The Simple Hack That Will Make Packing Your Kid's Suitcase Even Easier

Packing is a big part of ensuring that your trip goes well. You want to make sure that you didn't forget anything, and that you have all of the necessities from home to make you comfortable while away. With airline weight restrictions on bags, getting the packing amount right is that much more important. You don't want to under-pack and go without on your trip, but you also don't want to get dinged with overweight bag fees at the airport!

If packing is stressful for adults, it's even more involved when packing for kids. This is why parents are so keen on helping each other, by sharing tips and hacks so other travelers don't make the same mistakes they did. There are things to know about flying with a stroller. There are also specific things to keep in mind depending on where you and your kids are traveling to. For instance, if you're packing for a cruise with your baby or toddler, you'll want to pack differently than if you're going on a road trip with a newborn. Thankfully, this packing hack is great for any style of trip. Its effectiveness is universal for packing a kid's suitcase.

The best packing tip for readying a kid's suitcase for a trip involves a big bundle of elastic bands. This packing hack requires more prep time so that you and your family can spend less time fussing about clothes while on vacation. The trick is to lay out your kid's complete outfit, including their underwear and socks. Roll the complete outfit and secure with one or two elastic bands, so that you basically have a look in a tube. Of course, there are going to be some renegade items, like shoes, hats, and swimsuits, but having the daily outfits in tubes will save space and simplify suitcase organization. Plus, rolling clothes can save space in a suitcase, so you can maximize its use. Fill the excess suitcase space with books, toys, sunscreen, and toiletries.

If you want to pack extra socks and underwear (always a good idea!), roll these extras into your kid's shoes. Not only will the extra fabric help keep the shoe's shape, but it's a good use of space.

Rolling each outfit for your kid and securing it with an elastic band is a surefire way to simplify the trip. Kids can grab their outfits and go. But there are a few other tips to make packing for a kid even easier. Some parents swear by packing cubes to add to the organizational element of the trip. You can use the packing cubes to create themes as you help your kids pack. The clothing tubes go in one, toiletries go in another cube, and miscellaneous things, like hats and swimwear, go in another.

Blogger Happily Eva After offers a very clever suggestion with the packing cubes. If you're traveling with more than one kid, you can use the cubes by day instead of by item. So everyone's outfit for the day goes into one cube, and you can work your way through the trip by working through the cubes. This way, you don't need to be scrambling through several suitcases to get everyone's daily items together. Also, one packing cube should be a first aid kit, and ideally, it looks different from the other packing cubes so that you can identify it quickly.