Packing is an important travel skill that became more complicated when we started traveling with kids. Through my years of traveling before kids, including weeks spent backpacking in Europe, I learned to be an efficient but comprehensive packer without using an actual list. Before I used a packing list for family travel, it was challenging to make sure we had everything we were likely to need, but not too much more. This ultimate packing list for vacations with kids has been a game changer and helped me efficiently pack for any family trip.
The Packing List for Family Vacations
I now pack for myself and my three kids when we travel as a family. My love of charts, Excel and to do lists combined when I created my first packing list for our trip to Orlando in October 2011 but only recently realized that they were a “thing.” I use my two-sided packing list to prepare for all of our family trips. The first side includes miscellaneous items that we need to make sure to take. The second side covers person-specific items of clothes and gear with columns for each of my three kids and myself. By using tally marks to identify the number of each item already packed, I can quickly determine how many of each item that I have for each person and who still needs pajamas or socks. I create outfits as I add items and try to pack basic wardrobe pieces when possible so that matching isn’t an issue. There have definitely been times when something was missed because I didn’t double-check the list, but those oversights are now less frequent.
Using a packing list is more essential when traveling to an area where essentials may not be readily available. Our resorts in Riviera Maya have had gift shops with slim selection and high prices for any forgotten items, and coin laundry was not available. We needed snorkeling gear, sand toys, swimwear, evening attire, traveling clothes, emergency medicines and diapers and wipes for 10 days. By using a packing list, I came home with some, but not many extra diapers and wipes. Luckily, no desperate trips to the gift shop were needed because the diapers size I needed was not available!
Because tally marks are used to identify how many of each item I have already packed, I use the same list for a short weekend getaway as well as a trip abroad. I am constantly adding and deleting items as our family’s needs change. I’ve included sub-lists for beach, baby and gear that are not needed for every trip, but it’s easier to cross off items that will not be needed than to try to remember what I might need for each type of trip.
Packing Efficiently for Family Vacations
Efficient packing helps us avoid the frustration of lugging around more than we need. Because the discount airlines that we often fly have steep charges for any luggage bigger than a backpack, packing light actually saves us money, too. We avoid luggage fees and have invested in suitcases of varying sizes so that we always have the largest possible option permissible. When recently traveling to Treasure Island and Clearwater for three nights, we traveled only with one backpack/personal item each and paid no luggage fees. On our trip to Iceland in 2017, we also each carried a small backpack containing the majority of our own clothes. Our coats, inflatable BubbleBum car seats, shoes and excess clothing and gear were all combined into a single checked suitcase. So, we only needed a one checked suitcase for a 10-day tour of Iceland for five of us, and we still definitely had more than we needed.
Packing for Trips with Infants and Toddlers
Infants and toddlers have unique packing needs and therefore a dedicated section on our packing list template. Good thing that their clothes are small because the rest of their items tend to be bulky. Make sure to pack a significant number of outfits, considering unexpected diaper leaks. With babies, there are also necessities that must be available at all times like diapers and wipes that I always remember to pack more than I anticipate needing, especially when traveling to a location where they are not widely available.
Our kids sometimes require excess baggage for sleepovers with their grandparents
Packing List for Family Beach Vacation
Because beach vacations require specific equipment and attire, we have dedicated a separate section on the our packing list template focusing on beach packing needs.
Why We Love Our Packing List for Traveling With Kids
Using a packing list helps make travel preparation easier and travel more comfortable even less expensive. Intrigued about what our free printable family packing list template looks like? Take a peek at our WGWK Ultimate Packing List (PDF) and WGWK Ultimate Packing List (Word) and personalize for an upcoming trip.
Check out our other Travel Tips for more advice about traveling with kids.
15 comments
I am such a list girl, but I cant seem to digitalize! I like writing the list by hand. idk something about making the list helpes me get organized. i cross off as i go. I like to over pack – to a point. If we are going to like florida I know i can stop at cvs or something. different at a resort!
You have really got this travel packing thing down. I’m impressed that you were able to go to Iceland with only one piece of checked luggage.
This is such a helpful list! Overpacking can be hard to avoid, but you end up not using half of your items anyways.
This is really, really helpful! I love lists and always have a packing list for when we travel (I take it with us too so I can make sure we actually come back with everything we left with) but you have a few things on your list that I would never have thought to bring! Definitely downloading and printing this one!
Great checklist! I always end up forgetting something (usually because we travel so infrequently). 😛
Oooh! We’re planning our first airplane trip with two kids (and while pregnant). This is totally going to help!!
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I do use Excel sheets for trip planning, especially expenses. But have never used one for packing because I’m a very quick packer. 15 minutes and I’m done. If I forget something, I buy it when I need it. However, with little kids you need to be more organised and not everything is available for little ones in remote places. Medicines, especially. Realised this when my kid broke out in hives after eating a candy bar in an airport and I didn’t have an anti-histamine handy. Now that he’s 18, I don’t have to worry about that anymore. Phew!
I don’t have kids but I struggle just packing for myself, so hats off to you!
It was way to easy for me to pack super light, when kids were little. Now my teen daughter NEEDS are making packing light a challenge 🙂
I like your list. But I always forgot something haha and I never have enough clothes or anything – girls. But trying to travel smarter and lighter – maybe at one sunny day 🙂
Really nice tips, I am yet to reach that stage. I’ll save this post and share it with the ones who actually need it.
You really have it sorted considering miscellaneous items, person-specific and sub-lists of items for each kid – Wow, super mommy! Very much summarized in your mind. Clear and to the point.
I have never really used or created a packing list but then, I have never travelled with children so packing for myself is never complicated. Reading through your post has made me realise just how complicated it is to pack for children, the thought process that has to go behind it, the kind of emergencies that can occur and how efficiently a parent needs to organise the things to be carried for kids, unless they’re willing to spend a lot of money when they’re in the destination, for the requirements. Kudos to you, you’re an amazing mom! And you seem to have it all figured out 🙂
As a single mom of four, I don’t have an abundance of time. To help empower my kids to pack for themselves, I created a kiddo packing list that I printed and placed in a sheet protector. Each of my kids keeps it in their suitcase with a dry erase marker and is able to get themselves ready for any adventure.