DH and I, but have continued with the children, is that at the airport we can all choose a trashy magazine each.

Mine is fashion/gossip; I never buy these, ever, so it's a fun treat that I can pop in and out of.

Dh buys golf normally, and the children pick their own. (Tinkerbell, Thomas Tank engine etc)

We are not allowed to read these until on the plane. It takes up an hour or so so is good value. IMO.

C

What an excellent idea, I will have to try and remember that

 

[Aust]

I always buy a magazine for the plane too - never usually buy them so it's something different.

My 8 year old has already packed her on board bag for our trip, a month early, she's a bit excited.

 

[Melbourne5]

iPad or iPhones with some new movies, tv shows and games that they haven't played before helps and is a massive insurance policy in case the IFE goes down ( these systems can be very touchy)