For families on the move – should your kids have their own travel bag, and if so, what type?
Not sure which travel bag suits your kids best? We have spent hours researching this for about a decade now, and the bottom line is – there’s no one size fits all solution when it comes to picking the best children’s luggage.
So much will come down to what sort of trip you are going on and your child’s age (and willingness!) to be responsible for their own items.
We’ve reviewed loads of different travel bags for kids over the years so sharing with you here all the knowledge we have gained, and guiding you to what might be the best sort of luggage for you too.
This post is part of our best family travel advice series
So are you ready to set off on a family vacation – or perhaps you’re expats looking to make that big family move? Here’s low down on the best types of luggage for travelling kids:
Picking the best traveling bags for kids
A cute little toddler backpack that can double as a harness and reins is the perfect travel bag for a toddler. This allows them to pack just a minimal number of toys in a bag they'll love whilst also having a way to keep your roaming tot nearby when you travel.
If you will be undertaking any sort of travel that involves transferring between cars to planes, trains and multiple different forms of transport, as well as taking lots of day trips and excursions during your trip, then a kid backpack is the best fit for you. Keeping hands free and evenly distributing the weight, this is our favourite sort of travel bag for kids.
Ride on luggage is wheeled suitcases that can double as a rideable toy too. They are normally pretty spacious for luggage space, but they can also be overpacked and become heavy to list if you've got a tot who isn't ready to ride or pull their case the whole way. We recommend these rideable suitcases from pre-schoolers and above.
Got a kid who loves their scooter? A unique addition to the ride on category of suitcases so we've given it a feature review all of it's own! All the questions you might have about whether these cases are safe and practical, see if they might be a fun addition to your next vacation or one novelty step too far.
As your child grows older and more responsible for their own packing, possibly event taking trips without you, they need their own durable and stylish luggage. Here we point out all the features to look for when picking appropriate luggage for tweens and teens to handle independently.
What goes in your kids bags?
So glad you asked! We have loads of advice on our website about packing for the entire family as well as every age group. Dig a little deeper on our website we’ll show you:
- Our top tips for stress-free packing – how to actually prepare yourself for a big pack; picking the right sort of luggage, how we set up our ‘staging area’, what stays of goes, and things to pack now & pack last minute
- Packing for a baby – first time family traveller? Welcome aboard. best to start here to w
- Kids Packing Lists – Kid ready to start packing their own suitcases? A great step forward to independence, here we show you what steps of the packing process your youngsters can get involved with, + a packing list they can use to get their own clothing and personal items ready, whatever sort of luggage you’re taking!
- Tween & Teen packing list – Older kids can take a much more independent approach to pack for your next vacation – or heading off on their own! We talk you through what they should be packing + another great handy downloadable list perfectly pitched at teens & tweens, so there are no tricky little items they forget.
- Travel toys for all ages – well undoubtedly the main reason kids need their own luggage is for carrying their own toys and entertainment. We have a guide for every age group 0 to 5, plus ideas for your older kids too!
Did you know you can get all of our packing lists in one spot when you subscribe to the Globetrotters newsletter? Yep, that’s right; we share all our packing goodness; whether it’s a complete family hike or a day trip to the beach, we’ll keep you organised.
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