A lightweight, folding buggy must be top of the summer essentials list. Ideally it should lie back well to allow a small baby to sleep and have a good upright seating position, so a curious toddler can thrust their head forwards on the move without the danger of slipping out. Bettacare, iCandy and of course Graco have good examples that are simple to use and provide great value. But don't forget the matching parasol or sun canopy that comes with it, or check out the sunshades at Cheeky Rascals.

Little children's eyes are particularly sensitive and therefore need protecting from the suns harmful rays.  Chicco's range of children's sunglasses have been designed and developed working closely with the Italian Institute for the certification of optical products to ensure quality and safety.

Designed to keep direct sun off the car interior, so protecting babies and toddlers when on the move, the Little Shield Sun Shades come in a fun Winnie the Pooh design, fix easily to most car windows, fold away for easy storage, and come in a choice of two sizes: one to fit side windows, and a larger one to fit the rear window. The side window shades come in a handy twin pack, and retail for only £4.99.

Part of the new Travel Time Baby range launched by Infantino at the Harrogate Nursery Fair, the Stroller Sun Shade offers a compact, quick & easy way to extend a stroller's canopy to provide plenty of shade on hot, sunny days: great for summer holidays - sometimes even in the UK!

The bestselling sunshade in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, the Outlook shade-a-babe^TM is a buggy shade which blocks up to 99% harmful UV rays, reduces glare, acts as a windshield, and keeps irritating insects at bay whilst giving great visibility and ventilation.  Its unique 3-layered design allows parents to choose the level of protection required and, once in position, needs no adjustment. There's a handy zipped panel for easy access to the child, and an indulgent range of colours to complement the latest pushchair fabrics. 

Children spend proportionately much more time outdoors in the summer months than adults do.  The need to protect young skin from the sun is well understood. Intermittent, intense sunlight exposure, particularly in childhood is believed to be a major cause of melanoma.

If you're planning a holiday this year, you simply cannot leave home without these three basic travel items for you and your family: