I’ve Flown 34,863 Miles with Kids on My Lap—Here Are the 11 Items That Saved Me
Travel must-haves for flying with littles
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As far as parenting philosophies go, I’m typically a “less is more” kind of mom. Experience has taught me that kids don’t really need a ton of stuff. But the moment we step onto a plane? That philosophy gets shoved in the overhead bin.
My husband and I both have family abroad, which means we’ve logged more than 34,000 miles with our babies, toddlers and, yes, lap children (we take full advantage of the fact that kids under 2 fly free as long as you don’t book them a seat!). And if there’s one thing I’ve learned from all those hours in the sky with my family of five, it’s this: Flying with kids is not parenting—it’s survival. It’s a peculiar place where time makes no sense and rules don’t apply. Screen time? Unlimited. Snacks? Whatever they want. Sanity? Left it somewhere back in Terminal C.
So how do you survive it? For me, it comes down to a very specific set of gear. With that in mind, here are the 11 products that have actually saved me mid-flight—and might just save you too.
A few more travel tips:
- Pack a plastic or paper bag. You will inevitably make a lot of garbage and need someplace to put it that isn’t the back of the seat in front of you.
- Don’t board first. If you’re traveling with more than one adult then one of you boards first while the other stays by the gate with the kids to let them crawl/run around, move their bodies and get the wiggles out before sitting still for however many hours.
- Bring a couple of changes of clothes for the kids and, if space allows, for you. There will be spills, there will be spit up. Having a spare T-shirt will make you feel just a little more human when you step off the plane.
- Most importantly—lower your expectations. Repeat after me: “It’s going to suck. And then it’ll be over.” This mantra has been my guide through dozens of flights and it never fails.
Alexia Dellner
Executive Editor
- Lifestyle editor focusing primarily on family, wellness and travel
- Has more than 10 years experience writing and editing
- Studied journalism at the University of Westminster in London, UK
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