Packing tips for Flying with kids

Last Updated on August 2, 2022 by Celeste.

In my previous post called Top tips flying with kids, I described how I became an expert on travelling with my little ones. Some trips are smooth, some are difficult. Every age comes with different equipment and different challenges. Much depends on the trip itself, the weather during the flight, the departure and destination airport (click here for Athens airport kids tips), the season, the people on board and so on. In this post, I will share my best packing tips for flying with kids.

Packing tips for flying with kids

Personally, I believe that preparation is the key to a successful trip with kids. I first create a packing list (I love printable lists) and I start the packing some days before the trip. I try to avoid packing on the last day before the trip. I do not want to have any last-minute washing or ironing and the last day is all about resting and relaxing. 

The items for the packing list:

• The baby diaper bag: First item on the packing list when travelling with a baby. Make sure you bring plenty of wet wipes and always have a spare set of baby clothes with you. Take only the essentials for the trip and toss everything not necessary.  Do not put your passports and other ‘adult’ items in there. Keep one (backpack) bag for your own items and a diaper bag for the baby. My carry on bags can always be carried in more than one way, on my back, at the back of the pram, the diaper bag can go over my shoulder or, on the stroller handles and/or underneath. I have a small purse with my valuables and passport around my neck underneath my clothes. Make sure you bring bags that fit under the chair in front of you on the plane.  You will need to get stuff out of the bags all the time and it is very unpractical to have your bags in the overhead lockers. Put a plastic supermarket bag, they come in handy in so many ways!

• Check-in bags: Creating a packing list will help you assess what’s necessary. Even if you have a luggage allowance of 20 or 30 kilo… remember, travelling with children requires lots of extras: strollers, diaper bag. There is already too much to carry. When you are travelling alone with children, you are the one who has to lift all the bags from the luggage belt.  Save up old underwear, play clothes, damaged pyjamas etc. I use them one more time during our vacation and then throw them away on our last day before we go back home. This means less to carry and more space on the return. Same with toiletries:  I bring shampoo, soap bottles that are half empty and toss them at the end of my trip.

• Pack smart: When travelling from hot to cold climates, put jackets, /socks etc in the zipped compartment on top of your suitcases, upon arrival and before you exit the terminal, you can access or jackets without opening the complete suitcase.

• Food & snacks: Take as many as you can. Snacks are my lifesaver on board. The children do not like the airline food and so I bring them so special threats that are usually off-limits in our daily life. They actually look forward to flying because they will get: ‘’crisps and apple juice’!

• Clothes to wear during the trip: For myself, shoes must be comfortable, preferably trainers. I need to walk, carry and hold children for many hours. Same for my clothes; as comfy as possible. I always wear dark colors:  spill –  and stainproof! I don’t wear a  belt and choose pants that are easy to take on and off in the few seconds that are left for me visiting the toilet. The same for my girls. No difficult pants and/or buttons. I wear them leggings and always dark color with patterns.  Any chocolate or lemonade stains are less visible, and we can still look ‘OK’ when we arrive. The girls wear shoes that they can easily take off, and they ALWAYS wear socks. I do not want them to be walking around barefoot in the plane….For babies: I used to always dress my babies in a top with separate pants. I found it too difficult to change them wearing the full sleepsuits. A bonnet is important too. It can get chilly onboard. And we put layers. The climate on board can vary from very hot to very cold. I stack one or two scarfs in my back. In a Ziplock, they do not take up much space, and they can be used to stay warm, to sleep under, to play with and so on.

Packing tips for flying with kids |Don’t forget:

• Extra pair of clothes: I pick stuff that does not take much space. Leggings for the girls, knee-high socks etc. I squeeze everything in a plastic Ziplock. I am a great fan of these bags. I use them to pack my shoes, my underwear, makeup, phone charger and other wires, and basically anything that could spoil in my suitcase or bags. They are also very practical for liquids security control at the airport.  

• Toys in your carry-on bag: I used to buy something new and give it to them before take-off. But lately – I must admit – I bring a tablet. Not all the time, it depends on the travel time.  I do not give my kids any electronics (computer/phone/tablet) at home. I personally do not want them (yet) for my children. But I bring a tablet occasionally when we are travelling. They love it because they only get to use it on board. Secondly, it saves up so much space! It saves me carrying lots of toys around. I also bring my iPad with children music. They love sharing headphones and listening to their favourite songs. For a baby, your packing list needs to include some soft toys. Choose the ones that do not make sound or switch the sound off.

• Wet wipes: The magic item! A new pack of wet wipes is big and heavy. As I am sure that I will not need 64 (the usual amount of wipes in one new pack), I bring a pack that is half empty.

• Give older children their own bag to carry. My eldest is 6 now, and she brings a small trolley that she pulls herself or a little lightweight backpack.

• Medication: Think of packing necessary medication in your hand luggage and make sure that you get a letter from your doctor in case they are liquid medicines. Our allergy pen is accepted in hand luggage but needs the doctor paper to be passed from security. A friend of mine recommends a bottle of essential oil, eucalyptus, lavender, fir, chamomile. For example, a few drops rubbed in the palms clears the air in so many ways. Another one to consider is Bach rescue remedy drops.

• Marker: It’s busy at airports. When my kids were younger I was worried about losing them. I Always add a (permanent) marker to my packing list for writing my phone number on their arms.

Have a great trip and if you liked this post, pin it for later!