What do you pack for kids for the plane?

[v.t.]

Snacks, snacks, snacks! Also color wonder paper and markers. The markers are invisible except when used on the color wonder paper, "it's magic". Also make sure you have a change of clothes for them. Sometimes the airplane cups are hard to handle for little ones so you can also pack empty sippy cups.

 

[Native NYer]

Thanks for the suggestions!!! I'm making a list

 

[foltzy]

Snacks, snacks, snacks! Also color wonder paper and markers. The markers are invisible except when used on the color wonder paper, "it's magic". Also make sure you have a change of clothes for them. Sometimes the airplane cups are hard to handle for little ones so you can also pack empty sippy cups.

I have to agree about the cups and wished I would have known that before our flight because I wore soda on the way home from Disney. My 2 year old just couldn't hold on to the cup very well and accidentally dumped on me. Just me nothing else.

 

[El&Asmom]

We did similar things. Two that dds loved were doodle bears and play dough. I thought the play dough would be messy, but dds love it, and it cleaned up very easily.
I also bought "special" snacks like Raisinettes since that's not something they would normally get, and it kept them quiet when really needed.

 

[Native NYer]

I have to agree about the cups and wished I would have known that before our flight because I wore soda on the way home from Disney. My 2 year old just couldn't hold on to the cup very well and accidentally dumped on me. Just me nothing else.

Sippy cups for the 2 yr old are definitely on my list.

We did similar things. Two that dds loved were doodle bears and play dough. I thought the play dough would be messy, but dds love it, and it cleaned up very easily.
I also bought "special" snacks like Raisinettes since that's not something they would normally get, and it kept them quiet when really needed.

Maybe I'll make special treat bags for the flight. I can fill the bags on the way home with Disney treats.

 

[stitchaholic]

sticker books,books,suduko and crosswords,ds and games,snacks and gum

 

[VeroBeachGirl]

How long is the flight? Have they flown before?

For my son at those ages, the novelty of the plane, and the thrill of my undivided attention was enough. We packed a few favorite story books, I told him a few stories from my childhood (even more fun when it's an aunt telling naughty stories about one of your own parents), we leafed through the airplane magazine and looked out the window. We might have torn out some of the pages and made paper airplanes.

Maybe my child's weird but since I wasn't one to generally bring things to "entertain him", the few times I did he seemed to intuit that this meant that it was a big deal and go a little wild. My mother would bring toys to a restaurant and he'd drop them, play too loudly, fuss if I put them away so he'd eat. If I didn't bring toys he'd just participate in the conversation, daydream or color if the restaurant happened to bring crayons.

.

That is how my 2 year old daughter is also. She is so fascinated by the airplane itself, I don't need to bring toys for her to play with.

 

[RitaFaye94]

On our first trip last year, my DS2 loved listening to my Zune. I had loaded it with Disney songs and it was a hit! I bought him his own little backpack with a coloring book and markers (found some mini Sharpie type whose lids were on a key ring), and also had several unopened McDonald's toys (I would order a Happy Meal for lunch & get apple dippers - good for WW points control!) that I had accumulated so they were all new.

Don't forget to take one of the guidebooks with lots of pictures - builds the excitement!

This year he will have his portable Vsmile to keep him busy.

Also, depending on your flight times, they may fall asleep. That was our case on the way home - he was asleep before the plane left Orlando! I had to carry him off the plane & into his stroller through Atlanta, then back onto the plane. Never woke up!

 

[tam626]

Dvd player, movies & snacks.

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

We always have 1 carry on each and they are full, full, full

We have taken lots of 3+ hour flights with DD5. Here's what's in our rolling backpack:
DVD player and favourite/new DVDs + headphones
Lots of dollar store stickers(take them out of packaging) + small sized paper
Lots of special snacks
Sports sippy cup (no spills )
Aqua doodle pad
Small activity/colouring book & crayons
A few surprise dollar store small toys
Wipes
Hand Santitizer
Kleenex
wallet
passports
DD5 favourite stuffie (big kitty, don't worry he's not actually big )
haircomb and hairties
lypsol

Mine and Husband's carry on has:
Complete change of clothes for each of us
Reading material for us (often I stockpile magazines and then pass them on to fellow flyers when I'm done)
Bathing suits for each of us
travel documents
pens
camera
video camera
chargers
lap top

Yikes, it seems like a lot when you write it out

 

[logansmummy]

We always take our DVD player or Computer to watch movies....that is a must....and our iPods...everyone likes to listen to tunes. We also hit up the Dollar Section at Target, they always have cute little pocket sized games...for instance last week i picked up pocket sized tic tac toe games, little slinky's...We always have his Zoobie Pet, that has a blanket inside it and is a pillow rolled in one. Snacks , and drinks purchased on AirSide. Snacks are a must for sure, it keeps the kids happy, a happy kid on the plane makes for a happy vacation

 

[MarriedToAPrince]

We are in the process of planning our daughter's first trip. We are planning on bringing her Tag Jr., v.Tech V.Smile Pocket with games, our laptop with movies (has a 6 hour battery life), coloring books, crayons, books, iSpy bag, lovie, favorite cup, favorite blanket, headphones for laptop, toddler MP3 player, and then some new little toys that she hasn't seen. Will probably get new coloring books and a couple new games and books for the stuff she already has.

 

[MJAJmom]

A few other suggestions: straws for sipping drinks (can also bring empty plastic cup with lid/straw for no slipping), lollipops to suck on during takeoff/landing to help ears, extra underwear, have kids carry their own backpack filled with toys they've selected, and tons of snacks.

Travelling with your 6yo should be easy because they can entertain themselves. A 2yo can't sit still in their seat very well, so a DVD player is great, books to read, things to write on/color. Hopefully they will be able to nap on the plane.

Have a great trip!!

 

[alexb]

Lollipops or other candy that takes a while to eat for the ride up and down like the PP said. Wipes to clean the kids up after snacks, especially after eating lollipops. I'd suggest grabbing a bottle of water or some other drink on the other side of security to take on the plane in case it takes a while for the beverage cart to come around. Bring a sweater/sweatshirt for each child in case they get cold on the plane. In case the kids suffer from motion sickness you may want to bring some plastic bags like you get from Target, they're also handy for collecting the trash from snacks and stuff.

 

[Erica09M]

My children will be 23 months and turning 5 years old on our trip. I plan on bringing their crayon wallets, I Spy bags, and my 5 year old's Leapster 2. I'll probably bring a couple little toys for my toddler, like a few Little People or something. And we'll also take stickers, these kids LOVE stickers!!! Add in a few snacks, and we should be set!

 

[logansmummy]

I am interested in seeing if all of this will change now, since the attempted plot that went bad on Christmas Day? I was watching the news this morning and the airlines are beefing up security on the planes, saying that now you must stow your items 1 hour before landing...no pillows or blankets, nothing on your laps. I am not complaining, safety first above all else. Thankfullly my son usually sleeps after we take off, but for those w/ children that need to be preoccupied....Good Luck. I think most of us do the fun bag full of goodies to make for a better vacation experience.

 

[stampinshauna]

We took DD right after she turned 2. Here is what we packed for her...

portable DVD player with Elmo movies (she loves Elmo)
Disney Pez
snacks
sippy cup with water that we filled up after we got through security
coloring book
crayons
stickers
sticker book (love the big Disney Sticker Treasury books from Costco)
finger puppets
books
mini magna doodle
blanket

and then the basics--diapers, wipes, hand sanitizer, suckers, etc.

We were very lucky and she slept most of the way so we didn't need everything we took on the plane (but we did use it in the room, at sit down dinners, etc).

 

[Native NYer]

Thanks for all of the wonderful suggestions. I'm in the process of gathering some fun little things for their travel backpacks. So far, I got mini magnadoodles, Mickey and Lightening McQueen mini notepads and pens, and Cars coloring/sticker books.

I'm wondering if I should bring a small blanket for each of them for the plane.

 

[Tinkermom76]

When I went 2 years ago I let them each take a small backpack with their stuff (toys) in them, but I found going through security with my bag, purse and laptop, everones shoes having to come off, all jackets off and the kids bags too it was too much

This year I brought my netbook in my backpack, the kids DS's and games and travel colouring books and a few crayons in my backpack and my purse.. 2 bags was way easier.

We fly Westjet from Canada so the kids each have their own TV on the plane which is great!

Just remember that whatever you bring for them you may end up carrying as well

 

[fakereadhed]

I bring raisins, gum, fruit snacks to relieve ear pressure. Disney Pez, a Disney plush. The big hit from our recent trip was a pirate book with 3D glasses from Dollar Tree.