Joan Caballero – a personal blog

I love travelling but sometimes travelling with young kids can be a little nerve wracking and let’s be honest, one of the most stressful things we’ll ever do as parents! But fear not, brave parents! With a dash of patience, a sprinkle of in-flight beverages and these top 3 items in your carry-on, you’ll be cruising at 30,000 feet with ease. Today, let’s dive into the must haves for a tantrum free travel experience with your pint-sized explorers.

Fiji is a beautiful country with the most beautiful people only a short 3.5 hour plane ride so it’s a great destination if you’re travelling with young kids. We travelled between Christmas and New Years and it was the perfect little getaway and home away from home.

1. The Almighty iPad: Turn “Are we there yet?” into movie magic 

Picture this: you’re mid-flight, there’s a child having a tantrum, you look over and it’s not one of yours! The relief you’ll feel is basically a holiday in itself!

The secret? Make the iPad a “new” toy by staging a pre-trip tech-detox, so it’s a “new” toy when they receive it on the flight. I know this may not work for everyone, but trust me, it’s a game changer!!

If you want to go that little extra step, do like we have and only unleash the iPads during vacations – whether that’s long drives interstate or flying on a plane. We don’t have games on our phones either. We made this rule pretty early on when Lily and Allegra were little after we saw how addicted Jose was as a child haha. He was constantly on a phone and was basically being raised by an iPad so we decided to make changes when our other kids were born. 

Everyone knows where to buy iPads from but incase you still need a little bit of help, this is the one we have.

Pro tip: The iPad detox might be challenging initially, but offer alternative activities and they’ll forget all about it. And hey, if iPads aren’t your thing, feel free to substitute with your preferred entertainment device.

2. Spare clothes: Because accidents happen (especially at the worst possible time)

When nature calls unexpectedly, you better be prepared! Pack spare clothes and underwear for your tiny adventurers and yourself. We’ve all been there - a delayed check-in, a lengthy security line – and suddenly, your little one can’t hold it in any longer. Spare clothes saved us from unleashing a urine-scented typhoon on other passengers. Trust me, the gratitude from your fellow flyers is worth the extra luggage space.

This is especially true if you have even younger children who are still in nappies. My friends son, 1.5 years old, was a little sick on our holiday. On their flight home (not the same flight we were on), the poor child released all that viral infection and it spilled out of his nappy, went all over his mum (my friend) who was holding him AND ONTO ANOTHER PASSENGERS FOOT AND BAG!!! There was only 45 mins left of the flight but that would’ve felt like hours with the smell. I felt so bad for my friend when she sent us photos of what happened and all I could think of was all the passengers and staff who had to sit through it. Oh man. Literally my worst nightmare!! So pack some extra clothes!! Chances are you won’t need them but incase you do, you’ll be glad you have them.

Bonus: Packing cubes are your best friends. Keep everything organised, easy to find and avoid that frantic search for spare undies.These ones are durable yet soft and easy to wash.

3. Snack Attack: Conquer hunger with a bento buffet

In-flight meals can be hit or miss, especially with picky eaters like mine. I packed a bento lunchbox full of their favourite foods and I even packed some fruit as well (just remember to finish the fruit before landing – Fiji’s trick on the no-fruit policy). The bento lunchboxes also came in super handy when my kids didn’t want to eat alot of breakfast, so I’d ask the staff if I could take a croissant or two and some other goodies for them to munch on later in the day. 

We used this Bento Box and the compartment to keep utensils helped keep it organised so I wasn’t rummaging through my bag for them. There’s a whole heap of other benefits too like dishwasher safe, made from BPA plastic etc etc but I wasn’t concerned with any of that. The utensil case is what sold me on this one.

Chewing gum and jelly lollies come in handy during take off and landing, ensuring those little ears pop without a fuss. 

So there you have it, my top 3 carry-on essentials for a smooth ride with your kiddos. Next up, we’ll tackle the checked luggage and spill the beans on the best spots to stay and play in Fiji with your kids. Bon Voyage!