So stressed about going on holiday

[Wolowl]

We're going on holiday next week - DH, myself and our toddler. Just away for 4 days to visit a relative abroad and I am so stressed about it. We're also going away in September too, so this is a bit of a trial run.

I've not been on holiday in forever and they were family holidays with my parents etc so I have no idea what I'm doing. my DH is working right up until we go so I'm sorting all of it plus working full time (not packing his stuff of course)

Does anyone have any tips or anything that could help ease the stress? I've got suitcases and lists and we don't need much I'm sure, but just generally worried about travelling with a toddler when it's just something I'm not used to doing anyway.

I'm sure I sound ridiculous but I've gone into work today wishing I was at home to sort things out/hide in bed. Many thanks for any help.

I totally understand your anxiety and I have experienced it many times ahead of going away with young children. However, it has never been as bad as I worried it might be and actually it's been great a lot of the time.
Tips:
You can take a buggy right up to the gate and hand it over as you get on the plane
A little bag with stuff for your toddler to do on the plane. Either new cheap toys or hide some away now so they haven't played with them for a while
Lots of different snacks
Hold off on presenting said toys and snacks until they are really needed
Make everything seem incredibly exciting and part of the adventure
Try not to stress about naps/sleep. It will be different- accept that
Take a blackout blind with suction for the bedroom
Go with the expectation that it will not be a relaxing holiday but a new experience for your little family
Enjoy the adventure!

I'm sure I sound ridiculous but I've gone into work today wishing I was at home to sort things out/hide in bed. Many thanks for any help.

Honestly? Par for the course. We could all do with a couple of free days to get organised. We don't get them so it's stressy.

How long is the flight? We've done a 2 hour flight when our baby was 7 months and then we did an ~8 hour flight when they were about 18 months or so. Lots of snacks, activities like those spinny suction toys and those colouring books that come with a water pen so they're not messy, download some films or episodes of whatever they like to watch so that they can watch them on your phone if they get too restless. Take a spare pair of clothes for them on the flight

I get stressed every time we fly to be honest – there’s just a lot of unknowns and you know that there will be lots of things that you wish you’d brought but didn’t and so it’s stressful before hand trying to imagine everything you might need!

Things that help me: remember that I don’t want to bring everything I might need because then I’ll be carrying about 20 tons of luggage! so I try and bring stuff I will definitely use. And if when I’m there I realise oh I wish I brought a bib or bowl or whatever, ok a great thing to learn.

I also try and remember that there are shops there so if I really need anything, I can just go to the shop and buy it!

I think it took me awhile to accept that would not be like a holiday before children in good and bad ways, right? Lots more time on logistics and lots less time lying down reading my book so an extra trip to the groceries to get more nappies or whatever isn’t really a big deal.

When mine were that small I bought an over the door shoe hanger thing. Each days outfit - underwear/nappy, clothes rolled into a bundle and put one in each shoe hole. Used left over spaces for kids shoes toiletries, sun cream etc. Rolled it up and popped it in the case. At the other end I just unrolled it and hung it over the door. All the kids clothes, shoes and toiletries unpacked and close to hand.

my DH is working right up until we go so I'm sorting all of it plus working full time

But you’re working too. So how come he gets out of holiday prep?

Ooh, I also meant to say packing cubes! Game changer. Put everyone's clothes in packing cubes. Put all nighttime stuff in another packing cube etc It makes finding everything so much easier.

Are you going somewhere remote? Or do you have a very tight budget? We generally travel to places where there are shops etc, so I try to remind myself if I have forgotten something I really need, I can just buy it (or something similar).

Thank you all very much, lots of helpful advice here. Flight is 2hrs and its a city so if we do forget anything it shouldn't be too problematic.

DH works shifts, so is just going to be around at unhelpful times and mostly just to sleep so definitely not ideal.

I just needs to get my head around everything I think and no idea when it's going to get done.

You probably feel overwhelmed because of the incredible mental load we all carry around all of the time. Going on holiday adds to this. However, there is probably not as much to do or pack as you think, it just feels like a lot on top of everything else. Plus, I find being away eases the Mental load a bit. Yes, you still have all the caring responsibilities but somehow not being in my own house makes me feel like I am getting a break from the daily domestic tasks!

Well, you will already know from car trips etc if dc is a good traveller or not. A few gentle mentions of the procedure of getting onto the plane and perhaps a youtube of being on the plane followed by a runthrough of getting off the plane. You will still have to answer questions but at least the basics are in the head, which I found helped.

Honestly, two hours for a normal kid will barely get through the novelty period so you should be fine.

I kept lots of routine as normal as I could with adventures thrown in. If we were out and routines were thrown out, that was fine but food at the right time and the ability to sleep at the right time (so they could take their time getting to sleep) all worked.

When routines are thrown out, kids do get cranky when they are hungry but they can’t tell you when they are thirsty. They don’t recognise it. Your job is to be sure they drink properly. A calm moment with just you will encourage this.

Packing cubes, absolute game changer and cheap on Amazon. A different colour per person.

I always buy new underwear when we go away so it's packed in it's packaging. UV suit for LO to prevent burning.

Get to where you are going early, I always suck it up and stay in a nearby Premier Inn to reduce stress.

Sticker books and screens with headphones are your friend for the plane.

If flying from a big airport familiarise yourself before hand lots of great info on websites now

If you forget anything, you are bound to be able to buy it there or not need it as much as you thought.

Take the smallest packing cubes in your carry on, with a spare set of shorts and t-shirts for all and tooth brush incase your luggage gets lost and any essential medications.

Take an extension cord and a travel plug.

Passports
Check in on line
Print boarding passes in case phones die / get lost
Get on the plane last assuming allocated seatingI have never understood getting in first with a small child. It just prolongs the agony.
Depending where you are flying from there may be a soft play. Bring socks!
Anything to it forget you will be able to buy there.

Thanks everyone!

Where is Rick Moranis? I need to shrink my kids so I can do this. Brilliant.

Firstly do you have access to a washing machine? I ask as if the answer is yes take less!

I take one outfit per day per person then extra outfit or two for the toddler, take shoes you are wearing plus a spare pair. Couple of pairs pj's, underwear for you both assuming toddler is in nappies. Unless there's allergies remember you can pick up things overseas if needed.

Take snacks for the journey and an empty sippy cup and water bottle you can fill through security. For short flights I recommend eating at the airport, stick to snacks on board or buy food at the airport to eat on board. You can take your pushchair to the gate, ask for a tag at bag drop. Check your max luggage sizes as they vary by airline, especially the cheaper ones, if you have not flown for a while note the difference between an under seat bag and large carry on on certain airlines in particular. Check in time varies, and prebook seats if you want to be sat together

Is everyone's passport in date and with enough validity once you return?

I always take a photocopy of our passports, the page with out photos. I'm not sure why, maybe in case they go missing.

If you have a case each put a full outfit per person in each other's case incase one goes missing.

Packing cubes are fab
Sticker books/crayola magic pens and pads for the plane
Lots of snacks
Painkillers for you all in hand luggage
Have a photo of each passport saved on your phone

Fitst f all OP I understand as I cancelled a trip to spain when DC was 2 as I was too busy and exhausted at work and just couldn't get my head round packing.

Since then ive used packpoint app to create packing lists that keep me focussed.

Ita free but you can pay a tiny amount to personalise it and you will have it for future trips.

Get everything you need in one room and tick off as you find it then tick off again as you pack it.

Think of clothes for each day plus activities and add a spare outfit just in case in your hand luggage

Make a small pouch or makeup bag of meds and first aid stuff, you probably won't need it and it will do future trips.
Mine has travel sickness pills, calpol fast melts, nurofen for adults, some plasters and antiseptic wipes, some immodium and a few safety pins.

Also make a small activity pack for the plane with books, crayons, etc and dont forget lollipops for sucking to avoid sore ears when landing

You've got this!

Thank you all so much for all the tips and calming words. I had a chat with my sister who let me know what she has - towels etc - so I wouldn't need to bring it. It is also in a city to shops in case we need anything.

My passport and my DDs are definitely in date as we only got them last year. DHs should be and it's not up to me to have sorted it out if it isn't.

I am going to make a start of getting stuff sorted today as I'm at home and then I booked the day off before we go as well.

We're actually going away on a big family holiday in September too, so if i can get myself sorted for this one - and stuff like the medicine bag etc to keep for next time - then hopefully it won't cause me so much stress.

Your most important thing is your flight bag, everything you truly need is here. Anything else you could purchase if you needed to. So I'd start with that bag, pack carefully using a list. Toddlers don't need much, we just think they do. A toy, a favourite book, a few nappies wipes and nappy bags. Some snacks. A change of clothes for baby and a spare T shirt for you in a plastic bag at the bottom, just in case.

If you are staying with relations I'd give them a shopping list or better still do an online shop to be there when you arrive. That way you don't need special foods or nappies in advance.

Do a quick wash over there. Travel clothes going can be travel clothes back. So you just need clothing for the days you are there. 2 pjs for baby, one for you. An outfit for each day plus two extra. Putting a full change in separate bags like sandwich bags helps, one per day (t shirt, shorts, socks) and it makes things easier unpacking, just open a new one each morning. Maybe an extra nice top or two for you if you are going out at night.

I am going away in a few days and I always get stressed, I totally understand. In reality packing only takes a few hours but the mental organisation can feel like a lot. I currently have 3 lists on the go. A to do list for holidays (stuff to buy, bookings to check etc), a home list (key to neighbour, water plants etc) and a packing list, which is subdivided per person. I couldn't manage without lists or my brain would explode.