Many parents are understandably freaked out by the prospect of long-haul flights with a busy toddler. While drugging them with cold medicine has its appeal, keep in mind that for many children the effect is the opposite — they may become hyperactive, and instead of a drowsy child, you’ll spend the flight trying to control a kid who is bouncing off the walls.
My advice? Request a bassinet seat when you book your tickets. Even though chances are your toddler will be too big to actually use the bassinet, it’ll score you a seat in the bulkhead row of the plane, which means no seats in front of you for your child to kick for the whole light, and a smidge of extra leg room. You can set up your little one on the floor with toys and hem them in with your legs, as they can’t go anywhere with the bulkhead wall in front of you. Best of all, if people do glare daggers at you whenever your child makes a peep, you won’t be able to see them as you’ll have your back to them.
Worried about what to pack for the flight? Here’s my list of tried-and-true must-haves for carrying on — both in your own bag and your child’s bag.
Evolu Travel Tower ($39) – While all of the products mentioned here currently meet airline standards for quantities of liquids and gels you can take on the plane, this travel tower is fantastic if you want to take something else but the bottle is too big. Comes filled with Crème Cleanser, Moisturising Day Cream, Replenishing Night Moisturiser, Soothing Eye Gel, Purifying Mask, and Nourishing Hand+Cuticle Cream.
Womama Nursing Singlet ($80 from www.womama.co.nz) — Even if you’re not breastfeeding, it’s so supportive and comfortable you can skip wearing a bra for most of the light.
The Herb Farm Holiday Travel Pack ($21.60) — A handy little three-pack containing Energise Cream, Lavender & Tamanu First Aid Cream, and Headache Away Cream (my favourite).
Trilogy Everything Balm ($36.90) — Really good for everything, from moisturizing dry skin to rubbing on cracked lips to smoothing down flyaway hair! I even used it as nappy balm on Emma Rose’s bottom.
Dr Hauschka Moisturising Mask ($87) — Air travel dries me right out, so I always take super-strength facial moisturizer to keep from turning into a wrinkled hag. Smooth it on, then remove after 20 minutes with a warm facecloth and you’ll feel fresh as a daisy.
Nappies and wipes if 
they’re not toilet-trained — Figure on one nappy per two-hour segment of your trip (including waiting at the airport and stopovers). I love Huggies travel packs of wipes as they’re great for cleaning sticky fingers and faces.
Nature Baby Organic Cotton Long-Sleeve Bodysuit ($19.95) and Organic Cotton Drawstring Pants ($24.95) — These are fantastic for wearing on the plane as they’re lightweight and soft against your child’s skin. I dressed Emma Rose in a set and packed two more sets in her Trunki, just in case — they fold up to almost nothing.
CARES (AU$89.50 from www.littlegulliver.com.au) — Forget taking your child’s carseat on board. This innovative, airline-approved harness works with a standard airline seatbelt to keep your child safely in their seat. All of the other parents on our flights were seriously jealous.
Play-Doh — Keeps kids entertained for ages and cleans up easily. Airplane tray tables are the perfect play surface.
Julius Alphabet Flash Cards (Chronicle $29.99) — These cards kept Emma Rose entertained for a good long while. She loved identifying the pictures, sorting them, stacking them, and even fanning herself with them. Sturdy and funky.
Only in Dreams, by Parker Jacobs (Chronicle $24.99) — Great
imaginative bedtime book to help get little ones off to dreamland.
Trunki (www.childsplay.co.nz for stockists) — This innovative carry-on suitcase doubles as a ride-on, which is great when you’re in the airport with a tired child who refuses to walk.
As seen in OHbaby! magazine Issue 3: 2008
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