Family holidays are always amazing fun – but that doesn’t mean to say they don’t take a lot of effort. One of the biggest struggles in this regard comes in the form of the packing which goes into any excursion. Today, let’s run through five packing essentials when it comes to holidaying with children.

1. Medical Supplies

Keeping your kids safe will naturally be a priority when it comes to going abroad, and one of the best ways to ensure that happens is to take a basic set of medical supplies with you at all times.

These kits won’t be that effective if something drastic happens, but they still have the potential to be lifesavers when it comes to blood loss or broken bones. There are several different types of items you can include in the kit, including:

• Bandages

• Anti-bacterial wipes

• Burn and fungus-aid treatment

• Tweezers and scissors

• Sterile packs

2. Gadgets

There are all sorts of gadgets and gizmos which will make your journey with the kids far simpler. These will range from items which provide a basic, handy, service (such as phones and chargers), to games and apps which occupy your child and keep them entertained.

These devices should effectively serve to make things easier for you all round – usually by adding a touch of home life to proceedings. Something like a night light might not seem like an item which is a necessity, but it could help your child to sleep a lot easier. This could be a particular concern for babies who need specialist gadgets.

3. Spare Clothing

Let’s face it; kids get themselves messy. Whether it’s from playing in a dirty area, or simply spilling their food and drink down themselves, clothes are the first casualties when it comes to accidental spillages.

Think ahead and pack more clothes than your child is going to need. While we don’t recommend going crazy in this regard, you should definitely think about bringing at least a selection of back-up clothes with you (potentially even one for every day).

 

4. Essential Documents

These are just as crucial for you as they are for the wee ones. When thinking about a checklist for essential documents, make sure you’ve got everything covered when it comes to the little ones too.

It’s your responsibility as their legal guardian to make sure they have every piece of documentation in order prior to travel. The types of things you’ll want to have settled before you go include:

• Passports

• Visas

• Tickets

• Identity cards

5. Healthy snacks

Stocking up on snacks is a guaranteed way of keeping the little ones satisfied – but you won’t want to substitute health for good behaviour. Kill two birds with one stone by providing them with bites of food which will not only keep their tummies full, but also provide some nutritional goodness.

 

Perfect examples of this kind of snack come from the likes of vegetable slices (such as carrot or cucumber sticks), or even something as simple as a few items of fruit. Naturally, pick what your child likes and not what you think is best for them.

Packing for a trip with the kids is never easy, but, if you follow the advice we’ve laid out here, you should be able to pull it off without a hitch.