Family travels: packing for a trip with kids (Part I)

Good packing is essential to have a successful and stress-free holiday

Thinking of an approaching trip with young children could give you a headache, especially if you are not used to it.

It does not matter if you are flying overseas, driving to see your family or taking a train ride, you need to get organized. Not only you have to decide on clothing and accessories you can fit in your luggage, but you also need to think of milk, baby food, sterilizers, thermos, water cookers and of course diapers!

This winter you will be going on skiing trips and soon it will be beach holidays; so where do you start?

 

I made many trips with our 2 year old son by train, car and plane and gathered some tips for you.

Here is a list to help you out:

Packing:

• Pack light but smart: get everything you think you need and ask yourself once more does my child really need it?
• Call the airline to see what is your limit: remember to leave extra room for souvenirs or what you want to bring back.
• Make a list in advance and start packing as soon as possible. Five days before departure is not too early!
• Pack clean stuff like plates, forks, baby bottles, pacifiers in zipped plastic bags of 1 liter/1 quart.
• Pack enough clean baby bottles (at least 3 tall ones) in case you can only wash once a day.
• Bottled water is good to buy for the car and hotel rooms; small bottles are easy to carry in your baby bag.
• Airplane travels: pack extra diapers and food in your baby bag in case of a missed flight connection or a lost bag.
• Pack your diapers so they are easy to reach in the plane, train and in your car and not at the bottom of a luggage.
• Car travels: don’t forget an extra change of clothes, diaper and towel in case your baby throws up in car or elsewhere. Babies easily get sick in the car. Also remember to have a few cookies in the front of the car in case you find yourself in a traffic jam with your child.
• Have cleanex, pacifiers and hand disinfectant always with you.

Carrying your child:

• Baby seat: practical for the plane if you bought the seat next to you, cheaper to bring than renting with a rental car and essential if you want to take a taxi.
• Folding stroller: you can bring it up to the plane. It will be given back to you when you exit the plane at your destination. Buy a good one if you are planning long walks. Maclaren makes good ones and some models can fold up quickly.

Changing your baby:

• • Diapers: pack more diapers than you think you need for each day: 2 extra a day is good especially when kids are small. Some days you will need more and some days less; it will be a good balance. At least bring enough for the first week of your vacation.

• Bring enough paper towels and wipes for evening and day cleaning.
• Plastic bags: have them handy with you in your changing bag.
• A thin baby portable mattress: practical to change your baby anywhere on a changing table in a rest area, benches or hotel rooms.

Making your baby a milk bottle:

• Calculate how many ounces of powder you need a day and bring everything you need. Remember that each country has its own powdered milk brand and while on vacation it is not the time to experiment with new milk.  
• For bigger children, you can buy small Tetra Pak containers of milk (8 oz / 250 ml) and count how many you need per day. Some come with straws and it are very practical, as no refrigeration is needed.
• For a small baby, bring with you a container for milk powder which has a divider for 3 bottles. You can also put the milk powder you need in the bottle and you just need to add the warm water later on.
• Bring a thermos bottle with you. You can warm up enough water for a few bottles of milk a day. Mine stays warm about 10 hours.

Read Part II, Click Here.

 

Featured Image par Cheryl Holt de Pixabay 

• baby bottles
• diapers
• family travels
• packing
• strollers
• traveling with children