If you didn’t catch my Instagram stories last week, you may have missed me showing how I packed for myself, Reagan, and Elliott for a three day trip in only two diaper bags. YEPP. I packed for three people for three days in two diaper bags! And I had everything I needed, I was running a little low on diapers so I grabbed a couple just to be safe, but that was it!
Seeing as this was one of my prouder moments in parenting, I thought I would brag and show y’all how I managed this crazy feat 😉 Also if you have any short trips coming up that involve flying on an airline that charges for carry on bags, let this be your resource for packing and avoiding those extra fees!
Tips:
1. Pack only the number of outfits that you need – In the past I’ve always packed extra outfits for everyone just in case someone had a blowout, spit up incident, or food explosion but this time I had no space for extra! I packed three onesies and one pair of shorts for Elliott, two shirts, one romper and one pair of shorts for Reagan, and three shirts, one pair of shorts and one pair of leggings for me. Just enough to get by, knowing that we would be close to a Target if an accident happened and we needed to pick up more clothes while we were out!
2. Pack enough snacks for travel, but that’s it – I packed enough snacks to get us to our destination and that was it. Once we got to Las Vegas I ran to the grocery store to grab a few more things to last us the three days and for our return trip, so I never had more than what I needed in our bag at any time.
3. Bring just enough diapers to last the trip – Another thing I tend to overpack is diapers. This time, I packed just enough to last the three days with the knowledge that I could buy more if I needed to. We started to run a little short, so I went and purchased a couple more just in case I happened to run out mid-flight during a blowout. Turns out I would have been just fine (so my past overpacking was unnecessary), but it’s always good to be prepared!
4. Pack light toiletries – I packed a travel size baby shampoo and wash all-in-one, one washcloth, some mascara for me, and a Norwex cleaning cloth in lieu of face wash. I was able to fit everything into a small zipper case that barely took up any room! And bonus points for not having extra liquids to try to take out for security check!
5. Ditch the wallet for a small card case – You won’t need all those credit cards and gift cards that are in your large double zippered wallet. Instead, opt for a small card case (like this one) that houses just the essentials!
6. Use packing cases to stay organized – I’ve talked about how much I love these zippered packing cases from Jelly Fish Designs, they are always in my diaper bag and help keep me organized like nothing else! Organization is super important when traveling alone, so you can find the requested applesauce from a screaming toddler while breastfeeding a tired baby in the middle seat. These cases helped me keep my diapers and wipes separate from snacks, personal items, and other things I need quick access to.
7. Pack in high quality diaper bags – I used my two Lily Jade Madeline bags for this trip and they worked so well! They’re roomy, have lots of pockets, can backpack or shoulder carry, and are incredibly durable. Most of you know how addicted I am to diaper bags (and my husband claims I have too many…whatever that means) so I think I can be considered an expert when it comes to the best diaper bag to pack and travel with, and these were the best!
That’s it! While it was more difficult to pack only the essentials, it can definitely be done and I appreciated having the extra hands and less baggage to deal with in the airport!