Suitcase size!

[flamingo01]

Hi, we are going on an all-inclusive holiday this summer. It’s a first time abroad since having our son. Me and my husband both have a suitcase medium and large. What size should I get my four-year-old? He has a boy that loves diggers, so planning on taking some toys and still wear nappies at night (please don’t judge) we each have 20 kg luggage allowance, many thanks.

Most kids seem to have trunkis

Does he need his own case, summer clothes for all 3 will be light, can't you get away with just the 2 cases. Maybe just get him a little backpack with some activities and snacks for plane, issue with getting own case, especially cabin case you'll probably end up holding it with everything else

I find that since having DC it's easier to have a smallish suitcase for their clothes and then a small holdall for 'stuff' like toys, nappies etc as they don't pack as well into a suitcase. If you only have 3 checked bags could his clothes split between you and then you can stick your toiletries etc into the holdall bag?

I used to pack kids clothes into our cases and would wash a few things through mid week. They dry really quickly if it's somewhere hot. And I don't iron on holiday waiting for judgement of Mumsnet to fall upon me. We used to make a treat of things in a backpack for the flight, lots of small toys not one big thing. Mine used to love those colouring sheets that you do with a water pen and then they dry clear. No idea if you can still get them.

If you have hold luggage included, don't buy him a trunki or similar carry-on suitcase. you will only end up carrying it when he gets bored. Small backpack for some toys etc for the flight.

Take 2 nappies and buy more when you get there, pack his clothes across the 2 cases

god don’t get a bloody trunki, they are a total pain! Never fit anywhere and you’ll be up and down like a bloody yo yo on the plane.

Are you checking in a buggy or car seat? If you are we got travel bag for those and put a pack of nappies in with them, then two cases should be plenty

He is presumably allowed a suitcase in the hold too? He needs a small rucksack with his toys in for the plane and then his clothes and some nappies in a case in the hold. Maybe a small one that would sit on top of one of your’s?

Why don't you lay out everything you plan to pack for him and work out what sized case he needs based on that, none of us are going to know, we can only base it on what we'd pack. I mean I'm sure if you tried you could fit if all in the 2 you have which would make life easier at the airport and is what I would do.

Other things to consider. Will you both be filing your cases, or will there be some space in them?

Can you or your partner manage 2 suitcases while the other person has the other one and holds your sons hand?

How will you get to the airport? How many case will fit in your car?

His clothes are only going to get bigger from here so if you need a new case I would go larger. He will have luggage allowance.

My DS needed quite a lot at that age as he was completely incapable of eating a meal without getting his clothes filthy.

We have never taken more than 2 suitcases (1 large 1 medium) even back in the nappy days and with 2 kids.

For an AI resort holiday in the sun you really don’t need many clothes - you’ll be in swimwear most of the time. 2-3 breakfast outfits, 3-4 evening outfits, underwear, swimwear and cover ups for lunch. Flip flops. Washpacks. That’s it. Kids need a few more tops as they spill food but their clothes are small.

I’d bring one favourite digger toy and some smaller stuff - water toys for the pool, a small ball that floats, maybe some sticker books/colouring. Dobble. Tablet & headphones for the plane and for keeping him busy while you get ready for dinner.

It is SO much easier in the airport and transfer if you only have 2 suitcases, so it is worth packing light.

Just use the 2 of the cases you have. Honestly, the 4 of us go with 2 medium suitcases. It makes juggling cases and small kids MUCH easier! Now they are older, it makes overpacking much less likely.

And, handy hint - don't pack a suitcase each. Pack a bit of everyone's stuff in each case. Then when one goes missing, everyone has some stuff, rather than someone having nothing.

This is what I’m thinking, to save buying another later on and he has his own luggage allowance.

my son gets dirty walking from the door to the car so he will have to have clean clothes at least once a day and lots of spares!

medium suitcases are perfect as they basically fit 20kg in. When mine were kids we would have one each but if there was extra space in the kids’ bags i would throw my extra in . We mostly road tripped across Europe though and our people carrier fitted 4 cases on sides perfectly. (Plus two large carrier bags, one with the towels, one with foods etc). Put the cool box between them which made a table, then an another carrier bag at my feet so I could lob treats in their direction to keep the peace, fun times! All grown up and they still love a road trip whereas I am relishing in child free ai holidays!

I would manage with two . You need to be able to manage them and keep 4 yo safe. Take tshirts and shorts you can rinse out and dry in sun.

Large same as me and husband. We always struggled with space rather than weight! Esp when he was in nappies and I'm a plan for everything kid of girl🙈🤣

When our DC were young we just took two cases with everything in them. You need to be able to manage them, even if just for short distances on package holidays. You will have the cases, hand luggage and your DC to handle as you move around airports etc

Now ours are older and everyone can take care of their own luggage we all have a medium case that can easily take 20kgs but with not too much danger of going over that plus a matching carry on case for shorter breaks.