Packing For Seven Countries with Three Kids – A Joy or a Nightmare?

Packing for an international trip can be tricky. Packing for a seven month expedition to a new continent, spanning seven different countries and three seasons, with five family members is overwhelming.

Fortunately for us, we’re people who live by lists. My wife’s approach is tech savvy: a smart phone is all she needs. She started her electronic lists for this trip almost a year ago. By now, she’s so familiar with them she hardly needs to reference them anymore. To her, packing is one of the best parts of the prep. She loves sorting all the travel-size shampoos and medicines while neatly rolling all of the clothes and cleverly tucking them into the extra spaces. My approach is more traditional: a scrap of paper and a pen, taped to my desk and updated as I think of things to pack. When I pack it, I cross it off the list. For me, it’s a necessary evil. Stir in three boys of varying shapes and sizes, add a pile of “soft clothes” and toys, and top it off with homeschooling supplies for seven months and you’ve got a heck of a mess.

Below is our attempt to make sense of the madness. It doesn’t include everything we’re bringing and should be used as only a reference for international travel with kids. It’s merely a guide as to what we think are the necessities. The most important thing is to remain calm: with a bit of planning and some semblance of organization, you’ll get through it.

Husband’s List -

1. (1) 2-in-1 zip out fleece lined waterproof jacket

2. (1) wool beanie

3. (7) pairs of socks, including 3 wool and 4 athletic

4. (1) pair flip flops

5. (1) pair hiking shoes

6. (1) pair running shoes

7. (5) long sleeve shirts, including 2 fishing convertible shirts and 1 thermal

8. (1) set thermal underwear

9. (1) swim suit

10. (2) exercise shorts, including compression shorts

11. (6) short sleeve shirts

12. (3) under shirts

13. (1) pair of jeans

14. (2) pairs of heavy duty convertible cargo pants

15. Toiletry bag

*not pictured: 6 pairs of underwear


Wife’s List - 

1. (1) waterproof, lined jacket

2. (1) fleece hoodie insert

3. (3) sundresses, including a quick drying option

4. (1) swimsuit cover-up that doubles as a tunic

5. (2) cardigan sweaters

6. (6) long sleeve cotton shirts

7. (4) short sleeve cotton shirts

8. (3) camisoles

9. (3) tank tops

10. (1) pair of exercise shorts

11. (2) pairs of shorts

12. (1) pair of jeans

13. (1) pair of loose-fitting linen black plants

14. (1) pair of heavy-duty cargo convertible pants

15. (1) pair of black leggings that doubles as thermal underwear

16. (1) decorative scarf that doubles as a nursing cover

17. (1) black floppy hat

18. (1) pair of flip flops

19. (1) pair of camel flats

20. (1) pair of black flats

21. (1) pair of hiking shoes

22. (3) necklaces

23. (5) pairs of earrings

24. (2) headbands

· Misc travel size toiletry items (until we get down there and buy full size), including deodorant, toothpaste, floss, hairspray, lotion, a small bottle of coconut oil, Wide tooth comb, toothbrush, loofah, 2 baby washcloths, and 1 quick dry towel

· Make-up: blush plus brush, mascara, eyelash curler, eyeliner, sunscreen face lotion, and chapstick

*not pictured: 6 pairs of underwear, 1 nursing bra, 2 sportsbras, 1 swimsuit

Boy’s List - 

Per boy:

1. (1) 2-in-1 zip out fleece lined waterproof jacket

2. (3) convertible, vented fishing shirts

3. (3) long sleeve shirts

4. (5) short sleeve shirts

5. (2) pairs of convertible pants

6. (1) pair of jeans

7. (2) pairs of “soft” pants, aka fleece pants that can be worn out in public

8. (1) pair of “soft” shorts

9. (1) swim suit, including long sleeve rashguard

10. (1) pair of crocs

11. (1) pair of hiking shoes

12. as many underwear and socks as can fit, at least 5 pairs of each

13. (1) pair of sunglasses

*not pictured: (1) floppy hat per boy that covers their ears


Baby’s List – 

1. (1) 2-in-1 zip out fleece lined waterproof bunting

2. (2) swaddle blankets

3. (1) onesie pajama

4. (2) short sleeve onesies

5. (2) pairs of shorts

6. (2) pairs of pants

7. (4) long sleeve shirts

8. (4) short sleeve shirts

9. (1) swimsuit, including long sleeve rashguard

10. (1) pair of baby leggings

11. 6 pairs of socks

*not pictured: 1 pair of baby sandals for when he starts walking, and small pack of diapers and wipes (until we get down there and buy full size)


Homeschool Supplies/Toys –

1. iPad

2. Window clings

3. Beginner readers

4. Dry erase preschool activity book

5. Dry erase tracing and arithmetic cards

6. Hand-picked toys

7. Matching game

8. Personal sleeping companions

9. Busy Binders (link to travel website)

10. Preschool activity books


Medicines - 

1. Essential oils and wipes

2. Woolite packets for sink washing

3. Laundry packets

4. Spot remover pen

5. Anti-diarrheal tablets

6. Acetaminophen chewable tablets

7. Bugspray

8. Anti-bacterial hand soap

9. Allergy relief chewable tablets

10. Motion sickness relief tablets

11. Emergen-c packets

12. Alcohol wipes

13. Earplugs

14. Sunscreen

15. Nyquil tablets

16. Super glue

17. Bandaids

18. Infant’s acetaminophen liquid

19. Teething tablets

20. Sea bands, for nausea

21. Preggo pops, for nausea


Gear List – 

1. Journal/Event Log

2. Spanish/English Phrase Book - we downloaded a Spanish/English dictionary for the phone. If you’re not getting an international cell phone plan, make sure the app works in airplane mode

3. Money Belts

4. Water proof Pelican Case

5. Multi-tool

6. Camera and power cord

7. Write-in-the-rain notebook and pen

8. His/Her Headlamps

9. Extra braided Parachute cord

10. Parachute cord bracelet - always a good idea to keep some on you at all times.

11. Watch compass

12. Watch

13. Sunglasses w/ cleaning cloth

14. External Harddrive – for backing up pictures and documents

15. USB 1-to-4 adapter – great if your laptop only has one or two built-in USB ports

16. Extra AA & AAA batteries

17. Extra belt & gear clips

18. GPS with power cable

19. Durable thumbdrive

20. Sunglass lanyards

21. Kindle

22. Waterproof stuff sack

23. Mini Tabasco bottles – perfect for collecting a little sand from every country

24. Extra toilet paper bundles and wet wipes – keep these in your cargo pocket…just in case

25. Bungee cords and zip ties

26. Kindle Charger

27. Laptop with power cord

28. Water purification tablets

29. Headset with built in microphone

30. Plug adapter kit – nearly every country in South/Central America uses different wall plugs

31. Velcro

32. LifeStraw

33. Mace

34. Business cards

35. Portable day pack

36. Ballcap with a light

37. Luggage security cable – used to tie together bags when you’re at a bus terminal

38. Survival kit

39. Camelback with snap-in water filter



Final Thoughts:

- Everything should have more than one purpose. For example, camping pants that convert to shorts, essential oils used to treat a variety of alignments, and a bundle of parachute cord.

- You can’t pack for everything possible contingency. Do some research and choose your battles carefully. Over time, ounces equal pounds and pounds equal pain.

- Always leave room in your bag for souvenirs…or just buy another bag during the trip.

- Start early. It’s a lot less overwhelming the sooner you begin putting pen to paper.