PJs, mascara and chapstick

Mascara and chapstick count as liquids, so need to go into the 3-1-1 bag. For USA airport, contact lens supplies are medically necessary items and go into their own bag separate from the 3-1-1 liquids bag (well they don't technically have to if any solution bottles are small 'travel size' ones, but why crowd your liquids bag if you don't have to?) I'm not sure about ex-Italy flights.

I typically sleep in cotton t-shirt and pajama shorts from a place like Target. And common for the t-shirt to start out as day use and then get sent to the sleepwear pile after a daytime wearing.

So I can pack my contacts and solution in a separate bag? Didn't know that...thank you. Great idea on Target sleep shorts and a t-shirt. When I had pelvis radiation for cancer, I slept in mens boxers because of the burns. Those could work too. Didn't even think about those..

Baby powder isn't a liquid so can go in your carry on - mascara has been cleared so can go in there as well and the same with chapstick. As for contact lenses, I've had them questioned - really just depends on who is doing the screening and, quite frankly, what is going on in the world at the time! So, I'd err on the side of caution and add them to your liquids bag. Definitely bring a pair of prescription glasses!!! Small container of saline - you can easily buy more in Italy so just bring enough to get you through the first couple of days. If you find you're struggling with your liquids bag (even after transferring everything to travel containers!) bear in mind that you can find many of the same products in Italy - toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc., etc. are all readily available - so don't stress about running out of these!!!
As for sleeping attire, I wear very lightweigh, cotton pj pants and t shirt - and I always pack carry on!

The weather in May should be very pleasant so packing should be pretty easy!

Eyedrops go in your 311 if they will fit. If they won't fit, you can put them in a separate 311 as eye medicine. Chapstick doesn't have to go in the 311 as it is not a liquid. Baby powder...it's not a liquid. Someone who uses mascara and contact lens solution can comment on those items.

Bring whatever you want to sleep in. How heavy could it be? I bring what I sleep in at home. If you sleep in the nude, you don't need to bring anything. When traveling I prefer to sleep in something that I wouldn't be humiliated to evacuate in...but that is just my risk management personality and vanity.

"When traveling I prefer to sleep in something that I wouldn't be humiliated to evacuate in...but that is just my risk management personality and vanity."

Oh gosh Wray! I burst out laughing when I read that because I was thinking the same thing BUT my travel nightgown is the lightest one I could find at Macy's in my plus size. I would NOT want to be evac'd in it so I do make sure I have clothing out and available in case of a disaster. Hopefully I can reach them if needed and could in fact get them on the only time I've had a fire alarm go off in the middle of the night. I might just croak if one of those devastating Parisian Sapeur-pompiers appeared at my window to evacuate my senior self. (Sorry, that is terribly sexist I know.)

My local TSA wants chapstick in the 3-1-1 but I still go thru the walkthru metal detector and have accidentally gone thru with one in my pocket. (My name is Pam and I am a chapstick-aholic). If I had to go thru a nude-o-scope I would be more careful in checking my pockets as I do when I return from a European city. I've had a discussion with the local TSA (my local folks are usually nice and are chatty if not busy) and they say it goes in the 3-1-1 altho I know there have been some posts here that people have not placed it in there.

According to TSA, powder and chapstick are fine and do not have to go in the 3-1-1 bag. Mascara and eye drops have to go in. (Unless they are prescription eye drops.)

Contact lenses can go in your carry on but there is a discrepancy regarding contact lens solution. One area says you are limited to 3.4 oz and it must go in the 3-1-1 bag. Another says medicaly necessary liquids are not limited and you don't have to put them in the 3-1-1 bag. I guess the best way to get arond this is to get a note from your doctor saying it's a medical necessity. You may not need to show it but it's good to have.

I've never thought of jammie's as risk management! But that's exactly what they are. I usually wear one of the shirts or tanks I'm wearing during the day. Saves in space. Maybe a pair of boxers to go with if you're risk averse? I would think of chapstick like deodorant. It's a solid so not in the bag. Drippy lip stuff (gloss and the like) then yes. I thought mascara went in the bag but I usually forget. If they say something, apologize and make sure it fits in the bag. Sounds like TSA is as clear in these rules as we are. It will probably depend on the person doing the check.

I can't comment on contact lens solution. I put mascara and chapstick in 3-1-1 bag to be on the safe side. For sleeping I take dark pjs with a top that buttons. They are modest and decent if the fire alarm goes off, which happened to us in Vegas. I can layer a tank or tee shirt under it if the hotel room is cold.

Sleep commando style? Why pack extra things to wear in bed? What do you wear at home to sleep in? Long t-shirt might work for you tho if you really have to wear something.

I don’t have mascara and chapstick in my 3-1-1. Chapstick and powder are solids - liquids are considered things that can run. Mascara probably should go in the 3-1-1 though. I just never remember, it’s in my makeup bag with eyeshadow and powders.

Sleep - shorts and a tank top or T-shirt. These pack up small and light and are halfway presentable if I need to leave the room in the middle of the night. They could also be washed and worn in other contexts - I’ve used the shorts as a beach cover up for example.

Or buy a souvenir t shirt at your first stop, Sleep in it and then have something to bring home!

Coming home once thru Heathrow, they were telling people that lipstick and balm went in the 3-1-1, so now I just put it in there just before security and back in my pocket after getting thru security - even before the 311 goes in my suitcase. I am a serious lip balm user (especially on dry airplanes) so it needs to stay in my pocket. My worst nightmare came true when I lost my lip balm at the airport in Montreal before a flight to Paris - I thought my lips were going to fall off...lol. First order of business after getting thru passport control at CDG was finding some lip balm!

And they may not even notice. My mom had a full size face cream in her purse 3 or 4 times she flew they never saw (until I told her it has to go in her checked bag)...and a couchsurfer once had some liquid stain remover in her purse - she's like - guess they missed that!

I just sleep in what I sleep in at home - old tshirt - I generally take a really old one that's ready for the heap and leave it behind before coming home.

LMAO I do realize powder is not a liquid but there was a time when white powder was an issue. Can't recall what the suspect poison was. Has it been that long since I've flown??? I need to get out more.

For pajamas, I like to bring a men's dry-fit top. I can wash it in the sink every couple of days and it dries really quickly. I bought it a few sizes too big, but the extra size makes it comfy to sleep in. I keep a pair of pants, sweatshirt, socks and sneakers near my bed in case we need to leave the room quickly.

I also keep a mini keychain flashlight on a lanyard and keep it around my neck when I'm in hotels. I like having quick access to a flashlight and it doesn't wake my husband up if I have to get up in the middle of the night.

Consider that whatever is in that little container - mascara, chapstick, contacts, etc. - and whether its "legal" or not, the TSA screener can't always easily see what it is just by looking at the X-ray. It just looks like it might be a container with liquid. So if they have to stop to check it out, you've accomplished nothing by not putting it in the 311 bag. This has happened to me a few times when I have a plastic container of foot powder (could be liquid in a bottle?), or deodorant (is it a dry roll-on or wet?). They just can't always tell without checking it out. Make it easy on them and yourself, and when in doubt, put it in the bag.

I was once told by TSA that lipstick, chapstick, and deordorant-cream style were all considered a liquid. So now, I put everything in a 311 bag. I, too, have forgotten to remove said bag and left it in my carry on bag. Passed through without a hitch, on that occasion. As for sleeping, I take the lightest PJ's I currently own.

TSA is so frustrating. I was once lectured that stick deodorant was a solid and thus should NEVER go in the 3-1-1 bag. I always have it in, usually it’s fine (not a liquid but I like keeping my bathroom items together). Usually they don’t care, and I often accidentally have a stray liquid like mini hand sanitizer or liquid lip gloss elsewhere in my bag that I forgot about and they never notice it. Plus my makeup bag has mascara and it’s never been checked.
The point being follow the rules as you best understand them, and if stopped politely move the offending item to the appropriate place. It’s annoying but with contradictory enforcement you can’t be 100% sure.

I've been doing a multi-year study of the TSA's ability to "see liquids" (as they claim)

Shortly after they started this idiotic useless process I quit removing my tube of hand lotion from my purse. Until 2 years ago I flew domestically almost weekly. And I still travel a lot.

As of today they have never "seen" the hand lotion :) If one of them ever finds I I plan to write a letter to the TSA congratulating him/her. I doubt I will ever have to do this.

Remember, TSA failed 95% of its tests to find contraband material.

A couple of years ago in Berlin, my bag was pulled aside and the agent pointed to something on the screen. "Solid Deodorant," I said. He nodded and went on to the next person.

I stopped putting mascara in my 3-1-1 bag long ago, Chapstick goes in a small bag of essentials in my carry-on and I use solid deodorant. Neither TSA nor security in any of the European airports we've been through have ever taken a second look at these items and where they're living in my bags.

PJ wise, ugh, I've tried everything from nightgowns to two piece sets and always end up resenting that I have to take up packing room with them. I never liked the nightgown and settled on a two piece set of rayon (I like to have my legs and top covered just in case). It packs small and washes and dries quickly.

For pajamas, I use a very light weight t-shirt type top than can double as regular top if needed, and for bottoms I use very lightweight Wickers long underwear (in black) that can be worn under my travel pants if needed for cooler weather.

I sleep in a bra and undies but bring a knee-length nightie for lounging and to have at hand in case I need to get out of my room fast. I have two that I love, though I only bring one--short sleeved in black by DKNY and one by Garnet Hill, the Asian Wrap organic cotton 3/4 sleeve nightie. GH also makes a similar short robe that works well.

I just sleep in an old tshirt, but I take a pair of comfy lounging pants. I've found that there are times I'd like to be in my room but not in my street clothes. And I'd like to be able to open the door or pop out of my room for a minute without getting dressed again. So a pair of capri length stretchy cotton pants are worth the space.

Mostly I want my bra off. I am shaking my head at Christa's sleep attire!

I have just returned from a cross country trip. In my carryon I had, a tiny chapstick, lip gloss, lipstick, a tiny bottle of hand sanitizer and a tiny bottle of hand lotion. Nothing was said about these items. I sleep in a cotton nightgown in the summer and cotton pajamas in the winter, so that's what I bring on any trip.

TSA in the US is not the security of other country's airports. Assuming what will work in the US will work elsewhere isn't practical. Like the TSA toiletry bags - not allowed in a lot of other countries. Yes, it is inconsistent, and yes, it might be at the interpretation of the person on duty, but I run but the 'if in doubt' school...it goes in 311 bag.
One practical definition of what goes in the 311, is anything that holds its own shape outside the packaging does NOT have to go into the 311...which would be chapstick and lipstick, but I put all those into the 311 regardless...I have the room.
Not all liquid meds are accepted outside the 311 bag when traveling outside the US.

I wanted to take baking soda instead of toothpaste one trip and was hesitant about having an unlabelled baggie of 'white powder' in my carry on. I found solid tooth tabs instead. I think if it is commercially packaged, it should be fine. At least powder is easily replaceable, but finding the translation for it isn't always easy. My sign language attempts in Spain seemed to indicate underpants until we happened on the word 'talc'. So 'talco' or 'talc' is the root word used rather than 'powder'.
Sleepwear - thin nightgown - washed in the sink and dries in 3 hours. I am more concerned that I can lay my hands on my purse and passport than extra clothes.

For what to sleep in, definitely agree with the "if you have to evacuate..." line of thought.

I use a cotton knit dress to sleep in - and toward the end of the trip I have been known to wear it during the day (when you get tired of the rest of your clothes, or for a last dinner on a trip where bags are getting collected late at night). Have been thinking about trying silk pj's again - certainly very light (had some years ago, didn't replace them when they wore out). ymmv!

I was wondering where baby powder, mascara and chaptick go? Do they
need to go in the 311 bag? What about extra contact lenses in their
little containers of fluid and contact solution? I thought I saw
someone post the eye drops don't have to go in 311...I could be
wrong..

I keep my chapstick and lipstick in my purse. I have never had them removed by security. Mascara is a liquid and must be in 3-1-1. I've had THAT removed from my purse by security so I've learned my lesson. Any and all fluids including contact lens fluid must be in the 3-1-1 bag. If you need your eyedrops, take them out of the 3-1-1 when you get to your seat. That's what I do with my hand sanitizer. Baby powder can go anywhere in your carry on.

Also..what do women bring to sleep in? I have no idea what will be
light to pack yet comfy to sleep in. For some odd reason I feel really
weird about bringing a nightgown. Lol

A short, cotton nighty. It's light and rolls up tightly to take up very little room in the carry on.

I guess it depends on which country you are departing from - hubby has never had an issue with his smaller size bottles of contact lens solution not being in his 311 when leaving Canada. He just takes it out separately and puts it in the security tray. And don't know coming home, because we generally check a bag on the way home and all the liquids are in that bag.

Visit Container Store or similar. Purchase the TSA approved quality vinyl with zipper 311 'quart' bag. It will hold much more than a quart sized disposable bag because it has an inch of space front to back. Get the Nalgene drip type tiny bottle for contact solution. Many types of tiny containers are available. I have ingredient allergies and need my own stuff. I can get 3 weeks worth of my liquids in the better travel bag.

Evacuating a condo building in a hurry after an earthquake in Hawaii taught me to keep clothes, shoes, and wallet close to hand. Sleep in whatever is comfortable. Keep some jeans handy.

I liked the suggestion to acquire a souvenir T-shirt straightaway and sleep in that.
Will do :)

"When traveling I prefer to sleep in something that I wouldn't be humiliated to evacuate in...but that is just my risk management personality and vanity."

Very smart Wray. We were staying in a hotel in England and the ear-piercing fire alarm throughout the hotel went off in the middle of the night and we did have to evacuate, immediately. Everyone was outside in their PJs for over an hour. Turned out to be an alarm malfunction, thank goodness, but it taught me to sleep in something I could wear in public.

I found out the hard way last year that at Heathrow there is no such thing as a separate bag for medically-necessary liquids. Normally I wouldn't have needed the special bag, but my regular 3-1-1 bag was mostly full of little glass jars of mustard that I didn't really want to pack. (Imagine the nightmare of mustard on everything.) The checker was very kind to me as he tried to jam my nasal spray and some prescription creams into the mustard bag. He couldn't get the bag totally zipped up, but he let me go through anyway.

I sleep in a light knitted poly or poly/cotton gown I bought at Kohls. It looks rather like a T-shirt dress. If I wash it in the morning, it is dry before evening even in relatively damp places. I've added long johns underneath it a few times when I was really chilly.

Old navy has lightweight cotton pj bottoms. Sometimes the sheets make me itchy or sometimes the ac is crazy cold. I wear those with tshirt or tank top that can double for wearing out later if I want or if its hot no ac or bad ac I also have a pair of bike shorts or spandex shorts or thicker boy short black panties instead of the long pjs. Then I can wear the shorts under my skirt too :)
I like to have something clean and light, that is different then any of my other clothes ive been wearing over n over, to put on after taking a shower. Helps me sleep :)

Keep in mind the US 'TSA approved' cosmetic bags are not always accepted in Europe and you may be required to empty it into their airport bags. So don't over stuff the slightly larger bag unless prepared to leave something behind. Same goes with medical liquids (as has been mentioned). TSA is only in the USA. 311 is global.
Over time, I have replaced liquids with solids so I have space in 311 bag for items I cannot pick up easily overseas due to allergies.

Like some of the other posters said I also found out the hard way going through security at Heathrow last year that they didn’t accept the TSA sized clear plastic cube that I bought here in the States and had to stand there trying to squish my liquids into their 311 baggie that they insisted had to close. This time I’m going to put those liquids in a quart size baggie inside the plastic cube and take them out before going thru security and return them to the cube afterwards. But I had my makeup in another TSA clear bag and that was never questioned (in fact, I’ve NEVER taken my makeup out, just never occurred to me). Ditto for lip balm, small hand lotions. Maybe they couldn’t see them for the bobby pins, Qtips, earplugs, brush, etc. If something has to go, it will NOT be the lip balm, no way!

For sleeping, I bring what I normally wear - pj bottoms and a tank top. They roll up easily and like venotraci said you can find them in thin cotton at Old Navy. I keep a sweater, shoes and my purse close by if I have to evacuate.

I use the same plan as you, a carry on and an bag that fits under the seat as my personal item. My make-up goes in my normal makeup bag, liquid foundation, mascara, liquid eye liner, and then all the solids like shadows, blush and pencils My liquids go in my largish 311 bag that I purchased on amazon. This plan has worked on multiple trips, BUT I have never been through Heathrow with my packing choices. With that being said, I do have a plan in case someone somewhere thinks any of my liquid makeup items must be placed in the 311, the makeup stays and everything else would be tossed. No decision to be made last minute and no freaking out. My husbands 311 bag is about 1/2 full (has his eye drops), so I can use that space also if needed.
I am also a lip balm addict and must have it in an accessible pocket at all times. My personal bag has two LARGE pockets in front and the same items go in each pocket for every trip.
I like sleeping in a cold room, so the less clothes at night the better for me. I don't own a nightgown or any PJ's.
I may sleep in one of the tanks that I bring to use as a layering item and I also bring a pair of capri leggings for lounging in our accommodations, with the leggings staying on the bed at night in case of evacuation. Don't feel weird about bringing a nightgown if that is what you are comfortable in! I know some people even bring slippers.

Thanks for the mention of the Old Navy cotton pj bottoms. I needed a pair in lightweight cotton poplin and they have just the thing. Everything is 40% off through today, so they were only $10. I added 2 cotton tees $7.80 each) for my grandkids to get the order up over $25 for free shipping.

Since Leticia mentioned slippers, i once again advocate for 99cent flip flops for the room, down for breakfast, and if the bathroom looks sketchy or slippery. At that price, you can intentionally leave them under the bed if you need the room for the home trip. I, also, have an experience w hotel fire alarm on a winter night in Boston, for which I grabbed shoes and parka

I don't leave town without my slippers -- Sketchers GoWalk, super light, work as short-walk shoes. And they feel better on my feet than flip-flops.

For slippers, I just go to the local dollar store and get a pair for a couple bucks, then just leave em behind when we come home.

Doric-I am picturing those flip-flops that you get at the salon when you get a pedicure that they give you for free! I do get the Wallmart .99 flip flops for walking on my local beach due to the tar but I actually take a pretty expensive pair of flip flops for travel and I use them for around the apartment, down to the beach/pool and walking to dinner, not for all day (although they would be very comfortable for that) because I don't want someone stepping on my toes!

In 2008, security at Athens airport made me throw away a bottle of contact lens solution that was within the allowable size limit. Heathrow will not allow use of the nice durable bags that Target sells-you have to use their smaller, flimsy ones.