Our packing takes days. The checklist for the suitcases and carry-on is worked on for weeks. Plan, re-plan, pack and re-pack. There is no shame in this procedure! 

Papa is definitely the main packer in the family, here are his 5 tips:

• “Don’t leave it to the last minute. Packing –even toiletries — should be completed at least a day in advance of the trip.”
• “Do pack and repack as much as you need”
• “A luggage scale is vital. One without batteries is best, I use this one. But remember, they can be out a bit in either direction — as can the scales at the airport. Keep yours handy.”
• “If you can physically handle it, your goal is to get your bag as close to 23 kilos as possible. Why kilograms? 23 kilos is .7 pounds MORE than 50 pounds — that’s a whole item or two more you can squeeze in!
• “The other goal is to fill your suitcases densely to avoid things shifting. When things can move, they can break. BUT! A densely packed bag does not mean over-stuffed, or you’ll risk bursting the seams or the zipper.”

Have a look at this example checklist and feel free to make it your own.

Why is there a master list and a secondary list per suitcase contents? It may sound counterintuitive, but you don’t always want to pack all ‘like’ items in the same suitcase — just in case one or more bags are lost. Furthermore, as Papa said: the whole goal of packing is to fill your luggage densely so things don’t get tossed around and break.

Beyond the obvious, the checklist serves two more purposes: theft from baggage at airports happens, so knowing what is in each bag at a glance is important. We even put a copy of this list into each suitcase so anyone in there knows we know what we’ve got where. Secondly, we found that customs officers who became interested in our luggage were often quickly calmed by us presenting a list of exactly what was in each suitcase, thereby minimizing any attempts at a ‘fishing expedition.’

If you’re planning a trip with young children, it can’t be stated enough: packing well is incredibly important. If you take too much, you waste your energy and lose your mobility. But if you forget or neglect something, then you end up having to buy it on the road at a higher cost. 

On our Asia trip, we anticipated we would be traveling for at least 6 months, but knowing that Asia is full of cheap second hand clothing, we didn’t pack any size-up clothing for our 6 month old. Everything he grew into we bought along on the way. (Second hand stores in Japan are AMAZING!) 

Do your homework: some things, like brands of baby formula are very region specific. What you can find in Hong Kong you may not find in mainland China. Don’t be embarrassed to email friends-of-friends/acquaintances/hotels to ask what brands are available. 

We found out that our favourite brand of baby formula was available in Hong Kong, but not Japan or mainland China, so we had to devote enough suitcase space for nearly two months worth of baby formula! And don’t put it all in one suitcase, and DEFINITELY keep a whole tin in your carry on, just in case one or more bags get lost. Oh – and seal each container in a giant ziplock style bag – formula containers are not designed to hold up to the stresses of air travel and can easily release suspicious white powder all over your suitcase. Not ideal for you or the baby!

Find out what suitcases we used on our 6 month adventure through Asia, and what luggage we really recommend instead.