https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 04 Jun 2026 17:02:26 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-those-that-travel-often-especially-with-kids-help-me-streamline#post-2740626 Fri, 26 May 2017 09:12:21 +0000 youboots 2740626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: for the beach house we bring our own sheets and towels instead of using what is here. </p> <p>It's not convenient but it's free so.....<br /> When DD got the flu I just hit the laundromat which was not too bad. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-those-that-travel-often-especially-with-kids-help-me-streamline#post-2740536 Fri, 26 May 2017 02:07:04 +0000 lamariniere 2740536@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@youboots: oh no! .That certainly changes things. At least you have wifi :silly: . I've never used packing cubes, but it sounds like they might be a great solution. I would also keep a dedicated toiletry bag packed (never unpack it) so that you don't forget things each time.</p> <p>So do you also have to take linens/towels back and forth to wash them?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-those-that-travel-often-especially-with-kids-help-me-streamline#post-2740527 Thu, 25 May 2017 23:55:05 +0000 youboots 2740527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@808love: I have not tried packing cubes. Usually when we go somewhere there is a kitchen I bring ziplocks and foil. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-those-that-travel-often-especially-with-kids-help-me-streamline#post-2740526 Thu, 25 May 2017 23:53:06 +0000 youboots 2740526@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: sadly no laundry or dishwasher. My mother has kept everything original to 1940 as much as possible we do have a TV and wifi though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-those-that-travel-often-especially-with-kids-help-me-streamline#post-2739976 Thu, 25 May 2017 10:17:32 +0000 808love 2739976@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes on the extra ziplocs and packing cubes! And packing up dirty laundry separately. Or better yet, do wash at the beach house before returning if time allows. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-those-that-travel-often-especially-with-kids-help-me-streamline#post-2739967 Thu, 25 May 2017 10:07:32 +0000 DesertDreams88 2739967@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I echo the surge protector, trash bags, and reusable grocery bags tips from above. </p> <p>Pretty basic but a diaper clutch is invaluable when you're on the go: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Anvy-Changing-Toddlers-Portable-Accessories/dp/B01AKYXX04/" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/Anvy-Changing-Toddlers-Portable-Accessories/dp/B01AKYXX04/</a></p> <p>I'm also trying out a backseat organizer this summer:<br /> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-23205-Backseat-Organizer-Black/dp/B003XMWFBE/" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-23205-Backseat-Organizer-Black/dp/B003XMWFBE/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-those-that-travel-often-especially-with-kids-help-me-streamline#post-2739953 Thu, 25 May 2017 09:49:05 +0000 gingerbebe 2739953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a packing list and packing cubes. Each person in the family has a different color packing cube set. We have a 3-piece Samsonite set. The boys share the medium suitcase and DH and I share the large suitcase and the carry on is for miscellaneous convenience items. For instance I always carry command strips, a battery powered push light, the white noise machines, thumbtacks, clear packing tape, the baby monitor, a small extension cord, and spare blackout curtains. I've push pinned blackout curtains over windows and set up weird sleep spaces everywhere. </p> <p>If you're driving I like to pack things like dry food or snacks or toiletries or shoes in sturdy reusable shopping bags because you can just throw extra things or forgotten things into the sacks and then it's easy to unload them later. For toiletries I just keep a full size thing of toothpastes and brushes, deodorants, shampoo, conditioner, face wash, hand soap, and a bar of soap, a hairbrush, plus baby wash and a bottle of Cetaphil lotion, sunscreen, dishwasher pods, a new sponge, bottle brush and straw brush, a bottle of dish soap, and Tide pods for the whole family in a sack. I would just leave that and a similar bag of medicines at the beach house or your car to always have. Those are things I'm fine having duplicates of bc I will always use them. I always take garbage bags and gallon ziploc bags with me. Dirty laundry and beach/pool stuff like jumpers or vests or water shoes all go in garbage bags. We take one small milkcrate of toys and books. I put DH in charge of electronics and he wrangles all the tablets and laptops and chargers in his laptop bag. We got a Verizon wifi jet pack for our last road trip and it was a godsend. </p> <p>On road trips I like having a cooler with ice with fruit and veggies and drinks and a sack of individual size snacks accessible to me. Everyone gets a full water bottle and I also find having bottled water or a gallon jug of water in the car vital. I like having a playlist of our kids fave songs loaded on both me and DHs phones and play them over Bluetooth for the kids - that keeps them happy for quite a while before we need to break out tablets. </p> <p>We have a minivan and we like to orient our stuff in such a way that we have a small space in the trunk that fits a changing pad for diaper changes on the go. </p> <p>We also take the baby's PNP mattress with us to keep him comfy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-those-that-travel-often-especially-with-kids-help-me-streamline#post-2739894 Thu, 25 May 2017 08:29:22 +0000 looch 2739894@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I bring a lot of things with me to help me stay organized at my destination. For example, my son is not one that is satisfied to play with random cups and tissue boxes, so I bring activities for him. That means I also bring a collapsible bin with me to corral everything so he's not leaving it all over the place.</p> <p>I also always bring a few extra ziplock bags and a shopping tote. I always use them!</p> <p>I bring a surge protector too, so we have a place to plug in all our electronics. A night light is a nice to have, as is a sound machine, and depending on location, an audio monitor. Being on vacation is about having some conveniences too, so I have learned the hard way that some things are really worth having! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-those-that-travel-often-especially-with-kids-help-me-streamline#post-2739796 Thu, 25 May 2017 03:08:31 +0000 lamariniere 2739796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: great tips, especially about having things delivered. I also do one suitcase of dirty clothes and one suitcase of clean clothes for the return trip, it makes unpacking so much faster.</p> <p>Since you are going back and forth to a beach house (and I assume you have laundry access), I would leave as much as possible there, especially for your LO. If you can, leave a few days worth of clothes, toiletries and toys. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-those-that-travel-often-especially-with-kids-help-me-streamline#post-2739792 Thu, 25 May 2017 02:42:01 +0000 808love 2739792@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Unpack as soon as you get home. Make piles by your suitcase by where you will return things: dirty laundry, kitchen, living room, bathroom etc. Then drop everything off in each room. </p> <p>I pack by room too. I just visit each room in my house and visually ask myself what do I need to pack here? Things I absolutely don't want to forget (usually papers and charger) or need to purchase are on a running list on my phone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-those-that-travel-often-especially-with-kids-help-me-streamline#post-2739274 Tue, 23 May 2017 18:10:28 +0000 Cole 2739274@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If it works with your destination, order diapers, wipes and snacks to meet you there. </p> <p>We usually pack our family in two bags and on the way home one bag is stuff that's still clean/been washed and the other is only dirty clothes (shoes go with dirty clothes and toiletries with clean.) One bag goes upstairs and one downstairs. Having a drawstring sack on our trip for laundry really helps. </p> <p>My carry on is a zip top canvas bag (lands end I think) and then in doubles as a beach bag. We buy cheap beach toys and leave them behind, it's worth the $3-5 not to have to worry about it. I have a ton of little zipper bags and I use them to separate everything. I even stash travel toys in them, one activity per bag so it's kind of like they are gift wrapped, she doesn't know what it is until she opens it so she's not digging through and vetoing things because she's grumpy. Target has some that are a bit bigger than a sheet of paper that are clear plastic with designs in the dollar spot for $3 and I love them for a mini diaper bag, I throw in a disposable changing pad, two diapers and wipes and then it doubles as a wet bag of need be. </p> <p>I think my biggest tip though is screen time limits go out the window during travel to and from! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-those-that-travel-often-especially-with-kids-help-me-streamline#post-2739261 Tue, 23 May 2017 17:41:24 +0000 theotherstark 2739261@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely keep what you can at the beach house! </p> <p>I keep my toiletries bag packed, and just check that everything is full/in there before each trip.</p> <p>I also keep my travel backpack packed as well - that's my carry-on bag that I keep under the seat in front of me. It has wipes/diapers, books, some toys and games, etc. Before we leave, I throw in my wallet, iPad, phone, snacks, etc. I do rotate those toys/books, though, and I add new little toys to keep him occupied on flights.</p> <p>Let's see. It helps to buy diapers (if you need those) where you are going, so that you don't need to haul them there, although with a car I guess that isn't as much of an issue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-those-that-travel-often-especially-with-kids-help-me-streamline#post-2739253 Tue, 23 May 2017 17:34:20 +0000 Littlebit7 2739253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I keep a checklist. I pull it out for every trip. It makes me feel slightly more in control!<br /> I also have a travel med bag which goes in every trip<br /> I'd leave as much spare stuff at you can at the beach house and then make a comprehensive list of what you keep there so you don't double up! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-those-that-travel-often-especially-with-kids-help-me-streamline#post-2739249 Tue, 23 May 2017 17:31:15 +0000 youboots 2739249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This summer we have a lot going on- between camping and weekend trips I'm a little overwhelmed with unpacking and repacking often.</p> <p>So far I have a packing list and travel bathroom bags for everyone. I also have a travel toy in. Usually we are driving.</p> <p>Tips/ideas? We have a beach house we share with my whole family and can leave a few items there. </p>