Have you been planning a summer vacation and are clueless as to what you need to add to your packing list? Don’t feel bad because many of us are. We once traveled with our children and realized we had left some pretty important stuff at home, like our son’s contact solution and case. Luckily we never vacation far from shopping centers and have always been able to stop in quick to pick up the needed items, but it is much more convenient when we have all of the items with us and do not need to spend the extra money.

Vacation Packing Lists

I tend to make a separate list for each person in our family. Everyone has their own needs and while one may need diapers and another may need contacts, not everyone does. We also give everyone their own bags that they are expected to help pack. You may think it’s a chore, but packing is excited and fun for the children and they actually enjoy helping. It’s the step that is getting them one step closer to the awesome vacation that has been keeping them awake every night!

Start simple when making your packing list

CLOTHING: Socks, undies, sandals/shoes, bathing suit, shorts/pants, tops, dress clothes (if needed)

BATHROOM ESSENTIALS: Shampoo/Conditioner, Body Wash (sometimes these are provided by hotels, however we have a large family and always pack our own), Hair Dryer, Make-up, Hair products, Hair Flat Iron (if you use one), Toothbrushes/Toothpaste and any other toiletries you might need while away (it’s always good to be prepare). This is a good place to add things like contacts, glasses, contact solution/cases, or retainers.

SNACKS: Some people pack snacks if the trip will be long. We find this is a great time and money saver as our children are often hungry about halfway through the trip.

CASH: You never know when you might run into a toll booth or someplace you might need cash. It’s always good to have a little cash on hand when you are leaving town.

ENTERTAINMENT: Things to keep the children entertained while in the vehicle. We pack items like coloring books/crayons, word search puzzles, iPods, LeapPads, iPad. Another fun thing is to make up a scavenger hunt list ahead of time. You can bring this along and the children can find and mark off the items on the list along the way. It keeps them from asking “Are we there yet” and gets them looking around and checking out their surroundings.

And don’t forget your CAMERA!

Just remember that even if you do forget something you can always pick it up at a shop along the way. Having fun and enjoying vacation is more important than stressing about the small stuff.

Now don’t forget to add the GPS to your Vacation Packing List!

If you are visiting a waterpark be sure to check out our waterpark packing list post as well.