Packing for Holiday Travel with Kids: Things to Consider
This is Part 1 of my 3-part series on traveling with small kids. Coming up: Part 2 - Travel Day Strategy, and Part 3 - Keeping Kids Entertained on Holiday.
As a mom who's been traveling with my kids since they were tiny (my first solo flight was when my eldest was about five months old), I've developed systems for every stage of the travel journey. I usually get a longer holiday with the kids whilst my husband joins us later, so the packing and travel day usually falls to me.
My mantra is that the trip begins when we leave the house, so I try to avoid stress and drama from the minute we walk out our door by planning ahead!
This first post covers everything you need to know about packing and preparation.
Luggage
Getting Around - Buggies and Ride on Luggage
Food & Drink on the Go
Tech Setup
Safety Stuff
Dressing Kids for Travel
Organisation Systems
WARNING: I really really like to plan and prepare, so this will be completely over the top for some people!
Note: Some links in this post may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you.
The Golden Rule: You Must Carry Everything
This principle shapes every single decision from what to pack to how to organize it. You can not rely on your kids to carry, push, pull, wheel or otherwise transport anything!
Luggage
Hand Luggage
For me the goal is to have as little hand luggage as possible. If there is an option to check things in, I take it. Navigating the airport with free hands makes life a lot easier.
I try to have just one wheeled carry on bag that doubles up as a ride-on for the kids (since discovering it, the Micro Eazy Luggage is my top pick!) and one large shoulder tote. Absolutely no hand luggage for kids as they put random crap in them and I always end up carrying them!
Check In Bags
We usually check in bags, it’s tends to be easier and more cost-effective to bring what we need when traveling. Also, as I mentioned above, if there is an option to check in smaller bags (e.g. Aer Lingus allows you to check in you 10kg carry on bag for free) - we take it!
Car Seat Bags
Get a car seat bag with backpack straps, they're bulky but not heavy. We have high back booster seats as our kids are now old enough, I don't like to rent car seats as I can't guarantee safety, and we can usually fit our two car seats in one car seat bag.
Most airlines allow you to check in a carseat bag for free when travelling with kids. This usually has to be dropped off separately as the excess baggage check in area. I've been known to throw the kids scooters, helmets, swim towels/floats, an extra pack of nappies in there etc. (I’m sure it’s not allowed, but I've gotten away with it!!) Don’t forget to pack it so the bag is a comfortable shape that you can put on your back easily.
Getting Around
In our experience, kids dont have the stamina to walk unaided through an airport until they're about six, we rely on the Micro Eazy Luggage now my kids are too big for buggies.
Buggies for babies and non-walkers
Airlines will only let you bring a single fold buggy to the gate. If your buggy needs to be taken apart into multiple pieces, it needs to be checked in with luggage.
I always had a buggy caddy on the handlebar for stuff like passports and your phone - so handy through the airport - but it needs to be empty when you fold the buggy.
This remains my favorite of all the buggies I've ever had. It’s an absolutely brilliant full-sized single buggy because when you get to your destination, it can do absolutely everything.
You can go for proper walks off road
It has a huge folding canopy and foot rest for flat and shady naps
You can fit two kids in it in a pinch (one in front of the other).
It has a decent size basket (even if the cross bar stops you fitting big things in.
The only con I ever had with it was that it's not great with a buggy board because when the kid stands up the handle is in the way, not great, but doable.
Absolutely brilliant buggy for traveling because it folds down in one piece, but the handles extend to a comfortable height.
It fits the Bugaboo buggy board relatively comfortably for both the kid riding and the adult pushing. This is the best buggy board in my opinion.
Note: Seems to be discontinued but you can get them on adverts.ie
Very similar to the discontinued Bugaboo Ant.
This fits in the overhead bin and that counts as one of your items of carry-on luggage. If you haven’t paid for have a 10 kg check-in bag, you may be charged to carry this buggy on board with both Ryanair and Aer Lingus.
It is compatible with the Bugaboo buggy board, the best in my opinion - because it has a little saddle seat for kids. You'll need to take off the saddle to make it cabin bag compliant.
The handlebar height can be a bit of a compromise for comfortable pushing when the buggy board is attached.
Love it - super light, super easy to carry, super easy to open and fold. Really nice to push around when you're there (unless there are cobbles!)
I have taken it on board with both Ryanair and Aer Lingus from Dublin, but they have always counted it as one of my 10kg carry on bags.
The handlebar height can be a bit of a compromise for comfortable pushing with the BabyZen buggy board attached.
In many airports you do not get your buggy/stroller back until the baggage carousel. If you are relying on using your buggy as a cart to carry everything through the airport - plan for what you will do if you don’t get it back at the gate. In Dublin airport specifically, this is almost guaranteed - in all my years of travelling with kids, I have never got my buggy back at the gate in Dublin. You'll have to wrangle tired, sleepy, cranky kids from the aircraft to the luggage carousel, stand with them in a queue at passport control, etc. All whilst juggling everything that should be in/on your buggy.
Best Buggy Alternatives
For kids that are too big for buggies, but still need some wheels to get them around the place.
Micro Eazy Luggage
The Eazy luggage has been game-changing for us, it’s such an amazing piece of kit! A carry-on suitcase with built-in three-wheel scooter.
Kids can ride on it through the airport, and when you get to where you're going, you clip off the suitcase and have a lightweight pull-along/3 wheel scooter.
I've seen those little airport scooters with the suitcase on the front. I think they're great but would question whether airlines will let you take them on board. All it takes is one strict cabin crew member and you're paying to gate check a scooter.
Also, my kids never ride a scooter without a helmet, so then you need to think about bringing kids helmets through the airport.
We do pack our Micro scooters and Thousand helmets though for use on trips (we pop them into the car seat bags!)
This is totally on my wishlist!
Our Trunkis ready before their first (and only!) trip
The Trunki is my least favourite of all the options we have tried over the years.
In my experience, the Trunki cases fit very little, the kids get bored riding them and/or cant steer them themselves, they are a pain to pull on a cord, they are awkward to carry on your shoulder etc.
Food & Drink on The Go
Food
I have really picky eaters, and finding suitable food whilst travelling can be tricky.
So I bring the kids Munchkin bento boxes. I've had these since my eldest was in preschool, after four years of being washed on a daily basis, they're still perfect.
I follow my usual lunch box rules: carbs, fats, proteins, and something they think is fun that isn't super bad for them.
Munchkin Bento Box
When they open their lunchboxes, depending on their current pickiness and my fridge contents, they'll usually find:
Sandwiches or buttered crackers (buttered crackers are a big hit in my house)
A squeezy yogurt
Some prepared fruit and veggies (my kids love red peppers, chopped apples, cucumber etc - for travel I try to chop things up into fun shapes)
Some cubed cheese or babybel
Something fun in a little compartment (Cheerios, pretzels, jelly beans etc.)
I usually have additional snacks of crunchy things like pretzels, Cheerios, mini rice cakes etc. I try to pick up snacks that they don't get often, that have novelty and fill time when you munch them.
Drinks
For drinks, the kids and I use Ion8 water bottles - we've had varieties of these for years.
They are used and washed day in, day out.
They survive being dropped.
The lids absolutely do not go in the dishwasher (they melt), but other than that they are brilliant.
For hot countries, consider the kids insulated Ion8 water bottles to keep drinks cool. You can fill them up after security - there's a water bottle filler in Dublin airport).
I was recently given a gift of a Stanley insulated, leakproof water bottle and it is the best water bottle I have ever had. It has a handle, a flippy straw, keeps my water cold for the whole day and actually does not leak!
I usually bring one of my Yeti travel cups as well, as I try not to use disposable cups in Ireland, so do the same abroad.
Don't forget to feed yourself and any adult travel companions - hangriness is probably the main thing that makes traveling crap.
Tech Setup
Each child gets:
iPad with protective case - we've had these cases for absolutely years. They are absolutely childproof. Our kids have (unintentionally) tried to destroy our iPads; they have been dropped down the stairs, stood on, jumped on etc. and these cases have protected them every time.
Bluetooth headphones - we like these ones as they can be Bluetooth or wired. The people next to us on a recent flight has this bluetooth headband which worked really well for their 2 year old.
Before you travel:
Make sure each child's iPad is connected to their own headphones and only their headphones (forget all other devices!) This is a really crap job to do in a check-in queue.
Download shows to watch:
Netflix shows (10 or 20 episodes). Netflix is the only one I can recommend relying on - Disney+ sometimes just doesn't work when offline.
Download games that work offline:
Download audio content:
Kids audiobooks, there are lots of free children’s audiobooks on audible.com
Kids Spotify for music
Don’t forget!
Charge all tech before you go
Bring the chargers in your hand luggage (dont forget a converter)
Don’t forget a battery pack.
Yourself
Bring a Kindle - as a grown up make sure you download some books yourself before you travel - I love Kindle Unlimited.
Download an audiobook or two - I find it easier to listen to books with one airpod in whilst the kids play than to physically open a book. I use Spotify and also audible has great selection.
Download some Netflix shows to your phone - you never know, you might get a quiet minute on the plane!
Safety Stuff
Safety Items
My biggest concern in an airport is a kid wandering off. Over the years, I have used a number of different items to keep my kids safe (not all at the same time!)
Safety wristbands with their name, my phone number, and flight details written with Sharpie. I know it seems obsessive, but I do it.
AirTags in AirTag bracelets: not great traveling through airport because you have to take them off going through security, but definitely gives peace of mind when kids go to camp or we're in unfamiliar places.
Our kids attend camp and kids clubs when we travel and I want them to be able to alert me if there is a problem. We did a heap of research and determined that the Imoo Z1 is the best watch for our needs. Mainly the SOS button, geofencing, and parental controls and app.
Safety Prep that costs nothing:
There are also some simple and free things you can do:
Prepare your kids!
Since they could talk, we have taught them that if they think they're lost, to FREEZE and look for another mom with kids. When they see one, tell her “I’m lost” and show them their wrist bands.
Take photos of each kid separately before you leave the house so you know what they're wearing
Dress kids in solid color clothing (e.g. one bright red, one bright blue) - makes kids really easy to see.
If you lose your child, don't start by calling their name.
Start shouting "lost four-year-old boy, black hair, blue t-shirt, red shorts" - you'll recruit people to help you find your kid.
Dressing Kids for Travel
My kids usually travel in fleeces. The solid color makes them easy to spot - "where's the red one? where's the blue one?"
Polarn O Pyret fleeces
Think about where you'll be when you get to the other end. If it's going to be 30 degrees, kids can wear shorts through airport with fleece on, then be comfortable in shorts and t-shirt when they arrive.
Don't put hats, sunglasses, other accessories on kids - they will get bored of them and you will have to carry every single one.
Always bring spare clothes for kids. If they're similar size, I just bring one set of spare clothes that will fit the bigger kid (and therefore also the smaller kid!)
Always, always, always bring spare clothes for yourself - kids will puke on you, spill drinks on you, pee on you. I just throw a pair of leggings and t-shirt in my bag.
Organization Systems
Everything needs to be packaged so it's easy to keep bits together:
What stays in my shoulder tote (things I might need in airport):
Passports in zippy wallet
My wallet
Emergency cash in phone cover
Boarding passes
Water bottles
Things I don’t need in the airport but need on the plane: in the wheeled carry on bag - organized in different zippy pouches for easy access.
Spare clothes
Kids snacks
Medications
Chargers
Entertainment (colouring books etc)
I use A4 plastic pouches to keep everything organized:
One for my entertainment (Kindle, headphones, my own bits)
Kids entertainment items
One for travel documents (I print everything out - with kids it's much easier to have paperwork ready rather than reading through your phone)
Keep emergency cash (20 or 50 euro) in cover of my phone
Kids lunchboxes & water bottles
For me, the key is visualizing the pathways. With proper preparation, I've weathered delays, cancellations, nappy explosions, and vomiting bugs with minimal stress because everything has its place and purpose.
Next up in this series: Part 2 - Travel Day Strategy: From Airport to Airplane, where I'll walk you through exactly how to manage the actual travel day with all this gear!
Note: Some links in this post may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you.
