Plane Essentials: Must haves when traveling with toddlers

Food: snacks like fruit and veggies melts, toddler puffs, fruit snacks, baby food squeeze pouches, Cheerios, (with the cool Cheerios book). The Cheerios book https://amzn.to/3w36UaO

Plastic placemats to stick on the tray tables. Disposable placemats: https://amzn.to/2TghhL4

Pacifier to suck during take-off and landing to help their ears pop (when they are old enough, they can chew gum to help with this). Nursing or drinking from a bottle can also help little ears.

Toys: fake keys, cell phone, toys that the kids had not seen in a while. As they got a bit older, we would get a new game for the Leapster gaming system (now you can just get an app:)).

A wrapped present- when the boys were ages 2-4, we would wrap a new toy as a present, and let them unwrap it on the plane.

Volume control headphones. These are a must and can be used for many years! Volume Control Headphones wired 2-pack: https://amzn.to/35YlQwj

Volume control headphones wireless: https://amzn.to/3Aaxt16

Books: We loved the Seek & Find books Seek and Find books: https://amzn.to/2U7HlrN or https://amzn.to/3dp0BrB

We played "I Spy" using the in-flight magazines (if they ever bring magazines back and you want to touch them:)).  We also just looked around the plane (exit sign, red circle, number 10, etc.) to play.

Extra pair of underwear and a change of clothes. I did this for MANY years!

if you have a lap-child, make sure you take both going and return flights before your child is 2 years old. Our son turned 3 the day we flew home from vacation and the airline was soooo close to making us buy him a ticket when we arrived at the airport.

AND remember to just relax. Most adults on the plane have “been there, done that.” So don’t stress about traveling with a toddler. Have fun and be safe!