What's the thing you always forget

We're leaving on vacation on Sunday -- I haven't packed at all (it seemed pointless to try to do it more than a day in advance) but I have been making lists. I just can't shake the feeling that I'm forgetting something really important. :blink:

So, what are the things you always forget? Mine is that I tend to forget to bring anything for me to sleep in. And I almost never remember to bring toothpaste.

I've only traveled with the kids a few times, and I don't think I forgot anything major -- but there are always a million things I wish I had, but didn't have room for!

 

Whenever I forget kids Tylenel- someone gets sick. Never fails. We go to visit family 2-4 x a year (so total of 9 or so since girls born) and I forgot Tylenel exactly 3 times---why do I know how many. Because each and everytime we ended up at a Dr far far away with a raging something (ear infection, strep, etc) that needed meds the night we drove in (after 10 PM) or in the wee hours of the morning on a weekend and non was to be found.....

Another one is easy to get to wipes in the car. We always need them and they are buried in a pile of stuff deep in the trunk....

A 'warm' something if it is in summer--- nights get cool& or a rainy day came make it cooler than short/t-shirt weather!

Have fun!!

KC

 

My biggest is clothes in case the weather changes. One trip we were in Disney for 40 degree weather one day and 90's the next. I had stuff for warm not cold weather.

 

The only thing I forgot for our trip a few weeks ago was the inflatable rings I had bought for pool use.

I'm a list maker too. My head needs to obsess about it in advance even though it is pointless to pack in advance.

We're taking off again Sunday for another trip and I haven't had a minute to even think about it...it's almost nice.

Have a fun trip, Alden!

 

Yeah, I always seem to forget the one thing I really want to not forget. Which ever thing I say to myself the most, or put at the top of my list, I still seem to forget it

Lately, it's been the monitor. I usually bring it so we can sit in the hall of the hotel and play cards or in someone else's room or whatever, and then I forget it.

 

The thing that helps me the most is to run through the entire day for each person in my head while I'm making the list (which I do several days before the trip, sometimes a week before). Then I keep the list nearby so when the inevitable extra thing pops into my head I can write it down right away. Doing it this way has helped me remember the things that really matter. And I agree to bring at least one set of clothes for the opposite weather you expect. If we are going somewhere warm, I usually throw in one pair of pants/jeans and a sweater/sweatshirt for each person. Have fun!

 

A sweater, or a second set of sweaters. ALWAYS forget.

 

So far, the things I've remembered (thanks partly to you guys) are:
something for me to sleep in
sweaters for all of us
underwear for all of us

 

I'm a listmaker as well. I make a special list of the items I cannot pack in advance (like the kids' nightlight) for the morning we're leaving or I'd forget for certain. In spite of everything, I always forget to stop at the ATM for cash. You would think I'd eventually remember but no and DH forgets too.

 

I created a list the first time we went on vacation. I now pull it out and highlight things as I pack them away. Below is the original list.

BOYS:
Hair products
Lotion
Shoes
Clothes
Bathing suit
socks
Soap
Motrin
Clippers
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Undershirts

Noise maker
Cd player
Cd for lullaby music
Ducks/puppy

Wipes
diapers
Sippy cups
Dvd’s
toys
cortisone

snack food


ME:
Toothbrush
Face soap
Face lotion
Make up
Mousse

Bathing suit
Underwear
Socks
Bra
Clothes
Pjs
Shoes
pillow

Books
DVD's

Camera/battery
Video/battery
Laptop/charger
Phone charger

 

Nicole, You are SO organized! I reinvent the wheel every time we travel!!!

I usually forget sunscreen, swim diapers, nail file, or enough clothes for me. But I figure wherever we go, there are stores so its not a huge emergency if we forget something.

 

QUOTE(Leighann @ May 30 2009, 02:17 PM) [snapback]1333963[/snapback]
Nicole, You are SO organized! I reinvent the wheel every time we travel!!!

I usually forget sunscreen, swim diapers, nail file, or enough clothes for me. But I figure wherever we go, there are stores so its not a huge emergency if we forget something.



See, that's me. I always build a couple hundred extra bucks into the vacay budget in case we need to buy a pack of underwear or, everybody needs new toothbrushes, or somebody steps in elephant poop at the zoo and kills their shoes (yes, it's happened).

In fact, this year, we're renting a cottage for a week near Stonehenge, and I'm not even packing alot of those things. I'm taking minimal outfits for the big boys cause they *always* want tee shirts and stuff from the places we visit (and there's a washer and dryer there, thank GOD!). I'm planning on just hitting the dollar store in the nearest big town when we get there, for sunscreen, toothpaste, cheap toothbrushes, cheap toiletries...etc. (I figure I don't need my usual brand name "product" for a week-I can use the cheap stuff.) I'll pack clothes, and the diapers/wipes/milk/snacks we'll need for the four hour drive, then buy more of that stuff when I get there too. It saves alot of headache.

Have FUN!

 

bandaids - first aid things.
disinfecting wipes

 

My list looks a lot like Nicole's. I save it on the computer and just tweak it for each vacation depending on destination, weather, age of kids, mode of travel, etc. That's why the things I forget are usually in the "clothes" category.

 

Yep, I use a computer list, too, on an excel file that I use as a checklist... somehow I usually forget the baby monitor, medications, and contact cases. Those are my big three.

 

My U-shaped travel pillow. I have traveled extensively for work, so I am a really good packer and rarely forget anything. Well except for that darn pillow which I then always miss while on the plane.

 

i always forget the travel pillows for the kids and their little heads flop everywhere while they nap in the car and i feel bad. they have 4 different sets because of this--1 is the original, and 3 others i have bought for the trip "back"

i have forgotten nail clippers and their lullaby cd as well.

 

Cell Phone charger. I always forget this when I go somehwere that wears on the abttery and need it.
I always over pack in the clothes department because I like having options and even if i don't wear half the clothes I bring its better than not having something I want.

 

I am getting better and better, but I have forgotten ... something for me to sleep in, kid's tooth paste, disposable diaper bags for hotel room (which I didn't forget this weekend), my oldest' swimming goggles (went OK this time!) ...

 

QUOTE(seamusnicholas @ May 30 2009, 12:32 AM) [snapback]1333809[/snapback]
I created a list the first time we went on vacation. I now pull it out and highlight things as I pack them away. Below is the original list.

QUOTE(Minette @ May 30 2009, 06:28 PM) [snapback]1334329[/snapback]
My list looks a lot like Nicole's. I save it on the computer and just tweak it for each vacation depending on destination, weather, age of kids, mode of travel, etc. That's why the things I forget are usually in the "clothes" category.

Ditto for me!! I do the list thing too, and have it saved on the computer. :good:

I hesitate to say this since we're leaving on vacation in 9 days, but I don't remember the last time we forgot something. I'm going to kick myself if I just jinxed it!!

 

The only thing I have to add is to make sure that you have a checklist of all of the individual items that you need to bring (i.e. pillows, large duffel bag, small suitcase, stroller).

I'm the moron that went camping with my family for Memorial Day and packed everything at home but we forgot to bring the kids packed duffel bag with us. :woah: It sat at the top of the stairs waiting for us to come home. I thought DH grabbed the bag and he never heard me ask him to grab it.