Essential Luggage Checklist for Traveling Abroad with Kids

The first time I took Mantou abroad, I was stopped at the exit customs in Taoyuan Airport.... (What an inauspicious opening... haha) But because this stupid mistake is so easy to repeat, I had to document it XD
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Later, after reflecting on how embarrassing it was, I posted on Facebook and found out that not only did I get my prohibited items confiscated, but several mom friends around me have also had things taken before~~ haha. So right at the start, I must remind everyone—when packing for an overseas trip, don’t make the same mistake as me~ Otherwise, being stopped and having things confiscated over and over is just too embarrassing XD

When I was going through airport security, the scanner went ‘beep, beep, beep,’ and the officer said: You’re carrying prohibited items, please hand them over voluntarily. I firmly said: I definitely didn’t bring any.

The officer said: There’s an infant food scissors in your carry-on bag—that’s a prohibited item, you can’t bring it on the plane!! ..... Pfft~ couldn’t help laughing and crying, but since I was in a rush to clear security and there was a long line behind me, I really didn’t want to queue again, so Mantou’s food scissors..... will now live forever in Taiwan Customs lol~

But to board the plane smoothly, you first need to successfully complete the immigration procedures—then before that, at home, you need to finish the big task of packing your luggage XD. Hahaha, what normally takes just 40 minutes to pack can easily take two hours when you’ve got a curious little one around... A seasoned mom told me, only rookie moms would foolishly let their kids help with packing. For packing efficiently and quickly, you definitely need to wait until the kid is fast asleep before you start—it’s way more efficient that way!!! (I feel like I’ve learned something)

Otherwise, I’d be working hard putting things into the luggage, while Little Mantou kept pulling them back out. Just when I was exhausted, that kid actually leisurely started munching on a guava next to me... I really wanted to say OXOXO, but moms need to keep their composure—I held back, I didn’t say anything!!

So in order to pack 100% completely, I really gave it my all!! Actually, how you pack for a child’s international trip depends on where you’re flying to?! What’s the local climate & convenience like?!

Since we were flying to a remote resort island hotel in Sabah, where you can’t borrow or buy anything you might need, I’d rather overpack than risk missing anything. Anyway, there were no shopping plans for this trip, so one backpack as a carry-on, one box for the kid’s stuff, and one box for adult clothes—that’s more than enough~

I categorized them into Mobility,Clothing, Food & Drinks, Medicine Four main categories, which made organizing very systematic and reduced the chances of forgetting anything.

* Baby Carrier: Since not every attraction has convenient stroller access, it’s good to have a baby carrier as backup.
* Stroller: Highly recommended to bring a stroller that can go on the plane when traveling abroad.
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* Thick jackets, thin jackets, vest jackets
(Vests are the most practical, great for dealing with large day-night temperature differences), plus basic changes of clothes & the usual amount of diapers.
* If visiting an island country: swimsuits, swimming rings, waterproof

Xiaomantou’s first trip abroad was at around one and a half years old, and since he could already eat some adult food, we didn’t have to worry about preparing porridge or baby food.

* Plastic bottles or disposable bottles

For overseas trips, I’d recommend not bringing glass bottles. Even though at home I’m most used to glass bottles, haha—but once during a domestic trip, I accidentally broke one, and my son almost went hungry!! Since then, I’ve made up my mind: no glass when traveling, to avoid any unnecessary awkward situations...

* Infant formula (bring extra, never less)

If there’s room in the suitcase, I bring the big can—after all, who knows if I might not be able to return to Taiwan on schedule or might unexpectedly get the chance to travel to another country (thinking too much), haha. If I only bring small pre-measured portions, I’m afraid it won’t be enough. The child might have trouble adjusting, and not being able to buy their usual brand of formula abroad would be very stressful. * Snacks & fruit purees

Steamed buns are a big hit—they come in many flavors. When overseas, if suitable ingredients can’t be found, letting the little one eat familiar snacks puts both parents and child at ease.

* Utensils

On the plane, kids even get their own meals, huhuhu. Before having a kid, I had no idea it was this convenient!! Wish I hadn’t brought that ‘food scissors’ through customs… I still miss my food scissors >”<

* Bottled water from Taiwan I know carrying water sounds a bit crazy, but I figured—if my kid gets sick on the first day due to ‘traveler’s stomach,’ with vomiting and diarrhea, how disappointing would that be!! So, my husband and I actually did carry a whole bucket of Taiwanese mineral water abroad!! Hahaha. Anyway, it’s not like we’re bringing it back, so if there’s any left, no need to carry it home. I feel more at ease boiling it to make milk :)

But at the foreign customs, I got stopped again… hahahaha. They asked what the liquid at the bottom of my suitcase was? Hahaha, I said it was Taiwanese water for my one-year-old’s formula, and the customs officer… laughed XD

Besides bug bite creams and ointments, it’s also super important to get common meds like cold and fever remedies from your pediatrician or family doctor before departure!!!!

* Thermometer, medicine, mosquito repellent, fever patches
* Sunscreen: Hahahaha, getting a little kid to help put on sunscreen is actually pretty convenient :)

That’s about it :) I think I packed everything pretty thoroughly, but the most important thing before leaving is to double-check that you’ve brought your ‘passport’!! After all, after all the hassle & the kid constantly causing trouble, if you forget this, then there’s no point in going anywhere XD
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