How much should I pack for a week in Devon.. for kids 🤣

[Fabdabbydosey]

I’ a serial over-packer.. but we’ve only ever been for 4 night stays. This is our first 7 night holiday coming up and I have no idea how much of what to pack 🤣

I have a 6 year old and a 4 year old. We’re going to Devon at the end of May.

surely I’m not packing 7 pairs of shorts, 7 leggings, 7 tops, 14 pairs of pants 🤣 plus spares.. for every day? Plus the nicer bits for evenings..

I hate packing 😭

Is there a washing machine where you're going?

If there’s a washing machine I pack 3 of each item. One to be wearing while one is being washed/ dried and another waiting to be washed. You can include the outfit you travel in. This cuts the amount of clothing right down. The exception being socks and underwear for smaller children as you can go through loads.

I got caught out one year on a Devon trip in August. Having had weeks of blazing sunshine, I packed the usual shorts and tees. The weather took a horrible turn and it was freezing and wet unfortunately. We had to go and buy coats and sweatshirts. So make sure you pack for all weathers at the very least. I’m also an overpacker so I can’t advise there. I always prefer to take too much than too little.

If there is no washing machine resign yourself to packing at least 1 full spare outfit per 2 days for the kids. Ice cream melting, food spills, sun cream, getting soaked all likely to lead to demands for clean clothes.

Plus PP and the fact you can't trust the weather.

Do you need a completely fresh outfit everyday? Surely leggings can be worn for 2 days as could a top. Underwear yes fresh every day but you don't need to take 2 weeks worth.

Also a serial overpacker here, but now somewhat reformed!

For seven days in May, assuming fairly normal weather, I'd take 2x shorts, 2x trousers, 3x t-shirts, 1x long-sleeve t-shirt and 2x jumpers/cardigans. Also a raincoat. Underwesr at that age is so small that I'd just take 7x of each. f I had extra room I'd consider a thin extra fleece for them both too. If you get lucky and have beach days then they'll basically just wear swimwear all day. Even if you don't have a washing machine you can handwash if really needed.

3-4 pair of shorts/leggings/skirts each. If they get grubby they get grubby. You're on holiday. Who cares? 7 pairs of pants. 3 pairs of socks assuming no socks and sandals at least a few days. 2 jumpers. Swimming stuff.

We did a week last summer with one suitcase for 9 and 7 year old and two adults.

Rolling clothes makes them smaller and children's clothes take up hardly any space anyway.

I only book places with a washing machine and take about 3 days worth of clothes. Honestly, none of us own a week’s worth of clothes if I packed it all! We aren’t those sort of people. 😂

But living in Devon, I’d say make sure to bring layers and also account for beach days when things will be wet and sandy (and definitely need a wash and a dry for the next day). Also beach shoes - for pebble beaches and depending where you are, where there may be weever fish on sandy beaches especially if you are edging into Cornwall.

If you have the space and the suitcase capacity, take what you want. I dont understand why people on here want to turn packing into some sort of olympic sport where you take as little as possible

I take various outfits, lots of shoes, lots of equipment (spare hangers, towels, kitchen stuff), we also have bikes so theres tons of equipment for that, we take lots of different coats

problem is weather, we came back from a bike ride the other day, dripping wet through, even our waterproofs, so they werent able to be worn the next day, but no matter because we had other coats and shoes we could wear.

The car is always filled to the brim and no Im not doing washing on holiday.

We do beach holidays often. Take beach towels, several sets of swimwear each- rash vests if possible, water shoes for the beach, flip flops and trainers, a t shirt for each day, one or two long sleeve tops two jumpers, a waterproof, several pairs of joggers/ leggings - twice as many as you think you'll need with kids that age, and twice the amount of underwear and socks. The end of May won't be that warm and may be wet. You can pack less for you ( assuming you won't end up sitting in wet sand and dribbling ice cream on sandy clothes like the kids!)

I always bring a t-shirt, pants and socks for each day, and bottoms x half the days (so 3 in your case), one warm layer and two sets of swimmers. We also have a change of clothes per kid in our day backpack anyway so that's plenty on top. Also rewear the t-shirts if they're clean, then you always have some spare.

For 7 days for kids in UK I’d take 8 tops, 8 underwear, 4 or 5 shorts/trousers. 2 jumpers. fleece,Raincoat, Spare shoes, Swimwear

Mine don’t really wear different stuff on an evening. Maybe just a clean top and then that can be worn next day. They also seem to attract dirt. of course you can take less, but kids clothes are small and you have a car

If the accommodation has washing machine then I’d take half of that and do a wash or 2.

No I don’t think so, we’re going camping with my parents, it’s the kids first time camping 🥰

thanks all! I’ve taken all this in.. going to start writing a list 🤣

Oh then I'd definitely be overpacking haha! Better safe than sorry. Hope you have a lovely time!

Missed that you were camping! Last time we went for 9 days we brought:

T-shirt pants and socks for each day
2 shorts 2 trousers
2 pairs shoes (one sandals one boots)
Raincoat
Fleece
1 other daytime warm layer e.g. cardigan
2 swimmers
1 spare everything in the day bag

Tbh we came home with a few clean t-shirts but I was glad for the spares!

You’ll be surprised how cold it gets in the evening if you’re not used to camping. Thick coats and warm PJs even if the forecast is sunny and warm in the day.

Check the website of the place you are staying. A lot of campsites have a laundry room with washers and driers and also sinks where you can handwash a few bits if needed.