The Simple Travel Hack That Makes Packing My Toddler’s Essentials a Breeze

Traveling with a toddler requires packing…a lot. From Paris to Punta Cana, my husband and I have traveled with our two-year-old around the world while also schlepping an absurd amount of toddler necessities in tow. From clothes and entertainment to snacks and gear, it is mind-boggling how a person who takes up such little space can need so much stuff. And how are you supposed to keep track of it all while on the go, anyway?

If you have $10 to throw at the problem, I have a fix that will forever change how you pack for your kiddo. Whether you’re traveling by plane, train, car, or ship, this scalable organizational method will be your new go-to solution that promises to minimize space, limit tantrums (I said what I said!), and make unpacking a breeze. My trick? A 24-pocket over-the-door hanging shoe organizer.

I first tested this method while packing for a two-week trip traveling throughout Sicily this past summer. With three location changes on the itinerary, I was dreading the packing, unpacking, and frantic re-packing as we prepared for days at the beach, afternoon hikes, evening dinners, and one very fancy wedding. One of the biggest challenges looming when I started packing for my two-year-old daughter was the sheer amount of clothing, shoes, and accessories needed for these various activities. The beauty of this shoe organizer strategy is that each pocket is a dedicated workhorse for an entire pre-planned outfit. Of course this includes the pants and matching shirt, but each assembled pocket should also house the socks, the underwear, and the matching hair band that you pray she won’t immediately rip off. This entire bundle goes into a single pocket. Repeat as necessary, for each outfit, reserving two or three additional pockets for a few pairs of versatile shoes. Even on longer trips or cold-weather destinations that might require bulkier items, you’re guaranteed to have a good number of pockets left over. And this is where the true magic comes in.

Toddler toothbrush and toothpaste? Put ’em in a pocket. Planning a beach day? Wrap sunscreen and a hat in that tiny bathing suit, and put ’em in a pocket. I also like to dedicate a pocket to emergency care, like children’s Tylenol, a thermometer, an instant cold pack, and a few Band-Aids. Bringing a sound machine? Baby monitor? Extra crib sheets? You know where they go. And whatever you do, don’t forget the emergency snack pouch. Once it’s loaded, roll the organizer up into a suitcase (we like to take the extra step of securing our bundle with a bungee cord), and your one-stop command center is ready for on-the-ground deployment.

But it doesn’t end there. The perks continue when you arrive at your destination. Unpacking now takes only as long as the time it takes for you to unzip your suitcase, lift out the shoe organizer, and hang it on the back of a bathroom or closet door. (Pro tip: While your organizer should come with hanging hooks, toss a few large binder clips in a pocket in case you need to get creative with hanging.)