I will never forget our first family trip by plane with our toddler. We traveled from Maine to Florida, and I probably spent more time planning for the trip than on the trip itself. Kidding aside, all that planning was worth it, and I learned a lot along the way! So here is how I am planning my toddler’s packing list for our next trip to Chicago, our big family adventure.
I will start by building a rough itinerary for the trip. I typically take a look at the weather first, then start building out our itinerary from there, as I always opt for outdoor activities whenever we can!
For inspiration on kids' activities in Chicago, I will browse the KidFriendlyVenues app provided by this website for great venue suggestions with star ratings by other moms. Fifteen categories makes it easy to filter for your special needs and circumstances.
Once I have a general itinerary, I will begin constructing my toddler’s packing based on our planned activities. Here are some essential items that I am planning to pack for my toddler for our trip to Chicago -
TRAVEL DAYS
● Diaper bag with essentials (Diapers, wipes, hand/body wipes, 2 extra
sets of clothing, wet bag for dirty garments, 2 pacifiers, 2 bottles/sippy cups, 2 ice
packs, sunscreen, sun hat)
● First Aid items (Tylenol, buttpaste, thermometer)
● Umbrella Stroller
● Books
● Small toys
● Small cotton blanket
● Snacks, snacks and more snacks!
● Water, water and more water! (Or milk and juice as appropriate)
DAYS AT DESTINATION
● Bedding (Portable crib + 2 bed sheets)
● Clothes (2 outfits per day)
● Jammies (2 per day)
● Windbreaker
● Sneakers
● Toiletries (Body wash, shampoo, towel, 1 face cloth per day, comb, toothbrush,
toothpaste)

● Food Prep Items (Dish soap, small bowls, utensils, bottle brush, travel-size
drying rack)

After making my list, and checking it twice, I will start packing about two weeks in advance as it takes time to get everything organized for a trip such as this. A day or two before departure, I will review our planned itinerary and associated packing list to ensure that I packed everything that I think we might need.
I hope you find this plan and associated list helpful for your next adventure with your little one! And don’t forget, if you are looking for inspiration on things to do at your destination, do check out the KidFriendlyVenues app provided by this website for great venue suggestions with star ratings by other moms!

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