Tomorrow we are waking up bright and early for a traffic filled drive to the airport and hopping on a flight to Seattle. One of my oldest and dearest friends is getting married so we will be up there for 5 days sight seeing and celebrating. Plus, Elouise will be making her debut as the cutest flower girl this side of the Mississippi, or anywhere for that matter. The last time we flew with E she was only 7 months old, but she was the perfect little angel. Well flying with a walking, talking, very opinionated toddler is going to be a whole different experience I’m sure. However, I am prepared with all sorts of tricks and tactics to keep her happy so I thought I’d share with you guys what I’ll be packing in my diaper bag.

In my bag of tricks…

1. Snacks, snacks, and more snacks: Seriously, my kid can eat so I have all sorts of snacks for her. Some are healthy and some are for those moments of desperations where a special treats is necessary. You gotta do what you gotta do to survive. We especially love Annie’s Homegrown Organic products, this trip I have granola bars, cookies, crackers, and fruit snacks.
2. Target dollar spot loot: If you haven’t experienced this area of Target before part of me just wants to tell you to stay away because you will spend all of your money before you walk more than ten feet into the door. It’s also no longer just a dollar, but most things I buy for Elouise are $1 or $3. I snagged some sticker books, a blank notepad for the stickers to go, some play packs that have a mini coloring book, crayons, and stickers all themed to a specific character or movie (minnie mouse and frozen from my Disney loving girl), and some Frozen themed flash cards with shapes and colors.
3. Change of clothes: This might seem obvious, but I can’t tell you how many times I have forgotten to pack a change of clothes in my bag and had to run to my back up bag in the car. Well up in the sky there will be no access to a back up diaper bag, so you better believe I will have a change of clothes. You
4. Diapers and wipes: Again, another given but you never know how many diapers your kid will go through. It all depends on how long your flight is, but my girl has been know to poop multiple times in a matter of a couple of hours so you can never be to safe.
5. Honest spray hand sanitizer: This stuff is a germaphobe mother’s dream! I can literally spray this stuff on anything that need a quick clean up, from fallen toys to dirty fingers. I don’t know if you’re like me, but I’m convinced that airplanes are one of the most germ ridden places on the earth, so I know this will come in handy.
6. Plastic bag: Remember when I mentioned the need for a change of clothes? Well, you will need a place to put said messy clothes and the last thing you want is to spread that mess around the contents of your diaper bag. So trust me and bring a Target bag or two. Luckily they can be balled up really small and shoved into a random nook or cranny.
7. Empty water cup: One thing I seem to forget is that fact that my child is not capable of drinking out of a regular cup without the occasional spill. She often does so well with grown up cups that I let my guard down and then of course, the entire contents of the cup end up all over both of us. Remember that you cannot bring liquids over 3oz through security though so a full sippy cup is a no go. My tip is to bring it empty and find a place to fill it up while you wait to board.
8. Mini board books: Have you guys seen these before? They are my favorite because I can fit a couple of them in my diaper bag without them taking up space, and with my little book lover I need to have them at all times. You can usually find them in sets or, funny enough, kids meals. Yes, I am the mom who gets the book option over the toy option if its offered. I have also been known to get the dessert option and keep it for myself, oops.
9. iPad mini: Sometimes you need Disney Jr to the rescue. So we have downloaded a few episodes of Sofia the First and Doc McStuffins for those really desperate times where even fruit snacks won’t fix the issue.
10. Itty Bittys: I have shared before about my love for these adorable little toys from the Hallmark Store. They are names appropriately and are itty-bitty, about the size for a toddler to perfectly grip one in each hand. I will have two to four in my diaper bag, and Elouise is really into making her toys talk and interact. So, having only one is not an option.
11. Gathre micro mat: You never know when you will need to change a diaper or when your kid will insist on sitting on the ground. Having this bad boy in your bag means you never have to worry.
12. Pacifier on a Cutie Clip: The pacifier is used for sleepy time only in our house, so we are bringing it in the hopes that she will want to sleep on the flight. Maybe, please?
13. Mini wooden Frozen peg dolls: These are my new favorite things for Elouise, they are tiny, meaning they fit in my bag, and they are Frozen related meaning they will keep my girl happy. They also have a zillion other versions of these things, so you are not required to only get Ana and Elsa.
14. Blanket: Am I the only one who hates those dumb airplane blankets? They are so tiny and made of weird material. So I like to carry a swaddle type one that fits easily in my purse.
15. Change of shirt for mama: I mentioned about my toddler’s tendency to spill, and usually it will end up on both of us. It’s even more likely to end up on both of us when she’s sitting on my lap. So, just trust me and at least have an extra shirt for yourself.

So there’s my list of items, and I am hoping that the combination of those things will do the trick for our short flight. I will update you on how it goes. For now I will take all of your prayers and happy thoughts.

What are some essentials you have used for a long trip with your kiddos?