Your first family vacation could be an exciting opportunity for your kids. They’ll be able to fly on an airplane, traverse long roads, and stay at a hotel far from home for the very first time. While some children may greet this vacation with open arms, others may be anxious about the travels.
For this new experience, be sure to bring everything you’ll need for your kids’ first night at a hotel. As you pack your suitcase, leave enough room for these hotel essentials, from your children’s favourite toys to a first aid kit.
Comfort Items From Home
Your children’s favourite stuffed animal, blanket, or pillow can help them feel at home in a new space. These familiar items help ease anxiety and create a sense of security in an unfamiliar space. Give them a good night’s sleep in a hotel bed surrounded by their bedtime necessities.
Snacks and Drinks
Hotels may not always provide kid-friendly snacks or treats, and room service can get pricey. Pack a selection of your child’s go-to snacks, like crackers, fruit pouches, or granola bars. Because hotels don’t typically have your kitchen essentials, you should aim for snacks that don’t require refrigeration and are relatively mess-free to avoid extra clean-up.
Favourite Pajamas
Comfortable sleepwear will help your children feel at ease. Bring an extra set to prepare for any spills, accidents, or an unusually messy bedtime routine. For added comfort, choose a kid’s bathrobe that fits their needs and helps them relax during your vacation.
Entertainment Options
Hotels offer limited activities to keep your kids occupied. Aside from the television, all the entertainment happens outside of the hotel. Books, colouring sets, or a tablet preloaded with shows, games, and movies can save the day on those mornings when your children need something to do.
Toiletries Tailored to Your Kid
Kids often have specific needs that generic hotel toiletries won’t cover. Bring along travel-sized versions of their shampoo, toothpaste, and any other essentials. Toss in a couple of bath toys if your children enjoy a splash in the tub.
Along with these bath necessities, a bag filled with laundry detergent can be useful accessory for travellers. This will help you clean up those spills and messes on your children’s clothes.
A Travel Night Light
Unfamiliar rooms can be intimidating for kids at bedtime. To give them peace of mind, bring a small, battery-operated night light for your kids’ first night at a hotel. A small light can also be handy if your kids need to use the bathroom in the middle of the night.
First Aid Essentials
You never know when a small medical hiccup might happen. Pack a basic first-aid kit with band-aids, fever medicine, and any prescribed medications. Include hand sanitiser and wipes to stay prepared while on the go around the hotel or outdoors.
Give your kids a room they can return to comfortably after a day of exploring somewhere new. When you bring these familiar items, they’ll be able to feel at home on vacation. Add these travel essentials to your packing checklist before you set off on your next adventure.