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Travelling without kids is enough of a minefield. But add a squirming, squealing, hungry body (or bodies) into the mix, and you have yourself a few hours in purgatory.
You can tell yourself it’s worth it as much as you want, but there are no two ways around it: it’s going to feel long, and (if we’re being honest with ourselves) probably difficult at times.
So, why not make it easier? To help you prepare for your journey, we’ve found the best essentials you need for travelling with kids.
Whether you’re journeying with a newborn or toddler, boarding a plane, train or driving in the car, keep reading for our round up of the best kids’ suitcases, travel cots, airplane-friendly prams, and more to shop now.
Best travel cots, prams, and carriers
Not only does this lightweight pushchair look sleek, but it is easy to use and practical too. As well as being approved for most major airlines (iCandy recommends double checking with your airline first) it can fold with one hand and the canopy uses UPF50+ coverage, ideal for if you’re travelling somewhere hot. Plus, it’s suitable for all ages, thanks to having a wide and tall seat that can lie flat for newborns, or be folded into a seating position for kids as they grow.
Your world doesn’t have to stop during your little one’s quick snooze; this pram shade offers 99% UV protection and blocks the sunlight out if you want to be out and about while they’re trying to get some Zs in. It can be worn in a whole load of ways, and also comes in this stroller size for older kids.
This clever board clips on to your buggy so your toddler can ride alongside your baby, saving their tired legs – and yours.
Leopard print is a neutral, okay? But style shouldn’t come at the cost of comfort, which is why this carrier is ultra padded and won’t strain you or your babe. Designed to carry children up to the age of two, you can adjust it between three different styles, depending on your (or their) mood.
If you’re looking for something to help carry your toddler or preschooler, this sling is adjustable and works for children between nine months and four years old. The clip on and off design also makes light work of scooping them up in an instant.
Travelling requires tons of lifting luggage and navigating boarding pass barriers. This baby carrier means you’ll be able to keep your hands and arms free, and thanks to the eco-friendly knitted material it will pack up nice and small to squeeze into your luggage when you’re not using it.
We love a multi-purpose product, which is why we’re so fond of this Najell number. As well as being a stylish carrier for when you and your babe are on the go, it fits into prams to transform into a cosy sleeping space and, when the sides unfold, turns into a play mat.
This zip open sleeping bag makes on-the-go nappy changes easy as. It’s also made with adjustable shoulder poppers so it can fit exactly to your baby’s size for comfy, cosy and clean nap times.
Sometimes bed time is urgent, so you don’t want to fuss around with transforming a seat or finding a comfortable position for them to sleep in. This blow up foot rest can be added on to the end of their plane or car seat to turn it into a bed big enough to lie down on.
Tired of having meltdowns when you can’t assemble a travel cot? Our parenting editor can relate, but she ranks this cot as the easiest one she’s ever used. All you have to do to assemble it is pull it out of the bag, and stretch the legs outwards until they click into place. It has padded sides, and comes with a UPF50 blackout cover for emergency naps.
There’s nothing like ferrying one kid around in a pushchair while trying to carry another in your arms or run after them as they decide to make a game of hide and seek in a totally new country. This wagon makes light work of trying to keep multiple kids in the same place, as you can seat up to four children, making it ideal for a family holiday with friends or a festival day out.
Best kids’ suitcases and luggage
Sit on suitcases are not only a lifesaver when you’re rushing through the airport, but this one has a lift-up top, which extends their aeroplane seat into a bed, or turns it into a footrest so they can sit comfortable while you wait for your transport.
Already got the footrest situation covered? This space-print also provides endless fun in the form of zooming around on their bums or tums. Should the celestial print not interest them, it also comes in a ton of other prints, like this unicorn one.
Somehow kids always come back from holiday with way more than they left with (oops!), which you’ll inevitably end up having to carry. This expandable backpack accounts for all eventualities, and it’s waterproof and wipe-clean, so they can wear it for daily use, too.
Instead of doing the jigsaw of trying to balance a million tiny Tupperwares in your bag, this compact little snack box has 12 compartments to stock full of their favourite snacks, is slim enough to slot into a backpack, and it’s dishwasher safe.
Best kids’ toys and entertainment for long journeys
If you need something you can whip out at a moment’s notice, the Switch is pretty much unbeaten. It weighs less than 300g, and you don’t even need to remember to carry extra games around with you thanks to the device coming with 32GB of in-built memory.
If you want to give their little eyes a rest from screens, this audio player and radio is completely analogue, and has kid-friendly controls they can power up without your supervision. Choose from Yoto’s range of stories, music, and learning materials – including everything from K-Pop Demon Hunters to The Gruffalo and Friends – hand them the matching headphones, and you’re away. It even has 14 hours of play per charge, so it can last you a whole day of travelling, if needs be.
Let them escape into their own world with these wireless headphones that won’t trip them up on the way to the bathroom. As well as being padded on the ear pads and headband, to make sure they can wear them for long stretches of journeying, they can be controlled by the JBL app, so you can monitor their play time and make sure the volume is safe for their ears.
Colouring is a fail-safe for hours of entertainment, but crayons on a plane can also land you with the responsibility of scrambling around on your hands and knees looking for them. These ones from Kores are triangular, so they won’t roll away.
When the situation gets dire, there’s nothing easier than popping a tablet in their hands and calling it a day. This kids-specific tablet comes with everything from books, to games, and kid-friendly TV shows. It does it all, folks!
Take ‘I spy’ to a whole new level with this camera. As well as being shaped like a cat – adorable – it prints photos immediately, to encourage them to capture their journey as it happens. The finished photos also make for great crafting material on the journey home, and you’ll have memories the whole family can cherish forever.
If there’s anything more demanding than your child, it’s a tamagotchi. These little creatures require constant attention, and they can be tied to a rucksack for quick and easy access.
Even for adults, journeys can get long and monotonous. If you need something that will add some novelty and excitement back into travelling, these Disney balls come with a surprise gift – the suspense will add at least a little distraction from minds wondering if you’re there yet.
Pool and beach essentials for kids
Whether you’ll be in the pool or the sea, this sunscreen is water resistant for up to 80 minutes. It smells like oranges, in case you needed a helping hand convincing them to layer up. Plus, it’s reef-friendly, so you don’t have to worry about its environmental impact, and is loaded with broad spectrum protection.
We’re past the point of having to lug around a clunky beach umbrella. This stripey tent is not only anti-UV, to protect them from the sun, but it’s a perfect nest to curl up in come nap time.
Some swimming vests can be clunky, but this one provides just enough coverage to keep them safe while giving them (and you) plenty of confidence to venture out and explore the waves. Or the pool, whatever floats your boat.
To little ones, arm bands might seem like an annoying addition to hitting the waves. But having a cute pattern on them can never hurt, can it?
For the spots sunscreen can’t easily cover, this sun hat is UV protective, and ties on to avoid you having to awkwardly chase it down the beach.
These stripey sandals will protect their tootsies from sharp objects on the beach, and you can even get a matching towel cover up to boot. Cuuute!
Whether you’re in the hottest heat or the cold English sea, kids can be particularly susceptible to the cold. This shark-splattered suit will keep them warm and protected from the sun too, thanks to its full-body UV coverage.
If swimming won’t tire them out, learning how to dive will. To stop your older kids from complaining about you lying poolside (god forbid), make a game out of throwing these to the bottom of the pool and having them catch them before they hit the bottom.
Forget boring old sandcastles, this silicone set opens up a whole new world of possibilities for sandscaping, including fruit-shaped moulds and towers a regular bucket could only dream of recreating.
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