There's a lot of noise out there about what you supposedly need for the perfect family holiday. But the last thing you actually need is to arrive overpacked and overstimulated. Travelling with kids is stressful enough without an extra suitcase of stuff you'll never use.
So we went straight to the experts: our Slipfree families. We asked what holiday hack you swear by, the one you tell every other parent at pick-up, the one that's saved a flight, a car journey, or your sanity, and you delivered. Here's the wisdom of the Slipfree community, tried, tested, and genuinely useful, whether you're off on a plane this summer or making the most of a staycation.
Keeping them entertained (planes, trains, and cars)
- A sandwich bag of small toys pulled from around the house works wonders, as @jessie_erincb put it, "surprisingly exciting and zero pounds." ✅
- @ayearinplay is our resident play queen: mini sketchbook "packs" per child (stickers, stamps, scissors, glue, washi tape, all in a ziplock bag), kids' cameras for colour-themed photo hunts on city breaks, and travel-size magnetic tiles and mini playdough pots that kept two children busy for nearly two hours on a European train.
- Reusable window and seat-back stickers get a big thumbs up: @becsinter got an entire flight to Italy out of one packet with an 18-month-old.
- @wanderingvanderwalts swears by an emergency bag of Haribo for bribes, a single balloon, and an airport-security-friendly pack of bubbles: "got us out of more scrapes and long travel days than you'd imagine."
- And for the simpler end of the scale: a child-curated playlist, car games, and a few downloaded movies on the "holiday phone" (@tessach_).
- The overwhelming consensus, from @alicezahramarketing and others: "snacks, snacks, and more snacks." A rotating snack tray was another favourite shout from @alice_t_: "fill, rotate, snack, repeat."
Packing smarter, not heavier
- Buckets that pack flat are a favourite for keeping luggage light
- Foldable scooters make getting around abroad far easier on tired little legs.
- @becsinter's tip: a seat bag for the car seat on the plane, stuffed with nappies alongside it, doubles your packing space. Sneaky!
- The over-the-door hanging shoe organiser trick has gone properly viral, and once you've tried it, you'll understand why. One outfit (pants, socks, swimwear, the lot) per pocket. Roll the whole thing up flat into the case, then unroll it and hang it on the back of the wardrobe door when you arrive. No 7am rummaging, no "where are the clean socks" negotiations. Works just as well for a caravan in Cornwall as a villa in Corfu.
- Before you buy (or pack) that bulky piece of kit, such as the steriliser, the travel bottle warmer, or the full-size stroller, check what's available to hire at your destination first. Plenty of holiday parks, villas and hotels stock the essentials, and your suitcase will thank you.
- Colour-coded packing cubes, one shade per family member, make unpacking and repacking painless: no more unzipping four bags to find one sock.
- Always pack a full change of essential clothing in your carry-on. If your hold luggage goes walkies, you won't be starting the holiday in yesterday's outfit.
- Travelling by car? Swap suitcases for laundry bags or soft holdalls: they squash into gaps a hard case never could, and you'll free up serious boot space.
- Car sickness is real: keep an easy-to-reach pack in the front with a spare change of clothes, wet wipes, tissues, and a sick bag. Future you will be very grateful.
- Of course, we'd say it, but a pair of Slipfree in every beach bag or suitcase is the easiest packing decision you'll make all summer. Dry, comfy, and ready for whatever the day throws at you.
The best hack of all? Bring reinforcements
Not every tip needs a ziplock bag. One of the simplest upgrades families keep coming back to: bring the grandparents, or childfree siblings. More UK families are travelling multi-generationally than ever, and it's rarely just about a free babysitter (though nobody's complaining): it's an extra pair of hands at the pool, someone to hold the fort so you can finish a coffee while it's still hot, and quality time together that doesn't happen enough back home.
Our only piece of advice, echoed by every parent who's done it: agree on the childcare expectations before you go, not on day three when everyone's tired. Nobody wants Grandad on pram-pushing duty every evening while the rest of the family's at the bar. And if they're the ones on poolside duty, do them a favour: a pair of Adult Slipfree keeps their footing sure too, not just the grandkids'.
Sunny days by the water
- Watercolours for pebble and shell painting at the beach, lake or river came up again and again, a lovely, low-mess way to fill an afternoon.
- Waterproof paint brushes and Playmobil figures that can go straight in the water are also firm favourites for keeping little hands busy poolside.
- Wherever the water is, whether that's the sea, a splash park, or the paddling pool, Slipfree is doing its job underfoot so you can focus on the sandcastles, not the ouches. For more on staying safe by the water, our beach safety guide has you covered.
Sun safety, sorted
- Check swimwear is UPF 50+ certified: it's the single easiest way to build sun protection into the day.
- Cover up where you can: a wide-brimmed hat, a rash vest, and feet covered too (Slipfree does double duty here, protecting little feet from both hot sand and UV) all add up.
- Where possible, keep the busiest outdoor time to before 12pm or after 3pm, when the sun's at its strongest.
- For the bits skin can't cover, choose a skin-kind sun protection the whole family can wear: our friends at Green People make suncare gentle enough for even the most sensitive little ones.
Mealtimes without meltdowns
And if you need to buy ten minutes at a café table...
- Mini playdough pots keep things wonderfully low-tech and mess-contained.
- Sticker WOW! and Water WOW! activities from our pals at Melissa & Doug are perfect for keeping little ones busy, out for lunch, on holiday, on car journeys, or anywhere in between. We also love their small ' Play to Go' sets. Perfect for keeping little hands busy.
- As the kids get older Uno is a holiday classic always worth packing
- And let's be honest, there's no judgement if you're the 'tablet at the table' stage of the holiday!
Sleep (for them, and you)
- Portable blackout blinds were a recurring hero for holiday cots and unfamiliar bedrooms: brilliant for naps in strange daylight hours, wherever you are in the world. As @alice_t_ summed up, "Portable blackout blind, Slipfrees and a Snooze Shade!"
- Pyjamas on the plane were a small but mighty tip from @wanderingvanderwalts: signals bedtime even at 30,000 feet.
- For on-the-go contact naps without breaking a sweat, @littleonesnug suggests an Izmi, or a mini monkey mesh mini sling, for those quick up-and-downs... and a reminder that "sling libraries exist all over the UK if you fancy trying before you buy."
What NOT to bother with
Because half of good parenting is knowing what to leave at home. A few honest confessions from the Slipfree team and our wider parenting circle:
- The overflowing toy bag. You know how this ends: the box, the wrapping paper, or a stick from the garden will win every time. One or two favourites earn their place; the rest can stay at home.
- A "just in case" outfit for every possible weather event. Pack for the holiday you're actually going on, not the meteorological worst-case scenario. One spare per real scenario is plenty, and most holiday destinations have a shop if you're genuinely caught out.
- The jam-packed itinerary. A day with one plan and lots of breathing room beats a day with five plans and a meltdown at 4pm... every time.
More holiday reading from Slipfree
Wherever your holiday adventures take you, get ready with Slipfree.
Thank you to every single parent who shared a tip. This is exactly why we love this community: practical, funny, and never precious about it. If you've got a hack we've missed, share it with the community over on Instagram!
Slipfree x
