Packing, Kids and Trips

[Tamie]

I have a suggestion, when I told my sister what I was doing I had to pick her up off the floor, laughing and she called me obsessive, but low and behold she is now also doing it.

When we went with my kids, 12 and 5 at the time. I took their clothes (short, shirt, undies and socks) and put an outfit a day into a large ziplock bags, if your kids wear the shorts twice in a row (if not dirty, I just put the shirt, undies and socks in). Put their name on the bags. Then when you are getting ready in the morning all you have to do is toss the bag at the ones that can dress themselves. You are not trying to find all the articles needed for all kids all at the same time. They are neatly packaged and they wont get messed up.

If your kids are anything like mine, they make a mess of their drawers and would be suitcases. It also made putting everything in drawers at the resort so much easier and quicker. Also if something opens or spills during travel in the suitcase, your clothes are protected.

I will be doing this again when we travel to Florida to this Christmas.

I did make my sister say sorry for laughing and calling me names. She now does it whenever and whereever she takes the kids, short or long trip.

Have a great trip!

P.S. I am not the creator of this idea, but I did get it off this board several years ago, and my thanks goes to whoever thought of this.

 

[CEDmom]

We've (actually I mean I've) been doing this for a few years now. It really does save time and also space in the suitcase.

 

[Lewski709]

I am going to invest in Ziploc. Can we convince everyone to do this? No really, it does make things easier when we have gone in Sept. I haven't figured out how to make it work for Jan because the weather is so unpredictable.

 

[jacksonsmom]

We did this last June & it worked out perfectly!!! Saved a lo of time in the mornings too

 

[cyndibelle]

sounds like a great idea to me...so how would it work for february?? should i do some warm day bags and some cold day bags??? what cha think?? oh my hubby is going to think i am crazy...

 

[Tamie]

For cold weather, just put jeans and sweatshirt in bag, if you only need the sweatshirt, take it out, zip it back up and let the air out.

 

[beautybelle]

That is the greatest idea Ive heard of in a long time. I am for sure gonna try it. Thanks.

 

[Kevenswife2]

How did people travel before Ziploc bags?

 

[scoggs]

we are leaving soon, and I too got this idea off these boards. My husband already thinks I'm crazy for the amount of time I've spent planning this vacation, so one more thing won't hurt. I KNOW this will be a lifesaver with my daughter, 4, who argues with me about clothes every morning! I will be able to give her a choice of Ziploc bags now!!!

Nine days and counting!!

 

[CMyFrills]

I also think this is a great idea. I won't have to spend time putting outfits together each night for the next day. I'll make sure the clothes are pressed when I pack them and we will be GTG. I bought some cheap gallon size bags (20 for $1.00) at the dollar general and I'll start packing clothes this weekend.

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!

 

[tink2]

Does this help with wrinkles or make them worse? This sounds like a great idea, but I have a thing about ironing clothes!

 

[tebright]

This is such a great idea. We are leaving in 2 weeks and I have all my Disney clothes together in a pile but I was planning on packing today. Well I better run to the dollar store to get some Ziploc bags....thanks.

 

[KathleenFL]

Tink2, I have the a problem with ironing, too, so I always bring Downy Wrinkle Release with me. I just spray it on, smooth out the wrinkles, & it dries in about 5 minutes......I even keep a small spray bottle of it in my pocketbook.

(Doin' the single digit dance!!)

 

[Del]

The clothes are in their ziplock bags with a small pile next to them in the suitcase of extra underwear and socks. Now ....how do you all pack the snack food so it doesn't get crushed? ANy tips?


Almost done packing......


Del

 

[chico]

Don't let my wife know this tip - she'll be making me pack my clothes in plastic bags just so I won't ask "Does this shirt go with these pants?" LOL

 

[WeLuvBuzz]

What a great idea! Too bad we can't do this at home too!!! Every morning before school, I could just toss my 5 year old a ziploc bag and tell him to get dressed!! I LOVE it!

 

[HappyMommy2]

We did this on our July trip thanks to a similar tip on these boards! It was great--we packed both kids' (ages 3 and 1) clothes that way. It was especially nice because it made taking extra clothes for the kids to the parks each day (in case of spills, playing in fountains, etc.) so easy--we just tossed a Ziploc-bagged outfit for each kid into the diaper bag each morning.

 

[BelleBeautyandtheBeast]

I live for Ziploc's!!! We do this all the time, on vacation and at home. In my diaper bag there lives 3 Ziploc bags (1 for each kid) each with a neatly folded compete set of clothes. This is so perfect for those Opps! moments when you are out. Just change the kids clothes and toss the dirty ones in the Ziploc bag. Presto, clean kid and all the yucky stuff is sealed in a Ziploc.

My biggest complaint is they slide around so much! How do you keep them neatly stacked in a suitcase?

 

[Kevenswife2]

Pack your suitcase so full that there isn't any room to slide

 

[JungleCruiser]

Another packing tip:

Ok, call me crazy but we usually fly out on an early flight. I usually have the kids take a bath and then put them to bed in comfy clothes - yep, I said it - clothes, not PJ's. My kids usually sleep on top of their beds with a sleeping bag unzipped. That way, when the alarm goes off at 5:30, they brush their teeth and put on their shoes.

This makes the morning routine go fast and they are already in comfortable clothes for the long trip.

I must also confess that I am a ziplock packer....and then you have extra bags for the wet swimsuits.