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Plastic Straws
I love nature, but I emphatically do NOT love paper straws. Despite the cost to the environment (which I believe to be highly over exaggerated), I will always pack plastic straws for my kids to use. Basic math: I buy 1 juice for my son that is inexplicably in a non-recyclable container but has a paper straw. He is an average toddler, so he chews on the straw and destroys it, rendering the drink undrinkable because it’s full of straw pieces and unable to be drunk without said straw. My son is crying. I have to buy another. The cycle continues until we’ve spent $50 on juice. Then I cry. OR: I buy another brand of juice in a straw-free compostable/recyclable container, pull out my own straws and my child drinks happily. We’re living the dream. Turtles schmurtles.
Kids Plates, Cups, Silverware, Etc.
Sure, you put their sippy cups or water bottles in the diaper bag. But how does your toddler do with full-size forks and spoons? I’d recommend that you don’t find out 🙂 I only pack one place setting per child, and it takes very little space for the headaches it avoids.
Baby Nail Clippers
They take almost zero space, and can save the day. And remember, YOU can use them, but your child probably cannot use YOURS. So 1/don’t think ‘I’ll just use mine if baby needs‘ and 2/Leave your own at home – I know it’s not much, but it’s just one thing extra.
What? You don’t have this at the top of your list? 😉 If you, like me, are driven to insanity by stains on your kids clothing (I can’t stand putting my child in a shirt with a stain on it), treat clothing while you’re still on vacation! We always pack Dawn, because nothing will remove poop stains better, plus Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover, that tackles everything else and even comes with a travel-sized bottle! Note: these both are “must put in leak-proof bag” because for some reason, they are the number one things that end up leaking a little during flights. But for me, it’s still 100% worth it.
Baby’s PJs *In Your Diaper Bag*
If you are flying overnight, be sure to honor your child’s regular routine as much as possible, in the same way that the airline will attempt to feed passengers and dim the lighting at specific times to help everyone adjust to the time changes. After the evening meal has been served, or just before our usual bedtime, we always take the twins to the bathroom, put a night diaper and pajamas on, just like at home. We forgo teeth brushing and story time, but I try to turn off the screens and follow any sleep cues I see.
Doggy Poop Bags
There isn’t always a trash can/diaper genie available at a changing area. And there isn’t always a formal “changing area” available. So whenever I’ve had to create a makeshift one, I’ve been grateful for my little baggies. Mainly because, as a rule, if you cannot find a changing station, your baby will have a massively poopy diaper (#whyohwhy?). It’s handy to have a bag to wrap it up in until you can find a trash can. Also, some flight attendants (cough, Southwest, cough) will hand you a full-sized trash bag as you enter the bathroom to change baby’s diaper. I 100% get the intention – save the whole plane from the stink – but I hate the idea of using an entire trash bag for ONE diaper. So I kindly tell them I have my own baggies and offer to double bag it.
I will add to the list as my mind allows (#mombrain), but if you have any items you pack that you think I’ve overlooked, please comment below.
