7 Days - 3 Humans - 1 Suitcase - Challenge Accepted!

Waiting at the train station with EVERYTHING!

Since last week is our Rosenkoetter Family Vacation, I thought I might as well walk you through my packing madness. I’d like you to note that when I’m packing for this many people, I find that it helps to start the packing process at least 3 days before travel day.

I’m going to get you involved right away into the reason for the phrase “packing madness!” It is nothing new to any of you that I AM CHEAP!

I hate paying for luggage on airplanes. Guess what though…I am taking multiple train rides to get to our location this year. Yayyyy no plane rides or car seats required! Now, it’s important to tell you that I’m starting this vacation as myself, one 9 month old baby boy, his 4 year old brother, a suitcase, diaper bag and stroller. Oh, I can’t forget to include some things like toys and books for the 4 year old. Fortunately, L will meet us during the weekend but he’s great about packing his own stuff.

I’m excited to share my packing madness with you, so I decided to organize it into what you can call “people groups,” which for convenience, we will name: Mom, Baby, and Big Brother.

Now, remember I only have two hands so I’m going to need quite a few handy ways to pack everything into a diaper bag, a backpack, and 1 suitcase. We will be staying in a VRBO (or airbnb) and thankfully they provide a high chair and a pac n’ play for us; otherwise, I’ve been known to pack our bumbo into my suitcase and stuff clothes around it.

I’m thinking we can start easy with “Big Brother” (4 year old Owen). Somehow, he has become the easiest to pack for. We will be gone for 7 days. So, I will bring 8 outfits, 9 pairs of underwear, 7 pairs of socks, 1 jacket, 1 hat, 1 scarf, 1 set of gloves, 1 pair of rain boots, and 1 pair of regular shoes, 2 pairs of pjs and 1 set of “cozy clothes.” Yikes!!! Those are just the clothes for 1 out of the 3 humans. Anyone else a little scared for the life of this suitcase?

Big Brother (Con’t)…Owen’s backpack. Well, crazy 4 year olds need some toys. So, we will pack his Kindle Fire tablet and charger (it is a life saver when we are out to eat), UNO, some Legos (his Uncle B is a Lego pro), a couple bedtime stories, and of course Dappy Dog (Owen’s best friend). With his backpack, he will also be bringing his water bottle. We have a kid’s hydro flask for him. Whether we are in the car, train, or plane, we bring his water and fill it up as needed. When the spout is down, it doesn’t leak and it keeps the water nice and cold like he likes it.

Evan is soo good at being a packing "helper"

We’ll move on to a multiple item group, “Baby” (9 month old Evan). I’m going to add “Tips.” Tip #1. The before mentioned idea of the bumbo is a handy item when a highchair won’t be available. Tip #2. If you are leaving the country and have a baby on formula, check to see if that formula is available in the country you are traveling to. If you aren’t sure, bring as much formula as you think you will need for the whole trip. Tip #3. If your formula only comes in huge tubs, putting it in baggies that are double bagged helps save space! Evan is already on European formula so I know it will be available. Thankfully, that isn’t something I have to worry about stocking up on. Tip #4. Pack a bottle brush for cleaning those bottles ( a must have for sure).

Baby (Con’t)…Babies are unpredictable so they require a lot of extra things and must haves. My diaper bag for an everyday outing is very different then for a vacation. My diaper bag for a vacation not only has to have enough stuff for Evan, it has to have “just in case” things for me and for Owen. Tip #5. I keep 2 different little bags inside my diaper bag. The first one is a little red make up bag, actually filled with anti bacterial cream, bandaids, allergy cream, and a small facial sunscreen stick. The second bag is for small medicine essentials: Tylenol, ibuprofen, kids and adult Dramamine ( we have a car sickness problem in our family haha), teething medicine and a tiny hand sanitizer.

Baby (Con’t)…The diaper bag always has an extra outfit, diaper rash cream, changing pad, wipes and diapers, of course.Tip #6. Don’t forget the teething toys and toys that suction to tables, which are so helpful when we’re eating out. Remember the must haves? Well, definitely take your baby carrier…you’ll need it when moving on and off trains, etc.

Tip #7. If you can find a waterproof bag in the baby section for your diaper bag, get it !!!! My friends got me one and it has come in handy. You NEVER know when a blow out will happen.

My small "must have" baggies for the diaper bag!

***TRAVEL DAY TIP: For the travel day, I will fill up 4 baby bottles with the water that I will need to mix formula and I will have my formula dispenser ready. I know not only will we have all the train rides but we will probably start exploring that day and I won’t have time to prep bottles.

Alright, time for the “people group” I called “Mom.” Let’s get started on the suitcase…I’ve been putting it off. Can you tell? First off, our home here overseas is not very large so we haven’t been using a monitor because Evan is so close to us at night BUT I don’t know where he will be sleeping at the VRBO so I ALWAYS pack a cheaper version of our monitor for every vacation! Also, I ALWAYS bring the sound machine on every vacation to block outside noises and help our little one sleep peacefully.

Mom (Con’t)…As for packing Evan’s clothing items, he will need 2 pairs of pjs (I can always wash them if I need to). I will pack about 8 outfits (total of 9 because we have the 1 outfit in the diaper bag). Evan only has a couple pairs of shoes, so I will pack those and socks of course. Also, he sleeps in a weighted sleep sack which I want to be sure to pack.

Mom (Con’t)…In the suitcase, I pack all the boy’s things in zip lock bags. Remember the “must haves?” That ALWAYS includes a bag of kid’s meds (Tylenol, Advil, thermometer, vapor rub, and cold tablets). Don’t forget the necessary toothbrushes, kid’s toothpaste, and floss…have to keep those teeth in good shape! I bring their own soap because we have real sensitive skin. Uh oh, “must have” alert. I NEVER go anywhere without the duck that tracks the temperature of the bath water.

Mom (Con’t)…Now, I’m kind of wacko about packing my toiletries. I use a billion different bags. I have a makeup bag (yes, it only has my makeup) and a brush bag (just for makeup brushes and sponges). Then, there is a contact and moisturizer bag. I use a small ziplock bag for q-tips and cotton pads. Then, I have a whole other bag for shampoo, conditioner, soap, toner, face wash and makeup remover, and ALL my billions of hair products.

***ELECTRONIC TIP: I use another small makeup bag to put all of my electronic chargers in so that I’m not searching throughout trying to find one or the other.

Of course I’ll need some clothes too. Pretty easy…an outfit for every day plus pjs (I’ve been known to forget those a few too many times, hahaha). Also, I need some cozy clothes for around the house. Oh, I will bring a nice outfit for our date night remember (Grandparents stay in and young couples go on a date) I’m looking forward to it.

Mom (Con’t)…Oh yes, back to the work of packing. Now come the things that will be tricky to pack. I don’t know how I will fit ALL of my shoes plus I don’t know about you other moms but when I have a diaper bag, I don’t carry a purse. BTW, I have a really cute, slightly large bag for date night that has to fit in this suitcase too.

***PACKING TIP…I will be filling all the shoes with everyone’s socks and undies and I will pack most of Evan’s clothes into my date night purse for 2 reasons: 1. I am not ok with wasted space while packing. 2. I do not want my purse to be smashed and change its shape.

****PACKING TIP…AlLWAYS wear your largest and heaviest shoes on travel day if you can. Plus, wearing your heaviest outerwear if possible is a HUGE space saver. We will be wearing all of our hats, scarves, gloves, coats and rainboots on travel day because it will be cold outside, so more packing space!

Well family vacation was a complete success and I sure hope this chat has helped you to organize for your vacation too!!

Till the next mess,

Dana