Only now that I am a mummy of three in a family of five do I understand wholly why my mother started packing for holidays weeks in advance.
Why certain items of clothing would disappear from my drawers and why I would be banned from one random room in the house.
Packing for a week away with a young family is an absolute mission. It takes thought, planning, organisation and child free time. Time you have to snatch when you can in very short interludes, hence the need for secret packing in advance!
So we are off on our holidays and it would seem we are taking almost our entire house with us and even still I am dreading the things I might and probably will forget.
The comforter, the teddy, the Calpol!!!!
Here is my list of holiday essentials for our little family of five as much a check list for me as interest for you.
Have I missed anything?
Sleep
Pyjamas for each child for each night
Sleeping Bag for each baby
Teddy / comforter for each baby
Bedding for cots and crib
A baby monitor for the twins and one for baby
Laptop for bedtime TV
Laptop charger
Bedtime reading for all
Blackout blind or bin bags to black out windows!
Tape
Clothes
One outfit for each day for each of us
One spare outfit for each baby
Waterproof coat each
Puddlesuits for Esther and William
Wellies for all
Shoes for all
Socks for all
Fleece each
Dribble bibs for baby
Eating
Highchairs
Bibs for Esther and William
Plate, bowl, snack bowl, cutlery for Esther and William
Drinking cups for Esther and William
Antibacterial wipes
Hand and face wipes
Toddler snacks
Food for toddler teas
Indoor Play
Box of toys
Basket of books to include In The Night Garden and Mr Tumble Magazines as full of stickers and activities
Box of art stuff to include crayons, sketch pads, stickers and sticker books
Baby Gym and playmat
Tummy with Mummy Seat with Tiny Love Travel Arch
Bumbo???
Basket of toys for Matilda mostly Lamaze toys and some black and white cuddlies
Cars and car mat
Going Out
Double Buggy
Carry Cot
Baby Bjorn Miracle
Raincover
Snoozeshade Twin
Snoozeshade Original
Bundlebeans x 3
Picnic Blanket
Just In Case
Calpol
Nurofen
First aid kit
Plasters
Beach, Water and Outdoor Play
Swimsuits for all
Sunsuits for all babies (we can hope!)
Swim nappies
Sunhats for all
Towels for all
Wet shoes
2 x sand trucks
Play tunnel
Flexibath
Munchkin inflatable duck
Paddling pool
Buckets, sand moulds and watering cans
Squirty crab and turtle
Footballs
Forks, spades and rakes
Buggies and Babies!!
Suntan lotion
The Car
CDs for the car
Snacks for the car
Drinks for the car
Change Bag – fully packed
Spare clothes bag – fully stocked
Baby Bjorn Miracle
Additional For Me
Mascara
Shower Gel
Face Wash
Shampoo and Conditioner
Laptop
Charger
Pens
Notebook
Wallet
Keys
So that is the list complete.
My house looks like a bomb site.
We must be ready for the holiday to begin!
I would just add a thermometer and a spare sleeping bag for each child as L throws up if she is ill and it is always all over her sleeping bag! And finally dont forget the camera! Have a fabulous time and hoping you get good weather xxx
Wowsers I hope you have a big car! We found similar when we went on holiday in June – we’re actually going to buy a bigger car now because it was a bit of a squeeze on the way home (it wasn’t so bad on the way, not sure what happened there!) Luckily we went to Coombe Mill so lots of stuff already there 🙂 My aunty came round for the day on the day before we left, so I blitzed the packing then… Top tip – I put all the bedtime stuff (sheets, sleeping bags, cuddly things, monitor, pyjamas etc) in one bag at the top of everything else – we arrived just before tea so didn’t want to have to empty the whole car before we got them to bed!