'I travel with my 3 kids all the time. I couldn't do it without these 10 items.'

Ha ha. 

So funny. So insightful. 

As a new mum of one, I loved rolling out that line. Typically after someone asked if I had any holidays planned. I did not, and I was probably a bit salty about it. 

Turns out I was less insightful and more short-sighted because, with a bit of research and the magic of online shopping, you can take "The Stuff" with you to make life easier when travelling with kids.

Over seven years and three kids, I’ve created quite the travel kit. I’m very kind, and I really like giving unsolicited advice, so I’ll share it with you. 

Here are 10 items to pack that always make life easier.

1. Portable blackout blinds

Getting kids to sleep in a new place can be... well, a nightmare. 

Enter portable blackout blinds. These beauties turn any room into a dark sleepy cave, blocking out all light so the kids know it’s sleep time. I like the Tommee Tippee ones as they have little suction cups you can stick directly to the window. They’re lightweight, easy to pack and a total game-changer when I don’t want to spend an hour negotiating with an overtired toddler who can still see the sun and is therefore convinced it’s playtime. 

2. Trusty nappy pants

Image: Supplied. 

Nappy rash on holiday? No thanks.

Different food, water and weather can mess with sensitive baby skin. I find using a really quality nappy is the *best* way to keep things as stable as possible, and to help protect against irritation from starting.

Praise the nappy gods, because Huggies Ultra Dry Nappy Pants now have new rapid dry technology — where wetness absorbs in under 10 seconds — to help keep delicate toddler skin protected. They also have up to 12-hour leakage protection (impressive), so I can rely on the nappy pants to last. They're super easy to pull up and down while standing, which is handy as it’s challenging enough to change my active toddler at home, let alone while travelling through subpar change rooms or in the back of the car on a road trip.

3. White noise

New places come with new noises, and my kids don’t always adapt well to change. We use an old iPhone with a white noise app or a white noise machine to drown out unfamiliar sounds. Especially handy in hotels or when we stay with relatives who like to get up at 5am and unpack the dishwasher, or watch the EPL at full volume. 

In those instances a little white noise works wonders for my sleep (and familial harmony) too.

4. Travel pram

A good travel pram is one of the handiest parenting investments I’ve made. At the time of purchase our Baby Zen YOYO seemed eye-wateringly spendy, but it has been a trusty companion with all three kids for countless trips overseas and across Australia. 

It’s carry-on approved, super lightweight and durable. I always take it when we travel for on-the-go naps and a back up toddler seat in restaurants if there’s no high chair.

5. Pram cover

A favourite gadget of mine is the Cozi-Go pram cover, a lady startup invented by an Aussie mum, which works as both UV sun protection and a total blackout cover for the travel pram. It’s super small, easy to pack down, and means we can do naps on-the-go when travelling so we’re not stuck in a hotel room for two hours during the day. 

For smaller babies, we even used the Cozi-Go to cover the airplane bassinet when flying. 

6. Ziplock bags

Never underestimate the power of a good ziplock bag. They’re perfect for everything from storing dirty clothes to packing snacks — taking three lunchboxes on every holiday isn’t always practical. I use ziplock bags to keep chargers and cables organised, to stop toiletries leaking and for bringing our sensitive laundry capsules from home.  

Seriously, show me a problem and I’ll fix it with a ziplock. Plus, they’re great for hoarding snacks from hotel breakfast buffets for later. 

7. Kids' scooters and helmets

Image: Supplied. 

If we’ve got the space on a road trip, I pack the kids' scooters and helmets. Our Mini Micro scooters seem to be indestructible so we toss them in under everything. My two eldest girls are too big for the pram, but too small to walk for more than five seconds without whinging. Scooters mean we can explore new places, with fewer complaints about sore legs. Win win.

8. Baby food pouches

Even though our 18-month-old is loving real food, I always pack a couple of pouches. They’re a handy backup for when I can’t find suitable toddler food while we're out and about, or need a safe car snack. Pro tip: the prune and pear puree is a great constipation buster.

9. Mini medical kit

With accident-prone children and a teething toddler, we never travel without a mini medical kit. It’s stocked with Panadol, Band-Aids, eyedrops, Hydralyte tablets and antihistamines. Leaving the kit at home basically guarantees someone will get sick and I figure it’s better to have everything on hand than to pay through the nose at a small-town or remote pharmacy.

10. Poonami-on-a-plane clean-up supplies

No one likes a poonami (or spewnami), but on a plane? Pure torture. I prep at least two clean-up kits in jumbo ziplock bags (told you they fix everything). Each kit has a nappy, mini pack of wipes, a complete change of clothes for my toddler and an extra T-shirt for me. 

These minimalist kits make it easy to handle the mess quickly in the confined space of a cabin bathroom. Plus the ziplock bag keeps the dirty clothes separate from everything else. Genius.

What have I missed? Share your genius parenting-travel tips in the comments below. 

Shop Huggies Ultra Dry Nappy Pants from your local supermarket.

Feature Image: Supplied.