From about the age of six onward, we've let our kids choose what goes into their backpacks (with the exception of the Emergency Carry-On Supply System mentioned below). The only rule is that each child has to be able to carry his backpack himself. Younger children will of course need help.
Cindy's Un-Patented Emergency Carry-On Supply System: This proved hugely valuable when our luggage decided to spend the weekend in Amsterdam without us!
The original version of this plan called for two bags for each person, a First Night Bag and a First Morning Bag. Recent restrictions on carrying liquids and gels on airplanes mean that most people will also need to have a Liquids Bag. The Liquids Bag must be a 1 liter or 1 quart zipper-top bag. In my experience large (4 liter or 1 gallon) zipper-top bags are best for the First Night and First Morning Bags, but regular supermarket-type plastic bags will work, too.
For the First Night Bag, lay out everything each person will need the first night. Pajamas, toothbrush, contact lens solution, everything you use every night. Don't forget children's loveys and pacifiers, as appropriate. Put the liquids in the small bag, and pack the rest in the large bag. Press as much air as possible out of the large bag, seal it, and pack it in the bottom of the carry-on. Now do the same thing with additional things each person will need for the next morning; clean clothes are obvious, but also think of combs, make-up, and other things that make you feel ready to face the world. Again, liquids need to go in the small bag, the rest goes in the larger bag. The Liquids Bag goes on top of the carry-on or in an outside pocket so it can be easily removed at security checkpoints. The larger bags go at the bottom so they are out of the way during flight.
Now, no matter how delayed your flight is, or what adventures your luggage may take without you, everyone has what they need to go to bed and get a good night's rest - and feel ready to tackle the next day's challenges. Even if everything goes according to plan, you will know that you don't need to unpack everything to find your toothbrush that first night.
Many younger children enjoy getting new toys on the plane, wrapped up like presents. The unwrapping itself helps to pass the time. Make a rule ahead of time that, for instance, one new toy may be opened each hour.
If your child already has one of these items, or has used one in the past and liked it, it is probably worth taking along. Remember headphones/earbuds for the sake of those sitting near the child, and consider battery life - will you need to take extra batteries?
If your child has never used, say, a portable DVD player, think carefully before buying one for a long-haul flight. If your child doesn't enjoy it, that's a lot of money spent, and a big part of your entertainment plans gone up in smoke at the worst possible time. Maybe you could let the child try it first, headphones and all. (I've met two-year-olds who are happy to keep headphones on as long as there's sound coming out of them, and seven-year-olds who still take them off right away.)
Additionally, this isn't only about entertainment. Once we were sure we'd ordered children's meals, but somehow the people who loaded the meals on the plane hadn't been told, and the adult meal was smoked salmon baguettes. I was glad to have some food my kids would eat with me, even if it wasn't exactly the healthiest, so I didn't have two hungry crabby tired kids to deal with. Another time we ended up getting bumped onto another flight, on another airline, at the last minute, and the child's meal we'd ordered for our youngest did not of course follow us... fortunately he liked the adult meal he was served, but I felt better knowing I was ready if he didn't.
The usual packed-lunch solutions are difficult to take along on an airplane - and to make matters worse, on international journeys, you may find all non-packaged foods are confiscated on arrival anyway, meaning it goes to waste if your child doesn't eat it. Look through the factory-wrapped foods available at your supermarket - you should be able to find some items that will do the trick, even if it isn't as healthy as making it yourself.
Personally, I think it's good to let the kids have small amounts of special foods that are normally restricted - it helps them forget to be scared and makes the flight seem like a real occasion. However, look out for chocolate - it pains me to say that, but chocolate melts into a goopy mess - and for items like pretzel sticks and fragile crackers that too easily turn to crumbs. Candy-coated chocolates (Smarties, M&Ms, etc) are of course good travellers.
Raisins and other dried fruits are good choices - they don't melt, don't crumble, and take time to eat. Just be aware that they are a mess if stepped on! When our kids were small I'd make a variation on Gorp: about two parts of a Cheerios-type cereal, one part chocolate cereal, and one part raisins.
Yogurt, applesauce, and other wet foods may be classified as "liquids and gels" and confiscated. You can generally bring milk or juice along for babies and toddlers, but not older children. If you'd like to bring drinks on board for them, you'll have to buy them at the airport, after going through security, and unfortunately at airport prices! Tell the clerk you intend to take the drink onto the plane with you, so she can mark it or seal it if necessary, and in any case keep the receipt.
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Created 4 March 2006 * Last Updated 2 May 2008