How to Pack for Trips with Kids
Most travelers wouldn’t consider packing to be anywhere near the most fun part of a trip to begin with, and it can be even more challenging with kids. But it doesn’t need to be. Here are some tips from the WAYB Team on how to make packing more fun and more efficient, even with kiddos! (Spoiler alert - Taking the stress out of having to lug around a bulky car seat in addition to everything else by carrying the WAYB Pico Travel Car Seat & Travel Bag is a big tip!)
Travel light. You can’t always pack what you want, but if you try sometimes, you can pack what you need.
While you’re at it, there’s no way to travel lighter than with the ultralight (8 pounds!) WAYB Pico Travel Car Seat & Travel Bag!
Plan outfits -- and back-up outfits! Start planning the weekend before so you have plenty of time to do laundry and don’t have to leave behind that favorite sweater or lifesaver blankie because you forgot to give it a wash.
Organize and compartmentalize. All toiletries together in one bag, hair ties in another, etc. Put each of your kids’ entire outfits for the day in a big ziploc bag, so you can just grab and go each morning of your trip. And make sure to pack an extra day’s worth in case of emergency.
Roll and go. Rolling your clothes makes way better use of space than folding.
Bring items you can hang dry. If any unfortunate spills or accidents occur and you don’t have a backup, the hotel’s shower rod is your best friend.
Include your mini travel pals! Teach them how to do a perfect t-shirt roll. Even if you end up having to re-do their work, now they’ve learned the basics and will only get better with practice. Before you know it, the day will come where you realize you didn’t have to do much work at all in terms of packing for your kids.
Even if you want to take on the big suitcase duties yourself, have your kids pack their own carry-on bags so they have the final say in which toy to bring and which books are a must.
Make a packing list for each member of the family. Your kids can help, too. It’s okay if theirs is in crayon, as long as you can decipher their crayola-glyphics. For extra fun, add a gold star or other cool sticker next to items once they’ve been successfully completed.
Check the weather! Usually you can find pretty comprehensive 7-day forecasts to help guide your way through the bulk of your trip.
Lay out outfits for the whole family the night before. Avoid unnecessary panic or time-wasting the morning of your flight before you have to hit the road.
Make sure all your favorite screens and electronics are plugged in and charging the night before so you’re not out of juice as soon as you get comfortable on your travels.
Happy travels!