Traveling by plane and packing for kids

KristinKD · June 2011

When you travel by plane, do you typically share a suitcase with your kids, or pack their suitcase(s) separately?

So far I've always shared a suitcase with my girls and packed any extra in DH's suitcase, but it's gotten harder to keep it to one suitcase as they've gotten bigger, especially for longer trips. We're now getting ready to leave for a week-long trip, and since we'll need summer clothes during the day and warmer clothes at night, the girls' clothes alone are taking up half my suitcase. I haven't even narrowed down my clothes yet, but I am sure I'll need more than half a suitcase.

I know I tend to overpack, so I'm curious to see how many of you manage to fit everything into one suitcase (especially if you have more than one kid), and how many of you are like me and need to pack or start packing separately for the kid(s).

trigirl30 · June 2011

1 suitcase for me, 1 for the kids. There is no way we could fit everything in 1, especially with the need for summer clothes during the day, warmer clothes at night, and beach towels, etc...

kaydee_2008 · June 2011

OK first off OH MY GOODNESS they are so big and cute as can be!

We just went on a week long trip to the beach, no way could i fit everything into one suitcase. We all had to have one just used a carry on size. I tend to over pack as well but you just never know what all you will need.

schnappycat · June 2011

We flying for the first time since DD was born in a few weeks. I will pack her clothes in my suitcase most likely, but I bought DS a new rolling duffle-type case with Cars on it for his own clothes. He is really excited to help pack it and has been practicing rolling it around our house. I think it will help me out to at least have his stuff in a separate place.

Although I should add that DH isn't traveling with us, so there would be no way I could fit all of my stuff and the two kids' stuff in one suitcase. So either way, I'd be stuck with two. So he gets his own!

schnappycat · June 2011

Oops, dup!

DeputiesWife · June 2011

Typically 1 suitcase for me, DH and DD. Winter its a little harder because clothing is bulkier.

Summer - since you need options as well as towels and all i'd do one for you and one for the kids.

Good luck - and have fun!

Pesky · June 2011

Kids' stuff in one suitcase, mine in another or in a larger suitcase with DH's stuff. It just helps to keep all their stuff together in one suitcase.

KristinKD · June 2011

Okay, you have all made me feel so much better about my packing skills. Well, except for DeputiesWife ... I'm amazed that you can pack for three people in one suitcase!

Besides, paying $25 for a third bag is preferable to paying $90 for an overweight bag, which mine would surely be if I tried to squeeze everything in it.

Now I just need to finish packing!

franciscaz · June 2011

I have 3 kids so they have to have a suitcase. I have two monsters from when I used to travel often so DH and I use monster 1 and the kids use monster 2 suitcase. We put a cardboard divider for each child so the suitcase is divided in 3 sections. In each of their sections I pack their outfits by days (we roll each day together) and keep sleep wear and sweaters on top.

I always weigh the bags at home. (I give myself a cushion of a few extra lbs so if we bring home crap there is room and we won't go over).

JillAly · June 2011

I had a bad experience where they lost our luggage for a few days. All the kids stuff was in it so we had NOTHING. I learned a good lesson. Now I put some things of each of ours in each bag so if one gets lost, we all still have clothes and stuff. That would be my suggestion. For 4 of us, we do pack 3 bags so we don't try to fit it into 2

cecee36 · June 2011

Last spring, we went to Disney World. DD was 2 1/2 then and all of her clothes were very tiny so we were able to share a suitcase. In 3 weeks, we'll be spending 5 days in Cancun and I'm hoping we'll be able to share a suitcase to avoid paying $25 for her bag to get checked. If we're fortunate enough for that to work out, this will probably be the last time we'll be able to share one piece of luggage. She's growing so fast! Plus, she loves having "options" to wear; she's definitely my daughter!

Mlewis2319 · June 2011

We just went to FL and it was DS first flight. We each had our own suitcase, but every suitcase had at least 2 outfits in it for every person. So DH suitcase had most of his clothes, but also two outfits for me & DS, and the same for mine & DS suitcase. Just in case we lost a piece of luggage, we would at least have two days worth of clothing.

We also had a Cars carryon for DS that had some toys & books in it for the flight & so he would have something to play with once we arrived. We also had a suitcase for towels and bathroom stuff.

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