Hand luggage for DCs

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Have booked our first holiday in 4 years! Very excited but out of practice….

Any recommendations/tips for hand luggage for DCs please? (2 and 6).
2.5 hours flight if any relevance.

Thank you!

When DD was that young I never brought any hand luggage for her, she didn’t really need an extra bag apart from her main suitcase so I didn’t feel the extra hassle was necessary! I only allowed it when she was old enough to be responsible for it herself

Small backpack for a book or snack for the 6 year old. Nothing for little one.

Get a Trunki for the 2 year old (but also put 6 year old’s bits and bobs in it). Makes life so much easier at the airport

I used to do a lot of train travel with small children and they each had a backpack. They were allowed to pack it themselves but we did make sure they had things that would actually entertain them. Other than that, if they have trunkies they have something to sit on in the queue.

Do not give the 2 year old any hand lugage.
Depending on how good the 6 year old is at carrying school bags/PE kits, consider a small rucksac.
Bag for you that leaves both hands free - I use a rucksack.
Small insert in your bag for 2 year old including activity and snack and water bottle (empty - fill with whatever the plane gives you to drink. Don't let the 2 year old loose with an unlidded cup on a plane that might experience turbulence.
Spare clothes for you all - see above!
As little as possible of anything else. You will end up carrying it all, and possibly the 2 year old as well.

Mine had back packs (did lots of long haul with just me as lived overseas) in their back pack they had colouring books, pencils, one cuddly toy, a book or two, sweets for take off bribery etc. unfortunately they hadn't invented trunkis or smart phones then!

I would then have the main hand luggage with spare clothes, nappies, snacks, medicine etc then my handbag was always cross body for the passports and money (no phone either!)

Both of mine have Trunki's (4 and 8). The standard Trunki is slightly bigger than the airline maximum hand baggage size but most airlines allow them on board anyway. Don't buy the larger Trunki as that will get taken off you and put into the hold.

They are a bit of a pita when they want to ride/pull them round the airport and it's packed. Prepare for people to shout at you and tears when you tell DC they have to carry it!

Personally I found Trunkis a nightmare, apart from the 15 mins they want to sit on them.
Annoying to access, annoying if the kids refuse to pull them, annoying if you need to move swiftly with the kids sitting on them, annoying to other passengers in a busy airport and expensive.

Lightweight backpack for the 6 yo, but make sure you can carry it along with yours and manage the kids if a backpack refusal moment occurs at the wrong time. Do they actually need their own hand luggage? There will be films etc. and you can put snacks / sticker book in your bag?

Tip - do not trust your DC to look after their own hand luggage. They will put it down in the duty free shop and walk off to look at something, they'll ride the Trunki down a corridor then run off and leave it etc. If you give them a bag each you'll be responsible for looking after three sets of hand luggage all the time! If there is anyway not to give them a bag each I'd go with that. My youngest didn't have his own at age two, his stuff was in his brother's case.

What do you actually need for a two hour flight? A magazine each? Some snacks? A bottle of water each? A pencil case to share? Could you just fit that in a carrier bag?

I'm going back a few years, but mine had a backpack. I'd bought a ring binder and in each (zip up) plastic wallet I'd made different activities that didn't matter if they got lost. Things like cardboard road pieces that could be put together in any configuration, with a toy car. Some drawing stuff, felt shapes to make faces/pictures etc. It worked really well while waiting in the airport for connections.

I use small child size rucksack for my 3 year old. Means he has entertainment stuff and snacks and water by his feet. Can shove jumper in later if warm.

I take change of clothes for him in case in my own bag.

We got DD a backpack with proper chest strap so it stayed on better.

It had a book, some crayons and paper, a magazine, stuffed toys and some toys in it.

When your children rely on a blanket, stuffed toys or anything else to sleep, do put it in your backpack. Never in the hold luggage.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vaude-backpack-Comfortable-Backpack-Magnifying/dp/B08L6631WN/ref=sr_1_25?crid=3TSZO3NK3JX2H&keywords=vaude+children&qid=1705251957&sprefix=vaude+childeren+%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-25

I bought my children a smiggle backpack each, told them to fill it with toys and books if their choice but told them they have to carry it do don’t make it too heavy!

we ended up using the kids back packs all the time whimsy away as it was handy to fill with snacks and drinks when going to the beach!

Is the hand luggage all you have or do you have hold luggage as well. It would help to know if this is just to keep them entertained on the flight or their clothes for a week.

Aah sorry should have given more detail. We have 1 x 20kg hold luggage. Then a bag each. Will that be enough? We are staying in an air bnb with washing machine if needs be! Also been reading about packing cubes in here 👀

But really good tips, thank you! Wouldn’t have thought of spare clothes. Like the zip lock bag idea

Did think of trunk but have heard they can be a pain

*trunki !

We have a microscooter suitcase for dc1. He had a trunki, but he is too big now. They are a bit of a pain because the wheels are fixed, but they are so good for pulling them along on. The scooter is brilliant.

Please don’t get trunkis. They are bloody awful and lethal in airports when people are moving around. Plus, they are so difficult to get in and out of and bulky. Rucksacks will be fine. Are they to carry activities and snacks etc or extra clothing?

@Snugglemonkey I have never heard of these! Off to google

I wouldn’t get trunkis, most airlines are getting stricter on hand luggage and the trunks of the large overhead option which you might not always need to pay for. Kids rucksacks can be used hands free at destination for walking around, beach, restaurants and then use at home also for days out or nursery