Family Packing List Generator

Pick your children's ages, how you're traveling, the climate and the trip length. You get a grouped checklist — documents, clothing, health, gear, entertainment, snacks — that you can tick off on screen or print.

travelingwithchildren.com/packing-list/

Your packing list (64 items)

Toddler · flight · warm climate · 1 week

Documents 8 items

Packed	Item	How many
	Passports for every traveler, including babiesInternational trips. Check they stay valid 6+ months past your return.
	Adult photo ID (REAL ID or passport)Kids under 18 don't need ID for US domestic flights with an adult.
	Signed consent letter from the absent parentIf one parent or another adult travels alone with the child. Notarize it.
	Health insurance cardsCheck whether your plan covers you at the destination.
	Copies of documents (phone + paper)Store photos of passports and IDs separately from the originals.
	Booking confirmations and addressesOffline copies. Phones die and Wi-Fi fails.
	Medical info sheet (allergies, meds, pediatrician contact)
	Contact card in your child's pocketYour phone number and where you're staying.

Clothing 12 items

Packed	Item	How many
	Outfits (tops + bottoms)	7
	Underwear and socks	7 pairs
	Pajamas	2
	Spare outfit within reach (carry-on or car)One per child. Add a spare shirt for the adult if you travel with a baby or toddler.
	Warm layer (fleece or sweater)Planes and air-conditioned rooms get cold, even in summer.	2
	Light rain jacket
	Comfortable walking shoes, broken in
	Sun hat
	Swimsuits	2
	Rash guard or UPF swim shirtLess sunscreen to apply, better coverage.
	Sandals or water shoes
	Swim diapers	10

Health 14 items

Packed	Item	How many
	Small first-aid kit (bandages, tweezers, antiseptic wipes)
	Children's fever/pain reliever + dosing syringeAsk your pediatrician for the right product and dose before you go.
	Thermometer
	Prescription medicines in original packagingCarry-on or front seat, never checked. Bring a few extra days.
	Sunscreen, broad spectrum SPF 30+Babies under 6 months: shade and clothing first. Ask your pediatrician about sunscreen.
	Aloe or after-sun lotion
	Insect repellent suitable for childrenCheck the label for minimum age.
	Hand sanitizer
	Wet wipesUseful at every age, for hands, faces and seats.	2 packs
	DiapersDiapers are sold almost everywhere. Carry enough for delays.	2–3 days' worth + buy there
	Diaper cream
	Saline drops and nasal aspirator
	Toothbrushes, toothpaste, kids' shampoo
	Motion sickness bags or zip bagsKeep 2–3 within reach. Ask your pediatrician about remedies.

Gear 16 items

Packed	Item	How many
	Car seatKids ride in one until the adult belt fits. For use on board, look for the FAA label.
	Compact strollerMost US airlines gate-check strollers free.
	Baby carrierHands free at security and on stairs.
	Portable blackout blindNaps in bright rooms are the most common sleep problem on trips.
	White noise (small machine or app)
	Night light
	Bibs	4
	Portable changing pad
	Travel potty or foldable seat insertIf potty training. Pack a spare outfit per day.
	Refillable water bottle per personEmpty through airport security, fill after.
	Chargers and a power bank
	Plug adapterInternational trips only.
	Zip bags and a few trash bagsFor wet clothes, dirty clothes, leaks and car trash.
	Light blanket
	Beach tent or umbrella
	Bucket, spade and sand toys

Entertainment 8 items

Packed	Item	How many
	Comfort item (lovey, blanket, stuffed animal)Take a photo of it. If it gets lost, you'll need to describe it.
	Board books	3
	Small new toys, wrappedRelease one per hour of travel. Novelty buys time.	4
	Reusable sticker books
	Coloring pad and crayonsTriangular crayons don't roll off tray tables.
	Tablet with downloaded shows and gamesDownload before you leave. Don't count on Wi-Fi.
	Kid-sized headphones with volume limit
	Downloaded audiobooks and family playlistShared listening works best in the car.

Snacks 6 items

Packed	Item	How many
	Food pouches	8
	Drink or chewy snack for takeoff and landing
	Snack box per childPortion it before you leave. One box per kid ends the fights.
	Low-mess snacks (crackers, cereal, dried fruit)
	Fresh fruit for the first hoursEat it before international arrival. Most countries restrict fresh produce.
	Emergency treat reserveFor the moment everything else fails.

How the list is built

Every item in the list comes from one small dataset. Each item is tagged with the age groups, trip types and climates it applies to, plus the shortest trip it matters for. Your choices filter that dataset, and the list groups what's left into six packing systems.

The items are deliberately conservative and universal. You won't find brand names or gadgets you don't need. Tags such as Toddler show who an item is for when you select several ages. Clothing and diaper quantities are per child.

For the reasoning behind the system, read the packing system in the complete guide. For flights with little ones, see flying with a baby and flying with a toddler.

Ready-made printable lists

The dataset

The generator runs on an open dataset of 96 items, version 1.0.0, released under CC BY 4.0. You can reuse it with a link back. Download it as JSON.

Field	Description
`id`	Unique item identifier
`name`	Item as shown on the checklist
`category`	One of: documents, clothing, health, gear, entertainment, snacks
`ages`	Age groups the item applies to: baby (0-2), toddler (2-4), kids (5-12), teens (13-17)
`trips`	Trip types: flight, road
`climates`	Climates: warm, cold
`minLength`	Shortest trip length the item applies to: weekend, week, long (2+ weeks)
`qty`	Optional suggested quantity per trip length
`note`	Optional practical note

Frequently asked questions

What should be on a packing list for traveling with kids?

Group it into six systems: documents, clothing, health, gear, entertainment and snacks. Documents and medicines go in your carry-on or front seat. Clothing is the easiest to cut: plan for about one week of outfits and do laundry on longer trips.

How many outfits should I pack for a child?

For a one-week trip, plan about 8 outfits for a baby, 7 for a toddler, 6 for school-age kids and 5 for teens. Add a spare outfit per child in the carry-on or within reach in the car. For two weeks or more, pack the same amount and plan one laundry day.

What is the 5-4-3-2-1 packing rule?

It is a capsule-wardrobe method for about a week: 5 tops, 4 bottoms, 3 pairs of shoes, 2 swimsuits or dresses, and 1 hat or set of accessories. Versions differ slightly. For kids, add a spare outfit or two for spills, which brings it close to the one-week quantities in this list.

Can I use this list for several children?

Yes. Select every age group traveling with you. Items that only apply to one age are tagged, so you can see who each item is for. Quantities for clothing and diapers are per child.

Does the checklist save my progress?

Yes. Ticked items are saved in your browser on this device, per combination of choices. Nothing is sent to a server.

Can I print the packing list?

Yes. Use the Print this list button. The printed version keeps only the checklist, with empty boxes to tick by hand. Most browsers also let you save it as a PDF from the print dialog.