Packing List for Toddler -- for Two Week Vacation Far from Home

Any medicines, thermometers, band-aids, sunscreen, etc

A handful of books to keep occupied on the flight. Also, coloring books, a portable dvd player, small things but things to keep him busy during the flight. And definitely take some snacks.

Take a cool weather outfit and a jacket.

I'd say one blanket should be enough. Definitely take the lovey.

Call the hotel and see if they have a crib or rollaway bed.

Take at least a weeks worth of clothes. You can do laundry when you get to the family's house, right?

Have fun!

Make sure you take EVERYTHING that you can't get there (if there's a favorite snack he MUST have or certain brands you/he prefer).

Also, anything he MUST have.

If you run out of clothes, you can buy them. Diapers, the same. Depending on where you're going you might want to purchase some toys or books there, too.

Obviously remember the passport. :)

When I pack for my 2 year old (we're big travelers though usually shorter trips) I try to plan our days in my head (what we'll do each day) and then pack accordingly. Are there days that he'll be more likely to get dirty? Add an outfit. Are there days that we won't be doing much of anything? Maybe subtract an outfit or add a pair of pajamas (that me might wear all day).

I've never taken safety precautions in hotel rooms, but I'm not a huge child lock person at home either. You could take some rubber bands to band closets and doors closed. I wouldn't go overboard.

Call the hotel and see what they have for you in terms of cribs. Personally I just always get a king bed and he sleeps with us.

Good luck and have a great trip!

A ball is the best toy! Just took a 10 day trip by plane with 4.5 yr and one year old. The oldest gets to pack a little rolling backpack with toys for the trip. I packed about 7 change of clothes and did laundry not much. I packed a pair of jeans, light zip up, and light pair of pants as just in case for Michigan trip. A few outlet plugs would be good. I would bring own sheets. I had family handme downs and am picky. Any lovely that has to be slept with is a must plus a few other toys. There would be something bought later on. Markers that only mark on certain paper are nice. Have lot of snacks and indugle a bit on what is ok for snacks. My oldest always gets soda on airplanes and on long trips a candy.

if he uses a sippy cup make sure you pack at least 2 of them. also if he has a favorite blanket and sheets yes bring them. pack a bag for the airplane and have a couple sets of clothes in it. has he flown before? somethign to help like dramamin if you can get it down him. mix and match clothes are the best. shoes that are comfortable. the dvd thing is a life saver on a flight. my grandkids just took ours with them to florida. my ex son in law said it made the trip so much easier. they watched 2 movies and wala they were there.

Hi Jilly!

We have logged 6 international trips with our 33 mo old and have learned a lot! Being prepared and organized is the key…but the most important thing to pack is a sense of humor!

Packing: Space bags rock! (the kind you roll the air out -got them at Bed Bath). Check the overseas luggage requirements -they are super strict (JC Penny sells amazing light luggage). You can pack important essentials in the carry on (lovey, blankie, few paci’s, etc). Pack your first night’s needs in front pocket of luggage so you don’t have to rummage through everything you will probably be exhausted.

Airport: changing planes? You may not get your stroller at the connection airport especially if connecting int’l. A large backpack is a lifesaver as a carry on! I had to lug my sleepy 22 mo old and my carry on through Heathrow T5 for a 4 mile walk...after the flight attendant SWORE we'd get the stroller at the gate...neither one of us was happy about it. If traveling with your hubby let him pre-board with the bags and get settled (make sure he doesn’t have your boarding pass – we did that once!) and run that 2yr old around as long as possible before final boarding – you will be thankful later!

Carry on: #1 item is large pack of wipes! A frozen washcloth in a Ziploc comes in great for sticky faces. Most airports allow you to take extra liquids in addition to your quart size ziploc bag for child’s food/drink as long as you make the screener aware (pack in its own Ziploc and be sure pull out for screening). I suggest to pack lots of non perishable food/snacks for the flight & don’t rely on the airline for anything chances are they can’t even heat food for you (Put quick meal in luggage too- we arrived in Italy on a Sunday with everything closed and were thankful for the tuna lunch kit!). Small juice boxes are great (save the sippy cup for water). Pack enough diapers (nighttime ones) to have one per hour of traveling. I read once and I was SO thankful because on one flight my child got a stomach bug and pooped through 10 diapers in one flight. Pull ups are way easier to change on board. Don’t forget a wipable bib. i recommend to pack two changes of clothes for your child (including shoes) and one for you (space bag!). For yourself, wearing dark breathable clothing hides messes and dries quickly…you will get messed it’s just a question of when! My hubby and I take bets on the when and what. Last trip he bet on pee in the first half of flight and won himself a foot rub...so unfair :-)

Flight: I know I'm a more relaxed traveler when im mentally prepared. Deliciousbaby.com has awesome travel tips. Try to write down 10 toy free play ideas and stash in your bag – it’ll make you feel good knowing you have an arsenal of boredom busters (i.e. a cup of ice and a coffee stirrer can be a great game of making soup for Mommy). At this age, plan around a 15-30 min attention span. We did the toy to unpack every 30 mins and it was just perfect (short kids shows on the ipod were invaluable too - movies were too long). Think double duty for what you bring (toys that can be a bath toy, wrap toys in coloring book or magazine pages and then play look and find with pages, etc). Be sure to stash away a few things for the return trip as for us the day flight home was the toughest leg. The best inventions ever are Aquadoodles and Crayola wonder products. If you are flying overnight –stick to your reg. routine at home (pj’s, book, lovey, blankie etc) to help your child sleep. I swear by the apple sauce in squeeze packs – during takeoff/landing I give one to my child and by sucking out the applesauce it helps her ears better than any paci/sippy cup. The descent is harder on their ears than take off.

Products: What can't you live with out? For us, Europe has the worst stain fighting products so i bring some tide stain packs. Wipes were also $14 a pack so that was worth packing an extra. Diapers are avail everywhere but might be hard to find your size/type bring a good stash to give you time to find them (know your child’s weight in KG as the size numbers are different – plus you may need it for medicine in an emergency). No need to pack the soap/shampoo - half of the fun of traveling is seeing what kid products they use so enjoy the experience! Personally, I can't leave home with out: Tylenol/motrin rapid melts, disposable sippy cups, and Gerber yogurt drops (hey i like them too).

Hotel room: a good roll of painters tape will secure anything from covering plugs to securing light cords (or the occasional 2 yr old!). International plugs are different and carry hefty voltage but at least they’re usually waist high. Ask the hotel in advance the size of the crib – some have cribs and some have pack n plays so you can bring the right sheet. Having breakfast handy the night before helped us. Local grocery stores usually sell small packs of shelf stable milk/cereal, etc so you have easy inexpensive breakfast in the morning because jet lagged parents move much slower than regular parents!

Sorry such a long post - have a safe and enjoyable trip! Traveling is one of the best adventures you can share with your child!

One recommendation someone gave me (which I loved) was to pack a balloon or two for the airport. Perhaps for the hotel too. It's basically a big toy, but doesn't take up a lot of room. Our nearest airport isn't really busy, and so my two year old LOVED running in an open area at the airport paying with the balloon before we got on the long boring flight.

I second the idea for a portable DVD player for the airplane. PLUGS - they may be different over there, so perhaps pack an adaptor if you plan to plug in the dvd player to charge it (and your hair dryer,etc).

Airplane - bring extra wipes and an extra change of clothes. Extra diapers, maybe in one size too big for him so it'll hold more/longer for him.

Yes - favorite snack are a good idea. Food/groceries will be totally different over there.

Toys - I've heard to wrap toys like a gift and open one every hour on the flight. Pack SMALL ones though (matchbox cars, sticker books from the dollar store -they're skinny).

I agree with the other post - I am not one to really lock stuff up here at home, so would not be highly concerned with a hotel either. MAYBE the kiddo's own sheets if they'll fit the crib at the hotel. It might make him feel "more at home." My son always seems to need a night-light wherever we go. I have one here but forget to bring it when we go somewhere. Pitch-black is too dark and a lamp is too bright.

As far as laundry goes, pack items that all match eachother. Like pack 4 jeans/shorts and maybe 7 shirts and one pair of shoes that matches all of them. Then after you get to your family's home, do laundry. Same for you. You won't have to pack brown shoes, blue shoes, and black shoes and sandals if you pick outifts that all go with ONE pair of shoes.

Double check the weather so you can pack accordingly. Or call your family and find out what their kids are wearing. And what about an umbrella? Maybe pack a small one in your suitcase.

I always pack a sheet for my son, who has allergies and sometimes reacts to hotel sheets. Plus, it's just cleaner.

I would bring enough clothes for about one week, then do laundry as soon as you arrive at the family's house. Toddler clothes are small so it doesn't take up too much space.

You might not be able to get the same brand of diapers, so if you care about your brand, bring them from home or ask your family in advance if they are available. Same for wipes.

We would bring outlet covers for the hotel room but no other safety items. We pack a few favorite, small toys and about 5-8 books. Definitely his lovey and anything needed for sleep/bedtime. Jackets will depend on the weather where you are going.

Have fun!