Sposh Ozone Suit
The coolest addition to young people's beachwear for years is one of the safest, too. With a UV protection rating of 50+, kids can play on the beach or swim in the sea protected from neck to knee. The funky design, akin to a surfer's wetsuit, comes in sizes from six months to 15 years; those for under-threes come with poppers to allow easy nappy changing. And the polycotton/Lycra fabric dries quickly after a dip.
· Sposh Ozone suit £32 from Goo-goo (07002 466466)
Maclaren Volo
For peace and harmony to prevail, a toddler and a buggy should never be separated for too long. Only the brave, the strong and the misguided think that their journey will be less problematic if they leave the four-wheeled lifesaver behind. Three-wheelers are a dead loss (too bulky) and sturdy strollers are heavy. The cheapest buggies are light but fragile on all but the smoothest terrain. We tested a new Maclaren which hits the happy medium. It can be folded one-handed, the net basket holds beach essentials, it bears hand-luggage when toddler-free and, best of all, the flight attendants happily stowed it in the overhead locker. You'll need your own parasol and rain cover.
· Maclaren Volo buggy, £49.99. For stockists call 01327 842662.
Samsonite Travel Bed
At last, a travel cot that doesn't feel like you're carting around a 14-man tent. This neat item uses now familiar pop-up pole technology, so it folds into a pouch the size of a dinner plate and weighs about the same. You can even make a game out of seeing the 'bed' and 'canopy' parts open out before hitching them together with toggles. The quilted mattress is a bit thin: perhaps an element of inflatability would improve that. It comes complete with a UV/insect screen and loops to hang toys from. Suitable for babies until they can sit independently - six to nine months. An absolute winner.
· Samsonite Travel Bed, £26.95, available from Urchin (01672 872872).
Tamsit
This simple piece of cloth helps turn most chairs into a highchair for your baby. Hook it over the chair back, fold it up and through the baby's legs then simply tie it round the back again. Great for feeding time anywhere; just slip it in your day bag. Suitable for six months to three years, it's an ingenious solution to a perennial problem.
&#]149; Tamsit, £13.99 from JoJo Maman Bébé (0870 241 0560).
BabyBanz Sunglasses
Babies and toddlers up to three can look cool and save their eyes from harmful UV rays when out in the sun with these sunglasses. They are made from tough plastic in a range of colours and come with an adjustable band to keep them on.
· Babybanz sunglasses, £10 from Young Explorers (01789 414791).
Sunsense Toddler Roll-on Sun Cream
If you struggle to get your baby or toddler to sit still while applying sun cream, try this roll-on version instead. Our test suggested it makes the process fun, as well as resulting in a more successful application. The water-resistant formula is specially formulated for children and has a sun-protection factor of 50.
· Sunsense Toddler Roll-on, £5.49 for 50ml. Call 01420 470904 for stockists.
Family Beach Cabana
Remember those old-fashioned windbreaks that you needed rocks to hold down, and which either beat the breeze or gave shade but never both at once? You could have done with this pop-up cabana, whose fabric has a sun-protection factor of 40. The front is open, the back zips up to allow as much or as little air through as you'd like, and it's big enough (220cm wide, 140cm tall) for beach life not to be a crush. It folds into a portable carry bag and comes with ground pegs.
· UV Pop-up Sun Protector Family Cabana, £49 from Tridias (0870 240 2104).
