road tips part 1: packing

So, within the past 24 hours, I've had three people ask me for insight and ideas on traveling with kids.  Instead of responding to each of them separately with way too much information, I'm going to put some thoughts and experience here, in a few sections, and then anyone can take or leave what is useful!

By the way - I love traveling with our family.  We've gone all over the country and even ventured into rural Mexico and urban Canada with the kids.  We've camped, we've flown, we've driven, and we've generally had a great time.  Most of these tips are from experience, tried and refined, or outright stolen from family and friends who are more experienced than I.  Hopefully it's helpful for you!

While most of my tips are centered around preparation and packing, I'm going to break it down a little into the "stuff" vs. "living" portions.  Today, planning, picking, and packing stuff...

ROAD RULES of PACKING:

Rule #1: Less Is More.

Pack what you need, enjoy what is offered, and live within your means.

Rule #2: Be Like Santa.

Make a list and check it twice (at least).

Rule #3: Ziploc is Your Friend.

Really.

Rule #1: Less is more.  Keep this in mind when planning the number and variety of activities per day, how many items to take, or what to bring for each individual.  As you plan, find ways to share and cooperate as a family, and plan to restock if needed along the way.  More than just "getting along," cooperation means that, whenever possible, everyone uses the same items (soap, toothpaste, etc.), does the same things (stops, entertainment, etc), and stays together.

Pack like items together.  For example: 

• put everyone's night-time toiletries in one bag/container, instead of separating each person's stuff
• pack a first aid kid, for day-to-day needs to emergency supplies (more details below)
• have a binder for all of your documents, receipts, plans and maps

Plan for items to have multiple uses.  For example:

• for road trips, pack clothes in rubbermaid tubs rather than luggage (they're easily more stacked in a car trunk or at a host home)
• take clothing that can be layered, and things that can be worn as easily to a casual dinner with the relatives as on a quick hike or shopping trip
• consider giving each child (especially young ones) a specific "color" to wear on your trip, so that their clothes mix & match, and can be laundered easily (this was also helpful for our kids when we were in Mexico, since the boys were easier for others to tell apart)
• take toys or entertainment that everyone can enjoy, and leave anything that could endanger one of your family at home
• take an extra pillow case for holding dirty laundry; take your own pillow for comfort
• take a couple of towels - for drying off after an impromptu run in the park sprinklers, mopping up spilled coffee in the car, or (heaven forbid) wrapping up a barfy or poopy child
• take a simple, biodegradable soap for quickly washing/stain-treating laundry, bodies, utensils, or general cleanup (i.e. castile soap)
• pack an "overnight" bag or bin for everyone's must-have items (pj's, basic toiletries, change of underwear, etc)  If you're flying, make this a carry-on.

Final thoughts on this all-important Rule:

1. Take nothing that is irreplaceable.  This includes favorite toys, heirloom sweaters, prized sports memorabilia, etc.  I consider library books in this category, so we don't take things we've borrowed.  If you gain something irreplaceable along your way, consider mailing it home instead of packing it for the rest of the journey (and potentially losing/damaging the item). 
2. Use travel size containers for as many items as possible.  I wasn't always a fan of travel-size items, but after several journeys, I'm a believer.  Ask your hosts if you can refill things (i.e. shampoo) or simply take a couple little packs rather than a single larger version.  This will minimize the damage from spills, limit loss if you forget an item, and conserves space (you likely won't need an entire full-size bottle on your trip!)  TIP: you can use small plastic food containers or baby food jars instead of buying travel-size bottles and save $$.
3. If taking a baby, pack enough diapers for your days of actual travel, plus 1 extra day's worth (for a newborn, plan on about 8-10 diapers per day, for older babies, plan on 5-6 diapers a day).  When you arrive at your destination, purchase diapers (or ask your hosts to get them ahead of time) to use for the duration of your stay and travel back home.  Or, if you're taking cloth diapers... um, I dunno.
4. Take sunscreen and bug spray, etc. that is safe for everyone in your family, and use it on everyone.  Nothing says "ruined vacation" like west nile virus or 2nd degree burns.
5. Take only one hat for each person (unless you're attending a wedding in London).  
6. Plan to re-wear (if needed) pants, and maybe socks.  (Or, like my kids, just don't wear socks.)  Pack fewer shoes than you think you'll need, and prioritize comfort.
7. Take an extra shirt and extra underwear in your carry-on or overnight bag.

Rule #2: Be Like Santa - make a list and check it twice (at least)

• Label everything you take.    

Label your luggage or bins, your clothes, your ziploc bags of snacks, your purse, your medicine, your binder (more later), your cell phone, your cell phone charger (to tell apart from somebody else's charger),  your ziploc clothes bags (more later...), your first aid kit categories (more later...), your toys, etc.  Yeah, that too... Label it.

• Have an "inventory" list of what you've packed for each category (i.e. toiletries, toys, clothing, jewelry, books, etc.) so you'll know if something is missing before you depart.  You may want to attach this list to the top of your packing container or luggage.

I know this probably sounds like over-kill on organization.  Trust me, packing up at each destination is much easier if you know what goes where, what you brought, and what you're taking.  In our travels, it's hard to coordinate lots of people, sometimes lacking rest and interest, with varied attention to detail, to pack things up effectively. Don't leave these sorts of tasks to your brain alone!

• Put together a "Trip Binder" to keep important papers in one, protected place.  In this binder, I suggest keeping some or all of these pages:

Include your planned budget and an expense-tracking sheet(s).  Also have a large envelope (or pocket sheet protector) to hold all of your receipts in one place.  If you're driving, keep a mileage log and/or vehicle expenses space in your tracking sheets.

Include a list of emergency contacts from home (your doctor(s) info, medical insurance numbers, bank, credit card company, neighbor, dog-watcher, dog watcher-watcher, etc).  

Include an itinerary, with maps and printed directions to your destinations/accommodations.   Yes, this is even (especially?) if you have GPS!  Also write down your hosts' phone numbers.

Include confirmation numbers and printed copies of receipts if you reserve and/or pre-pay for rooms, events, sites, or other items.   

Include a photocopy of important documents, like passports, insurance cards, front/back of credit cards, prescriptions, etc. in case you must replace something on the road.

Include a copy of any schedules and contact numbers for people or pets you've left behind.  We keep a calendar to track house-sitters, work substitutes, dog-watchers, etc. with the contact info for each person, just in case something has to be communicated or changed while we were gone.

Include a few blank cards, envelopes, and stamps to send thank-you's or other needed notes from the road.  For your kids, you may want to pick up postcard stamps so they can write and send notes to friends back home.

Include something for comic relief.  Sometimes, you need a little something to get you through a challenging stretch of travel - say, an airline delay or road construction slow-downs.  It could be a list of jokes, riddles, or silly song lyrics.  It could be story starters or travel games.  It could be a list of tourist stops you don't plan on using, but might if you have time or need a diversion (Wall Drug, anyone?).

Rule #3: Ziploc is Your Friend.  Really.
At home, we don't use plastic storage much.  When traveling, we use it for everything.  People have laughed at me - outright mocking me with jokes (some were even funny).  Then, they called me later and said, "how do I do this?" as they planned their own journeys.  Laugh on, friends...

1. Pack toiletries together by category in a ziploc bag.  Have a bag per type of use (i.e. bathing, teeth, makeup, hair, etc.)
2. Clothes.  Yes, in ziploc bags.  
1. In a gallon-size ziploc bag, put one complete outfit (easiest in the summer), complete with clean underwear and socks.  As I say, if the underwear is in there, your kids have to make a real choice not to wear clean ones each day!  
2. Pack as many of outfits as you need for each person, each in its own bag.  
3. Put the bags in luggage or a rubbermaid container (see above) for each family member (or share a couple people to each - this method really saves space!) 
4. When you arrive at a destination, you can either take your entire luggage/containers in with you, or just grab one bag per person and your overnight bag, and head inside.  
3. Put each person's pajamas in its own ziploc bag.  Put pajama bags in your overnight luggage, so you don't have to rifle through everything to find jammies.  Also keep your toiletries in the overnight luggage.
4. Label your clothing bags with names, and (especially if flying), put a few outfits for each person in each piece of luggage.  If luggage is lost en route, you'll likely each have something to wear for a few days.
5. Put swimsuits, along with goggles, hats, etc. for each person in their own ziploc bags.  When you get to a pool, simply give each person his/her suit.  Dry clothes are stored in the bag while you swim, and wet suits are stored in the bag afterward (you'll want to dry those later on!)
6. Put toys or entertainment objects of similar type in a ziploc bag, and label the contents.  For example "6 matchbox cars," in one bag, or "barbie and three outfits,""board books,""ipod and charger," or "deck of playing cards" each in its own bag.  Limit kids to only a few types of entertainment items, and put their ziplocs in their own, small bag.

And finally, (at least for this installment)...

The First Aid Kit for Travel:
**Separate "like items" into categories (suggestions below), and place in small, labeled ziploc bags.  Then, pack all of the bags together in a single, easily accessed kit. **

"Bumps and Scrapes" bag

band-aids, neosporin, arnica, disinfecting wipes, instant ice/heat pack, etc.

"Fevers and Pain" bag

tylenol, advil, midol, teething gel, etc.

"Allergies and Medications" bag

hydrocortisone cream, benadryl, eye drops, epi-pens, etc.

"Digestive and Motion" bag

dramamine, antacids, mints, pepto, etc.

other categories as needed...

????

"Distract and Divert" bag

gum, lollipop or hard candy, tiny bubbles bottle, stickers, etc to help distract and divert little people's attention from an injury, drama, or treatment.

Ufdah!  That's a lot for one topic, but hopefully there's something useful here!  In the next installment, I'll talk a bit about ideas for saving money, time, and stress in feeding your family while traveling.  Until then, happy planning!