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Family travel checklist: what to pack

What you need when you’re travelling with children depends on how old your children are and where you’re going. It helps to be prepared.

Remember to check state or territory COVID-19 websites for advice about COVID-19 restrictions and whether face masks are required or recommended for children.

For older children, it can be good to pack:

  • wipes
  • plastic bags – handy for rubbish or vomit
  • spare clothes, in case of spills, accidents or delays
  • hand sanitiser
  • water in refillable drink bottles
  • healthy snacks
  • books, toys and games – ask your child to help you choose
  • medication if your child needs it
  • a first aid kit.

For babies and younger children, it can be good to pack everything on the list above and add:

  • nappies or pull-ups
  • spare cothes if your child is toilet training
  • a portable changing mat
  • your child’s favourite cuddly toy, if they have one
  • blankets or wraps
  • a pram or car seat, if they’re not available where you’re going.

If you’re travelling with children with additional needs, you might need to give extra thought to things like packing your child’s medications and equipment, preparing your child for travel, planning your time and so on.

Entertainment tips for family travel

Long trips can be challenging for children. Family travel is more fun for children and easier for you if your children are entertained. Here are some ideas.

Babies and toddlers

  • Take sturdy books that you can wipe clean.
  • Keep toys in a bag and give them to your child as you travel, rather than all at once.
  • Borrow some ‘talking books’ from your local library before you leave home, or download audio files.
  • Enjoy music with your child. You could try Kinderling Kids Radio for family-friendly songs, check out our Baby Karaoke or play car karaoke.

We did a six-hour car trip with our toddler and preschooler. We had all their favourite movies, heaps of books to read and snacks.
– Melissa, mother of a two-year-old and a four-year-old

Older children

  • Play ‘I spy’, alphabet search or guessing games like ‘I’m thinking of a number between 1 and 10’.
  • If you have a screen or tablet device in the car, make sure it’s fully charged and you have plenty of movies loaded onto it.
  • Take some music that your child enjoys, or make a family playlist with your children before you go.
  • Take some games – for example, checkers with magnetic pieces or card games.
  • Use sticker books or blank books and coloured pencils to keep your child’s imagination and hands busy.
  • If you’ve got more than one child, pack toys and books for each child. This can help to keep everyone happy.

Our kids love playing ‘spotto’, even on short car trips: 10 points for every yellow car they spot, 20 points for orange, and 30 points for gold. Spotting the cars and keeping track of the score keeps them occupied.
– Catherine, mother of a five-year-old and an eight-year-old

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Raising Children Network is supported by the Australian Government. Member organisations are the Parenting Research Centre and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute with The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health.

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