As a parent, life can get rather hectic, rather quickly. Sometimes, you can spend days planning the perfect day out, only for it to get ruined when you forget to pack something essential. Parenthood is a tough ride and comes with a lot of responsibility, which is why it’s so important that you’re as prepared as possible for every eventuality. And, having a ‘grab and go’ bag that’s packed full of all the essentials is sure to help.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a guide to some of the essentials that you may find helpful to keep in your ‘grab and go’ bag ahead of family days out. Wondering what these essentials are and why you might need them? Have a read of the guide below!
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Spare clothes
The reality is that kids often end up spilling stuff down themselves or falling over in the mud, so having spare clothes to hand for your little ones is an absolute must. Depending on the size of your bag, consider packing at least one spare full outfit for each child, including a warm jumper and spare socks. So that now matter what happens, you’re covered.
A mini first aid kit
Having a few first aid essentials to hand is also vital. From must-haves like plasters and antiseptic cream to painkillers like paracetamol, and of course a leaflet that explains what does paracetamol do and what is the dosage by age. For all medications that you carry with you, it’s essential that you understand what they do and what the different dosages are for different ages. You might also want to pack spares of any of your kids’ prescription medication, from inhalers to Epi-pens, as needed. That way, you have all the essentials on hand in one easy-to-carry bag.
Snacks
It’s also a good idea to pack plenty of snacks and drinks in your bag, so that as and when anyone reveals that they’re randomly hungry or thirsty, you’re covered and can avoid a tantrum. You won’t need to worry about having to buy expensive snacks or drinks, or having to make your little ones wait until you find somewhere to grab snacks and drinks from, as you’ll have everything that you need to hand. Good on-the-go snacks include things like dried fruit, cereal bars, healthy crisps, and anything else that doesn’t need to be stored in a fridge.
Entertainment
If you’ve got room in your bag, adding a few activities that will keep your kids busy while out and about is always a good idea. Think: crayons and colouring books, puzzles, portable board games – and basically anything else that will fit in your bag, is light enough to carry, and your kids will enjoy playing with. Ideally, you want to pack things that you know will keep them occupied wherever you are, so that you don’t need to worry about them getting bored.
There you have it, everything that your ‘grab and go’ bag for family days out should have in it.