5 Tips For Packing With A Toddler

5 Tips For Packing With A Toddler | Post Details

Rose Gold Suitcase: London Fog // Diaper Bag: Freshly Picked // Pink Weekender Bag: Target // Blue Packing Cubes: Eagle Creek // Clear Packing Cubes: Eagle Creek // Teal Mesh Pouches: Container Store // Dress:Fancy Frills

5 Tips For Packing With A Toddler | Packing All The Things

I feel like packing with a toddler is 10 times harder than packing with a baby. Does anyone else feel that way? With a pack n play, lots of extra outfits, swim stuff, a sound machine, toys, books, other in flight entertainment, a car seat, stroller and whatever else I am forgetting, I feel like there isn't enough room for my stuff!

Packing is soothly for me, but only when I do it well in advanced. It helps me plan for doing laundry and knowing what I need to buy before I leave. So here are my 5 tips for packing with a toddler.

5 Tips For Packing With A Toddler | Plan Ahead

This is probably the biggest thing. I know a lot of people just through outfits in a bag and hope they have enough stuff. Or they over pack and they end up having too much stuff at their destination. Most places you travel, you can do laundry. Most hotels have either a laundry service or a place nearby that they can recommend. You can find a laundromat in most major cities. So I tend to under pack knowing that.

Know how many days you are going to be gone and how many outfits you are going to need, this goes for you and your toddler. I always wash the outfit I traveled in and rewear it for when I travel home. That is one less outfit I need to worry about packing. As for Jackie, I know we are going to have to have more than one outfit per day. That's just life with a toddler. But instead of packing 14 outfits for her, I am only packing 7. I can do laundry and save myself overpacking stuff I don't need.

5 Tips For Packing With A Toddler | Be Prepared to Check At Least One Bag

If you have been around for awhile, you know that I hate checking bags. If I had it my way, I would just carry everything on the plane with me. I have done it dozens of times and I am paranoid about my bags getting lost. It has happened more than once. But since I started conference planning I had to get over that. I had to check bags every time we did an event because of all the stuff we took with us. So I was prepped for when it was time to travel with a baby/toddler. I still don't love it but I have gotten over it.

I have actually gotten over it so much that I now just want to check bags when I travel with Jackie. It's so much easier to just take the necessities on the plane. I will already be taking her car seat on the plane, gate checking her stroller and then taking 3 carryons on the plane as well. I don't need any more bags than that!

Since I don't check bags very often, I didn't have big suitcases. I had just borrowed from my parents in the past. But their large suitcases have all broken from all of the use. So I decided to head to TJ Maxx and I bought two large spinner suitcases. I decided not to spend a ton of money on suitcases because they are going to break and I will have to buy new ones.

5 Tips For Packing With A Toddler | Use Packing Cubes

I LOVE travel cubes. I have talked about using them before here and how they are my secret to packing here. They not only help with space but they also help keep larger suitcases organized. Since we are only checking two bags, there are going to be stuff in both bags that belong to all three of us. When I use packing cubes, I don't have to dig around for anything. I know where all of Jackie's swim stuff is. I know where all of my dresses are. My hair stuff is all in one place. It makes unpacking so much easier!

5 Tips For Packing With A Toddler | Have Plenty of Backups

I know I talked about not over packing on outfits but you want to make sure you have extra outfits with you when you are on the plane. If you pack 7 outfits, make sure you have 3 in your carryon. You may need them.

Having backups also applies to entertainment, favorite toys and snacks. Planes with toddlers are intimidating. I am terrified about Jackie on the 6 hour flight. She hates being confined and loves to run around and make new friends. I know that if we have tons of toys, snacks and things for her to do, she will stay busy for at least part of the flight.

5 Tips For Packing With A Toddler | Make A List

You will be packing for yourself and your toddler. You are probably going to forget something. So make a list. Know how many days you are going to be gone. Know what you want to pack for you and your toddler. If you have a list that you are making throughout the time you are packing, you are less likely to forget something.

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