Travelling light on holiday with kids in tow need no longer be a weird fantasy...Find out what to pack to keep everyone happy

Holidaying abroad with a young family gets easier as they grow. Once they're out of the real baby stage - when your feeding, sterilising and safety paraphernalia alone would have used up most of an aircraft's hold - a few essentials will see you through most two- or three-week breaks. We've put together a guide to what you'll need to take in addition to your child's regular clothes and washbag.

For the beach or pool
UV sun protection suit When the weather's hot and the sun's high, a sun protection beach suit with an inbuilt SPF of 50+ is a really good idea - especially for younger children who are reluctant to let you slather on the suncream every half-hour. The suits are available from beachwear suppliers, and come in a range of funky, surfer-style colours and combinations. You can get long-leg shorts, T-shirts, zip-up tops, vests or all-in-ones, and they're suitable for swimming in as well as playing. The stretch, high-sheen fabric means they dry almost instantly so your child won't be hanging around in uncomfortably damp clothes. Prices range from around £10 for shorts to around £25 for a bodysuit.

Legionnaire-style hat These have a broad, wide peak and a long flap at the back to protect your child's neck from the sun's rays. Not only will a Legionnaire's hat keep the sun off, it will help to keep your kids cool, too. They come with inbuilt UV protection and start from around £6. Your child can even swim in the water-resistant types. Try www.lioninthesun for a great range of funky protective swimwear and hats for babies and kids.

Wraparound sun specs Chances are this is one item of sun protection your child won't whinge about, as he'll get a chance to look supercool in a pair of wicked shades. You can buy the traditional wraparound shape or, even better, goggle-style sunglasses, which are attached to an adjustable headband. These offer 100 per cent UV protection and allow for minimal UV leakage as they are so close fitting. Check out Kids Banz Sunglasses from www.kidsbits.co.uk as well as chemists, drugstores, and high-street opticians. Expect to pay around £10-15 per pair.

No-fuss suncream Suncream wipes (up to SPF40) are easy to use and mess-free, as well as being lighter and easier to pack than bottles. They cost from around £3.99 for 30 wipes, and each wipe is sufficient to cover most children's legs, arms, face and neck.

Keeping cool
Mini fan You can buy hand-held, battery-operated kids' fans with plastic propellors so that they can't hurt your child's fingers. These only cost a few pounds, and might just help as a temporary cooling measure. Also available from Ryness and other electrical outlets is a 6 Inch Clip On Fan. Although it's mains-powered, the mini fan can be clipped almost anywhere indoors and will provide welcome relief from heat at night-time.

Cooling spray These amazing products, which come in spray cans, instantly cool people and their environment: you can use them directly on yourself, inside your car or around the home. You'll find them in larger chemists and travel shops.

Pop-up beach tent This folds flat so will fit in the bottom of your suitcase easily - then just let it pop itself up whenever you need it. Look for the kind with UV protection: some also double as windbreakers. Great for spells out of the sun. Check out the CabanaSun Shade & Windbreak Pop Up Tent, £19.99 from Argos and other distributors.

Fun in the sun
Small inflatables Blow-up pool toys come in all sorts of shapes and sizes these days, so whether it's a swimming aid or an inflatable that's purely for fun, make room for one or two in your luggage. Inflating and completely deflating is made much easier if you can also find space for a dual-action footpump.

Snorkel and mask Even if you only use these in the pool, they create a whole new dimension to swimming and exploring in water.

Hand-held games Travel games are great fun for on the plane, by the pool, on the beach, at your accommodation or in a restaurant. If you have a hand-held playstation, stock up on a couple of new games from a secondhand or swap shop so your child will have a new challenge to hold his attention. Mini board games such as Frustration, draughts and junior scrabble are also well worth taking.

Busy bag Let your child pack his own bag of fun activities to keep boredom at bay: encourage him to include plain and coloured paper; safety scissors; PVA glue; tissue paper and other collage materials; stickers; felt pens and pencils; tracing paper; wool, string or other thread.

Disposable camera If your child is always badgering you to let him take photos, the best way round this is to give him his own disposable flash camera to use and look after. (Take three or four for a budding paparazzo!)

Top tip! Plan ahead for lost luggage
No one wants to imagine that their luggage will not arrive in the same destination as the family, but it does happen more often than you might think. For this reason, try to pack an essential survival kit into your hand luggage: a spare set of swimming gear; spare underwear, a couple of changes of clothes, including a long-sleeved top; jellies or other beach shoes, sunglasses and toothbrush will mean you can get on with your holiday whilst your luggage catches up with you.

Your essential medical supply
Here's a handy checklist to tick off as you pack: print it off and keep it with you.

• Antiseptic wipes
• A clean bandage
• Plasters and waterproof dressings
• Adhesive sutures ('butterfly stitches')
• Antihistamine cream and syrup
• Plastic tweezers
• Plastic syringe
• Kids' paracetamol and ibuprofen
• Aftersun lotion
• Calamine lotion
• Cotton wool balls
• Any other medication your child takes regularly (pack this in hand luggage)