Traveling with Twins: What Should I Bring on the Plane?
Welcome to TwinGo Carrier's Traveling With Twins Series, where each week we will answer new questions about the logistics of traveling with twins. We'll help you coordinate everything from stroller storage to in-flight baby soothing, and everything in between. Heading on a trip with your twins this summer? Fear not! We've got you covered.
Traveling with your twins, triplets, or more can be overwhelming and there’s usually a lot of questions about logistics going through a parent’s mind. Summer is coming and I’m getting lots of questions about flying as people plan summer vacations. It can be very stressful taking babies on a plane and that intensifies when you have more than one child to worry about. Many of these tips are general tips for flying with a baby and some of my adapted tips that are particular to flying with lots of toddlers and babies. We regularly fly domestically and internationally with my now 1-year-old twins and 2.5-year-old singleton. Hopefully these answers will help you understand some of the regulations and choices you have when flying and some extra tips to make it as easy as going to the park for the day.
#4 What should I bring on the plane?
This is often what scares parents the most. What should I bring on the plane to keep my babies or toddlers from screaming the entire flight? We often play what-if games and feel the need to bring supplies for every possible situation. In our experience, bringing less is always easier to manage. I bring the same supplies on board as I would if I was taking my kids to the park to play. Going to the park with 3 toddlers isn’t easy so it’s more than I’d like to carry on but you do not need the kitchen sink. Bringing unnecessary items requires more logistics and its more to carry around. I pack a typical diaper bag that I can carry with my TwinGo on and manage myself. When I fly by myself I limit myself to this bag. I add a rolling bag with food for my son with dietary challenges and their lovies for longer flights. Here are some of the essentials to not skip out on:
-
Diapers and wet wipes. Always bring extra diapers than what you think you’ll need. I usually end up changing my little ones diapers before each flight even if they’re barely wet to attempt to avoid needing to change them in flight. Wet wipes are useful for a variety of messes toddlers always leave behind on the go.
-
A change of clothes in a Ziploc or wet bag for each kid. I stick with plain white onesies or a set of pjs as my backups. Don’t forget a T-shirt for each parent if it will fit.
-
Snacks. Bring lots and lots of snacks. They are way more effective at distracting an upset baby or toddler than toys. But only what they can realistically eat. My husband once tried to pack an entire backpack of snacks for 1 toddler for a 3 hour flight. He was happy with 2 or 3 packs of fruit snacks and some crackers.
-
A few toys. I try to pack toys that have a lot of interaction for my kids’ age range. Right now this means lots of places to chew on and rattle for my twins. My older toddler brings his kindle, a car, and a coloring tablet that erases and has big writing pieces that attach to it. For any toys, I buy the toy “leashes” and attach them to the tray table bar. It is hard to keep picking up a toy under the seats while managing toddlers. They’re worth the $2 to keep everyone happier.
-
Soothing items. For my twins, this is their pacifiers (don’t forget a leash for these either, or be sure to bring extras). For my toddler, it is his lovie. They tend to get sleepy on the plane and these items make them more likely to go to sleep which makes everyone happier.
- An easy to eat snack for the adults. If you have a quick layover or unexpected delay it’s hard to grab a quick snack with multiples because you’re spending time just getting between the gates, waiting on gate checked items, or in the bathroom. You may not need it, but if mom or dad is hungry it’s a lot harder to handle children.
Be sure to check out our other Traveling with Twins tips!
Q: Can My Baby Sit on My Lap?
Q: Should I Take My Stroller?
Q: What Should I Do About My Stroller?
Q: What Should I Bring on the Plane?
Q: How Do I Get All This Through Security, and What About Liquids?
Q: How Do I Get Everything and Everyone on the Plane?
Q: How Do I Survive the Flight?
Aja Harris is a mother of three toddlers and the wife of a US diplomat currently residing in Moscow, Russia. She frequently flies with her 2.5-year-old son and twin 1-year-old daughters around the world and throughout the United States. They have taken their children to over 15 US States and 4 countries via planes, trains, and automobiles. She hopes that this article encourages families to be adventurous and eases the worries of parents getting ready to fly with their little ones for the first time. You can follow the Harris family’s adventures on Facebook at The Wandering Chaos.
