The internet is full of school holiday packing lists. Most of them are written by people who have clearly never wrestled a three-year-old into a rain jacket in a motorway services car park.
This one is different.
We’ve thought carefully about what actually ends up earning its space in the bag — and what you’ll leave in the boot of the car, untouched, for the entire trip. Spoiler: it’s the fancy stuff you packed just in case.
Here’s what we’d actually pack, for babies and little ones, heading into a UK summer (with all the unpredictability that entails).
Browse our Summer Picks Here
The Golden Rule First
Pack for the child you have, not the holiday you’re imagining.
If your toddler destroys every outfit before 10am at home, they will absolutely destroy every outfit before 10am on holiday. Pack accordingly. That means more changes, fewer ‘special’ items, and fabrics that can take a beating without falling apart or losing their shape.
Organic cotton is your best friend here; it washes well at lower temperatures, holds its colour, and doesn’t go bobbly after two wears. Everything we stock is chosen with exactly this kind of real-life use in mind.
Browse Frugi Collection Here
The Packing List (For Real This Time)
Tops
2 per day, minimum. One for the morning, one for after whatever inevitable disaster occurs. Lightweight, breathable, easy to layer. Look for long-sleeved options if you’re heading somewhere sunny, as built-in UV protection beats reapplying sun cream to a wriggling child every few hours.
Browse Baby Tops & Children Tops
Bottoms
1 per day, plus two extras. Shorts, lightweight trousers, whatever your little one is comfortable moving in. Elasticated waists only, no fiddly buttons when you’re doing a panicked beach loo run.
Browse Baby Bottoms & Children Bottoms
Dungarees & Playsuits
2–3, non-negotiable. These are the holiday workhorses. They look effortlessly cute in every photo, double up as a complete outfit without thinking, and cover enough skin to give you a break from the sun cream anxiety. Our Sun Dungarees are made for exactly this.
Swim
2 sets minimum. One dries while the other one’s being worn. Sorted.
Browse Swimwear Baby & Children
A Light Layers Option
Even in July, British evenings have opinions. Pack one lightweight knit or zip-up that can go over anything. You’ll use it every single evening without fail.
Browse our Outerwear
Sleepwear
1 per night, plus one spare. Don’t skimp on this! A bad night’s sleep away from home is even worse when you’re also dealing with a soggy child.
Browse Baby Sleepwear & Children Sleepwear
Sun Hat
One that actually stays on their head. This is non-negotiable. If it comes off every five minutes, it’s not doing its job. Look for a wide brim and an adjustable chin tie.
Browse our Hat Collection
Footwear
Max two pairs. Sandals for daytime. Something closed-toe for evenings or rockier terrain. Anything beyond this is optimism.
Browse our Footwear Collection
What to Leave at Home
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The gorgeous outfit you’re saving for ‘a nice dinner (you don't need the extra pressure)
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Anything dry-clean only (why do you own this?)
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More than one pair of wellies (one is enough, zero is fine in July)
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Anything you’d be genuinely sad about if it got ruined
Our Packing Formula
For a 7-night trip with a toddler or young child, we’d go with roughly:
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14 tops
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9 bottoms
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3 dungarees/playsuits
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2 swim sets
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2 sleepwear sets
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1 light layer
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1 sun hat
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2 pairs of shoes
Yes, that sounds like a lot. But a bag of clothes you can actually use is worth more than a small, curated selection that falls apart under real conditions.
A Note on Quality vs. Quantity
It’s tempting to grab a load of cheap summer pieces that you won’t mind losing or ruining. We get it. But in our experience, and in the experience of the families we talk to every day , cheap tends to mean uncomfortable, which means grumpy children, which means you are grumpy.
Breathable, well-made clothing keeps kids more comfortable in the heat. It washes better. It doesn’t leave red marks around wrists and waists. It actually lasts to the next holiday, and the one after that.
That’s the whole reason we stock the brands we do. You can browse our Summer Picks collection here; everything in it has been chosen because we’d genuinely pack it ourselves.
Ready to Pack?
Head over to our Summer Picks collection and sort by age. Everything you need, nothing you don’t.
And if you’re shopping for a little one heading on their first summer holiday? We’re always happy to help you put together the perfect gift — pop into the shop in Southsea or drop us an email at hello@edithandblanche.com.
Happy adventuring!
