When you have a young child it's very easy to spend a lot of money on stuff other people claim you "need". This stuff often turns out to be completely unnecessary. That said, there are few things you cannot do without when you're out and about with a small person, and you might as well buy nice and local versions of those. I have selected a few goodies from Makerhood, which I think are actually really useful for any parent.

British weather is notoriously changeable, so a blanket or quilt is a must for any trip. Equally essential is a BIG bag. It's amazing how many bits and bobs you need to lug around to keep a small family happy, and only a BIG bag will hold them all. Such a bag should always, absolutely always, contain a few snacks, so I have selected some local baby food as well as these delicious pizza muffins to keep up energy levels. Finally, and this is a very personal choice, I've chucked in a magnet. My son is fascinated by magnets and it's great seeing him conduct mini experiments to find out what they do and don't stick to. A tree? Er, no. But quite possibly that big metal bin at the entrance to the park....