TEARS, tantrums and tired parents.
Parenting is still the same when you go on holiday.
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But, as a mum-of-one, I’ve discovered there’s a few items that can make travelling a whole lot easier.
Here we break down the best products and gadgets which will make your holiday a breeze. So you can sit back and relax – or at least try!
ON-THE-GO
You want to be able to have the option of ‘naps on the go’ so you can explore the local area, or even wander round the block as the sun shines.
Parents across the country recommend the Snoozeshade – a clever sun protector that clips onto a pram or buggy and blocks out at least 97.5% of UVA and UVB rays.
It means you can put your little one in the pushchair and explore until your heart’s content while they snooze in almost-blackout conditions. And it folds up pretty small – so you can squeeze it into your luggage.
Other gadgets to help with pram naps include a Rockit – a clip-on rocker that uses gentle vibrations to mimic the rocking of a pushchair – and a speaker to quietly play white noise.
The Ultimate Ears’ Miniroll Speaker is both portable and waterproof – and lets you sync to bluetooth at the click of a button.
It’s worth remembering that most airlines allow you to take a pushchair on board the flight for no extra charge – in addition to your luggage.
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And the ultra-lightweight TRVL lx from Nuna, or the Joolz AER, are both among the easiest pushchairs to travel with – since they fold up small enough to be taken as carry-on.
Plus they each come with a handy travel bag meaning they should be protected from scrapes.
We folded ours up in our hotel room each evening too, and left it by the door, to give us more room to move around.
For those with really little ones, the Babybjorn Baby Carrier Mini for tots up to 12months is well worth it – meaning you can carry them and keep arms free for luggage.
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SPECIAL PROTECTION
Shopping for your little one’s holiday wardrobe, or digging out hand-me-downs and remembering fond memories, is one of the best bits of holiday prep.
We bag a lot of clothes from the local charity shop, where you can pick up nearly new items for a fraction of the price.
But it’s worth investing in some new accessories which will give added protection from the sun – particularly swimwear and sunhats.
PO.P (formally Polarn O. Pyret) has a gorgeous range of swimmers for boys and girls (aged 0-11) which are sunsafe UPF50. And Monsoon’s kid range is absolutely adorable for holiday clothes that will last.
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Most supermarkets offer kids’ sunhats with UV cover – we’ve found Sainsbury’s range particularly good over the last few years and great value for money.
If you want to splurge the cash and stand out from the crowd, the Little Hotdog Watson’s hats, around £30, are expensive but an investment. With cool designs, they also offer UPF 50+ – super-strength protection from harmful UVA (ageing) + UVB (burning) rays – and clever in-built mosquito repellent to keep annoying bugs away.
For sleepwear, Rosa and Blue sets are gorgeous (and very soft).
ON-BOARD ENTERTAINMENT
Every parent will want to take some toys with them on their travels – for those long car journeys, airport delays or to keep little ones entertained by the pool.
The Yoto Mini is a handy travel-sized version of the Yoto player and can store 500+ hours of audio – perfect for cars and flights. Ideal for kids aged 3-12+, choose from over 1,000 cards to insert from the Julia Donaldson stories to Peppa Pig, nursery rhymes and Harry Potter. Its charge lasts for up to 24 hours too.
Much-loved MagnaTiles are another fantastic investment. We take the mini version with us everywhere – to restaurants, parks, on train rides – you name it.
Smart Games sets are also great for on-the-go. With a range of themes to choose from – including bugs, racing cars and a beach set – the compact magnetic games will keep little ones fascinated.
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For older kids, myFirst Camera 3 could keep them occupied as you travel around. The 16MP shockproof camera is adorable and allows them to take pics themselves – plus it comes with funky protective casing.
And don’t forget snacks! We stuffed ours in the Finnson cool bag – which kept milk bottles cool and snacks all handy in one on-the-go bag.
Nuby RapidCool flasks will help keep milk warm while you travel and WaterWipes’ new mini on-the-go wipes will help clean up sticky fingers!
ADDED LUXURIES
If you’re travelling abroad, or wanting to travel light, then you may want to forgo the following. But if you’re heading on a staycation and are happy to load up the car, there’s some handy essentials to throw in which might make your trip that tiny bit easier.
Towels can be hit-and-miss at holiday rentals – and sometimes non-existent. To ensure your little one has something to wrap up in, Cuddledry towels are ideal to pop in your luggage and suitable for newborns through to toddlerhood.
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If you’ll be giving your little one a regular bath while on your trip, popping an Infantino Thermometer in is worth it for added protection. It means you won’t run the risk of accidentally running a too-hot bath.
And if you do have enough room in the car, taking your own travel cot can provide a sense of relief. The Nuna travel cot comes with its own handy bag and can pop up within seconds.
For those with long car journeys ahead, a cosy blanket can help your little one feel warm and secure. Night Lark’s Mini Duvet is lightweight and versatile – doubling up as a blanket in the car and lightweight duvet when you arrive at your destination.
LOOK AFTER YOURSELF
It’s easy to forget the essentials for yourself when you’re worrying about organising for everyone else. But there’s a few fail safes to remember.
A decent toothbrush with long-lasting charge, like the Ordo Sonic, will keep you going for the duration of your hol. Dry shampoo is always a good idea for those early starts – you’ll find Batiste in my travel bag. And having a decent face wash and cream will help pack in some moisture after long travel times. Neal’s Yard’s Frankincense Nourishing Cream and Face Wash are both gentle on new mums’ skin.
If you’re travelling for a special event, such as a wedding, it could be worth packing a travel steamer. The Philips 5000 Series Handheld Steamer heats up in just 35 seconds and is leakproof, so it’s safe to pack and carry. Meanwhile, Tower’s digital steamer is so compact it could be taken in hand luggage on a flight.
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