Ok, so I'm going to Japan and Vietnam in January. So Japan will be cold, and Vietnam will be warm, but we'll only be Japan for 2 nights. So one bag each is the goal, but a four year old doesn't keep track of things very well. I'm looking at a Trunki(www.trunki.net) for her stuff, because I know there are times when it's too tiring for those little legs to keep walking and I didn't want to bring a stroller. And then try to fit hers and my clothes in a carryon. Fortunately her clothes are small. We've got some long layovers and some late(midnight!) flights. Is it too ambitious? My parents are also going, but they're leaving from a different departure point. Any suggestions for kid travel would be appreciated.

I think it's quite do-able. Kids clothes (assuming they're not all-cotton) would be a breeze to sinkwash and dry. One tip is to buy a few small cheap toy/doo-dads or new books that your child has never seen. Unveil them when you get on the plane and you're almost sure to hold their attention for some time.

I see no reason why not! The easiest way to start this is to make a packing list and keep looking over it to see if anything stands out to be removed or edited.

I'd suggest bringing rain pants and a rain jacket for your child. Both of those places are wet in January, and a full rainsuit can keep her drier and cleaner. Kids don't sweat much and you don't have to worry very much about ultra-fancy waterproof breathable stuff. I'd also guess that 4 year old clothing is small enough to stuff damp items into side pockets, though you'd clearly want to avoid tough things like jeans.

As for entertainment, there are nice dense items (lots of play time for amount of size and weight) like gameboys and coloring books that could sub for a bunch of other common stuff.

The trunki looks awkward for using as a stroller replacement. I'd go with a lighweight backpack that you can clip to your pack when she gets tired (consider bringing a few carabiner clips for this - they can really help). Most of the locals around there carry larger toddlers in a piggyback style - maybe that could work. She may be a little big for it, but a ring sling or one of those child carrier backpacks could work, though the latter would have to be gate checked. She may be too big for a ring sling to be comfortable for an extended time, but it's a lightweight way to give her a seat or even to support her back while you're sitting and it can dual purpose as a blanket. One of my friends comfortably carries her (very, very tall!) 3 year old in one.

Ok, realistically, I'm not carrying a 34 lb child and a loaded backpack. I've done the ring sling when she was younger, but it really kills my back now that she's heavier. She's willing to ride on a rolling duffel I use for classes around town, but that's not a travelworthy bag anymore.