Family beach vacation packing list
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Moms and Dads, this is a lot easier than you think. It is SO easy to overpack, but when you’re also carrying two children, it is best to pack light. You will have zero ‘getting dressed-up’ nights, so it’s time to leave those sexy dresses and high heels at home! Think of what you really need. This is only possible if you plan ahead!
Make a family beach vacation packing list a week before you leave! The last thing you want to do is forget their favorite toy at home or the pacifier – NEVER forget the pacifier. You’ll be in BIG trouble then.
Table of Contents
The key to packing light
Best suitcases for traveling with kids
How to pack light and smart
Our ultimate family beach vacation packing list
Breastfeeding and milk bottles
What about Pumping
The Key to Packing Light
It takes some time to figure out what necessities are key for you and your little ones, but you learn what is best and needed for your family along the way. At the end of the day, it’s all about the little monsters. As long as they are happy, WE are happy (with an extra Margherita in our hands while they play in the sand of course).
The most important thing to remember: You are ALWAYS on the beach, so nothing more than three outfits packed with swimsuits, sunscreen, diapers, and PJs. Okay, maybe a few more things are needed, but you honestly need a lot less than you think.
Wash what you wear after day one in the tub or shower, that way it’s ready and dried by day three. Rinse and repeat each day as needed. Again, you are on the beach and in the water for MOST of the time, so you barely need anything.
Below you can find our actual packing list for a week on the beach in Indonesia for two toddlers & two adults 👇🏼. Yes, ladies and gents, this is ALL in a carry-on for a family beach vacation!
What's the secret? ROLL ALL OF YOUR CLOTHES...this allows it all to fit between your carry on and your backpack. Done and done!
Best Suitcases For Traveling with Kids
To be honest we don’t have a go-to suitcase for ourselves. As long as it is a soft case with a zipper on the outside (where an emergency diaper or soiled clothes could be shoved), the wheels are the ‘spinner’ wheels for ease of pulling, and it is light, that’s what matters most.
Often times, the kids will want to help pull it. Hard cases hurt when they fall on the little one’s toes. The soft cases, even if it is full, isn’t so bad. For those longer flights, we always make sure we have our BedBox with us. Inside, you can fit toys, diapers, and books to keep the children happy and it turns the toddler’s seat on the plane into a bed.
It’s truly a brilliant design and we wouldn’t go anywhere without it. Not only is it a bed and a little carry on for the kids, but it is also a way to pull them along through the airport. Our 3.5-year-old, Alex, loves being pulled on his JetKids BedBox. If it’s a short flight, and this isn’t needed, we do leave it at home; anything beyond 4 hours and we’ve got it.
We also always have a backpack with us, especially for the protection of our laptop(s). We find the best of the best is Osprey. The backpacks are incredibly durable against pulling and tugging of young children, they have a protective pocket for your MacBook, they are comfy to wear, they have a waist strap just in case your bag is a bit heavy...and finally because they have a lifetime warranty. That last reason is why we also decided to look into the Osprey Poco Child Carrier.
This has been a lifesaver when on long hikes and treks on our travels. In fact, after our second child was born, we LOVED the first so much, we bought 2! They have an incredible amount of space for food and drinks inside of them, they are padded, have a comfortable seat and straps for the kids to sit in (and fall asleep), and they have a waist belt. I can’t stress enough how awesome these things are! They even have sunshades and a rain cover
How to pack light and smart
Rollin’ rollin’ rollin’. Keep them clothes a rollin’...To be honest, we didn’t start rolling our clothes until recently, when our youngest became a lot more mobile and it was challenging to have more bags when traveling. The less we had to pull along, the easier it was to chase both children.
I can’t believe we didn’t start it sooner as it would have made life so much easier at the airport! We travel whether somewhere new, or somewhere of comfort to us (Phuket, Thailand or Legoland, Malaysia) on average, about every 4 or 5 weeks. That is no exaggeration. It’s like an obsession. Usually, on one vacation, we will be planning for the next vacation. We. Just. Can’t. Stop.
What’s in our carry on
We Packed:
1.Outfits
3 outfits each and 2 extra pairs of underwear for the 3 yr old who may have an accident or two.
Swimsuits, water wings, goggles, sunscreen, sun-glasses, sun hats, 2 bibs to re-wash each evening.
Long-sleeved PJs for the cool air-conditioned rooms.
2. Teddy bears
A small one for each to sleep with. It’s important that they feel safe and comfortable in their new environment. The teddy bear helps.-
A tightly-packed bag of 30 diapers in our backpack, a pack of wipes, and a travel-sized bum cream
A plastic bag for possible soiled clothes (bring this ON the plane)
3. Snacks
Snacks you know they like (bring enough for bribery on the airplane rides and 2 for each day during excursions and adventures). For your littlest one: baby food sachets/powdered food to ensure non-greasy food for at least two meals a day. We usually buy ours from iherb, as they deliver right to our doorstep!
Sprout Organic, with all-natural ingredients, is wonderful – their fruit pouches we like, and their treats..
Gerber Oatmeal Banana Strawberry is our go to breakfast cereal when on a family beach vacation. We especially love that it doesn’t matter where we are, we can get this; Canada, Singapore, Thailand – it is everywhere...and Charlie loves it.
Convenience is key with two kids at home – side note: french fries are THE BEST distraction when in need for a beer on vacation!
4. A dark muslin and clips
Depending on your flight times: a dark muslin and clips (hair croc clips) to attach over the bassinet on the flight, so it can be dark for the littlest one while they’re doing meal service.
5. Carrier/sling
Wear this while boarding the flight for ease of traveling on and off the airplane. My recommendation: the Ergo 360. We’ve used it through two kids, and We are still using it for the 1.5 year old. It is the best! He STILL loves it and falls asleep in it while on vacation (on the front and the back). It keeps him close to us, and he feels safe and protected.
6. Pacifiers and bottles
2 pacifiers and 1 large milk bottle for the toddler that drinks cow's milk. A water bottle with a straw for the kids to share. Camelbak bottles are THE BEST!
7. Toothbrushes/toothpaste
Don’t forget the baby toothpaste – this one is all-natural, and fluoride-free, which is best for babies and toddlers.
8. Electronics
Phones & chargers
For the snorkeling type & scuba divers...don’t forget the gopro!
9. Books for entertainment
And finally…A few books/small toys for the flight that they have never seen before, especially for the youngest child – these may get lost, so spend a minimal amount. If you’re like me and like to prep for the flights in advance (I have new books for our next flight sitting in a bag, away from the kids – we don’t fly for 3 weeks), here are our recommendations:
-Sticker books
-Pop-up plane books
-Noisy books that sing “Baby Shark”
-A bag of magnetic toys
-A roll of tape
-Fuzzy craft balls to put inside of empty water bottles. These are all the most perfect things to bring on the flight, as ridiculous as they may sound. Also, wrap everything in old newspapers and every hour the little one can open a new “toy”/book. It keeps them busy.
Trust us...our 1.5 year old has been from:
Singapore → Canada → Singapore
Singapore → Australia → Singapore
Singapore → Philippines → Singapore
Singapore → Thailand → Singapore
Singapore → Cambodia → Singapore
Singapore → Myanmar → Singapore
Singapore → Thailand → Singapore
Singapore → Japan → Canada → Singapore
Singapore → Fiji → Thailand → Singapore
Singapore → Canada → Singapore
Singapore → Indonesia → Singapore
...with car rides to Legoland in Malaysia every few weeks…
So, these tips have been kid-tested and traveling-family approved.
Breastfeeding and Milk Bottles
You will notice within this, only 1 bottle was included. Why, you might ask...because I am still breastfeeding Charlie, our 1.5-year-old. We don’t plan on having more children, so I would like to keep feeding until he decides he doesn’t want it anymore. If I’m lucky, that won’t be for a few more years. Breastfeeding makes traveling that much easier! During take-off and landing, I latch Charlie to help with the equalizing. If at any point during the flight he wants to feed, I feed on demand. It keeps him happy, and it’s so easy – they’re right there!
I used to worry about what others thought, and I would use a feeding cover called a peak and drink (which to me sounded like a dirty bar, but that’s besides the point).
After all the traveling we started doing once we gave birth to Alex (our now 3.5 year old), I realized that using a feeding cover is hot, it’s uncomfortable, and it only makes everyone around me feel more comfortable, not me & certainly not my baby. So, I got rid of it, making a happier baby and therefore a happier mama! Do what makes YOU and your bubs feel most comfortable. And ya know what, in the beginning, it probably IS going to be hiding under a cover. Give it some time, you’ll get there.
What About Pumping?
There will be times that grandparents can join you on your adventures – those are the best! When we went to Bagan, Myanmar, we had the chance to go up in a hot-air balloon (sans kids). Luckily my in-laws came with us, I needed to pump to ensure there was enough milk just in case we were gone for longer than planned. The pump I have been using for over three years is my BelleMa pump. It is a double-pump – efficiency! I love it. Watch a few cute videos of your kiddos while pumping = oxytocin = milk milk and more milk!
