I’ve traveled quite a bit with my oldest daughter, who is almost 5, but a couple weeks ago we had the chance to take a trip – just the two of us – for the first time since her little sister was born. We flew from Phoenix to Reno for a wedding at Lake Tahoe.
Packing for a three-day-weekend with a soon-to-be kindergartener is much lighter than packing for a trip with a baby or a toddler, but there are still some essentials I packed into her backpack (which, of course, I ended up carrying most of the time).
For my kid, who loves to draw and practice writing, this is what I packed in her carry-on:
- Favorite stuffed animals and favorite blanket
- New travel coloring books (some she picked out and one I surprised her with)
- Notepad and pencils/crayons
- Headphones to watch a movie on the plane
- Books (not pictured)
- Change of clothes
- Sweatshirt
- Water bottle (empty before going through security)
- Snacks
- Wet bag (if you need to change clothes, you will likely need the wet bag)
Other items in my carry-on included:
- Water bottle
- Travel coffee mug
- Sweater
- Laptop and DVDs
Since it was a short trip, we shared a suitcase. At the last minute, we actually had to downsize the suitcase because there was a back-up with checked luggage at the airport and we had to carry everything on. The smaller suitcase meant I had to downsize my toiletry bag, so I pulled out just the inside insert and slipped it into a Bumkins Wet Bag in case any liquid items leaked on the flight. (Tip: Don't completely fill any containers with liquid items; leave room for expansion.) We luckily had no leaks and used the wet bag as a laundry bag for the remainder of the trip.
The trip was quick one, but we had a great time visiting family and going to the wedding. My daughter enjoyed splashing around in Lake Tahoe just before we left for the airport, so the change of clothes and wet bag in her backpack worked out perfectly!
