Your Expert Guide: What to Pack for Mexico with Kids (2024)
Hurrah! You’re planning a family trip to Mexico. Good for you! Many people are hesitant to travel far with kids but we’re here to reassure you that with a little extra planning, it can be an incredibly rewarding experience for the whole family. Let’s take a look then, at your trip and what to pack for Mexico with kids.
In this article, I will use my extensive kid traveling credentials to help you with your own Mexico packing list and ensure your travel and trip are smooth sailing!
What to Pack for Mexico with Kids
Let’s quickly consider all the variables that have to be taken into play when figuring out what to pack for Mexico with kids: climate, location, activities.
Ask yourself the following questions:
🔆 Where are you going in Mexico and what season is it? It may be hot on the Yucatán Peninsula but that doesn’t mean Mexico City, San Cristobal de las Casas or Chihuahua are hot. Packing for San Miguel de Allende over Christmas is an entirely different set of clothes than is required for an all-inclusive in Cancun or Cabo San Lucas.
☔️ There are clear rainy seasons in Mexico – in some parts of the country this means a quick tropical downpour once a day, in other places it can rain for hours. Be sure you know what to expect.
🗻 What’s the elevation of your destination? A location with a high elevation will be much cooler than anywhere on the Riviera Maya.
⭐️ Are you going to be relaxing in an All-Inclusive hotel in Playa del Carmen for spring break, on a cenote extravaganza, or are you heading into the mountains to go trekking? Whether you’re in Mexico for spring break or any other time of year, this article holds your packing answers.
🚢 ✈️ How are you traveling? Are you flying, driving, or even taking boats or public transport?
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MexicoCassie Articles on travel with Kids
Mexican Beach Destinations with Kids
➡️ Cancun with Kids and Playa del Carmen with Kids
Mexican City Destinations with Kids
➡️ Mexico City with Kids and CDMX’s best Park
TOP TIP: If you are traveling with a baby, many places will have someone who rents baby gear saving you a LOT of hassle lugging a stroller or car seat wherever you’re going. Additionally, looking up any local Facebook family pages can be a great resource.
What to Pack For Your Flight to Mexico with Kids
Flying with Babies and Toddlers
✈️ Rest assured that when it comes to food for babies, airport security is usually very understanding and if they are not, politely ask to see a supervisor as you are permitted to fly with the food you need for your baby. We even managed to get fruit puree packs through for the toddlers as well.
✈️ Pack a spare set of clothes for each child and adult in its own ziplock bag. This way if anyone poops or vomits or spills something, everyone has a change of clothes and a space for the stinky ones.
✈️ Copious snacks including lollipops to help with equalizing ears at take off and landing. A sippy cup or water bottle is a must. Even if you have to empty the cup going through security, it’s easier to get the flight attendants to refill it directly versus endless cups of plastic that spill so easily.
✈️ A fun-looking small bag dedicated to novel small toys and games they’ve never seen before. My two-year-old went crazy with delight sticking post-its all over herself and her seat. It was fun for her and it was super easy to clean up for me.
✈️ Child-friendly headphones. There are my great affordable options that are safe in terms of noise levels for little ears. Because let’s face it: NO ONE on the plane wants to listen to Bluey or Dora, even if it does keep your little one quiet.
✈️ Plane temperatures can fluctuate wildly and there may not always be a blanket to spare. Bring a sweater and a pair of socks for everyone. Nothing is worse than kids whining and crying because they are cold. And these same temperature fluctuations can lead to really dry lips. EVERY trip, my girls end up complaining that their lips hurt so a small pot of Vaseline or some lip balm is a must. A small tube of hand cream also comes in handy.
✈️ Wet wipes. Because they are useful for sticky hands, and sticky spills, and I read an article back in 2014 that MSRA germs can live up to a week on tray tables and seat pockets.
Packing a Day Pack for Mexico / Flying with Older Kids
If your kids are old enough to go to school then they’re old enough to carry their own day pack at least some of the time. A day pack is vital for the aeroplane and is then useful for bigger kids when you head to the beach or on excursions as they can help carry water, towels etc.
Big Kid Day Packs
The bigger kids can generally use their school backpacks as their day pack unless you’re going somewhere where they’ll need a hydration pack or bigger day pack.
📍 Device of choice (Ipad, Nintendo Switch) + Charging cables and nice strong case so it doesn’t break
📍 Extra charging pack or portable charger
📍 Kindle for the avid readers or a regular book or two for kids who read less
📍 Good quality water bottle – Mexico can be very hot and you’ll want to have water with you most of the time
📍 Notebook/travel diary and pens
📍PJs, change of underwear and a t-shirt in case luggage is lost
Pro Tip: If your kids have phones consider a water/sand-resistant sleeve for the beach and a neck carry strap for all adventure days.
Little Kid Day Packs
From the age of 3+ you can give a child packing guidelines and help them to pack their own bags.
📍 1 x Stuffie or favourite toy
📍Colouring book, note book and pencil case
📍 Books
📍 Card game such as Uno or Dobble
📍 Snacks
📍 PJs, change of underwear and a t-shirt in case luggage is lost
Top Tip: Always check your kids’ bags for scissors. Even rounded kid scissors can trigger security checks. Compasses can also cause problems in day packs, and if your (bigger) kids has a pocket knife, please ensure it isn’t in their day pack.
What to Pack for Mexico with Kids: Essential Items
In this section we’ll discuss clothing, packing tips and beach necessaries, and what to put in your first aid kit.
⭐️ If you can, I highly recommend investing in a couple of sets of packing cubes. Whenever we travel we use these. Each kid packs their own clothes (remember, mine are old enough to do this now) and when we arrive at our destination everyone just takes their packing cubes (one for clothing and one for underwear/socks) out the bag. Nice and simple.
General Clothes for Mexico Packing Tips
📍 For underwear (and socks if you need them) figure on taking enough for the number of days of trip + one but never more than 8 in total as it’s always possible to find a way to wash underwear and socks – from hotel laundries or public laundrettes to hand-washing in the hotel sink!
📍 T-shirts follow the same rule as underwear: number of days of trip + 1 but never more than 8. Shorts and pants (trousers) really depends on how messy everyone is. Shorts and pants can be worn at least twice on each trip, more if you’re on the beach or somewhere cool.
➡️ Note that the younger the kids, the more spares you need because the more likely they are to spill, damage, stain. Handily, little kids wear little clothes that take up less room.
➡️ For little kids who may not be completely potty trained, I pack at least 2-4 extra pairs of undies.
📍Shoes – Consider the activities. Flip flops for the beach but are you planning on doing anything active? If so, do you need closed walking shoes or sneakers? Will a pair of Teva sandals do? Do not pack too many pairs of shoes, you will regret it!
📍 Are you going anywhere where you might need to look nice at supper? Maybe bring a nice top/shirt/skirt for the evening.
📍 Always pack a sweater/sweatshirt even when traveling to the tropics. It is usually freezing somewhere… the airport, the plane, bus, a restaurant, etc. It never hurts to have a sweater with you.
Mexico Beach Packing Suggestions
These suggestions also work if you plan on visiting lakes, waterfalls and cenotes
🏝 Sunscreen: Make it reef-safe, please. It’s worth knowing that on some excursions such as snorkeling with turtles in Akumal or visiting cenotes around the Yucatán Peninsula, they may ask you to refrain from wearing any sunscreen at all to safeguard the marine environment.
🏝 Sun hat: For small kids and those with very fair/sensitive skin, go for the hats with the neck flaps. There’s nothing worse than a bad neck sunburn.
🏝 Sunglasses: Make sure they have the proper UVA/UVB protection. If you don’t already have them, there will be loads of vendors around but it may be harder to ensure you’ve got the real thing. A sunglass strap is a good way to help your kids not lose them.
🏝 Bathing suit: Beach, pool, cenote, water park, you’re going to need them and they take no space at all. Just pack one if you aren’t going to the beach and pack several if you are. No one wants to put a wet swimsuit back on.
🏝 Rash guard or rash vest: Even if you’re not coming to Mexico for a beach vacation you could well end up at a water park or in the hotel pool. The sun in Mexico can be fierce. Remember, at higher altitudes you may not feel the heat so much but the sun can still burn you.
🏝 Beach Bag: Unless you like carrying for everyone, I highly recommend packing a lightweight beach bag for each kid so they can be responsible for their towel, any beach toys, water bottle, etc. Those ultra-thin waterproof shopping carriers work a treat and take up zero space.
🏝 Dry Bag: If you are booking a boat tour, this is a pretty nifty thing to have. I use it at the beach for my wallet, keys, kindle etc. I’m a huge fan of ensuring my stuff stays extra dry.
🏝 Water Shoes: These you really only need for the beach and maybe the cenotes to help with grip on slippery wood platforms. Some will say they are superfluous but for kids who get spooked by feeling funny things in the water or to avoid unfortunate shell or sea urchin cuts. My kids are always extra happy when we have them.
🏝 Towel: Ultra-thin quick-drying travel towels take up very little space and always come in handy. Sarongs also work well as towels.
🏝 Goggles: Kids really like to look under the water. Having good quality well fitting goggles are a great investment. And if you are doing intensive beach holiday, consider the full face snorkeling mask. It’s a huge hit with kids and adults.
🏝 Life jacket: When my kids were smaller I liked to travel with inflatable life jackets so I knew if we went on boat trips, or visited cenotes they’d have something the right size for them. Bigger kids will generally be fine with small adult life jackets.
⭐️ Anyone planning on exploring cenotes in the Yucatan can check out our comprehensive post on what to take to a cenote.
Don’t forget that if you’re travelling to Yucatán, Mexico Cassie has written the definitive guide book to travelling the region with kids. Her book shares secrets only locals know and points you in the direction of the kids’ favourite spots.
Extras to Pack for the Kids
📍 Cheap camera: If your kids love taking pictures but you don’t want to risk your cell phone a cheap camera for them is a great investment.
📍 Go-Pro: Not strictly necessary but if you happen to have one this can keep kids busy and give them hours of movie-making fun especially at the beach.
📍 Night light: optional but nice for young kids who may get a bit disorientated in a new place and be afraid of the dark.
📍 Small portable speaker: Not for use in public spaces necessarily but it’s nice to be able to listen to music or audiobooks as a family versus kids each putting on their headphones.
What to Pack for Mexico with Kids: Toiletries & Medicines
As long as you aren’t going out into the deepest jungle or scaling the highest mountains, you’ll be able to get everything you need in Mexico so if you forget something, don’t worry too much. Supermarkets such as Wal-Mart and Chedraui sell everything and even Oxxo (the Mexican 7-11 equivalent) sells products you’ll need.
You’ll find diapers, deodorants, skin products, toothpastes etc everywhere but of course, if you are particular then it’s better to bring your preferred products from home.
⭐️ Don’t forget to wrap anything that could leak in an extra plastic bag. No one wants to find their clothes covered in shampoo when they arrive.
General Needs for Mexico
📌 Bug spray / insect repellent – The mozzies are often fierce and so we choose to use Deet-based creams. If your children are very young, consider essential oil sprays, long lightweight protective clothing, and the stick patches of repellant you can put on the back of their clothes.
📌 Anti-itch cream and antihistamines
📌 Aloe vera or sunburn cream
📌 Motion sickness pills if you plan on taking excursions on the water or in the mountains
First Aid Kit
⛑ Thermometer
⛑ Fever reducing medicines (of course, this is possible to get everywhere in Mexico but you may not want to rush to a pharmacy when your kid gets sick at 3 am)
⛑ Anti-diarrhoea medication. Personally I’ve never been sick from the food in Mexico but I know it does happen.
⛑ Any prescription medications. Legally you can be required to show your actual prescription or a letter from your doctor stating the meds and dosage but I have yet to hear of anyone being asked this. Also many many medicines can be easily acquired here over the counter if you forget them.
⛑ Bandaids and antiseptic cream for basic scrapes
Top Tip: Rescue Ventolin inhalers cost very little in Mexico and are available over the counter. If you are asthmatic and forget your inhaler or your child’s inhaler, it will be easy to replace.
🩺 The doctors in Mexico are outstanding in their care and very affordable so do not fret should anyone get sick during your trip. If you need a quick consultation and prescription medicine, many pharmacies have a doctor attached to them who will see you for as little as 50 pesos. If you need to go to a private hospital emergency room, it’s still affordable – generally under 500 pesos for the consultation.
What to Pack for Mexico with Kids: Important Documents
I know I am stating the obvious and most of these aren’t kid-specific but if you are planning a trip to Mexico you hopefully know that you need to pack your valid travel documents.
💼 Mexico is one of the rare countries that does not require 6 months validity on a passport before entering the country so just make sure it is valid for the duration of your trip.
💼 A credit card and debit card. If you do need to pay by card, a credit card is a much better bet than a debit card as it is much easier to contest charges should you need to. You’ll use them for your hotel or resort booking and any other emergencies that may arise. Debit cards are the best way to access cash. Do not go to a change agent and there is no need to buy pesos ahead of time. The easiest way to access money is to find any major bank cash point, and directly withdraw pesos.
💼 If your kids have a different name from you or were adopted, it’s worth bringing along proof of familial relationship documents.
Top Tip: for the best exchange rate at an ATM, decline the conversion rate offered by the machine. It will not cancel your withdrawal, you will just get a better rate from your bank directly. Keep in mind that different cash points have significantly different fees for taking out cash so don’t hesitate to shop around, particularly if you have a few cash points close to each other.
💼 Bringing your driver’s license is also a good idea so you can rent a car or even bikes. You need to leave an ID to rent bikes and sometimes even to get into museums (Palacio Nacional in CDMX, looking at you) and you really don’t want to leave your passport.
💼 It’s recommended to have photocopies of your passports and driver’s licence in case they go missing.
A Note US Dollars in Mexico
Some blogs recommend you bring dollar bills to tip at all-inclusive resorts. However, contrary to popular belief, tips in pesos are much more practical as no one then has to convert them and be charged a fee.
A 20 peso note is better than a $1 dollar bill in Mexico
Be cautious of anything priced in dollars in Mexico. I appreciate some vendors are trying to make things simpler for tourists but most of the time, you will pay a premium to pay in dollars and may be better off getting pesos out at the cash point.
The more you travel with your kids, the better travelers they become. My toddlers had better airplane manners on long flights than 90% of the adults on the plane and have been packing their carry-on suitcases since they hit the age of reason. Traveling with them is the greatest pleasure of my life. Here’s to many more memory-making trips. ¡Buen Viaje!
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