Travel Packing Hacks Every Mom Needs to Know

Are you about to take the kids on a trip? Well, brace yourself, because it isn’t easy. I swear, when I was single I would just throw a few essentials in a light bag, sling it over my shoulder, and be on my way. Now? Not so much. Suddenly I find myself standing on a scale holding a suitcase filled with a thousand onesies and spare My Little Pony underwear and dolls and books and more clothes and extra diapers, wondering what we can possibly live without in order to meet the airline’s baggage weight requirements.

Packing for kids is insanity. It’s a test. It’s a gameshow. It’s a science experiment. And I’m about to go through it all over again. My family and I have an upcoming overseas trip, but this time I’m ready. The suitcases are out of storage, my bed has become my work-station, and I’m ready to pack these bags to perfection. Why so confident, you ask? Well, because I asked around and got some genius packing tips and hacks from the most seasoned world-traveling mamas I know. Between us, we’ve got some stellar advice, so check it out, and don’t break out in a cold sweat the next time you have to pack for a trip with the fam.

More Family Travel Tips:

Packing Hacks Moms Who Travel Often with Their Kids Swear By

Rent bulky baby gear, or ship it in advance.

Babies have a lot of gear -- as you know -- but that doesn't mean it all has to travel with you by car/train/plane. Check out this awesome list of baby supply rental companies across the globe from Travels with Baby, and have everything you need waiting for you when you arrive at your destination. Or, if you're not a fan of renting, ship your own ahead of your trip.

Photo: Travels with Baby
Use your shoes for storage.

Think of your shoes as suitcases within suitcases. Shove them full of smaller items, from medicines and vitamins to glasses and accessories.

Photo: Intentional by Grace
Roll clothes up.

Now that you've got all those additional kids clothes to pack, tightly rolling up every item gives you a ton more space in your suitcase and reduces the chance of wrinkled clothes upon arrival. Take it one step further by placing each day's rolled clothes in a plastic bag labeled with the day of the week those items are to be worn.

Photo: One Crazy House
Decant lotions to avoid hassles during security screening.

Now that you're a mom you'll need to leave ample space for diapers, rash cream, wipes etc, which means your toiletries take the backseat. Try transferring exact amounts into a contacts case, eye drops tube, or pill carrier to save space.

Photo: A Few Miner Adjustments
Repackage snacks to save space.

In order to keep things fresh, easy to find, and take up less space, stock up on your kids' favorite snacks, unbox them, and load up Ziplock baggies. This is especially useful if you're traveling abroad and don't expect to find a familiar (or healthy) snack the kids will like.

Photo: The Krazy Coupon Lady
Use printable packing lists to remember it all.

Print these packing lists out from I Should Be Mopping the Floor and fill them out with what you need for each trip; that way you won't have to worry about getting to your destination and realizing you forgot, say, your contacts. You can even laminate them for certain reoccurring trips and keep them in suitcases as easy reminders.

Photo: I Should Be Mopping the Floor
Bring plastic bags for trash, wet clothes, and more.

Simple plastic grocery store bags (or even trash bags) weigh nothing and take up hardly any space, but can be used as laundry bags for dirty clothes, trash bags when you're on the go, car sickness bags, or waterproof bags for your camera and other electronics if you're going on a rainy day adventure.

Photo: ClutterBug
Use packing cubes to separate kids' clothing in large bags.

If you're opting to only travel with a few large suitcases for your family, use packing cubes, like the blogger behind Small Notebook does, to keep each kid's clothing separated. It makes unpacking at your destination super easy.

Photo: Small Notebook
Pack loose items in plastic soap dishes.

Keep the clutter to a minimum and still pack up hair bands, crayons, etc. by keeping them in plastic soap dishes like the blogger behind I'm an Organization Junkie does.

Photo: I'm an Organization Junkie