What size zip lock bag do you use to pack toddler outfits in?

[Tiggerlovinggrandma]

I have seen the suggestion somewhere on here for using zip lock bags to place daily outfits in for toddlers, etc. I am planning to try it out for DGS's clothes this trip. What size bag do I use. Do the bags take up more room in the suitcase?

Also what do you use o hold dirty clothes while traveling? I typically use a plastic bag. DH just throws his clothes back in his suitcase. Is there a better solution besides heading to the washers. We normallly never have time to do laundry when we travel.

Thanks for any suggestion.

 

[bek1758]

We do this for certain trips for our kids clothes. I use gallon size bags and pack the whole outfit--top, bottom, underwear, and socks. I don't think it takes up anymore room and the kids just grab a bag in the am, dress, and go! Of course this method is not great for clothes that need to be ironed We love packing this way. Hope it works well for you.

 

[jacksmomma]

Oh packing this way with kids is a must in my book! For toddlers I use gallon size bags. I go so far as to write what day that is to be worn and what shoes go with that outfit just to make sure my system is "Daddy Proof".

In addition, I packed a gallon size ziplock bag for the diaper bag for every day of our trip. In it were enough diapers and wipes for the day as well as a cup, bib, some tissues, etc. That way at night when I exhausted and packing the bag for the next day all I had to do was remove that day's ziplock and add a fresh one. No thinking required! I can honestly say we were never stuck in the parks in need of something we had forgotten in the room.

P.S. About the laundry, I usually take a cheapy pop-up hamper from the dollar tree. I throw all of the dirties in there during the trip and then when we pack to come home I make sure all the dirty stuff is in one suitcase.

 

[phins_jazy]

We do the gallon size ziplocs too. I pack up one of the kiddos popup hampers and take it with lined with a trash bag. (preferably a scented one!) So that way when we have to pack up from our trip all I have to do is take the trashbag full of dirty clothes out and put it in the suitcase. We're a family of 5 so we have lots of dirty clothes. LOL

 

[Manda]

We used gallon ziplocs for toddler clothes.

As far as dirties, I bring the ziploc XXL bags. Actually, I pack all of our clothes in those and then pack the ziplocks into the suitcase. Then we get there and I unpack the clean clothes from those bags and sit the bags in the closet as laundry bags. Once each is filled, it either gets sealed up and put into a suitcase or is taken to the laundry room. This serves dual purpose - dirty clothes bag PLUS protects your clean clothes on the trip down. My suitcases got stuck on the tarmac once during a sudden rainstorm and everything in my suitcases was totally soaked. I learned my lesson - I pack waterproof.

 

[mom2aredhead]

Summer / warm weather clothes, if you roll them tight enough, will fit in a quart size bag.
My son is 5.5 and if we're going somewhere that I know he'll need a change of clothes, (shorts/t-shirt/underwear and socks) I can STILL squeeze them into a quart size bag if I choose the right things.

 

[mickeymaker2003]

My daughter is 2 1/2. A t-shirt, pair of shorts, diaper and snack size bag with two wipes fits into a quart size bag. She is usually wearing her crocs, so we don't pack socks. I'll stuff socks into her shoes so if we get the shoes out for some reason, we automatically get socks too.

I fully intend to pack her clothes in ziplocs for our trip next month so I know the shorts and shirts stay matched up correctly (we have some odd colored stuff that only goes with one thing).

My dad always rolls a shirt, socks, and underwear into a pair of shorts or jeans and uses a rubber band to hold the roll together. He is a trucker and it is easy for him to grab a bundle and head for the shower. I am considering packing for everyone that way. We are putting 4 adults and a 2 1/2 year old in one value room. If we all pack our clothes in bundles, we just have to grab a pack of our clothes to get dressed instead of fumbling for individual items.

 

[natnelliesmom]

My dad always rolls a shirt, socks, and underwear into a pair of shorts or jeans and uses a rubber band to hold the roll together. He is a trucker and it is easy for him to grab a bundle and head for the shower. I am considering packing for everyone that way. We are putting 4 adults and a 2 1/2 year old in one value room. If we all pack our clothes in bundles, we just have to grab a pack of our clothes to get dressed instead of fumbling for individual items.

This is a wonderful tip! I will give this one a try for our next trip. My DH hates to pack and I have to pack his things for him. He just doesn't care what he wears and will often wear the oddest things on vacation if left on his own! I'll just roll his outfits up and he'll be put together each day!
Thanks for the tip!

I also pack my little one's things in ziplock bags. This is great for grabbing an extra set each day to take into the parks. They often get wet or messy and having the bag to put the dirty set back into is a lifesaver! No mess in the backpack.

I find that I can squeeze quite a bit of air out of each ziplock before I pack it- saves lots of room in the suitcase.

-Sarah

 

[tzolkin]

I usually use the gallon size bags, but depending on the outfit many of the younger kids clothes fit in quart sized bags.

We got a collapsable mesh hamper from the dollar store that we set up in the corner of the room by the closet and all the dirty clothes go in there. It helped to keep the room organized and I like to put the suitcases away until we're ready to leave. We did just put the dirty clothes back in the suitcases when we were packing to leave though. I usually have one small suitcase of extra clothes that were never worn and I can fit some other items in that bag with the clean stuff. The rest are dirty. I just wash them all when I get home and freshen up the suitcases.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

You could get away with 1 gal bags. I used 2 gal bags on our last trip. As for the dirties... pick up a mesh bag or 2 at a local dollar store. Thay way you have a place to keep them picked up and out of the way.

 

[hillview]

I use gallon for toddler/preschool outfits. I roll the clothes to make them fit and they come out less wrinkled.

For dirties, I use 2 bags from the room (the laundry bags found in almost every hotel). I put clothes we have to burn (wash) in one. I put solied clothes but not filthy clothes (could reuse in a pinch) clothes in another. Dirty DH socks and undies go into the first bag
/hillary

 

[NorweJenNY]

I have two boys. I put my younger ds's clothes in a quart size bag... shorts, t-shirt, socks, underpants. I found that they fit well when I sort of roll the clothes instead of fold them.

I put the same amount of clothing for my older ds in gallon size bags (bigger boy, bigger clothes). I mainly do this for the convenience of instantly knowing exactly who each outfit is for... thought it would be fool-proof for hubby, but my older ds actually caught on and could easily grab an outfit for himself and get one for his brother too each day. Very easy!

We bring a laundry bag and some extra kitchen garbage bags or simply grocery bags... all work well for dirty laundry. If I didn't pack these thing though, I'm sure certain people in my family would just stuff the dirty stuff directly in the suitcase...

 

[CLR4321]

I'd never heard of this idea...but I will say it's a great one! I had always packed extra plastic bags (shopping bags) to keep extra outfits in and throw dirty outfits into, but never did the ziplock deal. I would say a gallon size would be fine for a child (big enough to keep shorts, t-shirt, socks and underwear in).