This little yellow backpack contains everything we need to keep Ruby entertained and fed on a plane ride. It’s good for two reasons: to give her a little responsibility and to keep it all and one place. Oh, and it means we don’t have to carry it, although that’s not guaranteed.
Here’s what we pack:
not pictured favorites:
- water coloring pad
- toy plane
Only bring a couple books or toys. We try to bring whatever our little one is interested in at the moment. Sometimes we bring legos, cars, a stuffed animal, blocks, toy animals, or some dollar store finds. For longer flights we may pack a little more items, but for the most part we keep it simple. We also try to keep occupied with items on the plane, like the pamphlets and cups.
We’ve surprised many people by the amount of food we bring from home through security and on the plane. You can actually bring quite a bit on board with you. This avoids paying for the airport priced food or being stuck eating something that’s unhealthy and not too tasty. We’d rather wait for our destination to eat out.
Here’s the TSA approved list of foods you can bring on the plane.
While we try our best not to pack too much stuff, food is one thing we don’t hold out on. We will cut up some fresh vegetables and bring fruits.
For Ruby, we pack some pouches which are perfect for on the go. Since we’re much more relaxed about what she eats on vacation we like knowing that she’s getting some good nutrients in the Sprout pouches. I like Sprout because of their plant-based focus, which is perfect for this mostly vegetarian family.
We like to bring along a snacky item too and we know all of kids love these puffs. I throw some in a baggie to save room. I feel a lot better giving her these Sprout toddler snacks over traditional kid snacks. They are for sure the ultimate item for keeping a toddler occupied.
We recently started to bring some chocolate with us too, which is our little girl’s favorite treat. We like to give her a little piece now and then when she’s doing well.
tip: when bringing baby food, place all the pouches in a large plastic bag so that it can easily be pulled out for security
Hopefully this gives you an idea of what to bring for your toddler on the plane. Obviously you know your child best, but remember the key is to keep it simple. There’s no reason to bring a bunch of stuff along with you, pick some items that they’re into and you’re not afraid of losing. We no longer bring along favorite stuffed animals after losing Smoky Bear in Barcelona. Either your child will be completely happy playing with a few toys or they won’t be interested in anything at all, which in that case no amount of items will help.
But, don’t forget the snacks, because they usually help. Here is a link to some coupons for some of these Sprout products shown, if you’re interested. If your toddler is anything like mine, they will love them too.
What are your must haves for your toddler’s carryon?
