Packing for yourself to go on a cruise can be challenging enough, let alone thinking about all the items you need to bring along for your toddler. It might be your first cruise or just your first one as a family. Nothing can spoil the joy of cruising like the stress of not knowing what essential items to pack for your tiny cruiser. To help you, here’s a list of things that I believe are crucial when packing for your toddler.
How many outfits to pack
When packing for your cruise, it’s important to remember that your toddler’s clothes may not take up as much space as other clothing items, but they are more likely to get dirty. It’s a good idea to pack backups! Two outfits per day plus an extra pair of underwear is a good rule of thumb. Add another pair of underwear to that if they are newly potty trained. Cruising is such a different environment to home accidents are more likely. Our kids wear their pajamas twice, so one pair of PJs for every two days of cruising is our guideline.
What shoes to bring
When packing for toddlers on a cruise, it’s best to pack two pairs of shoes for them. First, a pair of sneakers for walking around ports and the ship. There is lots of walking around on cruise ships, so comfortable sneakers are a must. Second, a pair of sandals with a good grip, such as Crocs. An excellent water-resistant shoe is important, as the pool decks can be slippery when wet and get very hot in the sun. Loose-fitting flip-flops are not the right choice for your toddler on a cruise ship.
What to pack for potty training
toddlers
If you have a newly potty-trained toddler ready for their first cruise, you might be wondering what you need to bring with you. Based on my experience, going potty outside of the house can be quite challenging if your toddler is anything like mine. Therefore, there are a few things you should consider bringing with you to maximize your chances of success. You’ll want to ensure you bring the potty seat your toddler is already comfortable using at home. This will help them feel more at ease in unfamiliar surroundings. Cruise ship toilets are standard chair height, so packing a folding stool may also be a good idea. We pack the potty seat and folding stool in a separate bag and carry it on to avoid wasting precious luggage space.
What to pack for toddlers that
aren’t potty trained yet
Running out of diapers while on a cruise is not an experience you want to have. It’s important to know how many diapers your child uses daily and pack accordingly. Pack as many diapers in your baby bag as you can, the rest will have to be packed away in your checked luggage. Don’t forget to pack a new full container of wipes in your baby bag too. A travel-size container of rash cream is also a must. The ship’s store usually carries a limited selection of sundries like diapers and wipes, but beware, they are expensive, and the choice is not very good. We also recommend having a few gallon-size zip-top bags for soiled clothes. It is nice to isolate clothes soiled by a diaper blowout from the rest of your laundry.
Pack for lots of water activities
When traveling with toddlers, it’s crucial to pack the appropriate gear for pool time and water activities. Cruise ships require children to be potty trained for health and safety reasons before they can go in the pools. But don’t worry if your toddler isn’t potty trained yet, most ships provide splash areas where toddlers in swim diapers are welcome. Therefore, make sure to pack plenty of swim diapers! It’s advisable to bring at least three for each day of your cruise, depending on how much your child likes playing in the water. Also, remember that the sun can be quite harsh on the water, so it’s important to pack a swimsuit with a long-sleeved rash guard and plenty of high-SPF sunblock. If you’re traveling in certain tropical areas, you may need to pack “reef-safe” sunblock for swimming in the ocean. This can be challenging to find depending on where you live, so we suggest ordering it online ahead of time.
Pack for sleepy time success
If you plan to take your toddler on a cruise, it’s important to make sure they can sleep comfortably during the trip. Although there might be many new and exciting things to experience, your little one still needs rest. Before you pack for your cruise, consider how your toddler sleeps at home. The cabins can get quite dark at night, so it’s a good idea to pack a nightlight. This will help your toddler fall asleep and provide some light if they need to get up during the night. We also think a white noise generator is a good idea since the cabin might not be silent at night. Since most cruise lines do not allow a sound machine that plugs in, we recommend downloading a white noise generator app onto your devices before you leave home.
Special considerations for crib sleepers:
If your toddler sleeps in a crib, don’t worry. Upon request, the cruise lines provide a folding crib that the room host will set up each night. However, we find it’s a good idea to pack a fitted crib sheet from home.
Special considerations for bed sleepers:
Cruise ships offer a few different arrangements for children who sleep in a bed depending on the stateroom you choose. The three most common children’s bed arrangements are couches that convert to beds, bunk-style beds that fold out of the ceiling or wall, and Pullman-style beds. You won’t need to pack anything special, but planning to make sure everybody is comfortable and happy is still important. Some toddlers may be scared of the top bunk, if you think that will be a concern for your child try booking a room with a folding couch or Pullman bed. If you have multiple children who don’t want to sleep in the same bed, you will want to find a room with a Pullman or folding bunk so both kids don’t end up on the same folding couch.
Medication
Dealing with a sick toddler is not a happy thing to think about, but you will want to be prepared if it happens. Packing some basic medication can save you from a potentially expensive visit to the ship’s medical bay. I don’t know about your kids, but our kids only seem to get sick in the middle of the night when the doctor’s office is closed! The ship’s store may carry some basic medication, but it is limited in supply and selection. They may not have the exact medication you need, so bringing your own is best. We like to pack infant acetaminophen (Tylenol,) nasal decongestant mist, bandages, and sea sickness medicine for our toddler.
Stroller considerations
There is no doubt that you will do a ton of walking on your cruise. Most toddlers are going to need a stroller for at least some of the days. A folding stroller is a must, you will not have much space to store it in your stateroom. You will want to choose one with larger wheels for uneven surfaces in port and carpet on the ship. Skip the expensive models for your cruise, you don’t want the stroller to be a target for theft if you need to park it somewhere in a port. We have found having a stroller to be the most useful for Embark, debark, and ports where we expect to do a lot of walking in the city.
Toys
When we go on a cruise with our toddler, we always pack some small new toys for them. This is handy, especially during dinner time, since our kids are not accustomed to sitting down for a two-hour multi-course dinner. Having toys to keep them entertained allows the parents to relax and enjoy their meals. The toys can also be helpful in the stateroom to keep the children occupied while the adults are getting ready or enjoying some downtime.
Cups
Most cruise ships do not offer cups with lids. For most toddlers, this is a recipe for several big messes. We pack a reusable cup for our toddler with a lid and straw. We use it in the room and the ship’s dining rooms to prevent spills. Along with the cup, we pack a travel-size bottle of dish detergent to wash the cup in our room. The detergent also comes in handy for spot-cleaning stains on toddler clothes.
Taking a toddler on a cruise is sure to make unforgettable family memories. Carefully planning what you are going to pack for your cruise with a toddler is sure to make the trip more enjoyable for everyone.
What essential items for a toddler did we miss? Comment below with your “must pack” items.
