What to Pack for a Winter Family Holiday

If you’re heading away for a snowy or cold winter break, we’ve got you covered! Here’s our guide to what to pack on a winter holiday with kids.

Adventure-ready layers

Let’s start with how to pack well for winter warmth, so you can keep cosy but also have plenty of room left in your suitcase for everything else!

• Avoid choosing really thick jumpers and instead opt for lots of layers you can mix and match. Layering is more effective at trapping in warmth and makes it possible to roll-up and pack compactly. Great for layering are vests and long sleeve t-shirts made from natural fibers (also more effective at keeping in warmth). You’ll also want to make sure you pack all the winter accessories - mittens, long socks, and of course - stylish winter hats! 

• Good boots Invest in a pair of great walking boots or a stylish pair of wellies for both grown-ups and kids, and you’ll be ready for mud and snow fun on your winter escape. We love these women’s Chelsea Hunter boots  and these kids wellies from BoxBo are just awesome! 

For our favourite winter style buys read our blog: ‘LHW Winter Adventure Style File’ 

Bedtime essentials

• Layers at night time are a must too. If you need a guide on safe and comfortable bedtime layers, Gro-bag do a brilliant guide on how to layer your child for bedtime depending on the room temperature. For modern sleep bags for home or hotel, we love Wild Fire Teepees monochrome designs. 

Take a cellular blanket for your baby/toddler, so you can layer them up or down further if you need to. This one by White Company is beautiful.

• Night light Take a little torch or a head torch for getting up in the night (in case the light switch is too far while feeding or the only lighting is too bright!). And if your older kids need a night light, make sure you take their from home with a travel adaptor if needed.
• Baby monitor
• Room thermometer

Travel solutions

If you’re going to need a buggy then think carefully about which one will be a good fit for your holiday plans. Do you need a city stroller or an off-terrain pram for muddy walks?

If you’re travelling with a baby then consider taking a pram with a bassinet you can take off for them to sleep in. Most hotels offer huge travel costs, and if your child is used to sleeping in a Moses basket or compact co-sleeper then a travel cot may feel huge and unsettling.

• Universal travel plug adaptor so you can charge your tech

• Thermal travel bottles for when you want a warm drink on your out of town explorations. We love the look of these kids Hydroflasks which keep drinks ice cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours! 

Health and wellbeing must-packs

• A little medicine bag including a baby thermometer
• Sunscreen
• A lip balm to protect lips drying out in the cold
• Your favourite kids bath/shower products and shampoos
• A pot of Kokoso cream - a wonder balm to keep their skin moisturised and soothe rashes and dry skin 

Playtime

• A couple of little soft toys/books or their favourite toy cars etc - things that won’t take up much packing space!
• Their fave bedtime cuddlies to help them settle wherever you stay.
• Travel games for on any long journeys. We love the journey playPROMPTS from our Claire of playHOORAY! Full of fun ideas on how to keep them entertained as you head off on holiday. 
• A mirror a small kid friendly one. Great for playing peekaboo + keeping them entertained with silly faces.

If you liked this blog you may also like: ‘How to Ace Xmas Away from Home’ 

Don’t forget to sign up to our Fresh Air Club for more travel and style inspiration sent directly to your inbox every fortnight. Sign up here now.