A Simple Packing Hack for Vacationing with Kids
DISCLAIMER: I’m taking a detour from my usual blog post on fashion tips to help my fellow moms out there. Hey, the less stressed you are, the better you’ll look, right?
My three younger kids are pretty good travelers. But packing for our adventures is where they need some help. So when we’re getting ready to go away for a week or more, and we need all the shorts, t-shirts, bathing suits, hats, sandals, etc. I like to be in control of the (ultimately) checked bag.
I used to pack the old fashioned way – precisely and neatly stack 5 pairs of shorts and 5 t-shirts PER KID into one big suitcase, only to have one kid decide they want to wear the t-shirt that’s on the bottom of the suitcase. In a matter of seconds, your neatly packed suitcase is all over the hotel room floor.
That was us until a few years ago when I came across a pro packing tip. I tried it and it worked. It worked VERY well. Now, I do this for every vacation with my kids. What’s the trick? Here it is in three easy steps:
1. Create an entire outfit.
Yep. Socks, underwear, shorts and shirt. Fold shorts in half the crotch, trifold the shirt, lay underwear flat with socks in the middle. This can include 2-piece pajamas, swimsuits with cover-ups, etc.
2. Roll the clothes into a log.
Use a rubber band to secure it. If you have a daughter with long hair, use a hair-tie. Try and make it as tight and compact as possible. Limit shoe choices to sandals and sneakers only. Flip flops and pool shoes should remain in a separate bag for those activities.
3. Enjoy the extra real estate in your bag.
When your child needs a change of clothes, the clothes are already sorted and ready for wear. If your kids are old enough to dress themselves, just hand them their bundle. I overcame the “favorite t-shirt” issue by making the shirt on the inside a surprise to avoid any conflicts.
Now, I haven’t figured out how to apply sunscreen to kids without a struggle, but I’m working on that.