Traveling Need Packing Ideas

Take a few toy if they can fit to keep them entertained and some necessary medications to prevent a last minute trip to the doctor or a bad episode. I always take children's tylenol or whatever you use....you never know and teething tablets if they are teething. The other stuff you can always get at the pharmacy wherever you go. Plenty of snacks (especially if picky eaters are involved), diapers and wipes. Just think of what you certainly cannot live without and take it. To ease the burden of heavy packing (if flying), remember that other last minute essentials can be found just about anywhere unless leaving the country...whole other story there (been there, done that). Have fun!

haha I love this one. I over packed all the time with my first child! OMG you should've seen the diaper bag! hahaha I sitll packed too much for the second but I was better on the diaper bag side.
I would take a couple new toys, DVD/videos if you have a portable one, an extra outfit for each of you (if flying! Trust me, you'll be grateful) enough baby food, bottles AND diapers for the flight plus 3 extras just in case!!! You never know what might happen.
We went to the Dr one day and got caught up in a tornado watch for 3 hours! I had 3 diapers with me and used 2 and one lady didn't have ANY with her! She ended up taking the last one ( made me very angry that she wasn't prepared at all, no diaper bag, food, water or diapers for her infant!!).
You can always pick up more diapers, food etc when you get to your destination. 2 outfits per day plus PJ's, 1 pr of undies per day plus 2. Wash clothes at your destination helps to not overpack!
Keep things small toy wise, but be sure that they pack a wallop on entertainment. If they make noise, be sure you can control the volumn!
Good luck and safe travels

My must have list: (assuming car)

- First Aid Kit (with infant/kids tylenol. thermometer, antihistamine, decongestant, expectorant, bandaids, neosporin, tums, etc.)
- Sunscreen (esp for car trips... if it's cold but sunny out, the sun coming in through the windows can be killer)
- Easy Drinks (aka bottles of infant & adult variety)
- Easy Food (stuff to be munched on)
>>> I keep both of the above in the front seat by me so I can dole them out as necessary<<<
- Pillows (I always bring one down pillow per peron, they roll up nice, and are a godsend).
- Sleeping Bags or comforters... while life saving in an emergency, they're also just snuggly comfy.
- Milk crate for tossing shoes & socks into (no need to have shoes on for the hours in between rest stops... but it's really nice to have a place to huck them when belting back in, and to find them easily when it's time to get out.
- A lovey that I guard with my life (they're easy to lose while traveling... treat them like an extra child).
- Cell Phone Charger
- A roll of toilet paper (sometimes it's "200 mi to the next rest stop")
- A big ole maglite flashlight in my door. They're great as light, but they also break bones if you whack someone with them. So doubly useful.
- AAA membership
- Spare key magneted to the bottom of my car (yes AAA will pay for an emergency unlock... but if you're in the middle of nowhere, it can take hours for them to send someone.
- Music... radio stations vanish the further you get from populated areas, so CDs or an iPod is a must. DO make sure it's music YOU like, and not just kid's music or you will quickly go bonkers.
- Tanktops and snowclothes. Just kidding, but not by much. Everyone gets their own backpack of clothes in addition to luggage. In the backpack are jammies & toiletries on top, warm and cold clothes underneath. Plus a bag for dirty laundry.
- Politeness to and awareness of truckers. ((Always always always pack this)) They're on the road for months at a time. When passing, put your blinker on and move a whole truck's space forward BEFORE changing lanes. (They'll often blink their lights at you that you're safe to move over). Changing lanes like you do in the city is dangerous out on the highways, because they really REALLY can't stop, and having to break suddenly can be catastrophic at worst and annoying at best with thousands of pounds of goods hurtling along. You can have *no better ally* on the road than friendly truckers, and they all talk to each other on their CB's. Ditto, make sure you are only in the left lane to pass or to allow someone to merge onto the highway, but drive in the right the rest of the time. SUPER useful (if rarely needed clue): If truckers slow down suddenly, and it's not because of going uphill, DO IT TOO. Like I said, they're always on the road, so they have nerves of steel. If they slow down (rarely) it's because of some REALLY nasty weather/road conditions that they've been warned about from truckers on up ahead of them. Follow their lead.
- McDonalds have universally clean bathrooms. It's worth buying $1 fries purely to use them instead of a gas station. Not actually packing, just a trick.

Have fun!

Are you flying or driving? That will make a big difference. (If you are driving you can always stop and you will have more room!) I have flown svereal times with my daughter and I always make it a rule to bring just enough diapers and food to get us to the destination and then stop at the grocery or Target to buy diapers, wipes, food, etc. Get a few new toys (something little that will occuppy their time) and don't let the kids see them beforehand. If you have an ipod, portable DVD player, or something like that, your 6 year old may like watching a movie on that. If you are visiting family you can always do laundry, so no need to overpack. However, if you don't feel comfortable doing laundry I always bring two tops and two bottoms for every day plus a fresh pair of PJ's for each day we are gone. Bring plenty of paci's and snacks. Oh and make sure you have a fresh set of clothes for you and your infant with you on the plane if you are flying....I learned that the hard way when my 4 month old pooped all over me 30 minutes into a 3 1/2 hour flight!! Good luck with your trip!

I'm not sure if you are driving or flying - it makes a big difference with what and how much you can pack.

If you are flying, travel as lightly as you can. Pack with the idea that you can (hopefully) do laundry at your destination. Don't worry about packing loads of diapers, wipes, food, etc. because you can always hit a store once you arrive. Since the airlines are charging for every bag you check, it is expensive to bring tons of stuff. And if you are bringing car seats and a stroller, those can be checked for free. As far as what to bring on the plane, again the idea is to go lightly. Like others have suggested, bring a change of clothes for the kids and for yourself. Have enough diapers for the flight, and then bring several extra just in case. Bring enough snacks to keep your 4-year old happy (I always bring cut up fruit, string cheese, goldfish crackers, and a Uncrustable sandwich, which is a BIG deal because my son only gets those when we are flying) and an extra bottle for your 6-month old. You can take liquid through security if you are traveling with an infant, but you'll have to pull it out of your bag and you may have to go through an extra check. Bring a few quiet toys to play with, a few books to read, your kids' lovies, and if you have it, a DVD player with a favorite movie for an emergency. You'll be surprised how easily kids fall asleep on airplanes. Nine times out of ten, my son conks out within 15 minutes from takeoff. It may seem like a lot, but I can get all of this into a regular size backpack. And have your four-year old help by carrying some of his/her own toys in a rolling backpack or small suitcase. Then s/he will feel like a big kid by helping Mommy!

If you are traveling by car, then you have much more flexibility with what you pack. We have always also tried to pack lightly when we drive so that it is not a production to unpack when we arrive at our destination. But we are able to bring more comforts into the car, pack a few more sets of clothes, and not have to worry about paying the high baggage fees!

Try not to worry about it too much. It is fun traveling with kids - good luck!

One thing I find helpful is the huggies disposable washclothes. They come with the soap already in them, so it cuts down on things you have to bring. I just stick a few in a baggie and we're set.

We have a portable dvd player for the car for long car trips, and it has been a lifesaver. You can get dvds from the library, just put take them out of the cases and put them in a cd holder and it cuts down on that also.