Packing Tips for Family Vacations

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Vacations and traveling as a family is exciting but it can be a lot of work to plan and pack for yourself in addition to kids. Their needs are ever-changing! These Packing Tips for Family Vacations will help to get you on your way to new adventures and memories with less stress!

Make Lists

Mama, this trip is not the only thing going on in your life, so please don’t try to remember everything that pops into your head! I have packing lists for each person for our checked bags, lists for carry-ons, and of course that last-minute list like cell phone chargers, tablets, etc. I literally cross off item by item as I pack to be sure I don’t miss anything.

Note for plane travel- Be sure to check your airline’s website for up-to-date rules and regulations regarding travel in general during the pandemic, as well as specific guidelines and documents required to fly with children. This may include birth certificates, passports depending on your destination, proof of COVID testing, guardianship papers, etc.

Know Your Limits

This includes how many bags you can carry on or check (and how much it costs), size limits for carry-on versus checked bags, as well as the dreaded baggage weight limits. Be sure to check with your specific airline for this information as they vary.

Use a Luggage Scale

Our luggage scale is truly a lifesaver. Gone are the days of emptying out our suitcases at the airline scale. Well except for our last Disney trip, when I packed the luggage scale without weighing our bags first. On that trip, we were those people for sure.

We have this luggage scale from Amazon and it’s amazing. Lightweight and small so it’s not taking up valuable packing space. We have never had an issue with its weight not matching the scale at the airport. That includes times when we have been very close to that 50lb per bag max!

Flying with a Baby? Check out my post with 7 Must-Haves for Plane Travel, just click HERE!

Plane Ride with a Toddler? No worries! I share what I pack in our carry-on for toddler plane trips too! Click HERE to check it out!

Choose Lightweight Luggage

There is no reason to be wasting valuable space and pounds on your actual suitcase. There are so many options available for lightweight luggage these days. Everything from traditional wheeled suitcases to the spinners that everyone loves (except for me) is available. And they come in great colors too!!

I use this lightweight suitcase by TravelPro and have both the carry-on and checked bag sizes. I could not believe the weight difference when I first bought them compared to my previous suitcases. Definitely do this with your carry on too! Why hoist a heavy suitcase up into the overhead if you can use a lighter one?

Pack Small Containers of Liquids

Yes, even if you are checking the bag that they are in. It is far easier to clean up and contain a spill if it is in a 3-ounce container than your entire liter shampoo bottle exploding all over your clothes for vacation. I then put the little containers into a gallon-size plastic bag to contain potential spills or leaks.

Packing Cubes

I finally jumped on the packing cube bandwagon and I am obsessed. These are the packing cubes I purchased from Amazon in different colors for each kid and myself. I have cubes from TravelWise and the kids each have a set from BAGAIL. Both have been great, with no tears despite kids going in and out of them on vacation. I definitely recommend checking the sizes that come in each set before buying. Some sets have tiny little cubes that really won’t fit much of anything!

I put pajamas in one cube, along with extra socks and underwear. Seasonal gear goes in another (mittens and hats versus swimsuits and cover-ups). Then I pack by day. Each day has a full outfit, with socks and underwear, hair bows for Little A, and a washcloth for the morning. I pack one cube with extra clothes and outfits. And the last one has things I don’t think we will need, but might. For example, going to be 80 degrees on vacation? I still bring a sweatshirt or two and jeans in this cube in case of a cool evening or early morning.

Medicines/First Aid Kit

These must-haves are not something that you want to hunt down on vacation, in an unfamiliar place. Odds are, if you need them, you need them now. I pack a little waterproof soft-sided toiletries container with the kids’ medicines from home including Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl, medicine cups, medicine syringes. Sunscreen and bug spray go in here as well, so I always know where to find it. Finally, Band-Aids, Bacitracin, gauze, and any other first aid supplies.

This is usually a stock once-and-forget-it type of item and we bring it anytime we stay overnight anywhere. Remember to check expirations prior to vacation though, just to be sure you are all set. When Baby J had hand, foot, and mouth at Disney I cannot even tell you how relieved I was to have Tylenol and Motrin on hand when he first spiked a fever in the middle of the night.

Have Fun!

You have everything you may need, your family is together, so sit back, relax and try to enjoy the ride! Sometimes traveling with kids, especially little ones, can feel less like a vacation and more like a trip, trust me I understand! But I promise you are judging the memories and yourself more harshly than anyone else. Please put your expectations aside and try to see the trip through their eyes! I hope these Packing Tips for Family Vacations helped you to prepare for new adventures with your family!