You have just hit the Purchase Tickets button on the Travelocity. A mixture of pride and relief fills you as the hourglass turns, pending completion of your final receipt. You have made the momentous decision to travel with your children and have actually purchased the tickets. Congratulations!
Now the real planning starts. You are leaving the comfy cocoon of your home, where everything is arranged just so and all of your baby gear is at your disposal. You are heading into the great big world where you and your child will be reliant on the items you have managed to schlep with you.
Don’t panic! You can leave your home, maintain some semblance of your child’s schedule, and get through your day without every piece of gear you own. The trick is to consider how your day will unfold at your destination in comparison to how it unfolds at home.
Each time we go on vacation, I review our daily routine in my mind as I am reviewing our packing list. This helps me determine which items I use each day and which items I will need on our trip. Our packing lists have evolved as we have learned what we can do without, what we are desperate for while we are gone and what our children need based on their ages.
Below is my first list - created for my infant son - along with some of the logic used to develop it. Hopefully these ideas will give you are starting point and get you out the door a little less trepidation.
Planning
Begin developing your list by reviewing your day. For example, " . . . my daughter wakes up. I hear her over the monitor and head up to her room where she is waiting in her crib . . .". Possible packing list needs: monitor, crib, and blankets. Okay, you can’t take the crib, but what arrangements do you need to make so she has a safe place to sleep. Will you take the pack-n-play or can one be provided by the hotel or your hosts? Will you be close enough to her room (or in it) so a monitor wont be necessary. Continue reviewing your day and including necessary items on your list.
Then you need to envision the activities you will be undertaking while on vacation. Will you be swimming? (If you are staying in a hotel with a pool, the answer is yes). Swimming suits, arm floaties, sunscreen, hats. If you will be walking a lot, how will your child be transported- front carrier, backpack, stroller?
One of the most difficult decision’s I have ever made was whether or not to take our big stroller or our umbrella stroller on our trip to the U.K. I ended up choosing the big stroller and it was exactly right. The only thing I didn’t consider was that the wind would eat the skin off my son’s cheeks while we pushed him along. Every other child was wrapped securely in a plastic stroller cover, something we could have used. He survived, but my guilt lives on.
One of the most difficult decision’s I have ever made was whether or not to take our big stroller or our umbrella stroller on our trip to the U.K. I ended up choosing the big stroller and it was exactly right. The only thing I didn’t consider was that the wind would eat the skin off my son’s cheeks while we pushed him along. Every other child was wrapped securely in a plastic stroller cover, something we could have used. He survived, but my guilt lives on.
Then you need to consider the what ifs: bumps and bruises, fevers and falls. We also have some tips for flying with an infant or toddler.
My standard infant packing list is as follows:
Medical Needs:
My standard infant packing list is as follows:
Medical Needs:
- Nose bulb
- Vicks VapoRub
- Tylenol/Motrin
- Benadryl
- Bandages
- Syringe for administering medicine
- Neosporin
- Thermometer
- Pedialyte (the new powder packs are great!)
- Cheek balm
- Dosage Chart - I received one of these from my pediatrician for all the various types of infant drops and children's formulas
Changing Needs:
- Diapers (my standard was 8 per day; track your average for a few days before you leave and also allow for travelers tummy.)
- Wipes (at least two packs)
- Diaper Rash Ointment
- Plastic Bags
- A few napkins or paper towels, since wipes do not absorb much
Feeding Supplies:
- Bottles
- Formula
- Baby Food (Especially to foreign countries)
- Spoons
- Bowl
- Bibs
- Ice Pack/Tote (This was a free tote we received from Similac that became a huge part of traveling for taking bottles or sippy cups of milk with us everywhere. We could freeze our ice packs in the hotel refrigerator and then pack the milk and be set for the day. It saved us when were nowhere near a restaurant many times.)
Clothing:
- Pajamas
- Clothing sets (2 per day)
- Socks
- Shoes
Transportation:
- Stroller/Plastic Rain Cover
- Car Seat
- Front Carrier
Bedtime Supplies:
- Bath Soap
- Lotion
- Fingernail Clippers
- Pajamas
- Sleep Sack
- Seahorse (my daughter's lovey)
- Books
- Blankets
- Pack-n-Play
Seasonal:
- Jacket
- Swimming Suit/Swim Diapers
- Hat/Mittens
- Sunscreen
- Sun Hat
- Rash Guard
- Floaties
- A few toys
Heading Home
When it is time to head home, you can use your packing list to make sure you don’t leave anything behind.
