What to Pack to Carry on a Plane Ride With Kids

Important Items

• You should always have your own and your children's identification cards with you on your person when preparing to fly. If you are traveling internationally, you will need passports for everyone as well. Identification is not required for children under the age of 18 for domestic flights, according to the Transportation Security Administration. However, Disney Family recommends discreet ID bracelets or shoe tags for young children, just in case they get separated from you. All of your cash or credit cards should also be with you in a secure place in your purse or carry-on. Pack any necessary prescription medications and medicine for headaches or stomachaches. You also should pack one pair of clothing for each person, just in case luggage gets lost for a day or so. If you have children in diapers, you'll want to include at least enough diapers and wipes for two days, as well as milk in small containers.

Comfort Items

• Planes get very cold, so pack a small blanket for your kids to share if they are sitting next to each other. If a blanket takes up too much space, pack hooded sweatshirts, or make the kids wear them around their waists at the airport. You should also pack a neck pillow for everyone, so that each kid can rest his head on them comfortably without straining his neck. You can find neck pillows meant for kids that look like stuffed animals in the travel section of many stores.

Activity Packs and Snacks

• Get large, gallon-size freezer bags to create activity packs for each child. You can include things like coloring books, with a small set of crayons; puzzle activity books; magazines; and fiction books for reading. You might want to include books related to your destination or about flying as well. Also inside the activity bags, include snacks in smaller zip-top bags. Choose nonperishable snacks that are travel-friendly, such as granola bars, puff cereals, raisins, nuts and perhaps one or two homemade cookies. You can also include fruit such as seedless grapes. Freeze them ahead of time and they will still be fairly cold when you're on the plane. You might also want to include lollipops or gum for children who are old enough to use them to help with ears popping during takeoff and landing.

Electronics

• Even the youngest kids are glued to electronics these days, and while you don't want them to be addicted to gadgets, they can be miraculous for keeping a kid in her seat and entertained during a long plane ride. Each child having her own child-friendly electronic tablet would be ideal, allowing you to input children's games and movies onto each. However, if that is not possible, consider having the kids rotate electronics, allowing each child equal time at one tablet, a portable DVD player and a music player. Another idea is to purchase a headphone splitter so two kids sitting next to each other can watch and listen to a movie at the same time, on two headphones.