Tips for Flying Stress-Free with Little Ones

Many people thought my husband and I were nuts for bringing the kids across country this summer. They wondered how we would be able to manage a two-week vacation from Florida to the West Coast. Not only were we packing for ourselves, but also a toddler and baby. And with the dreaded airport baggage fees we had to be smart about packing for this family of four including diapers, wipes, bottles, plus baby gear!

Here are my tips for flying stress-free with kids:

1. Pack the essentials! If you’re like me you want to bring everything “just in case” you need it, but that’s not practical. Check the weather at your destination before leaving and pack appropriate attire. Grab items that you can mix and match to change-up your style. Do this for the kids as well. They don’t need every cute outfit coming along with them. If you want to prevent stains on the kids clothes from eating/drinking, pack a few bibs. Most places you visit will offer a washer/dryer or dry cleaning service so you can reuse those items.

2. Consider shipping or purchasing diapers once you arrive at your destination. Diapers can take up a TON of room in suitcases causing you to lose valuable space. You can purchase a box of diapers online and have it shipped for a decent price or even free at some retailers. This way you keep your current stash at home to use once you return. If you’re traveling to a populated area they will most likely have a box store or drug store within a few miles to purchase diapers once you get there. Pack enough diapers for the plane ride and store them in the diaper bag. In the end, this will save you from paying for an additional baggage fee that typically cost $25-$35 each flight.

3. Pack a lot of snacks for the plane ride. Whether it’s a few hours or several, kids get bored and uncomfortable and hungry. Buy to-go snack packages or create your own and put them in snack cup containers or sandwich bags. Some examples are string cheese, crackers, fruit and other healthy snacks your kids love. I promise you, this is key to keeping a kid from causing a big scene on an airplane. It also doubles as a de-pressurizer for the kids ears since they’re busy munching.

4. Bring some entertainment for them. With all the cutbacks airlines are making, you are less likely to have a movie, or television show available to keep the kids entertained while flying. Therefore you are responsible for their entertainment. Little ones do not understand why they have to stay “still” for what seems like eternity! My suggestion is to invest in a portable dvd player or handheld device. These can easily be slipped into your carry-on luggage. My son loves our iPad and we’ve downloaded several age appropriate apps for him to use while traveling. (This works well on long car trips too)

5. Last, but not least consider bringing along Culturelle Kids products. Let’s face it, you’re not having a healthy home cooked meal very often when traveling. Eating out often causes upset tummies for everyone, including kids. And traveling with a screaming, crying, sick little one is NO fun and can be quite exhausting. Culturelle Kids provides a solution for digestive discomfort and poor health as well as supports their natural defenses.

Culturelle Kids Probiotic comes in both a cheweable form and dissolvable packet form for easy travel and use. Culturelle Kids Chewables are for kids 50-100 lbs and are available in a berry flavor that is sugar, dairy and gluten-free. Culturelle packets are suitable for children over the age of one, weighing 25-50 lbs. It’s easy to mix into your childs drink or meals because it is tasteless and odorless. Culturelle is #1 pediatrician recommended.

Disclosure: All opinions are my own and may differ from yours. I was compensated for this post.