What to pack on a trip with an infant, toddler, and preschooler
You’ve made up your mind: a family holiday with kids! Hooray! Here’s the fun part, the beloved moment of all parents: packing! 😉 Actually, after a quick reconnaissance on my social media I already know that – contrary to myself – hardly anyone enjoys this part of the trip. As for myself, I actually love packing, so it will be a pleasure to share what I typically have in my suitcase. This should also be an excellent opportunity to show you, based on my personal experience, which things may be useful, and which – not necessarily so. I will be overjoyed if you find my tips helpful, and if they save you from spending money on something you don’t need, I will be almost as happy with your saved cash as you shall be 😃 Especially that you can always invest the extra cash in another family trip 😉
Exotic junkie 😃 A morning in Angkor Wat
On a journey – what to take with you on a plane/train/car trip?
When travelling by car, apart from such obvious things as a safety seat (have a look in here) adjusted to the child, it’s also a good idea to take a blanket, extra change of clothes, diapers, wet wipes, food and drink. Before a flight you should consider booking a special crib for infants (often you have to do it well in advance). When it comes to older infants, toddlers and preschoolers, I highly recommend such solutions as foldable seats, which you can easily transform into a small bed. We own and use BedBox (JetKids) – however, it’s best to ask whether a given airline allows such equipment. In our case, this was the perfect solution, ideal for more demanding children who are picky about their sleeping conditions 😉 Additionally, we would make a small tent of blankets, which creates a darkened, more quiet space for sleep. In case of smaller children, apart from the things I listed for a car trip, it’s good to have a pacifier (if you use it) and the mother’s breast (which tends to always be available 😃), or anything that allows sucking during takeoff and landing (it’s good for the baby’s ears). Moreover, all those things can help your child calm down, which is extremely important in the case of overstimulation.
A car seat with bubble wrap and tarpaulin and a loooooot of Scotch tape. Just after flight - a bit smushed but with no damage!
How to survive a long trip with a small child?
The journey is one of the major parental concerns regarding holidays with children. If the trip is long, I highly recommend (❗❗❗) travelling at night or planning the trip in such a way, as to accommodate for your child’s naps. This should allow to create perfect conditions for sleep and rest (and we know best how much and when they need them): our chances for success grow significantly. However, if you decide to have a long daytime journey or travel at the time when your child is active, I also have a list of things you can do to make this time more pleasant and comfortable for all the participants, including fellow passengers – soon! 😉
Airplane bassinet for infants in front of parents’ seats
Airplane bassinet for infants - a true sleep-plane 😉
Health and safety
Here is a separate entry on health. Apart from a good insurance policy and learning about the local health care system (having a list of local health care centers, phone numbers and addresses with you at all times), we should also remember about medications that the child requires on an everyday basis. Apart from that, your first aid kit should also contain:
- painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications,
- electrolytes and probiotics,
- anti-allergic medications,
- something for insect bites,
- a disinfectant,
- patches
Mosquitos, begone!
Assuming that you’re not travelling to regions with malaria (where you will require different, more advanced protective measures), here are some of my tips for mosquitos:
- a DEET spray for clothes,
- an anti-mosquito band – this is awesome. It genuinely repels mosquitos, which makes it super effective, and at the same time safe for the child’s skin and health,
- anti-mosquito plugs,
- rooms with air conditioning,
- sealed windows, especially after dark, when the lights are on,
- a mosquito net (bed, stroller),
- clothing with long sleeves and legs,
- a folding bed (light and easily transportable!), such as Deryan – comfortable for the child, safe, sealed with a zip, with a net. It provides comfort at night and keeps mosquitos away. An ideal solution for children under two years old (sometimes even older!).
The big comeback from tropical holiday might be tough 😉 But with Deryan travel-cot (hanging on my wrist) the princess comes back mosquitos’ blisters free
Sun protection
I highly recommend the solutions below:
- something to cover the head with a UV 50 sunscreen, protection for the back of the neck and ears,
- sunglasses,
- sunscreen creams,
- lots of water and staying in the shade as much as possible.
So – what to take with you in your bag(pack)?
The time has come for THE moment: the decision what to take on a trip so that it’s comfortable and allows you to travel light at the same time.
First things first: documents and other necessities:
- passports, ID’s, health insurance policies,
- cash in the local currency, cash and credit cards,
- printouts with the agenda (like this one), all the addresses, contact numbers (including, for example, the embassy),
- phones, chargers, adapters, (if you need one) a camera with a charger and an extra memory card (or a portable disk. Equipment and accessories according to your needs 😉),
- a notebook/paper and some pens,
- a needle, thread, adhesive tape, a piece of rope
When it comes to cosmetics, my advice is: only take what you will actually be using, and what you won’t be able to buy locally. In our washbags you will find: mini products/small containers with shampoo, soap, toothpaste, face and body creams, ear buds, deodorant, dental floss, tweezers, emery board, tooth and hair brush, small scissors, pumice stone, bath glove/sponge. Additionally, for small children: diapers, wet wipes, swimming diapers. And definitely a thin, light, quick-drying towel.
On to clothes! Below you’ll find a list for a three-week trip to a hot country in November 🧡 We should put on several layers (the more, the merrier 😉), and apart from that – pack only what you need. You should definitely take:
- a raincoat with a hood,
- comfortable shoes (other than sandals),
- sandals,
- flip flops,
- panties, socks (x15 pairs of each),
- shorts (x5),
- tees (x10),
- longsleeves (x5),
- summer dresses and skirts (x5 of each),
- warm pants x 2, warm socks x2, warm sweatshirt, cardigan
- pajamas (x2)
- swimsuits with UV (x2)
So far we have used a laundry only once (during a 4-week trip), but apart from that we have always managed with a variation of the set above, without the need to do the laundry 😉
We should also take food rations 😉 I have already written about it in an entry on travelling with a small child (read it here). When M was an infant, we used to pack e.g. Millet and Holle jars with pure meat (chicken and beef), just in case. I highly recommend this solution 😊 Of course breast milk or formula are the basis here, but it’s also good to pack wholemeal cereal, various nuts and seeds. When it comes to fresh fruit and vegetables, warm countries offer an abundance, so no need to worry about that. Still, I think it’s good to pack some food for a small child – something he or she likes, and will eat (at least at the beginning of your stay) 😉
Impossible to pack everything? NOOOOOO 😉 One piece of hand luggage and one big registered backpack (“Squeeze, Squeeze it!😂“)
Is it too much, too little, enough?
Well, it all depends on your opinion, really. This is what we take with us and what I recommend, based on my experience so far. For my family, it is perfect – tested on numerous trips with a child aged 0-5. The older your child is, the easier it is to pack, as with age we no longer need as many “lifesavers” and other pacifiers 😉 Besides, older children take a more active part in packing, which is a beautiful (if, at least sometimes, difficult 😉) moment of preparing for the journey 🧡 We can easily pack our things in one big backpack and one smaller backpack (hand luggage), which we always carry with us. I highly recommend this option, as it is comfortable and limits your luggage to absolute necessities 😊 So – shall we start packing? 🧡