Packing light with family of 4?

I think you have it pared down quite well. Just as bad as having too much stuff to lug around is getting to Europe and finding you have absolutely nothing to wear! If you have to buy a bunch of stuff when you are there you will still have to haul it around with you. Just be sure you have everything you need, but nothing more. There is a balance.

Jessica - I think you've got it right, especially considering your husband's business attire needs. When we traveled with our young children we did two checked bags for the 4 of us so putting 3 of you in two carry on seems very reasonable!

It depends on the logistics of your trip - are you going from the airport to one hotel and staying there? If so, your plan is OK. If you will be hopping on and off trains, visiting different cities and small towns, then I'm inclined to say you will want to cut down. Basically, the more you're moving the less you want to lug around. In my fairly limited experience, luggage areas on trains are small so that's a limiting factor if you're traveling between cities via train. Also, if you arrive at a new city before your room is ready, will your hotel hold your bags? Mine always have, but if your hotel can't then you will need bring your luggage with you until the room is ready - 3PMish in my experience.

Jessica I think you have it right, my own children handled their own 22 inch bags, my daughter was 11 and my son 13 and they had no problems, I am sure you son will be fine. I went on a RS Family Tour and the youngest child on the tour was 8 and she handled her own bag( except her daddy helped carry it up some stairs) .
Kids are perfectly capable of being helpful. I suggest you not worry the three of you are more then capable ( unless you or hubby has some health issues) and daughter can help too unless she is really young .You can assign her as the " look out" , so whenever group has to stop with luggage in tow she can make sure no one approaches the bags while you look at maps etc. Its a good idea to teach all kids they have to contribute to trip by watching their stuff ( you did explain about pickpockets right?) . Kids are as a rule as capable as you expect them to be. By 12 my son was same size as me, and likely much stronger. lol

For us it was essentially the same pack list for each family member: bottoms, tops, underwear, socks, an extra pair of shoes, a minimum of toiletries (plus what we are wearing). Each person is responsible for their own bag and neck wallet/moneybelt. I'm currently using a convertible bag, my wife and kids all use roll-ons. When the kids were smaller, it was easy enough to get their things into a daypack they could carry instead of a full size carry on bag. The key is to not load up on a lot of stuff that you might use. Assume you won't have a ton of extra time for reading, playing games, etc. Bring a couple of small things (deck of cards but not a pile of books). I like the Ipod touch because you can do a lot - email, skype, save docs, music/video, travel alarm, games, etc. - in a small package.

Thanks to everyone for the input. I might need to get past the idea that we can fit all 4 of us in 2 carry-on's. I just took a bunch of clothing out of mine and my daughter's case, and it still doesn't have much room for my son's clothes. I'm sure you guys are right--between the 2 of them, they can handle one carry-on. To answer a previous poster's question, we will be moving around quite a bit (4 countries in 1 month).

Frankly, I'm impressed you're talking about only 3 bags. (And you were trying to go with only 2 bags...) Yea! If for some reason your son turns out to be one of those that is always leaving his luggage behind (travel can be very exciting and distracting!), 1 adult can manage 2 22" bags just fine. DO bring a day- or two-worth of clothing for all of you ONTO the airplane in a small carry-on (maybe something collapsable) just in case one or more pieces of your checked luggage is delayed ;-(

Thanks Eileen and Terry! This is making me feel much better. I think I need to stop doing google searches related to packing light, and clothing. It's giving me a complex. :)

...like this. I should stop reading things like this: http://www.bigredkitchen.com/2012/01/the-almost-no-bag-challenge-how-to-live-out-of-one-bag-for-21-days-in-europe/

The Scottevest looks like a good product, but the people who are into it tend to be evangelists. I'd say considering there is less than one bag for each of you, and your husband is packing for business, you are doing more than fine.

3 carry-on sized bags for a family of 4 is amazing! I thought we did well with one carry-on per person and a day bag for each except for hubby. Our kids each carried their own (starting at age 9). We used Rick's (older model) convertible bags. Hubby's and mine are more than 20 years old and still look great!

Each kid can take their regular school backpack as their personal item. Snacks, games, books, water bottle, jacket, extra shirt, camera, etc.