My family was stuck in Beijing for quite some time, but now I have made two big trips with a toddler in a short amount of time. Let’s be clear: I am a big over-packer, I take all I need and some extra. But I have gained some insight on what to take in your hand luggage to keep your kid (sort of) happy.

Blanket
Airplanes get cold, I get cold. So the airplane blanket is not enough. Make sure to dress warm and take your cozy blanket.

Snacks
I have found out that flight attendants are glad to feed ice cream to my child. She now thinks all airplanes have ice cream. My toddler’s sugar rush resulted in her climbing around the plane and running wild. I take my own sugar-free snacks now to keep her busy.

Earphones
The earphones they give out on long flights are poor quality. One broke in my daughter’s ear and we had to pry the piece out. Lesson learned: we take our own now, especially for kids.

Trunkie
I had never traveled with a trunkie before, but after surgery, I wanted to have an easy way to move my child around various airports, so I borrowed a trunkie. Lifesaver – I wish I got one way before. I throw her toys inside and pull her along when she is too tired to walk.

Clean clothes
For both parent and child, have clean clothes on hand. Spills happen easily, and long flights make you stinky. Clean clothes to the rescue. What do you take in your hand luggage?

Don’t forget about your luggage tags. Many people forget аbоut them аltоgеthеr аnd орt fоr thе рареr tags at thе аіrlіnе сhесk-іn, hastily scribbling dоwn their addresses and рhоnе numbеrѕ bеfоrе gоіng thrоugh ѕесurіtу. But thіѕ humblе tаg can make or brеаk the mоѕt mеtісulоuѕlу рlаnnеd trір. While mоѕt реорlе rarely think аbоut luggаgе tаgѕ, thеу can tell оthеrѕ mоrе than you wаnt them tо know.