What to take on holiday with a baby or toddler

Bugaboo is a leading baby brand for good reason – designs are considered just so for both baby and parent. This travel cot is one of the best we’ve tried, unfolding in just a second with an in-built mattress and mesh walls suitable for babies up to two-years-old. It’s both comfy and extremely sturdy, with a handy attachment that zips to the top of the cot to heighten the bed – perfect for young babies who need swooping up quickly. It’s best for young babies – we used it for our six-month-old and it didn’t distribute her weight proportionately and sit fully flat. The cot fits snugly into a carry bag which can be loaded into the hold for holiday or laid flat in the back of the car. It’s on the heavier side, which can be a drag in the airport, but for staycations where you’re taking a car, it’s fabulous. Sophie Knight

The moment this arrived in our house, my daughter was obsessed – she referred to it as her ‘train’ and faithfully dragged it around our hallway for the best part of half a day. It’s also immediately a winning toy as it comes with stickers. It can house a change of clothes or sleep clothing, as well as a few snacks, a cup, a book, and a toy – the same supplies as you would carry in a nappy bag. If you’re looking for a more travel-friendly version of a pram bag, or usually have a rucksack for all of your child’s essentials, but need to diversify your baggage for a flight, this great. See our full JetKids by Stokke review. Charlotte Davey

My son was immediately taken with the board and used it to prop up the iPad and lay out his toys. I particularly liked the hygiene factor of the board covering the seat. I was thrilled when he spread out his legs and drifted off to sleep by himself. It was relaxing all around as I didn’t have to check that he was slipping off his seat, and I was able to secure his seat belt around him and the board, so there was no need to wake him if the seatbelt sign came on. By some miracle, he managed 10 hours of sleep on the first 13-hour leg of our flight to Bali before going back to sleep on the final stretch. See our full Bubba Board review. Jessica Rach

This is a game changer for travelling with a baby. A car seat and stroller in one, this nifty piece of kit from Doona minimises on baby luggage and maximises travel potential in one. We used this when taking our six-month-old on a flight for the first time for a holiday to Spain, where we would be travelling from London and visiting Barcelona and Madrid; we needed to be able to get taxis, flights, a train, and to roam the cities on foot, and this ticked all the boxes.

One particular highlight was taking a day sightseeing and then hopping into a taxi, all without disturbing our sleeping baby or needing to transfer or transfigure any bulky kit. For part of the journey I travelled by myself which made things even handier not having to transfer my daughter between seats and collapse a pram at the same time. There are recommendations about how long a baby should be in a car seat (as opposed to a flat pram) but for the odd journey we weren’t too concerned. Going through the airport was a bit of a faff, the Spanish airport staff seemed to insist that the wheels should come off and each part of the stroller put through the baggage scanner separately, but after some demonstrations we were allowed to wheel it through the human scanner (golden rule of thumb: be prepared for delays when travelling with babies and allow extra time).

It does also have to be left at the gate and put into the hold as it won’t fit in the cabin, meaning you have to collect it from the baggage carousel or other designated luggage spot (so you’ll be carrying your baby from the plane to baggage reclaim, which can be difficult if you have other cabin luggage with you) but that is the same problem you would have with taking any car seat on a flight (there are strollers such as the Yoyo which are allowed in the cabin overheard compartment, which are handy for any non-car or taxi holidays). Overall, I would recommend this to any new family in need of making a journey more streamlined. Charlotte Davey

Travelling with a baby is a whole new adventure and, if we are honest, one that comes with a fair bit more luggage. Between bottles, nappies and the ever-growing list of “just in case” items, anything that makes life easier earns instant approval from us. So, that’s why we’ve fallen for the Nuna TRVL pushchair – a smart, stylish stroller that makes getting from A to B (and everywhere in between) genuinely effortless. With a touch of a button, the TRVL folds itself into a neat, compact package that stores perfectly in car boots or plane holds which means for parents, no juggling acts or meltdowns in airport queues! Plus, it’s thoughtfully designed, with sleek lines and plush fabrics, without compromising on sturdiness, meaning you look as good in Notting Hill as you do in the Maldives. Practicality-wise, it glides as effortlessly over city pavements as it does over cobbled streets, and it comes with an included rain cover, ensuring your little one is cocooned and dry no matter the forecast. Whether you’re dashing across town or jetting off to chase the sun somewhere fabulous, you can rest assured that travel doesn’t stop when you have a baby; the right gear can make it even better. Charlotte Taylor

This is lightweight, collapsible with one hand and small enough to take onboard the flight. I’ve found a cabin friendly pram to be a game-changer when travelling with a young one – it saves on carrying them all the way to the luggage carousel, which can be particularly hard on night flights when they are fast asleep and need to lie down asap. This stroller is the perfect companion when out and about on holiday, with nimble steering thanks to 360 degree front wheels (that can also be removed to save space when packing up), an extendable canopy made of UPF 50+ material and a retractable bed for naps. The stroller also comes with a backpack which slides onto a suitcase handle or fits snug in the prams storage compartment. I’ve little complaints, although adapting the length of the straps to secure baby changing positions from sitting up to lying down can be fiddly. Sophie Knight

An essential loved by the fashion set, Artipoppe has garnered a cult following for its recognisable and unique designs. The colourful Zeitgeist carriers are wearable from the newborn to toddler stage and, with a back carry option, it’s perfect for everything from plane travel to mountain hiking. I found the padded cross strap especially effective in warding off back aches and the design was easy to slip on while going through customs. Jessica Rach

This Dockatot changing clutch is so stylish I’d be tempted to take it out without a tot in tow. Chic and compact, it boasts a detachable and wipeable changing mat for on-the-go nappy changes as well as enough inside pockets for spare nappies, a light change of clothes, baby wipes, cream and nappy bags. The front of the clutch has a smart zip compartment for keys and a phone, so (if you’re a minimalist packer like me!) you could arguably get away with using it as your handbag. Jessica Rach

Feeding on the go is always tricky. Chic restaurants, hotel corridors or airport lounges are rarely built with pumping in mind, and the occasional cruriouis glance can maek the whole experience feel incredibly overwhelming. That’s why the Elvie Pump feels like a miracle in your bag: sleek, silent, and completely wireless, letting you pump anytime, anywhere. Whether you’re driving, queuing at airport security, or sneaking a few minutes tanning by the pool while the baby naps, it quietly (but surely) gets on with the job. It’s small enough to fit in your handbag, and slim enough to fit in your bra, giving you ultimate freedom and privacy, which earns a big tick from us busy mamas. And it gets better: the Elvie App tracks your sessions and schedule while USB charging, and an easy-to-clean design means fewer plugs, fewer fiddly parts and far less stress. It’s the sort of tool that makes you wonder how you ever travelled without it. Charlotte Taylor

Travelling with two under two is no mean feat, and accepting the retreat back to the hotel room long before last orders has been a learning curve, but we’ve tried (where possible) to book a room with a terrace or balcony so we can put the babies to bed early-ish and enjoy being outside a little longer. The Nanit Pro camera has made the whole thing feel more relaxing, as we’ve been able to close the doors to the room to keep the aircon circulating, without sitting with an ear glued to the glass. It’s also proven game-changing for staycations – we recently booked a beautiful big cottage in Norfolk with friends and were able to put the little ones to bed and enjoy an evening by the fire in the knowledge we’d spot them stirring if and when we were needed. The best part about the Nanit for travel is how compact and packable it is – it barely takes up any extra space and is so worth bringing along. Sarah Bannerman