What I packed for my toddler for 7 days in Italy
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Traveling internationally with a toddler is no small feat, but after flying with my 2-year-old son several times a year since he was born, I’ve finally found a rhythm. I now have a solid sense of what actually needs to be packed — and how to keep things (relatively) light for a 7-day trip.
Two weeks ago, we flew from JFK to Milan Malpensa and then took a train to Bologna — so packing strategically was a must. I wanted to avoid juggling too much luggage, especially at the train stations. Between one checked trunk suitcase, a carry-on, my husband’s backpack, a travel stroller, and our Bubba Board... let’s just say this was our version of traveling light.
If you're prepping for a family trip and wondering what to bring for your toddler, here’s exactly what we packed — broken down into what went in our carry-on vs. what we checked.
What I packed in the carry-on
I picked a carry-on with lots of pockets because I needed to have easy access to things packed in here. It stayed with us on the plane and train, and included all the must-haves for in-transit sanity.
1. Snacks on Snacks
We took an overnight flight, so we didn’t need to pack too much food, just some fruits, pouches and dry snacks. A tip to keep food chilled for a longer time: Freeze your pouches for a few hours before you pack it with everything else in the insulated pouch! Some snack options include:
Fruit bars and pouches from Little Spoon (they’re freshly made and so tasty!)
Dry snacks like these organic vegetable puffs and oatmeal cinnamon cookies
A spill-proof snack container like this spinning one is a good option to use
Pour milk into an insulated water bottle to keep it fresh and chilled throughout the trip
2. A pre-packed Activity Pouch
This was a huge hit; you can check out the video I posted sharing everything that goes into the pouch here. The pouch itself is actually just a toiletry bag, but I find it so useful because it has a hook that allows me to hang the pouch. Inside the pouch, I usually fill it with:
Reusable sticker books in several different themes
Coloring books and stacking crayons
His favorite book(s)
A few mini toy cars and road stickers
A new small toy to unbox
3. Comfort Items
A lightweight blanket
His pacifiers
4. Clothing + Diapering
2 full extra outfits
Enough diapers + wipes for the journey (with extras for delays)
5. Health
Oral spray, as well as his tooth brush and tootepaste
Cooling fever patches that help with mild fevers
Children’s Tylenol and Benadryl
Sunscreen, sun block stick(s)
Multipurpose balm for cuts, scratches, insect bites, and diaper rash
The two other things that we brought onto the plane with us that didn’t fit into the carry-on suitcase were: The Bubba Board, which is a seat extender that allows my son to sleep comfortably, and our compact travel stroller.
What goes in the checked bag
Everything else I brought for my son was packed in the checked trunk suitcase and went under the plane.
1. Clothing
7 outfits (light layers, joggers, soft tees etc) — we did have laundry machines at the AirBnb, so what I packed was more than enough clothes.
2 pairs of pajamas and 2 sleep sacks
A thin, lightweight jacket for cooler evenings or air-conditioned spaces
1 extra pair of shoes
2. Toiletries
A small bottle of body soap and shampoo
4 laundry detergent pods for sensitive skin
Diaper rash cream
2 extra packs of wipes
1 pack of diapers
3. Gear
A tripod stroller fan because Italy was hot, hot, hot!
A stroller sunshade to help block some light when he was napping on-the-go
4. Sleep + Monitoring
The Nanit camera (use code TriciaC20 for 20% off) and travel accessories
I also packed this lightweight backpack as our daily diaper bag while exploring, and it fit everything we needed for day trips. I didn’t need it on the plane or the train, so I kept it folded in the suitcase. However, on the way back to New York, I did use it as my personal item.
Packing for a toddler might feel like prepping for a mini move, but with a bit of planning (and a few versatile pieces), it’s totally doable!
If you want to take a look at how I packed everything, check out my YouTube video here: What I’m Packing for My Toddler for 7 Days in Italy (Carry-On + Checked Luggage)
Let me know in the comments what your travel must-haves are for your little ones, and feel free to share this post with another toddler parent who has a trip coming up!
As always, thank you for stopping by Happily Ever Style.
xoxo,
Tricia
And some packing tips I’ve picked up along the way.