Five Things We Never Travel Without (and 5 We Never Travel With!)

In the past 10 years, we've taken lots of short and long-haul family trips, and we've got two lists we swear by: the things that earn their place in the bag every single time, and the things that got left behind once and were never missed. 

Never travel without...

1. The Bubba Board. We're biased, but for good reason — it's why we're here! We learned very quickly that adult-sized seats on planes and trains just aren't made for small passengers. Their little legs get very restless when they need to sit nicely, and it's difficult for them to lay down to sleep. So our lightweight seat extender and travel bed gives your child their own space to sit, play and lie down flat. Rested kids, relaxed parents, better start (and end) to the trip!

2. A snack box with compartments. Hunger is the root of 90% of travel meltdowns. A bento-style box with lots of little sections doubles as entertainment — and rationing snacks stops everything disappearing before take-off. One of our family travel rules is that you can have unlimited snacks while we're on the journey, and we always have a mix of healthy and sweet options. The kids love it and it works great because they're on holiday, too, so it's a special treat for them!

3. Screens + Kids headphones. We let our kids have unlimited screentime when we're on planes and trains. We always make sure to mix it up between films, games, or books we've pre-downloaded, and we always give them soft, volume-limited headphones sized for little heads. This will easily buy you hours of peace regardless of your destination. We also find that when we're travelling long-haul, they won't actually be on the screens the entire time - at one point they'll switch off and do something else (see #4!)

4. Plane Presents. We started doing this years ago and it never gets old! Before your trip, purchase a few surprise toys or activites for your kids, and wrap them up in whatever paper you've got. Find things that are small, quiet, and new-to-them: sticker books, mini figures, magnetic drawing pads. When they start getting bored, reveal one and the novelty carries them (and you) a bit farther through the journey. Some suggestions include magnetic tiles, mess-free colouring packs, sticker books, or a new fidget toy.

5. Wet wipes and a spare outfit — for everyone. Yes, including you. One spilled apple juice at 30,000 feet will make you a believer for life. Wet wipes can be used for everything from cleaning off the tray table, getting sticky hands dry, and even quickly wiping down your Bubba Board if anything spills. 

...and 5 to never travel with!

1. Glitter, slime or playdough. For most of us, this is a no-brainer. But for anyone considering packing these travel nightmares, please know you will find it in the seat pocket, between the seats, under shoes, on the window, and everywhere in between. So will the crew. So will the next person sitting there.

2. Toys with fifty tiny pieces. Anything that scatters will scatter — usually 5 rows behind you. One dropped puzzle piece equals one heartbroken child. Barbie's best heels never to be seen again. We’ve seen parents with cute lego kits on airplanes, but for us this is a hard no – it’s just too easy to lose pieces and end up with an upset bubba.

3. Noisy toys. If it beeps, sings or sirens, leave it at home or just remove the batteries for the trip. The flight crew and your fellow passengers alike will thank you in advance. 

4. Brand-new shoes or untested gear. Holidays are not the time to discover the new sandals rub. Test everything at home first. This includes your Bubba Board - we always suggested exrtending it fully a few times at home before you take it on the plane - the more you use it, the easier it gets to set up when needed!

5. More bags than hands. You need one hand per child and ideally one spare. If it doesn't fit in that maths, it stays home. For us, each child gets their own backpack that they need to be able to carry, and mum and dad get one carry-on item, usually one that can be carried hands-free. If you have a buggy that folds up into the overhead, this doesn't count as a carry-on, but don't load it up with tons of stuff you need to un-load before take-off! A Bubba Board counts as a personal item for your child, and can easily be transported through the airport on your shoulder, worn across the body, or hung on the back of a buggy. 

Pack light, pack smart, and give the kids what they need to relax, especially their own space!