The Essential Day Trip Packing List for Mums!

So you're off on a day trip during these summer holidays. So what to pack?


For the children:

• A snack box (raisins, goodie bars, mini chocolate bars, bananas, at least 2 juice drinks per child)
• Sun hat
• Sun cream (ideally cream them before you go out, but take some spare just in case!)
• Rain coat, or if you can manage it a rain suit (they include legs, and this is England you know!)
• Wellies
• Nappies/wipes/nappy bags if applicable
• Change of clothes for each child (including underwear - in case they get drenched, muddy, sandy... etc)
• A mini high chair, or bumper cushion, for small children in case highchairs aren't available; OR,
• A picnic blanket (regardless of if you've taken a picnic - these are really useful)
• Tissues
• Antibacterial hand gel
• Mini first aid kit (single dose sachets of children's paracetamol and ibuprofen, plasters, antibacterial cream for cuts and scrapes)
• A mini colouring book and pencils for each child (just in case)
• A flask - a large one with a lid that converts to a cup (or two cups if you can manage it. Thermos, of course, do a good one) for that all important cuppa!
• Spare socks for all (for some reason they always need socks)
• A buggy - if only to carry that lot around in.

Having a picnic?

• A selection of sandwiches
• A selection of party food to your taste (scotch eggs, sausage rolls, mini sausages, cheesy dippers, couscous, pasta salad, cucumber sticks, grapes, etc etc)
• Plastic plates for all (makes it much easier to track whether they've all actually eaten anything!)
• More juice for all - ideally not requiring separate cups
• A selection of deserts to your taste (mini jelly pots and spoons, mousse pots, cupcakes/fairy cakes, etc )
• Milk for babies
• At least one bib
• Baby food, and spoons.

For yourself:

• Your wellies
• A change of socks
• Sunhat or baseball cap
• Your own suncream (don't forget those shoulders. See earlier post!)
• Raincoat
• Change of clothes - if only to keep in the car. I've had juice split all over me more than once, and those nappies aren't always foolproof; especially when they are sat on your knee!)
• Adult paracetamol and ibuprofen
• Money!
• Any relevant tickets, annual passes etc

And of course, the all important kitchen sink.
Let me know if I missed anything....