I used to pack for every possible toddler emergency until I realized most of what I carried never left the suitcase, so here’s how I created my ideal toddler packing list.
Good pair of shoes
Toddler shoes used to take up a crazy amount of space in our suitcase. Now I pack the comfortable everyday pair my child is wearing on our way to the destination and one pair appropriate for our trip, like sandals for the beach. That’s it. Gone are the cute shoes to match that one outfit. Sure, they looked adorable, but they were worn once.
Toddler outfits
One outfit per day of travel and 2 extras is my rule now. The two extra outfits can cover just about anything from spilled juice, an accidental puddle, a messy lunch, to worse.
I also try to pack clothes that can be mixed and matched, so if one shirt gets dirty, it doesn’t ruin the entire outfit. I pack one extra outfit in my carry-on, since that’s the one extra I’ve ever needed.
Too many pajamas
I used to pack a clean pair of pajamas for each night, plus a couple of spares, because for some reason I was convinced they were single-use items.
When I travel now, I usually bring two pairs for short trips. If one gets dirty, we have a backup. And I can always rinse or throw the first pair in a sink-wash if need be. Also, pajamas pack surprisingly bulky when you’re packing multiple sets.
One piece of home
I always make sure to bring along a comfort item. Having a favorite lap blanket or stuffed toy can be worth many times the space it costs you, particularly when it’s time for bed in a strange room.
I discovered that one favorite thing works wonders better than hauling along half the toy closet. I also steer clear of taking anything totally irreplaceable if its loss would make vacation a family trauma.
One useful layer
Rather than stuffing my bag with a multitude of sweaters, jackets, and cardigans, I research the forecast, pick one useful outer layer and stick to it. It needs to be lightweight enough to haul around but warm enough for drafty restaurants, airplanes or cool nights.
More importantly, it has to be something my toddler will actually wear. The adorable jacket they refuse to wear isn’t worth taking up space in your suitcase.
Fewer diapers
This is probably my largest space saver. Unless we’re traveling to the middle of nowhere, I don’t pack enough diapers to last our entire vacation. I pack what we’ll need for the trip plus a few extras in case of delays, plus enough to get us through day one.
Then we just buy a pack at our destination. I’d rather make one stop at the supermarket than allocate half of a suitcase to items we can find just about anywhere.
Wipes always make the cut
I’ve cut down nearly everything else, but wipes have secured a spot for life in my travel bag. I pack one moderately sized pack instead of multiple gigantic ones since I know I can restock. They come in handy for changing diapers, messy hands, restaurant tables, unknown liquids on airplane seats, and any other random thing toddlers smear on themselves. Of all the toddler essentials, wipes are the ones I use surprisingly often.
A water bottle
We carry one leak-proof water bottle with us everywhere. I don’t bother with extras since we’ve almost never needed them. Having our own bottle allows me to refill it all day, and our toddler will actually drink out of something familiar. I learned quickly that “spill-proof” should be tested at home away from passports, phones, and airplane seats.
Snacks, not pantry
One area where I never go too lightweight is snacks. I pack a small stash of familiar, low-mess snacks since hangry toddlers and travel delays do not mix. I portion them out into small containers rather than throw a bunch of full-size pouches. Snacks have saved our lives on delayed flights, surprise-long car rides, and more than one restaurant meal that took forever to show up.
The stroller question
I don’t automatically assume we’ll need to take a stroller when traveling with our toddler. I consider the nature of the trip first. If we have airports, long sightseeing days, theme parks or lots of walking, a lightweight stroller is definitely worth taking.
If we’ll be driving to most places and staying near our accommodation, we can happily leave it at home, which feels wonderful.
A sensible medicine bag
I would bring medications for anything and everything that my toddler could possibly get. Now I stick to what we might realistically need plus any daily or prescription drugs.
I also keep medications in their original labeled bottles when available and make sure they will be readily available during travel instead of in checked bags. If we need anything outside of our normal day-to-day list, I’ll chat with a pharmacist or doctor instead of dragging around a pill box for a week.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us.
