Make Traveling Fun with Friendly Packing Cubes for Kids

Packing with kids can feel like a game of suitcase Tetris. Packing cubes for kids turns that chaos into something calmer, lighter, and surprisingly fun for everyone, especially when you are juggling outfits, pajamas, swimsuits, snacks, and “essential” stuffed animals.

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In this guide, you will find kid friendly packing cube options, simple packing systems you can copy, and tips that make your next trip feel more like an adventure and less like a scavenger hunt through your luggage.

Why packing cubes for kids are a game changer

If you have ever dug through a suitcase at 10 p.m. looking for one tiny pair of pajamas, packing cubes for kids are going to feel like a small miracle.

Instead of one big black hole of clothes, packing cubes create mini drawers inside your suitcase. Each child gets their own color and their own cubes. You open, grab what you need, zip, and you are done.

For family travel, that means you can:

Pack more outfits into less space, especially if you use compression packing cubes or roll clothes inside standard cubes
Keep baby and toddler items like diapers, wipes, creams, and a spare outfit together in one grab and go cube
Separate clean and dirty clothes so you are not guessing what has been worn
Hand kids their own “drawer” so they can get dressed without unpacking the entire bag

Parents who started using cubes after having kids report that their suitcases stopped turning into disorganized black holes, and that it became much easier to actually find what they packed. Travel + Leisure notes that packing cubes quickly became essential for keeping family belongings tidy once kids entered the picture, especially on longer trips or multi stop itineraries.

What to look for in kid friendly packing cubes

Not every cube is ideal for small travelers. When you are choosing packing cubes for kids, you want a set that can handle spills, rough handling, and frequent repacking without falling apart.

Focus on a few key details.

Durable, washable materials

Kids are hard on gear. Juice boxes leak, sunscreen lids pop open, and someone always steps on the suitcase while you are loading the car.

Look for:

Nylon or polyester fabric
Machine washable or very easy to wipe clean
Some level of water resistance so light splashes do not soak everything inside

Travel + Leisure’s 2026 recommendations point out that durable, slightly stretchy fabrics like nylon or polyester are ideal for families because they hold up to frequent use and help protect clothes from moisture on the go.

Kid proof zippers and handles

Tiny hands tug hard. Sturdy zippers that glide easily reduce frustration for both you and your kids. Top handles are another small detail that makes a big difference, especially when you want to pull a single cube out of a tightly packed suitcase or overhead bin.

Many family friendly sets, like the Gonex compression cubes, include handles specifically to make packing and unpacking easier for multiple travelers sharing a bag.

Mesh panels so you can see inside

When you are trying to grab one specific thing in a hurry, clear or mesh tops are your friend. They let you see at a glance what is inside each cube without unzipping everything.

Mesh panels also help things breathe a little, which matters if you are packing slightly damp swimsuits between hotel stops.

Sizes that match kid gear

Baby clothes fit into very small cubes, while older kids may need larger sizes for jeans, sweatshirts, and school age pajamas. A good family set should include a mix:

Smaller cubes for socks, underwear, and baby outfits
Medium cubes for rolled T shirts or pajamas
Larger cubes for bulkier layers, jackets, or swim gear

If you want extra roomy options for older children or teens, pairing kid specific sets with large packing cubes can give you a nice balance.

Make packing fun with color coding

One of the easiest ways to use packing cubes for kids is to give each child a signature color. You instantly know which cube belongs to which kid, and they know where their things live without asking.

Parents who switched to color coded cubes say it significantly improved packing organization for multiple kids on the same trip. Clothes stop getting mixed up, and it becomes much easier to share a single suitcase without arguments over whose socks are whose.

Here is a simple system you can adapt:

Pick a color for each child, and stick with it every trip
Use one cube for outfits, another for underwear and socks, and a third for swimwear or pajamas
Add a separate color or pattern for family shared items like snacks, medicine, or electronics

If you like extra clarity, you can combine color coding with packing cubes with labels so you know instantly which cube is “Day outfits” and which is “Swim and sun gear.”

Away Kids Packing Cubes: Turn packing into play

If you want cubes designed specifically with kids in mind, Away’s Kids Packing Cubes are a standout option that are both practical and playful.

These color blocked cubes in the Fruit Punch set are made to fit perfectly inside Away’s Kids Carry On, and they integrate with the compression system so you can maximize space for tiny socks and treasured souvenirs. The set includes three cubes made of nylon, each water repellent and sized for child friendly packing:

Medium cubes: 9.1″ x 5.5″ x 3.7″ (23 cm x 14 cm x 9.5 cm)
Wide cubes: 11.8″ x 5.9″ x 3.7″ (30 cm x 15 cm x 9.5 cm)
Total set weight: 4.6 oz (130 g)

Because they are lightweight and sized for kids, your child can help pack their own things and carry a cube or two without feeling overwhelmed. Away emphasizes that this set is meant to teach kids to travel smart from the start, making organization simple and fun for families.

Parents also benefit from Away’s shipping and support. The brand offers free shipping on luggage orders that include Kids Packing Cubes, free returns and exchanges within the first 100 days on unused items, and a limited lifetime warranty on suitcases, which adds peace of mind when you are investing in children’s travel accessories.

Everyday friendly: Itzy Ritzy Pack Like A Boss

If you have a baby or toddler, you know that their gear does not stay in one place. It moves from the nursery to the diaper bag, then to the car, stroller, or suitcase. The Itzy Ritzy Pack Like A Boss Packing Cubes are designed to make that constant shuffle easier.

These cubes help you:

Keep diapers, wipes, and creams together in one grab and go cube
Separate feeding supplies, bibs, and burp cloths from clothes
Create a “toy and books” cube for boredom emergencies on planes or road trips

Breathable mesh tops keep items visible and help prevent the contents from shifting, so you are not digging for the pacifier that somehow slid to the bottom of a deep bag. Parents use them in suitcases for travel days, and then move the same cubes into diaper bags or day packs for outings at your destination.

Because they rely on clear categories like diapering, feeding, and clothing, these cubes work especially well if someone else, like a grandparent or babysitter, needs to find things quickly without asking you where everything lives.

Space saving stars: Gonex Compression Packing Cubes

When you are trying to fit multiple kids into limited luggage, compression styles can be a huge help. The Gonex Compression Packing Cubes are recommended as one of the best options for families in 2026, especially for trips where you need to stretch every inch of space.

A typical Gonex family set includes four generously sized compression bags, like extra large, large, medium, and small. They are made of nylon fabric that repels light splashes, which is handy for spills and damp bathrooms, even though they are not fully waterproof. Each cube includes a convenient top handle that makes it simple to share cubes among multiple travelers.

Families like Gonex cubes because:

The mix of sizes can be split between parents and children
Compression lets you pack more outfits into carry on bags
Handles and zippers are sturdy enough to survive frequent use

If you already use compression packing cubes for yourself, this type of set gives you a familiar system that can scale easily to include your kids.

Long trip hero: Shacke Pak for 1–2 week family travel

For longer trips up to about 14 days, the Shacke Pak 5 Set Packing Cubes are another parent approved option. Travel + Leisure highlights this set for its variety of sizes, including extra large cubes and a dedicated laundry bag, which helps you keep kids’ and adults’ items separate and organized over many days on the road.

The extra large cube can handle bulkier child items like hoodies, multiple pairs of pajamas, or a full week of rolled outfits. Medium and small cubes are perfect for socks, underwear, and accessories. The laundry bag keeps worn clothes from mixing with clean ones, which is especially important when you are trying to track who still has a clean shirt left.

If you want to build a complete packing cube organizer system that will grow with your kids, a set like Shacke Pak gives you room to experiment and refine how you use each size.

Shoe specific cubes: Keep dirt away from kid clothes

Children’s shoes can take up a surprising amount of space, especially when you pack sneakers, sandals, and maybe dress shoes for a wedding or special event. Dedicated packing cubes for shoes help you keep dirty soles away from clean clothes, and they also make it easier to find that missing shoe at checkout time.

Some families use shoe packing cubes that can hold up to three pairs of kids’ shoes each. This works especially well when:

Two children are sharing one suitcase
You are traveling to a destination that needs multiple shoe types, like beach and city walking
You want quick access to a back up pair after a muddy park stop

If you like to keep things extra organized, you can assign one shoe cube per child and use a simple rule, such as “all shoes always go back in the cube,” so nothing gets lost under hotel beds or car seats.

How to build a kid friendly packing cube system

You do not need a complicated method to make packing cubes work for kids. A few simple habits will carry you through most trips.

1. Start with one suitcase per two kids

If your kids are still small, sharing a suitcase is usually manageable. Use color coded cubes so each child has a clear set of “drawers” within that suitcase.

For example:

Blue cubes for one child, green cubes for the other
One shared cube for pajamas if they have similar sizes
One cube for shared items like swim gear or sun hats

Once kids get older or their clothes get bulkier, you can shift to one suitcase per child, but the cube system still works the same way.

2. Pack outfits together

Instead of tossing random tops and bottoms into cubes, roll or fold full outfits together. One shirt, one bottom, and underwear in a single roll, then line up those rolls inside the cube.

This method pairs nicely with packing cubes for carry on, especially if each child is allowed a personal item or small roller. Grab one outfit roll and your morning is sorted without thinking about what matches what.

3. Use separate cubes for “day” and “backup”

Kids are messy. Consider two main categories:

“Main outfits” that you expect them to wear
“Backup clothes” for spills, accidents, or surprise weather

Keep backup items in a smaller cube at the top of your bag so you can reach them quickly on planes, trains, or in the car. If you carry your own packing cubes for travel, it can help to mirror your kids’ system so everyone knows where to find an emergency clean T shirt.

4. Give dirty clothes a home

The quickest way to ruin a well organized suitcase is to toss dirty laundry back in with clean clothes. A simple fix is:

A dedicated laundry cube or bag for each child
A rule that anything worn goes straight into the laundry cube

This keeps smells contained and makes laundry day easier when you get home or arrive at your rental. Many families like that they can “live out of the cubes” on a trip, then drop the laundry bag straight into a hamper without extra sorting.

Using packing cubes for more than clothes

Once you get used to packing cubes for kids, you will probably find yourself using them for everything else you travel with. They are a flexible way to create order inside backpacks, totes, and carry ons.

A few kid focused ideas:

Snacks and activities cube: Fill with shelf stable snacks, crayons, sticker books, and small toys so you can keep kids entertained without scattering items everywhere
Toiletry cube: Use a small packing cubes for toiletries setup for children’s toothbrushes, toothpaste, hairbrushes, and travel sized shampoo
Electronics cube: Store headphones, tablet chargers, and portable batteries in a compact packing cubes for electronics so cables stay untangled
Bedtime cube: Keep favorite books, loveys, and pajamas together so bedtime routines feel familiar no matter where you are

If you are trying to travel lighter, mixing in a few lightweight packing cubes keeps your overall bag weight down while still giving everything a defined place.

Quick rule of thumb: If something is annoying to dig for more than once, it probably deserves its own cube.

Budget, eco options, and sets that grow with your family

You do not have to spend a lot to make packing cubes for kids work. Many family friendly sets cost around twenty dollars for four or five cubes, which means you can try a system without a huge commitment.

If you are watching your budget, start with affordable packing cubes in a few different sizes. See how your kids actually use them on a trip, then add extras only where needed. Often, one or two cubes per child plus a shared shoe or laundry cube is enough.

If sustainability matters to you, explore eco friendly packing cubes made with recycled materials. These can be a nice choice if you are building a long term travel kit that you expect to use for many years and many trips.

Families who already use packing cubes for women or packing cubes for men often find it easy to mix and match kid cubes with their existing adult sets. As children grow, the smaller cubes can shift to organizing school supplies, sports gear, or even dorm room closets.

How to get your kids involved

Packing is usually faster and smoother when kids feel some ownership of the process. Packing cubes make that surprisingly easy.

Try this simple approach:

Lay out all the cubes for your child on the bed.
Label or explain each one, like “Day clothes,” “Pajamas,” “Underwear and socks,” and “Fun stuff.”
Let your child choose outfits and place them into the right cube with your help.
Once you arrive, show them where their cubes live in the suitcase or dresser.

You might be surprised by how quickly they remember which cube holds what. For young kids, brands like Away’s Kids Packing Cubes lean into bright colors and playful design to make the whole process feel more like a game than a chore.

Over time, you can step back and let older children pack their own cubes with a simple checklist. This builds independence and takes one more task off your plate.

Simple sample packing list using cubes

To make all of this more concrete, here is an example of how you could pack for a 5 day warm weather trip with two kids sharing one checked suitcase and one carry on.

Cube type	Contents	Who uses it
Large clothing cube	5 rolled outfits per child	Both kids
Medium pajama cube	3 pairs pajamas per child	Both kids
Small underwear cube	6 underwear, 6 socks per child	Both kids
Swim cube	2 swimsuits and rash guards per child, goggles	Both kids
Shoe cube	2 pairs shoes per child (sandals and sneakers)	Both kids
Backup clothes cube	2 extra outfits per child for spills	Accessible in carry on
Activity and snacks cube	Books, small toys, crayons, snacks	Accessible in carry on
Toiletry cube	Kid toothbrushes, toothpaste, hairbrush, sunscreen	Both kids

You can customize this based on your destination, but the basic idea stays the same. Every category gets a home, and that home is always a cube you can grab quickly.

Final thoughts: Start small and adjust

Packing cubes for kids do not require a complicated system or a brand new set of luggage. You can start with a few cubes you already own or an inexpensive starter set, then pay attention to what actually makes your travel days easier.

Maybe you find that color coding by child is the biggest win. Maybe the game changer is a dedicated shoe cube or a bedtime cube that keeps loveys from getting lost. As you refine your approach, you can add specialized cubes like packing cubes for shoes, lightweight packing cubes, or a compact packing cube organizer for all the small extras that come with family life.

The goal is simple. You want to open your suitcase and see calm, not clutter. With the right kid friendly packing cubes and a few easy habits, that is completely within reach for your next trip.