Simple travel hacks to travel lighter
Travelling with kids can feel like you’re moving house for a long weekend. The good news: you can travel lighter — without sacrificing comfort, sleep, or safety. We’ve pulled together our best travel hacks to help you pack less, carry less, and arrive calmer.
Whether you’re flying, road-tripping, or heading somewhere regional, here are simple, parent-tested ways to travel lighter with kids.
Start with a “must-have” list
The fastest way to travel lighter with kids is to separate true essentials from anxiety-packing.
Try this rule: if you can buy it in 10 minutes at your destination (supermarket, pharmacy, convenience store), it doesn’t deserve prime suitcase space.
Everything else is optional or outsourceable.
Pack from a checklist once, then reuse it every trip. Subscribe to our newsletter and nab our free “Zero Mental Load” travel checklist.
Pack outfits as ready-to-go bundles
Instead of throwing in “a bunch of clothes,” pack one outfit per day (don’t forget you can mix and match instead of having individual sets).
Put each day’s outfit into a zip pouch or packing cube. It keeps the suitcase tidy and saves time when you’re wrangling a toddler. We love the Anko packing cubes from Kmart or Target.
Bonus hack: flip the used packing cube inside-out and use it as a dirty-clothes bag.
Go miniature-sized
Instead of packing everyone’s full-sized everything, decant or buy mini-versions of your products to save space and clutter – think toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner and creams.
Bonus hack: pack any liquids or creams in an extra zip pouch inside your bathroom bag – just in case there are any spills during your travels.
Plan to do a mid-trip wash
If you’re travelling 5+ nights, pack for 3 days and plan a quick laundry cycle mid-way. This tip can cut your luggage dramatically.
No washing machine at your accommodation? You still have options:
Find a local laundromat close to where you’re staying (many have wash-and-fold services too).
Check your hotel’s laundry services (some offer same-day turnaround, which can be worth it for kids’ clothes).
Find a mobile laundry service like The Laundry Lady which offers same or next-day turnaround.
Bonus hack: a couple of laundry strips or a small sachet of detergent for any urgent sink washes.
Ditch the bulky baby gear
The biggest weight (and stress) usually comes from baby equipment:
portacot
pram
high chair
bath
play mat and toys
If you’re flying, it’s also the stuff you’re most likely to juggle one-handed while holding a child and trying not to lose your boarding passes.
Hack: Travel Tots, of course 😉 We’ll set up all your bulky items at your accommodation, ready for when you arrive, so you instantly travel lighter.
Pack a “landing kit” for the first hour
When you arrive, you want everything you need immediately, without unpacking the whole suitcase.
Create one backpack that has the main essentials:
nappies + wipes
one outfit change
snack + bottle/cup
comfort item
mini first-aid basics
This is one of the most practical travel hacks with kids because it buys you time to settle in before you tackle the rest.
Order groceries ahead of time
This is the travel-light hack nobody talks about enough: arrive to a stocked fridge.
Order essentials in advance and have them delivered to your accommodation on the morning of arrival (or timed close to check-in). It means:
fewer heavy items in your luggage (nappies, wipes, pouches, milk)
fewer frantic “where’s the nearest supermarket?” moments
an easier first night (because tired kids + empty fridge is a rough combo)
If you’re staying at a hotel, most will accept grocery deliveries for guests - it’s worth calling ahead to check.
Travel lighter = start your holiday earlier
Travelling light with kids isn’t about being minimalistic. It’s about reducing the mental load: fewer items to carry, fewer things to lose, and fewer decisions when you’re already doing the most.
If you want the easiest shortcut of all, aim for this: arrive to a setup that already has the big essentials ready to go with our base package – so you can walk in, exhale, and get straight to making memories.
By the way, you can download our Zero-Mental-Load Travel Checklist here, so you can simply tick off your items, and get travelling!