Do You Pack Extra Clothes for Your Kids?

[scanne]

I'm packing 12 outfits for each of my kids, plus 10-12 pairs of socks, extra pairs of shoes, 4 pairs of PJ's, 3 bathing suits, 2 beach towels (and a partridge in a pear tree! ).

We're going for 7 nights/8 days and I also packed laundry detergent. Is this over packing? I plan on bringing an extra outfit into the parks each day - you just never know - last year DS had an accident and I had to shell out $28 for a pair of shorts at Mouse Gear .

So is my packing plan reasonable???

 

[DisneyForFour]

I think it's fine. I always pack extra clothes because the kids get wet and sweaty. Also we usually go back to the hotel so the kids can swim in the pool mid day and then back to the parks in a new outfit later.

 

[ptslp]

Depends on if you want to do laundry or not. Lately, I am finding it easier to do a load of laundry in the middle rather than taking an extra suitcase (dd 21 mos and ds 3 1/2yrs)- between the car seats and strollers, an extra suitcase is a hassle for us. Our last few trips, we went for 5 or 6 nights and I packed about 6 or 7 outfits figuring I would do laundry in the middle and that would give us 2 outfits per day until laundry day. It has worked out pretty well. It really depends on if you will do laundry or if you want to avoid it or if you have too much luggage! I totally agree with bringing extra clothes to the parks- once my ds went through 3 outfits before we even landed at our destination (spilled his milk and then his juice!).
Good luck with your decision and have a great trip!

 

[juligrl]

I have a potty training 3 year old and a 3 month old so I always take 2 extra outfits anywhere we go. We went away for 3 days and I had 7 outfits per child.

 

[mom2bellaandlivi]

I packed 2 outfits a day for my 11 month old. I wish I would have had a couple more total. I only packeed one for the almost 3 year old with a total of 3 extras and I wish I had more for her too.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

hmm, you mentioned bringing laundry detergent. If you are okay with doing laundry during your stay- you could probably take less on the clothing! I've taken that much (and more sometimes- depending on the age of the child and tendency to get filthy or have diaper "overage" spills and such LOL) but when I take laundry detergent/etc. and fully intend on washing clothes halfway thru- I take less clothes. I took less clothes than you described (almost half of what you described) for our 12 night stay once- but I washed clothes halfway thru the trip and we wore everything again. LOL

 

[golden1]

It depends on whether my two year old potty trains this summer but I am staying for 7 nights and will probably bring 9-10 outfits for both kids. I will have access to laundry machines in case there is a shortage.

 

[scanne]

I'm pretty sure that I will do a couple of loads of laundy about mid way through our trip. My DS is potty training and I really don't want to put him in pull-ups at all! So I need to pack extra clothes and bring changes with me to the parks. You never know when he will be "too excited" to remember to tell me he has to potty! I am packing pull-ups for both kids, diapers for at night for my DD and underpants for DS. BTW, any tips on getting my DS to use the potty for #2? #1 is ok 90% of the time, but the other - boy! What a battle.

Ah, I digress.

Thanks for all the tips.

I don't mind packing an extra suitcase - in fact, I'm packing a suitcase full of diapers, wipes, snacks, etc. and that way I'll have a suitcase for all the souvenirs we buy!

Any more tips? I'd love to hear!!! Thank you!

 

[mskani]

I always overpack when it comes to my kids. You just never know. I remember during our first trip, my ds, who was 2 1/2, got airsick and I had to change his clothes immediately after we landed--two outfits used up before we even hit one park! We always stay in a villa w/its own washer/dryer, but even still, I overpack. Better safe than sorry.

 

[jnordan]

We're not going until next May, but . . .

I just bought some really "girly", cute UV swimsuits for my girls, and I'm thinking that I'm going to have them wear those most of the time we're at Disney. They're comfortable, they can get wet and then dry quickly, they'll keep them protected, and they cover just like a pair of shorts and a t-shirt would . . .

But, I definitely think that packing extra is wise.

 

[Bird-Mom]

We are going for 9 nights and packing 8 outfits, 3 swimsuits, 4 pairs of pajamas, socks, 3 pairs of shoes, pull ups and nightime diapers for each child plus one emergency outfit each to stay in the diaper bag. We usually come back for afternoon break and will change before dinner. My dh does laundry twice on the trip. We are planning on 2 suitcases, one duffel bag, 3 carryons, and one carseat with an extra duffel packed inside a suitcase in case we go overweight with the bags. That's enough to schlep through the airport although I would prefer another suitcase so that we aren't always wearing the same clothes in the pictures!

 

[DisneyDadof3]

I'm packing 12 outfits for each of my kids, plus 10-12 pairs of socks, extra pairs of shoes, 4 pairs of PJ's, 3 bathing suits, 2 beach towels (and a partridge in a pear tree! ).

We're going for 7 nights/8 days and I also packed laundry detergent. Is this over packing? I plan on bringing an extra outfit into the parks each day - you just never know - last year DS had an accident and I had to shell out $28 for a pair of shorts at Mouse Gear .

So is my packing plan reasonable???

We take about half that amount of clothes and do laundry every couple days. Like someone said - it's easier to do laundry once or twice than take the extra suitcase. We also figure we will buy a new shirt or two while there as well. We take an extra outfit to the parks each day as well. (By the way we have DD 8, DS 3, and DS 1)

 

[barkley]

We're not going until next May, but . . .

I just bought some really "girly", cute UV swimsuits for my girls, and I'm thinking that I'm going to have them wear those most of the time we're at Disney. They're comfortable, they can get wet and then dry quickly, they'll keep them protected, and they cover just like a pair of shorts and a t-shirt would . . .

But, I definitely think that packing extra is wise.

be aware-some wdw attractions won't permit "swim wear" as clothing. dd had on a pair of shorts over her swim suit (looked just like a standard tank top) and we were denied entrance to disney quest until we went and bought a t-shirt to meet the clothing mandate. they had the same policy for boys who were wearing swim trunks/swim shorts.

as for packing-our last trip (between wdw and disney cruise) was 14 days-i took just enough for 4 days of clothing for each person (adult or child), but we were at a dvc so i had the luxury of the washer/dryer in the room and could toss in a load when we left for the parks each day. when we've not had this available i've packed more, but planned out clothing that did "double duty" (large tshirts that could be used as t's, nite shirts, pool cover ups/basic colors so everything mixes and matches/mid range tshirts (fit one kid fine, fits the other loosly) that both kids can use in a pinch, sweat pants and t's that either dh or i can wear).

as for the potty issue-my ds was well trained on his first trip, but those self flushing toilets freaked him out such that he was very hesitant to sit down (he was fine using the urinals in the men's room) so be prepared.

one suggestion that has served me well in traveling with kids and clothes-take the stuff that they are close to outgrowing or won't fit into the next appropriate season (the stuff you would toss and not save/pass on to someone else). when the trip ends just toss out the clothes and return with emptier suitcases. we've also found that it's worth the reduced hassle of less luggage (and avoiding the over weight limit charges) to mail ourselves a box to the resort ahead of time with the diapers, pullups, wipes....we just put enuf in the carry on for the trip and the time until we check in.

 

[jnordan]

be aware-some wdw attractions won't permit "swim wear" as clothing. dd had on a pair of shorts over her swim suit (looked just like a standard tank top) and we were denied entrance to disney quest until we went and bought a t-shirt to meet the clothing mandate. they had the same policy for boys who were wearing swim trunks/swim shorts.

Wow, thanks for the warning! It never would have crossed my mind!!! It seems ludicrous to me that a 4 year old can't wear a "swim outfit" that covers WAAAAY more of her body than MOST of her summer clothes do?!!? Oh well, at least I know. Thanks!

 

[ladyelle]

I pack 2 pairs of pj's, undies, 4 or 5 pairs of shorts, and 5 or 6 polo shirts and a few t-shirts, one swimsuit (no beach towels as they have those at the resort), and a pair of flip flops for each of the boys. They wear an outfit and a pair of sandals for the drive.

I pack my daughter the same with a few summer dresses.

We spend 7- 8 nights at the resort and it works out great. We do spend alot of time everyday at the pool and I do a few loads of laundry mid-week.

 

[kandra]

I know that nobody really wants to do laundry on vacation, but on our last trip to WDW I did in the middle of our 10 night trip (6 at POP, 4 on the road) and not only did it keep me from having to pack quite so much, but it really made a difference when we got home. The one thing I hate the most about vacation is all the piles of laundry when I get home..UGH!. ..I was really glad I took the time to do a couple of loads one evening....ALSO - (and this worked great for us) - I packed my DD suitcase - she was 5 at the time - with each outfit for the day (right down to the undies) in gallon size ziploc bags. All she had to do was get up, grab a bag and get dressed. This kept a lot of the morning stress down and made the "what I am wearing today" decision quick as a wink. I even repacked some of the bags after my laundry day. I will be doing this again for our Thanksgiving trip this year.

 

[hollyb]

I am packing 1 pair of PJ's, 3 short outfits, 1 pair of jeans, 1 sweat shirt, 3 sets of socks and underwear, 2 bathing suits each. I am packing the same for the 4 of us. We will have a washer and dryer and I will throw a load in every night after baths and it will be dry before we go to bed. For shoes I am packing, sneakers, sandles and pool shoes.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I also pack extra for my son. I didn't take extra clothing into the park but I did dress him in a bathing suit a T shirt every day so that if he got wet on Donald's Boat or Kali River Rapids it's OK. He also had an "accident" at AK last year (very unusual for him), and I just rinsed the bathing suit in the sink and put it back on him.

We all changed clothing every day at midday. We'd wear 1 set into the parks, come back and go swimming and then put on something clean for dinner. The adults in the party could reuse those "dinner" outfits most of the time, but there was generally at least a little ketchup or ice cream or something on DS's so I brought him 2 shirts for each day. Basically he ended up using 1 bathing suit (which we would wash out in the sink and wear again), 2 Tshirts, and 1 pair of shorts/ underwear each day. He wore sandals the whole trip so we didn't bring any socks. We did wash mid trip so I thnk we brought 12 shirts, 4 bathing suits, 6 shorts and 6 underwear for a 10 day trip. We used everything!

 

[DisneyForFour]

What a neat idea about ziploc'ing each outfit. I think I may just go ahead and do that.

 

[emma'smom]

Hmm...I pack two outfits per day, per child...plus 2-3 extras to take to the parks. I take two outfits for each to the park and an extra spare pair of undies for dd4. We're DVC members, so we have access to a washer and dryer (and we use them). Between potty accidents, spilled juice, melted ice cream, and just plain sweat and rain, we go throw outfits like potato chips! My advice would be to pack as much as you are able.....better safe than sorry.