anyone else find that toiletries fill half the case?

[givemeaclue]

am packing and have:

• I toilet bag of medicines 'just in case' e.g paracetamol etc

-1 toilet bag of sun creams/repellent/after sun -1 toilet bag of pre-school kids toiletries e.g E45 cream, calpol etc 'just in case' -1 small bag of 'feminine hygiene products' -1 make up bag -1 toilet bag of my own toiletries - conditioner, moisturiser usual stuff plus dh bag

is this normal?

You do know that they sell this stuff abroad? Unless you are going to Outer Mongolia or somewhere.....I live abroad. It is generally civilised.

Hand luggage?

1 toilet bag of medicines? Surely a couple of blister packs of paracetamol and a bottol of calpol is all the medicine you need (perhaps some imodium if you're going to be adventurous and drink the local water )

You need ONE bag with a bottle of sun cream, a box of tampons, E45, paracetamol, plasters, calpol, aspirin. The ONE bag with small bottles of your own toiletries and your make up bag. Learn to minimise woman

travel sizes.....takes up a quarter of the room. Also, you can double up on some stuff....ie take a 2in1 shampoo/conditioner, kids use a top to toe wash, use a simple, unperfumed moisturiser for both body and face, pare down make-up to the bare minimum, ie lippy/eyeliner/mascara. Take paracetomol and immodium as it's probably all you'll need and only take one strip from the packet. buy suncream etc when you're there.
I only ever use about a quarter of what I take, even at the bare minimum.

I pack:

1 bottle sun cream
1 travel bottle shampoo
1 travel bottle shower gel
1 tube toothpaste
3 toothbrushes (one each!)
enough "feminine hygiene products" to last!
tub e45
face cream
antihistamine cream
small pouch containing paracetamol and sachets of calpol

Thats it
So no what you have packed isnt normal (well not in my house!)

How long are you going for?

That's roughly what I have taken for our trip to america but we were going for 10 weeks and dd is unwell and has really sensitive skin, so I had to take medicines I knew she needed and lotion that I know doesn't react to her skin.

In normal circumstances i'd say no, it's not normal

I does sound a lot, OP. Where ARE you going?

I now take very little as I can usually buy toiletries where I'm going and, if staying in a hotel then shampoo, shower gel and so on are provided.

[Though I do remember first big holiday with DC1 when she was 6 months old taking a first aid kit the size of a field hospital, just in case :o]

just buy when you arrive! the only thing i pack is toothbrush and paste.

Aghghg you are all right, I am over packing - need to wean myself off it - but find it easier just to take everything than have to shop when get there - plan to avoid shops all together plus we are out of town

so in my suncream toilet bag I have:

2 x factor 50 for the children
1 x factor 30 (dh likes high factor)
2 x factor 15
1 x childrens insect repellent
3 x adult insect repellent
mosquito tabs for the plug ins

think will CUT the repellent down to 1 on your advice

thiis is for a 2 week holiday

Don't forget that you won't be able to carry any of that in hand luggage if flying, and that it will weigh a tonne so keep an eye on your suitcase weight. The last thing you need is a hefty excess baggage charge.

We flew recently with 1 suitcase ( and 4x hand luggage) for 4 of us. I just made sute that we had 1 shower gel and 1 shampoo we could all use, took some calpol sachets rather than a bottle and bought suncream there.

5 bottles of sunscreen? Full size ones?

Can't you all use the same one, just for a fortnight?

And what's that about 4 insect repellents? 4? What about just taking some anti-histamine tablets because you know they're going to bite you regardless don't you? .

In my list I forgot deodrant!

I am that anyone would take 5 bottles of sunscream!
And why take two bottles of the same thing?

Why not imagine you are travelling by train? Imagine you, dh and your kids have got to carry everything you will need for the holiday in rucksacks on your backs!!

How do you find room for the kitchen sink? :o

As some one has suggested, decant into small bottles. Share products betwen the family and depending on where you are going you will be able to buy (better) products than over here! I always buy Tylanol in the States - it's brilliant and stronger!

I always take sun cream, my make up and moisturisor and a small bag with first aid stuff; plasters, paracetamol, some sachets of calpol etc.

Shower gel, shampoo, deodorant etc. I normally buy when I get there otherwise they weigh far too much.

To be honest I don't think 5 bottles of sun cream is too much, we always take at least 4, the children use 2 in 2 weeks and I get 2 with different factors whcih me and my husband use. You actually need to use a lot of suncream for it to work properly and keep apllying all day. If you are only getting through 1 bottle in 2 weeks for 4 people you aren't using anywhere near enough!

4 insect repellents is far too much though and the stuff you buy abroad is often better than we get here. Don't wear perfume either as the insects are attracted to it

Buy the suncream from boots once you're airside and stick it in your hand luggage so you don't need to worry about extra weight in your suitcase

(5 bottles though... you're mad )

It sounds normal to me but then i usually go to my husband's country (Albania) and they have a big problem of counterfeit goods and generally way over priced goods (£8 for small bottle of "pantene")

And you cannot take it on the airplane as they take it off you at security

My luggage was always so much lighter once I realised that I could buy all of that stuff once I was abroad. Or, like another poster has said, buy a few bits airside. Stuff was always getting spilled in my cases as well. Am v at packing for a lovely sunny holiday. Hope you have a great time

My toiletries packing is:

1 pack facewipes
1 toothbrush
1tiny tube toothpaste.
1 tiny deodorant.

I decant a lot of stuff into mini bottles as you dont use that much shampoo etc etc. I went to my local Boots and asked for some old film cases (DS1 uses one for lunch money but could also be used for some toiletries).Also save any No7 skin and makeup freebies. Maybe use wipes instead of cleanser, toner, eyemakeup remover? Thinking of having lashes dyed to save time on holiday and panda pool eyes. Vaseline and Sudocreme great for lots of things, but....does the travel size deodarant last a week? (35ml, use morning and night)? Asda have a good deal, 4 items for £3 at mo. Thanks

givemeaclue I'm with you. I believe a luggage weight allowance is there to be used .
I also think that 5 bottles of suncream for 4 people for 2 weeks is not excessive if you use it properly. I wouldn't ration it and it's very expensive in most holiday resorts.