What do you always forget when packing for holidays with kids?

[BoulderMum]

We travel with young children and I kept forgetting something every single time, so I ended up making a simple 3-page packing checklist for ourselves (adults, toddlers, older kids).

Just curious — what’s the one thing you always forget when packing for family holidays?

Nothing! I over pack and when traveling home I always make a note of what I should have brought.

This is me normally but we’re going away in 3 weeks. I’ve lost weight so need lots of new clothes, DD1 currently wouldn’t wear clothes so I don’t know if hers fit and need to get the youngest to try hers on! I have done nothing beyond passports and insurance.

I’ve had that issue too in the past. We always seemed to forget something. What’s really helped us is using a checklist. We also keep a dedicated “holiday bag” with items we usually pack all in one place: a laundry bag; a small pouch with a first-aid kit (Calpol, paracetamol, Lemsip, Piriton, etc.); a wet bag with everyone’s goggles and microfibre towels; a toiletries bag with travel-size shampoo, conditioner, body wash, mouthwash, toothpaste, travel toothbrushes, lotion, and so on; plus another bag with chargers, a battery pack, and travel adaptors.

Thanks so much for all the replies — it’s been really reassuring to see how many of us forget the same things (chargers, suncream, random kid bits…).
I’ve added a lot of what people mentioned here into the little 3-page packing checklist I made for our own holidays (adults, toddlers, and older kids). If anyone would find it useful, it’s here: https://tepward.gumroad.com/l/engwmd

Hopefully it saves someone else that ‘oh no, we forgot _’ moment on the first day!

That’s where I’m going wrong! I also need a list but have one that I modify for each holiday/trip, this did not work very well going to see family in Northern England this winter after a summer holiday somewhere hot. Managed to forget both wellies and gloves.

Same :D I still always manage to forget something though 😅

Swimming goggles.
I lost count of the times I had to buy them whilst on holiday.