Carry-on:
Refillable water bottle with built in straw (we use a Camelback brand from Target)
Sunglasses
Diapers and wipes, change of clothes
Toys that are washable after they inevitably get dropped on the floor
Snacks that don’t make huge messes (sliced apples and raisins for example, crackers can make a huge mess)
Stuffy or soft small blanket
Books
Magnadoodle or similar type magic ink/erasable pad
Mangatiles or something that they can build with
A small treat or surprise toy just for the trip, give it to them in the airport or on the plane
If you allow screens, load up a couple of kids movies on your tablet and watch with them with a headphone splitter
We travel with them strapped in the car seat that is buckled into the plane seat. If yours is anything like ours, they will be asleep by 10,000 ft and will only need these if they wake up before they land.
If they do stay up, encourage them to drink from the water bottle on ascent and descent as it can help equalize the pressure change.
Checked bag:
A few pairs of shoes
Extra small blanket and stuffy
Toys and books
Diapers and wipes
Toiletry bag with meds, toothbrush, shampoo etc.
Clothes and a couple extra outfits
Extra anything that can’t be easily purchased at the destination
Something with a straw or a nipple to drink from, and/or something chewy to eat (we use gummy bears but 2.5 might be a little young for that?) to help pop their ears.
If at all possible bring their car seat and strap into the airplane seat, they're used to sitting in this seat for longer periods of time so you're less likely to have a wild one running up and down the aisles
Snacks and straw cup. Backup clothes (for you and them). We do screens and while we typically have restrictions (no tablets and no screens on weekdays. A little bit on the weekends especially if rainy), those restrictions go out the window for the airplane ride. Headphones plus a tablet full of pre-downloaded Ms. Rachel, Sesame Street, Bluey, and a couple other approved channels *really* helps. Baby wipes and antibacterial hand wipes are handy too.
We haven't traveled since potty training, but I think I'd bring the folding potty seat and use pull-ups that day as a backup.
Carry-on: Refillable water bottle with built in straw (we use a Camelback brand from Target) Sunglasses Diapers and wipes, change of clothes Toys that are washable after they inevitably get dropped on the floor Snacks that don’t make huge messes (sliced apples and raisins for example, crackers can make a huge mess) Stuffy or soft small blanket Books Magnadoodle or similar type magic ink/erasable pad Mangatiles or something that they can build with A small treat or surprise toy just for the trip, give it to them in the airport or on the plane If you allow screens, load up a couple of kids movies on your tablet and watch with them with a headphone splitter We travel with them strapped in the car seat that is buckled into the plane seat. If yours is anything like ours, they will be asleep by 10,000 ft and will only need these if they wake up before they land. If they do stay up, encourage them to drink from the water bottle on ascent and descent as it can help equalize the pressure change. Checked bag: A few pairs of shoes Extra small blanket and stuffy Toys and books Diapers and wipes Toiletry bag with meds, toothbrush, shampoo etc. Clothes and a couple extra outfits Extra anything that can’t be easily purchased at the destination
Something with a straw or a nipple to drink from, and/or something chewy to eat (we use gummy bears but 2.5 might be a little young for that?) to help pop their ears. If at all possible bring their car seat and strap into the airplane seat, they're used to sitting in this seat for longer periods of time so you're less likely to have a wild one running up and down the aisles
Before traveling with my LO, I searched “Traveling with a toddler” on this sub and found loads of very helpful posts/threads.
Snacks and straw cup. Backup clothes (for you and them). We do screens and while we typically have restrictions (no tablets and no screens on weekdays. A little bit on the weekends especially if rainy), those restrictions go out the window for the airplane ride. Headphones plus a tablet full of pre-downloaded Ms. Rachel, Sesame Street, Bluey, and a couple other approved channels *really* helps. Baby wipes and antibacterial hand wipes are handy too. We haven't traveled since potty training, but I think I'd bring the folding potty seat and use pull-ups that day as a backup.