Our Top Travel Essentials – Traveling with a Kid
Knowing what to pack for your travels especially with kids can be very overwhelming and stressful, especially when packing for an extended length of time. The key when packing is ensuring that you are only bringing what you know you NEED, and not what you think you MIGHT need. The last thing you want when traveling for an extended amount of time, is lugging around extra weight of items you most likely won’t use. We find it helpful making a list, and what you would need to bring for each location. What you pack depends on your destinations. Thankfully, our travels only involved warm climates, making it less stressful than if we had to pack for winter temperatures. Below is our list of items that we could not live without.
Travel Car Seat:
We have the Mifold travel car seat for Luca and we could not live without it. It has been a total game changer. It is perfect for traveling because it compacts down small enough to fit in your backpack and takes less than a few seconds to install. We use this everywhere, in our rental cars and taxi rides. It gives us peace of mind knowing that anytime we get into a vehicle Luca is safe. How it works? Unlike traditional car seats that raise your child up to the height so that the seat belt is at the right position, the Mifold holds the seatbelt down at three points securing the correct position to keep your child safe and protected. The Mifold is designed for children 18-45kg and between 100-145cm (your child must meet both requirements). This is definitely our number one travel essential.
Backpack:
We cannot stress enough how important it is to invest in a good travel backpack. We purchased the WANDRD PRVKE SERIES and it has been a game changer for us. We needed a backpack that was durable, weather/water resistant, pick pocket safe, carries our photography/video gear and provided extra space to carry change of clothes, water bottles, sunglasses and anything else you need to lug around. A backpack that distributes the weight evenly and protects your back so you don’t feel like you are carrying a load full. This backpack did all of that, and we couldn’t recommend it enough. We love it so much that we have written a separate blog on all its features. Stay tuned for that blog coming soon.
Stroller:
This was one of our major debates before departing on our voyage. Do we or don’t we bring a stroller for our 4 year old. 2 weeks before we departed we decided to buy an affordable, compact umbrella travel stroller, and we are so thankful we did. It has been a LIFESAVER. Traveling with kids is not easy, especially when you have lots of flights, and long days of adventures. There have been delayed flights or moments of us running through the airport, days where Luca completely passed out during our adventures, and moments he just didn’t want to walk anymore, and for these moments the stroller was a lifesaver. It also gave us comfort and safety when strolling down busy streets, filled with cars and crowds, having Luca safe in his stroller. Not to mention the extra storage space for that extra water bottle, sweater and whatever else you many need that day.
Code Lock:
This came in handy when we had to leave our stroller behind when visiting sites, as well as locking up our bags. It also came in handy when we rented scooters and bikes for the day. You just never know when it can come handy. We had ours locked to our stroller so it was always with us, and we have used it a good handful of times. It is always an ease of mind when you know your belongings are locked up safely.
Travel Pillow Kids:
We absolutely love Luca’s travel pillow for long plane rides, and long drives. We especially love the clasp to hold his beloved Lovie that he cannot sleep without. It is designed for children, with magnetic ends to secure around your child’s neck, and it comes in a variety of fun characters and animals that your child will love.
Battery or Pump Operated Handheld Mist/Fan:
Absolute lifesaver when you are traveling to hot climates, especially with kiddos that tend to overheat very quickly. We have been using this on the daily. There are many different variations, some battery operated, and others a little smaller that you simply pump air into.
Emergency Kit:
I know most of these you can purchase on location, but the last thing you want is to be searching for a pharmacy in a foreign country. It’s a good idea to have a few basic items with you to avoid this.
Here is our list:
- Advil/Tylenol/ Benadryl/Gravel
- Band-Aids
- Disinfectant/antiseptic wipes
- Tweezers
- Antibiotic ointment/cream
- Dehydration tablets/packets.
Clothing/Accessories:
We packed enough clothes for 2 full weeks for each of us, knowing we have access to do laundry when needed. Be mindful of where you will be visiting, any cultural dress restrictions, and what would be appropriate to wear. We packed a few thin sweaters and long sleeves for layering on cooler days/nights. I also packed a pashmina since we would be visiting religious sites. When packing for Luca there have been a few items that we have proven to be a must on our voyage, which we have listed below.
-Sun hat: It is crucial to have a good sun hat to protect your little ones from the harsh and strong UV rays. We couldn’t recommend the Sunday Afternoon Play Hat enough. We love how it is lightweight, breathable, dries fast, travels well and doesn’t lose its shape. It offers 50+ UVA/UVB protections, with a neck flap for full sun protect. We also love the automatic safety release latch on the drawstring to avoid suffocation. They are available in a wide.
–Thin pocketable water repellent coat: we love the one we bought from Uniqlo, it is ultra thin, light weight and compacts small enough to fit your pocket.
–Water shoes: Perfect for wet days, splashing around the pool, beach, and most especially on rocky beaches to protect your little ones tiny feet.
