Packing a punch

Traveling with kids in tow is hard enough before adding the mounds of stuff that you have to cart along for the trip. Our goal this summer is to pack only what’s compact and practical (and fun, of course).

Sure, sun is bad for you, but trying to apply sunscreen to a young child can be way more damaging. Shady Day Daily Sun Protection Wipes come in 15-count resealable packages and work just like baby wipes, but are premoistened with SPF 30 sunscreen—just the thing for a mess-(and hopefully meltdown-) free application to your wee ones’ skin. $12.99, available at Merz Apothecary (4716 N Lincoln Ave at Leland Ave, 773-989-0900) and
www.shadydayinc.com.

Flying with a child in your lap saves the cost of an extra plane ticket, but the idea makes some parents uneasy about safety. Adults can feed their own seat belts through the loop on the back of the Baby B’Air Flight Vest to better secure babies from midflight falls. Vests are available in infant/newborn and toddler sizes for children up to 40 pounds. $34.95, available at Galt Toys (2024 Northbrook Ct, Northbrook, 847-498-4660) and www.babybair.com.

Lugging an expensive, fragile and cumbersome camcorder on a family vacation seems like asking for trouble. Leave it home and pick up a CVS One Time Use Video Camcorder instead. The point-and-shoot camera fits in the palm of your hand, records 20 minutes of video and has a 1.4-inch color playback screen with a delete feature. Once you’re finished recording, drop the camera off at a CVS photo lab for transfer to DVD. You’ll have to forgo top-notch quality and some features, but it’s better than forgoing your pricey camera. $30, plus $13 developing fee, available at CVS stores (locations throughout the city) and www.cvs.com.

Sometimes, a little sparkle makes mundane tasks more fun. Bling Baby’s Swarovski-studded wipes cases put a glam spin on on-the-road cleanups. $39.99 (personalization is an extra $10), available at www.bling-baby.com.

Kids won’t mind sharing the load if they’re excited about what they’re carrying. Home Science Tools’ new Backpack Kits are portable, all-in-one minilabs filled with items like binoculars and nature guides for little explorers interested in everything from bird watching to rock collecting. $59.95–$89.95, available atwww.hometrainingtools.com.