Travel Tips: How to Pack Light and Comfortably for Travel with a Preschooler

Traveling light has never been a strong suit of mine. I like to be prepared and that usually means over packing. Yes, I admit I am that person who has had to pay the extra $25-50 charged by airlines for a checked bag that is too heavy. And that was before I had my child.

I have learned in recent years the need to streamline my packing, especially with regards to carry on baggage. If you have a preschooler, you understand the need for hands-free bags...you never know when you are going to have to grab junior's collar!

While it may seem like a daunting task for us over-packers, here are some simple tips to lighten the carry-on load and still keep the essentials.

Invest in a Good Backpack

I love bags. Ask any of my family members. I love purses, handbags, wallets, duffels, luggage... But my adorable satchels and hobo bags do not make good carry-ons. Unaware of the dangers and loving all the excitement, my daughter darts off to see the airplanes while I'm trying to hook a satchel over my left shoulder, a purse over my right, and grab her at the same time. Not a wise idea.

I personally love the Adidas Stewart Backpack. It is 18 inches high, 15 inches wide and has load-spring technology in the shoulder straps. It is extremely comfortable to carry even with a heavy load. The weight distribution is excellent. Another feature I love about this bag is the cell phone pocket on the strap. It is great to have your phone easily accessible. I would love another pocket in front for my ID, tickets, money, et cetera so I would not have to take the bag off but this is still one of the better packs I have found. Other great features: three zippered compartments, plenty of pockets for inside organization, and a media compartment to organize an iPod and headphones.

Another good option is the Adidas Cosmo II Sling. Instead of the traditional two strap backpack the sling fits more like a messenger bag with one cross-body strap. I have not tried this one personally but it is comparable to the Stewart in size. I do like the media pocket on the side, which I think would be easy to reach without removing the bag.

Use One Carry-on and Wear Pockets

I made the mistake of allowing my daughter to carry her own backpack. It was the cutest little pink princess bag and she packed it herself. Big mistake. After wrestling it away from her at the TSA checkpoint, she refused to put it back on. I carried it the rest of the trip.

Attempt to pack for yourself and your preschooler in the one carry-on. I usually pack my purse in the main luggage and keep just the necessities in my backpack: wallet, keys, ID, and lipstick. It is also a good idea to use just one bag if you are carrying along a stroller. It keeps your hands free and keeps you from having to wrangle too much luggage while trying to collapse/open a stroller.

Also dress in layers with plenty of pockets. It is so much easier to shove tickets, ID, gum wrappers, et cetera in pockets rather than put them away when you are in a hurry at the airport.

What to Pack

As the perennial over-packer, I love to have my bases covered. I have pared my essentials down though. Here are my suggestions:

-Coloring books/paper and crayons are always a safe bet, especially if you get stuck waiting for take off or for a gate. I like the Crayola Twistables because they are paperless and set in plastic holders. And rather than keeping the crayons in the box, take them out and put them in a zippered plastic bag. It is so much easier to put them away, especially for a child.

-Portable DVD player or iPod with video. This is a parental lifesaver. The iPod is smaller and lightweight so I recommend this over a portable DVD player but is more expensive. Also, if you use an iPod, invest in a good set of earphones for your child. We quickly discovered that earbuds do not work for our daughter's tiny ears. A pair of penguin, child-sized headphones works perfectly for her.

-At least one drink (bottle of water or juice) and a snack. You never know what delays you might encounter or where. Low blood sugar and well-behaved child are not synonymous. Tummy Ticklers make shelf-stable apple juice in a sport bottle which is perfect for travel. It is spill proof and good for you.

-Essential toys: like a blankie or special bear. These are great to have on hand especially if traveling during naptime. The familiar smell and feel of the toy is soothing.

-Small, lightweight blanket. Especially on short flights, do not expect the airline to have blankets. A blanket can come in handy for an impromptu "tent" to play in, if the flight is colder than your child is dressed for, for wadding up and using as a pillow, et cetera.

-Books. I personally like to bring along the four-stories-in-one books because it cuts down on clutter.

-Wet Ones (or some type of anti-bacterial wipes.) These are a staple in our travels. It is nice to have the antibacterial gel, but I prefer to use the wipes because they can double as a washcloth or even diaper wipe in a pinch.

-Tissues. These come in handy particularly on flights when spills seem to be inevitable!

-Stickers. Stickers are a genius invention! My daughter painstakingly papers her seat and the seatback in front of her in stickers during the flight. It is a quiet and relatively easy to clean up activity that will occupy a child for a long time. I know the flight attendants do not always care to see it, but I do remove the stickers and dispose of them before we leave the plane.

-Extra clothing. Even if your child is potty trained, you still need to anticipate accidents or spills. In order to save space, I prefer to pack a pair of pajamas (tee shirt/pants).

-One plastic bag. I cannot tell you how many times I wished I had just one of those Wal-Mart bags. Wet clothing from spills, a diaper I could not dispose of immediately, a mess needing a home, et cetera, all these are fantastic reasons to shove a bag in your carry-on.

-Other necessities. I like to keep a few things for myself handy, such as lipstick, gum, compact, book, et cetera. If your child is still in diapers, I recommend packing those in last and packing them around the other items. It helps save space.

Have a smooth flight!