PACKING when you have kids can be chaotic, but one mum has a very easy hack which is a game-changer.
Ola, who is mum to five kids, shared how she uses one key item to transform her holiday organisation.
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On her channel – The Pelo Family – she shared how she uses a hanging shoe storage organiser to put all her family’s outfits in their suitcases.
Ola, who shares Mayah, Micah-Remi, Dream, Nubia and Shaka with husband Darcy, said: “I know it looks like serious business, I’m packing for seven.
“But this hack here I’m about to share with you, I’ve been using for over five years.
“You’re going to roll it, pocket it, drop it in your suitcase.
“And when you get to the hotel, you’re simply just going to hang it up in your wardrobe.
“You simply just pick it and hang it in the wardrobe.
“Labelled underwear bags for each of the kids.
“Hang up the bits that need to be hung up and then boom, this will save you so much headache. Honestly, nobody’s asking, where’s my shorts?”
The savvy mum uses a £11.49 Amazon storage organiser which has 24 pouches, but you can also pick a 16-pouch version from Ikea for £6.
Her Amazon item description reads: “The foldable shoe bags for storage behind the door shoe rack could easily be cut in half horizontally, and can be fold very small for travel storage.”
Ola showed how she covers her floor with the hanging organisers and adds outfits for each kid into the pouches.
When she is done, she simply folds it up and puts it in the suitcase, ready to be hung up at the hotel at the other end.
She also fills one with snacks so her kids can’t complain about being hungry.
Many people were impressed with her easy tip, with one saying: “This is serious business! I am in AWE.”
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Another added: “I have no kids. But I’ve saved this for my future children lol.”
And a third commented: “Ola you are a literal superwomen.”
Ola also shared a number of her other packing hacks.
She added: “I even pack a ready-made beach bag for if you want to head to the beach when you get there.
“My steamer comes everywhere with me.
“Trust me, these little things make a big difference.”
Holiday packing tips
Jemma Solomon, aka The Label Lady has got 5 packing tips to help you get organised for your next holiday.
1. Write a list
Think about all the essentials you need to take with you; suncream, medicine, a few games for the kids, beach towels, and write everything in one list, which you can tick off as you add it to your suitcase.
Or for complete ease, try Google’s AI app – Gemini – which will create a list for you and help you not over pack.
2. Involve your kids
Jemma said: “My girls are getting older, they’re 11 and nine, and they enjoy helping to pack. So I send them a list, and say ‘this is what you need’ and they follow the list.
“And then I give them a rucksack each – and say to them ‘you can have whatever you want in there as long as it’s not liquid’, and they can take that on the plane. And that’s their ‘home away from home’ items.”
3. Try a hack or two
She said: “I think they all work, but for different reasons – and you’ve just got to pick the right one for your trip.
“Rolling your clothes is really good to stop your clothes from getting creases. And if you’re trying to get a lot of items into your case, it’s a space saver.
“Packing cubes are great – for example, I’m going on holiday with my three kids and we’re all using the same suitcase for our clothes.
“These handy compartments let you separate your clothes, toiletries and tech into designated cubes, maximising luggage space by keeping your items compressed and neatly stacked.
“I love taking them abroad with the family and it means my kids can easily take charge of their own items once we’ve arrived.”
4. Decant beauty products
Do you really need to take full-size bottles of shampoo and conditioner with you? The beauty industry has evolved so much, you can now buy shampoo bars or sheets – which are much lighter and smaller.
Or, if you’ll be popping to the shops when you’re abroad, consider buying some items when you arrive.
5. Get organised before you come home
Jemma said: “When you repack on holiday [before coming home], the trick is to separate clean from dirty clothes.
“Also pack it in some form of order – so lights, darks, colours for items that need washing, or if you wash your clothes by person in the household, piles for each person.
“Then you can put it straight into the washing machine. Do it straight away, don’t leave it.”