Back home from our skiing holiday - revised packing list

We're back from our week long skiing trip. I thought I would update my list from my previous post.

On the slopes -

2 ski suits per child (mine are young and if an accident happens they need a spare. Older kids will probably only make the kind of mess that could be cleaned with a wet cloth...)

2 sets of waterproof gloves (wool gloves are no good for kids, they see the snow and want to touch it immediately! And these expensive little accessories get lost quiet easily...wanna make money, go into the glove industry!)

2 winter hats these need to be thin enough fit under a ski helmet (it is Austrian law that all kids wear ski helmets for snow activities)

Snow boots your kids can wear these all over the resort, so its worth investing in one good pair. They need to be waterproof and insulated. All accommodation will have some dry warm place to store your winter sport equipment, you can dry the snow boots in there

Neck warmer/scarf you never know the conditions up on the slopes, and when it gets windy or cold, down the neck is the first part that feels it

Sunglasses or snow goggles some may think this is just a fashion accessory but white snow and bright sunshine make for blinding conditions

Suncreen (face) and wind cream your family will need a facial sunscreen for the sunny days, its amazing how burnt you can get on the slopes. And a wind cream to put on to protect but also to sooth afterwards. Any cream with zinc (think nappy cream) works. My cream of choice is Bepanthen, as its not white on the skin and absorbs fast

Lip balm the wind and the sun batter your lips

Tissues the packs with 10 tissues wrapped in plastic come in very handy in the wintery conditions

4 pairs of cotton leggings & 4 long sleeve cotton tops layers are better in winter conditions, the kids can take off their snow suits and still be comfortable when in heating. Long johns work, but there is no need to go out and buy these especially

4 pairs of winter tights (with foot) my girls wear their tights, and leggings under their snow suit, if it warms up you can take one of these layers off, or if you know it will be a warmer day you only need to put one layer on

4 pairs of socks you may want to pack a few more if your children wear socks to bed in the winter time

3 or 4 hoodies or fleece tops again for layering

skis, ski boots, poles and helmet these are very easy to hire, and every resort I have ever been to in Austria will let you hire the full set at a slightly reduced cost

Sledging most resorts will have this activity, and you will be able to hire everything there, including a helmet if the resort says you should wear one

Ski School kids over 3 (but usually 4 - at kindergarten and potty trained) can go to ski school. There is no real need to book ahead of time, the ski school will be able to accommodate you if you are flexible, if you aren't flexible, book. Wherever you hire your ski's from, will have somewhere for you to register for ski school or will be able to point you in the direction of one

*The Update* backpack this is an item that I forgot, but I would have found it really handy to have with me. With all the ski gear it is so convenient to have all your mountain necessities on your back with your hands free. I will certainly remember to pack one on our next trip!

Off the slopes -

3 pairs of pyjamas

underwear or nappies whichever stage your child is at. My eldest is fully potty trained and my youngest is just beginning potty training. We won't be doing any potty training on holiday, for the sake of my sanity! I will also pack the extras that go along with nappies, like wet wipes (these are useful for any family or any age, as you know!) and nappy bags to dispose of used nappies in

body cream and shampoo

2 face cloths my girls are used to having a bath every night before bed, in a bath. Some accommodation doesn't come with a bath, only showers. A face cloth will come in handy for this

Hair accessories brush, hair ties, clips. Not just for fashion, on the slopes, long hair can become really tangled. I like to plait my daughters hair to prevent this

Tooth brushes and toothpaste

Bed time I pack my daughters favourite water bottles, a soft toy and a small blanket. Pack anything familiar from home, this makes bed time that much easier for the little ones

Activities for the kids to do when they're not on the slopes. Electronics are good, but I like to pack some other activities too, like colouring in books, reading books, easy craft ideas from Pinterest or packs bought from the shop, play dough, board games or some toys you can fit in your bag from home

Swimming costumes in Austria, skiing and a visit to the thermal spa go hand in hand. There will be a heated swimming pool somewhere near you and this is always a great activity for kids. Pack a costume, cover up (the Austrians take a dressing gown but these are big to pack) and flip-flops. Pack swimming towels if you want but you should be able to hire , you can also hire dressing gowns

Medicine There are pharmacies in most of the towns but they are not permitted to hand out medicine freely without a prescription from a doctor. And you can't buy paracetamol or ibuprofen from the supermarket like you can in other countries. You may have luck with a pharmacist who takes pity on you but I think it's less stress to bring with what you think you may need

Snacks pack some easy snacks for the kids like cereal bars, dried fruit, biscuits - you know the drill!

Child care ask at your accommodation for child care. It may cost a fortune but they will have some solution to offer you

Supermarkets will have most things. But just take note, they will not be open on Sundays. Restaurants are open, so you can always find something to eat there, but not the supermarket

*Update, we were pleasantly surprised to see that in the skiing season, supermarkets are open on Sunday. It was only for a few hours, but they opened. Make sure to check the timetable at the door of the Supermarket for Sunday opening times

Baby -

This is our first trip to the mountains with two children, the oldest is 4 and the youngest is 2. We went skiing once, when our oldest daughter was 1 (see the photos at the top of the post)

A Pram with big wheels I understand it is enormous to pack but it's so worth bringing it. You can push your baby around and at least it will be a familiar place for them to fall asleep

Pram sleeping bag and/or blankets you baby will need to be wrapped up really warm in the fresh mountain air

Bottles, formula, steriliser if you use them or whatever you need for breast feeding

Baby cot all accommodation will be able to provide you with a travel cot, just remember to let them know ahead of time

High chair Austria is a baby friendly place, almost all the accommodation and restaurants I have visited have provided a high chair and changing facilities

Car seat if you are hiring a car, the hire company will have a seat for you to hire, if you have a small baby, its easier to travel with your own "Maxi-cosi" style car seat that you can strap into the car and usually click into your pram