Traveling With Kids: The Only Packing List You’ll Need (I Promise!)

Okay, so you know when you’re about to travel with your kids and you have that moment of pure panic staring at empty suitcases? GIRL, SAME. 🙈

Last summer I had an actual nightmare about forgetting my 4-year-old’s bunny at a rest stop and woke up in a cold sweat.

True story!

After approximately 732 family trips (okay, more like 15, but it FEELS like 732), I’ve finally figured out this whole packing-with-kids situation, and I’m spilling ALL the tea.

Enjoy <3!!

The Must-Have Basics (or What I Like to Call “The Don’t-Even-Think-About-Leaving-Without-These” List)

Listen, we both know you’ll triple-check for passports and plane tickets, but can we talk about the OTHER essentials?

The ones that stand between you and a complete meltdown at 30,000 feet?

First up: SNACKS. Not just any snacks.

I’m talking about the emergency stash that makes you the hero mom when your kid declares they’re “starving” for the 47th time.

Goldfish crackers, apple slices, granola bars—whatever doesn’t melt, crumble, or turn your bag into a science experiment.

And chargers! OMG, nothing—and I mean NOTHING—is worse than a tablet dying mid-flight with 3 hours left to go.

I now pack a charger in every bag because I’m still traumatized from The Dead iPad Incident of 2023. We don’t talk about it.

Clothes: Because Someone Will ALWAYS Spill Something

You think you’ve packed enough clothes? Add three more outfits. Trust me.

My sweet summer child spilled grape juice on himself, the hotel bed, AND his backup outfit within our first hour in Orlando.

I now pack like we’re planning to roll in mud daily—because honestly? We basically are.

Quick tip that SAVED ME: Roll those clothes instead of folding!

Not only does everything fit better, but you can actually see what you’ve packed instead of digging through piles at 6 AM while your toddler screams that they “NEED THE BLUE SHIRT! NO NOT THAT BLUE! THE OTHER BLUE!”

The Carry-On That’ll Save Your Sanity

Your carry-on is basically your parenting survival kit, and I’ve refined mine to an art form:

• Complete outfit change for EVERYONE (yes, including you—I learned this after my son got airsick… on me)
• Their special stuffy/blankie (and maybe a backup if you’re dealing with a serious attachment)
• Wet wipes. Like, an embarrassing amount of wet wipes.
• Surprise toys they haven’t seen before! I hit up the Dollar Store before trips and wrap little things in aluminum foil. The unwrapping buys you an extra 5 minutes of peace, which is basically a lifetime in parent-travel-time.

The Entertainment Arsenal (AKA How to Avoid “Are We There Yet?” on Repeat)

Remember road trips as a kid when all we had was the alphabet game and annoying our siblings?

Our kids have NO IDEA how good they have it!

I downloaded new games on the iPad (don’t judge—screen time limits don’t exist in transit), packed magnetic travel games, and found these amazing Water Wow coloring books that are literally JUST water on special paper so there’s zero mess.

But honestly?

My absolute BEST discovery was downloading audiobooks.

My kids will legit sit quietly for an HOUR listening to Harry Potter. It’s basically black magic.

The Things You Don’t Think You Need (Until You DESPERATELY Do)

• Nightlight for the hotel room. Nothing like unfamiliar shadows to convince your kid there’s definitely a monster in the closet at 3 AM.
• Painter’s tape. Seriously! I’ve used it to childproof hotel rooms, hold up makeshift blackout “curtains” (trash bags, don’t @ me), and once to fix a broken stroller wheel.
• Ziplock bags in every size. For wet clothes, opened snacks, collecting shells, impromptu ice packs… the uses are endless.
• Portable white noise machine. Hotel hallways are LOUD and your neighbor’s 2 AM return from the bar will 100% wake your finally-sleeping toddler.

The Reality Check

Can I just be real for a second?

No matter how perfectly you pack, something will go wrong. You’ll forget the sunscreen or pack all right shoes and no left ones (yes, I’ve done this).

But here’s the thing—some of our best family stories come from these disasters!

Remember that time we had to buy emergency swimsuits in that weird gift shop and they all had flamingos on them? Or when it rained our entire beach vacation so we built the world’s largest blanket fort in the hotel room?

Those are the memories that stick, not the perfectly packed suitcase.

So breathe, pack what you can, and know that most places have stores if you forget something critical. You’ve got this, mama! And if all else fails, that’s what room service and wine are for, right? 😉

What’s your absolute must-have when traveling with kids? Text me back with your secret weapon!