Take some of his favorite candies and snacks . We took some rubber candies he likes , and chupa-chups.

If you have an laptop or any tablet computer, record his favorites movies.It can distract and relax the kid during the flight.Favorite books and toys are also good.

If the child is bigger, you can have some color pencils and do some painting during the flight.

Dress your self and your child in comfort clothes ,and don’t forget to pack an extra set in your carry-on bag.

Grab an extra blanket and pillow, it could be cold during the flight.

A couple people mentioned the bassinet but I need to emphasize just how great it is – if you can get it. Most airplanes can attach a bassinet to the front of the each cabin section if you have those seats at the front of the bulkhead. It’s like a free seat and with any luck you can lay your kid out in it and they’ll sleep like – uhm, gotta say it – a baby. We were fortunate enough to get it 3 out 4 legs of our trip to Bali and our youngest got a good 15 hours of sleep in it all together.

Take a couple changes of clothes. I had one flight where my youngest got sick and we went through 3 or 4 different outfits. You never know what’s going to happen or how long you could be in that plane.

Most flights won’t have milk. If you’re child drinks – and depends on – cow’s milk you’ll need to take it with you, probably buying it from a shop in the airport after you pass security. Though technically you should be able to take it through it’s usually just easier to get it on the plane-side of the security check.

If you’re crossing a border and traveling as a solo parent be sure to have a signed affidavit from the other parent showing they consent to the child’s travel plans or you might not be able to board the plane.

Final tip: you can usually send anything big, say a stroller, under the plane into cargo at the actual gate. So for example, you could use your stroller to get around the airport, wheel it up to the gate as you board the plane and they’ll tag it and take it away. When you get off the plane at your destination it’ll be waiting there for you just as you exit the aircraft.

Hope that helps anyone planning a trip.

David

This is what I experienced a yesterday with a couple flying with an infant. The wife is seated by the window with the baby in her lap. The husband is sitting on the aisle. He decides to amuse himself by playing with his laptop. This laptop is 17″. It is bigger than the tray table. Space is tight on the jets as it is. There is barely room for the baby.

I start the beverage service. The wife asks for coffee. She tells me to give it to her husband. I serve him the coffee. I move to the next row to begin service. I feel something hot splash on me and burn my legs. I look around the husband has spilled the hot coffee on the laptop keys. I give him napkins so hopefully the laptop is not ruined. Then I realize that the wife is holding the hot coffee and the the baby. I grab the hot coffee away from the mom with the baby.

If the baby had been burned we would have had to make an emergency landing to rush the baby to the hospital. Fortunately only adults were splattered with hot liquids.

Packing for babies is very difficult. Sometimes the dad becomes a pack horse who is hitting the passengers with diaper bags, car seats, strollers, and other carryon items. He can’t make it down the aisle to the seat. He is carrying so much stuff. Please use common sense. Are you really going to use all that stuff. Where are you going to stow it on a plane. The family ends up being uncomfortable with very little room for their legs and feet. Definitely nowhere for the baby to move either.