Top five tips to survive a family holiday

Holidays are supposed to be relaxing and stress-free, however the reality is, when you're travelling with children, it can quite often be the opposite - so here are the top five bits of travel advice that will help you to survive a family holiday.
Number one: stay calm! Keep a clear head and try not to let the little things stress you - especially as children can pick up on fear and either become more distressed by it, or attempt to wind you up further!
Secondly, there are a few items of kit you should definitely remember to pack. Painkillers are key, as children (like adults) can get ill at any time, and if it happens to be in the middle of the night or early morning, pharmacies or supermarkets may not be open. This is a life-saver, particularly if your child begins crying on the aeroplane!
Don't forget baby wipes, an invaluable tool in the fight against dirty hands, feet and faces! Additionally, if you're heading to a hot destination, they can do wonders for keeping the whole family cool and calm. Also, be sure to remember that kids are likely to get messy quickly, especially if they're hyped up with holiday excitement - so take a travel-sized bottle of clothes detergent to protect clothing and stop dried-in stains getting the better of you.
Thirdly, try to schedule your outward and inward-bound travel around the kids' naps, if they still take them, as this will avoid any tantrums and relieves the pressure on mum and dad to entertain for a prolonged period of time.
If you are unable to schedule round nap-time, then take number four into consideration - entertainment! Kids get bored quickly and easily, so try to pack a range of books, toys, DVDs, music and drawing materials to ensure that the little ones don't get upset. Boredom often leads to naughtiness, so try to mitigate the risk before you even leave the ground.
Lastly, be sure you take the right type of entertainment - for example, toys with small parts can get lost, which can lead to tears at bedtime if it's a special favourite.