9 Essential Items to Pack When Flying with Kids

I try to keep all my travel essentials organized in one place.  I typically use the same carry-on backpack and have little bags inside that help keep me organized. This lets me easily grab and go and know that I have everything I need.

Besides the obvious essentials like your license or passport, here are the things I pack in my carry-on bag when my kiddos are with me:

1. Light jacket: I am always cold—especially on a plane so I always wear a light jacket.  I make sure that each of my kids have them too.  Many times, we have super-early flights so they come in handy when there is a chill in the air.  And even if your destination is somewhere warm, evenings may be cooler or the air conditioning inside may make it chilly. 

2. Travel blanket: when my kids were little, they always fell asleep on the plane.  It was nice to have a little blanket to cover them up or even to use as a pillow.

3. Snacks: Most of the time, we fly on the cheaper airlines, which don’t provide snacks.  I always have a variety available for my kids to grab.  Even when the kids were little, snacks were a good way to keep my kids occupied or make them happy if they were starting to fuss.

4. Gum (or a binky/bottle for a baby): You never know who will have issues with their ears popping so having gum or something for the baby to suck on may help ease their pain.  Normally I am ok, but there have been times that the pressure really bothered my ears so I know it’s uncomfortable.  It’s good to have it available as a way to remedy the pain.

5. Small Toys/Coloring books: Now that my kids are older, as long as they have a tablet, they are typically good to go.  However, when they were toddlers, I’d make sure to have a variety of things for them to do.  I always had toys, coloring books, Play-Doh, etc.  We never had a situation where our babies cried on the plane longer than a couple of minutes.

When they’d start to fuss, we’d switch gears and try something new—watch a movie, eat a snack, play with a toy.  I’d usually go to our local Marc’s or Dollar Tree and find small toys that were easy to pack, but were brand new.  This kept them occupied for at least a little bit since they’d never seen it before.  If you’re on a strict budget, you can also bring toys that they haven’t played with in a while.  It’ll be like a brand-new toy and keep them occupied for at least a little while!

6. Reusable water bottle & Kool-Aid packets: You can’t take water or drinks through security, but you can take a reusable water bottle and fill them at a water station (at least pre-COVID).  I bought these bottles a few years ago for a hiking/cruise trip. They are silicone and roll up, making them super compact. My kids drink water, but sometimes like juice too so the little Kool-Aid packets pack nicely and give us something other than water to drink.

7. Bag of essentials: I have a bag set aside that includes our essentials like tissues, sanitizer, wipes, medicine, chargers for our phones/tablets, pen/pencils, pads/tampons, etc.  You never know what you’re going to need on the plane or in the airport so having a small bag pre-packed with these items is certainly helpful!

8. Tablet or computer with games/movies/books pre-loaded: All of us have a computer/iPad/tablet that we bring on our trips.  We always add some movies to watch during the flight. Tip: Netflix allows you to download shows or movies to watch offline so we often add these onto our devices.  

If you are a reader, I suggest checking out your local library’s website and getting ebooks. There are thousands of books available and they are free! I am able to read mine right on my Amazon Kindle app. Plus it syncs to multiple devices so my page is always saved whether I am on my phone or tablet! 

And don’t forget to make sure you have games loaded that can be played offline. Many games need the internet to work so if you’re planning on games keeping your kids occupied, make sure they’ll work.

9. Books/Magazine/Journal: Usually my books are on my iPad, but sometimes I’ll have a few magazines to browse through too.  The kids get Highlights magazine so I usually throw a couple of those in our bag as well.

I also ALWAYS have my journal!  I document all of our trips—honestly, I try to document life in general.  Hopefully one day my kids will enjoy reading about their lives. 

I hope these travel essentials help with your next flight! 

Need help budgeting your next vacation? Check out this post for what to include in your budget along with a free downloadable budget worksheet! And find ways to save extra cash on your next vacation here!

Are there things that should be added to this list?  What are your must-have carry-on items when traveling with kids?