How to pack for short family trips and long-term travel… and the most important thing to leave behind
Over-packing can happen to anyone. It doesn’t have to, though. Our free Learners and Makers Family Packing List breaks down what deserves to be in your bag and what’s best to leave home:
However, there’s one thing we have to go over first.
There is no such thing as “just in case”
Before we get into the packing list, it is absolutely crucial that we take one thing out of not only your packing, but out of your mindset and attitude.
The first thing to take out of your bag?
The phrase “just in case.”
In fact, kick that phrase out of your room. Out of your home. Boot it down the street if you can.
“Just in case” has no place in your packing.
For most trips, if you need it and don’t have it, odds are you can get it at your destination. Before the “gotcha” part of your brain, like mine, starts shouting, “What about this!”, here’s what to remember:
- Pack what you know you need, not what you expect might be useful. It won’t be useful.
- Pack what you know you need to have, plus what is enjoyable—and this part is key—that you know you will use.
We’re not talking about things like the right outfit for a known occasion, or an essential medication. You know you need those.
“Just in case” packing is the stuff that isn’t on your list but suddenly comes to mind while you’re packing, or during a conversation about your trip, especially if that conversation happens while you’re packing.
You know these conversations. They usually start with “but what if?”
There’s a good chance you’ve brought it before and didn’t need it, yet you still think that maybe, just maybe, you might need it this time.
You won’t.
Now put it down. In fact, put it away.
Out of sight, out of mind, out of bag
Out of sight, out of mind is quite useful during packing. You’ll be more likely to eliminate the just-in-case stuff. Otherwise, the just-in-case things that wind up in your bag are exactly what later have you wondering why you packed so much junk you didn’t need.
Fortunately, packing comes down to practicality, and that keeps things simple:
Pack intentionally. Every item should earn its place.
Women and men, here’s what belongs in your bag.
Shopping List
From the recommendations below, here’s our suggested shopping list for what you might need for your packing.
Travel Gear & Essentials
You can go straight to our Amazon shop, or check out the links below:
- Short-sleeve button-down shirt with concealed zipper pocket (Eddie Bauer has some that are my go-to)
- Money belts/neck pouches
- Packable daypack (we prefer the Eddie Bauer Stowaway line)
- Travel clotheslines (we find the braided style easier to use and pack)
- Laundry detergent sheets
- Microfiber towels/washcloths
- TSA-approved locks
- Portable battery packs/power banks
- Multi-device charging bricks
- All-in-one voltage converter/adapter
- 4-in-1 USB-A charging unit
- GoPro HERO Black 13 (or current action camera model)
- Phone car mount and charger
Clothing & Footwear
- 30 Below underwear/socks
- Quick-dry synthetic blend or merino wool clothing
- Compressible down jackets
- Travel pants with functional pockets
Family & Kids Travel
- Baby carriers
- Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids
- Kindle Paperwhites (adult versions)
- Tablets for kids
- Refillable leather-bound travel journals
- Compact sunblock sticks
Toiletries & Health
- Travel shaving mirrors
- Quart-size TSA-compliant toiletry bags
- Menstrual cups/discs
- Period underwear
- Anti-blister balm (stick format)
Optional/Specialty
- Collapsible water bottles
- Packable tote bags
- Travel sewing kits
- Noise-canceling headphones/earbuds
- Y-jack audio splitters
Clothing
Tops
Bring 3-4 shirts maximum. Quick-dry synthetic blends or merino wool work best—they resist odor, and you can wear them multiple times between washes. Long sleeves that roll up give you versatility without extra weight.
Unless there’s a formal occasion or business need, skip the wrinkle-resistant marketing claims; you’re traveling with kids, not attending board meetings. Darker colors hide the inevitable coffee spill or toddler handprint.
Anthony says: My favorite shirt for travel days is an Eddie Bauer short-sleeve button-down with a concealed zipper pocket. Its breathable fabric keeps me more comfortable. The best part? The zipper pocket holds all our passports. They’re secure, yet easy to access.
Bottoms
One to two pairs of comfortable pants (such as lightweight chinos, travel pants with functional pockets, or lightweight cotton blends), and optionally, one pair of shorts or capris. If you’re visiting temples or churches, long pants or knee-length bottoms ensure you’re appropriately covered.
Jeans are fine if they’re lightweight, but heavy denim takes forever to dry and adds unnecessary bulk. Wear your bulkiest pants on the plane.
Zip pockets are useful, but they don’t replace a proper money belt for valuables.
For women: A knee-length skirt serves multiple purposes. It’s appropriate for many religious sites, pairs with different tops, and feels more put-together than shorts when going out to dinner. A casual dress is optional but can be worth the space if you’ll wear it multiple times. Choose wrinkle-resistant fabrics. Skip anything that needs special care or ironing.
Jodie says: Skirts and full-body dresses are easy to accessorize. My small stash of earrings and hair accessories is one way I can change up my look with the same base outfit.
Underwear and socks
Bring enough for 4-5 days, then plan to wash.
Merino wool or synthetic blends dry overnight when hung in a hotel bathroom. These fabrics are odor-resistant and stay fresh longer. Cotton feels nice but stays damp. You don’t need a fresh pair for each day of your trip, just enough to rotate while some are drying.
Anthony says: Brands like 32 Degrees are comfy and stay fresh.
For women: Pack one extra bra beyond what you’ll wear. Quick-dry materials (microfiber, synthetic blends) dry faster than cotton, though silk and lace dry quickly but aren’t as durable.
Shoes
Comfortable walking shoes are non-negotiable.
You’ll cover miles while carrying a toddler, chasing kids through train stations, or strolling all over town.
Broken-in sneakers or travel shoes with good arch support and tread work best. One pair is usually enough. Bring a second pair if it’s for a specific activity (such as climbing or water shoes), or if you want to have, say, a pair of sandals and a regular pair of shoes.
If you’re traveling to beach destinations, basic sandals can double as shower shoes and casual footwear.
Skip the dress shoes unless you’re attending a specific event. Even then, clean sneakers work in most situations.
Jodie says: We usually travel with one pair of shoes per person. Sometimes we each have a pair of sandals, such as when we’re in Thailand or Vietnam. I also pack a pair of indoor sandals, as I find it easier to walk around accommodation with my prosthetic leg.
For women: Two pairs maximum—one for walking and one for versatility (sandals for warm weather, dressier flats, or waterproof shoes depending on destination and season). Skip heels unless you’re attending a specific event that requires them.
Sweater or warm layer
Bring one versatile layer that works over a t-shirt or under a jacket.
Air-conditioned museums, evening temperatures, and airplane cabins all require something warmer than your daytime shirt.
A quarter-zip fleece or lightweight merino sweater packs small and layers well. Dark colors hide stains better when you’re the one holding the melting gelato.
Jacket
A lightweight, packable rain jacket handles most weather situations (but for hot-weather destinations, bring an umbrella for rain, as rain jackets make you feel like a steamed dumpling). Look for a jacket that stuffs into its own pocket and has a hood, or pack a brimmed hat. You don’t need technical outdoor gear unless you’re specifically hiking.
For cold-weather destinations, layer your fleece under the rain jacket rather than packing a separate winter coat, or bring a compressible down jacket that squashes to nothing in your bag.
Jodie says: We only pack rain jackets when we’re in cool or temperate destinations. The one time we tried our rain jackets in a tropical place—Singapore, during a massively rainy day—we were overheating. In hot climates or summer, if we need rain gear, we keep an umbrella on hand.
Swimsuit
Essential for hotel pools and beach destinations. One swimsuit is enough. It dries quickly, and you won’t wear multiple suits on the same trip.
In many European pools, board shorts don’t count as proper swimwear. Men need actual swim trunks or briefs. Check local requirements before you go, but a standard swimsuit covers most situations.
When traveling in Islamic cultures, such as throughout Malaysia and Morocco, swimming areas often post signs that show permitted and prohibited styles of swimwear.
Sleepwear
Athletic shorts and a t-shirt, or comfortable loungewear that serves multiple purposes: pajamas, post-flight comfort wear, and emergency clothing if your bag gets delayed. Don’t pack dedicated sleepwear. Instead, use clothes that serve multiple purposes.
Accessories
A belt if your bottoms need one.
Bring a lightweight hat or baseball cap for sun protection, especially if you burn easily or will be outside with kids for extended periods.
A scarf, shawl, or wrap can dress up an outfit, provide warmth, or cover shoulders at religious sites. None is essential unless it serves a clear purpose for your specific trip.
That’s it. You don’t need ties, pocket squares, or anything that requires ironing.
Cold weather travel
Layering beats heavy single items. Add long underwear (lightweight synthetic or merino), a warm hat, gloves, and a scarf.
Wear your bulkiest shoes and jacket on the plane to save luggage space.
One extra pair of socks and underwear accounts for slower drying times. Assume you’ll be standing outside while your kids examine every snowbank, and dress accordingly.
Documents, money, and travel info
Keep anything you’ll need at the airport or can’t afford to lose in your carry-on or on your body—never in checked luggage.
Money belt or neck pouch
Choose one and wear it. A flat, hidden pouch worn under your clothes protects your essential documents, backup cash, and cards. Get a neutral color that won’t show through light shirts.
This isn’t about looking stylish. It’s about having one secure place where your passport, emergency cash, and primary credit card live while you’re managing family logistics in crowded spaces.
Money
Bring:
- One debit card for ATM withdrawals
- One credit card for purchases
- US$100-300 worth of cash as emergency backup (such as US dollars USD, British pound sterling GBP or euros EUR)
- One or two other credit cards for backup
Spread cards and cash across separate locations—wallet, money belt, and bag—so one theft doesn’t strand you.
Ask your bank if you need to notify it about your upcoming travel. Some banks want you to do that. Others, such as Capital One, don’t consider it necessary, but the heads-up can be useful, especially when traveling abroad.
Anthony says: For paying with cash, societies worldwide are changing. Research the destination as you make your plans, so you can have current advice on how cashless a society is. For example, Japan used to be far more cash-heavy. Nowadays, we pay for just about everything with a credit card or the IC card saved in our mobile wallets.
Documents
Passport, driver’s license (if you’re renting a car), and any required visas. Travel insurance documentation.
If traveling domestically with kids, bring copies of birth certificates if they don’t have passports. International travel requires a passport for all travelers, including infants, though.
Take phone photos of all important documents (such as your passport’s ID and signature pages) and email them to yourself.
A printed copy of flight confirmations and hotel reservations can serve as backup when your phone dies at exactly the wrong moment. However, this is optional and depends on what you are most comfortable with.
Anthony says: For parents or any adults who might travel with your kids, draft, sign, and notarize a letter that explains who in your party you authorize to travel solo with your children. My wife and I each carry one. If for some reason we were with one or both kids but apart, we can show proof that we’ve allowed one another to travel separately with the children.
Guidebooks
Bring only what you’ll actually use. Rip out relevant chapters from printed guidebooks rather than carrying the whole book, or load essential information onto your phone. A few printed pages in your daypack beat scrolling on a dying phone while three kids ask when lunch is.
Notepad and pen
A small notebook fits in your back pocket or daypack and solves a dozen minor problems—jotting down recommendations from locals, sketching directions, letting kids draw while waiting for food, leaving notes for your travel companions. Bring a pen that won’t leak at altitude.
Journal
Optional, but a dedicated travel journal becomes a valuable record once you’re home. Kids’ observations, unexpected moments, things you want to remember—they all disappear if you don’t write them down. A durable hardbound journal lasts longer than a spiral notebook that falls apart in your bag.
Jodie says: Our leather-bound, refillable journal is compact enough to fit in my purse. Each paper refill is our favorite family souvenir. Our journal holds stickers, stamps, ticket stubs, photos, jotted notes, and so much more. Instead of buying souvenirs, we keep an eye out for whatever we can add to our family travel journal.
Electronics
Phone
Your most essential piece of gear. It’s your camera, maps, translation tool, entertainment, communication device, and backup for almost everything else.
Download offline maps, translation apps, and key information before you travel.
Bring a charging cable and keep the phone charged—dead phone, dead maps.
Jodie says: We organize our travel apps into folders, such as for airlines and accommodation. Travel apps such as Google Translate, Google Maps, and Grab (for rideshare and delivery throughout Southeast Asia) go onto our primary phone screen. We use them almost daily, so it helps to keep them easy to access.
Camera
Your phone probably takes better photos than you think. If you bring a dedicated camera, make sure you’ll actually use it. Extra memory card and battery if you’re serious about photography. Otherwise, skip it.
Anthony says: Between our phones, we also bring an action camera (currently a GoPro HERO12 Black) with a few accessories. Our phones do so much more than take photos, such as authentication for online services. The action camera gives us more freedom to take risks that we would never want to do with our phones, such as filming while scuba diving, taking sunset time-lapse videos off the balcony railing, or dangling a camera off the side of a boat.
Tablet/ebook reader
Useful on long travel days and during downtime, especially if you’re loading kids’ shows for entertainment during a flight, car trip, or train ride. Download everything on good Wi-Fi before you leave.
Jodie and Anthony say: We’re a screen-positive family. Each child travels with an Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids, so we never have to worry about being burdened down with heavy books. More importantly, the kids never run out of something to read. Each child has a tablet that they use for art, homeschool, and entertainment, within the rules and boundaries we set as parents. We adults have Kindle Paperwhites too. We prioritize checking out ebooks from our local library.
Laptop
Only if you’re working remotely or absolutely need it. It’s extra weight and one more thing to keep charged and secured.
Headphones or earbuds
Essential for flights, train rides, and maintaining sanity. Noise-canceling headphones are worth the investment if you travel frequently. Earbuds work if you’re packing light. If you and your partner both have wired headphones, a Y-jack lets you share audio.
Anthony says: For saving space, we prefer earbuds. They’re much more compact than any headphones. Along with our Bluetooth earbuds, we also travel with a wired set of earbuds. Sometimes that’s easier to use on a flight, and they’re sometimes more reliable than Bluetooth for video chats or interviews.
Chargers and batteries
Bring chargers for every device, or use a multi-device charging brick so you need fewer cords, charging bricks, and adapters. A portable battery pack keeps your phone alive during long days of sightseeing when you’re using maps constantly. Remember to charge the battery pack overnight.
Anthony says: While USB-C is becoming more and more the standard, we still have micro-USB, Apple Lightning, and USB-A devices. Each of us travels with a couple of cords. A small accessory bag holds other cords and chargers for the whole family.
Car charger and phone mount
If you’re renting a car and using phone navigation, bring a car charger and mount. Your phone battery drains fast when running GPS.
Speaking of GPS, apps such as Google Maps have an option to download a map to your phone, so you can still have the basic map even when you’re offline.
Plug adapters and voltage converters
You’ll need adapters for European or Asian outlets depending on your destination. Bring at least two so you can charge multiple devices simultaneously.
And remember, there’s a difference between an adapter and a converter:
- Adapters change the plug’s shape so it can fit local outlets
- Converters change voltage. Most modern electronics handle voltage automatically.
- For an electronic to work safely abroad, the device or its charging unit should say “Input: 100-240V, 50/60Hz”
If you don’t have an adapter, the plug won’t fit into the outlet.
If you don’t have a converter, you’re at risk of frying your device, starting a fire, getting an electrical shock, or other dangers.
Anthony says: Many styles of voltage converter are available. We like all-in-one models and have used the same little rectangular one for years. It works in any standard outlet system around the world, even the chunky UK ones that you also see in Malaysia. We also like our compact 4-in-1 USB-A charging unit, which needs one outlet but has 4 USB-A ports.
Toiletries and personal items
Pack toiletries in your carry-on, including all prescription medications. If a checked bag gets lost, your prescriptions won’t.
Basics
Most hotels provide soap and shampoo, but quality varies. Travel-size versions of what you actually use take up minimal space. Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, deodorant, nail clippers. That’s the foundation. Don’t pack full-size bottles of things you can buy locally if you’re staying more than a few days.
Hair care
Shampoo and conditioner in travel sizes, or use what hotels provide. A brush or comb. Most hotels have hair dryers available, so leave yours at home unless you have specific styling needs that hotel dryers can’t handle. If you must bring styling tools, choose one versatile option rather than multiple devices.
Shaving
A razor and shaving cream or soap if you shave. Non-electric razors travel more easily and don’t require adapters.
Anthony says: A travel shaving mirror is lightweight, compact, and makes it much easier to shave, no matter the style of bathroom. They’re made of reflective, shatterproof plastic too.
Skin care and cosmetics
Moisturizer with SPF serves double duty as sunscreen. For those who use makeup or skin treatments, bring travel-size versions of essential products, such as cleanser, moisturizer, and any treatments you use daily.
For makeup, bring only what you’ll actually wear. A tinted moisturizer, concealer, mascara, and lip color cover most situations. Skip the full makeup palette unless you know you’ll use it. Everything should fit in a quart-size bag for carry-on compliance.
Feminine hygiene products
Bring enough for your trip, or pack a few and buy more at your destination.
Most countries sell comparable products, though brands and styles vary. Tampons and pads are available in most destinations.
Menstrual cups and menstrual discs are reusable options that take minimal luggage space. Period underwear can supplement or replace disposable products, but add bulk to your packing. Bring enough pairs to rotate while washing. Consider your cycle timing and pack accordingly.
Medicine and vitamins
Keep prescription medications in original labeled containers. Bring a basic first-aid kit: pain relievers, antihistamines, anti-diarrheal medications, bandages, and any other medicines or medical supplies your kids might need. A small supply of your daily medications plus extras in case of delays.
Jodie says: We use a compartmentalized small toiletry bag as our family “medical bag.” There’s no one-size-fits-all, but you know your family and what medical needs you may need to account for. I always carry a small bottle of ibuprofen in my purse.
Glasses/contacts/sunglasses
If you wear contacts, bring solution and a backup pair of glasses. Prescription sunglasses if you need them. Keep glasses in a hard case so they don’t get crushed in your bag.
Face masks
Useful for crowded airports, planes, or if someone in your family gets sick mid-trip and you’re trying to avoid spreading it.
Jodie says: If you need a mask but prefer not to travel with one, they’re usually easy to find in stores.
Hand sanitizer
Small bottle. Use it, especially when traveling with kids who touch everything and then put their hands in their mouths.
Sunscreen
Essential for beach destinations or anywhere you’ll be outside extensively. Travel-size bottles for carry-on, or buy locally for longer trips.
Jodie says: Along with a sunblock cream or lotion, we find that a small sunblock stick is much easier for faces, especially as the kids learned to apply their own sunblock. We always check their work, though, to make sure they didn’t miss any exposed skin.
Small towel or washcloth
Most hotels provide bath towels, but washcloths are rare in many countries. A lightweight microfiber cloth serves as a washcloth or small emergency towel. Dries quickly and packs flat.
Sewing kit
A few safety pins, needle, thread. Clothes fail at inconvenient times. A small repair kit prevents a wardrobe malfunction from derailing your day.
Tissues
Keep a pack in your day bag for wiping noses, snazzing up a table, or, you know, not all bathrooms will have a stock of toilet paper.
Earplugs
For light sleepers in unfamiliar hotel rooms, noisy hostels, or overnight trains. Foam earplugs are cheap and effective.
Miscellaneous
Daypack
A lightweight backpack or crossbody bag carries your daily essentials—water bottles, snacks, kids’ entertainment, an extra layer, camera, guidebook, journal.
Leave your main luggage at your accommodation and travel light during the day. Choose something comfortable with basic organization and secure closures. Skip anything that screams “tourist” or looks expensive.
Anthony says: Eddie Bauer’s 20-liter packable daypack is so good, we’ve used two over the years. It packs down tight and is comfortable for all-day wear.
Laundry supplies
A mesh bag or plastic sack can hold dirty clothes. Powdered laundry detergent packets or laundry detergent sheets are more compact than concentrated liquids (and won’t cause a difficult mess if they spill).
Hotel shampoo works fine for hand-washing clothes in a sink. A travel clothesline (the twisted rubber kind that needs no pins) lets you hang-dry wet clothes in your room.
Jodie says: Laundry sheets are the traveler’s friend, especially when traveling as a family. They take up hardly any space, aren’t liquid, and aren’t a powder that could have airport security asking you some probing questions.
Small umbrella
A compact umbrella packs easily. Or plan to buy one locally when weather requires it—they’re available everywhere.
Sealable plastic or silicone bags
Multiple sizes, multiple uses: organize small items, protect electronics from spills, carry wet swimsuits, pack snacks, contain leaky bottles. The gallon-size bags compress clothing and double as dirty laundry bags. Bring extras.
Optional items
Don’t bring everything on this list. Choose what fits your specific trip and needs.
Water bottle
Reusable water bottles save money and reduce plastic waste. Empty it before airport security and refill it after. Collapsible bottles pack smaller when empty.
Picnic supplies
If you’re planning market lunches or budget-conscious meals, bring a fork, spoon, and maybe a small knife (in checked luggage only). A lightweight plate or cutting board. Small containers for salt, pepper, or other seasonings. Or buy these items locally—grocery stores stock basics everywhere.
Disinfecting wipes
Useful for cleaning airplane tray tables, rental car surfaces, or high-touch areas in budget accommodations.
Fold-up tote bag
A packable bag that stuffs into a pocket expands your carrying capacity for groceries, souvenirs, beach gear, or overflow when your main bag is full.
Small flashlight
Your phone’s flashlight works fine in most situations. A dedicated tiny LED flashlight adds lightweight backup.
Duct tape
Wind a few feet around a pen. Fixes broken zippers, torn bags, emergency shoe repairs, temporary childproofing. Takes no space, solves surprising problems.
Insect repellent
Pack it if you’re going somewhere tropical or particularly buggy. Travel-size spray or lotion.
Anti-blister balm
Prevention beats treatment when you’re walking miles daily. The small stick format travels easily.
Small lock
TSA-approved locks secure your bag zippers without risking broken locks during security inspection. Or use simple zip ties—pack nail clippers to cut them open.
Entertainment
A deck of cards, a small notebook for drawing, or downloaded games on your phone can occupy kids during restaurant waits, flight delays, or long train rides.
Gifts
If you’re staying with local friends or family, small items from home make thoughtful thank-you gifts. Regional food items, local crafts, or things unique to your area can work well.
Something that makes you happy
If a specific item genuinely improves your travel experience—whether it’s quality headphones, a particular type of coffee or tea, or a comfort item—make room for it. Packing for your enjoyment and comfort matters too.
Jodie says: My happy something is my watercolor set. When I travel with it, I make time for making art that feeds my soul.
Packing list for infants, toddlers, kids, tweens & teens
Most of the packing above works for the junior members of your family too. Naturally, the packing is a little different, depending on age and stage. Infants and toddlers are when we also suggest packing a couple of extra outfits.
The key thing with packing for toddlers, kids, tweens, and teens? Each stage means they can take on both more agency and responsibility with their own packing, with you as the parent gradually adopting a more and more supervisory, final-check role.
Here’s how we suggest breaking down your packing for the under-18 set in your family:
The laundry basket packing hack for kids of all ages
One of the best things we ever did in our family packing for trips? From the time each kid was a toddler, we started them on managing more and more of their own packing. Most kids from toddlerhood onward can take on an ever-growing role of being responsible for packing their stuff.
Parents, you don’t have to do it all. You and your kids can work together to get their packing done as a team.
Even better? When they take more charge of their packing and the choices of what they pack, they’re far less likely to feel out of control, and the family is less likely to disagree and fight.
Here’s how the laundry basket packing hack works
It doesn’t matter if you’re now working on packing with older kids or teens. You can vary the hack below to work with any of the kids in your family. Here’s the key:
- Give each kid a laundry basket (or box, bucket, whatever), a marker or pen in their favorite color, and a handwritten list with the items they need to get out.
- Each item on the list needs to go into the basket.
- As the kid sets each item or grouping of items in the basket, they use the marker to check it off the list.
- Once the kid checks everything off, they let you know you can check over their basket.
- You check the checklist against the items in the basket.
- If things aren’t lining up—such as items aren’t there that should be, or vice versa—you and kiddo talk it over, and kiddo works with you on getting the right stuff and amounts of stuff into the basket.
- At a minimum, your job as a trip-prepping parent is to make sure the kid has what they’re supposed to have.
- If a kid isn’t responsible enough yet to manage their packing, you can take the basket and finish getting their stuff packed into the right bag or bags.
- If a kid can do some of their packing, the two of you might then work together. For example, I usually roll clothes for my daughter and help her pack her packing cube, then she packs the cube and everything else into her backpack.
- For kids old enough to do their own packing, your job is done. You checked the basket, trued up items chosen with items listed, and the kiddo has committed to packing what they put in the basket. If there’s anything that needs to go into a bag you’re packing, they can hand it off to you. Otherwise, they can take care of the packing.
Anthony says: The key here is balancing the kid taking appropriate responsibility, while you always perform the final check-over. Plus, kids learn to balance what it’s essential to take and what it’s best to leave home. After all, someday they’ll be packing up for trips, camps, college, and their own lives too.
What might the checklist look like?
Using the same marker that we’d give each kid, Jodie would snag a sheet of paper and write out a list with wee checkboxes. If we were taking a warm-weather trip with cooler evenings when our son was, say, seven years old, his list might look like this:
- Short-sleeve shirts, 3
- Long-sleeve shirts, 1
- 1 sweater or light jacket
- Pants, 2
- Shorts, 2
- Socks, 2
- Underwear, 5
- 1-3 books
- 1-3 toys
- Swimsuit
From the clothes, we would then ask our son to pick the outfit he wanted to wear for his travel day from the clothes in the basket.
Infants
Ah, those sweet traveling babies. They’re so adorable.
And they can blow out entire outfits before the plane takes off. Or maybe that was just us with our 5-month-old, and we were still at the gate for his very first flight.
Here are some good things to pack for your traveling infant:
For the travel day
Especially when flying, a small diaper bag, such as a shoulder-sling messenger bag, is much easier to carry than a giant bag. Or, if you’re using a small backpack as a personal item, you could stash some baby supplies inside. Handy items include:
- Baby carrier
- 5-7 diapers
- Zipper plastic bag full of wet wipes
- Hand sanitizer
- Nursing or bottle supplies
- 2 outfits
- 1-2 board books
- 1-3 favorite toys (the baby’s favorite, not yours)
- Items needed for your baby’s current stage or condition (e.g., teething medication, soothers, etc.)
Two outfits and those extra diapers helped us avoid what could’ve been a very smelly flight with a rather under-clothed baby.
Less really is more. A travel day can seem like when you need to pack half a Babies“R”Us. It’s not. It’s when you need to trust that you have what you need, instead of weighing yourself down and tiring yourself out by over-packing for “just-in-case” hypothetical situations.
Anthony says: When adding baby items to a backpack, a gallon-sized zipper bag can be all you need. Stash your supplies inside, along with a couple of plastic shopping bags to bag up dirty diapers or soiled outfits. You can grab out what you need all in one go and get to business.
Outfits
- Daytime: What they’re wearing plus five more (six total). Plan to do laundry.
- 2 sets of PJs, for wearing again or so one is available while the other is in the wash
- 2 pairs of socks
- Outerwear
Babies only need shoes if they’re walking.
Babies will be just as cute in that outfit the second or third time as they were the first.
Everything else
Some of this will already be in your travel bag from above:
- Dedicated outfits for a planned special occasion (such as a wedding)
- Stroller
- Car seat
Check ahead for options when you get there. For example, if you’re with your family a lot, see if there are toys or other baby gear you can use while there. For a hotel or rental, ask ahead of time what options are available for baby-safe bedding, play yard renting/borrowing, etc.
Some things you might get once you’re there. For example, if you’re using baby food, you can travel with a small stash, but it may be easier to stock up at your destination instead of hauling a load.
Toddlers
Depending on your toddler’s age and stage, there’s a lot similar with what you pack for your infant. Some things, naturally, might be done or on the way out, such as feeding supplies or diapers. Naturally, you’ll know what you need. Here’s what to pack for your toddler:
- Daytime: What they’re wearing plus five more (six total). Plan to do laundry.
- 2 sets of PJs, for wearing again or so one is available while the other is in the wash
- 2 pairs of socks
- Outerwear
- Shoes: What they’re wearing, plus one other pair, and any other footwear needed for a specific occasion or activity.
- Books: See if they can pick out some faves. Consider tucking a new book or two into your own bag as a surprise when they need one.
- Toys/activities: Same as books, with the caveat that they need to be travel-friendly, such as not noisy or too big to pack and carry.
- Travel day snack packs: For your bag, pack baggies of snacks appropriate for your child (e.g., dried fruit, cereal, crackers, veggie chips, etc.). Estimate one bag per hour of travel day.
Again, less is more. Our son was 15 months old when we flew to Japan for the first time. During a 12-hour flight that became 14 hours because of weather delays, we learned that his favorite toys were an in-flight magazine, an empty soda can, and a paper cup.
Kids, tweens & teens
With kids, tweens, and teens, the overall packing doesn’t change much.
Here are some things that might be on the list for your kid, tween, or teen:
- Activity supplies (e.g., our kids pack things like a set of drawing pencils plus dice for D&D)
- Schoolwork
- Toiletries
- Feminine hygiene products
- Cosmetics
- Gaming device
- E-reader
- Tablet/laptop
- Phone
- Power bank and cords
The older and more responsible your kiddo is, the more of this they can handle on their own, with you providing more of a confirmation and accountability role.
The right packing list is when you come home happy with what you packed
The packing list above gives you a framework you can follow as-is or customize to fit your own travel style and trip needs. Either way, it helps you leave the clutter at home and get away from the idea of “just in case” packing.
You know you’ve got your packing list and your packing down when you come home happy with what you packed and not frustrated or worn down by having over-packed.
That can be the reality for your packing, no matter the trip.
Ready to stop overpacking?
You might also like
Accessible Oregon Coast travel: An amputee mama’s family road trip from Reedsport to Brookings 
How to travel Ireland in 14 High Kings songs 
Morocco cooking class: Baking with kids in the heart of the Fes medina 
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens: Why you need to visit Portland’s hidden serene surprise