CARRY - ON ONLY TIPS FOR FAMILIES // SUMMER EDITION
MINIMAL PACKING
for families with kids
For starters, this is only applicable when traveling for just a few days to a hot destination where clothing is light and less bulky to pack. My kids (3 yr old and a 6yr old) have their own backpacks and a kid size carry-on, and I recommend using a backpack that has a luggage sleeve to keep hold on top of their carry-ons ( useful for those moments when they don’t want to carry their own backpacks).
Here is how I managed to pack 1 week’s worth of a tropical vacation style into one carry-on for each person:
* wear your heaviest/largest item on the plane (jacket/hoodie), same with shoes (all of us always wear sneakers)
*organize you outfits by day and roll them up before putting them into the packing cubes
The very first thing I do is take out my compression packing cubes, it really saves space when trying to pack into a small suitcase. Then layout all our essentials and group it to adults carry or kids carry ons. Here is what I pack:
[ADULTS SUITCASES]
TOILETRIES
- shampoo, conditioner, bodywash in TSA approved silicone toiletry bottles
- toothbrush & paste
- sunscreen
- first aid kit
- hairbrush
- feminine products if needed
- make up & skin routine (i only bring the essentials, especially on a tropical getaway you won’t be putting on a full face of makeup)
- sunscreen
-bugspray + relief
CLOTHES
- 1-2 bikinis/ swimsuit (because they take up so little space i always pack at least 2. For myself, apart from 1-2 bikinis I’ll always pack 1 one piece swimsuit which can be used like a bodysuit with shorts/pants)
- 2 shorts + 2 thin long pants
- flipflops
- 2 dresses
- PJS
- underwear
- Hat (stuff it with a few socks & underwear if you plan to put it into the suitcase instead of attaching it to your backpack. When I bring a hat with strings I will just attach it to my backpack)
- Jewelry/ purse (if you need one for a fancy night out)
OTHERS
- mesh bag/tote (inside your backpack one for each adult, use it for beach days)
- 1 turkish towel (light and versatile for the beach)
[KIDS SUITCASES]
TOILETRIES
- toothbrush
- body lotion
- hairties/clips
- kids sunscreen
CLOTHES
- 2 swimsuits (1 swimsuit, 1 rashguard)
- wet bag (essential for beach vacation)
- 5 Sets of outfits at least ( whether it’s a dress for the girls or a top + bottom I like to pack it in ‘outfits’ plan what they will wear each day and roll it up together i.e. the top & bottom for one day together)
- underwear
- 1 PJs
- 1 nice outfit (dress for girls, polo/linen button up shirt for boys)
- watershoes/flipflops
- socks for the way back (on the plane)
- hats
OTHERS
- small white noise machine if you use one (i like the Yogasleep Hushh)
- silicone beach toys
- lightweight paperback books 2-3
*Fill up the gaps of their suitcases with snacks - it will come in handy once you are off the plane or on the plane when you need extras!
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[BACKPACKS]
MY BACKPACK
- fresh fruits/extra snack items in a collapsible lidded bowl like the Stojo one (comes very handy even during our travel days to pack snacks without having to use plastic ziploc bags)
- water bottle
- lightweight foldable tote bag (use for groceries/farmers markets/loose items to the beach)
- wet wipes/ sanitizers/ tissue
- pen
HUSBANDS BACKPACK
- electronics (laptop if bringing one/ camera/ gopro/ chargers and cables for everything)
- adaptor (if traveling somewhere with different outlets)
- passports (everyone’s passports and documents in our travel pouch)
- waterbottle
- sanitizer
KIDS BACKPACKS
- Stick with 1-2 good activity/ coloring/scratch art books
- 2-3 snacks (I always have 1 pouch type, crackers/dry snacks, & fruits in stasher bags which come handy on trip too)
- refillable water bottle (i like the collapsible Stojo bottles for traveling)
- small toys 1-2 (I normally keep a travel toy stash and keep them hidden away to just use on their travels which keeps them more interested. And 1 of their favorite toys like a mini truck for my son for example)
- lovey/ toy they sleep with
- ipad & headphones
