We got back from a weekend road trip to Vail yesterday and this morning we are off to Kentucky to spend time with family and celebrate Thanksgiving (check out my post on reckoning with Thanksgiving's history). Although with each air travel with Lion I get a wave of anxiety, we have learned a lot through our travels - I've compiled our tips and pack lists to share with you today! I'd love to hear what travel tips you've learned along the way for you and your family - please leave a comment with any tips under my Instagram post!
I hope this helps you with your holiday travel and beyond!
Sharing our in-flight travel tips and exactly what we packed:
Travel Tips
What We Pack in Our Carry-On
Carry-On Snacks
Inside Our Checked Luggage
Tips:
- Book an early AM flight.
Chances are cabin lights will be dimmed to help you get your little one to nap. When we book the very early morning flights (departing around 7AM), the airport is often more quiet than usual so we can get through security faster and get access to food more quickly.
- Less in more for carry-on.
I've found that keeping it simple and light eases stress on the flight. Think of compact, multi-functional toys and simple not-so-messy snacks. Personally, my flights with Lion have been 10x better if I pack light and thoughtfully. I had a flight where I packed every necessity I could think of and then during the actual flight I couldn't even get to half of what I needed - and trying to navigate through all the stuff frustrated both my daughter and me in the process. Scroll below for what we pack in our carry-on.
- Get your little one excited about airplanes.
Prior to a flight, (1) we took Lion to a small airport to check out the airplanes and she has been obsessed with airplanes ever since. You can also (2) try board books about airplanes (we picked up this Amelia Earhart board book that she loves), Lion loves (3) pointing out airplanes in the sky, and prior to air travel we (4) hype the event to her (i.e., "tomorrow we are going to the airport and we get to fly on an airplane!...").
- Board plane late.
It's so nice to have the early boarding for families, however, we have found a huge difference in our flight experiences when we pre-board vs. board late. Each child/person is different of course, but for us Lion is a busy toddler and loves to explore and run free. So boarding early just adds time to sitting in a confined place and actually often frustrates her early on and thus lowers her chances of falling asleep at the ideal nap circumstances of takeoff.
- Day of Flight: Milk at home, airport sandwich, and carry-on snacks.
For our early morning flights (waking up at 4-5AM), we usually give Lion a cup of milk and banana when she wakes up. At the airport, we pick up a large turkey sandwich (fully loaded with things like avocado, cheese, tomato, etc.) to share on the plane. That way we don't have to deal with milk that could spill and smell bad on the flight and we have fresh food to provide outside of the packaged snacks we pack.
What we pack:
CARRY-ON
(1) iPad, from $799 and on here on Amazon, $379
In general, we try to reserve iPad/electronics usage for air travel and restaurants. The iPad is hands-down the best item we bring in our carry-on now that Lion is getting older. We have a few toddler game apps downloaded and we use United's free mobile device movie streaming on the flights.
Important: Charge your iPad/tablet fully the night before your flight so it is at 100% for your flight.
(2) Kid's Headphones, $16.99
I think having these headphones made the world of a difference for our flight. The size is a little big on Lion but thankfully she doesn't mind much!
(3) Downloaded Movies or Airline App and Toddler Game Apps
Important: Have the apps downloaded (AND updated!) prior to boarding your flight as you might not be able to do so with the onboard service.
(4) Mini Backpack, $39.50
Lion is so in love with her backpack.
Side Note: This one glows in the dark!
(5) Water Color Notepad, $4.99 (also in a 3-pack, $14.99)
These little water notepads have been such a blessing on our trips!
When they dry, everything goes back to black & white and can be used again and again. And Lion has used the water brush to pretend paint my nails, her nose, etc., so it is a multi-use compact toy which is what I am always looking for in a travel toy.
(6) Small Blanket, $12.99 (click link for more color choices)
Similar option here.
We have something similar to this blanket that is great for travel. Food crumbs brush off easy (vs. knit blanket that would trap crumbs), it wraps up compact and fits in her mini backpack, we use it for a pillow or blanket on flights (she definitely sleeps better with something soft behind her head on planes).
(7) Small Doll, $22.56
This French doll is the perfect travel size (and has the best smelling face!). Lion loves having a travel buddy with her that she can take care of on her trips.
(8) A Few Doll Accessories, $12.99
Similar options here and here (Lion uses her actual diaper changing products for pretend play, so I think she would love this option).
We packed: plate, spoon, milk & cloth in a quart size ziplock bag.
Tip: Pack small toys that can be used in the shower. Lion is often intimidated by showers and often times a bath isn't an option when we travel. Offering her a cup and spoon that she can fill and play with in the shower helps.
(9) Compact Toy, $12.95
Lion loves this toy. It is super simple and very compact; it's pretty flat so it slides into her backpack with ease.
"Diaper Bag"
Now that Lion is 2 years old and doesn't need as many items in her diaper bag, we transferred her diaper bag essentials into a gallon size ziplock bag that we can quickly and easily transfer to my purse.
Gallon size ziplock, transferred from Lion's diaper bag to mama's tote.
Diaper Bag Essentials:
(1) 5-ish Diapers, (2) Wipes, (3) Change Pad, (4) & Infant Tylenol.
SNACKS
On early morning flight days, we usually give Lion milk and a banana at home before heading out and bring a travel cup of water with us for the airport and flight. At the airport, we will pick up a loaded turkey sandwich to share on the flight. That way we have fresh items (i.e., turkey, avocado, tomato, etc.) to offer her on the flight without having to carry around storage containers.
(1) Annie's Cheddar Bunnies and Grahams Packs, $11.98 (for 36 packs)
Lion loves the cheddar bunnies.
(2) Miracle 360 Cups 2-Pack, $12.99
We used to always bring a Miracle 260 cup (above), today we are trying out the YETI water bottle.
LUGGAGE
We love Bric's for their durability and thoughtful interior design.
Toys in checked bag:
(1) A few blocks, (2) small wooden car, (3) pop animal, (4) a few stacked cups (great for bath/shower play)
(5) Interesting board book. Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?, $5.99
Lio is really into her Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? board book that was recommended in my Newborn to Age 3 Speech Development blog post. I picked up this Polar Bear option that I keep in her diaper bag.
(6) A Few Crayons + Small Notepad.
We usually snag the mini 4-pack crayons from a restaurant and keep them with us for travel.
Bath Items...
(1) Shampoo
(2) Toothbrush, Toothpaste
(3) Lotion
(4) Aquaphor
(5) Sunscreen
Clothes...
(1) Outfits and pajamas for each day, plus a couple extra
(2) Sun hat, and/or knit hat (3) Sunglasses
Gadgets/Gear Essentials...
(1) Sound Machine, $44.95
We always pack this! It's part of Lion's nighttime ritual and is soothing for the whole family. We've tried a few sound machines and this option is our favorite by far. It's simplistic and the sound is the most soothing of everything we've tried.
(2) Pack and Play Crib, $269.10
We love this pack and play for travel. It packs up compact, is lightweight, and well made.
(3) Running Stroller, $479.95
It can be challenging getting our workouts in when we travel. We love our Thule running stroller and often pack it with us when we travel. We do morning runs together and can even use it on some hiking trails in Colorado.
Lion & Mama at the airport.
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xx Lauren
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