What to pack when travelling with kids
Personally, the need (and temptation) to lug as many things as possible for a holiday trip with kids comes at the time when the child is between 1 to 3 years old. It is also perhaps the most taxing period for travelling as well. Infants are relatively easy, while those beyond 3 years of age can be reasoned with—coupled with a generous dose of patience!
I have to admit—packing for these trips has become somewhat of an art form for me. So here is my to-bring list whenever the travel bug bites. (Share with us in the comments section your own list too!)
1. First-aid kit
Sickness and accidents happen, especially with young children around. The last thing we want is to be caught off-guard in any emergencies while in a foreign land, so these are the first things that always go into our luggage.
Medicine: For trips lasting more than four nights, we would usually purchase a 'travel-pack' from our family doctor and this pack would contain medicine for fever, running nose and cough. Depending on the country that we are visiting, we would sometimes bring along medicine for diarrhoea and constipation as well.
Digital thermometer: for fever (or to take my own temperature if the kids make my blood boil)
Breathe Right Nasal Strips or Vicks - in case the kids get clogged up at night and cause great distress. (The distress part refers to us parents.)
Insect repellent: if only it repels those pesky touts too.
Sun Screen lotion: at least SPF50 for us
Lip balm for kids
Plasters
Nappy Rash cream
Hand sanitizer
2. Food
Milk powder: Lugging tins and tins of milk powder on holiday trips is a necessity, unless your child is still being breastfed. If so, just remember to bring your wife along if you are a Dad reading this.
Milk feeding accessories: Milk bottles, milk dispenser containers, bottle brush, detergent and thermos flask for hot water.
Cereal and jar food: The cereal is usually for breakfasts, and the jar food is on standby in case we can't find any suitable food during our travels.
Cutlery for meals: a pair of spoon and fork, and also a plastic container.
Bibs: We hardly use them, but just thought it might be useful to include it into the list.
Noodle cutter: this ranks as one of our most important item on the list. This comes in very handy for noodle dishes, and also for cutting those long strands of vegetables.
Biscuits, gummies, and other snacks: to keep their mouths busy
Water bottle
3. Essential baby gear
Books and toys: Pack a few of their fave books and toys and alternate between them during those long hours of travelling in the plane or on the road.
Doodle pad journal book: I find these to be extremely useful as the kids can spend their free time drawing and writing about their travel experience.
Diapers and wet wipes
Ziploc bags: These bags seal in the odour when I’ve got a stained diaper on hand with absolutely no bins in sight. They also make good small-toy transport bags. Perfect for storing all those little toy knick-knacks and definitely useful when you are trying your darnedest to dispel impending boredom on the plane journey.
Toiletries
Laundry detergent: If you are planning to wash soiled clothes.
Baby stroller: Do a research on the country you would be holidaying in if the walkways are stroller-friendly. You wouldn't want to be lugging it up and down countless flights of steps.
Baby carrier: A better workout would come in the form of this, but it sure is more convenient way of travelling with your child.
Kelvin is a Daddy Blogger and is remarkably blessed with 3 kids, 2 terrapins and 1 fabulous wife. Other than masquerading as a part-time superhero to his kids, he loves sussing out the best kid-friendly places in town. Watch him get twirled around their fingers at www.cheekiemonkie.net. Kelvin also co-founded Daddy Matters, an online community of active dads, hoping to learn as well as promote the message of active fatherhood through to everyone.
