Our family of five travels a lot. Since moving to México, my husband and I find ourselves traveling with kids more often than we did before we made the big leap. We are frequently back and forth to the states and as such, we’ve become pretty proficient at making our adventures as seamless as possible.

I’ve lovingly dubbed my three, who are aged 6, 5 and just shy of 4, The Terror Squad. If you’ve met them, or seen them on our YouTube Channel, then you know precisely why. Despite what this little nickname implies, we have had numerous successful flights with them. How? Because I am committed to being ‘that parent’ who is admittedly, painfully over-prepared.

Here are five of my best practices for smooth traveling with kids:

1. Perfectly Prepped Snacks

I always pack more snacks than I need. I prefer to be over prepared. But, I only pack what I’ll need for each individual flight leg. For example, I will put a small portion of three types of snacks, each in their own snack sized zipper bag. I will then put those three zipper bags into a larger zipper pouch and label it with the child’s name and which flight leg it’s for.

Each kid/flight gets a pouch. They can only access their own bag during the designated flight leg. This helps me to maintain enough goodies for the full trip as well as keeps the kiddos from over-eating. I inform them that that’s all they have, once it’s gone, it’s gone.

I also try my best to monitor their consumption by allowing them to choose one snack at a time and keeping the remainder of that flight leg’s pouch tucked inside my below the seat carry-on. They will not even see the other bag(s) of snacks until we board the next flight. Out of sight, out of mind.

I always choose familiar snacks, for us that’s cheese crackers, plain chips, cookies, etc., and then something fun like candy or a piece of chocolate. While healthy is important, I know my kids aren’t really fans of carrots and celery, so I choose stuff I know they will eat without hassle. I choose my battles on this one. I wish my kiddos liked celery and carrots more. Do yours?

I also typically hide a ‘special surprise snack’. I tell the kiddos if they act well, sit still, don’t fuss, etc., that mommy has something very, very special for them. Call it a bribe, or whatever you will, but for me and mine, I call it planning ahead. As they say desperate times call for desperate measures. Trust me when I say, an international flight with three kiddos definitely calls for special reinforcement!

2. Coloring Books and Crayons, Toys, and Devices

I pack a coloring book and blank paper sheets for each kiddo. I also place about 5-6 crayons for each child in their own zipper bag. Can you tell I love zipper bags? I am not trying to deal with the aftermath of the accidental spillage of a 56 pc crayon box.

Man Alive!

They really only need a few colors.

I also only allow 2 toys per kid and the toys cannot be balls, need to be relatively soft, and no smaller than the palm of my hand. I’ve allowed toy cars and bouncy balls before and trust me when I say, they will be dropped and they will be hard to recover! When you know better, you do better.

Our kiddos are still little, so we haven’t yet ventured into purchasing them their own in-flight electronic devices such as tablets, but we do allow them to use ours. We will, on occasion, allow them to watch a downloaded program or movie (thanks Netflix) with kid friendly headphones. Normally we try to limit screen time, but the cramped confines of a plane are perfectly suited for a few tv-zombie moments when possible!

3. Flight Timing and Directness

We do our best to schedule flights around our kids’ natural sleep patterns. We love early morning flights. Instead of PJ’s we let our kids sleep in their ‘plane clothes’ to make our pre-dawn exodus easier. We allow them time to play in the airport before boarding, and once the plane is in the air they’re usually out for a few hours. Same thing goes for evening flights or mid-day naptime trips.

We also try to find the most direct flight possible. Sometimes it requires a bit more money, but if we can still make a direct flight work within our budget, we choose to do so. I’d rather travel for 4 hours than 8 and so would the kiddos!

4. Layers upon Layers

Airplanes can go from hot to cold in an instant. With airlines limiting the amount of ‘luxuries’ they provide, gone are the days of receiving an in-flight blanket. So, we bring our own! I typically dress the kiddos in full length pants and a long sleeved shirt, socks and closed shoes. I pack a lightweight jacket for each kid and we own two very slim airplane blankets that easily slide into my carry-on.

Honestly, I travel the same way! If I’m too hot or too cold, I can easily add or remove layers. This allows me to get as comfortable as possible. Comfort helps me stay more centered and calmly focused on my kids’ needs. There’s nothing worse than being over-heated (or frigidly cold) in an enclosed space with fussy kids and disdainful travelers. Nothing!

5. Dance Parties

If you ever see my family in an airport awaiting a flight, you will likely also hear the sounds of KidzBop pumping from a mini-speaker. For our family, airport dance parties are lifesavers. We find a quiet area of the airport, within hearing proximity of the departure gate, and allow the kids to let loose. They dance and sing and kick and punch and get all the wiggly sillies out. If other families join in, we’re glad. The more the merrier!

During our party, we sometimes get the side-eye from other (child-less) travelers whom I’m sure are thinking, “OMG, I hope they’re not getting on MY flight.” But trust me, after all the activity, they’re precisely the kids you want on YOUR flight because they will be winded and hungry and tired. Buckle them in, serve up some snacks, turn on a device or tell them a story. More often than not, it’s lights-out not too soon after. This mini-fitness frenzy lets them get their energy out and promotes the need for physical rest once on the plane.

These practices have worked for us time and again and I will ride it ‘til the wheels fall off! That being said, I also recognize the need for flexibility, especially as kiddos grow and mature. I’ll revisit this again in a few years. By then, who knows, perhaps we’ll have a few Unaccompanied Minors on our hands. Won’t that be an adventure?!

How do you like to travel with kiddos? What are your best practices? I’d love to hear your tips and tricks below in the comments!