After a year of staying close to home, our family is ready for a change of scenery and a much needed vacation. As the founder of a company geared around organization, I take a lot of pride in packing my family's things in the most organized way possible. My carry-on bag always holds a ToteSavvy with a narrowed list of my top essentials, and my kids' outfits are neatly stored inside their own ToteSavvy Travel (our newly launched travel clothing organizer).
I've learned a few tricks over the years to help make our trips run smoothly––all of which I'm delighted to share with you. Let's break it down to show you how an expert organizer packs for a family trip.
MY CARRY ON PACKING LIST
- Chargers (phone, watch, laptop)
- iPad + headphones
- Phone, wallet, keys
- Pens + notebook
- Makeup bag with (lip balm, rosewater spray, sunscreen, hand cream, mascara, cream blush, hair ties)
- Small jewelry case
- Compact first aid kit
- Gum
- Snack bars
- Water bottle
- Alcohol wipes (non-toxic for skin but also kills every germ)
- Extra masks (for whole family)
KIDS CARRY ON PACKING LIST
- iPad + headphones
- Applesauce squeeze pouches + snack bars
- Water bottle
- Alcohol hand wipes
- Coloring book + stickers + pens
- Magnetic games
- New chapter book series (oldest is at this stage 🙌)
- Extra outfit
- Lovey or stuffed animal
- MiFold booster seat
PACKING TIPS
Let them carry their own stuff. Each kid carries their own backpack as a carry on. This trip they also each have a small rolling suitcase with all of their clothing and accessories inside. My kids have been carrying their own backpacks since the age of 2. Even if the backpack gets clipped on a stroller through the airport, it's still easier on the plane for them to have their own bag filled with snacks and games. Now that the youngest two are six, there's no stroller and they'll carry it all themselves.
A clothing organizer will make your trip so much easier. Planning kid outfits for a trip tends to be the easiest task when packing. The chaos that ensues every morning of your trip, however, is not. Using a clothing organizer will allow you to pack one outfit per pocket (I'm talking pants, top, socks, underwear/diaper) all rolled up into an easy-to-grab package for your little one. Instead of rummaging through your suitcase, they'll grab an outfit and leave the rest perfectly organized for another day.
Don't overpack. This tip is something I constantly struggle with because I love to have lots of options. With that said it's much easier to pack when you narrow your list to a capsule collection of items that all mix and match together. You likely won't wear that 5th pair of shoes anyway. This tip works for kids clothing too! Instead of the capsule idea, I pack one outfit per day (or just 7 outfits if we're staying longer than a week but have access to a washing machine). A week's worth of clothing is plenty!
Bring a laundry bag. When clothes are dirty, throw then inside your laundry bag instead of your suitcase or the hotel room floor. This will give you a clear picture of what outfits are still usable and which are not. If you're using ToteSavvy Travel for your kids, place the dirty clothes back into the pocket they came from to keep everything contained.
Keep it simple and keep it organized for a seamless getaway!
