Tips for travelling with toddlers

These tips have been tried and tested twice, once on a 9 hour flight to Sydney and again on a long long haul to Madison, Wisconsin through Taipei, Los Angeles, Detroit, Minneapolis and some other place I can't remember. Hope they work for you.

BABY’S STUFF CHECKLIST

I discovered to my amazement that a baby needs so much more than two adults when travelling. They just need so much stuff!! To help me get organised I researched for hours and then I made lists, and lists and lists...

For the flight
Changing Kit: This is a small bag which contains Diapers, Changing Mat, Drapolene cream, Plastic grocery or zip lock bags for soiled diapers, Wet wipes, and a nappy for drying wet behinds
Have a separate bag for your changing kit so that you only need to take this with you when you go to the bathroom for diaper changes. (Find out early which lavatories have a changing table)
Blankets (it gets cold up there)
Tissues
Toys and Books (see below for selection of toys)
Change of clothes
Pyjamas (optional)
Bibs, Baby’s fork and spoon, a small plate.
Sippy Cup/ Water Cup
Milk bottle (one kept in your hand luggage under the seat and the rest can keep overhead as the stewardess will wash bottle and fill with warm water for you)
Snacks
Waterless hand soap
Car Seat (optional)
Stroller (seriously recommended)
Pacifier (to make them suck to prevent air pressure in the ears)
Pillow and Bolster and whatever helps baby sleep at night
Colouring Kit
Juice, Water (not allowed in plane)
Bernadryl for when they get uncontrollable
Milk Dispenser
Hot water, cold water (for airport. You need to empty these before entering the plane)
Tin of milk in overhead hand luggage

First aid checklist
Thermometer
Fever med
Waterless liquid soap
Sterile bandages and gauze
Tweezers
Sunscreen
Lotion
Cold pack
Dettol
Eucalyptus Oil
Insect repellent
Cold Balm
Panadol
Cough Mixture
Anti histamines
Diarrhoea medicine
`

General packing
Toys and a few new books that will entice them.
Colouring book
Stickers!!
Milk tins
Diapers
Towel
Warm Clothing
Pyjamas
Wash cloth
Milk Bottles
Diaper cream
Medication
Tupperwares for freezing food
Fork and Spoons
Eating bowls
Cups
Sippy cups
Wet wipes
Biscuits
Cereal
Soap, shampoo
Socks
Shoes
Clothes


Flight tips
Infant food must be reserved 24 hours prior to departure – so don’t forget!! Call 1300 88 3000 or 03-87764321
Good seats on 747: Row 30ABC – book as soon as you can. They get snapped up quickly.
Good seats of 777 Row 11DEFGH. Trust me I did the homework
Sit near galley/lav
Sit in front
Avoid bulkhead, which are the seats that face a “wall”. The armrest can’t be removed.
On MAS flights at least, the stewardess will actually mix the milk for you. Just give them the bottle and the milk tin/ milk dispenser and they will do the rest, including wash the milk bottle. This helps especially since you can’t carry hot or cold water into the craft.


Packing tips
Start preparing to pack a few weeks before you travel. Keep an ongoing list of items to bring.
Pack an extra shirt or top for yourself in your carry on bag in case baby spills something on you
Prevent leaks by packing meds and toiletries in re-sealable plastic bags
Keep an energy boosting snack handy for you to much on. You will need it especially during layovers.
Keep your baby’s outfits together in one suitcase. If you’re really organised, roll each outfit and secure with rubberband.

Possible toys and tricks to keep toddlers occupied and entertained
Books: get a few new books and spring it on them when the flight is taking off and they need to be distracted and kept in their seats. It is a good way to make some miles fly by and relaxe them.

A cheap 9" x 12" baking sheet: Use as a playing surface so crayons, Matchbox cars, Legos, and other small items don't roll away. (Repeatedly retrieving dropped toys gets old really quickly.)

Magnetized letters, numbers, and shapes: Use these with the baking sheet to make words, spell names, or create pictures.Sticker books, activity books, and stick-on plastic picture sets: Particularly great for toddlers — they allow your child to express creativity without using pens on the upholstery. Can stick them on the hand rest, seat in front, baby’s shoes, daddy’s hand when he is asleep. These can be removed before getting off the flight.Crayons: for colouring of course.Play doh – this is especially great if it is new to your child. Get some cookie cutters and watch the time fly by!

A favourite toy that has been hidden away for a while – The familiar is sometimes a good gift. Hide them away some time before the trip and spring them on baby when he least expects it.

A few gift-wrapped surprise presents: Buy something new and wrap them in several layers, they take longer to open.

Colored pipe cleaners: These flexible wonders are great for making just about anything - animal and flower shapes, stick people, jewellery etc.

A small flashlight: Little boys especially just love this. Ask them to look for fallen toys under the seat.

Get a little zipped purse and put a bunch of things inside that your child will enjoy
opening and discovering.

If all else fails and you need some time to yourself, check the inflight movies for the kids channel and let them watch Barney for a safe option. Some of the others kids options are either violent or over the top - too much for a little bub to deal with.