By: Nicole Madigan-Everest
Everyone loves to go on holidays. But travelling with kids in tow can put a whole different spin on things. Relaxation is no longer associated with vacation and the entire process – from leaving the house to boarding the plane, road travel and just getting out and about – can be a pull-your-hair-out experience. Thankfully a few clever inventions and some ever-helpful items are now available to make travelling with little ones a lot simpler and a lot more fun.
1.
Quicksmart Back Pack stroller
$189.99
www.dalegroup.com.au
This revolutionary stroller folds down in just a few easy steps into a compact size for ease of transportation and storage making traveling with young children a breeze. Weighing less than 4kg, it folds in four easy steps into a backpack for ease of storage and transportation. No assembly is required and it still includes a 5-point harness and canopy, padded seat and foot rest and even a shopping basket. It also includes a carry bag with shoulder pads making it ideal to use as hand luggage.
2.
Doodle Roll
$10.95
www.dbz.com.au
Whether you’re out for dinner, in the car, at the airport or on a plane, you can guarantee your children will get bored. Fast. Most kids love to draw but it’s not always easy to pack paper and crayons let alone keep it all in one place. Doodle roll comes in a blister pack which is resealable and contains both crayons and a roll of paper 15cm wide and 15m long. The blister pack also has a built in tear edge, providing hours of drawing time but requiring little space or mess. Keep it in the car or your hand bag for instant entertainment.
3.
Deluxe 3 in 1 Combo Carrier
$89.95
www.snazzybaby.com.au
Multi-award winning Mum’s Deluxe 3 in 1 Plus Combo Carrier is an easy, lightweight, ergonomically designed hip carrier, equally suited to mums and dads. With a gel-based shoulder strap, Snazzy Baby’s Combo Carrier allows you to evenly distribute weight for longer periods of time. With the options of using as a hip carrier, in a shopping cart or as a temporary high chair restraint system, Mum’s Deluxe 3 in 1 Plus Combo Carrier is a parent’s dream travel companion.
4.
Brothers Max Catch and Fold Bib
$16.95
www.brothermax.com.au
Keeping your little one’s clothes clean especially whilst travelling can be tricky, so to prevent numerous outfit changes, the ever-stylish Brother Max has invented the clever Catch & Fold Bibs, which combine the comfort of a soft cotton bib with the practicality of a plastic crumb catcher. For travel convenience, the crumb catcher also seals shut, converting into a perfect carry case for clean or dirty bibs and cutlery while on the go.
5.
QuickSmart Scuttle Bug
$39.99
www.dalegroup.com.au
When space is of the essence, finding ways to keep your tots occupied at the airport or while out and about isn’t easy. The Scuttle Bug is a foot to floor ride-on which can be folded and unfolded in seconds, neatly fitting into the top of a suitcase. The Scuttle Bug helps develop balance and steering skills, is lightweight and compact and specially designed to allow a smooth, quiet and fun ride, both indoors and outdoors. And the best bit? No assembly is required, just remove from box, unfold and you are ready to go!
6.
My Playhouse Adventures
$195
www.myplayhouseadventures.com
You’ve finally arrived at your holiday destination, you check into your hotel ready to relax, when the kids begin running about the room, cheekily seeking out entertainment. Enter My Playhouse Adventures – a fabric playhouse which transforms any dining table into a world of imagination. A bit like a big fitted tablecloth, they fold up into a very small parcel, so are super simple to get out and toss on at a moment’s notice. When folded into its matching storage bag, it makes the perfect take-along when visiting friends, going on holiday, or heading anywhere you’ll find a table.
7.
Fridge-to-go
$32.95
www.fridge-to-go.net.au
Cooler bags are nothing new – most mums have one. But the Fridge-to-go eight hour cooler bags are something a little different. They act just like a fridge, even chilling room temperature items within an hour. Perfect for carrying baby’s milk right through to big kids’ lunches, Fridge-to-go cooler bags are excellent quality, built to last and grow with your child. They really do work.
8.
Baby Passport Cover
$13.50
www.thebabygiftcompany.com.au
These gorgeous baby passport cover and luggage tag sets aren’t just practical, they’re oh-so cute as well. The matching sets come in blue or pink, making them the perfect travel accessory for any young jet setter. Each feature a soft suede cover and are embroidered with a cute baby footprint. So not only will you know exactly where your little one’s bits and pieces are, you’ll do so in super style.
9.
CARES Aviation Child Restraint
$99.95
www.littlegulliver.com.au
Most kids will happily sit in their car seat strapped into their seats with their seatbelts. Get them onto a plane though and they’reitching to get out of their seats, and often resistant to airline safety belts.
Enter the CARES aviation child restraint, an award winning child aeroplane harness for young travellers aged 1 to 4 years. The harness reminds children of their car seatbelt, making them more comfortable and relaxed and giving parents the peace of mind that their little ones are safely secured.
10.
Ride-in-carry-on
$87.95
www.bonitobaby.com.au
What do you do with your toddler when the airline makes you check your stroller in at the gate or when you are in transit at the airport for five hours? It’s hard enough taking all the carry on you need for children, let alone carrying a cranky and uncooperative child a kilometre to the boarding gate. This ingenious chair attaches to standard carry-on bags, allowing parents to glide through the airport while children lounge safely and happily in their own comfy armchair. For children who can sit, up to 18kg.
