Essential travel gear for globetrotting parents

Travelling with kids can be tricky at times, but mums and dads, take heed, there are a wealth of nifty gadgets and accessories that will make your holiday a smoother experience. Mum of four, Harriet Cooper, checks out some of the best

Put a spin on it

A suitcase and scooter combined? Genius. The Zinc Flyte is a compact piece of luggage complete with a flip-out deck, so your child has their own set of wheels, too. This cool kiddie invention, which promises to make every trip an adventure, comes in the Mini (two to four years, £59.99) and the Midi (four to eight years, £69.99); choose from quirky designs such as Snapper the Shark and Sid the Cyclops.

Play by ear

Every child will want to pack a pair of iFrogz Little Rockerz Costume Headphones from Zagg (£17.99). Who wouldn’t want to rock a robot, princess or panda headset? Mum and Dad will be happy, too – a built-in limiter means the volume won’t exceed 85 decibels and the headphones are lightweight with soft ear pads. So while they enjoy movies and music on the move, you relax. Hear, hear!

Pillow talk

Trunki – the company dedicated to making the journey as much fun as the destination – does an excellent line in children’s travel pillows and blankets. The Yondi pillow (£12.99) connects under the chin with hidden magnets to form a supportive cushion for your child and comes in a range of funky designs; the SnooziHedz (£19.99) is a comfy inflatable pillow and cosy fleece blanket that connect together to stop the blanket sliding off. We love.

Hold on to your seat

Those clever folk behind mifold have come up with the ultimate kids’ travel accessory: the Grab-and-Go Child Restraint (£39.95), ideal if you’re hiring a car on holiday or taking taxis. Instead of lifting the child up, it holds the seatbelt down, making it 10 times smaller than a normal child restraint, but just as safe (it has been rigorously tested). It’s lightweight and – because it folds up to 10in x 5in – portable.

Screen saver

The Fire HD 8 Kids Edition (£129.99) is a specifically-for-children device from Amazon. First things first: it’s tough. The case (which comes in pink, yellow or blue) is super-durable to protect against the inevitable bangs, scrapes and bumps when left at the mercy of small hands. Kids can access a wealth of books, movies, TV shows, educational apps and games, and it has a battery life of up to 12 hours. Why should adults have all the fun?

Hitch a ride

Travelling with a toddler? Let the Mountain Buggy Bagride (£99) come to your rescue. This two-wheel carry-on case transforms into a travelling seat for tots, while still keeping its luggage part, so there’s no need to take a buggy on board. The brainchild of a dad who didn’t want his pushchair to limit him, you’ll wonder how you ever went away without one. Recommended for children from nine months to three years.

A bag of tricks

Parents will be no strangers to little ones arguing over who holds the iPad. Make your holiday squabble-free with the iBeani (£24.99), a beanbag specially designed to support any size of tablet device securely. Available in a choice of fabrics and fully washable, it’s the perfect solution for when you’re in the air, your hotel room or even on the beach (and it doubles up as a handy travel pillow).

Just add water

It’s hot, and holidaying can be thirsty work… the Smiggle Says Silicone Roll Bottle (£13.50) will save you forking out a fortune on endless drinks for the kids. It has a 550ml capacity, is bpa-free and comes in a range of funky colours. The best bit? This water bottle rolls up to save space in your suitcase, leaving you more room for another pair of sandals or two.