Quick answer
Pack a family carry-on with documents, medication, a change of clothes for each child, snacks, entertainment and chargers. Give older kids their own small backpack, use one packing cube per person so everyone’s clothes stay separate, and check your airline’s rules for strollers and car seats before you fly.
Traveling with children means planning for the unexpected: delays, spills and tired moments. This list is organized by where things should go, so what you need on the journey is always within reach.
Family carry-on (the bag you can reach)
- Passports or IDs for everyone, plus any consent letters if a child travels with one parent
- Medication, including children’s pain relief and anything prescribed, in original packaging
- A full change of clothes for each young child (and a spare top for adults)
- Wipes, tissues and a few sealable bags for messes
- Snacks and an empty water bottle per person
- Phone chargers and a power bank (carry-on only)
- Small first-aid kit
Kids’ own backpacks
- Headphones (volume-limited for younger children)
- A tablet or book with downloaded content, since in-flight Wi-Fi can’t be relied on
- A few small, quiet activities: stickers, a notebook, card games
- A comfort item for sleep
- A light layer: planes and trains get cold
Checked or main luggage
- Clothes packed in one cube per person
- Swimwear and sun protection for warm destinations
- Pajamas and spare socks
- Laundry bag for worn clothes
- Night light or a small travel lamp for unfamiliar rooms
Babies and toddlers
- Strollers and car seats: many airlines let you check them free or gate-check them, but policies vary. Check before you book.
- Formula, breast milk and baby food: in the US, TSA allows these in reasonable quantities beyond the usual liquids limit; tell the officer at screening. Rules differ in other countries.
- Diapers: pack enough for the journey plus delays, then buy the rest at your destination.
Tips that make family trips easier
- Color-code packing cubes by child so anyone can find the right clothes. See our packing cubes guide.
- Pack the first night’s essentials in one easy-to-reach bag, so you don’t unpack everything on arrival.
- Plan slower days. One main activity per day works better with kids.
- Bring a universal adapter with several USB ports for international trips. See our adapter guide.
Build a custom list for your family in the packing list generator, and plan the trip itself with how to plan a trip step by step.
Travel rules, prices and product details change. Check official government, airline and manufacturer sources before you book or buy.
