Traveling with children can be tricky, especially when it comes to packing. If you don't have a list, it's pretty hard to remember some of the essentials. And sometimes if you have a list, you tend to over-think which can lead to over-packing, which is very easy to do with kids. We want to remember and bring every little thing imagineable. But what we have to remember is, there are certain things that kids can do without for a week or two. Often times when we pack all of their "favorites" or "just-in-case" items, they never get used anyway.
Our first vacation with Brielle was a 2 week trip to Houston, TX when she was 10 weeks old. We packed A LOT!!! It was kind of crazy what we felt a 10 week old would need, especially clothes-wise. Once we got there, we ended up shopping for more clothes for her anyway so packing that much from the start was a complete waste of space in our suitcase. Our second vacation with Brielle was a 1 week trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico when she was 7 months old. This time we packed a lot smarter and actually found this awesome system of grouping her clothes into days of the week, putting each day in a ziplock bag, squeezing the air out of each bag and writing the day in marker on the front. The first smart thing about this system is there was no guessing what she would wear each day. Just pull out the bag and voila! The second smart thing was that you had a place to store the dirty clothes. The third smart thing was that they took up much less space in the suitcase. And the fourth smart thing is that the bags are there and ready to use for the next vacation.
My most brilliant suggestion is this; go through the list I've provided below, write down all of the "must-bring" items and don't over pack!!! If it's an item that's easier for you to get at the grocery store once you arrive at your destination, it might be better to use that as an option.
Babies, Toddlers & School Aged Children
Clothing & Accessories
Dressy outfit (you'll want to pack at least one or two)
Casual outfits (one for each day)
Jacket and/or sweater
Underwear/Diapers
Socks
Pajamas (at least two-three pair per week)
Swimsuit & cover-up
Sunglasses
Hat
Shoes/Sandals
Baretts/Pony tail holders
Umbrella
Backpack/Beach bag
Feeding
Breast pump & accessories
Bottles
Bottle brush
Dish soap
Formula
Snacks
Bowl/Spoon
Baby cereal
Baby food
Sippy cup
Burp cloths
Bibs
Toiletries/Bath
Baby soap/Shampoo
Conditioner
Comb/Brush
Sunblock
Toothbrush/Toothpaste
Prescription glasses
Lip balm
Medicine
Constipation meds
Tylenol
Teething meds
Prescription meds
Motion sickness meds
Cold meds
Anti-diarrhea meds
Asthma inhaler
Baby Nasal Saline spray
Bulb for nose
Thermometer
Vitamins
Diapering
Diaper Cream
Wipes
Diapers/Swim diapers/Pull-ups
Travel potty
Hand sanitizer
Bedding
Playpen/Travel crib
Crib sheets
Blankets
Swaddler/Sleep sack
Light blanket for shading stroller
Baby Gear
Stroller
Carseat & base/Booster seat
Pacifier
Baby monitor
Entertainment
Magazines & books
Toys
Lovey/Blankie/Stuffed animal/Doll
Coloring book/Crayons/Markers
Video Player & DVD's
Cards/Travel games
Notepad & pen
Homework/Textbooks
Pencil case
Note that each child is different so you'll want to add any specific items that are unique to your child and where you are traveling to.
Pack smart, pack light and have fun!!!
Interested in finding out how I'm able to work while on vacation in Maui for 2 weeks? Visit my website at www.discover-possibilities.com or email me at crystaldyck@gmail.com. I'd love to share my secret with you!!
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