13 items I always bring in my hand-luggage

When I travel by plane with my kids, the backpack I use as a carry-on is rather full. It used to be even worse, back when my children were younger: then there were diapers and wipes, and bottles that had to come along, but even now, I carry quite a load.

I really don't mind though, because every item I carry usually comes in handy. Also, now that the kids are older, I can sneak some things into their backpacks to share the load.

Here are 13 items I always bring whenever we catch a flight:


1. Pen & paper
Even with all the electronic devices available now, I find that a small notebook and a regular ball-point pen are must-haves when I travel. The kids can use them to play tic-tac-toe or doodle to pass the time, I can use the pen to write up some extra luggage tags before checking our suitcases, fill in customs forms, or I can write some postcards with the kids while waiting at the airport.


2. Antibacterial wipes & hand sanitizer
It's a sad fact that airplanes and airports are dirty and full of germs. Liberal use of antibacterial wipes to clean everyone's hands and also clean surfaces like tray-tables can really help keep colds, flus and stomach bugs away. A small bottle of hand-sanitizer gel always goes into my zip-loc bag of liquids too. I prefer the wipes since they don't have to go into the special bag, but the gel is a great backup.


3. Decongestant
If you've ever flown with a head-cold or sinus-infection you will know why I insist on bringing this: it is excruciatingly painful at take-off and especially when the plane is landing. I always bring a liquid decongestant for the kids, tablets for myself, plus nasal sprays for everyone, just in case we need them.


4. Blankets
Fleece blankets are quite easy to pack into your hand-luggage if you roll them up tightly. They're great comfort items when your kids (or you!) want to sleep, snuggle or just relax on board, and they can also be rolled up and used as pillows. And if you end up stuck in an airport, they're very useful there too.


5. Kid-sized headphones
The headphones offered on-board by the airlines are usually made for adults and will probably not fit your child's head very well. It's a good idea to bring along some kid-sized headphones: they're much more comfortable for the kids when they watch any in-flight entertainment, and that in turn is much more relaxing for you because the head-phones will stay on rather than fall off every two seconds.


6. My Kindle (or books)
I used to always travel with a small supply of books. Now I travel with my Kindle, loaded with books for myself and the kids. Books in any form (paperback, hardcover, or on an e-reader or tablet) is a great way to pass the time when boredom strikes, so bring some, in whatever format you feel comfortable with.


7. A refillable water bottle
The last couple of years, I've brought along a refillable water bottle on our flights. Occasionally, I do have to empty it out before going through security, but once you're through security, you can fill it up again. Yes, you can usually get drinks on board, but it's nice to bring your own for when the kids just can't wait for a sip.


8. Chewing gum
I usually bring a fruity kind for the kids as a treat, and a minty kind for me, to help with ear-pressure and to just feel a little fresher after a long flight.


9. An address book
My tiny little blue address book has addresses and phone numbers for friends and family all over the world. I like having it along as a hard-copy in case my phone fails. The addresses also come in handy when the kids want to send postcards during our travels.


10. A clean T-shirt for myself
On long flights with my kids, accidents can and do happen, and sometimes those accidents happen on me. Spills, spit-ups (if you have a baby), smears, general dirtiness, sweat... it's just really nice to at least have the option to change into a clean shirt on board. In case of delayed flights, the clean shirt can come in very handy as a partial change of clothes as well.


11. A change of clothes for the kids
Yes, accidents can happen, even if your kids are not babies or toddlers. Because of this, I always bring one change of clothes (including socks and underwear) for each child. It's a bit of a hassle to fit into the hand-luggage, but now when the kids are older and have their own bags, they can at least carry their own change of clothes.


12. Gravol
Luckily, I've only had to use the anti-nausea medication for my kids a couple of times over all our years of traveling. I still bring it on every flight though. A small bottle won't take up a lot of space, and if you're on a plane with a child who has an upset stomach, you will be very glad you brought this along. 

 13. An empty plastic bag
This easy-to-pack item can be used for wet, soiled clothes and any garbage you might get stuck with and don't know what to do with. It sounds superfluous, but comes in handy more often than you'd think.

Flying with kids - 7 questions for the airline

When I choose a flight for my family, the main thing I want to find out from the airline is how much that flight is going to cost. The second most important thing I want to find out is usually flight departure and arrival times, and any transfer times (including potential layovers) if there is more than one flight involved.

However, once you have picked a flight, there are some other things that can be very useful to find out about from the airline. Here are my suggestions for things you should ask your airline when you're traveling with kids and booking a flight. 

1. Can you reserve cots/bassinets for babies?
If you're traveling with an infant on a long flight, this is definitely a question you should ask. Different airlines have different policies regarding what age and size your child has to be in order to qualify for a cot, and getting one is usually done on a "first come, first served" basis, but always, always ask about this option. Getting a bed (usually for free) for your baby is an amazing perk on a flight.

• Find out more about cots and bassinets here.

2. Are there special meals for kids?
Many airlines do offer special meals with more "kid-friendly" foods, but often you do have to order them ahead of time. Some airlines (Iceland Air for example) will offer them automatically, based on your child's age when you book your tickets, but it's best to ask. Other special meals, like baby meals, vegetarian meals, and more are sometimes also available.

• Find out more about special meals for kids here.

3. What are the policies for bringing a stroller?
If you're traveling with younger children, you might want to bring a stroller on your trip: either to use at the airport, or to use at your destination. It's a good idea to ask the airline about this. For example:

• can you bring the stroller to the gate?
• does it have to be checked with your luggage?

To protect your stroller if you have to check it, it can be a good idea to use a so-called gate-check bag. There are many brands available, including JL Childress and Prince Lionheart.

• Find out more about bringing a stroller here.

4. Where do you sit?
When you're booking your flight, make sure the airline is seating your family together, and that you get the kinds of seats you want ("always have access to aisle" is my mantra...). It would seem logical that they'd always seat a parent next to their children, but if there are not enough seats available to do that, they will put you wherever they can - even if that means seating your child separately from you (this has happened to me). If you are not seated together, the airline will try to remedy that once you're at the airport. Also, once you're on board, your fellow passengers will probably help out as well: I mean, who wants to sit next to a child separated from its parent?


5. Can you bring car seats?
Just like with strollers, you might want to bring a car seat to use on board the plane, or to use at your destination. Different airlines have different policies on what kinds of car seats can be used on board and some don't allow it at all, so definitely check this before you travel. If you're checking the seat with your luggage, you can use a special bag to protect it. Gate-check bags for car seats are available from many companies, including JL Childressand Britax. Sometimes, special plastic bags are provided for free at the airport to put "special luggage", like seats and strollers, into before checking them.

• Find out more about bringing car seats here.

6. What is the checked luggage allowance?
How many pieces of luggage you can bring, and how much that luggage can weigh before you have to pay a fee, varies from airline to airline. It's a good idea to check carefully what the allowance is, so that you don't have to pay extra at the airport.

7. Are there individual entertainment screens on board?
Being able to watch movies and play games on a screen right at your seat can really help pass the time for both kids and adults on long flights. On long flights, most airlines do provide this service, but ask anyway, just in case. I know at least one family that traveled from the US to Australia on a flight with no individual entertainment screens. If you know that's going to be the case, you can prepare accordingly by bringing extra activities for the kids, and maybe some electronic devices of your own for games and movies.