Tell me if you've been here before.
It's finally here: the first day of your vacay! After weeks and months of anticipation, it's time for you and your family to enjoy a magical trip. You know exactly which outfits you're bringing, how many bottles of sunscreen to include, where the first-aid kit is packed. Reservations? Snagged. Character photo opps? Mapped out.
You're completely set!
....Until you remember the flight.
That plane ride--the only thing separating you from an incredible family vacation--tends to bring on all the anxiety. Will your kids scream the entire flight? Will your husband get lost in the terminal again? Or will you be the next viral video shared all over TikTok?!
I get it! My husband and our two young kiddos have taken our fair share of flights, and it's not always easy. But one well-packed item has transformed my travel from frightening to fun: a carry-on bag. If you have exactly the right things with you on the plane, you and your family will fly with ease.
Today, I'm happy to share six carry-on essentials that get me, my husband, and my 5- and 3-year-old kids through a three-hour flight. (BTW, none of these are sponsored products or affiliates--I just really love them!)
My Favorite Carry-On Essentials for Traveling With Toddlers
1. The PERFECT carry-on bag
You can't pack well if you don't have the perfect bag. You're gonna want something spacious, yet small enough to fit the specifications of your specific airline.
It should also be easy to tell your bag apart from others. (You don't want anyone accidentally grabbing your bag as they rush to deplane!) A brightly-colored tote with durable handles and good zippers is a great investment.
Don't forget that your kids can bring carry-ons, too! My kids love their mini backpacks from Pottery Barn. They're durable, water-resistant, and roomy despite their small size. The best part is the variety of fun prints they have, and you can even customize them with your child's name. My son loves his Toy Story backpack, and my daughter's obviously has a princess theme!
2. Snacks
I am not exaggerating when I say that my children are snack monsters. We practically need an entire charcuterie board on any flight. But I don't mind, because in case of a tantrum, a snack is a great redirection and chance to calm the outburst before it begins.
I've seen some bloggers make adorable snack bins for their plane treats. However, I personally prefer to keep each snack closed and separated. That's why all those pockets on a tote bag are necessary with traveling with toddlers!
Here are some of our favorite snacks for on the plane:
Raisins
Dum Dum Lollipops (perfect for takeoff to help keep ears from popping!)
Bananas
Yogurt melts
Pretzels
Snack-sized bags of M&Ms
These all have a good chance of making it on the plane without being crushed, melted, or spilled. And my husband and I don't mind snacking on them, either!
3. Magic Ink Coloring Books
We LOVE these magical coloring books! These booklets give the absolute full sense of coloring, but only use one "magic ink" marker to reveal a rainbow of hues. The marker only works on the book's pages, so there's no risk of getting ink all over the plane. It also totally eliminates the risk of spilling a box of 64 crayons and watching them roll down the aisle... Not that I know this from personal experience, or anything.
These booklets contain tons of fun pictures to color, along with mazes, word searches, and other activities. Even better? Your kiddos are sure to find books of their favorite characters, from Disney princesses to superheroes and beyond!
You can buy these coloring books in Target and Walmart, on Amazon, and at your local craft stores.
Are your kids into gadgets and gizmos a-plenty? They'll love an LCD Writing Tablet, which is like a virtual blackboard! They can draw, scribble, write, and doodle with just a tablet and a stylus--no clean-up required.
Our writing tablet has provided hours of entertainment for my 5-year-old. We specifically use it to make practicing spelling fun! When I say a word, like "cat" or "bin," my son will try and spell the word by writing the letters on the tablet. Fun, educational, and simple to do on a plane.
5. Busy Book
Our 1-year-old is in the phase where she wants to touch everything. That's not ideal on a plane, where she might want to start poking the people in the next row.
(Sorry, plane neighbors!)
To prevent this (as much as possible), we love busy books! These soft books are full of fun things to occupy little hands. These might include zippers, buttons, fun textures and fabrics, mirrors, shapes, buckles, felt cut-outs, and more. Busy books are great for keeping little ones calm and content, and they help them develop fine motor skills, too.
6. Tablets
I know, I know. Some parents don't want their kids consuming too much tech, and that's totally understandable! However, I personally have no shame in using tablets to keep my kids calm, quiet, and entertained on long plane rides.
I'll load up our tablet with their favorite games and movies, and they'll be spellbound the entire flight. Travel is stressful for parents and kids, and if my kiddos will relax and watch their favorite Disney movie for the 9438th time, I'm not going to stop them.
Which one of these carry-on essentials is your new must-have?
I wanna know! Feel free to comment on this post, or DM me on my Instagram, or even join one of these amazing Facebook groups for Disney-loving mamas. There, you'll find plenty of other people to talk about all things Disney and travel!
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