I’ve Flown 34,863 Miles with Kids on My Lap—Here Are the 11 Items That Saved Me

The YoYo is the best travel stroller, IMO. It’s super lightweight, has a shoulder strap for easy carrying and folds up small enough to qualify as a carry-on. That said, here’s my pro tip: Use it through the airport, then gate check it right before you board. That way, you’re not fighting for overhead bin space and you don’t have to wrangle it onto the plane. When you land and finally make it off the plane, it’ll be waiting for you ready to roll. And once you’re at your destination, it’s just as clutch. The stroller has a sun canopy, reclines for naps on-the-go and includes a small but functional storage basket and back pocket.

If you’re traveling with kids, you’re probably lugging a car seat—aka the bulkiest, most annoying piece of gear known to parents. That’s why anything that cuts down on the hassle is worth it in my book. Enter this travel vest. It comes in multiple sizes for kids ages 3 and up (and weighing at least 30 pounds) and has been a total lifesaver for my now-6-year-old. It’s certified for use in motor vehicles in all 50 states and folds into a lightweight pouch that fits easily in a carry-on or backpack. While I wouldn’t rely on it for a big road trip, we’ve used it with my son for years for airport transfers, rental cars or hopping in an Uber in a new city. And according to him, it’s also “comfier than the big seat,” which is high praise coming from a kindergartener.

Whether you’re traveling with a newborn or a teenager, you are going to need wipes. And a lot of ‘em. I always put a full-size pack in my carry-on, but I also like to stash travel-size ones in every pocket, purse and side pouch I can find. They’re ideal for spit-up, snack explosions, sticky hands, mystery gunk…you name it. I truly can’t stress this enough: when you’re flying with kids, there is no such thing as too many wipes.

When your baby has a blow out or your toddler has a tantrum 30,000 feet in the air, you want to be able to act quickly. Packing cubes can help you do exactly that. I use one for diaper supplies, another for toys and a third for snacks—so when chaos strikes (and it will), I can grab exactly what I need ASAP. I like these ones because they come in multiple sizes and have mesh paneling so I can quickly see what’s inside, but honestly any good packing cube set will make your life easier in the air.

One of the perks of flying with a baby is that the airplane engine doubles as a built-in sound machine. Unfortunately, the harsh overhead lights, constant foot traffic and freezing AC don’t exactly scream nap time. That’s where a baby carrier comes in. It’s a game-changer for the airport, the flight and everything in between. I’ve logged more hours than I can count pacing airplane aisles with a baby strapped to my chest in both the LILLEbaby and the ErgoBaby. Is it fun? Not exactly. But as long as the baby sleeps and no one's crying, I’ll count that as a win.

A large swaddle blanket folds up easily into your carry-on and can be used for a multitude of things—a clean spot for baby to sit at the gate, a warm layer for a chilly kid mid-flight or a makeshift cover for a sleeping infant (why do they always turn on the overheard lights so early?). I’ve even used one as an impromptu dress for a toddler when I ran out of spare clothes (more on that below). I especially like muslin ones because they’re lightweight and versatile.

I wish I could tell you there’s one magical toy that will keep your toddler entertained for the entire flight. After flying dozens of times with three kids, I can confirm: there isn’t. What does work is a rotation of “new-to-them” playthings you can introduce at regular intervals to keep things fresh. And no, they don’t have to be expensive. One of my kids once spent a solid hour sticking and unsticking Post-its to the seat in front of us. Another was obsessed with those suction-cup spinners. Mess-free coloring books, puffy stickers that won’t leave any residue on the window and Guess in 10 games are all great options that’ll cost you less than $10.

You’ll feel gross when you get off that plane no matter what, but a quick wipe-down of the tray table and seat before takeoff, plus some hand sanitizer at the ready, will help. And while I just advised you to pack a bunch of cute new toys, just know that your baby will likely be most fascinated by the germ-riddled safety card in the seat-back pocket. So…you’ll want to wipe that down too.

Pack what you think your kid will need and then double it. Triple it even. Snacks will save you on your flight. And remember what I said up top? At home you may only dish out homemade veggie bites and fresh fruit, but up here, do what you gotta do. Here are some parent-recommended travel snacks, but I personally love applesauce pouches, raisins, popcorn and M&Ms (anything that will take them a while to eat is particularly helpful). For babies, I like some type of puff that’ll keep them busy for a bit and won’t make a mess.

True story: I was recently flying back from Europe with all three of my kids and about 90 minutes into the flight we had to turn around because there was a problem with the bathrooms, tacking on an extra three hours to our already eight-hour journey. This tablet saved me. Was I mildly concerned that my son was glued to a screen all day? Sure. But mostly, I was just grateful he was quiet, happy and not kicking the seat in front of him. This tablet is easy for little hands to navigate, has parental controls I actually trust and offers tons of kid-friendly content that can be downloaded for offline use (crucial when Wi-Fi is spotty up in the air).

Out of all the water bottles I’ve tried over the years, this one is by far my favorite. Why? Because it’s actually leak-proof—a feature that is much appreciated when you’re wedged between your 3-year-old and a stranger in row 28. I also like that it’s stainless steel, easy-to-clean and comes with a straw. I always fill it up before boarding—it’s one less thing to worry about once you’re in the air, and way better than relying on those tiny plastic cups of airplane water.