3 EASY KIDS PACKING ALTERNATIVES THAT ARE BETTER THAN PACKING CUBES

Okay, fun fact about me? I hate packing cubes. The whole idea is to have a better organized suitcase, but I don’t think they help with organization that much! You can’t see everything that’s inside, the cubes don’t keep everything nicely folded unless they’re packed extremely full… it’s really just a way of bagging up clothes, not actually organizing them in a way that makes traveling more streamlined. 

Especially when traveling with kids, you need a solution that keeps things organized and easy. You want to be able to wake up, grab the outfits needed for that day, and head out the door, not waste a morning digging through different packing cubes because you can’t remember which one had pants and which one had swimsuits. When on the go with kids, it’s more important than ever to be super organized for your own sanity. We need visual access, all-in-one systems.

Rant over. 😉 Now let’s talk about some alternatives! We travel a ton with our kids so we know a thing or two about what works and what doesn’t. I’m going to share three game-changing, practical alternatives that save space, cut down on “getting ready” time, and keep everyone’s sanity intact. These ideas keep kids packing in mind, but they also work great for the adults! 

Method 1: The “Outfit-By-Day” Bundle Method

• Instead of packing by item type, pack full outfits together so you can grab one bundle each morning.

• How it Works:

  • Lay out a top, bottom, underwear and socks for Day 1.

  • Roll or fold into a bundle. Secure with rubber bands or put in a ziploc bag. (Bags are great because you can label them “Day 1, 2, etc.)

• Why it Beats Packing Cubes: No more digging through a giant cube of 10 shirts to find matching shorts. Kids can grab their daily outfit bundle independently, get dressed, and get the day started!

• Pro Tip: Pack a couple extra emergency bundles for the accidents and inevitable spills. Store these in your carry-on or diaper bag for easy access!

Method 2: The Mothercould Kids Travel Organizer

• Swap loose packing cubes for dedicated, multi-compartment hanging travel organizerdesigned specifically for travel.

• How it Works:

  • Visual compartmentalization makes it easy for kids to see everything at a glance. They can find their changes of clothes, activities, and toys all at once, making it less likely for them to dump everything out just to find a toy.

  • The 360° swivel hook makes it easy to hang up wherever you are - airplane tray tables, car headrests, hotel closets, keeping the bags off the dirty floor.

  • It’s made for kids! Easy-to-pull zippers, water-resistant wipeable fabric, and two available sizes (Small & Large) that slip easily into backpacks or stroller baskets. It’s the ideal solution for travel!

• What to Pack: The Big Three! You’ll need a Snack Station, the Fun Zone (a couple compact activities), and the Emergency Change of Clothes.

Check out the Kids Travel Organizers here!

Method 3: The Hanging Luggage Shelf System

• Concept: Portable hanging travel shelves that collapse directly into your suitcase and unpack in 3 seconds when you reach your destination.

• How it Works:

  • When packing, hang up the luggage shelf system.

  • Pack each shelf by theme or outfit. (All shirts on one shelf, all pants on another, or organize into outfits like the first method.)

  • Compress the organizer, drop it into your suitcase, and when you get to your destination you can hang it up in a closet in just a few seconds!

• Why it Beats Packing Cubes: It eliminates the need to ever unpack or restack clothes in hotel drawers. No need to unpack it, just hang it up! Everything stays off hotel furniture and at kids’ eye levels so everyone can help get ready in the morning.

Here are the hanging luggage shelves that our family has used for years!

The key to stress-free travel and packing with your kids isn’t just throwing things into packing cubes as fast as possible. Sure, it’s packed quicker. But then you arrive at your destination and everything is disorganized. Even if things are separated into cubes, it can be frustrating to dig through each section to find each outfit every day. 

Creating a visual, accessible system for packing gives kids independence while traveling and helps save your sanity. Taking a little more time when packing to organize things by outfit, utilize a kids travel organizer for kids items, or using hanging travel shelves can change the game for your travels.

Ready to upgrade your next family trip? Check out the Mothercould Kids Travel Organizer (available in Small & Large) and grab our travel-ready Snack Box set to make your travel days seamless!