MILLIONS of parents leave essential items at home every time they go on a day trip – with sun cream, water bottles, and wet wipes the most forgotten. A poll of 1,000 mums and dads with children aged up to 14 found 32 per cent ‘always’ or ‘often’ head off on excursions with their family only to discover they’ve left something behind. 1 A poll of 1,000 mums and dads with children aged up to 14 found 32 per cent ‘always’ or ‘often’ head off on excursions with their family only to discover they’ve left something behind Credit: Alamy Other such vital items include beach towels (10 per cent) and a change of clothes for the kids (12 per cent).
This is despite 29 per cent taking two hours or more to get ready and get out the house for a day trip. Following the study by Škoda, makers of the Kodiaq, the car brand has installed an emergency phone on Mersea Island Beach in Essex, described as 'a family beach hotline,' to help parents who’ve forgotten essentials on their family day trip. It was launched ahead of National Beach day (Friday August 30) after 44 per cent said they’ve forgotten something on family trips with sun cream, water bottles and wet wipes topping the list.
Read more on holidays LOUNGE AROUND Hotel resort's 'best idea yet' means guests never fight for a sunlounger UP FOR GRUBS Major UK retailer offers FREE children's meals for the school summer holidays A whopping 35 per cent also reported their children have had meltdowns due to missing esse.