LIFE

23 packing hacks every parent needs to know

Last modified on Tuesday 29 June 2021

You LOVE going on your family summer holiday. But actually doing all the packing for your trip? Not so much. Luckily we’ve got 23 genius packing hacks that will take away all the holiday prep stress. Phew.

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Packing for your family holiday can be a total pain - not least because it’s usually you that has to do it all. And whether you’re travelling with a baby, toddler, tween or teen, there’s just So. Much. Stuff ... making it impossible to know where to start.

Sound familiar? In which case, don’t even start loading up those suitcases until you’ve checked out our top packing hacks every parent needs to know.

1 Pre-plan each outfit

Plan out exactly what each family member will wear each day - including underwear and daytime/ nighttime outfits. Then vacuum pack each complete outfit.

Not only does this leave more space in your case, it also cuts down on the mess when you arrive. Simply open each bag when you need it.

2 Stop clothes getting stained in your case

Always pack your lighter colour clothes inside out. This stops them getting stained from any darker clothes like jeans or your new brightly coloured sarongs.

3 Use clingfilm to stop your toiletries leaking

Put clingfilm under the lid of all your toiletries to stop them leaking in your case.

You can also use resealable bags for each bottle as a second layer in case one explodes in your case.

4 Reduce what you take by a third

Another top tip is to lay out everyone’s clothes on the bed … and then aim to reduce it by a third. By packing travel handwashing detergent, the same T-shirts and pants can be worn a few times, meaning you don’t all need seven tops for each day of your holiday.

5 Wear your heaviest clothes

If you’re flying - and are worried your suitcase is going to break the scales - wear your heaviest items of clothes. So, travel in your trainers and tie your coat or heaviest cardigan round your waist.

6 Pack for the journey as well as the holiday

Packing a dummy for landing and take-off if you're flying can help your little one with popping ears.

Be prepared for delays by packing extra milk, nappies and a set of spare clothes. And don’t forget to take an empty water bottle for each family member to fill up when you're through security.

7 Keep your jewellery tangle-free

Use two sheets of clingfilm either side of your bracelets or necklaces to stop them tangling. Lie them flat on one sheet before lying another sheet over the top. Easy.

8 Use straws for your necklaces

Another packing hack for jewellery is to thread necklaces through straws. This stops them getting tangled up in your bag.

9 Get clever with your underwear

Stack all your bras on top of each other. This will help them keep their shape and also free up more room in your case.

And folding everyone’s pants, rather than just chucking them in the case, will also free up more room.

10 Use packing cubes to organise your case

Either have a packing cube for each member of the family, or one for T-shirts, one for shorts and so on. This also means you avoid the ‘suitcase explosion’ when you arrive of clothes going everywhere as you try and find your child’s vest.

We like this set of six packing cubes with smaller cubes for toiletries and electronics and larger ones for clothes and towels – see more details here at Amazon.

11 Make a packing list for each person

Have an itemised checklist for everyone in the family.

You can also colour code with things that can be packed in advance (nappies, wipes, summer dresses) and things you need to pop in the case on the morning you’re travelling ( baby monitor , bottles and so on).

12 Downsize your baby’s supplies

There’s no such thing as travelling light with a baby. But you can downsize the essentials. For example, use steriliser tablets for her bottles and a booster seat for a highchair .

We’ve also got tips on the best lightweight buggies for your holiday.

13 Roll all your clothes into one

This works best if you’re only going on a short trip and don’t have loads of clothes. Put the biggest item of clothing on the bottom and then each item in order of size. Then roll up into a sausage shape.

14 Use your shoes

Roll up pants or vests and pop them inside your shoes in your case.

And if your shoes are a bit dirty, pop freezer bags over them to stop the mud getting all over your clean clothes.

15 Pack all your heavy items at the bottom

Not only will this stop your clothes getting creased, but by laying a towel over the top, it also means if anything does leak, it won’t spread to your clothes.

16 Take a dirty laundry bag

You can then hang this on the back of the door on holiday and pop all the dirty clothes inside - this will stop them getting mixed up with clean, unworn items.

17 Check what baby equipment you can rent or buy on arrival

This saves you having to try and pack a zillion nappies or a blackout blind. If you're holidaying in the UK, companies like Travel Tots UK will deliver what you need to where you're staying.

18 Pack hi-tech and no-tech toys

Pack a couple of (small) new toys, colouring and crayons for the journey. We also love the travel hack of packing a balloon for an instant toy that takes up no room.

Also, don’t forget chargers and adapters for iPads when you arrive, along with any new apps already installed.

19 Have a (child-free) packing ‘zone’

If you’ve got a spare room, use this as the place to lie out everyone’s clothes and store all the family toiletries for the trip.

Have a box for your sun lotions , insect repellents and so on, which you can add to.

This means you can start the packing prep a few weeks in advance - spreading the cost of buying toiletries and also not panic-buying the night before you go.

By keeping it out of your child’s reach, it also means she can’t unpack everything you’ve just packed.

20 Take a DIY ‘blackout blind’ kit

Make your own blackout blind for your baby or toddler when you arrive by packing black bin bags and Sellotape. Voila.

Or you can buy a portable blackout blind, we like the Gro Company's – see more details here at Amazon.

21 Share suitcases

There’s nothing worse than the airline losing your luggage.

But you can prepare for it happening by packing some of each family member’s clothes in each case. That way even if a case is lost, you will all have something to wear.

22 Make your cases lighter

Swap out heavy beach towels and replace with lightweight microfibre towels. This will instantly lighten your load.

23 Have a ‘do not forget’ list

Pop it on the front door so you can have a final check before you leave that you’ve got everything you need before leaving the house.

Enjoy!

Do you have any clever packing hacks for your family holiday ? Why not share your tips in our Coffeehouse forum, below.