I received a product to review from Nuby USA in exchange for this post. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own.
The Little Monkey has taken his fair share of trips. We have done longish car rides (nothing more than 8 hours yet!) and quite a few plane trips. Even though flying with a toddler gets you to your destination quicker, to me, it’s far more stressful. To all of the childless readers of My Mom Made That, let me assure you that I am more stressed by sitting next to you with my toddler than you are sitting next to me. Flying with a toddler is a situation where my parenting skills are tested in a multitude of different ways.
Again, if you don’t have a toddler, imagine traveling with a squirming, demanding, tiny-but-heavy, strong-willed little person through check in, TSA, waiting at the gate, boarding, flying, walking to baggage claim, getting bags, and then getting the bags and the impatient little person to our transportation. It’s a lot of stress, and my biggest fear is that something will go wrong, and my airport travels will be extended due to something going wrong. Even worse, my checked luggage will get lost, and suddenly the Little Monkey won’t have all of his supplies. To reduce this anxiety, I have started to pack a number of items to insure that even if we get delayed or our luggage gets lost, the family will survive.
1. The Child’s Birth Certificate
If you are traveling with a lap-sitting child under 2, this is a requirement. Many airlines won’t let you on a plane without proof the child is under two. (Even if the baby is a newborn! Trust me, we got attitude because we accidentally packed it when traveling with the Little Monkey as a newborn.)
I always carry copies of both boys’ birth certificates when traveling because it is the only real document of identity that kids have. I like to be prepared, and actually had a TSA agent ask for the Big One’s birth certificate once.
2. Emergency Contact Numbers
Again, I tend to want to be over-prepared when dealing with the stress of flying with the Little Monkey. I worry about a lot of things. Something happening and no one knowing who the Little Monkey belongs to. I know on school field trips the kids frequently have stickers with all of their information on their back or chest. I don’t really want to do that with the Little Monkey, so on his Diaper Bag, I have an “ICE” tag.
3. Wet Wipes & Hand Sanitizer
If you’ve been reading My Mom Made That for a while, you’ll know that we’ve struggled with lots of colds this past winter. Lots of them, and now I’m very protective and careful. I have attached a small bottle of hand sanitizer to the diaper bag. I also keep individually packaged hand wipes to clean the Little Monkey’s grimy hands and smudged face. He can be a bit of a mess at the end of the day, don’t you think?
4. First Aid Kit
I created a personal First Aid Kit when the Big One was the Little Monkey’s age. It moves from bag to bag, so that we always have it. You have to decide what your family needs the most, and it may vary by your children’s individual needs. I travel with latex-free bandages due to allergies, an antiseptic cream, infant acetaminophen, diaper rash ointment, and a sunscreen stick.
5. Snacks (Food Pouches and Juice Boxes)
Finger foods keep the Little Monkey busy, and I always want to have enough just in case we end up sitting on the runway for hours. (I’m sure you’ve heard those horror stories too!) I am a big fan of baby food pouches for travel, even now because they keep, they close, and they are nutritious. I usually also fill his Nuby Snack Keeper to make sure that he’s got a few Goldfish to munch on.
6. At Least 3 Extra Diapers
This may seem obvious, but now that the Monkey is nearly two, I travel with enough diapers to get him through the flight, plus 3 (and associated diaper wipes). For example, if I fly to Washington DC, I would pack 5 diapers. My father wore this outfit that the Little Monkey is wearing below on a flight to New York City when he was 6-months-old. My grandfather was flying alone with him (in the 1950′s no less!), and forgot to pack diapers and there was a delay. My father ended up drenching his outfit, and my grandfather’s suit (per their story). Moral of the story– pack extras and be prepared!
7. An Emergency Treat (or 2)
This is my secret weapon. Well, probably not anymore, now that the Little Monkey know about it. I always pack a lollipop or some special treat for him. Actually, I pack two, just in case. He loves lollipops, and they cut down on those tense travel moments.
8. Comfort Items
If your little one has some special attachment item that they need to feel secure, then don’t pack it. They’ll need it on the airplane. The Little Monkey doesn’t really use a pacifier, but I actually travel with one, just in case, for take off and landing. It can help with the air pressure.
9. A Sweater or Jacket
I find planes cold, and I think that my little guys find the plane that way too. At least the Big One is always saying that he’s cold on the plane. I just make sure that I have one extra layer for the flight. I usually pack a hoodie in the diaper bag.
10. Travel Set and Sippy Cup
My last item goes along with the food, but it has multiple uses. I always travel with a sippy cup (usually it’s the Little Monkey’s Nuby Flex Straw Cup). It can be filled with water, and that’s one thing the plane always seems to be able to give its passengers– a cup of water. In addition, I travel with the wonderful case of toddler-sized forks and spoons. The Nuby Travel Set is designed to keep your baby’s utensils and your diaper bag clean, tidy and hygienic. It’s a handy travel case than includes 3 easy to use spoon and fork set and is perfect for us when eating in a restaurant by the gate. I find that it’s helpful to have toddler-sized utensils when traveling, as frequently restaurant sized spoons and forks are more than the Little Monkey can Handle. You can pick one up at many different retail establishments around the United States.
Here’s to your happy travels! What do you pack in your traveling diaper bag?
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