• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Don't Just Fly
  • START HERE
  • BY LOCATION
    • Disney
    • Amelia Island
    • Atlanta
    • Charlotte
    • Myrtle Beach
    • Pigeon Forge
    • Ireland
  • BY EXPERIENCE
    • Family Road Trips
    • Family Beach Trips
    • Romantic Getaways
  • PLANNING
    • Hotel Tips
    • Travel Food
    • Packing Tips
    • Travel Books
    • Vacation Photography Tips
  • ROADSCHOOL
  • SUBSCRIBE
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • START HERE
  • Family Beach Trips
  • Disney Vacations
  • Planning Your Trip
  • Roadschooling
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Blog

    Packing Secrets for Kids Clothing

    Published: Jun 9, 2021 · Modified: Apr 19, 2022 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links

    5 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Easy packing tips for kids' clothes before a big family vacation that will save stress and time before you go.

    Piles of kids' clothing sits on a bed ready to be packed into a suitcase.

    Packing for a big family vacation can be daunting. I remember when going away for a week meant simply worrying about my own bag and wardrobe. Now I know I'm not alone in saying that when the family travels, I'm responsible for every last person's entire wardrobe. Any other moms want to raise their hands??

    When we traveled to Disney World with two young girls (ages 5 and 2 at the time) I got sucked into buying all kinds of adorable vacation gear and accessories. But actually managing all those tiny items in a sea of hotel room chaos was bound to cause frustration. To keep myself sane I armed myself with a big box of gallon sized zip-top baggies and set to work.

    1. Organize by Outfits

    For each girl I set out organized piles of outfits onto my bed. Each outfit pile contained:

    • Top
    • Bottom
    • Underwear
    • Socks
    • All matching accessories: hairclips, sunglasses, matching hat or headband, etc.

    Knowing our plan was to have fun in the parks by day and go out for a relaxed evening dinner at night, I planned for 2 outfits for each day. This may be overkill for your own travel plans. I personally just can't stand putting on sweaty, dirty clothes from earlier in the day after I've showered and cleaned up after swimming in the afternoons. Kids get messy at the parks--think melted ice cream cones!--and I know my girls enjoyed putting on their skirts or dresses for the evenings.

    2. Zip it Up!

    Slip each individual outfit pile into a gallon sized ziploc baggie. Squeeze the air out and it lays flat like a pancake. This helps with preventing wrinkles and saves room in the luggage!

    Mark each bag with the child's name so they don't have to open it up to check for sizes.

    If you like to have your children match or coordinate, mark the bags accordingly. I had "Peanut, Outfit A" and "Little Pea, Outfit A" bags so it was easy for any one of us to grab what needed to be pulled together for the day.

    If a certain outfit needs to be saved for a special occasion (like a character meal or shirts you want specifically worn at Magic Kingdom) make sure to note that too. Helpful husbands may not automatically recognize that little sundress bag as "special."

    NOTE: While this method may seem wasteful, I did save all of the baggies used for this packing trick at the end of the trip. I just folded them neatly and stored in a pocket of our suitcase so that we can do this trick again this year.

    A pile of little girls' clothes and accessories are on a bed.

    3. Controlled Freedom

    My 2 year old would pretty much wear whatever was presented to her but my 5 year old was finally at the age she had opinions about what she wanted to wear. The baggie trick is just perfect for allowing that freedom to make the choice of outfit knowing that everything is already put together.

    The Peanut loved picking her baggie and then finding Little Pea's coordinating one. It saved us a huge mess from her ruffling through a neatly packed luggage. I never had to worry about the clothing getting wrinkled or unfolded.

    4. The Extras

    If you plan your outfit piles with all those ingredients I list, I can guarantee you will end up with spare clean items. Extra underwear, extra clean socks. When we found we had an extra something, I slipped it into a baggie and saved it for later in the week should we hit an emergency. I loved the peace of mind knowing our kids could get as dirty as they wanted and we would still be ok with a fresh change. If you make it to the end of the trip, the extras will still be clean enough to slip right back into the dressers at home and less laundry for you!

    5. Our Master Clothing Packing List

    Beyond the 2 outfits per day, these are the items I packed for each girl for our week long Disney vacation:

    • 2 pairs of pajamas
    • 2 swimsuits
    • 1 swim cover up
    • 1 pair of closed-toe walking shoes
    • 1 pair of neutral sandals
    • 1 pair of flip-flops for the pool
    • 1 neutral sweater, dressy enough to be worn for dinner but casual enough to be worn into the parks on chilly mornings or on the air conditioned, chilly plane

    Do you have any great packing survival secrets? Let's chat in the comments below!

    More recipes you may enjoy

    • Where to Watch Disney Fireworks with Anxious Kids
    • 10 Ways to Stay Cool at Disney World
    • Magic Kingdom Restaurants: Best Places to Eat
    • The Crystal Palace: A Review
    5 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Tiffany! I believe the best memories are made on our family trips. I'm excited to share easy ways to connect with your kids and raise lifelong learners through family travel.

    More about me →

    Popular Family Vacation Tips

    • Easy Vacation Meals for Beach Rentals
    • Best Hotel Room Hacks for Families
    • 5 Ways to Tell Kids You're Going to Disney
    • Easy Breakfast Ideas for Hotel Rooms

    Trending Now

    • 22 Magical Disney Countdown Ideas
    • 40 Easy Meals for Large Groups on Vacation
    • Best Packing List for Teens: Mom-Approved!
    • What to Pack for a Hotel Stay Alone or With Kids
    • Ireland Itinerary: 7 Days in Dublin and the Irish Coast
    • 14 Best Romantic Movies Set in Ireland
    • Magic Kingdom Restaurants: Best Places to Eat
    • Best Rides at Magic Kingdom You Don't Want to Miss

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Contact

    Favorite Destinations

    Disney Vacations
    Family Beach Trips
    Family Road Trips
    Myrtle Beach
    Pigeon Forge
    Ireland

    Plan Your Trip

    Vacation Planning Tips
    Hotel Tips
    Travel Food Tips
    Packing Tips

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.