V boring packing question

[Puisanceel]

I'm taking my 5 year old to London next week on the train, to stay with his grandparents for a week (We arrive Monday early afternoon, return Friday just after lunch).

I have ADHD and get overwhelmed by packing. I cannot drive due to (another) medical condition which can cause blackouts so we have to travel via train. We both enjoy this but I always seem to bring WAY too much stuff and struggle to carry it.

How much would you bring? What size bag/suitcase would you use?!?!

Will you be able to wash stuff while there?
I work on numbers of days plus a couple of spares.

As for size of bag... whatever is needed to fit it all in.

Rucksack is fine. Are you doing anything that requires specific clothes eg dinner out where you have to dress up? If not and it's all casual... Put on jeans you will wear for the week, take spare pair for child. 4 tops each, couple of spares for child. Pjs, underwear, toiletries. Hoody/coat. Small rucksack for child with some toys/books/drink/etc for train.

One medium suitcase. Two spare pairs jeans / trousers / skirts for you. 5 vest tops. 2 jumpers. Underwear. Pyjamas. Similar for five year old. Wash bag. Two small rucksacks for during the journey. Books; travel game; snacks.

Haha! Cross post there and almost identical list!

My problem is stuff I have to have for my son while we are there to keep him entertained - toys and books etc.

I can wash stuff there but there is no tumble dryer, only a clothes horse, and it's a cold victorian house so things will not dry quickly unless the weather allows them to be hung outside.

What size of bags or suitcases do you have? I would be planning to use one a similar size to a plane carry on suitcase (before easyjet got silly!) and a set of packing cubes to make it easy to separate out your clothes from DS. The lists above look good for how much to take, then a small toiletries bag will toothbrush and toothpaste, hairbrush, medication and a small amount of lotions and potions as my DH calls them. Let DS have a small rucksack with journey food and drinks in, and have fun

I have a cabin sized suitcase which I always find barely fits our clothes in let alone anything else. Then the next one up we have is a massive one, the sort you'd use for a 2 week holiday.

I also have a big camping style back pack.

I would bring a wheely suitcase if you have one, personally, then you’ll definitely have enough room but think beforehand about what you’ll put in it.

Then for a list I’d start making a list now so you can add to it as you think of things. My basics would be:

Underwear for both
Sets of clothes for the days you’re there - and a spare set for him just in case
Jumpers as might be chilly
Waterproof coats
Umbrella
Toiletries for both of you - toothbrush, toothpaste, shower stuff
Make up for you if you wear it, moisturiser
Casual clothes for around house
Any medication you’ll need
Any jewellery you wear
Mask
Any electronic products, phones, iPad
Books or anything else to keep him occupied
Any chargers you’ll need
Hair brush
Footwear - think about what you’ll be doing those days, more than one in case you set soaked

@Puisanceel

I have a cabin sized suitcase which I always find barely fits our clothes in let alone anything else. Then the next one up we have is a massive one, the sort you'd use for a 2 week holiday.

I also have a big camping style back pack.

Could you take cabin sized bag and then a rucksack on back if you have one?

Travel toys: Top Trumps; Uno; small lego set or two; Meccano kit?

I would set off in the clothing I’m wearing, I tend to wear that clothing Tuesday.

Take clothing for Wednesday and wear again Thursday

Washing Monday clothing to wear Friday home

Take 3 pairs of pants and pjs

Mini wash bag and spare toothbrush and comb

Waterproof

Wear sensible shoes all week

I just think I pack way too many clothes. I'm really sensitive to heat so I'm always terrified of packing stuff I'll be too hot in. So I end up packing layers but then that gets bulky.

Could you take cabin sized bag and then a rucksack on back if you have one?

At the moment that's my plan, but if I take the big rucksack I don't have a "small" bag for things I need immediately accessible on the train iyswim.

I know I'm overthinking this but it makes me so stressed every time.

A cabin sized wheels bag and a back pack for your child.

Wear jeans, top, jumper, coat/jacket, sneakers

In the wheely bag for each of you:
Second pair of jeans/pants
4 tops/t-shirts
Extra jumper
5 x underwear and 5x socks
Track pants, jumper and bed socks for around the house
Toiletries - tooth brushes, hair brush, make up, deodorant and basics that won’t be available when you’re there (eg doubt you will need to bring shampoo etc unless you’re fussy about what you use)
PJs x2

In the back pack:
2-3 favourite books
Card game
Cuddle toy

Anything you absolutely need you can buy there.

Have a great time.

Good luck. I also have ADHD and this kind of stuff can floor me.

I try to remember that I can buy stuff if needed. I've never actually had to do it but it helps me not pack spares of everything.

Does your ds have his own backpack? He can carry his games/toys, choose what goes in and carry it himself. If he doesn't have one, that would be the one thing I would nip out and buy.

ThePoint678

OK reading that list I definitely bring too much stuff

I'd bring 2 pairs of underwear a day for myself for example as I always change into a fresh pair at night. And I couldn't wear my own coat and jumper to travel, I'd be too hot within seconds.

Do others not get stuff dirty?! If I only brought two sweatshirts I guarantee I'd get stuff down both of them within a day's wear.

And I usually bring more stuff than that to entertain DS while he's there as well. Last time I brought his lego, magnetic tiles, some books, some crayons and colouring things, a couple of toy cars, a game and his cuddle toy. And it still felt like that wasn't enough!!! I am ridiculous.

This would be my own packing list (for just me):

8 underwear (2 per day plus a fresh pair to change into Monday night and Friday morning)
3/4 bras (I get very hot and sweaty!)
4/5 tops (t shirts or vest tops to wear under sweatshirts)
4/5 "top" tops (ie sweatshirts)
Bottoms - maybe 1 jeans, 2 leggings, 1 pair casual trousers...essentially a clean pair each day although I do often re use if not dirty (but I am so accident prone I ALWAYS get stuff down them)
Socks and bedsocks
Lounge trousers for round the house
T shirts to sleep in - I'd bring 3/4
Toiletries wise I wouldn't bring any shampoo or conditioner as I'll use what's there but I'd pack my straighteners, my make up bag, deodorant, hairbrush
And I'd almost always bring my raincoat AND my "normal" coat.

Honestly I'm embarrassed.

When are you going? (I know you said next week but not sure if you mean tomorrow). You could post your clothes by cheap courier! Look at ParcelMonkey or similar. Big cardboard box of clothes might cost as little as around £10 to post.

Yes, tomorrow!

Ah! That won’t work then. Sorry. Good luck!

That's more than I take for 2 weeks.

Why do you need so much underwear?

I would pack:

One pair of pants and socks per day (so you're travelling on Monday so only need to pack 4)
Spare pair of trousers
Spare jumper
2 T-shirts
PJs

For each of you

I’d trim your list.
Sweatshirts, wear one, take two spare
Trousers, wear one, take one spare plus lounge trousers.
T-shirts to sleep in do you really need 3/4?

Then pack your big rucksack and have a bag for life near the top that you fish out on the train. Or if you have a cloth shopping bag with a longer handle then keep it separate the whole time.

You should be able to fit all your clothes in your cabin bag and then give you child a little rucksack with their stuff and a shoulder bag for you

And leaving Monday after lunch and going home Friday lunchtime isn't a week, it's only 4 nights