I still remember a friend's mom asking me if I had a plaster. And I had to say no. I was absolutely horrified. It was such a tiny thing, but I felt completely unprepared.

Ever since then, I've made sure my bag always has a few essentials that can save the day without making it something I can barely lift. These are the items that have earned a permanent spot because they've never let me down since.

1) Insulated Water Bottles for Everyone

We've always been very strict with our son, and water is pretty much the only thing that he is allowed to drink. Of course, every now and again a soft drink is going to happen, especially if everyone else is having them.

But my son enjoys water, which is a huge bonus, and finding that perfect insulated water bottle is a special thing, let me tell you. I don't know about you, but my son seems to get thirsty at the most inconvenient moments. So it's really important to have an insulated bottle that actually keeps the water cold for hours.

What's saved money and cuts down on single-use plastic, which I love, is not using too much plastic. So an insulated water bottle is always in my bag, whether we're heading to the park, the beach, or just running errands.

2) Leakproof Snack Containers

Having a leakproof snack container is a no-brainer. My car is an absolute mess anyway, but when we do go for longer drops, about 40 minutes or so, I do pack my son a few snacks to keep him from complaining about being hungry. It doesn't keep all the mess out of my car anyway, but it does keep everything nice and fresh.

He cannot stand things mixing; I need him to grow out of this, but a grape cannot touch a piece of ham, and if it does, he will not touch that. So this is one of the things I'll definitely always have on me.

3) A Sunscreen Stick That Travels Well

I wish I could go back in time and tell myself to make sure I've got a sunscreen stick that travels well with me at all times. Now that I'm in my late 30s, I'm so pedantic about my skin, and I absolutely will not let it get burnt. I don't want my nose to get burned; I don't want anything to get bitten, so it's important to find that sunscreen stick that travels well.

I also walk every day, and that little stick travels with me in my pockets with my leggings. I suffer from rosacea, so I definitely go for fragrance-free and sensitive-skin options; it's very important. My dermatologist tells me which brand is which; it's actually normally seed oil.

4) Wide-Brim Sun Hats

Now it really sounds like I'm a middle-aged woman, but a wide-brimmed sun hat is also an absolute must. I've got about five of them to choose from in the morning, whether I am working in the garden or walking down to the farmer's market. Absolutely, always wear a hat that covers all sides of my head, my neck, and my ears, so I don't get burnt, because, as I said, I have a condition, and that just makes things so much worse.

You also get really cool ones nowadays that you can fold up, making them ready for travel. And my mom and I are actually going to Turkey soon, and I need to pick which wide-brim hat I am going to take. That's an absolute must-have that I always keep in my bag.

5) Polarized Kids’ Sunglasses

Because we frequent the beach so often, I decided to get my son a pair of polarized kids' sunglasses. He wears them, he thinks he's so cool, it's actually so sweet, and all his little friends seem to have some kind of sunglasses too.

I don't mind being a little bit extra here because polarized lenses do cut that glare, and, of course, they're better for your eyes. So might as well start them young.

“The goal isn’t a perfect bag. It’s a bag that means fewer meltdowns per mile.”

6) Lightweight Muslin Blankets

I have kept all the muslin blankets from when my son was a baby. They are 100% cotton and so versatile. You can use them for anything, really, but we like to take them down to the beach and sit on them, or we'll dry my son with them. They work pretty much as a picnic blanket and a beach towel at the same time.

These have gone through the wash many, many times, and they've really stood the test of time. All the colors are actually blue, which has worked out pretty well. The white ones would have had no chance.

7) Cooling Towels

To be honest, we don't really need to use these around here. It gets hot, but not that hot, and they do come in really handy when you're traveling to places like Thailand.

So I definitely pack these when I'm on my way out. You've been walking for a morning and then literally get yourself into an aircon through, like, 7-Eleven, to put one of these on your neck. It does all sorts of things to keep you cool.

Oh, I just buy them at the 7-Eleven, actually. They've got a lovely microfiber feel, which is super soft and absorbs all of that sweat really well.

8) Wet Bags for Soggy Swimsuits

Having wet bags for wet costumes, wetsuits, towels, and everything is really super clever, and I do have these in my car at all times; they live in my boot. So when my son's finished with swimming lessons, everything gets put in the wet bag, and it basically goes in my boot and then straight to the laundry.

Also, coming from the beach or with wet costumes and wetsuits, it's easier to just quickly take it out back and hang it on the line.

I also use these when I take my dogs to the park; there's a dam there, and they run through it and become disgusting and smelly, and then I bring a dog towel and just dry them off quickly, and then the dog towel also goes into a wet bag.

9) Water-Resistant Picnic Blanket

I think if you are looking for a picnic blanket, it should be water-resistant, because let's face it, when we go for our picnic, we're drinking plenty of wine, and that one is definitely getting spilled 98% of the time.

We have a really cool one that just folds up nicely inside a picnic bag. I'm not taking the basket with me unless I just take the bag and the blanket out of the basket, and that just comes with me. I don't need my arm. I take it to the beach or on camping trips. I think a water-resistant blanket is very practical.

10) Portable Handheld Fan

Another item that's a must when you're traveling in a really hot place. Again, we used these when we traveled to Thailand, and we'd go to the weekend markets. It fits snugly in my handbag, and it makes all the difference getting some air in your face.

We bought a cute little one; it has two little ears, like a cat. My son still has it around here; he likes to turn it on and walk around with it.

11) Baby Wipes for Sticky Fingers

Okay, out of all of these, I'd say baby wipes are absolutely a must. I have baby wipes stuck to the side of my car door; I have them in my bag, in my husband's car, and in the kitchen. Wipes go with me everywhere, whether it's to clean up the mess from a chicken pie my son is eating in the back seat or to wipe off the makeup that smudged on my face.

These are must-haves, and you get really good ones now that you can use to clean your face on the airplane instead of actually having to wash it in those tiny little basins.

Also, these are life savers when we walk down to the farm village to get an ice cream, and my son chooses a cone every single time instead of a cup, why? Because we know the cone is going to make as much mess as it possibly can, just on his arm. Wipes come in handy, and make sure you get the biodegradable ones also.

12) Mini First-Aid Kit

I have this old mini first-aid kit that was given to me by my gran, and I've just kept it. It's got everything I need. A little flat box carries anti-inflammatories, antihistamines, and plasters; it also includes an antiseptic solution, cotton buds, and even gloves.

And this has come in super handy; it lives in the middle of my bag and comes with me wherever I go. It works so well for little grazes or cuts on fingers.

13) Hand Sanitizer

I think we can all agree that hand sanitizer was pretty much born during COVID, though, obviously, it had been around before. But I think most of the world now still carries hand sanitizer with them wherever they go. I've got one in my bag, in the side of my car, one in my kitchen, and then, of course, when I've come from the shops, or I've opened a door at a public bathroom, out of habit that I grab that hand sanitizer just to clean my hands.

You've got to go for the one that's got a high alcohol content. And I definitely prefer spray over gel; I can't stand using the gel one, but obviously that's all up to personal preference.

14) SPF Lip Balm

I've definitely found that the older I get, the more my lips get really burned, and when they get burnt, they become dry and sore for ages, so find yourself a really good SPF that just lives in your bag, that contains high protection.

I'd say SPF 50 is the best one. It reduces your risk of lip skin cancer and locks in all that moisture. I've got about four lying around that all do the trick.

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