Yes.  You’ve heard it before.  TRAVEL LIGHT.  In fact, if you can get away with taking just a carry-on bag…do it.

In light of new TSA regulations, it seems that you will need to be clever and prepared as well.  I was just about to upload an article about packing tips, when the new TSA ‘no gels, no liquids, no toothpaste, no creams’ regulations went into effect.  The carry-on regulations vary airport to airport, but in general:

1. All liquids and gels must be in containers of 3 oz. (100 ml. in Europe) or less.  All your liquids and gels containers must fit inside a single quart sized Ziploc bag. 
   

So, what’s a parent of a Travelling Kid to do?

Now, we all know that travelling with just a carry on is a thing of the past when you are travelling with kids.  So, checking things is not a problem.  However, it is nice to have some creature comforts on board with you and who wants to have to go buy new stuff, kids in tow after a 12 hour flight? 

So:

1. First I’m going to make some suggestions about things you CAN take on board to substitute for the newly banned items. 

2. Secondly, I will continue with the packing tips article that I was originally going to upload. It should prepare you for just about any eventuality at the security checkpoint, etc.

1. NOTE! Security regulations change all the time and vary by country.  So know before you go.  They may have even changed since I updated this last. 
   

1.   For EU carry on rules: www.ec.europa.eu or go to the airport website
   

1.   For US:  www.tsa.gov
   

1. DON’T SUFFER!  JUST SUBSTITUTE!
   

TOOTHPASTE:  12 hours to London with no toothpaste!  Ugh.  So, buy some toothpowder.  Old fashioned, but it works.  It is good for your teeth and comes in various mints, citrus and fruit flavors.  You can buy it just about anywhere, but here’s a reliable company:

http://www.mothernature.com/shop/sections/index.cfm/s/98691 

CREAMS:  It’s dry up there.  Skin screams for re-hydration.  So, my suggestion is buy a tin of Shea Butter.  It’s solid as solid can be and you just rub it between your hands to warm and emulsify it and you can put it on your face or body.

DEODORANT:  Switch to solid, which is still allowed on board.  

MISC.: Things you can still bring on the plane include solid lipstick and small doses of over the counter liquid medications.  You can also bring 3oz. or less containers of gels and liquids, but all must fit into a small quart-sized ziploc which you must present to security.  If you give Triaminic or Benadryl to your kids to help with their sinuses and ears, you will need to decant the meds into a small container.  Better yet give kids the meds in the terminal before clearing security in case you get an overzealous security person.  There are some chewable and ‘meltaway’ varieties of Triaminic and Benadryl as well, but that is only for older kids.  You may also want to get a letter from your pediatrician and, in fact they may have ‘sample sizes’ of the meds they can give you for the trip.  As of this writing the TSA is allowing 3 oz. of over the counter meds.  In general, it is an excellent idea to get letters from your physician for any meds you may travel with.  

(For more on meds read my Rx On the Road article)

THE CONDITIONER/SHAMPOO problem:  First of all, you won’t need these on the plane.  Second of all you can pack them, but DOUBLE zip loc them.  No. Make that triple.  Trust me on this one.  That goes for any toiletries that you check.  Also, if ‘they’ lose your luggage, you can usually buy shampoo and conditioner at any store almost anywhere in the world. 

At the time of this writing, many hotels have stepped up to the plate and are offering toiletries gratis to their customers.  The pioneers so far are: Marriott, Omni, Wyndham and I am certain that the other majors will follow.  Also, Avis is offering Crest toothpaste to customers.  Nothing like marketing in a crisis. 

GREAT TIP:  I buy witch-hazel individual packets in bulk.  I travel with them wherever I go.  You can wash yourself anywhere…I mean anywhere with these.  Great for planes, strange toilets, ice cream spillage, icky hands, anything. They also are great for scraped knees, bug bites and the like, not to mention that witch-hazel is a natural deodorant.  The packets are small and fit anywhere.

1. SO, WHAT THE HECK DO I PACK AND HOW?

   

   
   

In the UK they are only allowing ONE bag. I recently had to pack my purse INSIDE my carry-on or they were going to make me check a bag.  If you are travelling out of other airports you can still bring your carry-on, but you never know what will happen.  So, what’s a Travelling Parent to do? There are ways to get more space for your carry-on buck.

CARGO PANTS/VEST:  Even before the new regulations, I travelled with cargo pants.  It expands my carry-on universe.  I can put toys, napkins, and all sorts of things in them. Not exactly runway material, but functional.  If you opt for the vest, you can pretend you are a journalist.

TRAVELLING WITH A WHEELIE? Slip in a small thin bag: 

Here’s why.  You never know when:

a.An overzealous gate or flight attendant will not allow your bag on board. (who, I actually do not blame, as people take advantage of the carry on rules and take too much or sometimes the flight is just to darn full).  Also, in light of new security problems, you should just plan on this possibility, period end of discussion.

b.You are travelling overseas and connect to a European Carrier that weighs the bag and allows 6 kilos only.  Many wheel-a-boards practically weigh that much empty! 

c.The overhead is packed and they ‘gate check’ your bag.

d.You connect to a ‘puddle jumper’ prop plane that never allows wheel aboards or large bags of any kind.

So.  If ‘they’ want to take your bag away, smile nicely and say calmly: “Would you be so kind as to give me a minute to take out some important papers and medicines from my bag?”  Then get as much out of eyesight as possible in a corner and stuff as much as you can into the bag.  They won’t ‘weigh it’ again, or leer at the size, etc. I’ve managed to get almost everything into another bag (s) and make it on board knowing that I have the essential things I need for my trip.

The key is: remain calm and carry a big thin bag.

Your extra bag can be as fancy as one of those nylon bags that fold into nothing or just a very strong doubled plastic bag with handles or do as the stars do and bring a heavy duty shopping bag with rope handles from a high end shop (they hold tons).  I am a fan of both the shopping bag and the large “Baggalini” brand bag that folds into next to nothing and it zips.  I have used the “Baggalini” one on return trips and stuffed all my dirty laundry into it and checked it and have used my carry-on for all my new cool souvenirs and gifts.  My actual all time favorite extra bag is a thin nylon bag with handles that I picked up at a Japanese ‘99 cent type’ store in LA.  You can also make your own tote bag out of thin, sturdy silk...in all your copious free time.

THE SUIT BAG TRICK

Okay.  The cheapest, thinnest, flimsiest, $10.00 (or free) suit bag is indispensable in some situations. It’s a great way to expand your ‘hauling capacity’.

Example:  You are travelling with carry-on to a wedding.  Just put a single hangar in the suit bag with a couple of things that need to not be folded and hang it over your shoulder as you get on the plane.  They usually will let you on with no problem and let you hang it in the coat closet.

Sometimes this depends on your class of service – but I’ve used it in coach many times.

Now in light of new TSA regulations, this ‘trick’ as an additional bag may not float…however you may consider it as an alternative carry-on that has less likelihood of being confiscated because it is not big and bulky.

THE BIG PURSE WITH POCKETS

I take a purse that has lots of zippered pockets.  I can keep my tickets, wallet, a magazine, brush; mini toiletry items…all the things I need.  This works as long as I am not connecting through London.

THE JACKET WITH POCKETS

When I traveled with my 4 month old I filled my jacket pockets with everything from toys to diaper wipes.

LABEL EVERYTHING!

You never know when your bag will be whisked away from you.  Prepare for that eventuality and make sure all your stuff is labeled inside and out and has your itinerary with contact numbers clearly printed. 

1. OTHER TIPS:
   

Things to bring:

CLOTHESPINS

The amazing versatile clothespin…not just for clothes anymore.  Great to close any type of bag of food you may have opened on the road or are keeping in your room to snack.  Great, of course, to hang up your hand laundry in any situation…from hangers or use them to help suspend a string to hang things from.  I’ve used them to close unruly blinds and hold papers down in the wind.  They are also useful to close portable diaper bags so ‘you know what’ doesn’t pollute my hotel room, airplane cabin, etc.  You can clip all sorts of things you never thought you needed to clip.

ZIP LOC BAGGIES – every size.  My essential bag is the big 2-gallon size.  You can use it for tons of things.  Sealing wet laundry.  Doing laundry with out a sink…you can use it like a mini washing machine.  The bags take up no room and you will use them!  Also, in the UK this is the ONLY kind of bag you could bring onboard for a while.  Be prepared with some zip locs.

SINK STOPPER.  FLAT RUBBER Rubbermaid.  Simple but effective.  I’ve used it on every trip I’ve ever taken.  Hotel sinks and bathtubs seem to have either no stopper or the stopper doesn’t seal.

SWISS ARMY KNIFE.  Only if you are checking bags.

TUPPERWARE: Tupperware is essential. I pack food items in them on the outbound.  During the trip I use them for food, sand toys, you name it.  I often just use large yogurt containers for sand buckets and then recycle them.  Stuff them with socks when you pack and they take up no room. 

TAPE:   Bring small rolls of duct tape and regular tape.  I have used both many times.  Again, they take up no room.  I’ve repaired stroller malfunctions and broken toys with tape.  This last trip to Athens, I put together a box to take home a large item that I purchased.  I padded it with old, dirty clothes, taped it shut, taped a label and checked it onto the plane.  You can also child-proof a hotel room: covering outlets, taping sharp corners, etc.

VIALS OF ESSENTIAL OIL: I travel with lavender (antiseptic and smells good) and geranium (repels bugs and smells good).  You can make a bad smelling room smell good, scent your pillow, put the oil on a bug bite, prevent a bug bite, etc.   You will have to check these now unless you carry small vials.  Boo hoo.

OLD FASHIONED DIAPER PINS:  Solves a small dilemma.  You have to check things, but you can’t lock your bags (at least in the US).  Pin the zippers together with old fashioned SAFETY diaper pins.  They are a tad enigmatic to open and will discouraged zip and grab thievery. Not fool proof, but most thieves will usually just go for what seems easy.   If the TSA wants to check they can still open the bag.  You can also use the pins for other stuff during the trip, like torn items. 

ON BOARD CLIMATE CONTROL

The plane is very cold or very hot and stuffy or both  - meaning within 10 minutes it can change.  And who wants to sleep in their jacket?

I ALWAYS take on a pashmina shawl.  It’s very cozy and great for layering on the trip as well whether the trip is for biz or pleasure.  Dad’s can bring a light jacket or heavy long sleeved shirt. Depending if it’s biz or pleasure.  My husband always takes a heavy cotton Ambercrombie and Fitch over shirt to wear over his shirt if it gets cold.  He also travels with a long sleeved cotton sleep shirt for long haul flights and changes into it as soon as the seat belt light goes off. 

If you want more information about the TSA rules:

www.tsa.gov

For more on meds read my Rx On the Road article

For more info on what to pack read: What To Take: Carry On musts and Beyond