Packing List for Kids with Disabilities

Family travel invariably involves some hiccups. And while we can’t control things like plane delays and road closures, we can find comfort and relief in being prepared for our kids’ needs in route. Aside from basic clothing, footwear, and toiletries, here are important items to consider for your packing list, along with helpful background notes.

1. Key documents

• Identification. If you are flying, make sure everyone has their own photo ID. Starting May 2025, every passenger 18 or older needs a REAL ID, which is a driver’s license, permit, or identification card marked with a star for federal identification. Recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are eligible for free or low-cost photo IDs from the DMV.
• Medical cards. Be sure to pack all medical-related cards.
• Pediatrician referral letter. In advance of your trip, ask your pediatrician for a referral letter detailing your child’s diagnosis, medical history, allergies, equipment, medications, needs, etc., in the event that your child needs medical attention while you are away from home. You can also ask whether they recommend or can refer you to a doctor or specialist in the area of your destination.
• Emergency information. Have all emergency information (medication list, medical contacts, diagnoses, action plan, etc.) easily accessible in case you land in an ER away from home.
• Destination resources. In advance of your trip, make a list of local hospitals, emergency rooms, medical centers, and pharmacies, as well as local durable medical equipment (DME) dealers in case of an emergency that requires immediate access to medical equipment.

2. Medications

The last thing you want during vacation is to run out of your child’s medication, or for something unexpected to happen and their medicine to get lost or ruined. Pack backups for your backups, keep medicine in your carry-on, and make sure everything is labeled.

• Over-the-counter medication. Save yourself a run to the pharmacy during your vacation by packing your child’s commonly used over-the-counter medication. For example, if your child has a lot of environmental allergies, pack antihistamines. Also, many children have trouble clearing their ears on airplane ascent and descent. Check with your doctor; they may recommend your child preemptively take a decongestant or have a fast-acting nasal spray available to clear their ears rapidly, if needed.
• Prescribed medication. Bring labeled medication with instructions. Research where you can refill prescriptions if needed. You can also check with your home pharmacy about pre-drawing medication. Families commonly do this when traveling to make for less waste and to avoid accidentally misdosing due to sleep deprivation or being off routines during travel. Also, you may want to check whether insurance will cover medication if you are out-of-state or whether you will need to pay out of pocket, as well as with insurance and your pediatrician regarding 90-day/vacation overrides for medications, so that you don’t have to refill on the trip.
• A note about liquid medicine. If you have liquid medicine in a container bigger than 3.4 ounces, tell a TSA agent at the start of screening. You’re allowed to bring ice packs to keep it cool. (Remember that formula, breast milk, and juice are allowed in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces—just keep them separate from other liquids that have to comply with the 3.4 rule.)

3. Special equipment/items related to needs

In the weeks leading up to your trip, keep a running list of special equipment or items that you need to pack. Also, for families with complex medical needs, communicating with your care team before your travels is essential in making sure you have all of the proper material, equipment, and supplies ready for the trip. Here are some item ideas to get you started.

• Ambulatory aids
• Assistive devices (e.g., wheelchair, walking aids)
• Bath/toileting aids (e.g., special toilet seat)
• Bottle liners
• Feeding tubes
• Hearing aid batteries
• Insulin pump
• Masks
• Oxygen equipment

Note: Check with DME to see whether supplies (i.e. wheelchairs, oxygen equipment, insulin pump, walking aids, etc) can be shipped to where you will be staying.

4. Changing items

• Backup clothing. Accidents happen! No matter how you’re traveling, stow a backup set of clothing and underwear in an easy-to-reach spot—for example, your carry-on bag or in a storage pocket in your car. Pack the backup items in a plastic bag so it’s easy to stow soiled clothing when you switch.
• Diapers and wipes. In addition to the full stash of supplies you have in your luggage, pack a travel set (or two) of diapers and wipes. (Also, be sure to check out this post on funding for incontinence supplies.)
• Towel or blanket. If you’re traveling by car and thus have a little extra space, consider bringing a towel or blanket in case you need an impromptu place to change a child, or if the rest stops in route are not clean or lack a changing table. We recommend checking out apps like Flush to find public bathrooms or Changing Spaces for adult changing tables.

5. Food/water

• Water bottle. If you are flying, bring your bottle empty and fill it after you get through security.
• Snacks. The more snacks the better! If you’re traveling by plane, try to hold snacks until take-off and landing so the chewing/swallowing helps small or sensitive ears.
• Specialty food needs. If your child has food allergies or sensitivities, consider packing some meals to travel with, or use platforms such as AllergyEats or Find Me Gluten Free to find food outlets that can accommodate your child.

6. Comfort items

Familiar items can help create a sense of calm, and also be helpful to manage sensory overload. Here are some ideas to get you started.

• Blanket (regular or weighted)
• Books
• Electronic devices
• Hands-free personal fan (for temperature regulation)
• Noise-canceling headphones (or ear plugs)
• Tactile toys
• Toys (e.g., stuffed animals, games)

7. Activities

Activities are crucial! Check out our list of travel boredom busters for kids with disabilities.

Check out more resources on travel and activities below. And if you need further support from Undivided—for example, help applying for public benefits or preparing for an IEP meeting and access to members-only office hours with specialists in insurance, public benefits, and special education—sign up for a free Undivided trial membership.