6 Favorite Packing Products for Traveling Families

Our family hasn’t lived in a house in almost a year. We’ve been sailing on boats, visiting monuments, exploring Amish country, and hiking through the wonders of national parks. All with our 2-year-old and 4-year-old in tow!

Needless to say, we know a thing or two about traveling with little ones.

Without further ado, I present 6 products that we particularly appreciate.

1. A Rolling Suitcase. Remember the days when you could go away for a weekend with just a backpack on your shoulders? The ability to cram your cargo into a tiny space lessens when you have a family onboard. Even so, you can still pack light if you pack smart. Luggage tends to get beaten up. Some hard plastic rolling suitcases are light enough to carry, but also strong enough to stand up to typical wear and tear.

2. Packing Cubes. Instead of smashing all of our clothes into one lump in the belly of a suitcase, we opt for the convenience of individual packing cubes. Organize each person’s belongings in separate cubes and THEN pack neatly inside any suitcase. You can even designate a different color for each member of your family!

3. Toiletry Bag & Miniature Toiletry Items. My husband and I carry separate toiletry bags to stay organized. Mine has a few plastic zippered cases inside to help me see the contents quickly, plus they’re resealable so if something spills it won’t ruin the rest of our belongings. It’s also handy to pack travel-sized plastic containers of shampoos, toothpaste, and soap to save space.

4. A Small Lunchbag and Reusable Plastic Water Bottles. Traveling almost always involves plenty of waiting – in security lines, crossing borders, even at amusement parks. To help keep little ones occupied, it’s great to carry a plastic lunch bag, ice pack, and water bottles, which are super easy to clean and reuse. Inside you can pack easy snacks like berries, apples, crackers and cheese, raisins, pretzels, or energy bars.

5. A Baby Carrier and/or Umbrella Stroller. If you have a baby with you, a carrier is a great investment for your trip. We’ve walked through many airports with little ones sleeping snugly to our chests. For toddlers and preschoolers, a cheap umbrella stroller definitely comes in handy.

6. Extra Plastic Bags. Reuse grocery store bags on your trip or bring along a trash bag for the dirty laundry and wet bathing suits that are sure to accumulate. That way, you can keep your clean clothes separate and dry, avoiding extra laundry loads when you arrive home.