carry-on bags for kids

[mssjk]

Hi! I have two DSs, aged 5 and 2, and travel pretty regularly. I'm currently pondering the wisdom/folly of not having check-in luggage on our next trip. Do any of you travel with kids and bring just carry-on luggage? If yes, how do you manage? What kind of bags do you have for the little ones? Extra info: we're going home to my mum's for a week, and DH will be with us!

I never, ever, travelled without hold luggage when the children were young. I just don't like spending time doing laundry on holiday. It is much easier to do a baggage drop and take small bags onto the plane. The children can then manage their own small bag with toys/books/activities for the journey. I hate jostling for overhead storage space on the plane too. Having said all of that, I nearly always fly scheduled so the hold luggage just gets included in the price and the whole journey is more relaxed and civilised.

We have three of these rucksacks. In the summer we (me, dp, 2 x dd) can get away with just using two, if we go away for christmas then we need three, including gifts.

I haven't checked in luggage since they started charging for it. And the two dds can take toys, books etc in their own little rucksacks, particularly since you're now allowed a 'handbag' too, and these are kind of handbag size.

Ours ( age 3 and 4) have the small troop rucksacks. They are canvas type in khaki or grey. Small enough they can carry. They usually have x3 changes of clothes in ( one jumper, one trouser, x3 tshirts, x3 pants, x3 socks approx), plus fits bottle of water, snack, little notebook and pencils/ small book etc. plus the jumper and trousers wearing means they can carry enough for long weekend away.

Any extras we add to our handluggage at this stage as they are still fairly young. I take a travel suitcase with mine and any of their extra stuff if for a week, rucksack myself if just long weekend.

We normally fly BA or Lufthansa so hold luggage is not an issue price wise and I always take at least one suitcase with me, even on short trips. I like my clothes folded neatly, don't like sharing toiletries or buying the expensive small versions.

When we fly to my in-laws we fly easyjet and still put one bag in the hold. It also means I don't have to worry about times to take back home.

Each of us has a backpack for entertainment and electronics.

Janek, the link to the rucksack you have three of, that's exactly the one I was considering getting before I started this thread! That confirms it!!
Thanks all! Great to get a bit of advice...

you'll be amazed at how much you can fit in them, they are 44 litres, my 'proper' rucksack is only 65. I notice that different colours of those rucksacks are different prices on amazon, so be careful to get the cheapest ones - it's not like you have to recognise them on the carousel...