It is the first time I am packing for five people, including two big kids, two babies and myself. Hubby does not need my help. He is a frequent traveller and is more familiar than anyone else in the family when it comes to travelling. It was a little daunting for me though as I feared missing out any essential items while packing for so many people, especially the babies. So I wrote a packing list a couple of days before we left and started gathering the items.
I want to share my packing list for our 14-month old twins, for my future reference and for anyone else who needs it. For the full list, please scroll to the bottom of the post.
Clothes
This trip is a little unique as we went to Malaysia over the weekend to attend our cousin’s wedding and stayed in the luxurious 5 star One World Hotel.
I threw in a couple of pretty clothes for the girls and boy, as well as functional baby pyjamas for sleep and the bus trip to and fro Singapore. Our key consideration was to ensure that the twins would feel comfortable while travelling and increasing the chances of them falling asleep on the bus. They did fell asleep on the way there as it was late afternoon by the time we boarded the bus. However, we had no chance of enjoying a peaceful journey on the way back as they were super energetic and continuously roamed around during the 7-hour bus trip. Fortunately, we were travelling with my in-laws, and we received great help along the way home.
Hygiene
This includes items like diapers, wet wipes, bottle soap, brush and tissues. We filled half of a luggage bag with diapers and the rest of the baby toiletries. I regretted not preparing Dettol wipes for carry-on as the seats on the coach we took back to Singapore was dirty. #4 might have caught a bug in the bus as she came back with slight flu, and passed it on to #3 thereafter.
The wet toiletries are kept in 2 layers of ziplock bags to prevent leakage.
To ensure a smaller load of toiletries, we brought along multi-purpose items as such the Aveeno Baby Wash & Shampoo* for the children and Dr Woods Lavender Castile Soap* for the adults (for shampoo, facial wash and body soap)
Just to share, I source for most of my toiletries and health products from iHerb.com*. The prices there are significantly lower than the bricks and mortar stores, and even some online stores.
Health
I can miss out on everything else, but not these. These are must-bring items – medicine and essential oils for fever, cough, running nose, diarrhoea and vomit. I prefer to reach out for the essential oils for treatment first. If it doesn’t work, I will grab the medicine. And guess what, my four kids were okay. #1 just tabbed on some oil for his sensitive airways. I was the one who needed the oils and medication as I suddenly ran a fever and headache during the trip!
Similar, the medicine bottles were packed in 2 layers of ziplock bags.
These are the essential oils which I brought along in my carry-on bag, mainly to tackle motion sickness, cough and flu. These are already mixed with coconut oil so that I don’t have to scramble while on the road. On hindsight, I should have brought a bottle of pure Lavender or Frankincense oil. #3 fell in the hotel room and cut her lip badly. I could have used the pure Lavender oil to stop her bleeding and speed up her healing if it was available at that particular moment.
Food and Snacks
The babies are still eating their baby food though they munch on some of our dishes at times. So I brought along a travel pot to cook their baby pasta in the hotel.
For the additional nutrients, I brought along packets of baby food to spare us from the preparation. I tried preparing baby food from scratch when we brought #1 and #2 for a weekend trip and #2 was still a baby then. However, it wasn’t efficient for preparing baby food while travelling. I had to pack in a knife and cutting board, fresh vegetables and spent time cooking in the hotel. It was not worth the while.
As the twins are partially on formula, we also bought a small tin of milk powder, bottles and thermal bottles. As for the elder ones, we brought along packets of fresh milk as it is still their routine to drink milk before they sleep and when they wake up.
And I bought lots of baby snacks from iherb to keep them entertained when travelling.
Click on the following links if you are keen to get the same baby food and travel pot.
Gerber Lil’ Crunchies, Crawler*
Plum Organics, Organic Baby Food*
Gerber Puffs Cereal Snack, Strawberry Apple*
Baby Gear
It was a very short trip, and we expected lots of help from our relatives. So we only brought along our Ergo Baby Carriers*! Good enough for this little adventure.
Here is my Complete Packing List for the babies.
A printable version of the packing list to share here.
You may also like:
A Weekend Stay in One World Hotel, Kuala Lumpur
Our Family Trip to Pulau Besar, Malaysia
Our favourite baby toys – 0 to 9 months old
Do you have any other must-bring travel item on your packing list? Share with us in the comment box below!
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