Traveling with kids is hard. It really is not easy. I will not sugarcoat that. BUT, I do think it is totally worth it. Some of my favorite life experiences have been seeing my girls step into the ocean for the first time, or seeing their amazement viewing tiny houses from an airplane window. I realize kids also find joy in going to the grocery store (Another favorite memory: After Covid lockdown and lots of Instacart deliveries, my three-year-old had forgotten what the grocery store was like, and when we walked in she screamed “MOM! Look at how many different kinds of apples they have here!!”) So maybe those joyful moments of traveling were more for me, but isn’t that ok/great too? I am admittedly the kind of mom who has trouble leaving my kids, so isn’t it the best of both worlds to turn them into seasoned little travelers so that we can enjoy life together? The first few times were rough, but I honestly think if you are prepared, and most importantly CALM, everything will go great! Ok, maybe not great, but you will survive. And once you get there, you will also survive, and hopefully, have a little fun!
Step 1 is packing for your trip to ensure that you will not add any stress to your vacation by unpacking and realizing you forgot your child’s nightlight that they cannot sleep without (been there… thank God for Target). I literally go through my entire night and day in my head from the moment we will arrive until we will leave and think about every scenario that could happen to make sure we have what we need. My husband finds that insane (and endearing, surely), so if this does not sound like an activity you’d like to participate in… here is my master packing list so that you don’t have to go through my agony!
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For the kids: *This list is for toddler girls
- Baby soap
- Conditioner spray
- Hairbrush
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
- Diapers/pull-ups
- Swim diapers
- Underwear
- Aquaphor (I use this every night/nap on a beach vacation even if they’re not red to prevent diaper rash)
- Butt paste (this is a thing… a thing you need if you have a child who will be wearing a swim diaper) *my doctor gave me the best advice for diaper rash put on Aquaphor first, followed by the butt paste to clear up a diaper rash quickly
- Body lotion
- Ponytails/bows
- Pajamas
- Bathing suits
- Coverups
- Hats
- Sunglasses
- Beach towels
- Face and Body sunscreens
- Outfits 1 casual daytime 1 nicer dinner option per day
- Underwear
- Socks
- Shoes/sandals/water shoes
- Sippy cups/bottles
- Plates/forks/spoons
- Snack cups
- Snacks/favorite foods for trip
- Baby bottle brush (to wash out sippy cups/dishes)
- Mini dish soap
- Pacifiers
- Bandaids/First Aid cream (or a First-Aid kit)
- Thermometer
- Tylenol/Motrin
- Cough/Cold medicine
- Gummy vitamins
- Echinacea drops (swear by these when traveling)
- Sound machines
- Baby Monitor
- Nightlights
- Teddy bear/lovey
- Bedtime books
- Swaddle
- Crib sheet
- Potty seat (amazing for travel with a toddler)
- Blanket
- Teething ring
- Toys (Small favorites to keep them busy like little people, baby doll, etc… also sand toys, these collapsable ones are easy to pack)
For Mom: *My husband handles packing his own suitcase- but he could browse this list to make sure he doesn’t forget anything ;)
- Makeup wipes
- Face wash/toner/serum
- Face sunscreen
- Contacts
- Contact solution
- Eye drops
- Glasses
- Hairbrush
- Ponytails
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body wash
- Razor
- Deodorant
- Perfume
- Lotion
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Floss
- Mouthwash
- Hair serum
- Blow dryer
- Straightener
- Makeup bag
- Tweezers
- Cuticle scissors (Always come in handy! Cutting off a tag, etc…)
- Nail file
- Qtips
- Underwear
- Bras
- Pajamas
- Robe
- Bathing suits
- Coverups
- Sunglasses
- Dresses
- Shorts
- Tanks
- Flip flops
- Shoes/Sandals
- Jean jacket
- Sweater
- Workout clothes/running shoes
- Medication
- Vitamins
- Probiotics
- Body sunscreen
- Hat
- Advil
- Sudafed/Mucinex (the last thing you want to do if you get sick on vacation is run to the store for cold medicine!)
- Phone chargers
- iPads/Mac/chargers
- Watch/charger
- Airpods
- Speaker for beach
- Ring/jewelry (I keep it pretty minimal to solitaire earrings and a matching pendant necklace when traveling)
- Tumblers for beach
You should probably still think about your individual situation to make sure you have everything, but this is a pretty extensive list to at least help you cover your bases! Please do not @ me if you forget something ;) Or actually, you can and I’ll add it to the list ha!
So once you are packed for your vacation, you have to pack for your travel. This is a whole separate mission and an important one!
For the kids:
Individual backpacks with Ipad/tablet, headphones, coloring book, crayons (these ones won’t roll off the tray, genius!), puffy stickers (easier for little hands), Imagine Ink pads, lollipops (with vitamin-c to keep them healthy while traveling), empty sippy cup, and any favorite snacks. For extra long flights, I also pack them a pillow and blanket and a little sleep mask (they’re a little bougie, I know.)
I think it helps to give them a sense of independence/comfort to have their own airport bag. They get to feel like a grown-up and have some control over their snacks/activities. I include an empty sippy cup (two if they are under 2 and still relying on milk) and I will get bottled water and apple juice from the airport store and mix that up in their sippy cups so they have a fun drink on the plane. I also fill one with milk for my little one which I usually get from Starbucks. I make sure they drink often so that their ears don’t hurt, lollipops are also great for this!
For the parents:
Stroller (I still use and love my double stroller for my 2.5 and 5 year old)
Diaper bag filled with changing pad (I also love these disposable ones for airports) diapers, wipes, aquaphor, change of clothes: underwear/pants/socks/shirts including for parents, we have learned the hard way after being peed on! I also keep extra snacks in there and some books, emergency toys.
Wallet with license, credit cards, etc.. my husband likes for us to pack our passports and an emergency credit card separately in case of an emergency where we lost our wallet or something, he’s a much better adult than I am! But this is a great tip.
Birth certificates for kids
Insurance cards
Vaccine cards
Hand Sanitizer
Disinfecting Wipes
Kindle (In case the travel gods smile upon you and you have some time to yourself!)
Phone charger in purse
Extra Tips:
Make sure your potty-trained kids go to the bathroom RIGHT before boarding.
Do not board the plane until the last group, they let kids board first but do not fall into that trap, this is a terrible idea. Let them run around and burn off energy until the last minute.
Try to travel in the morning with kids. Flights are more likely to be on time and kids are less likely to fully meltdown.
If you have a long flight, consider a layover. I actually prefer this with little kids to have some lunch, stretch their legs, possibly even nap and then start the second leg of the trip fresh.
Stay calm and believe that it’s all going to go well, that is half the battle! You’ve got this momma!!
