It is never easy, and you need to take a step back and think of ways to destress before you walk out the door to the airport. I've flown as far away as to China 4xs in one year with my daughter under 2, in addition to countless flights across the USA with two kids (now both 6& 3). Here are a few things that work for me.

1. Carry on basically what you need for the flight and about 4 hours after (in case of a delay etc). Don't be a mom who's become a pack mule. Bringing way to much to navigate and will only stress you out as you try to carry it all through the airport, security and of course on board. I try to layer my clothes, put the kids in easy comfortable clothes/soft cottons etc for the flight and change them into the nicer stuff after I arrive.

2. Minimize, kids items are priority. I make a backpack for under the seat and 1 overhead. My nice diaper bag and purse get folded up in checked luggage to use once I arrive. Depending on arrival location, you may need jackets or fleece stroller blanket. If you can try to fold this into your stroller when you check it at the gate. My Combi lightweight stroller was great and came with a carry bag, I could quickly pack it in the bag at the airplane door and throw a jacket and blanket in there. With the bigger infant stroller I would pack the kid's jackets in the basket underneath when I folded it up plane side.

3. Use a large size ziplock bag for a mini diaper changing kit, pack with a few diapers, cream wipes, recieving blanket to use a changing pad, that way when you are on the plane or in airport you just need to carry the zip lock not a huge diaper bag to the bathroom.

4. Be nice to the airport staff all the way....and the people standing in line around you, you never know who will be sitting next to you. Smile and say please and thank you etc... Don't stress and rush around or your kids will too.

5. Don't be afraid with a child who is walking or crawling to let them run around (literally) in the waiting area or better yet walk up and down the terminal hallway. Turn the airport experince into a trip to the science museum, explore and take in the wonders of the planes and ground crew, larger aiprorts also have play centers. It is better that the kids are active off the plane rather than when the seat belt light is on and you are the 10th plane waiting for take off.

My motto is the plane goes up and the plane will eventually land, so even my son's chant of "all done now" for the 10,000,000 time eventually ended. Try to redirect as much as possible and make the trip a fun experience, be excited, relaxed and enjoy the time you have to spend one on one time with the kids. Good Luck!

Posted By Agnes on August 21, 2009, 12:53 AM

My favorite travel tip is to pack my make-up bag a day or two before I leave on a trip. I then get ready for the day using the items from my trip-ready make-up bag and that way I am certain to have everything I'll need while I'm away. Works like a charm every time.

Posted By Ann Welch on August 21, 2009, 7:43 AM

I keep a small zippered bag packed with first aid items to toss in my checked luggage. It includes Band-aids, pain and inflammation reliever such as Tylenol or Advil, Imodium and/or Pepto-Bismol tablets, Benadryl for allergic reactions, Sting-Eze, some decongestant pills, small bottle of aloe vera for sunburn, etc. You can buy any of these things most places, but why spend valuable vacation time looking for a drug store? And you may get pain or an upset stomach in the middle of the night. Just update the drugs now and then so they don't get too old. Tailor the list to your needs--lots of suggestions on Internet.

Posted By Carol M. on August 24, 2009, 1:05 PM

I keep a plug-in night light for travel in the U.S. Most motels don't have them in the bathroom and they are great to use when you are staying in someone elses's house. When I travel abroad, I carry antibiotic pills that my doctor is willing to prescribe for sickness away from home. Don't bring the prescription and hope to fill it when you get sick.

Posted By Pam K on August 24, 2009, 3:15 PM

iGo! This has been a lifesaver over and over. It's a charging kit that is dual voltage and you can buy tips to fit most every electronic device you travel with, including iPods, computers, and Nintendos. It works in a regular outlet or a car, and can charge 2 things at once. It goes with us every single trip. (www.igo.com)

Posted By Ellen on August 24, 2009, 5:02 PM

For younger children:
Good advice on the comfort from above. Another big issue for parents with kids on planes is entertainment--
1) Purchase some cheap paperback children's books--easier to pack 10 of those to read to the kiddos in flight than 10 bulky board books. And if they're young enough to tear them (or eat them), no big deal.

2) Get one of those $5 drawing boards that you can erase with a sweep of the knob at the bottom--and with the "pen" on a string (no disappearing crayons under the seat)

3) Even young children will listen to their favorite songs on their headphones. Buy a pair that covers their ears--easier to put on. (But check volume before you do!) Hint: Play it in the car for a week before you go, so they enjoy it even more.

4) Some parents are against DVDs, but if you're in my camp of trying to keep yourself sane (as well as your fellow passengers), I'd pack a DVD player and a few episodes of whatever TV programming your child LOVES.

5) Check out the education store for travel-friendly and age-appropriate toys. Wrap a few of them up like presents--it will take a young child a minute or two to unwrap! (And isn't it all about filling those long hours of air time?)

6) Bring a blanket. You can make a little fort, play peek-a-boo (quietly)...and it can give the child comfort. If you're lucky, she'll go to sleep en route to your destination. :-)

7) Ask for an empty cup of 7up (yes, it has sugar but it's CLEAR if it spills). I kept little kids (of the "I do it myself" stage) busy for 20 minutes pouring one sip of soda in the glass at a time. They'd pick it up, drink, set it down, ask for more, I'd pour again, and so on...

8) Cash to buy the people around yourself an adult beverage that you place as far from roving toddler hands as possible. And a bit extra cashola in case you need to buy the people around you some love...

Posted By Lisa Bergren on August 24, 2009, 6:54 PM

Three words: PORTABLE DVD PLAYER

Posted By Lindsi on August 24, 2009, 7:08 PM

Bring more infant formula than you think you will need. There could be delays and the act of swallowing will help your baby’s ears adjust to the change in air pressure. You can also bring an empty baby bottle and fill from the water fountain in the gate area. Bring layers and booties for baby because the plane will be hot when people board but will cool down in the air. Unless husband will be along to help with bags, you may want to use a lightweight back pack as your carry-on so you can put baby in a front carrier and have hands free for boarding pass, etc. You will see other resources for lightweight travel if you put the dot com after my name and visit. -- Barbara DesChamps

Posted By Barbara DesChamps on August 24, 2009, 7:48 PM

I have traveled all over the world with my 2 kids as a single mom. From toddlers to teens we always each carry a back-pack. One back-pack has snacks. One back-pack has entertainment such as books, I-Pod, drawing paper, etc. My back-pack has the important stuff including my wallet, travel tickets and travel documents, camera, medicine and jewelery. The kids back-packs also have a change of clothes in case something gets spilled or our luggage is lost.

Posted By Heidi Netherton Kaufman on August 25, 2009, 2:11 PM

Pack a bag of fun activities that your kids haven't ever seen before. You can get fantastic prepackaged or custom kits from TravelKiddy or build your own at the local toy or discount store.

Posted By Jennifer Untermeyer on August 25, 2009, 4:06 PM

We enjoyed visiting amusement parks with our children when we travelled and when our children were small I always carried a current picture of each with a few vital stats on back just in case they got lost. Thankfully, it never happened but I always felt prepared just in case.

Posted By Gwenn on August 26, 2009, 11:18 AM

We have a pop up sun shade tent that we can fold and unfold in mere seconds. Weeks before we left for a three week self guided tour of Europe, my wife and I started playing "campout" with our child. We let her sleep in the tent on the weekends, and set it up in the corner of her playroom so she had a quiet place to "read" her books. When we were delayed in Barcelona, we broke out her tent, where she played for a few hours and eventually went to sleep. The "tent" came in handy in unfamiliar hotels, extra long train rides, an extrordinarily hot spring day while we were picnicing in the french countryside. It folds down next to nothing and weighs less then my wife's purse (well, that's not fair cause our luggage weighs less than my wife's purse.hehe) This allows your child to sleep and play in familiar surroundings. We took it once step further and taped pictures of grandpa and grandma and our dogs to the roof of the tent. She sits in there and looks up when she starts to get homesick.

Posted By Vince on August 26, 2009, 8:38 PM

We bring plastic fold up rain ponchos. It is surprising the equanimity with which one can greet a long wait outdoors, or a long walking tour, if you can just pull one of these out of your backpack, and fold it up and put it away as needed. Nothing will ever be spoiled by rain again. And having the poncho with you improves the chances of fair weather! If you don't have one, it WILL rain!

Posted By leslie on August 31, 2009, 11:21 AM

When my daughter was younger, we would take turns amusing her, one hour on and one off. That way one parent could read or nap on a long flight while the child had a story read or worked on a drawing. We always broughtsome bks hd not seen before so it would not be boring. the first time we went to Disney, I made sure to bring a photo and fingerprints since so many children are in those parks and it is easy to get separated. Also, most hotel rooms are not childproofed so bring plastic plugs, etc.

Posted By maria engel on September 5, 2009, 4:54 PM

We never fly without sanitizer wipes as our child loves to touch everything and you know how filthy planes are. I also agree with the DVD - we have been through 5 of them and they are worth every penny. A cell phone can be great play with too take pictures, type in numbers, listen to ring tones...etc. Finally, I always make sure to have my son smile and wave at the flight attendents. They think he is cute and he usually is rewarded with extra snacks and blankets.

Posted By Erica on September 18, 2009, 8:46 AM

How come when I smile and wave at the flight attendants I don't get anything but an elbow in my ribs from my wife? Age discrimination I say.

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