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Summer Essentials
Going on holiday this year? What are the essentials you can't do without? We've been scouring our product reviews section for the items that babyworld members deem essential for family life on the go. Some of them were awarded 'Best Buy' in our parent panel reviews whereas others are simply handy little items that our community love...
Travel cot and mosquito repellant
Mum's like ...
- Littlelife Twin Arc Travel Cot
- BabyDan Travel Cot
- LittleLife Arc 3
- Sun Essentials UV Travel Cot
- Prince Lionheart Lovebug - chemical free mosquito repellant
A popular cot with babyworld parents, the LittleLife is valued for its 'travel-friendly' size, 'modern looks' and 'ability to double up as a beach shade or playpen'. It also packs up small enough to fit in the plane's overhead compartments - perfect if you're determined to travel light!
If you're travelling by car (and boot space isn't an issue), the BabyDan Travel Cot offers 'a versatile home on the move, with wheels for extra portability' - 'it's also 6 inches longer than your standard travel cot so especially useful for taller children'. Read about other Travel Cots in our Going Away section.
If you're jetting off somewhere sunny, the Little Life Arc 3 doubles as a travel cot and an outside play tent with UV protection! 'Super-light, stylish and extremely portable', the cot folds down to the size of a dinner plate and will accommodate your child from 6-18 months. Another pop up option is the 'refreshingly easy' Sun Essentials UV travel cot. Equipped with a mozzie proof insect mesh, mattress, sleeping bag, adjustable sun/wind panes and SPF50+ fabric, the cot doubles up as a handy beach shelter to protect your little one during the day. Genius...
The perfect solution to summer nights (for fending off the dreaded mosquitos) at home or away is the Prince Lionheart Chemical free lovebug. Our Managing Director tested the Lovebug on a sailing holiday in Turkey where the mosquitos are numerous and persistent and he reports that they really do work.
Baby carrier
Mum's like ...
- Bruin 3 way carrier
- Kari-me sling
- Baby Bjorn Active Baby carrier
- Babasling
The Bruin 3 way carrier was recently awarded 'Best Buy' in our slings and carriers test, largely due to its 'secure harness', 'comfort for the parent' and 'a lot of additional extras you usually expect to pay more for'. The Bruin is equipped with a dribble bib, extra padding for very young babies and a storage bag for travel so it's perfect for holiday use.
For breastfeeding mums, the Kari-me is a multi-position sling that allows you to hold your baby in several positions. It also comes with its very own travel bag for easy packing. See what our mums had to say about these and other carriers in our Slings & carriers test.
The Baby Bjorn Active Carrier rates very highly with our community (in fact to date there are no poor reviews!) citing it as 'a great quality sling that supports your back and provides maximum comfort for baby'. It's a tad pricier than other slings on the market but most mums agree 'it's worth paying extra as the high level of comfort means you'll end up using it for longer'.
For breastfeeding mums, the Babasling and Kari-me are multi-position slings that 'enable comfy feeding on the go'. To add to the appeal, they 'look ultra stylish' and their high portability make them 'the perfect travel companion'.
Lightweight buggy
Mum's like ...
- Quinny Zapp
- Maclaren Volo
- Micralite
- Quinny Zapp
- Bebe Confort Vit
Babyworld mums love the Quinny Zapp - it's a trendy looking buggy that packs up into its very own bag and is 'perfect for aircraft storage, car boots and for people with very little space'. Quinny have also recently introduced a shopping bag to accompany the Zapp so the lack of storage is no longer an issue.
Another hit in the lightweight stakes is the Maclaren Volo. At 8.6Ib, the buggy is extremely portable and easy to use. Mums particularly like its 'one hand fold mechanism' and 'carrying strap that allows you to sling it over your shoulder'. The buggy comes without a rain cover/sun shade but you can purchase these separately from a Maclaren stockist.
If your destination involves country walks or inner city navigation, the Micralite Fastfold is a good option. Designed with chunky rear wheels and lockable front wheels, the buggy will explore bumpier ground with ease whilst still managing to weigh in at just 6.8Ib.
Still a firm favourite with the babyworld community, the Quinny Zapp is a 'godsend for air travel' or 'those with limited space'.
An alternative option is the Bebe Confort Vit - 'a light, no-nonsense buggy that's perfect for holidays and zipping around town'. The Vit won Best Buy in our 2006 lightweight buggies test and at 4kg is one of the lightest buggies we've ever come across.
Sun protection
Mum's like...
- LittleLife Arc 3 Travel Cot
- Baby Banz
- Green People Sun Lotion SPF22
- Soft Touch Wettie UPF50+
The LittleLife Arc 3 Travel Cot. Scoring an impressive 8/10 in our travel cots test, the Arc 3 comes with a protective UV cover, making it as useful for the beach as it is in the home.
The Australian Cancer Council sells Babybanz and recommends that infants' eyes be protected from the sun's harmful UV rays, so the babyworld shop now has them in stock.
For fussy kids who hate creams, try the Banana Boat Ultramist Tear Free spray - 'a water-resistant lotion with a splat-on-the-skin nozzle that kids love'.
For sun protection in and out of the water, kit your child out with a high performance suit like the Soft Touch Wettie. A practical, no-nonsense product that provides maximum SPF50+ protection, these flexible suits are 'invaluable for the beach and easy to use and provide peace of mind for parents from am-pm'. Alternatively, some parents prefer the Konfidence UV protection sunsuit that ' almost eliminates the suncream battle' that's got to be a good buy!
In the water
Mum's like ...
- Zoggs Swim Nappy
- Blooming Marvellous Swim Nappy
- Huggies Little Swimmers
- Konfidence Baby Warma
- Splashabout Happy Nappy
- Zoggs Swim Nappy
The Zoggs swim nappy is great for longevity as it has a handy drawstring waist that adapts to fit your growing toddler. It also scooped the Best Value award in one of our parent panel tests for its 'high absorbency level, snug fit and child-friendly designs'.
Another winner was the Blooming Marvellous swim nappy - a 'pull-on, pull'off' nappy that's made with thick, durable lining. Our panel 'loved the pretty designs and high quality material - some of the styles also double up as shorts for the beach'.
Those who prefer a disposable nappy will like Huggies Little Swimmers. These lightweight, easy to use, colourful nappies provide the perfect level of absorbency for your child without swelling in the water. You can buy them in packs of ten but if you'd prefer to try them out first, you can buy a sample nappy for around £1 from most major supermarkets.
Days at the beach usually result in a head full of sticky, sandy hair! To put the natural shine back into your child's precious locks, Daniel Galvin Junior have launched a range of travel-friendly products that use only the finest, organic cleansing agents. And with a list of yummy mummy celebrities using them on their offspring, we'd be mad not to give it a try. See what our Community Editor thought when she used them on her baby Josh...
The Konfidence Baby Warma and Splashabout Baby Wrap are wetsuit-style products that keep your baby warmer in the water for longer. According to our reviews 'the velcro fastenings make it so easy to use and provide easy access for quick nappy changes' 'not only fo they keep your baby warm but they allow you to keep a firm grip on them'.
Hygiene is paramount when it comes to swimming - hence the most important product is a swim nappy! The Splashabout Happy Nappy has received consistently good reviews and is made with 'soft, stretchy fabric that moulds effortlessly to your childs body - avoiding leaks at all costs' Another winner is the 'super-absorbent' Zoggs swim nappy which comes with a handy tethered drawstring - 'a great idea for longevity' as 'it ensures a consistently snug fit for your growing child'.
Safety
Mums like ...
- Aqua alert safety alarm
- BT 150 Digital baby monitor
- Toddler Day life sack with safety reins
As we become more safety conscious parents there are more products designed to reassure us! Particularly good for toddlers who love to play by water but aren't necessarily confident swimmers is the Aqua alert water safety alarm worn on a wristband and will alarm if it is splashed with even the tiniest amount of water, our parent testers said it is a 'Reasonably priced and reassuring product'.
Most parents these days like to have a baby monitor and it seems the BT 150 Digitial monitor is the one to consider buying, it has received consistently impressive reviews. In fact there are 11 rave reviews so far that can't seem to fault it. Here's just a tiny sample of comments :'Great range both indoors and out ' 'best in class' 'lullabies really work and nightlight just bright enough' 'can hear your baby breathe the sound is that good!'
The Littlelife Toddler Day Sack clearly brings great peace of mind to most of the parents who have bought it, here are the kind of things parents say about it:' I feel safe when we're out and about' 'the children love wearing them and good for carrying juices/hats and sunglasses! 'Best baby product I've bought ever'
Where to next?
- For information on everything from how to have stress-free travel and summer safety tips, check out the rest of our travel section
- Share travel tips and get advice on our Travel discussion forum
- We try, you buy … check out our comprehensive product tests
