Packing for vacation with a toddler

Adam and I like to take pride in being light packers. We really started to be strategic with our packing when we took a honeymoon to Italy. We had two weeks of traveling by plane, train and automobile from Rome down to Positano and back to Rome. We knew that we would be walking a lot, and I had some bad memories of dragging luggage around old cobblestone streets from a previous international trip. So we did our research and somehow packed two weeks worth of clothes in hiking backpacks!

We’ve been able to translate our Italy strategy and apply it to all trips these days. We have a 2-year-old now and our “light” packing has almost doubled in size due to everything Luca requires. With that being said, we want to share some tips and tricks on light packing for a month-long stay and how we got it all to fit into our Subaru Outback. 

• Think about the seasons. Our trip is in the fall, we are going to have to be ready for high 70s but also dips into the low 50s. Over the past year, I tried to create more of a capsule wardrobe so that I can easily layer and mix and match pieces.

• What kind of activities will you be doing? I actually think it’s easier to pack for a month-long trip than a weekend one. Since you’ll be gone for a longer period of time, you can allow yourself that cute night out outfit or a few different casual daytime looks. Shoes is where it’s hard for me to stay under a limit.  I try to stick to each person in our family getting three pairs of shoes… maybe four if sandals is one of the options.
  

Let’s get into the actual packing list. 

The products linked above are similar to what we bring. #ad

Toiletries/Medication Packing List

• Toothbrushes
• Shampoo/conditioner
• Deodorant
• Brush
• Razor
• Nailclippers – the Frida Nail Clippers have been a blessing for us with Luca.
• Straightener
• skincare
• Diapers/wipes
• First aid kit
• Medicine 

Everything else you’ll need for a toddler… packing list

• Water bottles
• Toddler air mattress and pump. My grandma got us this for Christmas and it’s perfect for light packing since it’s so much smaller than a pack-n-play.
• Air mattress sheets
• Arts and crafts
• Stuffed animals
• Blanket
• Monitor. We’ve had the Infant Optics monitor for over 2 years now and we like that it doesn’t run on Wifi. It’s small and easy to bring with us as well!
• Sound machine. We bring the Yogasleep Dohm for all of our trips, even our short weekend trips to the lake for the past few years.
• Toys 
• Bib
• Toddler utensils and cups
• Life jacket
• Phone chargers
• GoPro Camera. We bought ours 6 years ago and still like to bring it on every trip with us.
• Headphones
• Laptops/chargers
• Extra monitor. This portable one saved so much space for us!
• Neck pillow. Now that I hit 30, my neck likes to punish me for sleeping on it wrong. One of my friends recommended the pillow below. It’s great for sleeping but also works as an awesome travel pillow in the car.
• Crockpot
• Stroller
• Coolers
• Diaper bag

The products linked above are similar to what we bring. #ad

I hope this helps you save some room and packing stress!

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