Share your stress free packing tips with me!

[coco123456789]

Yet again, I’m in a flap about the packing. Every time we go away the dread sets in a few days before and I feel a nagging worry in my tummy. Does anyone else have this sort of stress about packing? I try and mitigate the stress - eg get the two eldest kids to choose their own clothes and make piles with the right number of t-shirts pants etc. And DH packs his own stuff. But I just feel so much anxiety and it ruins the days just before holiday. What do you do to try and minimize the stress?

I travel quite frequently and hate hate hate packing, in fact I think it gets worse/harder each time I do it. But I do the following:

Packing cubes - I put my first day/night outfit incl underwear in these as I know I'll be tired when I get there and it's easy to yank out of the case. Then I put tops in another, trousers/dresses in another then underwear in the small bag so I can recognise which bag is which.

Shoes line the perimeter of the case.

Toiletries are the last thing to go in as I normally use them just before I get going, but pack the minimum and usually just buy shampoo/soap etc when I get to my destination to save on space and weight.

I use PackPoint app-one of three apps I’ve ever paid for but worth it. It had pre made lists and you can import them depending on type of holiday or who is going, for example beach holiday with a baby will bring over a list of everything you could possibly need for both the beach and the baby! You can tick off items as you pack. You can add to these list with your own items and you can create your own lists entirely. It’s fantastic if you are worried about forgetting things!

My other tip for packing is to take a few empty zipable laundry bags (like the ones you’d put delicates in but bigger) and put all the used clothes in there as the holiday goes along. Saves time separating things when you pack to leave/ get back home.

Have a great holiday!

Lists.

Roll clothes and/or cube'em. I roll and use drawstring shoe bags for undies, socks and other smalls.

Have suitcases/duffles that are plenty big enough.

Don't overdo the count of shoes, they're voluminous.

Have a most-things toiletry bag (or two) prepped beforehand - get travel-size things if you like. I travel once or twice a month so I just have duplicates of everything always ready, but it's not so good for annual use - If you don't use them often make sure the fluid things haven't gone manky/separated.

I write a list for each dc and myself and about a week before we go we spend an hour gathering as much as possible on our lists. It then gets folded into piles by me (so I can check its sensible and they havent forgotten anything) then onto of each pile is a piece of A4 with the missing items for that person, so things we havent dug out yet, need to buy or are still in use. I also have a second pile for each person for hand luggage and also clothes to wear on the day.

I then write a list of things to do around the house before we leave (take out bins, put some unopened milk and bread in the fridge for when we get back) and leave it on the kitchen table.
When the clothes piles are almost done, the kids and I start putting them in the bags. If we are using one big bag, then they all have packing cubes in their own colour to keep their stuff separate. If we have an overnight stop off, i put pjs, toiletries and the next days clothes in a separate bag so we dont have to lug everything inside for one night. If we are going on a plane, I take all of the liquids and give them empty water bottles to refill after security. Dh packs for himself and has his own bag as he is a last minute packer (literally) and cant seem to understand that you can pack for 4 dc, two with allergies and medicines at the last second.

My tip is to remember there are shops where we are going. If I forget toothbrush there's a shop if I forget socks there a shop.To me it takes the pressure off trying to be the perfect packer.

I'm quite laid back about packing. As long as you have the basics such as passports, tickets, money, credit cards, phone and chargers then you can buy anything else you've missed.
I get dd's to pack thier own clothes. Dd1 forgot to pack any t-shirts one year but we managed.

I am fully aware that 'abroad' has shops, but I would like to avoid spending time on holiday shopping in an unfamiliar location for items that I already have at home, that are often more expensive and/or inferior to what I already have.

I reckon I need to start having lists - I operate too much from my head which is a bit inefficient and also makes my head whirling with everything to remember.
I agree about shoes - often in summer I take 4 pairs of sandals but them end up in my flip flops both day and evening.

I think the fundamental key to efficient clothes packing is working out the minimum shoes first and then planning everything else around them.

I am 25 pregnant, at 20 weeks my cervix measured 8mm so I was given vaginal progesterone. I have also had a cervical stich. Just wandering if it is safe to have another vaginal ultrasound or high vaginal swab. Size of my cervix is low and want my cervix to left alone as I am worried that something could happen while checking my cervix.

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Packing cubes are your best friend. You can either pack a few complete outfits into a cube, or pack similar items together. E.g. Tops in one, bottoms in another, underwear in another etc. If you're camping, just use cubes and don't put them in a suitcase! If you're staying in one place, put the cubes into the drawers and the dirty clothes in an empty suitcase.
Buy all toiletries when you get there.
Use one of those big Ikea bags for everyone's shoes. Only 3 pairs per person allowed, flip flops, trainers and nice sandals.
At the end of the holiday, repack all dirty washing in the cubes ready for laundering, all colours in one, whites in another etc.

Lists are for amateurs, you need spreadsheets. You’ll end up with several over time as you’ll have one for different types of holidays (beach, weekend trip, camping etc).

I put everything on it under different sections - documents and essentials (eg passports, phones and chargers, laptop if it’s s work trip), toiletries, ds clothes, my clothes, entertainment (books, games etc), journey items, to do before leaving house (empty bins, check windows closed).

Then pick a ‘staging area’ whether it’s a spare room, your bedroom floor or wherever. Take an empty washing basket and go through each room pulling out what you think, including the bathroom. Stick it all in the staging area and tick off from the list, then do a second round using the list and/or making a shopping list of stuff you need to get.

When you’re done, count how many luggage items you have, including your bag with passports in, so you can think before you set off, have I got ‘x’ bags in the car?

Once you’re in the car/taxi if you’re going overseas check you’ve got the passports before you turn that ignition key.

Hark at me. I’ve got to do a seven hour drive to Gatwick tomorrow. I bet I forget the bloody passports and have to double back. The main thing is - do as I say, not as I do.

Have a great holiday!

In the week before you need to get on top of your washing/ironing for any of those bits you’ll be taking with you.

And checking for closed windows is easier done by walking round the outside of the house before you get in the car rather than going into ever room and upstairs etc.

My problem is that it never seems to be possible to do anything in advance.

If I pack clothes early then we don't have enough clothes to wear in the days before (e.g. bras, jumpers, shoes, PJs, coats and toddler clothes - especially bibs as we only own enough for one or two days). So this is done the night before, along with cleaning the house. Phones, tablets, chargers etc are in use up to the last second.

The morning of a trip I still have:
breastfeed toddler
shower
eat breakfast
feed the cat
empty litter tray
leave key for catsitters
clean up food thrown all over by toddler
put last minute wash on because breakfast clothes are filthy and might go mouldy
last minute dishwasher
last minute kitchen wipe
empty all the bins
put out bins for binmen
why are there toys everywhere
who let the toddler empty the kitchen cupboard
charge and pack electronics
pack medicines and toiletries (all used in the morning)
pack PJs
pack drinks and snacks
pack nursery stuff (sleeping bag, teddy, white noise, night lights, dummies) again all in use overnight, or sometimes literally up to the moment we leave if toddler napping.
Check bags not too heavy
Double check tickets and passports
Find postcode for destination
Check traffic
Change nappy
Lock up house
Game of tetris to fit everything in tiny boot
Wrestle toddler into carseat

With a toddler wanting constant attention too, it takes half a day. We are always late and cross. I actually don't want to go on holiday this year as it is too stressful.

A combo of detailed lists and packing the clothes Marie-Kondo style (so they're standing on their end) helps me a lot as it means I can actually see that yes, that top is actually in the case without having to dig for it!

Have a checklist. Start it a week or so before so you can add to it as you remember things. About a week before start adding stuff to a big box/wardrobe wherever so it’s all in one place. Pack the day before and check everything off as you pack.