The second half of this year will look drastically different than the first half. That’s because we are traveling internationally from mid-June through mid-December. For us, this is a dream trip and something we have been trying to make happen for a while. My wife is a college professor and after five years of graduate school and six years on the tenure track, she has finally earned a sabbatical. So with no teaching obligations in the summer and a three-month-long sabbatical, we are making the most of it and getting out of dodge. As the departure date gets closer I can feel my anxiety building. There is so much to do and so many unknowns, especially with the kids. My wife and I discuss it all with excitement, a bit of nervous laughter, and a whole lot of gratitude that we can even consider doing this.
Rent our Centrally-Located Downtown Templeton Home
For Rent- October AND November $3500 Month
So here is the plan, we are heading to Costa Rica for three months. Then from there, we will be spending a month in Portugal, a month in Spain, and a month in Italy. Due to the length of time we’ll be gone, and the varying climates we will be in, packing might be difficult. So in an effort to calm my nerves, I’ve decided to create a travel checklist for my three and five-year-old boys. I am definitely not an expert at this (yet). So far, we’ve done some traveling to Hawaii and other locations within the states for short stents, but never anything like this. But, I’m digging in. I’m doing my research. And, I’ll be testing it all out in real time. My hope is that I can help provide some useful info for those of you planning a long getaway with your little ones.
As it gets closer to our travel dates I’m sure this list will grow. I will continue to update it until we have our final list. This adventure will take us from the equator to the Alps over a six-month period of time which makes packing for the boys especially tricky. Even so, the goal is to pack light.
Travel Checklist for Kids
| Checked Bags | Carry-on | On the plane |
| Socks/Underwear | Tablets for Movies and Music | Travel Stroller |
| Diapers (for a week or so) | Headphones | Car Seats |
| Pants/Jeans | Coloring Books | Surfboards |
| Shorts | Snacks | |
| Shirts | Pouches | |
| Pajamas | Hats | |
| Swim shorts | Wipes | |
| Sandals | Sunglasses | |
| Shoes | Birth Certificates | |
| Jackets | Passports | |
| Hairbrush | Medical Ins. Cards | |
| Toothbrush/Toothpaste | ||
| Tylenol/Vitamins/Thermometer | ||
| Lotion | ||
| Soap/Shampoo | ||
| Toys/Snorkels/Masks | ||
| Nail Clippers | ||
| Beach Towels | ||
| Sunscreen/Bug Spray | ||
| Night Light |
Our decision to bring along a stroller isn’t one that we are taking lightly. Both of our boys are perfectly capable of walking and in our past experience, it is a bit of a hassle getting bags, strollers, and car seats through the airport. The other issue is that we are traveling to places with dirt roads, cobblestone walkways, and cities built on hills, which are all less than ideal for pushing strollers around. However, without a stroller, our outings will be limited to what we can do in-between nap times which can feel really restricting when we are traveling. Also, we are excited about doing a lot of hiking so at the end of the day we decided we are bringing it along.
Traveling in the company of those we love is home in motion. — Leigh Hunt
Car seats are another topic of conversation for this trip. Apparently, a US car seat, certified FMVSS, can be used in Costa Rica but can not be used legally in Europe. So that’s a bummer, what’s a dad to do? Fly to Costa Rica with car seats, use them for three months, then get rid of them, buy two new car seats in Portugal, use them for three months, get rid of them, and buy two more when we get home. Not likely!
So this is the list of things we will be taking for the boys, at least as it stands right now. If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them. Please come along on this journey with us by subscribing to my newsletter.
I hope you found some useful tips here. I’d love to hear from you about ways that you experience life with your little ones.
Thanks for reading. If you made it this far please follow me on Youtube, Facebook, or Instagram.
If you would like to support this blog, This Daddy Does is on Patreon!
Here are some other topics that may interest you.
- My Quick Trip To Pick Up Cabernet
- Hiking Bluff Trail in Montaña De Oro with Kids
- Do’s and Don’ts | Central California Beach Day with Kids
- 2023 Guide | Sno-Parks with Toddlers
- 5 Rainy Day Activities for Kids
🌍 Discover the Joy of Daily Travel Journaling! 📖
Elevate your travel experience with our Daily Travel Journal – the perfect companion for wanderlust souls! Capture each day’s magic in a few sentences, creating a priceless keepsake of your adventures.
✈️ Why Choose Our Journal?
- Effortless Memories: Record memorable moments with ease.
- Lasting Impressions: Create a timeless memory bank for years to come.
- Reflect & Revisit: Relive your journeys with a flip of the pages.
- Travel-Ready Design: 100 sheets for significant journeys, compact for convenience.
🎁 Perfect Gift for Travel Enthusiasts! 👉 Order Now on Amazon
Turn your travels into lasting memories. Get your Daily Travel Journal today! 🌟 #TravelJournal #CaptureTheJourney ✨
If you click on my affiliates/advertisers links, I may receive a small commission. I only highlight products I think are cool. AND… In turn, you have the opportunity to support this blog, Win/win.
4 responses to “We’re Leaving! | Kids Packing Checklist”
Sounds like a fun adventure. We traveled quite a bit when David and his siblings were young. Before they could read, I made simple picture drawings of things they should pack… 🩳🩳🩳 meaning 3 pairs of shorts. This was a good reading readiness lesson, responsibility lesson and got them excited about the trip. Also the reason David is now a college professor.
It’s great to hear from you. Three pairs of shorts, I might have to use that:) David is such a traveler, his trip to Mexico City sounded amazing. I’m hoping we cross paths in Lisbon but I think we might just miss him by a few days. Anyway, I hope all is well, and thanks for the comment.
Great and informative post! I love the idea mentioned in this blog. By the way, guys! If you’re flying with a baby but don’t want to go through all the hassle of lugging a car seat. Please check out KIDMOTO! You can ditch the car seats when flying with a baby! Book here: kidmoto.taxi
It looks like this service is only available in the U.S. so it won’t help us on this trip. I’ll leave the link up for my readers that might be able to take advantage of this service though.