Poll reveals biggest cause of holiday stress

‘Keeping children happy and well behaved on the journey to a holiday destination’ has been named as the most stressful part of a holiday with children under the age of five. 36.5% of 350 parents polled by Tots to Travel (totstotravel.co.uk) ranked this as the biggest cause of holiday stress while 28.2% said ‘packing all the stuff needed’ was the second most stressful activity.

It stands to reason then, that packing a handbag for the journey is something that requires considerable planning.

Tots to Travel asked the same parents for the most essential things to pack in a handbag when travelling with under fives. The results, in order of importance, are listed below and serve as a handy guide for parents when packing for the upcoming summer holidays:

1. Wet wipes
2. Drinks
3. Snacks
4. A spare nappy
5. A dummy or comforter of some description
6. Toys (quiet ones!)
7. A change of clothes
8. Books
9. Portable DVD player
10. Calpol

Other suggested items included travel sick pills, sweets/lollipops for sucking on during flights, crayons and colouring books, sick bags, a first aid kit, tiny toys from Christmas crackers and a camera. Perhaps most telling of all were the suggestions of ‘painkillers for the parent’, ‘earplugs’ and as one father eloquently put it: 'My wife'!

For a handy guide on what to pack, go to Totstofrance.co.uk/travelling.php for a comprehensive list that parents can use when packing this summer. Alternatively, go to totstofrance.co.uk or totstoitaly.co.uk to find child-friendly holiday properties with all the necessary kit already provided, meaning parents don’t have to pack it themselves.