Packing Hack for Family Travel: How to Pack Kids Essentials
Traveling with kids is a lot of fun, yet can be a daunting task when it comes to packing. Having a few packing hacks up your sleeve can make the process much smoother. Whether you're planning a family vacation or a weekend getaway, this packing hack for family travel will ensure that all of your kids' essentials make it into your luggage. With a few simple tips, you can make sure your kids have everything they need while you explore your destination.
What to Pack
When traveling with kids, it's important to make sure you have all the essentials for their trips. So, I have a running list of items to pack. At this point, it's just a memorized list in my head. But for a long time, I kept a physical list that I would print and check off as I packed. Let's face it, there's nothing worse than arriving at your destination missing essentials.
To make packing easier and less stressful, here are some tips and tricks for packing your kids' necessities:
- Undies, socks, and headwear should be at the top of your list when packing. These are the bare necessities!
- Next, you'll want to make sure you have pants, shorts, short-sleeved shirts, long-sleeved shirts, sweaters, swimwear, jackets, shoes, toiletries, and any necessary medications.
When packing clothing, consider bringing an extra outfit or two in case of spills or accidents. Additionally, remember to include a few comfort items like a favorite stuffed animal or blanket to help your little one feel more at home away from home.
How to Pack
One of the best packing tips and my favorite way to pack is to roll all items in the suitcase, including clothes. This maximizes space and keeps everything neat and organized. It helps reduce clutter and makes it easier to access things in a pinch. Additionally, if you have more than one child, you can consider packing both of the kids items into one large suitcase to save even more room. When packing for each individual child, use smaller bags or backpacks within the larger bag to help separate their items and make it easier to find what you need. Lastly, use compression cubes or bags when packing to save even more space and keep clothing wrinkle-free.
Tips and Tricks
When traveling with kids, having their essential items organized can make packing easier. A great way to do this is by using separate toiletry bags for each of your children's essentials. This will keep their items organized and make it easier to find the items they need when on the go.
You may remember reading about my last solo trip. I was in a bind and had to purchase carry-on luggage that was not considered luggage, but rather a large purse. I stopped at TJ Maxx and found not only the perfect purse but also a few packing pieces for my upcoming trip with the kids.
See my TJ Maxx visit HERE
My favorite pieces were two $3 clearance items found in the travel section. Yes, I purchased two $3 men's toiletry bags to hold the boy's essentials like undies, socks, and warm hats. These two toiletry bags are keeping me organized! I'm not spending time confused as two who's undies I'm holding, what size socks are who's etc. Everything is easy to grab and simple.
Watch how I pack HERE
When I travel alone with the kids, I prefer to pack their things into one large piece of luggage. I pack my things into a much smaller suitcase and let them trade carrying and maneuvering it. However, when the entire family travels, I feel a little more at ease with the help of my husband, and allow everyone to bring their own luggage.
If you have young children, try to pick durable, lightweight luggage that they can help carry and that is easy for them to maneuver. Currently, we're loving Ful Luggage rolling suitcases. They come in so many fun designs. Of course we love our Disney Star Wars luggage set. We have the Darth Vader and the Storm Trooper sets.
See our Ful Luggage HERE
In addition, you can use packing tips and tricks like rolling clothes, placing heavier items at the bottom of the suitcase, wearing bulky items on the plane, or bringing versatile clothing that can be dressed up or down depending on the activity. This will not only make it easier for your kids to pack but also make sure you don’t forget anything.
Comments