During many travels back and forth to Mickey’s house and Grandma’s house, as well as my 14 years of experience as a flight attendant, I have narrowed down my top 10 must-pack items to bring on the airplane.
10. Two diaper bags
Since most domestic planes are configured with 3 seats per row, my husband and I expect to be split up – we each get a girl. I pack the same thing in each bag so that the other parent will be prepared with everything they need for the flight and we don’t have to worry about needing something out of the other bag during the flight. And, since we fly standby, our seats usually end up being at opposite ends of the plane.
9. Diaper bag necessities
Pack each diaper bag with at least 1 change of clothes, extra diapers and wipes, pajamas, blankets, comfort animals, sippy cups, bottles, sanitizing wipes (I like the Wet Ones brand, single use packets), and extra formula. Many times, while I’m at work, I encounter parents who are not prepared for the unknown. They don’t anticipate what would happen if their flight ended up being delayed or canceled so they aren’t prepared. They run out of diapers, or even formula.
8. Empty grocery bags (at least one per diaper bag)
I am always amazed by how much trash we can accumulate during a 2-hour flight. We collect our trash in the bag to keep our area clean and then we aren’t waiting for the flight attendant to come around with a trash bag.
7. Placemats
We buy the 10 pack Minnie Mouse ones at Walmart. The tray tables are dirty and gross, my girls are dirty and gross... At least I can control one of the variables!
6. Snacks! Lots of snacks!
Again, plan for the unexpected. And snacks keep them busy!
5. Melissa and Doug Reusable sticker books
My girls LOVE these books! They will play with these for hours and there is so much creative play involved.
4. Invisible Ink books and Coloring books
When I was a little girl, I would get a new invisible ink book every time we fly. I have continued the tradition with my girls.
3. Dollar Store toys
I make a trip to the dollar store and buy a few different fun toys. New surprises, and if the toy gets lost in the trip, it isn’t the end of the world.
2. Tablets and headphones
I love the LilGadgets Connect headphones. They are padded, super soft and easily adjustable. My favorite part of these headphones, though, is the SharePort. Many times, my girls want to watch a movie together. I can easily plug one adaptor into the other set of headphones so they both can hear. Of course, I make sure their favorite movies and games are preloaded, as well as some new games.
1. Cares Device
This is my absolute, ABSOLUTE favorite product. This device is the only one of its kind approved by the FAA. It allows the airplane seatbelt to turn into a 5-point harness. Not only is it safer for the children, it gives them the familiarity of a car seat and how they are supposed to behave in the car, without the bulkiness of an actual car seat.
When preparing for a trip with multiples, you may already feel like you’re packing everything including the kitchen sink, so hopefully this list is helpful in determining necessities. Do you have any “must-have” items that are on your list? Any additional ideas, comments, or suggestions? Leave a comment below!
Author: Jenna Bingener is a twin mom to 3 year old girls, Annabelle and Maggie. She is a flight attendant and training instructor. She also serves on the board as the VP of Membership for FWMoM.