Every parent knows that travelling with a little one involves lots of preparation and organisation; which even then can still be overwhelming.
Leading travel writer Caroline Cooper has picked out the must-have travel items to make holidays with your little tot that little bit easier…you can thank her later!
Bugaboo Bee5 Pushchair – from £549
When it came to buying a pushchair before our little girl was born, there was only one brand I wanted – and that was Bugaboo. Ever since they launched Bugaboo has caused a ripple effect in the pushchair world; they are the leaders of the pack and it seems to me that all brands want to follow in their footsteps. I love everything about the Bugaboo brand, from how each pushchair is named after a different animal, to their easy mechanism and functionality, and last of all knowing that you have the crème de la crème of the pushchair world.
I opted for the Bugaboo Bee5, designed for ‘parents on the go.’ This compact and functional design is ideal for anyone who lives an urban lifestyle and doesn’t want the weight or bulkiness that so many others have. A year on, and mine feels as good as new!
We’ve now taken our Bee5 on two different holidays abroad, and unlike so many others brands, and unlike many other pushchairs we are able to take our Bee right up to the jetway. By simply removing two wheels and folding it down in the usual manner, the pushchair fits snugly into a travel bag, leaving us walking calmly onto the plane!
So, if you’re a Mum to be or fed up with your bulky off-roader then I cannot encourage this enough. Suitable from newborn to toddler, you will never regret this choice!
Bugaboo Bee5 Breezy Sun Canopy – £89.95
The Bugaboo Breezy sun canopy is one of my favourite baby products to date! UPF 50+ protected, the mesh side panels provide extra ventilation to keep heat, sun and insects at bay from your little tot. The zip-up window provides easy access to check on your little one, (and for them to peer out) and ventilation. On our recent trip to Dubai, I loved knowing that when our little one was sleeping in her pushchair that she’s getting the breeze that she needed to keep her both cool, and well…asleep leaving us with a little extra sunbathing time!
Outlook Sleepshade – £24.99
If I could recommend one product for any parent to take away with them on holiday it would be this sleepshade. With our daughter now one, I just wish that we had bought it sooner!
It was an absolute lifesaver on our recent holiday, and allowed my husband and I to eat safe in the knowledge that she was sleeping soundly and wouldn’t be disturbed by noise or light. The simple quick fix breathable cover is universal to any pram or travel system. Not only does it block out all light, but also gives maximum sun protection from the sun’s harmful rays. The double zip opening also means that you can check on your little one, and if you’re really lucky allow you that second cocktail in peace! I couldn’t recommend this enough!
Grobag Travel Five Point Harness – £34.99
The Gro company really are market leaders when it comes to innovation and aids to help new parents (which I’m sure we can all vouch for we are very grateful for)! I love this brand, from the groclock to their grobags, I think they are fantastic! One of their best innovations has to be their 5 point travel harness gro bag. This simple yet clever mechanism meant that we could follow our little girls bath and bed routine each evening. Once snugly inside her gro bag, we’d pop and secure her in her pushchair as she drifted off to sleep allowing us to eat a little later or have a drink if we wanted too. Once back in our hotel room, we could safely and soundly transfer her into her cot without having to worry about waking her – what an invention!!
Totseat – from £23.99
I’m sure all parents at some point in their kid’s life had to feed them when they are least expecting it, and thanks to the Totseat, it means no matter where you are, you can sit your child safely in an eating position. All you need is an actual chair! The Totseat adjusts to any tip of dining chair, thanks to the fabric and extra cumberband. The almost nappy like ‘seat’ simply folds under and around your child whilst the straps come unfer their armpit so that their can be fastened behind their head.
Recoomended from six to 30 months, this product is brilliant for holidays or visiting friends and family without having to lug a highchair with you!
