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From activity books and tablets to wipes and snacks, heres everything you need for flying with littles.
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With limited space and hours to fill, flying can be particularly tricky.
“Flying is a treat, and screen time falls into that.”
It’s easy to pair with a phone or tablet through Bluetooth, too.
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“Plan ahead practice with headphones if your kids aren’t used to wearing them,” Hoffman recommends.
This one is two games in one.
Best Coloring Books
Melissa & Doug On The Go Water Wow!
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Reusable Color with Water Pad
Parenting expert Megan Winokur is a fan of coloring books when flying with kids.
I suggest this one from the tried-and-true toy brand Melissa & Doug.
Each mini pad has four reusable pages and a refillable water pen.
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When the wet brush swipes onto the pages, colors appear.
When it dries, the colors “erase” so the pictures can be “painted” again.
Most importantly, it’s a totally mess-free activity.
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Best Activity Book
Skillmatics Dot It!
Animals Art Activity
Winokur says sticker books are always a hit when flying with her kids.
“Dot It sticker art is one of our favorites,” she says.
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“It comes with over 500 easy-peel stickers and eight pictures to create.”
There are different themes, too, like space, dinosaurs, princesses, and dress-up.
“Less mess is always best!”
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The kid-size design holds 12 to 14 ounces of liquid and fits in most cup holders.
And besides the inevitable crumbs, they’re not terribly messy.
I often go with lollipops because they last longer than most other candy and take up negligible space.
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It can fit in a carry-on or be a kid’spersonal item.
The removable cover is also conveniently machine-washable.
The cordless, rechargeable Snooz Go is great for flights.
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It’s less than four inches in diameter and can connect to headphones via Bluetooth.
The kids' version are small and designed to fit children’s ears.
They also reduce noise by 20 decibels, which might help sleepy kiddos get some in-flight shut-eye.
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And, like lollipops, it’s a long-lasting treat that might feel special on a flight.
This classic variety pack has flavors both chewing gum-aged children and adults will enjoy.
Other options include ride-on luggage and parents' personal item bags to tote all the must-haves mentioned above.
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Best Kids' Suitcase
Rockland Jr.
Even those ages 7 or younger should be able to push and pull the compact, lightweight suitcase.
And the cute designs will get yourmini traveler in trainingexcited about the trip ahead.
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The designs cater to kids ages 4 through 8 and are versatile enough to grow with your child.
This one from Bugaboo is sophisticated enough for any adult to carry.
We tested it firsthand and loved the light, comfy design, intuitive pockets, and handy laptop sleeve.
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Parents can also reattach the pull strap and carry it over their shoulder.
Hoffman recommends bringing a tablet with downloaded shows or movies.
Something your child has never seen or used before might pique their interest best.
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Download shows or movies ahead of time so they can be streamed offline.
Aportable power bankmight be a good idea, too, just in case.
Make a list of these items, then consolidate them into one carry-on bag so everything is easily accessible.
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For some children, having their own luggage might get them excited about afamily trip.
In other cases, it may just be easiest for parents to consolidate everything into one suitcase.
“Anything goes as long as it’s not a liquid or over 3.4 ounces,” says Hoffman.
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