Top travel tips for mums
(from a mum who tops the list of top baby product designers!)
Taking a trip or a holiday with baby needn’t be a logistical nightmare. As long as you’re geared up for most eventualities you can all relax and have a great time.
Here are a few practical travel tips:
- Sun protection is a must even in the UK as it has been proved that a sun tan is not a ‘health benefit’ but an indication that skin has been damaged by ultra violet radiation causing the second known common cancer in the UK.
- Consequently, sun cream is absolutely essential for your bag (however expensive!!) Alternatively, if using a pushchair, a good sun cover is essential – preferably one that covers the whole pushchair as parasols can be fiddly to keep moving around to ensure that baby isn’t exposed to the sun. (Actually, you can buy an effective sun cover for less than many known brand sun protection creams – which can help to limit your summer expenses! – please see my product tips below!!)
- It’s great to have a sturdy changing bag with comfortable straps and lots of pockets for easy access to all your outings essentials: nappies, juice or water, wipes, snack and a change of clothes. However, don’t make it too heavy if you are going to be carrying it around all day.
- When out and about, if you don’t want to lug a heavy changing bag around with you all the time, always ensure you have a changing mat, spare nappy and some wipes in your handbag so you can change baby even on a street corner if needed.
- Also, always keep a supply of nappies and wipes in your car so that even if you are popping out to the park and your child does an unexpected poop you can nip back to the car for a change.
- If travelling with breast milk, formula milk or fresh foods such as yoghurt it is essential to keep these cool and at a safe temperature, especially in the boot of the car, as bacteria soon multiplies when food gets warm.
- Always keep a jar or two of baby food with you so if you are unable to get to a restaurant, baby won’t go hungry (even if you do!)
- If you are travelling with a very young baby, take a supply of sterilising tablets so you can sterilise bottles in your hotel room.
- As you will be sharing your hotel room with your child, it is worth investing in a travel cot with black out blinds incorporated to ensure you don’t disturb baby’s sleep when turning lights on and off. If travelling abroad it is also worth considering a travel cot with built in mosquito nets to protect baby’s delicate skin from bites.
- If you’re spending time on the beach, pop some baby powder into your bag – it’s great for drying baby’s skin and getting sand out of all of those awkward little places! It is also worth taking a light weight travel cot or canopy so that baby can sleep or play fully protected from harmful sun rays.
- For older toddlers, keep a pack of crayons and some paper to hand. You can create hours of fun doodling or folding paper when you need to keep little ones amused.
Top tips are brought to you by
Fiona Woodhead who has been a designer in the baby products industry for seven years and is the brainchild behind many innovative ideas from Samsonite Nursery Collection, Koo-di and PurFlo. Mum to 2 year old Max (and another on the way!), her mission is to design products to make parenting and particularly travelling with babies easier – designed by a mum for mums! To get in touch with Fiona or view more products from her portfolio, visit the websites at: www.baby-travel.com
