It's hard to enjoy a family trip if your son is crying for the teddy bear you accidentally left at home. Traveling with kids requires much more preparation and planning than arranging a trip for adults. Creating a packing checklist will help ensure you haven't forgotten important items that will keep your children healthy and happy while you are away from home.
Travel Activities
If it will take more than 30 minutes to reach your destination, you may want to pack a few toys or games to keep your children busy. Older children may enjoy playing hand-held video games or travel board games, while younger children may prefer coloring books, stickers, books, small toys and favorite stuffed animals. Children of all ages may enjoy watching a movie if you have a portable or installed DVD player in your vehicle. Ask your children to pick two or three small games or activities and add them to your checklist. If you are traveling by air, the Family Education website suggests keeping toys in resealable plastic bags and allowing your child to play with one item at a time.
Special Supplies
Be sure to include a section on your checklist for special supplies, including baby and medical items. If you have a baby, it may seem as if you are packing up your entire nursery when preparing for a trip. In addition to diapers, diaper bag, diaper cream, wipes, bottles, nipples, formula and clothing, you'll want to pack a portable, collapsible crib or play yard if your lodging doesn't provide cribs.
Bring first aid supplies as well as prescription and nonprescription medications you may need while you are away. It's not unusual to develop an upset stomach after ingesting unfamiliar food or water, so add antacids and antidiarrheal medication to your checklist. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests bringing copies of all prescriptions, in addition to the actual prescriptions, and keeping prescription medication in your carry-on bag if you are flying.
Clothing
Each family member should bring enough clothing for every day of your trip. If your children are old enough to make their own checklists, make sure they pack one shirt, pants or dress and underwear for each day. While a fresh pair of shoes isn't necessary for each day, you want to bring more than one pair in case one pair becomes wet or if special shoes are required for events or activities.
Family Travel Network suggests bringing one off-season clothing piece per person, such as long pants in the summer or shorts in the fall. You never know when the weather will change, and considering all possibilities will keep your family comfortable no matter what the temperature. If your accommodations feature a washer and dryer and you don't mind doing laundry while on vacation, you can bring fewer items of clothing.
Personal Items
Include toothbrushes, toothpaste, hair-care products, grooming tools and deodorant on your list. If you are staying at a hotel, soap and shampoo will be provided, but if you have brand preferences, you may want to bring your own soap and shampoo.
