Perhaps you saw the news (no, revelation) of a formula statisticians had alighted on to figure out the likelihood of a backseat tantrum on a long car journey with the little ones?
Indeed, [T = 70 + 0.5E + 15F – 10S] aims to offer both predictions and solutions for those inevitable breakdowns that happen when ”are we there yet?” has been exhausted and the road trip has lost its novelty value.
But if you’re not much of a mathematician and words are more your medium, then might we interest you in the below?
When you’re getting ready to travel with babies and young children, it’s only natural that you’re itching to get out of the house and start your vacation. However, in the rush to get out, important items can get left behind.
Foresight is key, here, if you want to ensure that everything goes smoothly during your trip. Trying to squeeze everything but the kitchen sink into a kid’s size suitcase while having a crying baby in one arm and toddlers following around can, quite frankly, be exhausting.
It’s essential to remember a certain Spanish proverb when sorting out your packing; ”on a long journey, even a straw weighs heavy”. And in the wrong hands, if that straw is attached to a sippy cup, things can get very weighty indeed. That’s before you’ve deployed these; our 10 packing hacks for parents travelling with babies and young children.
Packing Cubes To Pack Your Clothes
Are you tired of packing your suitcase and worrying about creases in your little one’s clothes? If so, then try using packing cubes to pack your clothes. Packing cubes are great because they allow you to separate all the items you will take with you during your trip into different compartments.
This way, everything is organised, and cleanliness won’t be an issue when it comes time to use them again; pop them out of their cube. For babies, dedicate one cube exclusively to nappies, wipes and changing essentials so you can quickly grab what you need during those urgent nappy changes.
Take Blankets & Cuddly Toys As Extra Protection For Your Kids
If you have a child who is afraid of flying, taking a blanket and a cuddly toy along is a sensible idea. The blanket will keep them calm, while the toy will be there to comfort them when they get scared. Since planes are usually pretty cold, the blanket will be a very welcome, snuggly relief for your little one.
For babies, their familiar comforter or muslin cloth can work wonders in soothing them during the strange sensations of take-off and landing. The scent of home provides reassurance in unfamiliar surroundings.
On that note, we all know how much kids love to kick off their shoes once seated on a bus, train or plane. Packing warm socks is a good idea, then, so their tootsies don’t freeze!
Read: 7 IDEAL tips for sleeping on the plane
Pack Multiple Silicone Bottles For Baby’s Milk
The last thing that you want to happen when travelling with children is to have them get hungry or thirsty and you find that you’re a long way from a shop.
A simple hack for parents who are travelling with young children is to make sure you travel with baby bottles filled with breast milk, water, juice, formula, or any other drink your child enjoys. You should probably bring multiple silicone bottles for their milk. They are BPA-free, lightweight, break-resistant, non-toxic, odourless, and transparent.
Additionally, silicone bottles are easy to assemble and disassemble, making them a great travel companion for those looking for their suitcases to be compact. For exclusively breastfed babies, having a spare silicone breast pump can be a lifesaver for expressing on-the-go.
Portable, Packable Snacks
Bringing portable baby food is important; however, it can take too much space in your bag. Try to avoid anything with lots of sugar or salt, the former leading to a massive high then a crushing, crashing low, the latter causing headaches and dehydration. You don’t want either.
Instead of packing sauce containers and baby food jars, try bringing GoGo SqueeZ or Ella’s Kitchen fruit pouches. These leak-proof, easy-to-carry snacks come in individually sealed 100% BPA-free packages. The package has holes on each side for airflow, making them perfect for road trips, plane rides, or any other trip that might take you far away from home.
To ensure the safety of the food you packed, double-bag it tightly in Ziploc bags and put it inside an insulated lunch box. This way, the microwaved, pureed food will stay warm.
If that sounds like a bit of a faff, consider packing something light but nourishing, that’s tightly compacted, doesn’t take up too much room and won’t perish on the road, such as organic rice cereals, low-sugar granola bars, crackers, or healthy versions of popcorn. For babies who are weaning, pre-loaded silicone spoons with frozen fruit puree can serve as both a teething soother and nutritious snack.
Pack Multi-Purpose Bath & Beach Items
When travelling to destinations with water features, whether it’s a hotel pool, the seaside, or simply bath time in unfamiliar accommodation, bringing versatile water toys can save significant space whilst maximising entertainment value. A mesh bag containing a few small items like stacking cups, a collapsible bucket, and floating toys can serve you across multiple settings. These items become beach toys for sand play, bath toys for evening wind-down routines, and even rainy-day entertainment in a pinch. The mesh bag itself provides drainage and quick drying, preventing musty smells from developing during your holiday. Prioritise silicone or plastic items that won’t rust or deteriorate when repeatedly wet, and choose bright colours that are easily spotted if left behind at public pools or beaches.
Create A ‘First-Day Survival Bag’
When you arrive at your destination after a long journey, the last thing you want is to unpack your entire suitcase immediately to find essentials. Pack a small, separate bag with all the items you’ll need for the first 24 hours—a change of clothes for each family member, pyjamas, toothbrushes, nappies, wipes, and any medication.
This clever hack means you can collapse into bed upon arrival or head straight to the pool without having to rifle through your entire luggage. It’s particularly useful if you’re arriving late at night or if there’s any chance your main luggage might be delayed. For babies, include enough formula and nappies to last the first day and night, plus a few extra in case of delays or emergencies.
Use Washable Markers & A Travel-Sized Whiteboard
Electronic entertainment isn’t always practical, and colouring books get used up quickly. A brilliant alternative is to pack washable markers and a small whiteboard or laminated sheets. These provide endless drawing opportunities without the bulk of paper pads or the worry of crayon marks on hotel furniture. Children can draw, erase and start again, meaning one compact item replaces potentially dozens of colouring books.
For older children, the whiteboard can also serve as a game board for hangman, noughts and crosses, or word games during long waits at airports or restaurants. Even babies can enjoy sensory experiences with special water-reveal colouring mats that leave no mess. The washable markers ensure that any accidents on clothes or surfaces can be easily cleaned—a relief for any parent who’s experienced the dismay of permanent marker discoveries.
Bring Their Favorite Pillow
We get used to particular pillows when we sleep, with their size and softness bringing the comfort of familiarity. We all know how vital having a comfortable place to sleep is while travelling or on road trips. If your little ones are not fond of sleeping on hotel pillows, then bring their favourite pillow with you on vacation.
Bringing inflatable pillows can help, too, if you’re really short on space, as they take up less space and can be deflated easily. For babies, their familiar cot sheet with the scent of home can help them settle in an unfamiliar travel cot.
Bring Your Child’s Favourite Toy
Saving the most obvious advice for last; sometimes, kids get bored when you take them on vacation. To prevent this from happening, make sure you bring their favourite baby toys. In the case of young children, try bringing ones that stimulate their senses because these toys are designed in such a way that they attract children’s attention and keep them occupied and entertained on long journeys.
For babies, a small selection of high-contrast black and white cards or a rattle with different textures can provide sensory stimulation when they’re alert and curious.
Nominate A Packer
Since you’re here with us, going over these hacks, we think it’s safe to assume that you’ve been allocated the noble role of taking care of the kid’s packing. In case you haven’t, it’s always a good idea when travelling with young children to nominate one packer in the family, to ensure that stuff doesn’t get double packed or forgotten. Make it one parent’s responsibility, and stick to it. This is especially important when packing for babies, as forgetting essential items like special formula or medication could derail your entire holiday before it begins.
The Bottom Line
Babies and kids need stuff. And so much of it. But your trip will be vastly improved by packing light and only bringing with you what you absolutely need. Of course, medical necessities, snacks, and entertainment are essential, but does the little one really need his lightsaber, superman cape and doll’s house in the back of the car?
A final word on timing; if you’re like us, and you like to take your packing right down to the wire (sometimes still finessing it on the way to the airport), then you’ll know that this last minute approach does you no favours in terms of space saving, particularly when you’re going on holiday with the whole family.
Better in the long term, we think, to pack methodically and with time to spare, allowing plenty of time to squeeze in those vital extras and sieve out the unnecessaries.
Speaking of which, here are some great tips on tackling a European city break with nothing but a cabin bag. Vital stuff, indeed.
