Packing is sooo stressful! I pack for an apocalypse. I just need certain things to feel comfortable. I do not like being away from home and then needing things that I have at home. I totally understand your thinking.
kerbell1 Right. I need options. Plus I might not feel well and the outfit I had packed now wouldn’t be comfortable or maybe the weather changed and that sundress would leave me freezing. Plus the thought of buying things I already own annoys me. Basically, I can be stranded somewhere and I’m probably good to go for months😂😂😂
I love your advice about packing sleep items. It may feel extra to bring sheets, sound machines, etc, but anything to help kids sleep is worth the extra space in the suitcase. Especially when their sleep is already messed up with vacation activities and a trying to sleep in an unfamiliar place. Just a tip, I found a travel blackout curtain on Amazon. It suction cups all the way around so you can hang it anyway you need.
Exactly - for us, bringing some comforts from home are worth it, especially with the little ones. I don't need to bring quite as much for my 3 year old now and I know it won't be long before the baby is a big kid, too. Just the season we're in!
I so loved your comment about bringing what you’re comfortable with and you don’t have to justify anything. Some (not all) of the carryon only crowd can get quite supercilious to those of us who check bags and then they take all the overhead bin space. Have a great time!
I understand what you mean. Even as an adult I have those comfort items that I must have with me. I have always loved your packing videos. I always find them helpful and I can't wait for your carry on video. :)
Thanks for such a good video! I do not like to travel and flip out when I have to pack. I appreciate your words regarding you don't have to please anyone but yourself and forget the judgement of others!
Great to see you relaxed AND organized at the same time:) Positive,informative video,thank you.I'm in CT and hope that our pleasant weather holds all weekend for you guys :).May your family have a lovely vacation.
I do a lot of prep before we go on vacation, especially cruises, but for good reasons. You always want to be prepared clothing wise for the weather of where you are going and what activities you have planned. I tend to over pack for the “what ifs” mainly because we have had a few “what if’s” if you are better prepared, you enjoy your trip more and is less stress. Hope you enjoy your trip!
Great video. As a Travel Agent I always suggest packing cubes for my clients. I also let my clients know that if they are renting a house, to order needed items from Amazon and have them shipped to the rental that way they aren’t bogged down with extra weight on their flights. You could have had the snacks, diapers and wipes sent to the rental if you wanted to.
You are SO right about packing what makes us feel comfortable. Some can't imagine taking all that I take (it is much better now that my boys are grown.) But I can't imagine taking 5 outfits for 5 days, one pair of shoes, etc. To each our own! We mostly travel to the Myrtle Beach area where it is hot, storms/flooding pops out of nowhere, and the humidity zaps hair and clothes... nevermind activities like boat rides, fishing, mini golf, etc. which absolutely requires showering/fresh clothes afterward. As moms, we know our kids can ruin their own clothes AND ours. It's just how it is. If a little extra packing fixes the problem, so be it!
I brought half the house when we travelled. It just made travel a lot easier when the kids were smaller. Now that I have a teenager and a pre teen I bring less stuff but I still have a lot of snacks.
That’s exactly what I do too Jen, tomorrow we’re heading to Niagara and our family are staying in a hotel there tomorrow night before they head home the next morning, so I’m gonna bring the graco and all the baby’s usual things for naptime like his Teddy that he sleeps with and his sound machine etc, to make it as cosy like his bedroom as much as possible in the hotel in the afternoon 🤷🏼♀️ whatever works right? 😃
Hi Jen, I've been watching you for 10 years and now I'm a mom too... 5 year old and 2 year old. Thanks for sharing your video :) I'm packing today too.
I have a "list" on my Echo and I'm constantly walking around saying "Alexa, add sunscreen to packing list".... "Alexa , Add Empty water bottle to packing list" .... HOW IN THE WORLD did i survive without Alexa??? then when packing, I open my app, and pack! :) I used to use a list, but now my "Dont forget" list is also on my Alexa app! :) Loved this video... Ive missed your packing ones!!!
I know you said you don’t like pack n plays and that’s fine, but I just wanted to mention that any time we have rented a house they have always provided a pack n play - you just have to ask! As far as the thin mattress, I used to always fold up a big blanket and lay it on top of the mattress and then put the fitted sheet over that (bring my own fitted pack n play sheet) and that always worked well to make it super comfy. I guess this info is for anyone reading this who might think they need to buy a travel crib because they’re renting a vacation house!
Very interesting...enjoy! You turned me on to packing cubes years ago and thank you for that. I love them! Our vacation next month is only a couple hours away, so we can drive. Makes it so much easier. Happy reunion!
Claudette Flanigan I will drive even up to 8 hours to avoid paring down my packing for air travel 😂 Also air travel is so rigid! You must be there by a certain time - I don’t like that pressure! I fly plenty, but I much prefer to drive :)
Enjoyed seeing Jen....and have an awesome trip....can't wait to see vlogs from the trip......we just got back last night from a 4+ hour flight back from California....we went to Disneyland and Calf. Adventure and the beach........wonderful time!
Do you bring extra packing cubes for dirty clothes? It’s easy to bring a drawstring bag when it’s local and you are driving but when we fly I always wonder the best way to keep things separate. Tips?
I liked this video. We are going on vacation without kids so I am going to go back and watch some of your videos that were packing just for you and Don. Good video.
Enjoy your packing videos. But I am so glad I am out of the little kid stage! I would take our port-a-cot and sheets etc, we never used a sound machine though. But now I let the kids pack their own small bag of activities/toys and I still do clothes and off we go. I also love doing packing lists!
It was very a helpful video. Absolutely agree with your packing style. If possible please share what did you pack in your carry-on. That's where I struggle all the time.
Quick question. Last year you rented a crib and other baby items. Why did you bring a travel crib instead this time? I wouldn't have remembered that, except I thought it was such a great idea and I was travelling with my daughter and granddaughter for a trip to Florida shortly after your video. I told my daughter and we rented a crib for her on that trip.
Hey, Jen...can you check your link for the scale? Also what type of luggage is that? Do you prefer or see a difference between the hard covers and soft color luggage
Watching you pack your clothes reminded me that I wanted to tell you not to hang up the Boden Jersey blue dress with white polka dots all the time ( personal experience!!) The material is heavy and strechy, so if you keep it hung ip on your closet, over time it will both stretch and loose its shape on. top. It happened to me and I loved it enougj to order another one. Now I either keep it folded or I hang it on a very well padded hanger and keep it in the shorter section in my closet for shirts, so the skirt is laying on the shelf underneath and is not weighing down the dress. I hope that made sense.
We use a travel crib too. Ours is the guava lotus. Tried the rental pack and plays once and refuse to do it again. We couldn’t get it to work either. Lol.
Vonda Cook Do you have experience with a pack n play? My oldest is 19 and I don’t believe there were any other options back then so I got very familiar with them! The important part, but it seems backwards and it’s not really intuitive, is that you have to pop the sides up so that they lock BEFORE you push the center down. And then do it in reverse to fold it up - pull the center up and then squeeze the button on the sides to bend them. It’s super easy once you’ve done it a time or two. I know you have your own travel crib, but maybe this will be helpful to someone else lol
Bryana I have put them together before. My mom taught me how. :) They are just much harder than the travel cribs in my experience. But my mom has one. The pack and play she has has never moved once we put it together. Lol. But it worked. We still use our travel crib and it is lovely. Packs up small enough to carry on the plane. Has backpack straps and is very easy to put together. If we had to do it again I would have purchased just the travel crib and not a crib and the bassinet attachment with the travel crib. Would have saved us so much in the long run.
This is an older one we used for my daughter as an infant (we have a Nanit in Donny's room, which we do not travel with). It is the Infant Optics DXR-8. The case is actually from The Container Store, not associated with the monitor. I've had it for years.
so I have a question that anyone can answer, if I pack all my conditioner, shampoo,lotion,gel,etc. in a bag that is not clear what will happen.i will be using a carry on luggage I heard if you don’t use a clear bag for a carry on for your toiletries you need to throw it away, I was thinking of giving my normal bag that isn’t clear to my mom so she can put in her medium luggage with all my toiletries in it or will she have to through it away to bc it’s not clear
rolling tightly into cubes or ziplock bags fully filling the cubes is the way to go or else they end up taking up more space, taking so much stuff makes trips so stressful, it will be so heavy and hard to carry all that with two little children. A kindle would be far easier to travel with x
