Readers have shared their best tried-and-tested hacks for travelling with children, from fidget bags to lollipops, to make long journeys smoother. The tips, collected by the Filter newsletter, cover car trips, plane rides, and train journeys.
Car journey solutions
Reader Tim Leadbeater attached small plastic baskets with string around the pillars of the front headrest on a long car trip from the UK to France. He said: 'They held everything from felt tips to half-eaten food, not only preventing stains on covers but also keeping everything reachable for kids in car seats.'
Deborah Berzins created a 'fidget bag full of little characters, a toy snake, a stretchy man toy, and finger puppets', which only came out on car journeys to maintain novelty.
Creative wrapping and boredom busters
Reader Kate suggested wrapping small toys in old wrapping paper. 'Even the oldest crayon, book or tiny Lego figure became an exciting discovery; the unwrapping was a game in itself, and the activity helped pass the time,' she said.
Nettie Hall, who has a no-screen policy, survived a solo trip from London to Cornwall with her three-year-old by arming herself with multiple activities: 'I got several sticker books, a simple crown-making kit (sticking gems on a cardboard crown that ties around the head with string), small pots of play-dough, colouring pencils and Orchard Toys packable games. Don't overestimate the attention span of very young children!'
Snacks and first aid
Sophie recommends packing 'thousands of snacks', especially due to her daughter's food intolerances. 'My daughter is intolerant to loads of things, so this is extra important as we can never guarantee a station shop will have anything she can eat,' she said.
Another reader always carries a small colouring book for delays, sticking plasters and antiseptic wipes for cut knees, and small lollipops to cheer up children—and sometimes adults too.
Editor's pick: eye masks tested
Jane Hoskyn tested 12 eye masks, including those with music and light shows, but found a sub-£10 mask gave her the best sleep. Her guide reveals whether any mask toppled her favourite.
Portable chargers and holiday mishaps
The Filter also recommends packing a portable charger for holidays or festivals, with a test of best power banks from sub-£20 to multi-user devices. Readers are invited to share how they coped when holidays went wrong, by emailing thefilter@theguardian.com.
