Traveling With Kids: What To Pack, Part 1 by Travelogger

Nov|28|2007

Traveling With Kids: What To Pack, Part 1

Posted by Camica as Destinations, Education, Family, People, Tips, Transport

Going on trips with my kids are always a huge production, especially if it lasts more than a weekend. My husband jokes that we should buy a motor home, since we end up bringing half the house with us. Most parents would understand, oftentimes, the baggage allowance for my kids is a ratio of 2:1; 2 bags per kid compared to the adults. Since we practically spend every weekend visiting grandparents, and insist on vacationing with the kids every time, we had to learn to trim our baggage to the essentials. For the harassed mom or dad, we’d like to share some tips and tricks we’ve learned, along with our must-bring items.

If you’re traveling with an infant or a toddler, a car seat is always a must. If you’re traveling on a plane, make sure the car seat you have is FAA-approved.
A baby sling or a baby carrier is a great idea for lugging your baby around. It keeps your hands free, but still keeps baby close to you for security, especially useful for crowded places. Plus, it’s easily stowed in your bag when not in use.
If you feel like you’re going to do a lot of walking, and may not be able to handle carrying an active toddler around, consider bringing a foldable, lightweight stroller.
Make out an emergency medical information sheet for your family. List down your doctor’s contact numbers, and any pertinent medical details like medications and their dosages, allergies, blood type. Be sure to include the usual prescribed medicines if your child gets a fever or colds, in case you can’t contact your doctor immediately.
As a general rule, try to make sure the ratio of your kids’ clothes are 2:1; 2 outfits per day. I think that’s a reasonable precaution, considering how apt kids are to get dirty and messy. To minimize the load, check if there’s a laundromat, or a cheaper alternative to hotel laundry at the place you’re staying. If there is, you can cut your packing in half.

To be continued next post.