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Packing for kids: plan for the bad hour, not the whole week.

How to pack for children on a trip: what to keep in the day bag, how many clothes they really need, liquids exemptions for baby food, and how to involve kids in packing.

Original guide · Published 11 November 2026 · Sources listed below

Children change the packing equation. They get dirty faster, need more spare clothes, have strong opinions about comfort, and can go from cheerful to miserable in the time it takes to find a snack at the bottom of a suitcase. The temptation is to pack for every possibility. The better approach is to pack for the trip, and to keep a small, well-organised bag for the moments that go wrong.

The day bag does the heavy lifting

Most family travel stress happens in transit: the delayed flight, the long car journey, the queue that does not move. What matters then is not the suitcase in the hold, but the bag you can reach.

A good family day bag holds:

• a full change of clothes for each young child, and a spare top for the adult carrying them
• snacks, more than you think, in containers that do not crumble everywhere
• water bottles, empty for security and refilled afterwards
• nappies, wipes and a changing mat for babies and toddlers, enough for twice the expected journey time
• any medicines your child needs, plus a thermometer and child-dose pain relief
• one or two small, quiet activities such as a book, stickers or a downloaded show with headphones
• a light layer, because planes and air-conditioned trains are cold

Pack it so the things you need fastest are on top. A clear pouch for wipes and a separate one for medicines saves digging.

How many clothes do children need?

The outfit maths in our overpacking guide still works, with a margin. Younger children often need two changes on a messy day, so plan for more tops and bottoms than days, at least until you know when you can wash.

For a week away with a toddler, many parents find this enough:

• one or two outfits per day for the first few days, then a laundry stop
• extra socks and underwear
• one warm layer and one waterproof layer
• pyjamas, two sets
• one pair of comfortable shoes that are already broken in, plus sandals or wellies depending on the weather

Older children can usually manage the adult ratios. Let them choose some of their outfits within limits; they are more likely to wear what they picked.

Liquids, baby food and security

Travelling with a baby or young child brings some useful exemptions from the cabin liquids rules. GOV.UK says that at UK airports you can take liquid containers of up to 2 litres through security if they contain baby food or baby milk, or are for essential medical purposes. The TSA in the United States also allows reasonable quantities of formula, breast milk and baby food in carry-on bags, screened separately.

Tell security staff before your bags go through the scanner, and expect these items to be checked. Our guide to the 100 ml rule explains the general rules and how they differ between airports.

Sun, sleep and small comforts

Children's skin burns more easily, and they cannot always tell you when they are too hot. The NHS advises taking extra care with children in the sun and keeping babies under six months out of direct sunlight. Pack sun hats with a brim, light long-sleeved tops and high-protection sunscreen for hot destinations, along with the advice in packing for heat.

Sleep is the other thing that makes or breaks a family trip. A familiar sleeping bag, comforter or bedtime book can help a child settle in a new room. If you rely on a white-noise app or a nightlight, pack the charger.

Car seats, buggies and the big items

Large items cause the most planning headaches. Many airlines carry buggies and car seats free of charge, often allowing a buggy to be used up to the aircraft door, but policies vary. Check your airline's rules before you fly, and check whether car hire or taxis at your destination provide child seats that meet local standards.

A lightweight travel buggy that folds small is often more useful on holiday than a full-size one, especially in old towns with cobbles and steps.

Let children help pack

Giving children a job makes packing faster and teaches them something. A short, picture-based list for younger children, or a written one for older ones, lets them collect their own items. Packlight's export can produce a simple text list you can print or share.

Give each child a small backpack of their own with a few things they choose. Set a limit: if it does not fit, it stays at home.

Use one list for the whole family

The easiest way to stay organised is one checklist per person, built from the same trip details. In Packlight, choose the number of days, the weather and the trip style, then add each child's extra items, such as nappies, comforters and medicines, as your own items. Tick them off as they go in the bag, and do a final check of the day bag before you leave the house.

Build your packing list