As fun and de-stressing as travelling can be, with kids involved, it can be a whole different ball-game! Especially if the travel is long-haul, or if there a multiple kids, the packing becomes multi-fold! An adult can make do with travelling light. A child however, not only needs extra clothes but stuff to keep them busy and entertained. The packing depends on the weather conditions of the place you are visiting, things to do there, all the comforts (think a favorite toy) and more importantly, necessities of the child (think specific health conditions). This article will throw light on how to choose the best bags when traveling with kids.
For tips on choosing bags for kids in general refer to this post.
It’s important to find an equilibrium because the holiday should not be about lugging bags and suitcases, packing and unpacking. The idea is to keep things most necessary within reach and easy to access.
Let’s take you through some convenient and best bags for traveling with kids..
Points to consider when choosing the right bag for
travel with kids
- Multiple compartments for ideal organization – snacks, liquids, extra clothes, books, activities etc.
- Preferably water proof
- Low tare weight
- Low maintenance – stainproof or stain resistant and washable
- Easy access to compartments – should have large zip pulls
Best Bags For Parents Or When Either Parent Travels Alone With Kids
When my kids were younger, I did travel a few rare times alone with them, as my husband couldn’t accompany for some reasons. I have an elder son and twin younger sons. Between managing them and the luggage/formalities at the airport, panic attacks were a norm with me! Hence trust me when I say, not being organized or having bags that add to your anxiety is THE worst thing in travel!
Being meticulous may seem counter-intuitive at first, but when you need to find the right things at the right time, you will thank yourself for the time you took to get organized.
Decide between a tote or a crossbody
Start with tote bags that are spacious and accommodating if your child is more than a toddler, does not require frequent diaper changes and too many accessories. Tote bags are fashionable big purses good for short or mid-distance travel. These bags look quite trendy and also allow you to carry more than a wallet, phone and papers. A book maybe, an ipad or anything to keep the mom entertained once the child decides to take a nap.
If you have a toddler, a cross-body bag works well to keep travel papers, passport etc. It separates the travel requisites from the kid stuff, so you do not need to be grappling inside large spaces, looking for your tickets and documents amongst your kid’s stuff.
A crossbody also keeps you hands-free to be completely focused on the child at the same time carry your stuff securely. A well-organized crossbody can conveniently keep travel and vanity items within comfortable reach.
Diaper bags are a must when traveling with infants
Do consider investing in a good diaper bag if you’re traveling with infants or babies. These days there are several good designs in diaper bags that are amply slotted to carry all and sundry items one could need with babies – you could also wear them as a backpack. The advantage with using diaper bags is that the slots needed for different baby items are already thought out and created for you, so they are in their designated spot and not dumped all together.
Listing some diaper bag brands at the end of the post for your reference.
Essential Suitcases
Parents, when travelling with children, need to plan and organize their packing. This cannot be emphasized enough. Gone are the days of dumping in a couple of jeans and shirts and walking out the door. A suitcase for each member of the family maybe an overkill but it is always a good idea to pack according to your specific situation and constraints.
Some of the well-known Indian luggage names are VIP, Safari, Caprese that have hard cover polypropylene suitcase sets which usually include a big, one medium and one small suitcase. There are also soft cover suitcases from travel accessory companies like Safari, Aristocrat, Delsey, Wildcraft and Skybags that are other Indian brands which specialize in travel luggage. Suitcases should ideally have some compartments on the inside and maybe a couple on the outside for quick access. They should be sturdy, durable and easy to manage and pack. A separate space for underwear, shoes and gadgets to be packed safely is a must. Wheeled suitcases are a no brainer, especially when you need to keep an eye and hand out for the child.
Pro tip:
1. The ultimate comfort when traveling with a toddler is to invest in a buggy rider suitcase. It has wheels and a baby seat attached at the top of the suitcase. Secure your baby comfortably on the trolley, with the given seat belt and glide them along easily. Mountain Buggy specializes in this kind of luggage though you might need to purchase from the US. It’s a worthy investment and something I wish I knew back in the day!
2. If you’re a single parent traveling with kids, a backpack may not be very handy especially if you have to access its contents frequently.
3. Especially if you’re traveling by train, ensure you do not keep food stuff in airbags or other cloth bags. We had a rat nibble right through our airbag and reach the food packet!
Best Bags For Air-Travel With Kids
International travel is opening up so do keep these pointers in mind.
A small compromise mothers need to make when traveling, is to put the idea of carrying fancy clutches on the back burner. Especially with air travel, being organized saves a lot of hassle, more so for a new mom. A diaper bag is the bag of choice here as explained above. But if you are unsure which one to pick, refer to the list of the best diaper bag brands at the end of this post.
Duffles or backpacks are ideal for air travel
Duffle bags offer a lot of space to carry multiple items for the parent to keep handy en-route. They come with ample compartments, both inside and outside to keep things required by the parent and child. The duffle is preferable over a suitcase but it can be an add-on to your diaper bag, not stand-alone.
Keep in mind that the bag needs to be less cumbersome and within specifications to slide under the aircraft seat for easy access.
A backpack is an invincible piece of luggage to carry for immediate essentials. Especially on hiking trips, treks or even trips which require walking or local travel, a backpack is always the best bet. These bags have small and big pockets, bottle holders and come in a variety of sizes and dimensions depending on your requirement.
A combination of two or more bags is sometimes advisable – such as a diaper bag/backpack, crossbody or waist bag and a larger duffle or suitcase.
Pro tip: A small foldable backpack can be permanently kept in the suitcase. Once you have offloaded at the hotel and want to step out with the kids, fill the bag with bare essentials and off you go!
Best Bags For Road Travel With Kids
You have the greatest freedom in pretty much every aspect, including luggage, when you have your own vehicle. You might still invest in the best kids luggage, as explained in the next section, but there would not be constraints of weight and number. And this is the best way to travel in the ongoing pandemic.
The most important point to prepare for is how to keep them engaged throughout the journey. Handing them any form of screen is a terrible idea and must be completely avoided. You could plan for some activities such as drawing/coloring boards or audio books.
Pro tip: No matter your mode of travel, encourage your kids to carry a waste bag to collect all waste and dispose it off in the right manner.
Best Kids Luggage
No discussion of best bags to travel with kids is complete without considering the bags kids want to carry themselves. Children love to feel all important and as such, love to pull along their own bags. It gives them a sense of being involved and will also help to inculcate responsibility in them. They do come up with their own ideas on what outfits to carry for travel. Frankly, so do the moms. We love to dress up our child in their best attires for everyone to go gaga over their cuteness quotient.
Trolley bags are perfect
Most Indian luggage companies have small size suitcases for children with kiddie prints of animals, cartoons and their favorite characters. These could be hard-cover suitcases for better balance and sturdiness or softer cover to ensure it is lightweight.
Whether on two wheels or four, the travel bags for kids from brands like those listed for diaper bags come in amazing options. Other brands to consider are American Tourister, Wildcraft or Samsonite.
I’m loving the kid’s trolley suitcases from IT luggage and planning to get one for my kids soon!
Backpacks are a great option but pay attention to ergonomics
Backpacks are also a great option for the kids to carry. But keep in mind not to stuff all their belongings and weigh their back down. Small toys, travel-games, a small purse or vanity kit, a book or two maybe, coloring accessories and a change with napkins etc. along with a snack, should be enough weight for them to carry on their back.
These bags need to be lightweight, with good padded straps to minimize the pressure on their shoulders and back. The backpacks should also be able to stand upright by themselves when rested on the floor. This will prevent them from toppling over. Some backpacks can even be customized and printed these days with the child’s name and picture. It’s always wise to label your child’s luggage in case they get distracted and leave it somewhere. Slightly older kids can opt for a backpack that comes with a lightweight inbuilt trolley.
Needless to say, no point keeping any valuable items in your kid’s bag.
Pro Tip:
1. Get your child to pack their necessities themselves and carry their own bags. They’ll learn the pros and cons of packing too much or too little. Cherish the moment when they proudly narrate how they packed their own things for the travel! 🙂
2. If it is not possible for each kid to travel with their own bag, consider investing in packing cubes. The kids still pack their stuff but the cubes can be consolidated into a bigger bag for ease of carrying.
Conclusion
Travel bags are available a dime-a-dozen in amazing varieties of colors, shapes, sizes and designs. It’s a humungous industry in itself. But bags are space consuming items and need to be stored and maintained well. Travel suitcases are usually long-term purchases so picking a good quality brand at a reasonable price, will take you a long way. Also, you will need to alter the bags you carry based on the requirements of each trip. Traveling light is the thumb rule. Remember that the best bags to travel with kids are those that allow for an organized and hassle-free experience.
Best Brands For Diaper Bags
- Baby Jalebi – Equipped with changing mat, insulated bottle holder, et. al.
- Outback World – sleek diaper bags that don’t look like one!
- Voroly – This comes with a 6 month warranty and comes with a separation for wet items.
- Motherly – Comes with an extendable folding crib! Beat that!
- House of Quirk – Spacious with multiple trendy prints.
- R for Rabbit – Made of high quality oxford fabric, this one is made for the long haul.
- LuvLap – Their products have a unique mass appeal and are well crafted.
- VismiinTrend – Premium diaper bags that come in trendy colors and are loaded with features. These are unisex bags that also come with a laptop compartment.
- MeeMee – If you’re looking for smaller versions of a diaper bag, you consider the Mee Mee ones, that are also easier on the pocket.
- Polka Tots – Diaper bags with smart organization, including multiple pockets for baby’s and mother’s needs.
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