Traveling with kids can be simultaneously exhilarating and daunting. While exploring new destinations and creating lasting memories with your family is rewarding, the logistics of traveling can feel like a lot. Nothing says “vacation” like preparing to travel with 3 kids 5 and under. Some might call that a “trip.” I am one of those people, but here I am, planning my next “vacation” with 3 kids. I’ve now experienced both domestic and international travel with babies, toddlers, and kids, and know a thing or two about what actually qualifies as a travel essential. Preparing for a trip with kids requires strategic packing to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip. As a virgo, a packing list and prep is where I shine. From essential gear to entertainment options, here is my ultimate vacation packing list with the travel essentials you need for a family of 5. 

 

The Ultimate Vacation Packing List for a Family of 5

 

Packing for a flight with kids demands careful consideration to keep them comfortable and entertained. Essential items include snacks, one water bottle or sippy cup per family member, and extra diapers. Bring along favorite toys, books, or electronic devices to keep them occupied during the flight. Comfortable clothing and layers are crucial for changing temperatures onboard. Packing light, organized bags can ease the process, ensuring quick access to necessities. Whether you’re embarking on a road trip, flying across the globe, or setting sail on a cruise, thoughtful planning and preparation are essential for a successful journey. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll explore tips, strategies, and insights to help you navigate the joys and complexities of traveling with kids. Here’s what to bring on your next trip.

 

Vacation Packing List: Planning Your Trip

Before embarking on any family trip, thorough planning is essential. This includes choosing an appropriate destination, considering the interests and preferences of both parents and children, and researching family-friendly activities and accommodations. Here are some things to consider when booking a trip with young kids. Familiarize yourself with any travel restrictions or guidelines imposed by airlines, transportation authorities, or destination countries regarding luggage size, weight limits, and prohibited items.

 

Destination Selection and Length of Stay

Opt for destinations that offer a variety of activities suitable for different age groups. Consider factors such as climate, accessibility, safety, and kid-friendly attractions. Look for family-friendly accommodations that offer amenities such as adjoining rooms, childcare services, and recreational facilities for kids. Think about where everyone will spend time while babies or toddlers are napping or going to bed. Are there adjoining rooms? A living space? If you’re renting a house, are there enough rooms for everyone?

Determine the duration of your trip, including the number of days and nights you’ll be away from home. This will help you gauge the quantity of clothing, toiletries, and other essentials to pack for each family member. Choose travel dates that align with school holidays or times when children are more likely to be well-rested and cooperative. 

 

Transportation

Research transportation options that cater to families, such as airlines with child-friendly services and car rental companies offering car seats and stroller rentals. I prefer to bring our own car seats since you never know what rental seats will be like, but if you’re just looking for transportation to and from the airport, it’s worth looking into a car service that offers car seats. 

 

Vacation Packing List: Packing

Packing for a family trip can be daunting, but with careful planning and organization, it can be simplified. Here are some essential tips for packing efficiently when traveling with kids. Start early – begin compiling your packing list well in advance of your trip to allow for enough time to make sure you have everything you need. There might be some last-minute amazon orders, so give yourself a few days. While it’s tempting to pack everything your child might need, aim for minimalism to avoid lugging around excessive luggage. Stick to versatile clothing options and prioritize items based on necessity.

Choose travel-friendly luggage and accessories, such as lightweight strollers, compact car seats, and durable backpacks, to ease the burden of carrying and transporting belongings.

 

Make a Packing List

Create a comprehensive packing list that includes essentials such as clothing, toiletries, medications, snacks, entertainment items, and any special items your child may need, such as comfort toys or blankets. Divide your packing list into categories such as clothing, toiletries, medications, travel documents, electronics, entertainment, and miscellaneous items. Tailor your packing list to accommodate the unique needs and preferences of each family member, including infants, toddlers, children, and adults.

 

Don’t Forget the Basics

Ensure that your packing list includes essential items such as passports, travel insurance documents, identification cards, credit cards, cash, and any necessary travel permits or visas.

 

Vacation Packing List: Let’s Start With a List of Travel Essentials

You’ll want to make sure you have all the basics. For international trips, make sure you have any important documents and your passports. Bring an extra credit card in case you have any issues while traveling, and don’t forget your health insurance cards, too. I do not plan on any international travel with kids until my youngest is 5 – it’s just too much, so no important travel documents for us for a while. 

 

Travel Stroller

Opt for a lightweight, collapsible stroller suitable for the youngest child. I brought this double stroller to Disney, but for this trip, we won’t be walking 20,000 steps a day, so I will just be bringing one lightweight travel stroller for our youngest. 

 

Travel Car Seats

Figuring out the right travel car seat is a must. And it’s a pain. We have the Doona but my son is already 22 lbs, and turns one right before the trip. It’s a great car seat but he’s too big to comfortably use it as a stroller. So I’ll be bringing travel car seats for all 3 kids. 

 

Portable Crib

Your hotel or vacation rental might offer a crib but I’ve never liked the ones that are available and prefer using our own. Don’t forget to purchase an extra crib sheet, and to recreate your at-home environment, try the slumberpod and this white noise machine.  

 

Packing Organizers

As a very “virgo” virgo, I live for a good packing organizer. A well-packed suitcase and personal bag brings me great joy. I want a super-organized system that’s easy to navigate, and feel so good when I am prepared for any situation, without overpacking. It’s an art. I use packing cubes and pouches to keep all of our stuff organized. I’ll share some favorite pouches below, but these are great for important items, toys, and snacks. 

 

Here’s some of our favorite gear. Keep in mind that I am sharing what I used to travel at various ages and stages, and what I use now as a mom of 3 kids, ages 5, 3, and almost 1. I would say the must-haves are the convertible car seat for ages 3 and under, the Pico from 3-5, and then the inflatable booster for ages 5 and up. The travel stroller is amazing – I’ve been using it the last few months as my everyday stroller. It’s easy to set up and takes up very little space in our trunk. And the airplane harness is only needed if you’re going somewhere where you won’t be using a car seat, or if you don’t want to set up your travel car seats on the plane. 

 

 

Vacation packing list: Essentials for the flight

Since each family member gets one carry on and one personal item, I usually bring at least 2 pieces of carry-on luggage and a carry-on bag with everything I’ll need on the flight.

iPads

There are no screen time rules while traveling. Here’s a list of my favorite iPad games. You can get 50% off our favorite Montessori-style app! 

 

Toys and activities

My kids love to draw. I bring twistable crayons since they’re the least-messy and our latest favorite, glitter gel pens. Buy retractable pens or markers – anything without caps will make life easier. Dough jars and small sensory toys are great for travel, too. Bring their favorite tiny things that don’t take up too much space and keep them busy. For us, that’s mini Plus Plus, small Disney figurines and Doorables, and sensory toys. Familiar toys can provide comfort in new environments, or on long flights. My girls usually each bring a stuffy or doll that they love. Pro tip: do not let them carry it through the airport. Do not let airport security tell you that you cannot bring dough on the plane. It was confiscated from our bags and I wish I had known to show this at security. 

 

Snacks

Pack a variety of snacks. You don’t need any fancy snack containers. Just throw everything in a pouch and get ready to hand out a new snack every hour. Consider cleaner snacks for toddlers, like cheerios, puffs, and teething sticks.  

 

Diapers and Other Baby Essentials

This probably seems obvious but I always pack a bag with any baby essentials. Wet wipes, hand sanitizer, diapers, toys, outfits, and everything you might need for baby. 

 

Extra Outfits for Everyone

I like to bring a few essentials for each family member in our carry on in case our luggage gets lost. I pack at least 2 pairs of underwear, a swimsuit, pair of pajamas, and 2 outfits. 

 

Chargers

Bring a portable charger for your cell phone and the kids’ iPads, just in case. And obviously make sure everything is at 100% the night before you leave. 

 

 

 

 

Vacation Packing List: Clothing Items and Outfits

Clothing usually makes up the bulk of your luggage – I typically bring one outfit per family member per day, and 2 for babies or toddlers if there isn’t laundry at our destination. If and when we do have laundry, I just bring a few pairs of pajamas and one outfit per day max, and plan on doing laundry.

You’ll want to choose weather-appropriate clothing. Pack outfits suitable for the destination’s climate. Since many of you might be searching for warm-weather trips this time of year, I’m going to share some of the items we’re packing for our trip. Don’t forget swimsuits, hats, and sunscreen for water activities, sneakers and sandals (ideally waterproof ones) for walking and playing. 

I like to use packing cubes to organize everyone’s clothing by type. 

• Beach bag and beach or pool essentials
• Shorts and tops 
• Swimsuits
• Long-sleeved shirts or sweaters for layering
• Cover-ups
• Dress outfits if going to a nice dinner
• One pair of sneakers and one pair of sandals per child. I really like packing Cientas for the girls since they’re cute enough to wear to dinner and great for running and playing. 

Vacation Packing List: Toiletries and Medicine

It’s always a good idea to be prepared when you’re with little kids. So along with toiletry bag basics like shampoo and conditioner, think of the things you might need if someone gets hurt or gets a fever. 

• Children’s Tylenol
• Thermometer
• Hand sanitizer 
• First-aid kit
• Sunscreen
• Lip balm

 

 

Vacation Packing List

Despite meticulous planning, traveling with kids can be unpredictable, and things may not always go according to plan. It’s essential for parents to maintain a flexible mindset and adapt to unexpected situations while keeping everyone’s needs and comfort in mind. Here are some tips for managing expectations during family travel.

 

Be Patient

Understand that traveling can be overwhelming for children, especially in unfamiliar environments. Be patient and offer reassurance and support when needed.

 

Allow for Downtime

Schedule breaks and downtime during the trip to give children a chance to rest and recharge. Avoid over-scheduling activities and allow for spontaneity and exploration.

 

Roll with It

Accept that not everything will go smoothly, and there may be meltdowns, delays, or mishaps along the way. Embrace imperfections and focus on enjoying the journey rather than striving for perfection.

 

Encourage Participation

Involve children in decision-making processes. My kids love packing their carry-on bags, so if they’re interested, let them choose a few special toys to bring. For kids who are old enough, encourage them to share their thoughts and preferences regarding activities, meals, and accommodations.

 

Traveling with kids is hard. It’s also an experience that offers opportunities for growth, learning, and connection within your family. There will be hard moments, but in the end, the good moments will probably (maybe) feel worth it. By prioritizing preparation, safety, and enjoyment, you can create memorable adventures and lasting bonds that transcend the boundaries of time and distance. Embrace the journey. 

 

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