Going on vacation: five foolproof tips for organizing the whole family's luggage

So to maximize your chances of relaxing (a little) once you're there, here are five foolproof tips for organizing the whole family's luggage while keeping your cool.

An essential ally for any forward-thinking parent: the sacrosanct checklist! To make sure you don't forget anything, list in advance and in a calm environment all the things you want to take: clothes, childcare equipment, bed linen, toiletries, games... it will be easier to simply pack everything when you leave, without having to recalculate in the middle of the chaos and screaming children how many T-shirts or books you think you'll need.

This list can be written all at once, or amended as the days go by before departure. And if you take a little time to write it down on your phone or computer, it can always be used again (slightly modified or not) for your next vacation.

A children's suitcase on vacation takes on a life of its own: clothes that were neatly folded at the start end up in a few days rolled into a ball or piled up in a precarious pile, when dirty laundry or wet swimsuits don't join in the fun... So to avoid small - and large - clothing dramas, there's a radical solution: no more suitcase, no more problem!

If you're taking the car, plastic storage bins will be your best allies. Stackable in the trunk, transparent to identify their contents at a glance, large enough to cram in two children's wardrobes if necessary, sometimes on wheels for easy transport, they also have the advantage of being able to slip into a closet or under a bed when you arrive, and are large enough to pick out clothes without having to take everything out every time.

And to achieve parenting nirvana, the ultimate organizational weapon that allows you to relocate your offspring's wardrobe to your vacation spot in 30 seconds, opt for... the tower of drawers! One bin per type of clothing, usable as is even by the little ones, it will save you a significant amount of time when the plan is to... rest.

Switching to storage bins also means completely rethinking the way you pack: goodbye to "each person has their own suitcase", make way for "one bin, bag or basket per room or per activity":

• one to slip into the kitchen (with groceries, medicines and, for the little ones, bottles, milk, water bottles, brushes, baby food jars, bibs or “first age” cutlery, etc.)
• one to slip into the bathroom (with everyone's toiletries, diapers, bath toys, but also the first aid kit)
• one for each room (with sheets, comforters, bedtime stories, night light or baby monitor... + all the toys)
• a “beach/pool basket” (with all bath towels, swimsuits, armbands, goggles and sunscreen)

When you arrive, all you have to do is put a bin in each room, either leaving the things there or emptying it to reuse it elsewhere (dirty laundry, toys lying around, mini-bath for baby, etc.): magic, we tell you!

4. A well-organized pharmacy

No need to carry a huge pharmacy, the main thing is to be able to deal with the most urgent matters while waiting, if necessary, to consult a professional. Fill a first aid kit on one side to treat minor injuries (with bandages, antiseptics, compresses, tweezers, a bandage, but also some anti-blister plasters, an ointment for burns and one for insect bites, etc.) and on the other, a small stock of medication for pain and fever, (paracetamol or ibuprofen) for digestive problems (antacid, antidiarrheal, anti-emetic), but also a thermometer and personal medications and prescriptions if one of you is following a particular treatment. Don't forget to include your child's health record and a copy of the health insurance card to deal with possible medical emergencies.

If your luggage for the trip is well organized, don't forget to set aside a whole section for the trip itself. This will save you, for example, the inconvenience of having to empty your trunk in the parking lot of a motorway service station to go to the bottom of a bin of clothes to search for a change of clothes for your youngest. So keep, in one or two accessible bags, everything you will need on the road: changes of clothes, but also food, drinks, toys, books or various entertainment, as well as your first aid kit, wipes or tissues, and finally, one or two plastic bags, always useful at one time or another.