Flashback: The Packing Challenge

I had every intention of posting this while we were in the UK. But that obviously didn't happen! So here you go. Pretend it's two weeks ago and read on:

I had lofty intentions of writing down Deep Matters of Great Importance today. Buuuuuut--we're leaving at 4 AM tomorrow morning for our ten-day UK extravaganza and I just don't have the mental energy to even think deep thoughts, much less write them down. Instead, I'm going to write about what has been consuming my every thought for the last three days: trip preparation. Lucky you.

The Challenge: Three people. One toddler. One suitcase. 20 kg weight limit for said suitcase. Ten-day trip. Traveling by plane (Ryanair--notoriously stringent when it comes to weight/pieces of luggage) and car (necessitating a carseat). 

I've found that the past few times I've prepped for a trip, I've more or less waited until the day before to even begin the process. Bad idea. I always end up exhausted, stressed, and in bed way too late. This time, I decided to start my preparations three days in advance. I made lists three days out, went to the store and did other miscellaneous tasks (like printing documents, downloading pictures from my phone, etc.) two days out, and saved the day before our trip for packing. No last minute trips or random tasks, just a whole day at home to pack. The result? The most stress-free day-before-a-trip ever! I was done packing (except for Ben's stuff, that is) by 4 PM. 

I thought I'd share my mental strategy for packing. I'm always hesitant to give travel tips because I figure you guys already have your own strategy and expertise. But hey, if it helps you great, and if it doesn't, it has helped me think through my own approach to packing. 

The way I pack is really simple. I just go room by room and gather the items I need. This is my organizational strategy: the rooms in my house. At the end of the process, I know I'm done if a) there is a big pile of crapola on the floor of my room and b) I've visited each room in my house. I've found this mental approach to be really helpful. I have to have some sort of mental schema, and thinking "what are all the things I need for Mac for ten days" overwhelms me. But, if I've gone to each room in my house and grabbed needed items, odds are I'm covered--the bathroom holds his toiletries, scant though they are, his bedroom yields clothes and diapers, I come away with his coat from the entry way, and I grab snacks from the kitchen. Simple.

The Pile - no rhyme or reason, just everything from each room dumped on the floor

Once I have The Pile, I start sorting. One pile for Mac's clothes, one for mine, one for toiletries and extras (like our camera and laptop), one pile for my purse, and one for the backpack (Mac's diaper bag). I inevitably wean items through the sorting process. The hardest part of traveling these days is packing light while traveling with tons of baby gear. We're allowed a 20 kg suitcase, two baby gear items to gate check, two carry-ons, and one diaper bag. Technically we get two "personal items" but I never use this option, figuring that we'll inevitably bring extra stuff back on the return trip. The baby gear items are Mac's travel car seat (the lightweight and narrow Cosco Scenera NEXT) and his stroller. Carry-on #1 is Mac's travel cot, the absolutely amazing Guava Lotus. That leaves one suitcase, one backpack, and my purse to actually get us through ten days. Sooooo. Trick #1 is to stuff the travel cot with diapers. This will get us through a few days, then we'll buy more wherever we happen to be. Trick #2 is to use packing cubes. They organize and limit the urge to overpack. 

Everything organized into appropriate piles

Empty suitcase, travel-day outfits for Mac and me (wear your heaviest shoes), travel car seat, travel cot (with diapers tucked inside)

Mac's pile: raincoat, stroller rain cover, three sets of PJs (short sleeve + pants), one fleece, one pair of socks, three pairs of shorts, two pairs of pants, five lightweight t-shirts, one long sleeve onesie. Layering for variable temps is key.

Two oversize bottles of hair product (don't make 'em travel sized), Mac's toothpaste, baby meds, instant coffee, two brushes, travel sized laundry detergent, travel sized Febreze, toiletry bag, camera. Every other toiletry besides what I listed is in the toiletry bag, including my makeup. TIP: pack light and do laundry/refresh your clothes on the go with detergent/Febreze.

My pile: One pair of jeans one tank, pjs, scarf, three short sleeve T-shirts, two 3/4 sleeve shirts, two long-sleeve shirts, one sweater, perfume, sports bra, six panties, meds, jewelry, expandable bag, journal, book, one pair shoes. Keep in mind, I'm wearing the heavier shoes and the other pair of jeans on the travel day.

Tide pen, contact rewetting drops, hand sanitizer, lip glosses - in plastic bag. Coins, wallet + five passports, glasses, guidebooks, itinerary + papers, tissue, GPS, keys, chapstick/lipstick/Tums. Earphones, GPS cord, pen - in white case

Books, toys, bubbles, diapers, sippy, window screen, fork/spoon, snacks (squishes, granola bars, goldfish), bib, travel high chair, wipes, iPad

Toys, bubbles, and snacks in baggies. TIP: I found some teeny tiny bubble dispensers - they'll be great for long car rides!

This brings me to the next-to-last step: actually putting items in the cubes/purse/backpack. This is the true test of whether or not I've chosen too much to pack. Usually I have, and even more things are put in the leave-behind pile. I use plastic bags to organize Mac's toys, his snacks, my toiletries, and really just about anything that would otherwise be loose in the suitcase.

Purse and backpack + two raincoats

The finished product - camera, laptop, toiletries, shoes and clothes for three

The last step is waiting for my husband to come home and pack his own cube. Once that is done, I then (and only then) place everything in the suitcase. And then I make Ben weigh the suitcase on our home scale, baited breath and everything. 

Ta-da! 20.9 kg - let's hope the Ryanair peeps take pity on a preggo

Whew. Let's do this.

Tomorrow morning (at 3:30 AM), I'll water the plants, close the rolladens, start the dishwasher, and head out on our grand adventure. I've got a frozen pizza waiting for us on our return, because let's be honest, I won't be cooking that day.

And there you have it. Updates on our trip when we return!

'til next time.