Black 3 Piece Pouch Set

I like this three-piece pouch set because it provides three different size options. The sizes included are:

• Large bag with zip 25cm x6cm x 18cm
• Medium bag with zip: 18cm x 6cm x 12cm
• Small bag with zip: 15cm x 7cm x 10cm

Click here to buy it on eBay.

Large 30cm Pouch with Handles

This is a much larger pouch with handles to carry it. The dimensions are:

• Dimensions: 30cm x 10cm x 22cm

Click here to buy it on eBay.

Black Twin Set of Pouches (18cm)

This is a double set of clear pouches and both pouches are the same size. The sizes of the pouches are:

• Dimensions: 18cm x 12cm x 5cm

Click here to buy the set on eBay.

Black Twin Set of Pouches (25cm)

This is a double set of pouches. Both pouches are the same size. The dimensions of the pouches are:

• Dimensions: 25cm x 18cm x 6cm

Click here to buy the pouches on eBay.

Blue Pouches Set (3 Pieces)

This is a set of three blue pouches. Two are standard zippable pouches and the third comes with a handle. The sizes of the pouches are:

• Large bag with zip and two carry handles: 30cm x 10cm x 22cm
• Medium bag with zip: 24cm x 5cm x 20cm
• Small bag with zip: 18cm x 4cm x 14cm

Click here to buy the blue pouches set on eBay. You can pick between blue, black or pink.

White Twin Set of Clear Pouches

This is the double set of white pouches. The dimensions of the pouch are:

• Dimensions: 18cm x 12cm x 5cm

Click here to buy the white twin set of eBay.

Snack Pouches

We love these snack pouches too, so I’ve added them as a little bonus on the pouches list. We have one in white, black and one in pink. The size of the snack pouch is:

• Dimensions: 32cm x 22cm

Click here to buy snack pouches on eBay.

I use these pouches for packing all sorts of things for our travels: pens, toys, fidget toys, toiletries… they can be used for so much and help keep everything together. I even use them day-to-day at home to store toys that otherwise came in ridiculously large and bulky boxes that they didn’t need.

The post Toy Storage Pouches appeared first on Autism Family Travel Guide.

When it comes to family travel, especially with autistic children, the importance of organization and convenience cannot be overstated. Every parent knows the value of a good bag that can keep essentials in order, accessible, and neatly organised. Enter the plain black tote bag with multiple sections—an understated yet powerful tool for making travel days smoother and more manageable.

@themeldrumsworld

the plain canvas tote in black #summersale #tiktokmademebuyit #tiktokshop #tiktokcanvasbag #canvasbag #canvastotebag

♬ Wind Up Missin’ You – Tucker Wetmore

You can shop directly from the TikTok video I’ve posted on the left or click here to go to my TikTok and shop from the video or my showcase.

The tote is actually available in many other colours but I went for black because it is easiest to hide dirty marks that come with travelling.

Why a Plain Black Tote Bag?

At first glance, a plain black tote bag might seem too simplistic, but its elegance lies in its versatility and practicality. Here’s why it stands out as a perfect travel companion:

1. Neutral and Stylish: Black goes with everything. Whether you’re dressed casually for a flight or more formally for an event upon arrival, a black tote bag complements any outfit without clashing.
2. Discreet and Unobtrusive: Unlike brightly coloured or patterned bags, a black tote bag draws less attention. This can be particularly beneficial when traveling through busy airports or crowded public transport where you want to avoid standing out – we often already feel like we stand out as autism parents so trying to blend in is something many of us do without thinking.
3. Durable and Easy to Clean: Black fabric tends to show fewer stains and signs of wear, making it an excellent choice for the rigors of travel.
4. Side Hoops: The hoops on the side make this bag the perfect travel companion because it can attach to a stroller using stroller hooks.

The Importance of Organization

Traveling with kids, and particularly autistic children, demands a higher level of preparation and organization. A tote bag with multiple sections can make all the difference in ensuring a stress-free travel experience. Here’s how:

1. Dedicated Compartments: Multiple sections allow you to categorize and separate items. For instance, snacks can go in one section, while electronics, toys, and sensory items can go in others. This separation makes it easier to locate what you need quickly, reducing frustration for both parents and children.
2. Easy Access: Having a dedicated section for important documents like passports, boarding passes, and itineraries can save you from the hassle of rummaging through the bag at crucial moments. Quick access pockets can also store items like hand sanitizer and face masks.
3. Maintaining Routine: For autistic children, maintaining a routine can be crucial to their comfort and well-being. Being able to keep favourite toys or sensory items in designated spots ensures that these familiar objects are always within reach, providing a sense of security and continuity. This is a level of routine that cannot come with a regular hand bag without these sections.

Tip: Check out how keeping a skincare routine can help while travelling with autistic children,

Features of the Ideal Travel Tote Bag

When selecting a tote bag for family travel, especially with autistic children, look for the following features:

1. Spacious Interior: Ensure the main compartment is large enough to hold bulkier items like a change of clothes, a small blanket, or larger toys.
2. Flexible Straps: Comfort is key, especially if you’ll be carrying the bag for extended periods. Flexible straps reduce strain on your shoulders and make it easier to carry heavier loads.
3. Durable Material: Opt for a bag made from sturdy, water-resistant material. This ensures that the bag can withstand spills and inclement weather, protecting your belongings. However, we have found these wipes to be the best at cleaning almost every material and surface we have tried so far.
4. External Pockets: Easy-to-reach external pockets are perfect for items you need to access quickly, like your phone, wallet, or a water bottle.
5. Metal hoops: These allow the tote bag to be attached to a stroller using stroller hooks, taking the weight off your shoulders for a while.

Benefits for Traveling with Autistic Children

A well-organized tote bag can significantly enhance the travel experience for autistic children and their families. Here’s how:

1. Reducing Anxiety: Having a predictable and organized space can help reduce anxiety for autistic children. Knowing exactly where their favorite toy or comfort item is stored can provide reassurance during the often chaotic travel process.
2. Sensory Needs: Travel environments can be overwhelming. By keeping sensory tools such as noise-cancelling headphones, fidget toys, or a weighted blanket in dedicated sections of the bag, you can quickly provide your child with the items they need to manage sensory overload.
3. Smooth Transitions: Transitions can be particularly challenging for autistic children. A well-organized bag allows for smoother transitions between different stages of travel—whether moving from the car to the airport, through security, or onto the plane.
4. Preparedness: Being prepared for various situations, such as flight delays or long waits, is crucial. Having snacks, activities, and comfort items organized and accessible can help manage unexpected delays and keep your child occupied and calm.

Practical Tips for Packing Your Tote Bag

1. Prioritize Essentials: Place items you’ll need frequently, like snacks and travel documents, in the most accessible sections of the bag.
2. Use Packing Cubes: Packing cubes can further compartmentalize the main sections of your tote bag, making it easier to organize and access items quickly.
3. Use Bag Organisers: Just like packing cubes, bag organisers are small inserts for bags with multiple sections and compartments for further organising. Click here to see the bag organiser I use.
4. Label Sections: If your tote bag has multiple sections, consider labelling them with tags or using color-coded pouches. This can speed up finding items and help other family members understand the organization system.
5. Regularly Update Contents: Before each trip, review and update the contents of your bag to ensure everything is current and necessary for the specific journey ahead.

A plain black tote bag with different sections is more than just a stylish accessory; it’s a practical tool that can transform the travel experience for families, especially those with autistic children. Its simplicity, combined with thoughtful organization, can help maintain a sense of calm and order amidst the unpredictability of travel. By ensuring that everything has its place, you can focus on what truly matters—enjoying the journey and creating lasting memories with your family.

Have we convinced you to try a plain black tote for travelling? How about checking out these other travel bags we love?

The post Plain Black Tote Bag for Organized Family Travel appeared first on Autism Family Travel Guide.

I’m still very much trying to figure out the best bag/case/backpack configuration for our family travels. Each trip varies so much that what makes sense for us on one trip can be completely wrong for another. I believe I have found the best baby changing bag for family travel with a baby, and I do not say that lightly!

Just to make you aware, some links to products will take you to one of my three TikTok stores. I will link the video that fits best to the article so it could come from any one of three accounts on TikTok: Meldrum’s World, Moustashiio or Meldrum’s Gaming World.

Just to recap, or for those who are new here, I am Natasha and I travel with my three children on all different kinds of trips: day trips abroad, weekends away, all-inclusive resort vacations – you name it, we have probably done it. The different trips require different luggage combinations, and I am very much enjoying all of the new bags and backpacks I’ve been getting while trying to figure out what works! I have three children and have travelled now for six years with them, so I have tried out quite a few baby changing bags for travel.

After hours in an ADHD rabbit hole I caught a glimpse of the Wings Of Wild changing bag online and became absolutely obsessed.

Here is why I loved this baby changing bag for travel at first sight 👇

• I needed a changing bag for travel that had a strap to go over my shoulder, as I already carry a travel backpack for myself.
• I needed something that is easy to use, did you see it opens right out like a suitcase?! This is the feature I love the most.
• Since I travel with ADHD I suffer from object impermanence, which means if I can’t see something then it literally does not exist to me. I can pack a bag and then carry it hundreds of miles with absolutely no idea what is inside it, so I wanted something that is easy to organise yet doesn’t hide the contents from me. Being able to see everything in the bag has been a game changer and has made travelling with a baby so much more manageable.
• It needs to fit as a hand luggage bag, meaning it needs to be able to go under a plane seat. This bag is actually far below to size limits for hand luggage. If you really wanted to make the most of your luggage allowance you could put it inside of a foldable bad for the plane and pack the extra space in the bag with anything you want. I show this trick on this TikTok video.
• It needs to be washable and/or able to hide the guaranteed marks and scuffs of dirt that come with a bag being an under-seat bag, a bag that sits on the floor of the bus while I hold my baby, a bag that visits the beach and restaurants with children who have autism and ADHD so move around spilling their food while they eat it. The bag is leather so it is easy to wipe down. I went for the dark colour to disguise all of the dirt it is bound to pick up while we travel. This bag comes in two absolutely gorgeous lighter colours and as a person who always wears black, I can tell you I wanted nothing more than one of the lovely light ones, but I was trying to be practical and plan ahead for those marks and scuffs I know will come. I have found these wipes are the best for cleaning up our travel bags and also for every day life at home.

Follow me on Instagram @autismfamilytravelguide for more tips about travelling with babies and young kids.

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The post Accessible Baby Changing Bag For Travel appeared first on Autism Family Travel Guide.