childrens luggage

[ekelly4200]

For those that have cruised/flown with children did you use child sized luggae for them? or maybe had them use their backpacks as carry on? I have to buy luggage for the trip and trying to figure out what I need while being economical and space wise.

 

[CM_Mom]

I think the idea of letting your kids use their backpacks for their carryons is a good one cause you definitely don't want to get stuck carrying their stuff.

My children are now grown but I just bought a 4 piece set of luggage at Wal-Mart to take on our cruise for $49.00 for the whole set. There's a 27", 24",21" and a small european vanity case. The three big pieces have wheels and pull out handles and everything nests inside the next larger piece. We already had Samsonite hard sided luggage (30 years old) and I wanted something that could be stored in a smaller space when we emptied it on the cruise. And this isn't as heavy as our old stuff and has wheels. I'm getting very lazy in my old age. I'm packing now and plan to use the two larger pieces for DH and my stuff and the 21" (they call ir a pilot case) for my carryon. It definitely fit the bill price wise and seems to be well worth the $$$.

I'd definitely check out Wal Mart. The supercenter here had a pretty good selection.

 

[praisehisname]

When we flew with my children (9, 7, and 5) this past February, they checked their child-sized luggage, and carried on their backpacks. It worked out very well, because they could handle their own luggage as we went through the airport.

Denise C.

 

[Zandy595]

Backpacks with wheels are a good idea too. DS always complains about carrying his heavy backpack.

 

[cindy21494]

If you are interested, the Disney Catalog has really cute luggage for children right now. For girls it is the Princesses and the boys I think it was Buzz Lightyear. It is a child size suitcase on wheels, duffle bag, and backpack. I got the Princess one for my DD and it is a good material, not plastic like some childrens luggage. I think you can see it on the Disney Store website. It also makes it very easy to find since the girls luggage is pink and the boys are blue. We had one of our bags taken by mistake because it looks like everyone elses.

BTW, they also have nice luggage for adults.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Haven't cruised with kids but have flown alot with an almost 4 year-old and 1 1/2 year-old (incl once overseas). DD loves her child sized suitcase and now is insistant upon bringing it--for her size a 7 day trip is no problem out of her suitcase--though we might have to throw her shoes into ours. Haven't bought a child-size for the younger one, but we just use a wheeled carry-on for her, but opt to check it. We bring 1 wheeled backpack for odds and ends--but realistically--my children have more interest in the safety map and mags on board the plane than anything toy-wise we might have brought. So we have learned to keep it simple--something to color/draw on and 1 small toy--that cuts down on the backpacks. She hasn't had her own bp yet, she is more interested in her suitcase.

Also--with their own luggage--they feel more apart of the trip (by helping pack, etc) than other-wise--at least in our case.

 

[TheWog]

We used a small suitcase for our son, it fill all his clothes and left a little extra room. It matched the rest of ours so it was identifiable. He did carry his own backpack with gamboy, books, crayons, snacks and the assorted travel stuff. He loved it and felt he was a great world traveler.

 

[Memaw2Wm]

My grandkids use child-size luggage. Using the "outfit in a ziplock bag" method of packing I'm able to get 7 days worth of summer clothing in each of their suitcases.

They also carry backpacks with games, snacks and their "luveys" in them.

I have them carry the suitcases on so there's no chance they'll get lost.

 

[crisi]

We have the child suitcases - the pull ones on wheels. The kids were four before they could handle them themselves through the airport.

We actually pack their clothes in my big suitcase, and their suitcases tend to get filled with stuffed animals. At this stage for us, its more about teaching them to pack, getting them excited for the trip, and making them responsible for some of their own stuff than it is about having extra luggage for them for their clothes.

 

[ekelly4200]

Thanks for the responses. After reading everything and knowing my kids I think I will have them carry their backpacks on filled with travels toys and snacks as well as their bathing suits for when we get on ship. I wish I could pack now since I do find it fun lol.

 

[Masonpips]

my kids both have Disney wheeled backpacks - that way they can manage the load without breaking their backs. We always pack their airplane activities in there and usually a change of clothes (they used these as day bags when we boarded so we had the swimsuits in there)

You can check ebay for wheeled kids luggage or stores like TJMaxx, Ross, Marshalls, etc.

 

[Tiiiigergirl]

Sounds like we are different. Of course that would be no surprise to anyone who knows us! But our DS just uses adult luggage. Actually no one person has their own suitcase. We cross pack everyone's clothes in all of the luggage. That way if one piece of luggage was lost, everyone would have something to wear. Just something to think about!

 

[reses4]

We as a family of 7 coming from NY in my experiences have vacationed 4 times and will be on the boat this may for the 2nd time.

I never had to worry about lost luggage on the plane and so forth. I had each of my children pack a bookbag (myself was a large beach bag) and the pully on wheels suitcase. This worked fantastic every year and teaches us how not to over pack, Both items per person is allowed as a carry-on with you.

I purchased the suitcases at Kmart and walmart for less than 16.00 apiece. Also the smaller kids pull the bookbag pully with a light bookbag on their backs.

This also made storage great beacause they fit under the beds and in the closets. I also make them rool their clothes to make more room. As long as the pully can fit in the metal box before boarding it is ok.
check this site out at target: type in carry on luggage

http://www.target.com

 

[MrsPete]

My kids have adult luggage. I thought it was a better buy since those kid-suitcases aren't really large enough to hold all their stuff for a whole week, and it won't be too many years before they balk at toting a princess or Buzz Lightyear suitcase.

Warning: I bought THE BIGGEST suitcase available on wheels. It's great in that it can hold everything for the whole family. It's horrible in that we still have to lift it into the car -- the wheels are no help there!

My very favorite piece of luggage is my large wheeled duffle; I'm going to buy a couple more. THey're less expensive than traditional good-quality luggage, it's easy to squish in one more thing, and they slide under a bed well.