Packing and Traveling
I recently shared how I pack for our trips as a family of four and with Ava’s allergies in mind. I’ve gotten requests on how to find items so I thought a master list would be great to make. Traveling with young children is definitely exhausting and daunting at times. Whenever I find myself hesitating to plan another trip, I think about how we often light up talking about the good and bad of past adventures.
A caveat - I’m not a light packer, full stop. I’ve been teased countless times that I “move the house” every time I travel. I’m a consummate planner that loves reading reviews and researching. So I personally feel more prepared when my packing list leans towards the exhaustive end of the packing spectrum. I also have a sweet husband who has embraced his role when we travel. I pack and plan, he moves everything. This is what works for our family and it may not be precisely what fits yours the best. I hope either way that our experiences (both successes and failures!) can inspire other families to bite the bullet and explore with their children.
Packing:
Contains our travel itinerary as well as print out records of flight reservation, car rentals, activities, etc. Everything is in plastic protector sleeves. I’m also working on creating a master checklist of what we pack so I can keep track of what to repack.
These have become our go to duffel bags over the years. I like how they have trolley sleeves.
Packing cubes are a game changer because you don’t have to dig through your luggage for your clothes. Every person in our family has a specific color. Even the kids can find their clothes easily. I usually pack outfits in one cube and underwear, socks, and pajamas in another cube.
Because the times that Mitchell has picked up a luggage and accurately declared that it either weighs over or under the airplane luggage weight limit has sketchy at best. This one also tells you the temperature in the room.
We find this size to be handy and haven’t had issues on any flights (both international and domestic) regarding its size. The price seems to have gone up since we purchased so maybe just use it as a guideline in purchasing your carryon.
Ditto for the price increasing since we purchased these hard side spinners. We do live in NY so I’m glad for hard side spinners.
I find it easier to have bags be somewhat transparent and even colored so I know what’s in what easily.
Our go to travel toiletry bag.
Having everyone’s passports in one location is handy. I like putting our luggage tags in there as well. Don’t forget a pen when traveling abroad in case you have to fill out passenger locator forms.
Another bag I like using since it’s somewhat transparent and comes in different colors
The foldable base and slim lines of the Diono car seats were so appealing when we first got them. I imagined them to be the best travel car seats. Then we traveled with it on one trip and said never again. Schlepping around a car seat with a steel core isn’t the most fun thing, foldable base or not. Cosco car seats are now our go to travel car seats.
I got this as sort of a place to put all of our electronic gear. I have a hate-love relationship with it because it’s rather bulky once everything is in it. I have yet to find a great way to pack and organize our electronic stuff though. If you have a method, I’m all ears!
Spare Epipens
Handy to have in a pinch when you’re exhausted and nowhere near coffee.
This flavor can be handy since it’s clear so it’s easier clean up if there’s vomiting.
Extra masks
Bandaids
Dermabond
Traveling with Allergies
All information regarding Ava’s allergies are in a red folder that stays with us when traveling through airports and on flights. It contains a complete list of her allergies, her pediatrician’s information, an emergency care plan, a print out of how to use epipens, a letter from her allergist stating that she must travel with her own safe food because TSA has tried to take her safe milk away at times, and allergy cards. I also have a list of hospitals within our destination vicinity that takes our insurance. Everything is in plastic protector sleeves.
I used these to create allergy cards for Ava. She has a lot of allergies so I wanted a card bigger than a business card so that everything could be really legible. Avery has a template that’s free and easy to access. It was super straightforward to create and print out on both sides.
This lunch bag has become our go to throughout the years. The ice packs are sewn into the sides so there’s no forgetting to pack them along with the lunch box.
Our go to bento box. The insert pops out easily and we’ve never had any leaks. Yumbox also makes reusable lids that you can use with the insert.
Restaurants usually don’t have kid friendly utensils and I was getting tired of asking servers for smaller sized things to accommodate the kids. I got these and they’ve been great. I chose to get the in a bright color so it’d be easy to spot what’s our stuff amidst the restaurant’s utensils. TSA has stopped us because they saw the knives on the x-ray machine. I’d take them out when flying.
No issues with packing in our carry on. We use the red scissors for Ava’s food only.
We’ve found that chopsticks with the finger loops are the easiest for our kids. You can often find these at more affordable prices at your local Asian supermarket.
Stashers half gallon storage bag
We keep all of the kids utensils and scissors along with a bib in a clear, reusable bag. We then put all soiled utensils in a red Stashers sandwich bag when we’re done with our meal.
Epipen
Hydrocortisone ointment
Several quart size zip baggies
Travel sized tube of Solarcaine aloe gel
One time Ava had an anaphylactic reaction, her skin broke out in a dark red, extremely itchy rash allover and she was miserable. The pediatric ED attending poured diluted lidocaine on her skin to take the bite out of the itch while we waited for the injected medicine to kick in. He was the one who suggested we use Solarcaine in case it happened again.
This flavor can be handy since it’s clear so it’s easier clean up if there’s vomiting.
This is the appropriate dose for Ava’s age and weight. Please double check to see what works for you.
This is the appropriate dose for Ava’s age and weight. Please double check to see what works for you.
This is the appropriate dose for Ava’s age and weight. Please double check to see what works for you.
Rescue inhaler
Change of clothes in a gallon ziplock baggie
Getting there:
Helpful in securing our duffel bags on top of our spinner luggage, securing our car seats to our stroller or luggage, and securing luggage on the airport luggage carts
The flight path we do the most is JFK to LAX so that’s a 5+ hour flight one way. I always hated having to stash the trash we accumulate throughout the flight and found it super handy to have a dedicated trash can. The kids also know where they can throw away their trash so they can help themselves instead of handing all their trash to me throughout the flight. It’s easy to just tie it up and hand it to the flight attendant when they’re making their final way throughout the cabin to collect trash. This trashcan fits easily and securely on the seat pouch in front of you.
What I use for the trash can.
Helps keep the kids’ drinks within easy reach without having to use the seat trays.
The airplane cabins are pressured. This means all kids’ straw cups will essentially leak like crazy when you first open them in-flight and can lead to annoying messes. I prefer using Munchkin 360 cups so the kids can’t spill anything and we avoid pressurized milk spills. These cups fit in the Bevledge too.
This harness is the only one approved by the FAA to use on airplanes. You can’t use this harness in cars. It’s handy to keep your toddler securely seated.
Our go to travel water bottle.
We have different reiterations of Anker portable chargers. They all work great.
I’m super short and a 5+ flight often leaves my lower back sore because my feet are dangling while I’m holding a sleeping toddler. Having a footrest helps.
Super handy to have when traveling with young children.
The most handy thing to have when traveling with kids that are still in diapers. Instead of taking your entire diaper bag in to the Lilliputian airplane lavatory to change your child, just grab this wristlet. You can secure the strap to a rail guard that’s always in the lavatory and have it open so you can access everything with one hand while you do a diaper change.
trtl Pillow; trtl Pillow junior
I prefer these travel pillows because they’re not as clunky. They can get warm to wear so I do like to keep our air vents open. I also pack eye drops to help with dry eyes.
Entertaining Kids
These don’t roll off airplane trays.
Can be played with in tons of different ways. Just tearing and placing them on various places can be fun and it’s easy cleanup.
A fun, quiet activity. We use these in restaurants as well.
My oldest is a voracious reader. The Kindle and our local library’s digital books are a godsend.
Our go to travel backpack for the kids. Small enough that they can’t overpack and we can easily stuff in our stroller if they don’t want to carry them.
Easier to spot and harder to lose on the airplane than Hotwheels sized cars.
It’s typical for Airbnbs to have televisions but not all have streaming services. Traveling with our own Fire Stick ensures that we have shows and movies our family knows and loves within easy access.
During Your Stay
Our go to travel crib. I compared it to the Guava Lotus travel crib and chose the BabyBjorn. Ours is almost as old as Ava and is still in great shape. I just check it in the bag it came in. It was even accidentally tagged to go on a flight to China instead of DSM to LAX one time. The airline located it and sent it back to LAX. It was a little funky from the flight but I was able to wash and clean everything and it was as good as new.
A lifesaver when we were at Disneyworld for a week.
Another lifesaver for when we have to share the same hotel room.
And a third lifesaver for when we have to sleep in one room.
Comes with a powerful, reliable inflator. We own several and have never had issues with leaks.
Comes with a hand pump. You can definitely use a rolled up blanket, towel, or pillow as makeshift rail guards but I find that these bed rails stay in place more and are longer. Plus many hotels and Airbnbs provide just enough things so there’s often not extra items to use as bedrails.
Price has more than doubled since we ordered it. Clunkier than Addalock. Doesn’t work with all doors.
Doesn’t work with all doors. When it does, it’s great!
I prefer Airbnbs for our accommodation. They give us more space to spread out and a kitchen is important for Ava’s allergies. Nightlights are super handy to keep pathways illuminated at night and help us feel more comfortable in a new home. These are cheap enough that if I forget one or two, I won’t be kicking myself over it.
WashEZE travel laundry detergent
Handy to have when you don’t have access to a washing machine and dryer. We used these in Scotland when Theo was only 2 months old and we went through all his blankets and clothes before we got to our Airbnb in Iceland. I just washed everything in the tub and airdried them. Cleans clothes well.
Our travel hamper. A definite must so that dirty clothes aren’t everywhere. I also bring along a travel sized bottle of my trusty Puracy stain remover.
Handy to have when Airbnb washing machines look a little sketchy. I also travel with laundry detergent pods that are safe for Ava and smell like home.
We have step stools throughout our home so that Theo can use the restroom and wash his hands without assistance. Portable step stools may be over the top but they’re so handy to have so that he can still have some independence on trips.
For some reason, Theo’s cups are what I often forget to repack when we’re heading home. I’m hoping having cheap straw cups will come in handy.
