Travelling with childrenTravel tips

Available equipment

Check what baby equipment the company you are travelling with, or the place you are travelling to, can provide.

If you are hiring a cottage, for example, items such as highchairs and cots are often provided and, if not, you can normally hire such equipment through the holiday home company.

If you are travelling abroad with a tour operator, you will probably be able to hire cots and even buggies through them, as many pride themselves on the baby-friendliness of their resorts. Alternatively, you can contact the local tourist office.

Only take what you need

You don’t need everything you use at home and you can make substitutions – for example, you could use a baby carrier (see 'Baby carriers') instead of a pushchair, and use boiling water in a pan instead of a space-consuming steriliser for sterilising bottles.

Borrow rather than buy

If you don’t want to increase your holiday budget, this can be a good way around it. If you know someone with a travel cot or a spare, lightweight buggy, for example, there’s no harm in asking.

Buy a cheaper model

You don’t need everything you use at home

If you do decide to buy new, you’ll probably only be using the item(s) occasionally after your holiday, so basic rather than top-of-the-range should be adequate.

A possible exception is if you are buying your first umbrella-folding stroller to go on holiday. You'll probably be using this regularly at some point, once you or your baby ‘grow out of’ your current mode of pushchair transport.

The most basic strollers, although fine as a spare, tend to be less user-friendly than the slightly more sophisticated models. Paying a little bit more for a lighter-weight model with a few extra features is worth considering. Check out our Best Buy pushchairs.

Disposable items

Disposable items of baby equipment, although not particularly environmentally friendly, can make your life easier on holiday. For example if you normally use washable nappies, you may find disposables more user-friendly (see Nappy buying guide). You can even get disposable bottles and bibs.

Travel models

Travel versions of various types of baby equipment are widely available (although think hard whether you really need to buy), such as travel cots, travel sterilisers and travel bottle-warmers.

Plan nappy supplies

The most popular nappy brands are available in most foreign resorts, so if you need to restrict your luggage it’s worth buying them once you get there. However, they can be more expensive than in the UK. If you’re travelling abroad by car, in particular, consider taking a full supply of nappies with you.

Top 10 tips from experienced parents

1. Moist wipes, drinks, snacks and a change of clothing are essential on the journey. Sit in an easily accessible seat if possible.

2. Try to ensure that your hand luggage is kept to a minimum in order to keep your hands free, and sacrifice your own things for what your child might need.

3. On planes, changing cabin pressure during take-off and landing can be uncomfortable. You can ease the discomfort by breast-feeding babies or giving toddlers a dummy and older children a sweet to suck.

4. Ration distractions such as books and crayons throughout the journey, producing a new treat when boredom beckons. Take one favourite toy in your hand luggage to minimise the risk of cherished toys getting lost.

5. Silent toys will be appreciated by other passengers.

6. On car journeys, music and nursery rhyme tapes work well.

7. Attach a luggage label to your child’s clothing with their flight number and name on it.

8. Stick to your normal meal and nap routine as much as possible, even if this means sacrificing activities. You’ll pay a price at bedtime otherwise. Make long journeys, particularly by car, coincide with nap times.

9. Self-catering accommodation is more flexible and can include laundry facilities, which means you can relax while your children are asleep within earshot.

10. With very young children, pack a baby carrier or back/hip carrier for toddlers in preference to a pushchair so that your hands are kept free.