As a mom who loves to travel, I am always on the lookout for anything that will make flying easier on the whole family. Products that make the flight more comfortable, entertaining and less stressful get my thumbs up. (I am not affiliated with these products or their sellers in any way. I just happen to think they’re neat.)
Top Pick: CARES Harness
Here’s some info. from the CARES web site: CARES stands for Child Aviation Restraint System. CARES is a harness-type safety device designed for children who weigh between 22-44 lb. and are sitting in their own airplane seats. (About 1-4/5 years old.) CARES takes the place of a car seat when traveling by air with your children and provides an equivalent level of safety (ELOS) to a car seat. (Stated in the FAA certification designation). CARES weighs 1 pound (car seats weigh 15-20 lb.). CARES comes in a 6 inch stuff sack that fits in a pocket or purse. (Car seats are over 2 feet high, 20 inches wide, heavy, bulky and hard to carry) CARES is designed specifically for air travel: it is portable, light weight and easy to use. CARES takes one minute to install on any airplane seat and augments the regular lap belt. Parents who need the car seat at the other end of trip can ship it through as luggage, and carry their CARES on board. We’ve been using this harness for a little over a year now and have had no problems. It certainly beats lugging a car seat around the airport.
Comfort Pick: Child’s Travel Pillow by la Terra e l’Albero
http://www.laterraelalbero.it/scheda_prodotto.php?riposino
A natural neck pillow (filled with buck wheat, I think) from an Italian company that I love. We have several of their other products as well.
Entertainment Picks:ColorPals Caterpillar
http://www.buycolorpals.com/page/2
No more chasing crayons around the plane! The crayons fit into the plastic cups and don’t come out easily. Cute and cuddly too.
Sticker Activity Books
We don’t have this particular title, but I can’t say enough about the hours of fun sticker activity books can provide. You can usually find them at your local cartoleria, as well as at bookstores. The best ones have slick pages that allow the stickers to be placed and then removed many times.
iPhone apps./tv programs for iPods/iPhones
If you have an iphone and a child, then you probably already know about these, but it’s worth mentioning again.
This is the Preschool Adventure App. available in the US iTunes store for 99 cents. My daughter loves the various games, especially the matching game.
I also recommend downloading tv shows for kids onto your iPhone/iPod. iTunes has many to choose from, but some of my daughters favs. are Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Little Einsteins. These can be a life saver if you’re stuck on an older plane without the personal tv screen in front of you.
Kids Gear Headphones
Here are some headphones to go with your iPod/DVD player, etc. They’re designed to fit children ages 2. They also have built in volume control to protect sensitive little ears. These fit my daughter perfectly and I like the fact that they’re padded.
Snack Storage Pick: Snack Sax:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/47946560/dino-dudes-snaxsax-three-pack
These are my go-to gifts for moms with toddlers. Here’s a description from Etsy:
Re-usable cotton bags are lined with a water repellent nylon. They are moisture resistant, so your sandwich or snacks will stay fresh all day! Nylon has been determined to be food safe by the FDA. Snag-free hook and loop tape (Velcro-type) zips the baggies shut at the top to keep food & freshness in & keep little hands from getting scratched 
A tag on the side and a little clip make it easy to clip your Sax together, or to your diaper bag, or your purse, or anything you can imagine!
More Tips and Links:
If your child is old enough, let them wear their own back pack and pull their own small suitcase (with wheels). It makes them feel special and they can keep their toys, etc. in them.
Buy small toys, activity books etc. before the flight and wrap them in wrapping paper, or just keep them hidden until the big day. Kids love surprises, even little things like finger puppets.
Bring travel sized snacks on the plane. Kids aren’t always crazy about plane food. A familiar food can be soothing too. Pack them in zip lock baggies, or small reusable tupperware containers. Mini Baby Bel cheese rounds and grapes are some of my favorites.
Have a change of clothes on hand for your little one and an extra clean top for yourself. I also pack several plastic grocery bags for trash or whatever in my carry on.
Here are some useful travel links:
http://www.flyingwithkids.com/
http://www.travelforkids.com/Travelessentials/travelessentials.htm
http://travelingwithkids.com/index.php
http://www.familytravelgear.com/
Happy traveling with your little ones!
