Packing Checklist for Travel

Several Weeks/Days Prior to Leaving on Trip:

Confirm reservations with airline, hotel, car rental
Print out itinerary and directions – send to relatives, keep copy in house
Get cash from ATM/bank
Put newspaper delivery on vacation hold
Put mail on "vacation hold" at www.usps.com
Call to put utilities on-hold (if planning to stay away for significant duration)
Go to safe deposit box at bank to either remove important items (e.g., passport) for travel or deposit items for safe-keeping (i.e., jewelry) while you are away
Make arrangements for pets
Notify State Department for international travel

One Day Prior to Leaving:

Check-in for your flight online
Prepare snacks/water
Download movies/books and other online content to iPads, Kindle readers, etc.
Change outgoing messages on answering machine/email

Prepare Home for Leaving:

Clean out refrigerator
Load/unload dishwasher
Empty sink
Throw out garbage in kitchen/bathrooms/bedrooms
Throw out diaper pail garbages
Throw out food on counter or in drawers that may spoil (bread, potatoes, onions, etc.)
Remove clothes from washing machine/dryer
Empty water from humidifier
Shut off heat/AC (or set thermostat to appropriate temperature)
Shut off/turn on outside lights (or put on timer for lights)
Unplug appliances, electronics (for fire prevention and saving electricity)
Check that doors/windows are locked
Pack gifts or things to bring for people you are visiting

Clothing to Pack:

Socks – casual + dressy
Bras
Underwear
Undershirts
Pajamas/sleeping clothes
Shirts – long-sleeve + short-sleeve, casual + dressy
Sweaters – casual + dressy
Pants – casual (jeans, sweatpants, running pants) + dressy
Shorts
Bathing Suits
Shoes – dressy and casual (sneakers, flip-flops)
Boots
Jacket/coat
Suit and/or sports coat
Ties
Scarves
Gloves/mittens
Thermals
Robe
Slippers

Accessories to Pack:

Jewelry
Watch + watch bands
Extra pair of eyeglasses
Sunglasses
Belts –dressy & casual
Hats
Hair items (headband, "scrunchy")
Spot stain remover
Shoe polish kit
Sewing needle, thread
Umbrella

Toiletries to Pack:

Deodorant/anti-perspirant
Contact lenses, case, cleaning/storage solutions
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Dental floss
Tissues
Cotton balls/pads
Q-tips
Hair combs/brushes
Hair dryer
Hair gel/hairspray
Acne medication/face pads, face wash
Face moisturizer
Body moisterizer
Sunblock
Makeup
Razor + shaving cream + extra razors + beard trimmer/cord
Nail file + nail clipper
Travel scissors
Tweezers
Shampoo/conditioner
Soap
Loofah (or washcloths)
Wet wipes
Female hygiene products (tampons, pads)
Personal lubricant
Condoms/birth control

Medicines to Pack:

Prescription medications
First-aid kit (Band-Aids, antibiotic ointment, etc.)
Antacid tablets
Painkillers (Aspirin/Ibuprofen/Acetaminophen)
Eye drops
Sore throat lozenges and spray
Allergy medications
Cold/flu medicine
GasX, lactase, probiotics
Fiber supplements

Miscellaneous Items to Pack:

Passport/driver’s license for adults
Passport/birth certificate for children
Credit/debit/ATM cards
Insurance and AAA cards
Reading material (books, magazines, articles)
Homework/work materials + pencils/pens/markers
Computer + power cord (for both work and home)
Cell phones + wall chargers + car chargers (for both work, adults & kids)
iPad/Kindle + chargers (for adults & kids)
Camera + battery + carrying case
Videocamera + chargers + memory cards + carrying case
External hard drive(s)
Itinerary + directions + maps/travel guides
Tickets/boarding passes
Batteries
Entertainment: Movies/games/deck of cards
Journal
Notepad + pencil/pen
Flashlight
Car emergency kit
Personal protection (gun, knife, stun gun, etc.)
Eyepatch/ear plugs for sleeping
Cuff links
Collar stays
Breath mints/chewing gum
Beach chairs
Beach towels
Beach umbrellas
Beach insulated food bags
Hand sanitizer for sterilizing travel surroundings
Extra set of keys for residence you are visiting

Packing for Babies & Children:

Phone numbers for pediatrician
Emergency sheet with contact names & numbers & child’s health info with medications (put on as leg band?)
Diapers
Cream for diaper rash
Cornstarch powder
Baby wipes
Diaper-changing pad (& disposables)
Diaper bag (for carrying all of the baby-related items)
Bibs
Formula, juice or water
Baby food
Feeding utensils
Breast pump + attachments/tubing
Bottles for storing breast milk
Boppy or MyBreastFriend (comfortable pillows for nursing babies)
Nursing blanket/shawl for privacy
Spit-up towels
Bottles/caps
Bottle brush
Nipples
Cold packs and container for bottle
Extra baby clothes for during travel
Extra adult clothes for during travel (in case of spit-ups)
ERGO / TULA baby carriers
Carseat with base
Baby bathtub
Nail clippers
Blankets (to lay on, cover baby, shade)
Plastic grocery bags (for soiled diapers, clothes)
Ziplock bags
Brush/comb
Baby shampoo/conditioner
Baby soap
Baby moisterizing lotion
Baby sunscreen (no matter the season)
Toys (nesting toys, mirrors, rattles, musical toys, soft animals)
Teething-related items/toys
Portable crib/play yard
Tissues
Sippy cups with straws
Hair clips/scrunches
Shampoo/conditioner
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Disinfecting hand gel
Sunscreen
Pacifiers with clips
Toys / stuffed animals
Socks
Shoes
Watershoes for beach/pool
Goggles for swimming
Onesies
Pajamas
Shirts (long-sleeve, short-sleeve)
Sweaters
Pants/shorts
Hats (for sun or cold)
Jacket/coat
First-aid kit
Prescription + over the counter medicines for children
Warm blanket for carseat
Car seat
Stroller
Stroller carrier for airport
Bags to put stroller into when checking-in on airplane
Download movies/games on iPad
Ear phones for airplane for children
Food specifically for children (e.g., if dietary restrictions)
Ice packs + bag for cold food

Travel Tip #1: Pack each baby outfit in its own zipped plastic bag to prevent hunting around for individual items

Travel Tip #2: If traveling by car or plane, individually wrap small toys or other interesting things to play with in aluminum foil or put into paper bags to keep small children entertained and excited about opening a "new" object to play with.