3 weeks of travel w/15 mo, help with packing list

[Punchy Kaby]

DD and I are going on a road trip for my work, it is 3 weeks long and includes at least 4 different hotels. I want to pack everything we will need, but not have to drag a ton of stuff up and down to each room. Some places we will be in for 5 days, others, just one night. I will have my minivan, so space is not a problem.

How many outfits to pack for DD? How many outfits for myself( I have to be business casual for work)? The weather will be varied, it is hot when we start out but will be getting cooler as we travel north and get into Sept. She refuses to wear a bib while eating, so I strip her clothes when we are home, not so comfortable doing this in a restaurant, and she insists on self feeding, with a utensil. I am assuming some of the hotels will have laundry so I can wash but I don't know how often I will be able to do this.

How many toys/books? DD is very social and I will be attempting to get her out everyday and doing something fun and kid friendly. I have family helping take care of her and some work friends are around, so she will get enough people/fun time.

Food: I have a large cooler but cannot assume I will have a fridge or microwave available. Food for DD is tricky, she is a picky eater and I cannot assume she will eat the food that is available to her when we go out to eat at restaurants. I was thinking of getting a case of horizon milk, string cheese in individual packets, yogurt, instant oatmeal, cheddar bunny crackers. ???

Stroller, backpack carrier, sling. Pack n play.

What else? I'd love help!

[ASusan]

Although you say space is not a problem, I would try to pack outfits for your DD that are just about too small for her, and toss/donate them as she goes through them. I LOVE coming home with less than I started with. I just did this with toys and books on our most recent (9-day) trip with DS. When he was under a year, he was growing so fast that it was easy to come up with a bag full of clothing that he was on the verge of just outgrowing.

Or, you could pack a bag for each week, so that you start with a fresh batch of ~7 outfits each week, assuming you have enough clothing to do this with. THis might work well considering that you have seasonal change throughout your trip. I loath doing laundry when I am on the road, unless I am at a relative's house. Our last 3 hotels did NOT have laundry, and I took a small load to a laundry service place.

If you don't do either of the 2 suggstions above, and are fairly sure that you will have access to a washer, then I would pack a minimum. YOur child doesn't need an "assortment" of things to choose from. Neither do you. YOu can pretty much wear the same 3-5 outfits throughout your trip if you can get them cleaned between each wearing. (I tend to get several wearings out of things, so I might make it 10 days w/o washing...except undies of course.)

I usually bring only 3-5 books for DS. He likes the same ones each night for bed, so he doesn't NEED a variety.

Smallish, manipulative toys are best for the car. Like a backhoe that moves. Bring about 10 small (Hand-sized) and parcel them out as you go. Don't make everything accessible at once. We keep all toys in the car while travelling. I found that he never played with toys in the hotel room. There were plenty of other things to entertain. Bring a swimsuit if she likes the pool (assuming an indoor pool at the hotel).

No advice on food. DS loves everything, but is significantly restrticted by food allergies. THe one thing I have learned is that I don't have to pack all his food. There are grocery stores everywhere and the GPS on my phone helps me find HFS while traveling.

ETA pack-n-play?Does your DD sleep in one of these or a crib normally, so that this would help her sleep at night (familiar environment)? If you co sleep, I wouldn't bother with a pack n play.