Road Trip Packing Tetris – Simplified

Feb 4, 2013 by saverchic

If you travel with young children, you know that it is anything but simple.  Young children come with all kinds of equipment – strollers, pack ‘n plays, swings, monitors, bottles, etc.  Trying to fit all of the equipment needed for a big trip into a vehicle can be like playing a game of Tetris.  To make it a bit easier, do the following:

{1}  Plan ahead (if possible).  Make a list of everything you and your children will truly need.  Be realistic, and keep your family’s needs in mind.  Making a list on the computer that you can print out for future use can be a true time saver, especially if you travel a lot.

{2}  Pack the big rocks first.  Baby gates, pack ‘n plays, swings.  Anything that’s awkward and big needs to go in first.

{3}  Leave room in the front for snacks, bottles, and whatever tools you need to keep the little ones happy during the trip.  Keep medicines close by just in case.

{4}  Pack the smaller items in small, zip-up bags.You may have a lot of these floating around your home that you received as freebies from various companies.  If you don’t have any, trash bags always work.  If you’re worried about waste, you can use the trash bags when you return from your trip and unpack.

Pack like things together.  Clothing for the children can go in one bag.  Zip it up, and smoosh it in the car between the large items you’ve already packed.  Repeat with the rest of the smaller items until you’re done.  Because the bags are smaller and flexible, it’s easier to fit them into the car.

{5}  Try to leave time to take a break before you depart.  Packing is stressful.  If you can give yourself a chance to take a mini-break before you everyone gets in the car, it helps.