NOE

Family travel · Packing

What we actually
pack — by age

The real list we use to take a family of four abroad, split two ways: a baby-and-toddler 0–2 section, and a 3+ section for older kids. Tested on long-hauls, not copied from a checklist.

By Kailah · Last updated June 2026 · 12-min read

Some links below are affiliate links — if you buy through them, NOE may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only point you to gear we’ve actually packed for our own family.

The biggest mistake new traveling families make is packing too much. You don’t need to haul three weeks of diapers, wipes, and toiletries across an ocean — nearly all of it is sold wherever you’re going, often cheaper than at home. Our whole approach: book a place with a washer and dryer, buy what you can when you arrive, and pack only what’s genuinely hard to find abroad. Below is exactly what makes the cut, split into a 0–2 list and a 3+ list.

Before the lists

Six rules that keep our bags light

Rule 01

Book a washer & dryer. The single best way to cut what you pack — we bring about five outfits each and re-wash, rather than a bag per kid.

Rule 02

Buy it there. Diapers, wipes, and toiletries exist in every country. Bring a few days’ worth to land with, then restock on arrival.

Rule 03

Pharmacies abroad are easy. We’ve bought what we needed at pharmacies all over the world — usually for far less than in the States.

Rule 04

An adapter is not a converter. A plug adapter alone will fry a small appliance in a higher-voltage country. (We burned out a breast pump in Iceland on 220v — learn from us.)

Rule 05

Download before you fly. Plane wifi is unreliable — pre-load shows and offline maps so you’re not depending on it.

Rule 06

Beat jet lag on arrival. Flying to Europe, we book the room for the night before so we can check in at 6am, take one two-hour nap, and push through to a normal bedtime. Day-use hotels work for this too — you can book a room for just a few hours.

Section one

The 0–2 list — babies & toddlers

The baby phase needs the most stuff, full stop. Because of the diaper bag and travel crib, this is the age we just check two medium suitcases for the whole family and keep the carry-ons light.

Bags & the plane

Getting there

Diaper bag — always; most come with a built-in changing pad.
Two medium checked suitcases for the family — simplest at this age.
Multiple changes of clothes for the baby in the carry-on (more than you think).
If baby has their own seat: bring the car seat right onboard, or use the FlyPal to turn the seat into a bed — go with whichever your child prefers.

Sleep

Bedtime on the road

Guava Lotus travel crib — our go-to; built for travel.
Hiccapop travel bed — for the in-between stage (too big for the crib, too small for a real bed).
Halo (or top-reviewed) sleep sacks — the kids loved these.
YogaSleep travel sound machine — compact, works perfectly.
Small portable nightlight — a simple plug-in is fine.
SleepOut blackout curtain — turns any bright room dark; works amazingly.

Clothing

What to wear

~5 outfits (tops/bottoms) — plus extra spares for a baby.
Warm layer / rain jacket for cooler or wet climates.
2 pairs of pajamas.
Sneakers as default; rain boots only if it’ll rain nonstop, otherwise an umbrella.
Stuffy & blankie — the comfort items come everywhere.

Feeding

Meals & snacks

Breastfeeding is the simplest on the road if it’s an option for you. (Traveling with a pump or formula? Bring it — just mind the voltage.)
Pouches, puffs & favorite snacks.
Inglesina clip-on high chair — clamps to the table. Optional — lots of kids happily lap-sit at restaurants.
Munchkin sippy cups — easiest to travel with.

Diapering & bathroom

The basics

A few days of diapers to land with — buy the rest there (every country sells them).
One pack of wipes — restock on arrival.
Desitin diaper rash cream — the best, bring it.
Swim diapers — pack these; they’re spotty to find abroad outside big cities.

Carriers & getting around

On the ground

BabyBjörn when really little, then Ergobaby through the toddler stage — often packed instead of a stroller.
A light stroller that folds into the overhead bin — or one that pairs with the car seat to gate-check.
Car seats: usually skip them — Welcome Pickups and rental agencies supply them. When you do need one, the Hiccapop inflatable car seat or RideSafer travel vest both travel well.
Small portable stroller fan for hot-weather destinations.

Health

First-aid kit

Motrin, Tylenol & Benadryl. Check the right type and dose for your child’s age with your pediatrician — especially under 2.
Band-aids, tissues & lollipops in the plane bag (lollipops help little ears on takeoff/landing).
Destination prescriptions filled before you go (e.g. traveler’s-tummy meds + Zofran for SE Asia).

Plane entertainment

Keeping a little one happy

Coloring & craft supplies, magnetic travel puzzles, LEGO Classic, Wikki Stix.
5-Minute Stories books — lots of stories in one volume.
A couple of new toys, wrapped, to surprise them mid-flight.

Tech, docs & toiletries

Don’t forget

Passports (6+ months from expiry), in a secure internal pocket — plus photos of them on your phone.
Plug adapters for your destination — and a converter if you’re bringing anything with a motor or heating element.
Anker battery pack for long travel days.
Airalo eSIM for data the moment you land — grab one here.
Buy most toiletries on arrival; bring kids’ toothbrushes and their toothpaste flavor (hard to find), plus vitamin gummies.

Section two

The 3+ list — bigger kids

Once the diaper bag and crib are behind you, packing gets lighter and the kids start carrying their own. At this age everyone packs a carry-on plus a backpack — no checked bags needed.

Bags & the plane

Getting there

One carry-on + one backpack each — the whole family, no checked bags.
JetKids BedBox — a ride-on carry-on through the airport that turns into a footrest/bed onboard. Kids pack it with their own plane things, including a change of clothes.
Nomatic backpack (Kyle’s pick) — Kailah rotates brands.
Book Delta when you can — their planes have seatback screens.

Sleep

Bedtime on the road

Hiccapop travel bed until they’re ready for a real bed.
Book a place with two twin beds in a room — the kids sleep near each other without the elbows.
YogaSleep sound machine, portable nightlight, and the SleepOut blackout curtain still earn their space.

Clothing

What to wear

~5 outfits each — the washer/dryer does the rest.
Warm layer / rain jacket, 2 pairs of pajamas.
Sneakers; rain boots only for nonstop rain, otherwise an umbrella.
Stuffy & blankie — still essential, even at 5 and 8.

Feeding

Meals & snacks

A plane snack bag — pack all their favorites plus a few surprises.
Owala water bottles for the whole family — fill them once you’re past security.

Bathroom

Potty training

Collapsible travel potty that sits on a regular toilet — pack it if you’re potty training. We used ours right up to age 6.

Getting around

On the ground

Beco toddler carrier — great for a 3.5–4-year-old; worked perfectly in Europe.
EverAdvanced foldable travel wagon — for tired legs when the climate suits a wagon over a stroller; folds into its own travel bag.
Car seats: mostly supplied by Welcome Pickups and rentals — bring the Hiccapop inflatable or RideSafer vest only when needed.

Plane entertainment

The long-haul kit

One iPad with shows downloaded in advance (we only use it on the plane).
BuddyPhones — they link together so both kids can watch one tablet.
Plus the quiet-play standbys: craft supplies, magnetic puzzles, LEGO Classic, books, and a surprise or two.

Health, tech & toiletries

Don’t forget

Same first-aid kit: Motrin, Tylenol, Benadryl, band-aids, tissues, lollipops, destination prescriptions.
Passports (6+ months valid) + phone photos; adapters & a converter; Anker battery; Airalo eSIM — get yours.
Bring toothbrushes & flossers (floss is hard to find in some countries, especially in Asia), kids’ toothpaste, and vitamin gummies — buy the rest there.

Our best long-haul tip

Set the expectations before you board. Tell the kids the plan while you’re still at the gate: once dinner service is done, we put pajamas on, get cozy in our seats, and sleep for the rest of the flight. Knowing what’s coming makes the “lights out” moment so much smoother.

The shortcuts

Grab the gear & the data

Everything in one place

Our Amazon gear list

The travel crib, sound machine, sleep sacks, BedBox, sippy cups and more — the exact products from this page, gathered in one list.

Amazon

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Staying connected

An eSIM before you land

Airalo gives you data the second you step off the plane — maps, rides, and translation with kids in tow, no airport SIM hunt.

Airalo

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Quick answers

Packing with kids: FAQ

What’s different about packing for a baby (0–2) vs. an older kid (3+)?

The baby phase needs far more: a diaper bag, a travel crib, multiple outfit changes, carriers, and feeding gear — enough that we just check two medium suitcases. By 3+, the crib and diapers are gone, kids carry their own carry-on and backpack, and we usually skip checked bags entirely.

Should I pack diapers, wipes, and toiletries, or buy them abroad?

Buy them there. Every country sells diapers, wipes, and toiletries — often cheaper than at home. Bring just a few days’ worth to land with, then restock. Booking a place with a washer and dryer also lets you pack about five outfits each instead of a bag per kid.

Do I need a voltage converter or just a plug adapter?

They’re different. A plug adapter only changes the shape of the prongs; a converter changes the voltage. In a higher-voltage country (e.g. 220v), an adapter alone will fry a small appliance — we learned this the hard way with a breast pump in Iceland. Bring a converter for anything with a motor or heating element.

What are the best travel crib and travel bed for kids?

We use the Guava Lotus travel crib for babies and toddlers, and the Hiccapop travel bed for the in-between stage — too big for the crib, too small for a real bed. For older kids we book a room with two twin beds instead.

How do you handle car seats abroad?

We mostly don’t bring one — Welcome Pickups and rental-car agencies supply them. When we do need our own, the Hiccapop inflatable car seat and the RideSafer travel vest both pack down small and travel well.

Keep planning: all destinations · Italy with kids · how we book every trip · our picture book