Heading out of town on a family trip? Make sure to pack these essentials for your kids.

1. Clothing: Whatever the age of your children, make sure their clothes are warm in the winter and lightweight in the summer. Layers of cotton thermal shirts, leggings and long johns, wool sweaters and weather-resistant outerwear are standard items for winter travel. In summer, be sure to pack tops and shorts that are made from a comfortable and breathable material like cotton. Don’t forget the swimsuits—the kids will need them whether they’re at the beach or a motel’s swimming pool.
2. Pack With Your Children: In addition to comfortable travel clothes, bring a nice outfit for dinners with the extended family, casual pants or slacks and other items that may come in handy, and keep your kids looking put together.
3. Protection: Include sunglasses, galoshes and an umbrella for each child.
4. New Shoes: Properly sized athletic shoes, snow boots, sandals or flip flops will be useful, depending on the climate of your destination. Purchase in advance and break in to avoid blisters during the trip.
5. Comfort: Depending on your child's interests, pack music, books, blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, dolls and handheld video games to maximize the travel experience.

Motion Sickness: Over-the-counter remedies that prevent or minimize motion sickness are usually sufficient for most children, but for severe cases, it is a good idea to speak to your pediatrician about prescription drug alternatives in advance of a long trip. A few things to keep in mind when dealing with car sickness include:

1. Children can develop car sickness suddenly. Even children who’ve never experienced a bout of car sickness in the past can suffer from it in certain situations, so be prepared. Carry a leak-proof bag, stain spray, disinfectant wipes and other quick cleaning items in the event of illness.
2. Walk it out. Once car sickness starts it can be difficult to get rid of it. At the first sign of illness, take a break and try to walk it out.
3. Focus. Some children are prone to motion sickness when reading or playing games—provide a variety of alternatives to break the monotony of the trip while reducing the risk of illness.
4. Medications. Many children respond well to over-the-counter motion sickness remedies while others require a prescription.

Basic First Aid: From blisters to stubbed toes, splinters to scrapes, kids tend to suffer more than their share of minor injuries when traveling. Bring along a well-stocked first-aid kit to quickly clean and care for small abrasions, blisters or other injuries.

Travel Illness / Diarrhea: Children are particularly susceptible to some travel-related illness including diarrhea. Introduce new foods slowly to make sure they respond well and keep plenty of bottled water on hand.