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Developing a packing list! I started one at 8 weeks for a short trip we were taking with LO - it was such a pain! Now I just add to it so that I can at least not worry about forgetting something we need for a routine event. It is time consuming and requires extra energy for more decision making, i.e., deciding what both you and LO are going to wear, and when, etc.!

It gets easier the more you do it, and the older they get! I feel like after 3 or 4 trips away, we really have it down and even extra room in the van because we rarely take a stroller with us.

But as @MsLipGloss said, a packing list really helps, and I have certain bags for certain things. Each kid has a tote for their clothes, blanket, lovey, then another bag for the CD stash, and another for feeding supplies.

We also decided to keep as much as was reasonable at my folks house, and that helps too. My parents bought bath stuff, burp cloths, and we leave the packnplays. And my mom always washes their laundry while we're there, so unless we seriously underpack, we're always fine on clothes.

We do weekend and long-weekend trips often, so we're pros at it now. It takes every square inch of space in the car, but it's worth it to get out of the house. Make lists and like @MerryC, I have different bags for everything.

It definitely gets easier the more that you do it. I'm a little nervous for our first flying trip coming up. It's a whole new level of packing.