Wallet?  Check.

Suitcase?  Check.

Tickets?  Check.

It used to be easy preparing for your flight but now you have small children who are not accustomed to being confined to small places for very long.  At least not small places with lots of strangers who think everything your child does is adorable.

I’ve collected a few pointers to help you have a successful flight with your child.

1.  Schedule the flight for the best time of the day.  I know this one will be obvious to most of you but it should be said anyway.  5pm is the best time to take a flight with your child (some families call it Crappy Hour but I don’t know why).

2.  If your child is under two, let them ride on your lap.  A toddler, who enjoys walking more than anything else, will be pleased as punch to sit on your lap for four hours straight.

3.  Pack in-flight entertainment.  Your children are going to need something to do on the plane.  Throw in a few surprises to keep them occupied.  I suggest a portable drum set, finger paints, and an easy-bake oven.

4.  Be conscious of how much you are packing.  Just like you did before you had children, pack the entire contents of your house.  You never know if you’re going to be invited to a formal ball while on vacation.  FYI:  Your Pack n’ Play is an appropriate carry-on item.

5.  Prepare the kids.  Starting about a week before, now is the best time to initiate a transition for your child.  Have they become attached to a pacifier?  Time to break the habit.  Breastfeeding?  It’s weaning time!  The happiest babies on the plane are those who are in some sort of developmental crisis.

6.  Don’t forget about yourself.  Pack that biography of Queen Elizabeth I or the latest Daniel Day Lewis movie that just came out on DVD.  You’re going to get bored with all that extra time on your hands during the flight, it’s best you entertain yourself too!

7.  Plan for pre-flight and post-flight activities carefully.  I like to feed my children fiber-rich foods prior to flying, it works out pretty well, if you know what I mean.  Post-flight, it’s best to plan an exciting activity as soon as landing.  Think Disneyland. Your children are likely to feel completely rested after their flight and will want to do something stimulating.

I’ll be flying with my family over the Thanksgiving holiday and I know many of you will be doing the same.  Hey, maybe I’ll even share a flight with you.

Bon voyage!