Tips for Kids Carrying On

Happy Tuesday!

Okay, we have two posts that complement each other today 🙂 .

First up, I’m sharing the SOME GREAT NEW HOME FINDS (INCLUDING OUR NEW CARRY ON BAGS!) as well as this week’s edition of Travel Tuesday…

This is the fifth week that I’ve shared this series, and I hope you’re liking it as much as I am.  So far, I’VE ANSWERED YOUR TRAVEL QUESTIONS, SHARED MY TIPS ON MOTION SICKNESS, SHARED DAFFODIL WEEKEND ON NANTUCKET, and RECAPPED THE BAHAMAS.  Like I said in the original post, this series is going to be a variety of all things travel because my main goal is just to encourage everyone to get out and explore this awesome world 🙂 .  I have such a passion for traveling, and I love sharing my enthusiasm with all of YOU!

In honor of our sweet Mades being on vacation, today, I thought I’d share…

…my TIPS FOR KIDS CARRYING ON!

Madeley is in Maui with my parents this week on her “grandparent trip”, and as we were packing her up, I thought it might be a good time just to collectively hash out how we pack our kiddos for trips in carry on luggage.

BUT make sure you also read this post…

…WHAT’S INSIDE MY KIDS’ CARRY ON BAGS to see what they typically pack in their smaller personal bags (regardless of whether we carry on or check the luggage) to keep themselves entertained, fed, and comfy on board flights.  That’s an entirely different resource to hopefully help make traveling more enjoyable with your family this summer.  I have it broken down by the ages of kiddos when they travel.

Okay, I’m a big fan of “do what works best for you” when it comes to packing.  If carrying on works best for you, do it!  If checking works best, do it!  If a combination works best depending on the trip, DO IT!  Just do what works best for YOU.

I find it much easier to pack my kiddos less when the destination is warmer weather than when it’s colder (obviously…coats/boots/jeans/layers take up more space!) both both are possible.

I’ll share a few of my ideas, and then I hope you share yours too!

Here we go…

#1: PACKING CUBES

Always my answer to packing.  I don’t care if you’re just heading somewhere for one night, put it in a packing cube.  I’ve done endless posts on these cubes, and years later, I still feel in my core that it’s the #1 packing tip regardless of who is traveling or where you are going.  We use THESE PACKING CUBES, and I find them especially valuable when packing kiddos’ items in carry on bags because they reduce the space your items take up and give you more room to add more things while simultaneously keeping things organized.  If you are packing multiple kiddos in the same luggage, packing cubes are an easy way to keep their items separate too.  For example, you can give one of the kids all of the blue cubes and another kiddo all of the black ones and bam, everyone can easily find their items.

What do I do with the dirty laundry?  In an effort to keep the cubes clean, I always bring trash bags with me when I travel for dirty laundry.  They are easy to fit inside carry on bags and squish nicely back inside the suitcase with dirty laundry on the return flight while you put your empty packing cubes inside each other (they’ll all fit in one packing cube for the return trip).  I sent Mades to Maui with two trash bags…one for her “dry” dirty clothes and the other for her swimsuits.  Swimsuits are often damp and sandy, and I’ve found that just putting them all together in one bag keeps everything more fresh, less messy, and easier to handle when we get home.

#2: WEAR/BRING YOUR HEAVIEST THINGS ON THE PLANE (AND HATS TOO!)

When we leave Dallas for some place cold, often the weather is warmer here than there…but should we be trying to save space, we still wear our heaviest boots and bring along our heavy coats on the flight instead of packing them in our carry on bags.  You’ll be happy to have them when you land in the colder weather, and it will free up your kids’ carry on luggage.  My girls often like to bring beach hats on tropical vacations, and if we are conserving our luggage space, they will wear those on the flight as well to free up space.  On the flip side, sometimes my kids will want to wear something super cozy and bulky on the flight, so I remind them that if it doesn’t fit in their carry on bag for the flight home, they’ll need to wear it home as well (because whatever you wear on the flight has to return either on your body or in your bag, so think about that outfit carefully).  BUT also…

#3: MAKE YOUR FLIGHT OUTFIT WORKS FOR YOUR TRIP

We try to make our “flight outfits” work for our vacations.  If we’re packing light, then we will intentionally wear clothes and shoes on the flight that we will also wear on the trip.  This is probably the easiest way to add more to your vacation wardrobe and yet save you the most room in your luggage.

#4: USE THE SPACE WITHIN ITEMS

Okay, so speaking of boots and hats, I like to use the space within the item to add things.  If you’re packing that beach hat for your kiddo, pack it upside with items under the brim and then inside the hat as well (socks, undies, swimsuits, etc).  You can do the same for boots and shoes too.  If you’re looking for more space, look inside the items you are packing.

#5: TRY TO PACK BY DAYS

For kiddos, I try to pack everything they’ll need for the day in one packing cube.  This way, they can open it and find their undies, socks, maybe their swimsuit and coverup or shorts and shirt and be set for the day.  If everything you need for one day is grouped together, it makes it hard to overpack.

#6: MINIMIZE AND COMPLEMENT

My kids love all sorts of things at home….favorite blankets, favorite toys, favorite socks to sleep in at night…my kids could fill an entire suitcase with giant stuffed animals and heavy books.  When we’re packing light, that’s not the time for alllll of the faves.  This is when we minimize and complement.  Instead of bringing three pairs of sandals/flip flops, we bring one.  Instead of bringing the bright red coat that only works with one outfit, we bring the black one that can be worn day in and day out with everything (and it’s black, so it hides a multitude of spills and stains).  Why bring 12 toiletries when 4 will do?  We minimize and complement so that every piece can work together.

#7: DON’T PUT ANYTHING INSIDE THEY’LL NEED UNTIL YOU ARRIVE

I try really really really hard to make sure nothing I put in their larger carry on luggage will be needed on board the flight.  This way, I know that they won’t be tempted to open it in the airport/on the plane and something fall out and/or gets misplaced that we’ve carefully packed away.  I think it’s a “set it and forget it” moment until you arrive.  Try and keep everything they’ll need between leaving your home and arriving at your destination in a smaller carry on bag to avoid the chaos that is opening a travel suitcase while traveling.

Once more, make sure you also check out…

…THIS POST as well!  I have their carry on bags broken down into age groups (from babies to teens!), and I think it might be really helpful too!

And should you be taking your kids on a long vacation and want my packing tips and tricks…

…my very very Type A personality wrote THIS POST on PACKING FOR OUR MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE, and it’s really specific too!  You could use this system on a smaller scale in a carry on bag as well.

Don’t forget, today…

…you should also check out my second post where I share SOME GREAT NEW HOME FINDS including the CARRY ON HARDSIDE SPINNERS I bought each kiddo (they each picked their own color).  We LOVE them!

Happy Tuesday, friends!  I would, of course and as always, LOVE any of your tips and tricks in the comment section too.

I’ll see you guys tomorrow! xx