Useful things to take.

Whenever and wherever you are travelling with your baby, you will need to take supplies with you so you can feed, change and amuse him throughout the journey. Things to take for your baby or toddler when travelling include:

• Spare nappies - twice as many as you think you may need.
• Baby wipes - great for faces and hands as well as bottoms.



• Changing mat - or something clean and foldable such as a small towel to use as a changing mat (many baby bags incorporate a mat of their own)



• Nappy sacks - and or plastic bags for used nappies and/or clothing.



• Feeding equipment - if your baby is bottle-fed you will find ready-to-feed formula easier than making up bottles away from home. Transporting a made-up bottle is okay for an hour or so, if you can keep it cool. Older babies need a cup with a sealable lid. Take plenty of healthy food, and some naughty snacks for bribes.
• Spare clothes - nappies have a habit of leaking at the most inconvenient times. An extra t-shirt and sweater can be important when your baby has just poured a glass of orange juice down himself or been sick down his front. If the weather looks changeable, pack a spare pair of socks and trousers as well, there is nothing a toddler likes better than jumping in puddles.



• Spare drink - whether it's a bottle of milk, trainer cup of water or a carton of juice.
• Sunhat and suncream - always worth taking, even if the weather does not seem promising.
• Pram - when you are loading your baby or toddler into a car seat, it can easy to forget that you will need transport at the other end!
• Raincover for pram - even if it doesn't look like it is going to rain, invariably it does if you do not have a raincover with you!
• Swimming nappies or swimming costumes - if you know your child is going in the sea or pool, it's better to pack them before you leave, rather than spend time driving around aimlessly trying to buy one on holiday.
• Toys - take rattles and small toys, but nothing too bulky: cuddly toys, books, sticker games or musical phones, anything that you use at home to avert a baby or toddler tantrum would be good to pack.
• First aid kit - if you are flying off somewhere hot for a long weekend, it is worth taking a first-aid kit that includes antiseptic cream, plasters, gauze, pain relief (paracetamol or ibuprofen) and something to keep mosquito bites from itching.

If you need to save space and travel light there are several things on the market which will help:

• Pocket size changing mats fold up to a small wallet size
• Some makes of nappy are available in travel pack size



• Most brands of nappy wipe are available in resalable travel packs
• Travel potties come with disposable potty liners and fold up into a travel bag



• A portable, inflatable, soft baby bath packs down very small and comes in its own travel bag



• If you're washing your baby's things, look out for baby clothes travel wash