Family travel all-rounder packing guide
Packing for a trip isn’t always easy especially with kids in the mix. So I decided to put together an all-rounder family packing guide for trips with the whole family. From infants to toddlers and more, I’ve got you covered! Make sure to download my quick reference guide at the end of this post so you’ll have your quick reference packing guide for your next family vacation!
Essential documents
-Passports and visas for everyone: I like to have a passport holder so I can fit everyone’s documents in one place.
-Identity cards: Such as driver’s licenses and ID. Especially important for the parents and older kids.
-Consent letter: If only one parent is traveling with the kids it’s a great idea to have a consent letter. If you get asked for it at customs, you’ll be ready!
-Reservations: I like to have all my reservations such as plane tickets and hotel bookings in a folder on my phone. That way, they are super easy to access quickly and you won’t have to worry about losing papers.
-Insurance: This is SO important to have handy in case anything happens to anyone in the family.
-Vaccination record: Depending on where you are going, you might need it or you might not. If you are going somewhere where you need a special vaccine, bring it along with you. That way you will have every proof you need.
-Money: I always bring a bit of cash with me as well as my credit cards. If you go somewhere with no credit card payment option, you’ll be covered!
-Logbook for the kids or the adults;): I love these little books and it’s a great souvenir for the kids as they get older. Every time the kids get on a plane, you can give the logbook to the flight attendants and they will give them to the pilots of your flight. The pilots will log in all the information about the flight.
-Pen: A pen is always a must in your bag. You’ll probably need it to fill out customs forms or write a note. I’m a list kind of person so it’s always useful.
Infants and toddlers
-Wipes: Not only are they useful for babies, but they also have multiple purposes as well. Wiping a mess, wiping their dirty hands, etc.
-Diapers or training diapers
-Water diapers
-Baby bottle
-Bib, pacifiers, and pacifier clip: If you don’t want to spend your time searching for the pacifier, make sure to carry a clip!
-Small blanket: It’s always comforting for them to have a small blanket from home.
-Small toys: to keep them occupied during your downtime or on the plane.
Medical
-Thermometre: You never know when this might get in handy.
-Tylenol/Advil
-Gravol
-Rehydration packets: I always carry some with me especially when traveling. Whether you are traveling in colder weather or warm weather, dehydration can happen anytime, and this helps!
-Bandaids
-Antibiotic cream
-Afterbite cream: Insect bites can be so annoying when they keep being itchy…
-Tweezers: They can have many uses.
Hygiene kit
-Toothbrush and toothpaste
-Hydration cream
-Sunscreen
-Bug spray
-Lip balm
-Soap
–Untangling spray: This is amazing! When kids come out of the salty ocean water and they have a tangled mess of hair, this is a lifesaver!
-Kleenex: Kids often have runny noses. So you’ll actually be prepared with a small pack in your bag.
Transportation comfort items for everyone
-Eye mask
-Small blanket
Baby utilities
-Stroller: Depending on your preferences, you might bring a smaller stroller or your bigger one. It all depends on what you like best. Some trips are easier with a smaller stroller. It just depends on what you are comfortable with.
-Baby carrier
-UV tent: Especially important if you are going on a trip to the beach. That way, the baby can nap on the beach while still being protected and you get to keep enjoying the beach.
–Headphones for the kids: They can be handy if the kids are watching something on an Ipad or any device.
-Reusable plastic bags: I just love these. They are compact so they don’t use much space in your bags but they can be very useful to put the kid’s snacks in while you’re traveling.
-Beach bag: It’s just easier to carry everything!
-Floats
-Sunglasses
–Tablet with some downloaded content on it so if you don’t have access to WIFI, you still have some stuff to watch
Dishes and laundry
-Small clothesline: Depending on the length of your trip, it could be useful. If you are gone for a longer time, you might consider doing some laundry along the way. Hotels aren’t always equipped properly for people who want to do some laundry and hang some clothes. Or if you are renting a camper van, for example, it could come in handy.
-Laundry detergent: I always buy some small laundry detergent before going on a trip. I buy some travel-size ones. They’re usually 1 load of small packets so they don’t take a lot of space.
-Dirty laundry bag: I cannot travel without it. I just hate mixing my clean and dirty clothes in my bag.
-Travel-size dishwashing soap: For washing your baby bottles and baby utensils will be helpful. I always fill a small travel-size bottle before I go.
-Dishcloth and sponge
Smart travel
-Microfibre towel: I discovered those before going to Scotland. They dry fast, they are compact and very absorbing. You can use them for the shower or the beach. They are amazing!
–Frontal flashlight: Everywhere I go, I bring one. Even if it only serves to help find something that fell on the airplane floor.
-Baby monitor: This way you can still enjoy yourself but still have an eye on your kids.
-Small sewing kit
–Adapter: Electricity isn’t always the same in different countries so make sure to have your adapter so you don’t fry your electronics.
-Chargers: For all the electronics you bring with you.
–Packing cubes: Whether you are going on a backpacking trip or a trip with a big old suitcase, packing cubes are amazing! Once you get to your destination, you don’t even have to unpack them. You can just take them out of your bag and store them as is.
Clothing
-Clothes: Depending on the length of your trip, you might want to bring 6 or 7 outfits. If you are on a longer trip and want to do some laundry, this will be enough.
-1 or 2 pajamas, 4 or 5 for babies
-Underwear: I bring one for every day and a couple of extras on the trip unless I plan to do a bit of laundry.
-Socks: same thing as underwear.
-Hats: I like to bring 2 for each kid so if I lose one I’m still covered. You can also use one for them to play in the water.
-Rainjacket or a windbreaker
-Gloves, scarf, tuque, jacket for the colder destinations
-Bathing suit: Anywhere I go I bring them because there could be a pool you could take advantage of somewhere.
-UV protection shirt for swimming
-Shoes for the activities you are planning on doing there.
Make sure to download my all-rounder quick reference family packing guide to help you pack for your next family vacation! Whether you are going to the Caribbean or a northern country, you’ll be covered. Just make sure to pack clothes according to the weather!
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links. I would never recommend anything I don’t personally love and use!
A family trip isn’t just about packing, keep reading for more tips for your family vacation!
7 reasons why you should travel as a family
10 things you should do before your next family vacation
20 photos to inspire you to visit the Magdalen Islands
