Everything for the whole family — from baby gear and kids' sunscreen to entertainment for long journeys. Your stress-free family trip starts here.
Family holidays are logistically complex — you're essentially managing multiple people's wardrobes, health needs, entertainment requirements, and safety gear simultaneously. The packing list that works for a couple or a solo traveller gets an entirely different layer of complexity the moment children are involved. This checklist is built around that reality: what you truly need for the kids, what can be left out, and the things that save your trip when they go wrong.
The things experienced family holiday with kids travellers wish someone had told them before their first trip.
Pack a dedicated bag for the journey itself — completely separate from your main luggage. It needs: snacks, drinks, a change of clothes per child, wipes, entertainment, and first aid essentials. You will need to access this before you reach your gate.
This is not an exaggeration. Wipes solve problems you haven't thought of yet. They clean faces, hands, surfaces, shoes, and small disasters. Pack them in every bag.
Children's passports expire after 5 years (adults get 10). Many people are caught out by a child's passport expiring between booking and travel. Check all passports the moment you book, not the week before.
Common children's pain relief brands differ between countries. Bring enough of whatever your children normally take for the entire trip — don't assume you'll find the same product at your destination.
The full family holiday with kids packing list, broken into categories. Use our free interactive tool to check items off, add your own, and export to any format.
The most frequently asked questions about packing for a family holiday with kids.
We are working on a beautifully designed printable version of the Family Holiday packing list. Family Holiday PDF
Roamers List has personalised packing lists for all 9 trip types.