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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I'm never go to get 7 people packed into 1 suitcase and 2 hold alls

44 replies

Memoo · 17/07/2012 20:01

We are going on holiday next week in this country for 1 week.

I have dd13, ds11, dsd10, dsd9 and dd2. Oh and a mad dog.

The car does have a roof rack but the only bit of space in the minuet boot is taken by the pram.

So I have to pack everything we need to take into 1 suitcase and 2 hold alls. I think I don't stand a snowballs chance in hell. Dh thinks its doable.

OP posts:
NoToastWithoutKnickers · 17/07/2012 20:02

Sorry, I'm just laughing at the image of folding all those people into suitcases Grin

NoToastWithoutKnickers · 17/07/2012 20:03

And to be slightly more helpful, no I think you'll definitely struggle. Is there no way you can get another suitcase in?

WorraLiberty · 17/07/2012 20:04

Can you put the pram on the roof rack and pack the clothes in a few bin bags so they squash flat?

Also things like towels that take up a lot of room...you can fold them up so the kids sit on them in the car.

thisisyesterday · 17/07/2012 20:05

that depends how small you chop the bodies up

Original poster
Memoo · 17/07/2012 20:05

Grin I did word that badly!

No more room as have to get the dog into the car too.

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 17/07/2012 20:06

The beauty of going in your own car is that you can squash as much in as possible (within legal limits obviously).

You can fit two or three holdalls in the back footwells.

thisisyesterday · 17/07/2012 20:06

and more helpfully. no yanbu

may i suggest: space saver bags (the type you roll to squeeze the air out, not the ones tht you need a vacuum cleaner for)

take a smaller pushchair?

buy a roof box to maximise your extra space?

make everyone have a small bag under their feet?

KnitterInTheNW · 17/07/2012 20:07

There's the footwell where your 2 yr old sits, too. Her feet won't reach the floor!

McHappyPants2012 · 17/07/2012 20:07

Vacuum pack things or buy a cheap buggy when you get there and dump before coming home

Ragwort · 17/07/2012 20:07

Where are you going, ie: hotel or self catering with a washing machine? I think you can do it, most of us have far too many clothes. do you need to take the dog? I used to go away for a week with my DS when he was a toddler with just one small holdall (too mean to pay for luggage on a plane Grin).

squeakytoy · 17/07/2012 20:07

Also, get some of those vaccuum sacks that make stuff a fraction of the size.

Original poster
Memoo · 17/07/2012 20:08

When I said we had a boot it's really just a space behind the two pully up seats in the boot.

OP posts:
Original poster
Memoo · 17/07/2012 20:09

Vaccum sacks! I'm liking that idea.

OP posts:
WaitingForMe · 17/07/2012 20:09

Remember with some vacuum bags that you need a Hoover at the other end!

smellyolddog · 17/07/2012 20:10

So hang on you have to fit a dog in the boot, a pram 5 children and two adults?

Even without the suitcases I'm guessing you must have a landrover?? or some massive people carrier.

How about if you have a tow bar just borrowing or buying small trailer?? that way you can fit the pram suitcases and all other bits in the trailer leaving the car free for all the humans and a dog (which I hope for your sake is small!)

Halfords do them but you can pick them up on ebay for not much, would add to your fuel bill a bit but very handy to have.

Original poster
Memoo · 17/07/2012 20:11

That's true knitter there is.

OP posts:
Original poster
Memoo · 17/07/2012 20:12

We do have a 7 seater but the seven seats means no boot.

The pram I mention is more of a buggy really.

OP posts:
Original poster
Memoo · 17/07/2012 20:13

Oh how I wish we had a tow bar.

OP posts:
Bunbaker · 17/07/2012 20:14

As the weather is so awful, surely coats are going to take up a lot of room as well.

rhondajean · 17/07/2012 20:14

Could you just make them wear all their clothes on the way??

Original poster
Memoo · 17/07/2012 20:15

It's quite a big dog Grin she's in my footwell. She keeps my feet warm.

OP posts:
GrimmaTheNome · 17/07/2012 20:16

My dog did once try to pack himself into a suitcase before we went on holiday.

Make the older kids choose clothes they can wear more than one day.
Is there any room under your seats (we can squidge a little bit under the front seats)

Do you absolutely need the pram? (probably, I suppose)

Cabrinha · 17/07/2012 20:16

Well, if your husband thinks it can be done, why isn't he doing it?

Not really possibly to say without more details. E.g. What you're going to do, where your staying - so if towels etc needed.

Presumably you have a 7 seater? Every child can put there stuff in a back pack and have that by their feet - easy to get 3-4 outfits in a back pack, plus an outfit on. Coats on laps.

HandMadeTail · 17/07/2012 20:16

Get one of those car top boxes?

redskyatnight · 17/07/2012 20:17

We have a similar 7 seater and I realise there is not much space at the back, but if it's entirely taken up by your buggy you should consider a smaller buggy :) Actually that's a serious suggestion - just get a really cheap one when you get to your destination - presumably at 2, DD can cope for a bit without one?

You can get holdalls in the footwells and in front of the front passenger seat.

If you only take a couple of changes of outfits each (plus what your wearing) and wash during the week, you'll need less?