Packing lists are the bane of my blogging existence.  Every good travel blog has lists for every occasion.  Somehow, I can’t manage to pull one together that is remotely publishable.  My friends find this amusing since I make lists for everything – including my personal packing.   I find lists, including packing lists, to be personal and I cannot figure out how to generalize them- I mean, just because I need to pack 15 snuggle blankets for my 2 year old doesn’t mean they should be on your list.   Plus, it is these very things that only you know that can make or break the trip!

Lately I find myself perusing the lists in search of packing wisdom related to the number of outfits I should pack for a 14 day vacation.  The guidance seems to run from a minimum of 2 per day up to 4.   Four outfits per day seems excessive but is just one per day enough – if I throw in a few extras?  Perhaps I should “pack light” and plan on doing laundry?   Pardon me as I brainstorm through the options…

Two outfits per day is 28 outfits times 4 kids is 112 outfits.  Add in 60 or so pairs of pjs, panties, socks and shoes and I am well over my suitcase limit (not to mention that I’m not sure I actually have 28 outfits per kid).  Next option, please…

Packing light – with four kids?  That just isn’t going to happen.   Hotel cleaning is too expensive to use unless we are in dire straits and I really can’t imagine spending a day of my vacation in a European laundry mat washing clothes.  One site suggested taking detergent and washing clothes in the sink.  Admitedly, I have done that before but only for clothes that were so stained or smelly that they couldn’t make it home.  It is humorous to imagine trying to hang the laundry of 4 kids in a hotel room!  Next option….

That leaves me with packing between 14 and 20 outfits per child and washing if we run out or maybe even buying a few new outfits.  If I pack efficiently, I should be able to fit everything for the girls in 2 large suitcases with a duffel for their gear.

What works for your family on long vacations?  Do you pack a lot of clothes or do laundry?

packing

I dread packing.  Actually, the packing itself isn’t bad but the logistics of packing are the worst – especially when flying!   There are thousands of packing systems, checklists, and tip sheets.  Who has time to comb through all that information to find the perfect solution?   Instead of spending hours analyzing all the options, spend 15 minutes determining packing style and goals and spend 30 minutes on the web finding specifically what you need.   No distractions – stay focused and stick to the time limits!

I make lists.  I have tried using various printed versions but always end up creating my own.  Starting about a week before the trip, I make 3 lists:  clothes for girls, gear, and everything me.  It eases my mind to write things down and the lists make my packing much easier.

Two days before the trip I finish all laundry and warn people that anything they wear can’t go on the trip.  This never works – but I can dream!  The day before a trip, I pack – recognizing that packing takes as little or as long as I let it.  Instead of fretting (especially with clothes), I make fast decisions and don’t second guess.  I did forget enough pants on one trip so I do double check the number of outfits now – cleaning in the hotel is very expensive (especially considering how small a pair of size 2t pants is!).  How many outfits to take is always an issue for me.  The standard rule of thumb is 2 or 3 outfits per day.  I could never fit that many clothes for the girls in a manageable number of suitcases so I allow for one and a half per day (give or take a few for each girl).

With four girls, I need organized suitcases to stay sane.   Unfortunately,  I have not perfected this.  My latest attempt involved Eagle Creek packing cubes of various sizes for the panties and PJs (each girl had a small cube for panties and a larger one for PJs).  I must admit, that worked well.  It kept them organized and easy to find throughout the trip.  Now does anyone have a magic solution for keeping the clothes of 4 indecisive, opinionated girls organized in a suitcase for the duration of a trip?

General Travel With Kids · packing