Traveling with kids is a game changer. These little people need LOTS of stuff. And anytime we go anywhere, somehow the burden of packing (and planning!) falls on my shoulders. Because I’m Type A and love to make lists, of course I created a master packing list for families. In the chaos of travel preparations, it’s easy to forget something. This list is designed to help you get organized.
I’ve tried to keep the packing list both comprehensive and pared down – is this even possible? Given that it is two pages long, perhaps not. Here’s a breakdown of the list, with a few key explanations.
Clothing and Shoes (for each family member)
I’ve kept this category pretty generic. Bring clothes. Consider the weather at your destination, and your planned activities. (Wedding guest? White water rafting? Both? Fun fact – I have participated in both on one trip.) I tend to stick to neutrals to make it easier to mix-and-match. And I’ll pack extra outfits for the kids, because, kids.
As for shoes, I try to minimize. Shoes take up a lot of space! I’m still searching for the holy grail of travel shoes – something comfortable and fashionable. I packed Chuck Taylors as my main shoe for my last trip, but I’m open to other suggestions. I like the Chucks because the rubber toe helps keep my feet dry in light rain. The toes always seem to get wet first. Also, I will usually pack items, like clean rolled socks, inside my shoes. It helps the shoes keep their shape, and gives me more space inside the suitcase.
Accessories
I listed broad categories here, as I tend to minimize the number of accessories when I travel. Ever since having kids, I’ve reduced the amount of jewelry I wear in general, but accessorizing is a great way to change-up a look.
Toiletries
This group of items is pretty self-explanatory. However, here’s a tip, if you travel frequently: Always have a toiletry bag packed and ready to go. Before a trip, I’ll review the contents, but this saves me from running around collecting the necessities. I’ll leave an empty glasses case to remind me that I need to add my glasses. Just try not to let anything expire!
Electronics
What would we do without the help of electronics, from maps to photos to entertainment, etc? We need our devices, and the means to keep them charged. Lets not forget them!
Important Items
This can basically be summarized as money and identification. When I was traveling in high school, someone I knew packed her wallet (containing her ID) in her luggage. Her checked luggage. Don’t do that. Put these in your carry-on (but tuck the photocopies of your important documents in another bag.)
Other
This is a catch-all category; it includes items to make your travels more comfortable and pleasant, as well as the practical. For instance, you’ll see I included laundry detergent to the packing list. On long trips, I try to do a load mid-travels. Best case, the hotel or Airbnb has laundry facilities. If not, the bathroom sink will do in a pinch.
Here’s another solution to the laundry issue: wool shirts. I recently got one from Unbound Merino, and by all appearances, it is amazingly… normal. But the magic lies in the material, which doesn’t need to be washed nearly as frequently as regular clothing. Less laundry, and better for the environment? I’m a fan.
If you’re traveling to visit or stay with friends or family, it’s nice to bring a little gift. I veer towards things that are edible, light and/or easy to pack, from a local business.
Another random, miscellaneous item to pack? A plastic bag to collect garbage. On flights, they never seem to come by for trash when I need, and the kids food wrappers, wipes, etc. pile up. This is also a necessity on road trips. I hate to use plastic at all, but because it may hold damp or wet items, plastic seems like the more functional option to paper bags.
Winter and Summer items
Clearly, travel during the winters and summers require a different set of items, which I’ve broken out into separate categories. Note, I consider camping to be a whole other level of travel, and would need an entire list unto itself. I’ve started one, and will post when it’s ready.
For Babies and Kids
It’s been said before, but I’ll say it again – these littlest of humans require LOTS of stuff! If you’re pumping, you obviously need the pump, but also need dish soap and small sponge to wash all the components in the hotel sink, as well as the bottles.
Although we have a travel friendly crib, we usually leave it home if we’re flying. It’s one less thing to pack. We will either ask the hotel for a crib, or ask friends at our destination if we can borrow a pack and play. Same for car seats – we borrow or rent.
A nightlight is nice to have at night with kids, and is a better solution than leaving a bathroom or hallway light on with the door cracked open.
My baby uses a sleep sheep white noise machine every single night. As an alternative, and to save space, we downloaded a white noise app. Lifesaver.
A stroller seems obvious, but believe it or not, we actually forgot our stroller on our trip to Disney. Yes, you read that right, the STROLLER. We ended up buying an inexpensive one from a big-box retailer, which worked in a pinch, but wasn’t great. We have an awesome stroller now that is perfect for travel, and everyday. I think I’d weep if we forgot it!
We’ve veered away from packing too much entertainment for the kids, and if need be, like to pick little things up for them during our travels. Dual purpose entertainment and souvenir!
Bonus – Checklist of To-Do’s Before Leaving the house
Before leaving on vacation, I usually end up going into a cleaning frenzy. I love traveling, and afterwards, I love coming home to a clean house. But there’s also a lot of practical things to do, like putting mail on hold or watering plants. There are blank lines on both pages to add your own notes. For instance, I’m sure there are items and to-do’s that pet parents will want to add.
Is there anything I missed? What would you add? I hope this master packing list for families simplifies the packing process for you. Click on any of the images above, or click here to download the list, free for personal use. Sign up to the email list on the sidebar to receive the password for download. Happy travels!
