4 Packing Sanity Savers
By: Colleen Lanin, The Travel MamaDecember 6th, 2009
Before I had children, packing was easy. Fun, even. I stuffed strapless sundresses, a couple of bikinis, high-heel sandals, some frilly underwear, and a pile of magazines into a bag and off I’d go. But now that I’m a mom, packing has taken on a whole new and scary dimension. There’s so much to remember, lug, and keep track of! (And the items packed aren’t nearly as sexy.)
Below are four parental packing dilemmas I’ve encountered and their solutions…
Packing Dilemma #1: How do I keep from forgetting something?
As a newbie Travel Mama I was always worried I would forget something important, like diapers, formula, the favorite stuffed bunny…or the baby. So, I began writing out a long list before each trip detailing what to pack for each family member. This was time-consuming and straining on my brain as I struggled to remember every single thing to bring.
Sanity Saving Solution: Print out a list!
It finally occurred to me to type the list into Excel, with columns for every family member. Over time, I have perfected the list. It is broken down into several different categories, such as Feeding, Entertainment, and Clothing/Accessories.
Now before you go fretting over how to create some big ol’ list from scratch…use mine! I’ve made an easy-to-use Packing List for Babies and Toddlers and another for School-Aged Children. Go ahead and print one out before each trip. That’s what I do!
Packing Dilemma #2: What to pack in case of illness?
I used to raid the medicine cabinet before each trip, grabbing whatever ointments, syrups and pills I thought anyone in the family might need while away from home. I may sound like a hypochondriac, but who wants to run out in the middle of the night in a strange town seeking teething tablets or decongestants? Once back home, I returned the medicines to their rightful place in the medicine cabinet. Then, on the next trip, I started the process all over again.
Sanity Saving Solution: Keep a stash of travel medicines!
It was a pain in the booty to raid and replenish the medicine cabinet before and after each trip. It was an extra step in the packing process that I’d rather skip. Now, I keep a separate zipper-lock plastic bag full of medical necessities for travel. I take a look at the “Medicines” category on my handy-dandy Packing List mentioned above and replace anything that is missing or running low before each vacation.
Packing Dilemma #3: How to find the perfect travel toys?
When I first started traveling with children I read chat boards, visited toy stores and websites, and asked fellow parents for advice in my quest to find the perfect travel toys to purchase for each trip. When we returned home, I unpacked those long-sought-after toys and threw them into the toy box. Then, on the next trip, I started the research process over again and ran around the house trying to piece together toy sets from the last trip.
Sanity Saving Solution: Create or buy a travel activity kit (and hide it between trips)!
Now that I am an experienced Travel Mama, I have learned to hide the travel toys. Kids bore of their toys quickly. Ever notice how a new toy gets tossed aside after about a week but the toys over at a friend’s house seem downright enchanting to a child? Those toys aren’t shiny and new. They’re just unfamiliar. Sure, I am always on the lookout for a great new toy or two to bring along on a trip, but it saves money and time to keep a separate bunch of special toys just for travel.
For an easy solution, buy a pre-packed activity kit from TravelKiddy. These kits come stuffed with toys, crafts, puzzles and activities for four age groups, from toddlers to adults. To win one, post a comment to this blog about how a TravelKiddy would improve your travels.
Packing Dilemma #4: How to make room for all this STUFF?
With many airlines now charging for checked bags, it can be an expensive endeavor to tote along all the paraphernalia young travelers require.
It is stressful trying to cram all your child’s diapers, wipes, baby food, and sand toys into your luggage, all while trying to keep your bag’s weight under the 50 pound limit. Depending on where you’re headed, you might be able to load up on some of these items after arrival, but who wants to take time out of your precious, hard-earned vacation to shop for baby necessities?
Sanity Saving Solution: Ship items ahead!
Wouldn’t it be nice if everything was ready and waiting for you upon your arrival instead? Check out JetSetBabies.com to pre-order baby and toddler necessities to be delivered to your hotel or to grandma’s house. The company even calls ahead to make sure your package arrives safely and on time. I especially like their Travel Packs - pre-made travel packages for the woods, beach, slopes, or pool.
JetSetBabies will provide a $50 gift certificate to make travel easier for one lucky Travel Mama or Travel Daddy. Just visit JetSetBabies.com and enter a comment below about which items you would order for your next trip if you won.
Enter to Win
You can enter to win one or both of the following prizes. You must enter each contest separately. So, if you want to enter both, you will post two comments below. You can enter each contest twice, once by posting a comment on this blog and once by tweeting on Twitter. Both contests end on Saturday, December 19, 2009. Winners will be chosen at random using RANDOM.org. THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED.
TravelKiddy Contest
TravelKiddy will provide one winner with the choice of one of the following: CLASSIC TravelKiddy Ages 3 to 6, CLASSIC TravelKiddy Ages 6 to 9, or BIGKiddy with Sportpack Ages 8 to adult. To enter to win, POST A COMMENT TO THIS BLOG ABOUT HOW A TRAVELKIDDY WOULD IMPROVE YOUR FAMILY VACATIONS.
JetSetBabies Contest
JetSetBabies will provide a $50 gift certificate to one winner. Just visit JetSetBabies.com and ENTER A COMMENT BELOW ABOUT WHICH ITEMS YOU WOULD ORDER FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP IF YOU WON.
Bonus Entry
For a second entry into both contests, copy and paste the following phrase and post it on Twitter. Be sure to post a comment about your tweet.
Pack sane, parents! Visit @TravelMamas to win a @TravelKiddy activity kit or $50 to @JetSetBabies http://bit.ly/7QuFoV
JetSetBabies sponsored my flight to the Type-A Mom Conference for bloggers in September 2009. This contest and story were not part of the sponsorship. Travel Mamas was not paid any money by TravelKiddy or JetSetBabies to write this post or run these contests.
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For more information on this topic see:
• List of Travel Gear Rental Companies
• The Best Travel Toys and Activities for Kids, from Babies to Teens
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Tags: baby gear rental, packing list, travel entertainment, travel toys
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The Beach combo kit!!! Would be great for Greece.
I would love, love the Week in the woods pack! Absolutely adorable!
<3 Amy
A TravelKiddy would save my sanity in knowing if I’ve packed enough things to keep my daughter happy!
I would love to order the Weekend at the beach package from JetSetBabies!
I travelkiddie would improve our vacations b/c my twins are just like mommy–very antsy
They are easily bored while aboard 
, and this would help tons! It looks like an awesome diversion full of quality items!
I would use the GC to buy diapers and wipes for upcoming trip. Totally save the luggage fee I would have to pay for the extra suitcase!
tweeted!
http://twitter.com/smokey_frankie/status/6447403320
2nd tweet
http://twitter.com/smokey_frankie/status/6447591268
The Big Kiddy pack would be great for my family–new things to do on long road trips, and enough different activities that it could be shared among my four kids.
I know the travel kiddy will help me travel this holiday with my little guy. We are going to grandma’s in Chicago and to Florida after Christmas. He loves to color and I know he will love it! Also the diapers are a great deal on jet set babies.
The ClassicKiddy 3-6 would help my 3-year-old on our trips to my mom’s (4-plus hours away by car). I would definitely not put all of it in at once, so that I could maximize the “wow” factor!
As crazy as it sounds we’re planning an international trip with my 6 year old, 2 year old twins and newborn this summer. Anything to entertain the twins on the plane would be a lifesaver and the toddler kiddy looks adorable!
I would definitely want a popatot from jetsetbabies for our next trip
I have such a hard time keeping my kids satisfied in the car. We don’t have a dvd system and I have to lug toys and other things with us. The TravelKiddy would really help with even short trips!
We are planning a trip for early next year and will be in the car for about 10 hours with two kids under 5. I would probably use the gift certificate to get a bunch of those great organic snacks! Snacks really help keep them quiet!
A Travel Kiddy would keep my 4 year old occupied on trans-pacific flights!
The JetSet Babies beach pack would be great
tweet http://twitter.com/phxbne/status/6507549205
A TravelKiddy would would give me a piece of mind, I wouldn’t have to worry about a meltdown from my sons boredom, and I would be prepared to leave in a moments notice – and not forget things to keep my child occupied.
Travel Kiddy how I need you
We usually let the boys (5yr old twins) pack a kiddy suitcase with the toys they want to take but after 30 minutes in the car they are bored with it! I’m traveling 8 hours with them by myself to visit family and would love to put Travel Kiddy to the test!
Tweeted
http://twitter.com/Bundled
Heather L – Please let us know how the 8 hour trip alone with the kids goes! I’m sure you’ll have some travel tips to share!
If I won the gift certificate, I’d get the miYim organic crib/stroller toys.
The “Travel Kiddy” would be nice for either of our children. Our daughter is five, and our son is two. We travel quite often; our longest trip, driving back and forth, from Long Island to Kissimmee, FL which will be coming up again next month. Our children are used to travelling since they started right after they were born. However, they do need some activities during the trip; but they are so good at occupying themselves.
From “Jet-Set Babies” the “52 Travel Activity Kit” looks ideal.
I would love the 52 travel activity kit from Jet set babies
A Travelkiddy would improve our family vacations by giving my kids tons of things to do – already packed up for me to just throw in the car!
The Classic Travelkiddy would be great to occupy my toddler so we don’t have to resort to the DVD player when we drive to Mammoth for Christmas.
Jet Set Babies is such a great idea! I would love the Week at the Slopes pack.
I would order some seventh generation detergent and some diapers for my little one from jet set babies. We are traveling next week and this would be so nice!
The TravelKiddy would really be a great thing to have when traveling with my grandchildren to keep them from getting bored during long trips.
I would love to get the CLASSIC TravelKiddy Ages 3 to 6 for my son. I think it would help make trips to visit my sister much less traumatic. Thanks for the giveaway.
I would probably get Seventh Generation diapers and wipes for my son if I won the Jet Set Babies giveaway. Thanks for the giveaway.
Nice tips! I would get the 52 Travel Activity Kit Pop-A-Tot Umbrella for a road trip to the beach next summer.
The Travel Kiddy would really help the kids on their 7hr travel to grandma’s house, it has different things to do which woould keep them entertained for hours!
I would order the “week at the beach” package for our trip to Club Med in Mexico in February! I have a 9 month old, so the travel kiddy doesn’t apply yet!
Cori and other parents of babies and toddlers – Just want to be sure you know about TravelKiddy’s awesome kit for toddlers. http://www.travelkiddy.com/product_p/tkd_01.htm It’s not part of this giveaway, but you might want to check it out anyway. Thanks for entering!
It includes:
• 8 stacking cups
• Wiggle wobble car
• 2 play animals
• Mini board book from Priddy Baby
• 12×12 flannel peek-a-boo blanket
Choice of the following Melissa & Doug items:
• 6×9 doodle pad & 10 triangular crayons
• Set of 4 wooden puzzles
• OR Both
A TravelKiddy would be a great thing to keep my 3 year old entertained on our scheduled flight to Seattle in February. Thanks for the info!
And the “52 Travel Activity Kit” from JetSetBabies would be perfect for my almost 5 year old on our flight to Seattle. Thanks for the great link!
The CLASSIC TravelKiddy ages 3-6 would be so great for our long car rides. During the summer and fall we travel to 2 cottages frequently and during the winter months we travel to a time share resort for swimming and family time. This would help occupy our son during those long trips.
The beach combo kit and the organic baby food would be on my order for my next trip if I won the $50 gift certificate.
OOh!! So great to keep the little one occupied!! My 2 year old is a maniac!! The TravelKiddy is the perfect companion for an energetic 2 year old!
The travel kitty would improve my vacations because I wouldn’t have to spend time figuring out what to pack in a bag to go out on an excursion, brilliant idea. It will be pre-packed so I can spend time with my kids, not time packing things up.
From Jet Set I would order a weekend at the beach travel pack.
I tweeted.
The Classic Travel Kiddy would greatly improve traveling with triplets by keeping them occupied.
From Jet Set I would definitely get the beach travel pack!
This would save my sanity by providing my active toddler a variety of entertainment options.
I would love to get the weekend at the beach travel set.
nice weekend at the beach kit