Here Are Your Packing List Essentials For Family Holidays

While you might have your perfect packing list for a jaunt down to the beach sorted, packing for a family holiday is a whole — insert your favourite pun here: other kettle of fish, different ballgame. 

Honestly, at times if you manage to get yourself, your partner and the kids out of the house roughly at the right time for your trip, that’s considered a major win. 

Yes, it’s imperative you don’t forget the kids at home on your holiday (as tempting at times as it might be), otherwise Home Alone might be less a fictional movie and more a real-life documentary.

Wrangling everyone together is, of course, something to celebrate, but when you have the packing list for a family holiday at hand — and ahead of time — you’ll have even more to celebrate.

And instead of you having to do the hard part and wrack your (tired, potentially stressed) brains all by yourself, we’ve done the work for you.

From babies to toddlers to pre-teens, from the method of transport to the accommodation, here’s the ultimate family holiday packing list — just in time for the holiday season (read: school holidays and that last bit of annual leave you’ve been saving). 

Whether it’s the family car, a domestic or international flight, a train or even by sea, there are must-haves when it comes to your kids' carry-on.

Look, whether your little one is still in nappies, or is just a kid who wears more of their food than consumes it, a fact of life with kids is that spills, messes, and accidents happen. And one thing that will make that inevitability a bit easier is having a change of clothes on hand.

We’re talking a whole second outfit, fresh undies and socks — the whole shebang.

Top Tip: Bring a plastic bag — resealable, or that can be tied tightly at the top — for any soiled items. No one wants to see or smell the offending goods. 

Depending on your destination — and please research this way in advance, so you’re not caught out — you’ll need passports, visas, proof of vaccinations, car insurance, travel insurance and tickets. Yes, it’s very admin-heavy — but it very much pays off.

Top Tip: Pack a photocopy of these documents in each separate bag. You never know what might get lost (or, unfortunately, stolen), so it’s best to have backup.

Having a refillable water bottle — or in a bubba’s case, a bottle of breast or formula milk — is an essential on the family packing list. And having a snack box or bag full of food you’ll know they’ll eat (and a treat or two, if they’re lucky) is also a necessity. 

This is especially helpful if you have a child with dietary requirements, allergies, or just one that’ll kick up a fuss if they’re a picky eater (I’m 28 and still kick up a fuss).

Top Tip: Bring along any feeding equipment — including doubles of your kid’s favourite cutlery. Wet wipes never go astray either. It also helps you out if your final accommodation has adult cutlery only.

Dependent on how long your trip is, and what your kids are into, this could range from: 

• Books (pop-up, colouring, chapter, audio)
• Music (CDs, preset radio stations, Spotify playlists)
• Digital (tables with downloaded — and pre-approved — movies and shows, hand-held video games)
• Games (cards, guessing, or the classics like “I spy”)

Whether it’s the toy they were gifted at birth or a new one gifted especially for the trip — like Kelvin or Oaky — it’s always good to bring that element of comfort along.

For older kids who might be “too cool” for a stuffed toy, a cushion like our Sunny Heart or Reggie can *sneakily* double as a comfort item.

Top Tip: Pack a spare toy or duplicate one in your suitcase, just in case the one in your child’s hand ends up on an adventure all on its own.

No matter if you are driving, flying or… trekking (?!) this holiday, a travel pillow for the little ones is a travel must-have. For a one-of-a-kind travel ensemble, consider matching our funny bugs printed Kids Travel Pillow with our matching Kids Travel Set — the latter boasting an eye mask and hooded scarf, for snoozing on the go.

Ok so maybe it doesn’t sound like these could fit into a carry-on, but as most of them are stored in a self-duffle bag, they’re easy to throw over a shoulder or clip onto a backpack. A blanket is great for long-haul flights or long car drives — things where it’s guaranteed someone will go down for a nap. 

Whether an Adventure Travel Blanket, or a lightweight Cotton Blanket — these are all fun, easy-to-carry options, perfect if you’re going somewhere a bit cooler, or more outdoorsy. If you’re a family who loves camping, your kids will be set with these.

Whether your kid has their own little wheely bag, or you’re combining the packing into a full-sized adult one, these are the suitcase essentials for your family holiday packing list.