When you’re a mom planning a trip overseas with small children, the mental checklist is endless: snacks, toys, wipes, medicine, backup outfits, passports, favourite teddies, and maybe even a specific type of sippy cup you can only buy in one store across town.
There’s no shortage of resources out there telling you what to pack for your kids. But what about you?
If you’re anything like me, there’s a good chance you’ll end up at the airport in leggings you slept in, with a backpack full of other people’s things, and not a single item for yourself. Chances are you even forgot to pack your own underwear. Yes, I’ve been that mom – more times than I’d like to admit. So, I started changing the way I pack. I now make space (mentally and literally) for what I need too.
Alongside the usual lists of things to pack for the kids, here are the 10 things I pack for myself when flying internationally with my littles – not because I’m trying to be fancy, but because making travel easier for me means I have more energy and patience for them.
1. A practical, versatile tote that carries everything
When you’re navigating airports with a pram, car seat, and a small human (or two) in tow, the last thing you need to be doing is juggling multiple bags. I’ve learned the hard way that having one solid, roomy, and well-organised tote that holds everything from snacks, to documents, wipes, toys, even an extra set of clothing, makes a world of difference. It needs to be practical enough to sling over your shoulder, sturdy enough to survive airport floors, and simple enough that your partner won’t mind carrying it too. Preferably something with various strap options so you can pull, push, sling or wear as a backpack and is smart, neutral, and functional without looking like a typical diaper bag. One bag to rule them all, and a little less chaos in the process.
2. A comfy but presentable travel outfit plus a spare
You want to be comfortable enough to crawl under airplane seats retrieving toys but still feel human enough to snap a family photo without cringing later. The ideal travel outfit? Something soft, breathable, easy to layer for shifting temperatures, and crucially, something with pockets (because you’ll never have enough hands). If you’re breastfeeding, make sure your top is nursing-friendly too, it’s one less thing to think about when your baby decides it’s snack time mid-boarding. And here’s the bit we often forget: pack a spare for yourself. We always remember to bring extras for the kids, but between spit ups, spills, and accidents, you’ll thank yourself for tossing in a second outfit that makes you feel clean and put-together again.
3. Good shoes you can walk the world in
Is it just me or are airport gates getting further and further apart? If you have a connection to make nowadays you first need to transfer to another city, take a train and walk your 10,000 steps to get to your next plane. And if you’re doing all that pushing a pram or with a baby strapped in a carrier on your chest, you’ll need sturdy footwear that won’t leave you limping by lunch. This is one aspect where you’ll never regret choosing function and comfort over style, just be sure your favourite pair of worn-in sneakers won’t also leave fellow passengers wishing they had brought some air freshener along too.
4. A smart watch to stay sane
Time zone changes, flight updates, nap schedules, and making sure you actually get coffee, it’s a lot. A smart watch can help keep you semi-organised and helps me track all the bits I’d forget otherwise. Plus, you can check messages without digging through your bag mid-tantrum for your phone and risk leaving it in some bathroom stall somewhere when you put it down for the fourth bum-wipe since you got through passport control. It’s a worthwhile investment in your travel sanity.
5. Your own headphones and adapters
Airlines usually hand out headphones eventually, but if you’ve packed your own (and a pair for your kids), plus a plane adapter, you can plug in as soon as you sit down. That means the movie can start before the snacks even arrive, and you’re not left juggling overtired kids while waiting for the flight attendants to come round. Bonus: you don’t have to hand them back when you land, which buys you a few extra minutes of calm during the descent and disembark. Even ten peaceful minutes can feel like a gift when you’re flying with little ones, so don’t underestimate the power of good headphones, early access to Peppa Pig, and the blissful hum of noise-cancellation. You can always channel some white noise through those headphones when you want your kids or yourself to drift off into dreamland over the sound of someone else’s crying baby (thankfully it’s not yours this time).
6. Your favourite snacks (yes, yours)
You pack snacks for the kids. But what about you? I always include a few of my own favourites; chocolate, sweats to suck on take-off and landing, biltong, and some rehydrate. When you’re tired and everyone else is cranky, a snack that isn’t shaped like an animal or fruit-flavoured jelly is deeply comforting and provides the pick me up you need to get you, and everyone else, to your destination.
7. A power bank and entertainment that’s just for you
Let’s be honest: your phone is no longer just your phone. It’s your toddler’s movie theatre, snack-time bribe, white noise machine, and emergency contact device, which means it’s going to run out of battery and fast. A compact, high-capacity power bank is essential. And while the kids are zoned out watching “Frozen” for the eighth time, take a moment for yourself: load up your phone or e-reader with audiobooks or easy reads before the flight. You may not get through a whole chapter, but if you find yourself stuck under a sleeping child with nothing to do, even ten minutes of grown-up content can be an absolute mental recharge. Make sure the apps don’t require Wi-Fi and that your headphones are charged. Peace, even fleeting, is golden.
8. A mini emergency kit and freshen-up pouch
There will come a moment – mid-flight, mid-transfer, mid-meltdown – when something will spill, rip, or just feel gross. That’s when your emergency kit becomes your best friend. Pack a small pouch with things like wipes, lip balm, painkillers, plasters, tissues, a spare hair tie, and hand sanitizer. You’ll feel incredibly smug when you actually have the one thing you need. But also think of yourself. Dry shampoo, a travel-sized moisturiser, mini deodorant and a touch of makeup (a little mascara or tinted balm goes a long way after a long flight). A quick trip to the bathroom and a five-minute freshen-up can help you feel so much more human, especially if you’ve been up since 4am and are facing another six hours of travel.
9. All the glasses
When you’re travelling, you never know when you’ll find yourself squinting in bright sunlight while rushing to catch a connecting flight or suddenly needing to read a menu at a foreign café or a board showing hundreds of connecting flights in teeny tinny writing (yes, I’m looking at you Emirates and Dubai International). Sunglasses are a no-brainer, they protect your eyes and add a bit of chic to your travel outfit, even if it’s a jetlagged morning. But don’t forget your reading glasses, especially if you’re relying on screens or maps for directions. There’s nothing worse than trying to read a boarding pass or review your itinerary in a rush without clear vision. Pack both, and you’ll be ready for anything.
10. A ‘so-what’ attitude
Let’s face it: Travel with kids isn’t always going to go according to plan. Flights get delayed, kids throw tantrums, bags get lost, and sometimes everything just feels like a bit of a mess. But here’s the secret: adopting a ‘oh-well, so-what, stuff-it’ attitude is a game-changer. Embrace the chaos, laugh at the ridiculousness, and give yourself permission to let go of perfection. When you stop sweating the small stuff, like spilled juice, missed meals, or naps that don’t go according to schedule, you’ll find yourself enjoying the journey a lot more. So, the next time your toddler refuses to wear shoes, just take a deep breath and say, “So what, we’re on an adventure.” It’s a lot more freeing than stressing over every little thing.
Travelling with small children is exhausting and magical all at once. But if you’re constantly putting yourself last, and showing up at the gate running on empty, the magic starts to fade. So, this is your permission slip: pack for your kids, of course. But don’t forget to pack for yourself, too. It doesn’t make you selfish. It makes you better equipped, better resourced, and (most importantly) more able to actually enjoy the journey. Because yes, you’re going on this trip too.