There’s nothing like the feeling of dread when you are staring down a long flight with a small, active child. Heck, any flight past 15 minutes can seem interminable once your baby or toddler starts repeatedly punching the numbers on the in-flight phone or kicking the back of the seat in front of you.

A little preplanning can prevent you from growing hoarse from apologizing to that person in front of you, and keep both you and your wee one reasonably content.

Hit the Dollar Store

This is no time to look for quality, meaningful kids toys that will last. Hit the dollar store a few days before your flight for an armload of cheap, crappy games, noiseless toys, and activities that you won’t worry about losing. The more obnoxious-looking the better (yes, even that much-maligned Hanna Montana fake watch, or that set of army men).

Try for about one new item each hour, and throw an extra one in case of delays. Use them for rewards, distractions, or to keep little hands busy creating. Just don’t take them out until you need them, because there is always the trip home.

Then again, your kids may surprise you. Our diaper bag was jammed with crinkly stuffies, connecting rings and squishy balls when we took our five-month-old across Canada nine years ago. But she got a hold of one of the plastic cups from our drink (yes, it was empty) and was so enamored with her find, that my arsenal of toys remained untouched for hours.

Hit the plane loaded...

With food, that is. This isn’t the time to hold out for your kids’ fave. sandwich or pizza from the in-flight menu. This is the time to pack non-messy, age-appropriate finger foods, and grab a bottle of water once you pass security.

Cheerios, fruit bars, graham wafers, cut-up apples—anything that will take some time to consume and isn’t sugar-laden.

I know you already deserve “Mother-of-the-year” kudos just for getting the whole family on the plane with some semblance of clean, matching clothing, underwear and the plethora of requisite gear. But if you can squeeze an extra 15 minutes to pack some snacks, you will buy yourself many more minutes of relative calm.

My hyper-organized friend (she even had their trip planned in a binder) recently flew to visit us with her super picky three boys. It wasn’t until she buckled her seatbelt that she realized that she had left all their snacks on the kitchen counter. She almost deplaned, and suffice it to say, three hours later she wished she had

Hit up the friendly flight attendant

If the flight attendant offers to take your babe for a walk up and down the isle, and your little one is grinning at him or her with a smile normally reserved for grandparents, take them up on it—pronto! Don’t worry, they can’t take them very far, and you’ll buy yourself valuable time to brush the Cheerio crumbs off your lap.

Plus, your little one will appreciate the change of scenery and the chance to say hello to that passenger whose seat they have been kicking.

Photo by Sarah Gilbert