The key to flying with kids is distracting them. Consider buying a portable DVD player: It can the hours zoom by.

There's a website called flyingwithkids.com that has everything you need to know about planning air travel with infants and children, including information on gear, packing, and what to expect at specific airports.

When traveling with your kids, give each child his/her own small carry-on bag. Fill it with new, surprise treats to occupy the downtime -- layovers, long flights, time in hotels -- as well as a few familiar items from home. Include a notebook and encourage your child to write a travel diary. Joan White, Dallas, TX

Tent your toddler. For quiet time on a plane, clip one end of an airline blanket under the top of the folded-up tray and the other end under the headrest (behind the child). Voila: You have a "tent" that lets your toddler take a better nap on the plane. We put this together one night when we were stuck on a runway for almost six hours, and it saved a very bad travel day. My child rarely naps anymore, but he still asks for an airplane tent, if only to play inside. Roy Youngblood, Chicago, IL