I recently got back from a trip to Florida with the kids. I was flying solo on this one and needed to be extra prepared for the airport and plane. The kids each carried a backpack, but let’s be honest, they were filled with light stuffed animals and some snacks.
We were flying Southwest Airlines, which meant we could check all of our bulky bags for free! So, after some research and careful planning, I came up with a list of the 10 most important things to pack in your carry on.
10 Essential Items for Your Carry On
- Ziploc bags-these will make every list of essential items that I ever make! I use these for garbage collection, saving left over snacks, holding toy pieces, etc
- Snacks-make sure to have a variety. The less messy the better, but we do travel with applesauce pouches. Goldfish crackers, pretzels, fruit snacks, Pirate’s Booty, Veggie Sticks Belvita Sandwich Biscuits with peanut butter (great boost of protein!) and Teddy Grahams are some of our favorites.
- Empty water bottles-since you aren’t able to bring liquids through security we pack empty water bottles and fill them once we are through security. Saves a little money and the kids don’t mix up their bottles.
- Lollipops-these are a fun treat for take offs and landings, as well as a nice distraction.
- First aid kit-this should be small and have a few really important items. Our kit includes band-aids, hair bands, floss, Neosporen, Aquaphor (both come in travel size), kid Tylenol, Benadryl and a small hand sanitizer or travel pack of wet wipes.
- Travel Clorox Wipes-Easy for wiping down the seats, trays, arm rest, etc.
- Hand sanitizer-pack a few small bottles in easy to reach places.
- Baby wipes/wet wipes-we use these for everything!
- Change of clothes-I try to pack a shirt for the kids and for myself. We also have a newly potty trained traveler, so extra undies and pants are also shoved into the bag.
- Activities-we pack iPads with headphones for the kids. We let the kids use screens more than usual while we are traveling, but not for the entire time. So, I throw in a few paperback books, crayons, small pieces of paper and a Boogie Board for each kid. I also toss in my Kindle (but rarely do I get a chance to use it!).
Once I have everything I need for the bag, I like to be as organized as possible. Clear organizing bags make the day go more smoothly. You can find them on Amazon or Target. I like to over prepare and over pack, but these items on this list are everything we need to travel happily. I do always end up buying a large bag of chocolate covered pretzels once we’re at the airport…mom’s need a treat once in a while, too!
