Air Travel with Toddlers

In my other article, Traveling with Infants, we discussed items you must not forget when traveling by plane with infants. Now we move on to the next stage: the toddler!

As the child gets older, travel gets to be more fun, but you still need to make sure you have the "must have" items packed in your carry-on.

Here is a list customized for toddler age children.

Diapers/Pull-ups/Wipes/Cream

Whether your child is yet to potty train, or is potty training, you will need a change of diapers or pull-ups. At this stage I downsized to 1 per two hours of flight, plus one (you never know when you have the extra potty accident).

Wipes are still a must as you can clean up not just bare bottoms but also hands, clothes, toys ... you get the idea. So, even if your child is in regular underwear, don't forget to bring the wipes!

The cream might not be necessary at this stage, unless you have a child who has extra sensitive skin. If you choose to bring a cream/lotion make sure to read the guidelines set by the government in regard to the size of the container (http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm).

Change of clothes

These are a must. My suggestion is to dress in layers (to deal with whatever temperature is on the plane and to have a quick change of clothes at hand). You will then need to have at least two sets of clothes each packed separately in a zip lock bag. This will serve a dual purpose: it will be easy to get a change of clothes out and you can use the bag to store the soiled set. You might want to bring a change of clothes for yourself, in case yours get soiled as you tend to your child.

Food

Your toddler is probably still at an age that will require you to bring his/her own special foods. You can count on the airline to provide you with water or juice (apple and/or orange), but you will not find milk. If your toddler likes to drink milk, you can buy the powder milk from your grocer and then bring with you a bottle or sippy cup you can use to prepare the milk. Once you have passed the security check point, you may want to fill the bottle with water (or buy bottled water) in order to prepare the milk as you get on the plane. You will need to let your child drink as the plane takes off, in order to alleviate the discomfort of the ear pressure that builds up at that time.

Make sure you have plenty of snack like foods (cheerios, chex, crackers, bread ...). You can bring fruit on board, but if you are traveling internationally, you will not be allowed to bring it into the country, so make sure to only bring what your child will eat during the flight.

Toys

Fill a small book bag, just the right size for your toddler, with items he/she might enjoy. You might want to include books made out of fabric (for weight purposes), soft toys, or other items your toddler might like. Make sure that whatever you bring, will not be something that will disturb (makes noise) or hurt the passengers around you if the toys were to be thrown against the seat or on to the fellow traveler sitting next to your child.

Car seat or Approved Seat Restrain

As the child grows older (and bigger) it will be worth it and necessary for you to buy a ticket, hence a seat, for him/her for several reasons:
- You will have a place to buckle an FAA approved car seat so she/he will have a familiar place to nap and play (with one aircraft flying under several companies to the same destination, you cannot count on empty seats). Whether you use an approved car seat or an airline seat restrain, the child will be more comfortable than sitting on your lap.
- The buckled seat will be the safest spot during turbulence or when encountering air pockets. Pilots recommend staying buckled at all times. If that is a good suggestion for an adult, it is even more so for a child.
- It will give you a chance to possibly nap (if your child is napping), let your arms rest, and eat. The first flight I took with my child, I ended up holding her for the majority of the flight and was unable to eat and use the restroom.
- If you are using a seat restrain, your child will have "play room" on the seat, as he/she will not occupy most of the space allowing for toys to be placed on the seat.
- If you are planning to become a frequent flyer, each seat you buy qualifies for miles. If you don't have a seat, you don't get the miles.

For more tips on car seat usage on planes, please visit the FAA website at: http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/

One last tip: most airlines allow passengers one carry-on (not including your purse) per passenger. I used to carry a diaper bag and a book bag. Both had items I needed for my children; however, I used to place a fanny pack with passports, tickets, and money inside one of the bags. Once on board, I would take the fanny pack out and place it around my waist, so that I did not have to worry about leaving important items unattended.
Note that, if you buy a seat for your child, he/she will also be allowed a carry-on.

There are plenty of websites giving tips for traveling with children. It is a good idea to customize a list of things and tips that will benefit your family most during the travel. Remember that the journey is as important as the destination. The better experience you have, the more you will enjoy your destination.