Packing the diaper bag/carryon for the plane

[mjbaby]

Share with us your must-have, can't-live-without diaper bag/carryon items for the plane. My kids are 5 and 2 (or, will be two on the trip) and, luckily, we have a direct flight. My husband and I don't want to be loaded down with stuff, so we'll each have a tote and gate check our stroller. For what contingencies do you like to plan?

So far I'm thinking, for a three-hour (ha!) flight:

- four diapers
- six diaper-disposal bags
- a fully-stocked travel wipes container
- two cloth diapers for use as dipes or cleanup rags, as needed
- a couple stretch island fruit snacks
- a couple soft granola-type bars
- two juice boxes
- small bottle of water
- two board books
- a small pad of paper and a snack-sized bag of crayons
- ziploc bag with: pain relievers for kids and adults, gas drops, bandaids
- tissues
- clean shirt for the babe


What do you bring along? Enquiring minds want to know!

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

Looks good to me!

I would add a small anti-bacterial gel and a couple of bandaids (the world comes to a stop if one of my kids has a tiny scratch and no bandaid!)

Also wanted to add that we had our 4 and 6 year old each wear their own small backpack with their own snack, change of clothes, paper/stickers/crayons in a folder, and gameboys.

You might consider that for your 5 year old.

 

[3littleHalls]

Sounds good to me. Other extra items we pack are...Shout wipes, purel gel, stickers, tie blankets to the diaper bag(so they don't take up room inside the bag) and sometimes a bag of Little People. My kids are big fans of the crayons...just be warned...crayons will fall...crayons will roll. Also, travel size Magna Doodles are good. Have a magical trip!

 

[AngieWin]

I would bring some straws (in addition to the juice boxes, or just 2 additional juice boxes). If your kids are having problems with their ears because of the pressure changes, drinking liquid through a straw helps to alleviate the pressure. So does chewing gum, sucking on hard candy (neither one of these recommended for the 2 year old though), pacifiers, suckers.

We took a bag full of dumdum suckers and extra wet wipes (can be used for everything!). Since these were a novelty to my 2 year old they saved us quite a few times on both flights. They were also good for long lines. Just watch him/her carefully and if they bite the sucker check for big pieces that can be choked on.

For my older kids they did have items in their own bags. They chose to bring a tape player/headphones, book, a snack and drink of their choice, pad of paper and pencils/crayons. One warning... if your 2 year old wants to be just like big bro/sis, they might want their own bag also and you will most likely end up carrying it too!

 

[barkley]

a couple of tshirts for the adults. on one flight dd's juice went flying onto dh and i. it is not plesant to sit in a sticky shirt (or one baby has urped on) in tight quarters

i also take stickers and a cheap steno pad. easy/light to pack and they can occupy themselves for hours.

 

[Dale-n-Chip]

We switch to backpacks for carryons so we each have a hand to grab/steer DS5. They just suit us better for travel. Nothing special--just your standard Jansport or LLBean. We are NOT hikers.

We "presented" DS with his VERY OWN backpack last year for travel: one with wheels! He could carry it, but why would he? (He gets this from his lazy parents.) He can drag it along just fine! In his are his own stuff for entertainment. He gets great joy packing the travel toys. And it frees up our packs for other stuff.

I think your list looks great. My only suggestion is to overpack snacks. If you end up in one of those horrible "sit-on-the-tarmac-for-12-hours" situations we all worry about snacks are the saving grace. (I've never been on a flight that sat around for that long, but I think it's because I'm prepared! The first trip I try to go without 15 pounds of snacks, we'll get stuck, I'm certain. )

 

[nucpharm29]

Definitely a change of clothes for child and parent. I was peed on one flight from Florida and then I was vomited on another, sorry if TMI. And of course, both times I had no other clothes! Gross! We also always bring our portable DVD player. If it weren't for the movies DD would drive the entire flight bonkers! I also like Huggies disposable changing pads. They are big enough to cover the whole changing table in public restrooms not just the small area covered by most pads that come with diaper bags. I also bring LOTS of snacks--eating also keeps DD entertains. I tend to bring snacks that we don't eat much of at home (fruitsnacks), so it's like a big deal for her to get them on the flight! Lots of luck on your trip!

 

[bunnysmum]

I highly recommend change of clothes for yourself and your child. Although, as parent of a 5 yr old AND a 2 yr old, you know yourself and your children much better than I do. I can tell you from personal experience, however, that sitting on a 5 hour flight soaked in apple juice from the waist down is no picnic.

I took a ton of stuff to keep my then 15 month old occcupied. She was NOT a model traveler at that age. I knew that as far as she was concerned, novelty was everything, so I collected McDonald's happy meal toys for a couple of months prior to the trip (also begged, borrowed, bought at few online and from friends, garage sales, etc.). Then I put them all in the diaper bag and pulled them out as needed.

I did end up bringing them all back home with us, because I had the room, but I would not have minded tossing them prior to our return trip either, if I needed the room.

Just my experience!