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Prepping for Vacation with Two Under Two - Mom's Take

  • piacapra88
  • Mar 20, 2025
  • 4 min read

Before having kids, John and I traveled extensively and I always managed to pack everything into two carry-ons. I was quite proud of my packing efficiency. However, now with kids, it feels like we have to pack everything we own. With Luca, I learned a lot about what was necessary and what wasn't, so as we prepare for two major trips this year—one to Hawaii for a friend's wedding and another to Italy to visit family and friends—I hope to apply all the lessons learned and manage successfully.


When we took Luca to Italy at 6 months old, we brought two large check-in bags, a roller carry-on, a diaper bag, a backpack, and the travel stroller for a one-week trip. I even packed our Lovevery play gym in one of the bags, thinking we would have ample downtime. While it was nice to have, it wasn't necessary. Besides realizing we didn't need to pack every toy, I also had to learn to let go. My type A personality struggled with the fact that Luca wouldn't get his regular naps, and I worried about what that meant for nighttime sleep, as I love my sleep. So, before we left, I adopted the mantra, "we'll sleep when we can sleep" (not the most original, I know), but it helped me through that trip and all our subsequent travels. Fortunately, Luca has always been a good sleeper, but I can't stress enough the importance of a good travel stroller. That was a lifesaver. John researched thoroughly when we were creating our registry, and the stroller that came out on top was the Babyzen YoYo2. It was fantastic—super compact and light, yet able to handle cobblestone and uneven pavement in Italy. It was small enough to count as a carry-on, which was great for airport layovers. It also reclined really far back, which was perfect for on-the-go naps. Now that we have two under two, we're considering stroller options. The Babyzen stroller as a tandem option, but the reviews aren't great, so we bought a second single seat. However, I'm also eyeing the Zoe Twin as a tandem option for our upcoming trips.


The second lesson I've learned while traveling with Luca is that I tend to pack too many clothes. I practically take his entire wardrobe on every trip and double the amount of clothing I need. What if he has explosive poop three times a day? What if he spits up or spills food on me at every meal? We need all the clothes. Now you understand why we had so many bags when we went to Italy. I've realized that you don't need to pack the whole closet, especially if you're going somewhere with access to a washer and dryer. When I pack for my work trips, I lay out the outfits for the days I'm away and find ways to mix and match/reuse what I'm bringing. I can usually fit 7 days' worth of outfits in a carry-on. Obviously, with kids, reusing isn't likely (at least not with an almost 2-year-old who gets into everything), but there's no need for three outfits per day. I've done some research and plan to try the viral shoe organizer hack. You take one of these over the door shoe organizers and pack a diaper with an outfit for each day in the shoe holder. Will I pack extra outfits? Probably, but I think this will not only help limit overpacking for the kids but also keep them organized once we reach our destinations.



The final aspect I'm preparing for is the plane ride itself. During our initial trips, we had Luca as a lap infant, and booking a seat with the bassinet was a lifesaver on long flights. However, there were a few flights where the bassinet wasn't available. Most of the time, we kept him entertained with food and plastic drink cups, and as he got older, we transitioned to using the inflight entertainment system, along with some books and toys. When he became more mobile around 10 months, we started buying him his own seat so he could sit comfortably in his car seat and we could offer him more entertainment options. We love these Water Wow! Books from Melissa and Doug. You simply fill the pen with water, and they can start coloring. The pages reset themselves, allowing for repeated coloring. Another toy that was a hit was this Busy Board. Luca enjoyed playing with the zippers and clasps. Lastly, we brought along a variety of toy cars and stuffed animals. For our upcoming trips, which will be the longest we've taken with him as a toddler, and with an infant in tow, we need to enhance our strategy. We're not hesitant to use screen time, given the special circumstances, but I'm also exploring other toys to keep him entertained. In addition to bringing the Busy Board Book and the Water Wow! coloring books, we're adding a few new items to the collection:

 
 
 

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