It is just as vital to know what to bring as it is to know what not to pack.

A misty morning in New Zealand's Queenstown presented us with a number of challenges on the way to our bus to the next town at 7 a.m.: we hadn't completely packed, our toddler was worn out, and cabs and public transportation weren't exactly abundant in our sleepy hillside neighborhood. Nonetheless, in spite of the evident difficulties, we remained unmoved. We started our quick trek to the heart of town approximately twenty minutes after my alarm went off. At that time, we crammed the rest of our dirty laundry into our packing cubes, removed our grouchy and sleepy son from his portable cot, and fastened the waist straps of our backpacks.

This wasn't exactly the best example of planning, but neither was it completely haphazard. This hectic morning was only possible because of the choices we made on how we pack and travel. As we were in a hurry to get to the bus stop, we were able to juggle all of our belongings, including our toddler, in one hand. Even though I had a variety of breakfast foods available for my son, I was able to pull up directions without having to use either of my hands. This luggage held everything that we had brought along with us on our nearly eight-month journey across the country, and our plans called for another about five months of travel.

When viewed from a distance, this may seem completely insane. When I tell people that my partner and I are travelling without a permanent residence while raising a young child, one of the questions that I am most frequently asked is, "How do you handle all the kid stuff?" We have, however, identified a strategy that enables us to maintain our adaptability, reduce our expenses, and live a more frugal lifestyle. These are some of our best recommendations for ensuring that you never have to check a bag, even if you are travelling with a toddler for an entire year.

Where is the value in that?

Let me to elaborate on the reason why we try to avoid checking our luggage. The first reason is the most straightforward and practical one: it enables us to avoid the ever-increasing fees charged by airlines and the possibility of having our luggage go missing.

Yet, this explanation is probably the least significant of the three. Carry-on luggage gives us the flexibility and speed we need to get things done more quickly. As a result of the fact that we can go around on foot, by using public transportation, or in a car, we have numerous possibilities once we arrive. Because we are not required to wait at the baggage carousel upon arriving, we are able to be one of the first people to go on the road, which allows us to frequently avoid further queues and waits. It won't be a problem at all to carry all of our belongings with us for a day of sight-seeing if we have to check out of our hotel early because we still have a few hours before our flight.

The final justification I offer is of a more philosophical kind. As a parent, I enjoy the opportunities we have to teach our kid valuable life lessons by travelling with minimal luggage. Because of our lighter load, we are able to put greater emphasis on the value of experiences rather than material items and promote more conscious shopping behaviours. Although there is a lot from this year that our two-year-old won't remember, I believe that core values may be taught by decisions as seemingly insignificant as what is packed into a suitcase.

Begin by gathering the luggage.

Let's shift our attention to the how now that we've discussed the why. My first piece of advice is to select the luggage before you settle on the contents of the bags. Your luggage can act as a fantastic forcing function, encouraging you to make decisions that result in lighter and more efficient packing.

Home sweet #Helsinki. 🇫🇮Nice to see that skyline from sea after a ferry ⛴ trip to #Tallinn. 🇪🇪 First time abroad with my child. ❤ Finnish children - as well as presidents and prime ministers - often make their first trip abroad to Estonia or Sweden. 🌍 pic.twitter.com/RClf2lxeM1

— Arja-Riikka Nikkilä (@arja_riikka) July 23, 2022

Consider your travel plans before making a decision about which luggage to buy. Because we put a premium on being able to walk to our destination, our family of three always travels with two backpacks: one with a capacity of 40 litres and the other with a capacity of 50 litres. These backpacks have soft straps so that we may wear them for extended periods of time while still receiving adequate support. They also have sturdy compartments so that we can easily reach important goods while we are on the move. We have eschewed the usage of a conventional diaper bag in favour of a more compact backpack. This backpack is designed to be slung over our travel stroller and can also be utilised for day trips and hikes.

Pass on the products that are too bulky.

Even after you have chosen your luggage, you may still be wondering what to do with some of the more traditional cumbersome goods such as a portable cot, carseat, and stroller. In a nutshell, we make as many cuts as we can and make it our priority to address any urgent requirements that may arise upon arrival.

When it comes to sleeping arrangements, we rely extensively on Airbnb's crib filter, which enables users to search for houses that have either a crib or a Pack 'n Play for their guests (found under the "amenities" menu). Toys, high chairs, and other goods suited for children are frequently available at the rooms that may be found on Airbnb. In addition, hotels usually have cribs available, and while we were in a bind, we turned to various social media channels to borrow necessities.

We have intentionally picked locations that will require us to use a vehicle a lot less so that we can avoid taking a car seat with us. We had a great time using the public transportation across Europe and did a lot of our getting around in Melbourne, Australia, on bicycles, for example. When we were in a situation that required the use of a car, we borrowed a car seat from a company that specialised in renting baby gear as well as car rental agencies. And while I do see the benefits of flying with a car seat — many kids sleep best in theirs, and the seatbelts are much more functional than those on planes — for us, the bulk upon arrival has always exceeded the benefits. This has been the case since we had our first child.

In the end, with regard to strollers, we did a lot of study to discover a reliable alternative that was small enough to fit in an overhead compartment. This would enable us to skip the gate screening process totally. We brought along both a GB Pockit and a Babyzen Yoyo on our trips, but in the end, we found that we preferred the Babyzen Yoyo due to its higher level of durability.

Bring it with you, borrow it, or buy it.

We make a packing list for all of the other items, and since the birth of our son, we have, in fact, been revising and augmenting that list. On this list, we indicate whether each item should be "brought," "borrowed," or "bought." It is understandable to feel compelled to bring everything with you and stick to the brands that are familiar to you at home, but making a concerted effort to move goods into the "borrow" and "purchase" categories will help you carry a lot less.

Aside from the things that are essential for the day of travel, we always have a list of things to "purchase," which includes diapers, wipes, and snacks. We are also happy to borrow toys, books, and carriers as we make our way around. In point of fact, we've discovered that having a list of things to accomplish upon arrival, such as grocery shopping and pickups, makes it easier for us to get acclimated to a new area and meet new people.

Locate items of clothing that can be worn in a variety of ways.

And then, the straightforward recommendation is "bring less." This is one of those mysteries that can be solved by looking in the most obvious places. When I travel, I bring two tank tops and four T-shirts with me. I put a lot of stock in brands and textiles that I am confident can withstand some perspiration and dirt and yet be worn again. Both my husband and I are firm believers that hiking pants are an essential piece of equipment. We no longer bring jeans when we travel; instead, we choose pants from Patagonia and Prana, respectively, because they are suitably trendy, can be washed in the sink, and pack down into a tiny space.

These kinds of remedies are not as commonly used for infants. Because I couldn't find any on the market that functioned as well as my own travel gear, I decided to start First Peak in the spring of 2022. First Peak is a brand of eco-friendly adventure clothing for infants and young children that is made to withstand the elements. On flights, hikes, and other experiences, my son frequently threw up, sweated, and sat in the sun with me; nevertheless, the 100 percent cotton clothing he wore made him wet, smelly, and sunburned. The goods sold by First Peak are entirely manufactured in the United States using materials that are kind to the environment. In addition, these products are designed to be odor-resistant, quick-drying, and sun-safe. My young son is my most important product tester, and he always wears his First Peak gear when we go on trips. Because of this, we can pack much less because we know that each item can be worn on several occasions.

Take into account both the exceptions and the facts.

I'm not immune to the occasional inefficient add-on, regardless of how harsh all of this may sound to you. Because I thought it was so attractive, I brought a floral sundress with me to Europe and wore it only twice during the first three months we were there. When I finally decided to donate it to a little shop in Rome, I did two circuits of the block, during which I pondered the possibility that I could, possibly, might, need it for our next destination. The more times I've had to give up things, the simpler the process has become. When I look at my simple backpack now, I can't help but feel a sense of accomplishment, and my daily selections over what to wear require much less mental effort.

My son is another clear source of tenderness in my life. In the weeks and months leading up to the start of our journey, I swore that I would not bring any plush animals along with us. But after that, he started calling three funny plush toys that he kept in his cot each night his "friends," and he did so with a happy disposition. The game was done; whomever wanted to bring their stuffed animals with them would have to do so.

What we pack in our suitcases can be quite important to how we feel about ourselves and how much we miss home while we are gone for an entire year. When you're hundreds of miles away from friends and family, having a favourite storybook or sippy cup can help ease some of the loneliness you feel. Having said that, the things that we decide not to bring are also a part of what makes this experience what it is: we try to fill in the blanks as a family and make our emotional connection the basis of what we mean by "home." And if that doesn't work, there's not much that a good belly laugh can't fix.

Although I do not anticipate that every family will adopt the same travelling philosophy as ours, I do hope that the information provided here will encourage parents to believe that it is possible to travel with small children. Even though we've been to 15 different countries and driven across the United States, we still have about a half a year left on our adventure. And our toddler, who weighs 30 pounds, is typically the heaviest item we're lugging around.