10 Packing Tips for Travel with Little Ones

Summer is almost here!  If you are heading out to travel with your little ones this summer, here are a few packing tips you may not have thought about.


If you Google “Vacation Packing Tips” you will get a gazillion hits. There are lots of great lists that you can print off to help you pack for any climate you may be visiting. Since everyone has their own way of packing what they feel they need, I don’t feel like I can tell you to bring a certain number of swimsuits or changes of clothes – you know what you feel comfortable with.

What I can do, is provide you with 10 things you didn’t necessarily think of when you are packing. I am a complete under-packer and never have exactly what I need when I need it. So these tips are ones I have discovered by trial and error over the many years I have had children. And these ten items are things I don't leave home without.

10 Quick Packing Tips for Travel with Little Ones

1. Brightly colored outfits: If you dress your kids in bright colors or prints, they are much easier to spot in crowds versus browns or blacks.  And remember what color your child has on for the day!

2. Identification wristbands: I recently did a review on Call Me Cuffs - the preprinted ID bands - and I love them!  My youngest loves to wear his "bracelet".  You can certainly make your own ID bands, pin your contact info on the inside of a pocket or just do what I used to do - write your cell phone on their arm with a marker!

3. Long-sleeved PJs – It never fails - hotel rooms are always 10 degrees colder than home.  So my kids gladly wear longer pjs when we travel.

4. Medicine – You never know what can happen on vacation, so it's best to bring your own supply of medicines your children might need.  I always have pain reliever and allergy medicine with me. Besides, you never know how long that $10 bottle of Children's  Tylenol has been sitting on the hotel gift shop shelf.

5. Umbrella Stroller - Easy to fold and carry, it's always nice to have a place for your little one to rest their legs.  For our family, it allows us to move a bit quicker when we'd like to - especially through the airport.

6. Backpack - Keep 2 hands free at all times by carrying everything you need - wallet, camera, cell phone, bottles, snacks, etc. - in a backpack.

7. Baby Powder - It's the miracle cure for cleaning sand off the body.  Sprinkle it on you hands and wipe all the sand off your kids legs and feet in one motion.

8. Plastic bags - One can never have enough plastic bags to throw wet clothes, garbage, or other stuff in.  Wadded up, they take up no room, so throw a couple in with you.

9. Electronics Bag - Don't ever hunt around for your Kindle charger or camera cords again if you keep them all in a zippered pouch.

10. Child's favorite toy (or 2) - Bring a little piece of home with you on vacation to comfort your child.  Many have said that we are daring as we have always brought our kiddos' blankies/lovies on vacation with us, but it is the best way to get them to sleep at night or calm them down when they are upset.  Maybe you are afraid to lose it?  Ask your child to pick a toy that represents "home" to them.  Tell them if they need a little bit of comfort from home to hold it tight!

I hope these tips help make your travels that much smoother - I am sure there are more great tips out there.  I'd love to hear yours!  Leave me a comment with what you never leave home without!

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Tuesday Travel Tips: Before You Go!

There is so much to do before going on a trip.  and it's so easy to forget the little things. So for today's Tuesday Travel Tip, we bring you a simple check list:

1. Have you put your mail on hold or asked a neighbor to collect it? It's easy-peasy - just click right here.

2. Have you made arrangements for your pets well in advance?

3. Have you put a temporary stop to your newspaper delivery?

4. Have you arranged how you will get to the airport?

5. Have you made sure all the bills that may come due while on vacation have been paid?

6. Have you cleaned your fridge or pantry out of anything that might go bad (and cause a stink) while you are away?

7. Have you made arrangements with your house sitter?

8. Have you given your travel details to your family member or close friend so they may contact you if need be?

9. Have you set timers to turn certain lights on/off while you are gone?

10. Have you straightened the house up before you leave?  Nothing better than coming home to a clean house!

Whew!  It's a lot of work to go on vacation!  But so worth it.  Enjoy!

Tuesday Travel Tips: What Do I Pack??

For me, Packing used to be one of the most difficult things about travel.  I used to agonize for days over what to take on a trip - and would often wait until the last minute to pack before going on a trip.  And you know where that led me?  Doing laundry at midnight to make sure I had clean clothes for the trip! Yeah, it wasn't pretty.

Thankfully, I got all of that out of my system with all the business travel I did in my formal life.  Once I made it a routine, packing became simple.  And now, as we travel with little ones (and big ones) in tow, I take the same attitude and pack following these simple guidelines:

1. Plan an outfit for each day.  This doe not mean you or your kiddos won't wear the same jeans twice, but by thinking through each day of the trip, you'll know how many outfits are truly necessary.  By laying out a week's worth of outfits on your bed, you avoid overpacking, an absolute NO-NO!

2. It's alway a great idea to pack at least one sweater/sweatshirt or light jacket.  Even if you are going to the hottest place on earth, you will more than likely encounter a plane, train, bus, or hotel that keeps the AC down low.  I once had to pay $75 for a thin, ugly jacket to take on a fishing outing in Mexico....in June.  Who'da thought?  Never leave home without it.

3. Always, Always bring your own toiletries.  You want to bring your own personal stuff from toothpaste to hair gel, to a brush and a comb.  Don't expect the hotel shampoo to be nice (think cheap!)......

4. Bring extra undies!  As the kiddos get older, we don't need to pack as much for them, but it never hurts to have extra undies. Especially for our toddlers who are still mastering the fine art of using a potty!

5. Pack for the event.  Have fancy dinner reservations?  Want a fun night on the town?  Pack a snazzy outfit and make yourself feel special.  Maybe you want that perfect family shot on the beach?  Think in advance and pack outfits for the events you might be enjoying while on vacation.

6. Pack for the climate.  If you are going to Disney World in Florida in September, pack a few $1 ponchos (or pay $20 at the parks).  It's going to rain.  If you are going to hike the deserts in Utah in the Spring, pack your sunscreen and camelbacks.  It's going to be sunny.  Knowing what you may possibly encounter while on vacation can save you in the long run.  You'll be prepared and look like the hero!

7. Don't forget a mini first aid kit.  I always have Band-Aids, antibiotic ointment, a pair of tweezers, Pepto-Bismol, ibuprofen, and a thermometer with me when we travel.  If anyone in the family takes prescription medication, be sure to take a copy of the prescription with you as well as your insurance crds.  I never leave home without a full bottle of allergy meds - you never know what will trigger the sneezies for your family.  Try finding Zyrtec in Ireland - it wasn't easy!!

What things do you always pack???

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