Help me become a good packer!

[Arimeh]

I'm a serious over packer. Always have been. This holiday, I'd like NOT to be. I have to pack for 5 - 2 adults, 3 kids.

The kids get a suitcase to share, DH and I get one to share... they're not huge suitcases either.

What are the absolute essentials to pack - especially for the kids? We'll be going to QLD so I know its warm up there, guessing thin suits at night will do for the baby? Can't seem to remember what I was dressing my own kids in at night a year ago!!!!

Eekk. I'm stressing about it already!!!!

Oh, and I'm just talking about clothes, cos the kids get a little backpack each of toys to take.

Help!!

[boomba]

I am terrible at packing too lol

Maybe plan what you will wear each day and only take that....I tend to pack things in case i want to wear them lol!

Good luck x

[Beach Mama]

I was going to say the same thing, add up the days you will be there, one outfit per day per person and then if it's a week say I would add an extra 2-3 things on top of that. Worse case is you have to wash something in the shower and dry overnight?! I'm a shocker too Mel - went to the IL's with the kids last year and took a MASSIVE suitcase for 3 days!!

[Snowy Love]

I'm not the best person to give advice in this area but, if it helps I've got DS2 in a grosuit, singlet & sleeping bag atm, during the day its often the same minus the sleeping bag, if I get around to changing his clothes he wears a T shirt & jeans or wool pants. I guess it depends on how often you can wash - if you've got a couple of days where you can't then you'll need extra. I guess you could take extra stuff that only just fits A, and if need be the girls can swim in it if necessary.

[Sopdet]

for you and Mr C - clothes that can be interchanged, like pants that go with 3 or 4 different tops

for the kids, I'd go with what Snowy Love is saying for the weight of the clothes and throw in some babylegs - the kids can have them on their arms and legs if need be.

Just pick things that will dry easily - so not too much weight in them, just layer them on you all. Jeans are a killer for washing and drying (unless you've got access to washing machines and dryers)

[~Kim~]

Lay out what you think and then take away at least a third.
I split mine and DH's into the two separate bags and squash the kids between them since DH's clothes are huge and then I don't get much room in the bag, but the kids stuff is small so it takes less space per quantity IYKWIM?
Even though I know DS goes through more than one outfit per day we only get one outfit each. DH and I often have to wear things twice. We just handwash if necessary. Take as many undies as days you are going though. DD always gets 2 extra pairs JIC.
I know it sounds gross but minimise the toiletries. We have a unisex deoderant that we share (bit of perfume/aftershave makes you smell different anyway), same with toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo instead of separate toiletry bags. Don't take a hairdryer unless you know for certain there isn't one where you are going - they're usually pretty easy to borrow. I only allocate 2 pairs of shoes each (that includes the ones on your feet in transit) and for DH one of those is usually thongs (he has boat sized feet - too many shoes weigh a lot and take up much needed space.
Hmmm that's all I can think of for now. We're going away next weekend so if I think of anymore I'll come back....

[Little Chicken]

My MIL is the best packer. She always says to take trousers that can be rolled and crushed but don't need ironing and can be drip dried easily (cotton poly blends etc), and neutrals that can be mixed easily. Utilising panty liners to keep your undies fresh as well. stuff your packed shoes with underwear, socks etc.

[jaspen]

Mel, the five of us jsut went away for four days and I took one biggish bag with everyones clothes and one other bag that held nappies (cause we were not able to buy them on arrival) and shoes and toiletries. I lay everything out and then take away the maybes and they only find a place if there is space at the end.

I took:
one day outfit for each child (shorts and shirts) and
one night outfit (because I knew we'd be eating out each night) and then a
daytime jumper and
a nighttime jumper and
two sets of pjs (expecting wet beds) each.
sandals and closed in shoes (one pair of each for each child - again cause I knew we were dining out and would require closed in shoes for one activity)
swimmers
nappies and wipes (cause I use disposables would generally buy these at destination if stuck for room)
one back pack of books and toys and one cuddle item each child
toothbrushes
underwear

adults got
one outfit for each day
one pair of jeans for night time
and one top for each night away
one pair pjs
day shoes and night shoes (one pair each)
one lot of swimwear
underwear
toiletries (one big bag for everyone)
medications (one ziplock with just the basics)

on a normal trip when I'm really stuck for space I make the outfit they put on after bath and wear out at night for dinner the one they then wear the next day thus only requiring one a day.
if I am going for more than 5 days I expect to wash at least once so take reduce quantity based on frequency of washing.
i always comment though that going away for four days is the same qty as 4 weeks.
when we went overseas with the four of us we did it with two large duffle size bags - and that was to the snow so lots of puffy clothing - in this instance I used the vacuum bags (there are ones that just roll out the air) to remove the puffiness winter clothing makes up.

best of luck it is definitely a challenge and certainly the ideas are having to be refined the more children cause I still only ever want to take two main bags

[Twin Sister]

I'm a terrible packer too. What I did last time that worked was piled up everything I WANTED to take with me beside the suitcase. Then I started packing the essentials and the things I could not live without. When my suitcase was full I put the things that did not fit away. I still had more than enough to get through my vacation.

[Rivlas]

Take clothes that you can mix n match. You will not need many jumpers so you can limit these, if you have a windbreakerjacket take that. Fill your shoes with socks, last time I flew the shoes were in my backpack so saved weight & space.
Roll the clothes instead if lying them flat, help on space and wrinkles.
Share as much of the bathroom needs as you can and depending on where you are staying some of these will be free.
If you are going for 2 weeks only take enough clothes for a week and do some washing. Take some pegs & coathangers (if not in your room) so you can hang things over night to dry.

By the sounds of things in Qld at the moment it is warm so that will help with your packing.

For the airport wear your warm jackets and then hand them over to the person taking you or leave them in the boot. Get the person meeting you to bring your jackets when they pick you up

[Arimeh]

Thanks for the hints guys, I think I forgot to mention that we're going for 12 days, and we will have access to a washing machine and dryer at all times (most of the time we are staying with family members!)

Thanks for the hints, I've only got one jumper anyway, so I'll wear that (cos it will be cold on wednesday morning when we leave!) so that saves me having to pack it. Thanks for the tips of socks in the shoes too - i'll use that one. And the mix and matching - yup, onto that too. I had to borrow some clothes off a friend because I don't have any summerish ones left in my size anymore - I gave away all my maternity clothes so I have nothing in my size.. LOL

Thanks for the tips - I think we're starting getting ready tonight, at least deciding what we are taking anyway.

[Sopdet]

Wear your heavy things, saves the weight in the bags.