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Toddlers: 24 Months+
storybooklove
member
Need help packing for vacation
storybooklove
member
We will be taking our 28 mo and 7 mo children to ocmd in August (ages are when we go). We are staying in a condo on the beach front. I need your tips and tricks please! Last yr we only had a 15 mo on vacation and it was a completely different type of vacation so I am a first timer. We will have a kitchen and plan to go I the grocery store and make most meals in I'd like to have a plan of attack for that too. Thanks in advance!
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Re: Need help packing for vacation
If your youngest still uses a swing, I would HIGHLY recommend taking one (I went to a consignment store and purchased a travel swing for like $15). I put it out on the porch (ours was covered) and put the baby in there during dinners, nap time, etc. We even took it onto the beach and put baby under an umbrella - we went in the fall so it wasn't super hot.
As for meals... Meals that you can freeze ahead of time make life easier. Think easy!!!
It's hard, but don't overpack. Our rental had some things like dish soap, toilet paper, etc... but some don't. Check ahead of time!
Are you driving or flying?
If you are flying, I would try and buy/rent most of the stuff once you get there. If you are driving, pack whatever (although check on-line, some beach stuff may be cheaper there.) I would recommend packing favorite cups, kids plates, games, crayons etc so you don't have to buy new. Also, one of those soft sided cooler bags is nice to have to keep lunch/drinks cold at the beach (although if you are truly beach front you may not need it).
We go to Hilton Head every year with DD and the two absolute musts are tons of sunscreen and a beach umbrella or tent. Given you have two LO's I might recommend investing in this if you are driving https://www.rei.com/product/794290/rei-alcove-shelter It is the best $110 we ever spent. We got the optional walls for it and it's shady enough DD will actually nap in there. It weighs a lot less than one of those pop up tents and it easy to put up. We actually ahve used it at home in the backyard when we're having a party and it's super hot out. (FWIW, we always fly but bc it's on Southwest and we buy DD a ticket, we use her two checked bags to check a box full of extras. The tent, beach towels etc).
Most of the rest of the stuff (beach toys, balls) etc you can get there for cheap enough that you can leave it behind. Our timeshare also has some beach chairs that we always use. I would wait until you are there to grocery shop and then buy less than you think you need (better to have to go back than to throw it away IMO). Have fun!!