HOW I ORGANIZE MY SUITCASE WHEN TRAVELING WITH MY 3-YEAR-OLD

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The first time I traveled with my son was when he was six months old. We took a week's vacation to the Turks & Caicos islands and as a new mom traveling out of the country with my baby, I brought absolutely everything to mitigate the chances of being left without something we needed. We have a gigantic suitcase, so of course that was the one I loaded up with diapers, toys, wipes, his sound machine, baby monitor, my pumping supplies -- you name it, it was in that bag. I think we may have even used that entire gigantic suitcase for just his things.

Of course now he's a bit older and doesn't need quite as much, but I'm also a bit more knowledgeable when it comes to traveling with a little kid. I know what has to be packed, what can stay behind, and what I can buy when we arrive.

If you're packing for a trip with a little kid, here are the things I wish I would have known sooner, and how I pack smarter now.

1. Don't overpack items that you can buy when you arrive

I'm talking diapers, wipes, creams, pouches, snacks, etc. I think an entire half of the bag I mentioned above was filled with those items. Not only did that mean we had a giant bag to bring to the airport, but I'm sure there's a chance we also paid an overage charge for its weight that was far more than buying those supplies at our destination. If you have a car, scout out the nearest grocery or convenience store to swing by when you arrive. If you don't have a car, investigate what delivery options look like in your destination.

2. Assign packing cubes and a section of the suitcase to each family member

Not only do packing cubes help me stay organized when I'm packing to make sure I don't forget anything, it also helps tremendously with unpacking when we arrive. I use vacuum bags inside the packing cubes to maximize my space even more.

I also assign sections of the suitcase to each family member so everyone's stuff stays in one place. We usually travel with one medium-sized suitcase and one smaller one.

3. Bring must-have items in your carry-on

This includes the more obvious items like medications, important documents, etc., but also includes the basics that you'd need if your luggage doesn't arrive at the same time you do. For example, if we're going on a beach vacation, we'll bring a swim suit and at least one outfit. The last thing you want is to have to hunt down those items on your first day if your luggage gets delayed!

What tips do you have for packing for a family vacation with little kids?