Parents who shudder at the prospect of travelling with children have become unfashionable. Have kids, will globetrot is the trendy travel lore. But even seasoned backpackers, such as Lonely Planet's UK general manager Charlotte Hindle, say parents should plan ahead meticulously.
Hindle, mother of Daisy, is 'appalled' by the difficulty of finding practical equipment which won't take up an extra suitcase. In her nine months, Daisy has been to Lille, Madeira, Paris and Australia.
Yet Hindle had her problems. 'I'm fussy about her food and I took three weeks' supply of jars to Australia. I had to repack at the airport because I exceeded the weight allowance. We bought Boots' plastic food containers for our home-made meals on the trip to Lille and they leaked courgettes all over my husband's laptop. Microwavable steriliser bags are good but you can only do one bottle at a time.'
Her experiences feed into the new edition of Travel with Children, due out in February, and one top tip is: forget bottle a warmer, and stick the bottle full of water under an armpit for an hour for perfect results.
It does get easier. Other mothers, such as Kathy Bacovitch, 33, headed for Majorca with only a hand-held fan, lined swim-pants and a buggy for her two-year-old son. 'I just lathered on the sun cream and made him wear a hat. We got everything else there.' Emma Smith says a baby-carrier on a frame was her best investment. We tested a selection of travel and holiday products for children:
UV Cabana sun tent
Wind shelter, play den and changing room for parents. A personal favourite. Isabel, 10 months, and Jamie, 3, adored it. Gets hot but mesh panel and flap front let in enough air. Baby or family size. Various makes for £29.50-£49.50 at Outdoor Kids or www.greatlittletrading.co.uk, or £24.99 at Mothercare.com.
Sunsuits
Australian baby romper suit and hat with factor 50 UV ray protection. A doddle to slip on to writhing limbs. Nylon/Lycra dries quickly. Our baby could even keep the legionnaire-style hat on. £25 at www.funsunsuits.co.uk, or tel 01325 260695.
Sposh UV swimwear
Has an Australian Radiation Lab rating of 50-plus. New feature is cotton/Lycra mix for natural-fibre loving families. Sizes up to age 14. £32 for one-pieces. Matching hats £13 at Outdoor Kids.
Aquashoes
New this summer in sizes from a child 10 to adult 5. Tough and practical, but you have to get them on your child's feet first. Much tugging and pulling involved. £11-£16 at www.outdoorkids.co.uk, or tel 01789 414791.
Bloc sunglasses
Great wrap-around style with 100 per cent ultraviolet ray protection - if your child keeps them on. A big 'aahh' factor with the parents. £9.99 at Outdoor Kids.
Insect repellents
For parents who reject the notion that only a good coating of chemicals will do, Dayglo pink bracelet from Mothercare (£2.99) claims to deter the nasties, as do Mike Mozzie spray (£3.99) and gel (£3.89). These are natural plant-based products from the Aromakids range at Hippychick.
Hippychick child hip seat
For mothers who haven't developed cushion-like bulges to balance their babies and toddlers on, or for fathers who don't come with the requisite hips in the first place, this seat provides a solid shelf for tiny bottoms. Takes the strain off your back - and it reduced our baby's wriggliness. £34.95 at www.hippychickltd.co.uk (01278 671461) or branches of Mothercare and John Lewis.
Jive buggy
For those who won't or can't carry babies, this is a neater alternative to the travel system you spent a fortune on but which, confusingly, doesn't travel well in anything but the biggest car boot. More for short dashes than long expeditions, as rigid seat edge can leave red marks on little legs after 30 minutes. £29.99 from Mothercare or at www.mothercare.com.
Bottles
Essential but tricky. For short hops, Boots' pre-sterilised disposable bottles, at £1.99 for two, are a safe bet. For longer trips, Mothercare does a pack of two special bottles that can be sterilised in a microwave. If all else fails, use Boots' sterilising tablets dissolved in water.
