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The seven secrets of
family packing:
The do-anything holiday capsule wardrobe for kids
One of the first rules of packing for a holiday with
children – accept that your needs and preferences have nothing whatsoever do to
with the family’s packing requirements!
The second rule is to make a list at least two weeks before you leave,
so you can add to it when things come to mind.
Break it down into categories – Eat, Sleep, Play, Clothes, Miscellaneous
and Car/Plane/Train Journey
So, with three children and 16 years of over-packing for
holidays, here is my list of seven secrets to make packing for a family trip to
the sun a little less stressful.
1. Documents.
The most important item on the list. Check passport validity two months
before you depart – passports should have at least 6 months validity on the day
of departure. Make sure you have travel
insurance in place and the emergency number in several easy to find places. Check
airline documents and hotel vouchers, pay all necessary bills and inform your
credit card company that you will be overseas so they do not block your
card. Check your mobile phone will
operate overseas if you intend to use it, but beware of international call
charges which can be extremely high.
Consider buying a calling card if you are likely to be making frequent
international calls. Taking note of your
childrens’ vaccination record is also useful in the case of an accident
overseas.
2. Luggage.
Check airline baggage restrictions BEFORE you start packing your biggest
suitcase! Choose a wheeled bag so you have a free hand to hold the baby. If travelling alone, ensure you can lift the
suitcases off the ground, or consider a backpack. Vacuum bags are great for minimising space
but remember they don’t alter the overall weight. Buy small wheelie bags so the kids can help,
and get older children to pack for themselves.
3. Clothes.
Pack for the weather. Check the
weather at your destination and don’t take unnecessary raincoats or woollies
when it’s 28 degrees ‘just in case it rains’.
If you can buy it at the destination, and might not need it – leave it
at home!
Take multiple changes of
swimming gear and little else – your kids will live in them during the day. Three sets of mix and match t-shirts and
shorts, and some pj’s will should see you through a week’s holiday. Make sure
all clothing is washable and wrinkle free. Sun protection clothing is essential (two or three
would be better) as are several sun hats because they will undoubtedly get lost.
A pair of beach shoes is great for protecting
soft feet from hot sand.
Roll clothes to
minimise suitcase space.
4. Travelling Accessories.
Don’t take what you can do without. Aim to use paper towels or disposable bibs (preferably
environmentally friendly ones) instead of taking a pile of cloth ones. Take enough nappies for a couple of days only
and buy the rest locally. The same goes
for baby food – unless your child has an allergy or specific dietary
requirements. One childrens’ shampoo can
do the whole family if space is tight AND it can be used to wash the
clothes! Suncream can be bought locally
but a starter tube is a must, especially as organic or chemical free suncream can be very
hard to find in many countries.
Childrens Sunglasses are essential to protect their eyes from UV rays,
and a good sun umbrella or beach tent will be a life-saver on a shadeless
beach. Don’t forget the pram shade and if baby still needs one - the portable high chair - a total must when travelling with small children.
Towels - now this is always a dilemma. Do we take a towel for each person, or share them around? And do we take separate beach and bath towels? My answer is yes - nobody likes to dry themselves in a sandy, salty towel and baby is no different. I've taken to buying the cheaper, thinner beach towels now as they pack easier and I always take small size bath towels. A hooded towel is good for baby, as this can be used to dry them, keep them warm, be used as a dressing gown or a cover up to get them off the beach.
Finally – the first aid kit. I am never without Band Aids, age appropriate
paracetamol or ibuprofen for fever, aftersun cream or alovera for sunburn, and
antiseptic cream. Everything else can be
bought locally if required.
5. The Journey.
Travelling on a long haul flight or just a
four hour car ride presents the same opportunity for tears, tantrums and rising
stress levels. The first consideration
– motion sickness. If your child is prone
to vomiting on car journeys, it’s very likely they will do the same in a plane
or train, so consult your pharmacist for age appropriate preventative
medicine. Packing a towel, a change of
clothes and a plastic bag in your hand luggage is a sensible precaution.
Secondly – keeping them occupied.
Take a range of different activities – travel games are portable and
cheap, old family photographs are a great time-waster (all kids love to look at
photos of themselves), activity/sticker books are fantastic, a couple of small
but new toys go down well, and if all else fails there is always the portable
DVD player or GameBoy. Remember night
flights can often be chilly so a long sleeved top is a good idea, and don’t
forget the night time teddy or snuggy!
6. Food.
Touched on earlier but here is the definitive list. Take your favourite potato peeler and a small
sharp knife – packed in your suitcase and NOT in your hand luggage. Self catering resorts rarely have these two
items and cooking for small children without them is almost impossible. Take their favourite spread as these may be
difficult to find, and if you are arriving at your destination late at night –
take something for breakfast even if it’s only a bag of cereal. Remember to pack sufficient snacks for the
journey and allow for several hours delay.
I always take something for one meal on arrival – a bag of pasta and a
packet sauce will keep everyone happy until you can get to the supermarket.
7. Memory Makers
Often overlooked, but you’ll want to remember
the holiday so don’t forget to pack the camera.
For beach/sea holidays one of those disposable underwater cameras can
capture some unforgettable moments in the water. For older kids take a sketch pad and some
colouring pencils and encourage them to draw what they see or write a
journal. Take down the names and email
addresses of friends they meet, and encourage them to keep up contact when they
get home. My daughter still has a French
pen pal who she met 10 years ago!
Good Luck Travelling with Baby!
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