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We’re in the throws of preparing for our upcoming beach vacation. We’re all so excited to start out our summer with a bang, but it also means a lot of work beforehand! I am absolutely not a packing expert, but I’ve gotten a little better at it with more and more practice.
Here are some things that help me when it comes to packing for a vacation where you are travelling by car {or in our case an SUV}.
Start preparing the week before
I mentally plan on spending the entire week before a vacation working on packing. I may not actually put things in suitcases, but it’s my time to make lists, think about what we will need, get caught up on any laundry, and make sure we have what we will need to take with us. This way, I have time to process it all and I won’t feel rushed. I have all week to run any errands pertaining to the trip and I feel less stressed.
Keep up with the laundry
I’m slowly getting into the routine of doing at least 1 load of laundry per day anyway, but I find this to be really crucial when you are preparing for a vacation. There’s nothing worse than trying to pack up the night before and have to do 10 loads of laundry in order to be able to pack anything!
Make a packing list for each person
I’m a list maker by nature anyway, but I find that this really helps with packing. This is where I think through how long we’ll be away and what sorts of clothes we’ll each need.
I also ask myself a few questions like:
* What items will be provided {towels, sheets, etc.}?
* What baby gear do we need {pack n’ play, stroller, etc.}?
* Will we be able to do laundry?
* Will we need kitchen/bath/cooking supplies?
* What specific things will we need for our destination {bug spray, beach chairs/toys, walking shoes, etc.}?
Lay things out before putting anything in your suitcase
My guest room bed tends to be my staging area. I make piles for each person’s clothes as the week goes on, so I can see exactly what I’m planning to pack. I can take things away or add to it as the week goes on and remember things or reconsider other items. It’s a lot more harder to do that when items are already in the suitcases.
Put toiletries in plastic bags
I always put our bottles of shampoo, body wash, sunscreen, etc. in plastic bags. I have had bottles open up or burst while travelling and it’s no fun! It’s easier to keep any possible spills from making a huge mess and it’s also nice to have them all contained so they aren’t rolling around in your bags. They are easier to access and unpack when they are all in plastic bags.
Pack a car/travel bag
We try to avoid having to open the trunk of the vehicle when we are travelling, so we put anything that needs to be accessed in a big bag that stays in the back seat of the car. For us, it’s usually items like snacks, a spare outfit {and underwear}, any car entertainment, blankets/lovies for long trips, wipes, and plastic bags for trash. If we are spending the night in a hotel on the way, we typically pack a separate overnight bag as well.
The other thing I always try and remind myself is that it will be okay if we forget something. Most of the places we travel have stores nearby, so it’s not worth fretting too much if I leave something at home accidentally. I find that preparing the week before helps prevent this, but if it happens, then it happens! We’ll just have to pick up what we need or try and find a way to make do. It’s not the end of the world.
A note to moms with young children:
I will mention here that packing for children gets easier the older they get. It’s already easier to pack for Savannah {3.5 yrs} than it is for Brady {21 mos.}, and they are both so much easier to pack for now than when they were infants. Just remember that it will get easier as they get older and eventually, you won’t be packing pumping supplies, pack n’ plays, strollers, baby food, etc.
What packing tips do you have?
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