Let’s face it: as much as we love a good holiday, travelling with little ones in tow can turn even the most seasoned jet-setter into a bundle of nerves.
Between the endless packing lists, the pre-flight meltdowns, and the sheer amount of gear required (prams, car seats, snacks, toys, and don’t forget the iPad loaded with Bluey!), it’s a wonder any parent makes it to the boarding gate with their sanity intact.
But one resourceful Australian mum has shared a simple, budget-friendly trick that’s gaining attention among travelling families—and it costs just $8 from Kmart.
The problem? If you’ve ever checked a pram or car seat on a flight, you’ll know the anxiety of wondering what state it’ll be in when you collect it at your destination. These items are expensive, and the thought of them being scratched, dirtied, or damaged in transit is enough to make any parent wince.
Enter the Kmart suitcase, which proved to be a practical solution. Rather than spending $70 or more on a branded travel bag, the mum used an $8 suitcase cover to shield her pram during check-in. The simple swap helped protect it from scuffs, dirt, and the usual wear and tear of airport baggage handling.
Sharing her tip on Facebook, she wrote, ‘My little travel hack that worked perfectly for our pram. An $8 Kmart suitcase cover, which we slid over our pram to protect the material whilst we checked it under the plane. I saw other mums with garbage bags over their car seats and prams so this might be useful to someone else.’
The response from other parents was overwhelmingly positive. Comments poured in, with many calling the idea ‘so clever’ and ‘very smart’. Some even shared that they’d used the same trick for car seats and fold-up booster seats, saving themselves a small fortune in the process.
One grateful mum chimed in: ‘Thank you! Mine thankfully fits into the overhead (from what I’ve read) but I was still going to put it into a carry bag just in case, which would’ve cost me $70 from Bugaboo! This will save me money and will be so much easier to store compared to the bag.’
Another shopper said she’d used the suitcase cover to protect her baby capsule while it was in storage, and was ‘stoked with the end result’.
Travelling with children can come with unexpected challenges, but simple and budget-friendly solutions like this can make all the difference. Whether you’re preparing for your next trip or looking for ways to protect your essentials, small hacks can go a long way.
What are your thoughts on this travel trick? Have you tried something similar before? Share your experiences in the comments below.
Also read: Kmart’s $35 buy is changing the way shoppers do laundry
“and don’t forget the iPad loaded with Bluey!),”
Why does it have to be an iPad? Surely any tablet would do. Stop pushing Apple products.
How relevant is this to the over 50s?