Going anywhere with young children requires patience and, in the words of Mad Eye Moody, constant vigilance. It also helps to have a few tricks in your bag. Though my grandchildren live in another state, if they are visiting me or I am visiting them, I make sure to add a few things to my purse:
 

• Small toys: Finger puppets, toy cars, or Wikki Stix can all provide a few moments of distraction at key times.
• Paper and pen: Remember those cool pens with different colors of ink? They are captivating even if you don’t use them to draw pictures!
• Wet wipes: I’ve got a box of individually wrapped ones so I can always have one in my bag.
• Bandaids: Because almost any injury is immediately resolved with the application of a bandage, especially if it sports a favorite character.
• A snack: I’ve usually got an airline packet of pretzels at the very least. Fruit leather and nuts are also easy to carry around, but make sure whatever you’ve got is on the parents’ approved list.
• Apps: When all else fails, it helps to have at least one age appropriate app on your phone. My favorite ones are the simplest: straightforward puzzle games and painting apps without levels or rewards.

 
What do you keep in your bag for your grandchildren?

When my son was 8 months old, we drove across the country on our way to my husband’s new job. We stayed with various friends and relations all along the way, setting up a portable crib in one guest room after another. When it was mealtime, we had a plastic milkcrate that we plopped the baby into, a strange but effective substitute for a highchair. Since we were traveling by car, it wasn’t hard to carry along all the things we needed. But it’s not always that easy.
 
Whether your grandchildren come to visit every day or but once a year, there are things you’ll want to have at your house to simplify visits for everyone. For babies and toddlers, a safe place to sleep and somewhere to sit during meals are both worth the investment. Portable cribs are relatively inexpensive when new, and can often be found at consignment stores specializing in children’s clothes and equipment.* Fold-up highchairs are easy to stash in a closet or basement when they aren’t needed, and invaluable when they are. (We've been really happy with the uber cheap Cosco Simple Fold High Chair.)
 
If your grandchild and her parents are arriving by plane, having a carseat already installed when you pick them up at the airport will earn you gold stars. Just make sure you’ve checked with the parents to confirm you get the right kind, and read the directions carefully to ensure you install it correctly. If you want to buy one, there are safe options available at all price points. If you don’t think the investment makes sense, ask around to see if a neighbor or friend has one you can borrow for the duration of the visit. I posted a request to my small circle on Facebook before my grandchildren’s first visit and had three offers within an hour!
 
*Whenever you buy something used, be sure to check for recalls on the manufacturer’s website or with the Consumer Product Safety Commission. It is not recommended that you buy used car seats, as there is no way of knowing whether they’ve been compromised in a previous accident.