We’re well into festival season now and, as you know, the BG crew are all keen festival goers. So, we like to bring you a round-up of our ten favourite festival products every year, to help you on your way. Read this in conjunction with our What to Pack for a Festival guide, which features our perennial must-haves. Also, if you’re heading to the fabulous Camp Bestival next week, check out this film from last year, featuring BG’s own Alfie and Kitty and their pals.
1. Lost badges, £4.95 for four, Shop Bambino Goodies. We can only imagine the horror of losing your child at a festival, but it’s not difficult to do, so it’s important to have measures in place. Wristbands are often irritating for little ones, so we came up with these clever badges, complete with your phone number. Pin one on each layer of clothing for added security.
2. Coleman glow-in-the-dark sleeping bag, £19.99, World of Camping. Get the kids some cool camping gear and they’re less likely to want to hop into your bed at night. Kitty has outgrown her Snugglepod now, so this year we’re trying out the combination of Coleman Durarest inflatable mattress, £50, Blacks, which packs and rolls into its own bag, and glow-in-the-dark sleeping bag. The fireflies are pretty amazing, no?
3. Wellies, £30, Polarn O. Pyret x Kavat. Never, ever, ever go to a festival without wellies. Scandi faves PO.P have collaborated with Swedish shoe brand Kavat to create these tough boots made from recycled PVC-free rubber. Available in red and blue, they have a wool sock in PO.P’s signature stripe.
4. Pac-a-Mac, £20, Muddy Puddles. Let’s be honest: it’s glorious today, but you’re probably going to need rain gear, if the summer weather so far is anything to go by. This mac is waterproof, breathable, machine washable and zips into a small pouch – ideal festival wear. Alternatively, opt for a waterproof poncho – the kids’ one from GoTravel is £5.99 and comes in a handy micro pouch with belt clip.
5. Cub sun hat in Banana Split, £19.99, Little Hotdog Watson. Of course, we’ll all have our fingers crossed for a heatwave, so be sure to pack the sun gear as well. Super-cool looking and packed with useful features like a neck guard, UV protection, insect repellent and fabric that keeps your head cool. Genius!
6. Compact Beach Shelter, £39.99, LittleLife. If you’re festivalling with tiny people and it’s super-sunny, it’s a good idea to take some sort of shelter as shady spots can be hard to find. We are loving this UPF50+ Little Life one, which is lightweight and portable, but still does the job. Perfect for toddler naps, too.
7. Snuggle onesie, £25, Kozi-Kidz. No matter how hot it is during the day, those nights are chilly, and, love them or hate them, onesies are an absolute godsend for festivals. Also, pack more blankets than you think it’s humanly possible to need, then pack a couple more! They can also do double duty as picnic rugs. How adorable is the Winnie the Pooh Dream blanket, £44.95, from Aden + Anais‘s Disney collaboration (below)?
8. Baby Banz ear defenders, £18.50, Bebeco. If you only take one thing to a festival with kids, it has to be ear defenders. Sooo important to protect little eardrums and also handy if they want to sleep in a cart during the evening, while you enjoy the music. This Squiggle design is so cool and will help you find them when they are (inevitably) left lying around!
9. Outwell Transporter folding trolley, £82.95, Simply Hike. As you know, we’re Radio Flyer Big Red devotees in terms of transport, but I must admit to having the occasional pang of jealousy when I see people with their collapsible trolleys – makes packing the car a hell of a lot simpler and they can hold up to 80kg, so plenty strong enough for a couple of kids and all your stuff for the day.
10. Fancy dress! Everyone knows you can never take too much dressing up stuff to a festival. We’ll be doing a round up of outer space-themed ideas for Camp Bestival later this week, but, for now, check out the fabulous Meri Meri bits we have in store, including fabulous feather crowns, £9.95 each.
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