10 Packing Tips When Traveling with Kids (and Babies!)

Packing. Either you love it or hate it.

I know not a lot of people are going to understand this but I personally find packing very exciting! Eep. Haha. So, I’m here to share some of my favorite tips when it comes to packing for kids.

Trust me, it’s not as stressful as it sounds. Or at least, it shouldn’t be! 😉

1. Pack clothes that are easy to mix and match

Consider sticking to a particular color scheme for your kids’ clothes so that it’s easy to mix and match. Choose around 3 colors that go well together so that it’s easy to pair with whatever top or bottom you have left.

If it’s your style, I would recommend going for neutrals. You can never go wrong with whites, greys, blacks and a pair of classic jeans.

2. Never ‘underpack’ clothes

Note: This tip is applicable only for short-term travel and not for long-term.

I know this is contrary to all packing tips you’ve read online but this is based on personal experience. I really don’t believe in underpacking when it comes to clothes for the younger kids. I can never get on board with say, just bringing 3 sets for a 5 day trip. Never. And these are the reasons why.

First of all, kids get messy… a LOT. And sometimes, it’s good to let them get messy. Allow them to explore even if it means soiling their clothes. Just make sure you have extra clothes on hand! If you don’t pack extras, you’ll find yourself worrying about whether this is the last pair you have.

Second, even if there’s a washing machine at your AirBNB, I don’t really want to spend precious vacation hours doing the laundry. I’d rather use that time to get an extra 15 minutes of sleep! And that’s a good enough reason for me to bring a lot of extra baby clothes!

And lastly, how heavy and bulky are your kids’ clothes anyway? Hint: They’re not (except for outerwear, of course!) Chances are, you can even scrunch up those onesies and make them fit in your pocket if you wanted to. Bringing two extra sets won’t make your luggage overweight; it could also save you a lot of hassle.

During our Singapore trip, Dylan had 2 outfit changes even before breakfast was over because his diaper leaked twice! Ack. I’m glad I didn’t have to worry about running out of clothes though.

3. Pack an extra pair of shoes

Placed “shoes” on a whole different category because you need to bring an extra pair for a different reason and that is this: too much walking may cause kids to complain that their comfiest shoes are “ouchie!”

We always bring an extra pair of shoes with us whenever we travel for more than 2 days and we have always used that extra pair! So save yourself the extra hassle of having to go shoe hunting on your next vacation (or of having to carry them the entire time,) and just bring an extra pair of lightweight footwear.

4. Fold clothes vertically

If you’re not yet familiar with the Konmari folding technique, now is the time to get acquainted with it! Fold your clothes vertically so you can see everything in one look.

This method of folding also helps keep the clothes organized since it doesn’t “mess up” all the other clothes when you pull one out.

5. Use color-coordinated packing cubes

If you have more than one kid, assign a specific packing cube per child to avoid mix-ups. But what would be even better is if you could assign a particular color for each so you can spot it in a glance.

For our family, I had personalized packing cubes made for each member. Everyone is assigned a color and each cube has their name on it. I also made sure that these packing cubes are clear so that I can easily see the contents.

If you noticed the photo on #3, even their shoe bags match! 😉 Hehe.

I had them made with Booths Republic.

6. Separate all swim items

Pack all swim items such as swimwear, goggles and sunblock in a separate ziploc or reusable wet bag, This is so that it’s easier to grab when you arrive at the beach, pool or resort.

Just grab these swim bags, pop them in your beach bag and you’re ready to go!

7. Bring a separate bag for used clothes

A separate bag is a staple in our packing list because that’s where we place all of our dirty clothes. You don’t want shirts with spit-ups and food bits mixing with your clean clothes, right?

Additional tip: We always bring with us a foldable bag with a lock that we can check-in, in case we need extra space in our luggage. And when that happens, it’s a no-brainer; the first thing we put in that foldable duffel bag is our bag of dirty clothes! Super fast to transfer and we instantly get a huge space in our luggage. 😉

8. Bring Items That are Compact

It’s no secret that baby items are usually bulky so I suggest purchasing items that are really compact and portable.

Some of our favorite items that fall under this category:

• Mifold foldable car booster, which is as small as a clutch bag.
• Oxo Tot foldable drying rack for cleaning our bottle. It’s also as small as a clutch bag, plus, a bottle brush folds neatly inside!)*
• Feellife portable nebulizer, as part of our first aid kit, in case the kids get sick (Got it from Hello Giggles Baby)

*You can use my discount code SHEENALOVESSUNSETS to get 10% discount at their website.

9. If Possible, Bring Multi-purpose Items

One of my favorite baby items is our Beaba Babymilk Second bottle warmer that also serves as a steam sterilzer and a food warmer! It’s honestly such a worth it item to bring. (Love it so much that I also included it in my previous article: 5 Must-Have Baby Travel Gear)

Another example of a multipurpose item I recommend (this time in the clothing department,) is a long-sleeved polo. It can serve as a light jacket, as a top or even as a covering for dirty pants in case of emergencies! Hehe. I usually have one for the boys in our backpack.

10. Involve the kids in the process

Let your kids pack with you.

Involve them in the entire process; from going through your checklist, getting the items and folding them inside the bag. You may even consider giving them their own little backpack to put their things in such as their water bottle, toys and other miscellaneous items.

Aside from encouraging responsibility, you are also empowering them by allowing them to take charge of their own things. You’re on the road to raising a responsible traveler!

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Do you have other packing tips for travels with little kids? Share them in the comments below!

Related Post: 5 Must-Have Baby Travel Gear