I left the travel potty off the first packing list — I regret it every time

I made this mistake exactly once and it taught me a lesson I won’t forget. A portable toddler travel potty is one of those things you don’t think you need until you’re stranded on a highway shoulder with a toddler who has announced, with absolute certainty, that they need to go right now. The collapsible design fits in the trunk without taking up much space, and the peace of mind it buys you on road trips is honestly ridiculous. Skip it at your own peril — I did, and I’m still paying for it emotionally.