My kids have been to 26 countries on 6 continents. We never check bags.

I travel frequently and like to think I have packing down to a science. Years of backpacking around the world solo taught me how little I actually need when I'm away from home. Even more importantly, those years taught me how much easier and more enjoyable travel is when I'm not weighed down by unnecessary baggage.

When I started traveling with kids, my approach to packing evolved, but not radically. Since becoming a Mom, I've traded in my backpack for a small suitcase. However, even after taking my children to 26 countries on six continents, I've managed to travel carry-on-only for nearly all our trips. Whether we are taking a short road trip or hopping on a plane to the other side of the world for weeks on end, I still make it a point to travel as lightly as possible.

Over the years, I've dialed in on four strategies that make this work for our family.

I limit how many clothes, shoes, and toiletries we bring

Even though my kids have closets full of clothing and weeks' worth of underwear at home, I strictly limit what we bring on vacation.

When vacationing with her kids, the author says they each only bring what they can carry. Courtesy of Jamie Davis Smith.

Unless we have something special planned, I usually stick to no more than five tops and two or three bottoms or dresses, a swimsuit, one pair of pajamas, a few pairs of underwear and socks, a sweatshirt, and one pair of shoes. If we need any specialty items, such as waterproof shoes, we always have room left over to pack them. In the winter, we tend to wear our coats so they don't take up space in our suitcases. However, every year, I am mindful of buying something that can be stuffed into a suitcase if needed, such as a puffer coat. Fortunately, these are on-trend, so I don't get much pushback from my kids.

I also make sure that every item of clothing each child brings matches the others. For example, I always pack khaki shorts or blue jeans for my son so that they match all of his t-shirts. The sweatshirt I pack for each child is always plain and neutral, so it won't clash with any of their other clothes.

My family also shares whatever we can, including toothpaste, sunscreen, conditioner, and other toiletries. There is no need to pack multiple of the same item when we almost always share a bathroom anyway. Of course, we each have our own toothbrush, but nearly everything else is for communal use.

I lower cleanliness standards and do laundry as we go

When my family goes on vacation, I suspend some cleanliness rules I have at home. Instead of washing my kids' clothing after each wear, I rely on a quick inspection for stains and a sniff test for strong odors. If the item passes, it's cleared to be worn again — and then maybe again.

Nevertheless, for any trip longer than a week, I plan on doing laundry at least once. My favorite way to do laundry is in the hotel's laundry room. If the hotel has a laundry machine, I will use it even if we don't have a ton of dirty clothes, in case I don't find one again. When I travel with my kids, we usually spend some time at the hotel pool, so I use that time to get our laundry done. Otherwise, I start the laundry right after we get back from dinner. My family doesn't usually have wild nights out, so this doesn't impact our schedule.

I also always ask my hotel if they offer laundry services. The cost is usually prohibitively high. However, I have been pleasantly surprised by how affordable it was to have my family's wash outsourced at hotels in India, Morocco, and elsewhere, so I always ask. It's also a good option in a pinch.

Still, I often find myself doing laundry in the sink, especially socks and underwear. I always pack a few laundry detergent sheets so that I can do laundry anywhere, anytime.

I don't bring "just in case" items

Endless blogs tell anxious parents what they need to keep their kids busy and comfortable while traveling. Many packing lists advise travelers to bring three pairs of shoes. The truth is that most kids need very little to have a successful trip, at least in my experience. While it may be comforting to bring along a massive amount of items in case you need them, it's not worth the trade-off of being overburdened and struggling to stay organized. I can't think of a single situation where I wished I had more.

On a challenging hike in Jordan, the sneakers we'd worn every day held up well. I barely missed our bulky hiking boots, especially when we saw local children walking the same trail in loose-fitting Crocs.

I use the right tools

Having the right tools helps me travel light, too. Especially in winter, when our clothes are bulkier, I rely on packing cubes to help compress our clothing to make more room. I am also very picky about the suitcase I use. I prefer suitcases with built-in compression features and lots of internal pockets. That way, I can stay organized and always know exactly what is going in my suitcase so I don't inadvertently pack more than I need. Compressing clothing also helps me cheat by sneaking in more than I usually bring, creating more space. For example, on some trips we need a lightweight cover-up for visiting churches or mosques, or I may want to bring a shell when the weather may be unpredictable.

The author says she always plans to do laundry during longer trips and relies on packing cubes to maximize space. Courtesy of Jamie Davis Smith.

I also invest in items when it makes sense. For example, my kids and I each have our own Kindle, so we can bring nearly unlimited library books with us without taking up unnecessary space. I also replaced my children's bulky headphones with in-ear headphones that are much smaller and lighter.

I have a small collection of reusable travel-size bottles and containers for medications and skincare products. That way, I never need to bring a full-size bottle, which saves a ton of space.

Packing carry-on-only can be an adjustment, but I think it's well worth learning the art of traveling light, especially when traveling with children.