Alright, folks. This is an informational post where I will get up on my "check out how light I packed for my trip to Europe with my nearly one year old" high horse, and deign to share my expert advice with you, because I am a genius. Get out your pen and paper. Are you ready for this? Cool.
Step 1: Be obsessive about list making.
I made at least 5 long ass lists of toiletry items, essential things and outfit plans (yes, outfit plans...for both me & my daughter) and made countless TO DO lists along the way. By the end of it, I was way more realistic about all of those impulsive things (more clothes & shoes!) I wanted to throw in my bag and less likely to do so. If it wasn't on the list, I had to convince the rational side of me that made the list why it should go in the bag. I can be very convincing, but also stalwart-y too, so that helps me stand my ground against myself. This is completely normal behavior by the way.
Step 2: Get on board the teensy tiny things train.
You are a contestant in the "how many things can you fit in that crappy 3-1-1 bag" game and you can win. Observe all of the tiny things in the following photo. That is my make up bag on the left. The clear bag in the middle contains mostly bathroom essentials. The bag on the right has laundry soap, baby soap, hand sanitizer, baby lotion, sunscreen, etc. Pictured beneath, some extra but needed items I had spare room to pack in my clear bags--fancy perfume in a travel size bottle, baby sunscreen & Neosporin.
Here's the thing. We all know about those aisles at the grocery store & Target, etc. where they sell travel size toiletries, but what if you are a grown up who doesn't want to use the crappy brand of face wash & moisturizer they sell in tiny size there? First of all, get some of
these, nalgene travel size containers. You can put your preferred brands of various lotions & potions in these bottles & the lids stay on super tight & won't leak like these things are want to do. Also, protip: make a trip to Sally's Beauty Store or a similar place for some tiny bottles of your favorite fancy shampoo or hair products. Then, get yourself to an Origins or similar facial care establishment. Origins does this beautiful thing where they give you tons of free samples of so many of their magic creams & things for your skins. They are like drug dealers--they know you will be back for more, so the first taste is always free! I always buy at least one thing, so I don't feel like a freeloader though. These face wash & moisturizer samples are just enough to get you through about a week or even a week and a half of your vacation if you ration them. But the best part is--all of the space you save in your suitcase! You can also get tiny samples of fancy perfume when you buy said fancy perfume, and sometimes you get those free gifts with purchase like a travel size spray bottle. In the photo above is a travel size Flora by Gucci spray bottle I've held onto for years and only use while traveling! Yay.
Here's another thing: space saver items are everywhere if you are willing to make some sacrifices. Like this wallet I found at Target that is just big enough to hold a few credit cards, ID & maaaaybe a few bucks, but not really... BUT it can hold your phone too & that's pretty nifty. I used my phone to take the photo, but it goes in that clear part there on the side with the velcro strap. You can even still press buttons and stuff through the clear plastic. So fun, right? I know.
Moving on...
Step 3: Your New Mantra: "You don't need that."
And more importantly, your baby doesn't need that! What is that exactly... you know: toys, more toys, books, stuffed animals, an empty purse filled with false idols and talismans. So unnecessary. We all know you have the text of Goodnight Moon memorized anyway. Just recite it while flipping through an in-flight magazine, okay? That water bottle you bought near the gate to your big jet plane is way more fun to play with than those stinky toys anyway. So is your iphone if you're desperate. Keys are always a crowd-pleaser. How about pointing out the window and talking about stuff. That is fun, too. I'll tell you what one item my daughter absolutely could NOT live without on our recent 8 day stint to 4 cities in Europe & that was her favorite lovey--this Aden & Anais sleep sack. No meltdown is a match for that thing in her hand while sucking her thumb and snuggling against my chest. Much soothing. So grateful. Also, I did bring that sock monkey you see pictured with said lovey/sleep sack, but she really could have done without it.
Speaking of things you & your baby don't need...how about a giant diaper bag full of who knows what? Check this out. That super cute stripe-y cross-body bag you see below IS a diaper bag. I know, right. You can buy one
here. This thing is the best thing since sliced bread in my opinion. It is stylish & cute, large enough to hold a few diapers, diapering accoutrements (cream, powder, hand wipes/sanitizer) & comes with a changing pad & wipes holder. And there is a large zipper pocket with enough room for your wallet, keys, lip gloss, etc. Although, while in transit in airports, etc., I had the whole thing rolled up teeny tiny with a rubber band in my suitcase, and I just used it for daily walking around while sight-seeing on vacation.
I know what you're thinking? What about the giant bag full of snacks & various sized towels and things you will be needing on the plane? I got you covered....
Behold the most giant purse ever. Er, I mean, boarding bag. I love this thing. I searched & searched online until I settled on this one before our last trip. Then, I hemmed & hawed over it before I finally bought it. I like that it has a cross-body strap that is padded AND it zips up completely (not all of these bags do that, don't ask me why not!). Also, it stays nice and stiff and you can put sooo much stuff in it. And it has a compartment for your laptop! Basically, I carried this most of our vacation along with my daughter in our Ergo carrier. My husband had a tiny backpack, and we all shared ONE, that's right, just one little carry on suitcase. No checked bags. No stroller. Nada bullshit. So much liberation.
About strollers: I know what you're thinking--I need the stroller! (see Step 3: you don't.) Then again, maybe you do. I dunno. My daughter had not quite started walking yet just before our trip last month. And when she gets too big for the basic Ergo carrier I carried her all the way around the world and back again in, but doesn't have the stamina to walk through airports, etc. I might feel I need the freakin' stroller on trips too. I really debated about getting an umbrella stroller for a while before traveling, and then didn't. Although, I will say that I saw an awful lot of EMPTY strollers being pushed around by parents while the tiny boss of them walked along side them with legs that worked and everything. Just saying.
Oh, and while staying in lovely airbnb rentals on vacation, I communicated ahead of time with our baby-accommodating hosts and secured the use of of a borrowed stroller for sight-seeing. However, getting on and off subways, trains and buses proved much easier with Elliot in the Ergo all around.
In closing, packing light is not for everybody. I used to take soooo much crap with me on vacations it was embarrassing really. The first time I decided not to check a bag for a week long trip to Seattle a few years ago, I was amazed at the fact that even with the few clothing & shoe options I brought, I STILL had things I didn't wear in my suitcase. The next trip, it got easier and easier to bring less and less. My swan song was 3 weeks in Europe with a carry on and giant purse only and now doing it again with a baby is just another notch in my traveling light belt. Resigning yourself to limited shoe and clothing options is super hard, I know, but the more you do it, the more opportunity you have to buy fun souvenirs and pass up those suckers at baggage claim! Not to mention, you are probably traveling to a civilized place anyway, and vacations are supposed to be adventures, so not having all of the ridiculous luxuries of home is sometimes what it's all about. And you can have a lot of luxury in some tiny packaging if you plan ahead like a maniac. The end.
