Traveling with Baby

The excitement of raising children never ends. Just when you feel like you have a handle on something, a new challenge will arise! I have done my fair share of traveling with baby's and toddlers now, even with them only being 1 and 2 1/2. We have flown from Japan.....a 12 hour flight!...with a 9 month old. I have flown with a 13 month old while 7 months pregnant. By myself. We have flown with a 6 month old and 1 1/2 year old. And we have driven two 3 day long car trips with them. I think that I have learned a lot since that first flight from Japan. Here are a few of my tips.
Snacks. This is obvious and huge. Lots of easy snacks that they like. It is not the time to try something new....unless they are older and it's a new candy or something. And not too messy. You will probably be confined in a small space and who wants food spilling or sticky fingers! So keep it simple....gold fish, cheerios, fruit snacks, ritz crackers, string cheese.
Toy Bag. I like to give the kids their own bags filled with things specific for them. For the older child I put a change of clothes, favorite blanket, lots of small toys and books, and a couple new toys, and her snacks. When we first started traveling with the youngest it was just a diaper bag with the essentials. Now she gets a bag of fun stuff too:)
Relax. As most parents figure out very quickly....nothing goes according to plan. If you just expect things to happen it makes it easier. You will probably have to change a few diapers on the ridiculously tiny changing tables in the already tiny bathroom on the plane. Or on your lap if you luck out like I have and they don't have a changing table. Expect diaper blow outs so bring a few extra outfits. Bring bibs even if they children no longer wear them at home. Just expect things to take longer and be complicated, that way you don't get stressed when they do.
Going through security. Doing that with children is an ordeal people without children don't understand. The worst time for me was when I flew while pregnant. I had my 13 month old in the stroller....which thankfully you can check at the gate!....and I had to get my bag up on the scanner thing, get her out of the stroller and try to keep her with me, take off my shoes, fold the stroller and get it up on the belt, then walk through. All while gigantically pregnant!! Then reload all of it while not having the baby run off! I was ready for a drink after that lol! But being pregnant I had to wait for that ha ha! When we flew with both daughters it wasn't so bad because my husband was with me. He took the oldest in the stroller and dealt with that. I had the baby in our Ergo. I took her out and took that off to go through the scanner. Of course after I got through they told me I could have left it on with her in it! Would've been nice to know before hand! I have so many stressful stories....but honestly we have learned from each. The sweetest thing was when I was flying alone and pregnant, my daughter started getting antsy. A sweet lady sitting across the aisle offered her a banana. And it made her day!! She was instantly calm and happy:) I wear comfortable clothes and expect to have a sweat after any travel with kids, but planning ahead makes all the difference.