Want your summer daytrip to go off without a hitch?
Whether you're headed to the local park for a few hours or a full day at Disneyland, a successful daytrip begins with organized packing.
Older kids require minimum upkeep–with a water bottle, a churro, and at least one "Yes!" response to souvenir begging, they'll run longer than the Energizer Bunny.
A daytrip with a baby, toddler, or preschooler is a whole new ballgame.
If you have little ones still in diapers, packing for a daytrip takes almost as much effort as packing for a weeklong vacation. Don't let that scare you off daytrips! Once you have a system down, each trip will be easier to pack for than the last:
- If you have enough "extras," consider leaving them in the travel bags instead of completely unpacking after each trip.
- Review your stash at the end of each season to avoid letting clothing and diapers be outgrown without use.
- You'll gain experience during each trip that will push you to think of more efficient ways to pack.
- Jot down a packing list after you return home–a list will help you remember to bring useful items next time out. I keep my list in the backpack (see below) and check off items as I pack.
Replace Your Diaper Bag with a Backpack
A backpack can be slung over the stroller handle, or worn if you're carrying a child, and your husband will be happy to share the duty–as long as you don't get one in pink.
What Goes In the Backpack (per baby or not-fully-potty-trained toddler/preschooler):
- Diapers/Wipes: Pack more than you could possibly need. If you don't overpack these items, Murphy's Law says you'll come up short.
- Diaper Cream: Slather some on with every diaper change to protect baby's bottom from chafing–she'll be sitting in a stroller or carseat for most of the day.
- 4 Disposable waterproof pads: You can pick up a box of 24 at Target for $5. The pads aren't for diaper changes–use plain old paper towels for those. Use a disposable pad to line your stroller. When the baby's diaper leaks, throw the pad away and replace with a fresh one. Why 4 pads? I once tossed 3 pads in the first two hours (thankfully, #4 lasted the rest of the day.)
- Line your toddler or preschooler's stroller as well–accidents happen.
- 4 Extra Outfits: Assemble baby outfits down to the socks, fold, and slip into a quart-size resealable (Ziploc) bag. Squeeze all the air out and close: Cheap, disposable Spacebag! Fresh outfits are easy to grab and you can put the soiled clothes in the empty bag.
- 4 is the magic number here too–even the most diaper-blowout-prone baby will be hard pressed to leak through 5 outfits in 1 day (though my baby gives it her best effort!)
- For a toddler/preschooler, you can get away with 2 pants and underwear changes, or pack Pullups (see below) plus a pair of pants in case of leaks, and 1 extra shirt.
- Pullups: For a toddler or preschooler who is not reliably potty trained, consider using Pullups for the day. I'm not usually a fan, but when we took a trip to Disneyland right in the middle of potty training season, I didn't want to have to stop the fun to deal with accidents. They come in cute prints, so play up the "specialness"–this will help convince your toddler to wear them and help you to shelve them when you return to your routine.
- Miscellaneous: Sunscreen, children's pain reliever, child-size earplugs, travel-size antibacterial foam, small toys you don't mind losing to break out when the lines are long.
- You may pay double the regular cost (or more!) to score these items on site if you need them. On nature excursions, you may not be able to get them at all. Follow the Boy Scout motto: Be Prepared.
Stash in the stroller basket:
If you're renting a stroller on site, lug these items across the parking lot in a shopping bag (Target's are heavy duty).
- Drinks: Water bottles and juice boxes. You can freeze these ahead of time. Your water bottles will be misshapen but they'll be nice and cold all day. Capri Sun makes 100% juice pouches–my kiddos love to slurp the "Icees" as they defrost.
- Snacks:
- Pack portions of Goldfish, pretzels, Cheerios, etc. in snack-size resealable bags.
- Fruit: bananas (easy to eat for toddlers, easy to smush for fresh wholesome food for baby), grapes, natural applesauce cups, etc.
- Don't pack sugary snacks if you're headed to the fair or an amusement park–there will be yummy treats galore to sample at your destination.
- 1 blanket per child. Even mid-August, a blanket is a great multipurpose tool:
- Pad little bottoms in strollers, or on bleachers during shows (top it with a disposable pad to protect from leaks.)
- Safety pin 2 ends and loop it over your neck for a breastfeeding cover.
- Drape it over the stroller to shield baby from sun and strangers, or to cocoon him during a nap.
- Lay it on the ground or on a bench for a makeshift diaper changing station (top the blanket with a disposable pad in this case too–you don't want to have to bundle baby up later with a soiled blanket.)
- You'll be leaving your stroller unattended for shows and rides so take a cheap, lightweight blanket–not the quilt Grandma made you.
- 1 sweatshirt/jacket per child. Or just buy one as your souvenir.
Keep in the Car:
- Directions to your destination. Getting lost is anticlimactic.
- A change of clothes for the adults. I learned this lesson the hard way when my son threw up all over my husband's shorts minutes after arriving at Sea World. It's no fun trying to comfort a carsick kiddo while frantically searching souvenir shops for new clothes.
- An extra pair of shoes for each family member. Wet rides, wet accidents, wet weather…splushing around an amusement park in soggy shoes will bring on a major meltdown for kids and adults alike.
Cash/Tickets/Credit Cards:
Take just what you need; leave your wallet and purse in the hotel safe or at home.
- ID
- Cash
- Tickets/Annual Passes
- Credit Card–just one, just in case!
- Take your debit card with a credit card logo so you'll have the option to pull more cash out of the ATM if you need it. You'll pay a few bucks for the "convenience", but it's still cheaper than taking out a cash advance on your regular credit card.
- Membership cards: take along any that may save you money on entrance fees, food, and souvenirs at your destination–AAA, Chase Disney Rewards Visa, etc.
- Insurance cards for all family members. You won't be refused care in an emergency without proof of insurance (that's illegal), but you may have to hassle with reimbursement and out-of-pocket costs if the emergency medical facility can't access your insurance information.
- Wrap it all up in a rubber band (or money clip if you're fancy) and keep it in your camera bag.
- You'll be leaving your backpack unattended for lines and rides–your camera bag stays with you.
- For wet rides you don't want to take the camera on, remove your cash and cards and hold it in your bra/pocket. Hide the camera under a blanket in the stroller well before you park it to help deter thieves.
- Do divide the cash between the adults, and hold 1 credit card each: One person can run the kids to the restroom while the other buys snacks.
What's your favorite daytrip destination? Get inspiration for fun family outings in the forum!
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This is a really helpful post! I'm going to star it in my reader for future reference.
I'm a bit confused about what "disposable pads" look like. Are they in the diaper aisle?
Thanks for your help. I'm super new to this!
This brings back memories. Our youngest was 2 months old during our first trip to Washington DC, and the others were quite young, too. We had a baby carrier that I wore, and 2 strollers for the next 2 children. The oldest 2 were 10yo and 5yo, and they walked. We rode the train into Washington every day! Making sure I had everything we could possibly need for the whole day was a challenge, but the kids still remember that trip as something very special.