Milk on a Plane (How to Travel with a Toddler)

One of the only silver linings of living so far away from your family is that your toddler becomes a pretty well-traveled tiny person.  Henry's been racking up frequent flier miles from the tender age three months, and I've learned a lot about how to keep it together when your kiddo wants to to anything but.  After experiencing many moments of wanting to run away yelling, "Where's that child's parent?!", I figured out a few things that make my life a little easier in an airport.  Hopefully, a few of these will want you to pull your hair out a little less, too.

1.  Throw all of your super hero parenting skills out the window.  
Now is not the time for personal parenting victories.  We are talking survival mode, here.  Your kid wants a lollipop?  Great.  Give it to them.  Bag of chips?  You got it!  The number one thing I've learned is that you have to be flexible.  You have to let things go, because otherwise you aren't happy, your kid ain't happy, and everyone around you is mentally pinning a 'parent of the year' award on your shirt.

2.  Quart-sized Freezer Bags
I put everything in a quart size freezer bag.  Toys go in one, snacks in another, and anything else I need to take gets organized into one of these magical baggies.  You can see through the bag, they are sturdy enough not to tear, and you can choose the bag that has exactly what you need in it instead of dumping your whole carry-on just to find a damn pacifier.  Plus, if you need a place to stash a dirty diaper or wet clothing then you have just the perfect thing handy.

3.  Backpack
Carry a backpack, people.  I have this one.  My Mama was sweet enough to give it to me.  It's perfect for the plane.  Small enough to carry on without knocking people in the head, but plenty of space on the inside and easy access water bottle pockets on the outside.  When you carry a pack, you have both hands free for more important things, like finding snacks. 

4.  Snacks
Most problems can be solved with food.  Pack snacks that they aren't usually allowed to have and/or snacks that take a LONG time to eat.  We're buying time here, folks.  My list looks something like this:

Yummy Earth Lollipops
Fruit Chews
Jammy Sammys
String Cheese
Squeezie Pouches
Raisins in those little boxes

5.  New Toys/Books
I'm not talking about buying a bunch of expensive crap that's going to take up your whole carry-on.  I'm talking about tiny little surprises that they've never seen before.  I go to the dollar store and spend $10 on little trinkets that I think will keep him occupied for at least three minutes.  These items must meet a certain criteria, though.  They cannot roll, make noise, make a mess, and they must fit in a quart-size freezer bag.  Pipe cleaners, flash cards, ribbons, anything that lights up, anything that opens and closes, crayons, little plastic bugs, and my all-time favorite...stickers.  Stickers always buy me at least five minutes of peace.  DO NOT give your kid the whole bag as soon as you walk on the plane.  When the novelty of the first thing wears off, take another new thing out of the bag and let that new pony do it's tricks.

6.  Empty Water Bottle
Keep it in your bag and fill it up when you get to the other side of security.

7.  Milk on the Plane
Some airlines have milk as a choice of beverage during your flight.  It's free on Delta, $2.50 on Frontier, but not available on Southwest.  If you can't get it on the plane, at least wait until you get through security and buy it on the other side.  Starbucks usually has the little Horizon Organic Milk with a straw.  (Sidenote:  Don't let your kid squeeze carton with the straw inserted.  Trust me.)

8.  Pack Towel
This is my most genius travel companion.  I have this one from REI.  They come in a variety of different colors/sizes/prices.  They take up hardly any room, they are GREAT for spills (remember when I told you not to let your kid squeeze the milk carton...), you can put them under your kid's bum for a makeshift changing table, use it as a little blankie if they're cold, roll it into a neck pillow to support their heads when they fall asleep with their heads all upside down on the armrests.

9.  Monkey Mat 
If you have a kid but not a Monkey Mat, then you are totally missing out.  It's a portable, all-purpose play mat that weighs nothing and takes up no space.  Lay it in the floor of the airport for your kid to have a clean space to play, use it as a blanket, roll it up into a pillow or do just about whatever else you can think of with it.  Aside from having it at the airport, you should probably just have one in your life at all times.  They are THAT awesome.  You can get one here.
 

10.  iPad/Tablet
This is my last line of defense.  If everything else has failed, then he gets to watch a movie or play a game.  I usually download a new movie, show, or game that he hasn't seen yet.

11.  Cut the Crap
Pack enough, but don't pack too much.  If I'm on the fence about bringing it, then I usually leave it at home.  I operate under the motto If I really need it, I can buy it later.  Keep it simple, but be prepared.  Oxymoron, right?

12.  Gate Check First
As soon as you get to your gate, go directly to the kiosk and get your ticket for your stroller.  Unless, of course, you want to be that person that holds up the whole line.  Seriously, though.  You don't want to be that person.

13.  Your Flight Will Not Last Forever
You might feel like it will never end, but I promise you...it will end eventually.  Just breathe.  

What kind of tricks do you have up your sleeve when you travel on a plane with a toddler?

Happy travels!