Have you ever been the mom at the park whose kid throws up, skins their knee, or has a meltdown? And by the time you run home to get a band aid, they have already forgotten about it? What about that plane trip where your baby starts teething and you forgot to pack the Tylenol? Or the weekend getaway to a friend’s house that no longer has a child living at home? Do you find yourself running to the drug store every time you arrive somewhere? For most parents, nannies, and caretakers this is a reality.
Through my experiences working with moms and kids of all ages, I have developed a foolproof survival kit for moms on the go whether it’s a 22-hour flight or a trip to the park. This kit has saved the day more times than I can count.
First things first, the bag! Any dop kip or cosmetic bag will work. I suggest LLBean’s line of toiletries and personal organizers. It is durable and you can personalize it with a monogram. It also has layers and pockets which help keep things organized. My favorite is the size medium. You will have room for everything you need and more. Another key element is not using the kit when you’re at home. Double up and buy new things. You’ll appreciate it later when you don’t have to go looking through your house to restock before a trip. It seems like a lot, but all of these items can easily fit into a small bag, your carry on, or under your stroller.
For a current list of LLBean’s discount codes (who doesn’t like to save?), check out their coupon page!
Now let’s find out what’s inside.
Tier one FIRST AID
- Tylenol and Ibuprofin- You never know when your baby might start to run a fever. Pack both!
- Thermometer- So you don’t have to feel guilty about giving your kid Tylenol without knowing for sure they have a fever.
- Benadryl
- Neosporin- Good for any cut or scrape.
- Band aids
- Aquaphor- Dry skin, chapped lips (for you or for them)
- Nasal aspirator -If you are traveling by plane with an infant, one of the best things to have if your baby gets stuffed up along the way.
- Qtips mini pack
- Poison medicine
- Nail clippers- For that nasty little hang nail
- Sunscreen – Great for the park, or if you forgot to pack a bigger bottle in your luggage.
Tier two TOILETRIES
- Laundry detergent – Airplane diaper explosion? Wash out the clothes and then stick them in a Ziploc.
- Ziplocs- Ziplocs have endless purpose, I seriously love them. For trash, wet clothes, leftover food, you name it.
- Hair bands – For you or for them, you’d be surprised how often these come in handy.
- Mini brush
- Tooth brush and tooth paste
- Mini pack of tissues
- Hand sanitizer
- Baby/kid shampoo – Depending on how particular you are (this one is mostly for plane travel).
Tier three MISCELLANEOUS
- Stickers – Work wonders if you’re stuck waiting in a restaurant or airport
- Special treat – What ever toots your child’s horn. A dried fruit strip, lollypop, or a granola bar. For that low blood sugar moment or if you forget to pack a snack. Maybe you need a reward for great behavior.
- Bottle sterilization tabs – Mostly for infant travel. These also work to sterilize the toys that fell on the ground at the airport when you get to your hotel room. I love the Milton tablets.
- Bottle brush – Dr. Brown’s are the best. They can also be used to clean sippy cups on a long trip away from home.
- Straws – If you have a toddler you know most restaurants don’t have bendy straws. Bring your own for easy no spill drinking.
- Dapple portable dish soap – If you are staying in a hotel and need to wash your sippy cups, Dapple is environmentally friendly dish soap, also wonderful for long flights.
This particular kit is geared more toward plane, train, and long term travel. You can edit down for trips close to home. All of these items can be found in miniatures, except for the poison medicine. I’ve found a lot of them at Duane Reade, Giggle, and Amazon. Muji is wonderful for mini bottles you can fill with laundry detergent or other soaps. I’ve also gotten great response from giving this as gift for a new mom. You can make it into a scavenger hunt or a fun afternoon project for you or your nanny to do with your child. I would love to hear what other traveling moms or nannies can’t live with out!
