Holiday packing list: the essential holiday checklist for families   

Between prepping lunchboxes with perfectly shaped sandwich hearts, making beds, and tidying away toys, it might feel easier to leave summer holiday packing to the very last minute and hope for the best. That’s why you need a family holiday packing list! A little planning and a thorough holiday checklist for families means you’ll always pack exactly what you need. You might even find that there’s room in the suitcase for not one, but two of your favourite holiday reads! (Because yes, you will make time to read them!) 

What do I need on a 'holiday with kids' checklist?

The mere thought of packing a suitcase can feel exhausting. But that’s why a baby holiday packing list, a toddler holiday checklist and/or a full family holiday checklist is so handy – your organised list will speed up the process of packing, leaving you with more time leftover to practise spellings, choo-choo vegetable trains into mouths, and brush little teeth before bed. You might even have time to crack open your first book – and a cold one – to get into the holiday spirit. 

Holiday with kids checklist: essentials

Let’s begin our checklist with a rundown of everyday essentials that should be on any holiday checklist with children:

• Clothing. Pack for all occasions and make sure you keep at least two changes of clothes in your travel bag. 
• Food and drink. This is particularly important for the travel portion – it’s a guarantee that at some point you are going to hear, “I’m hungry!” 
• Medicines. If the kids are prone to allergies, on regular medication or just have a bit of a cold, check and double-check that you have everything they need. And if you’re going somewhere that’s filled with nature, and parks, be wary of hay fever! 
• Healthcare. Pack everyday items like paracetamol, plasters, insect repellent and sun cream. 
• Dental care: Toothbrushes, toothpaste and toiletries.

Yes, you’ll probably be able to buy some of the items on this toddler holiday checklist when you arrive, but why risk it? 

Entertainment

We can all sympathise with the trials and tribulations of entertaining a small child while travelling, in particular when confined to enclosed space thousands of metres up in the air. This is why it's important to factor entertainment for both the journey and destination into your holiday checklist for families: 

• Books, comics and magazines.
• Headphones to listen to music or audiobooks.
• Colouring books.
• Puzzles.
• Pens and paper.
• A selection of their favourite toys – let them choose, within reason!

Baby supplies

And bear these ideas in mind for a holiday checklist with babies if you’re taking a little one away:

• Plenty of nappies.
• Baby carrier.
• More clothes than you think – you’ll be thankful when the inevitable spills and messes occur.
• Bottles and sterilising equipment.
• Toys, dummies and anything that helps soothe discomfort.
• Day bag to keep with you at all times.
• Wipes and tissues.

Documents and cards

Even though you’re with kids or going on holiday with a baby, tips that apply to adults-only holidays are still just as important. Without the essentials you need, you’re not going to get very far. That’s why you want to add key documents and cards to your family holiday packing list:

• Medical cards.
• Passports.
• Driving licenses.
• Bank cards.
• Tickets. You can have the best baby holiday packing list, but if you forget the tickets, it might not end up being so useful!

Turning potential chaos into manageable, organised chunks, checklists are key to how to go on holiday with kids and remember everything you need. Once you put pen to paper and ask yourself, “What do I need for a family holiday?”, you’ll remember other items – and once they’re written down, you’re much less likely to forget something – plus, you can keep your list for next time. Take the stress away with early planning and enjoy your well-deserved break! 

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