Melissa and Doug Sticker Wow REVIEW

Melissa and Doug Sticker Wow REVIEW

*Sticker Wow activity pads gifted for review*

Are you heading on holiday with the kids this summer? These bright and colourful Sticker Wow Activity Pads make a fun and mess-free activity to help entertain children during travel. Here’s our tried and tested verdict!

Sticker Wow activity pads

What are Sticker Wow Activity Pads?

Melissa and Doug Sticker Wow! is a fun and mess free way for children to play with stickers – whether that’s inside the home, during travel or simply to keep them entertained during meals out with friends and family.

Each activity book comes with a refillable sticker stamper in a choice of four characters and 24 pages of brightly illustrated pages with themes such as counting, matching, patterns and search and find activities.

Each character comes pre loaded with 300 easy to remove stickers, all of which feature engaging designs based on the theme of the book. Once all the stickers are used up, you can buy refill packs to reload the stamper and start all over again!


What designs are available?

At the time of writing, there are four diffferent characters available in the Sticker Wow activity pads and these are Tiger, Dinosaur, Dog and Unicorn. Each sticker stampler has a cute character on the top and the sticker dispenser on the bottom and are perfectly sized for small hands to hold.

Sticker Wow Melissa and Doug Stamper

How does Sticker Wow work?

Sticker Wow couldn’t be easier to use and Neve couldn’t wait to get started. The stickers are preloaded into the stamper, so you simply need to remove it from the packagaing and its ready to use straight away. To release a sticker, you simply need to gently press down on the paper and out it pops – making a super satsifying noise as it sticks to the paper below.

Sticker Wow

You can see Sticker Wow in action in our reel below:

Can you reuse Sticker Wow?

Whilst the stickers themselves aren’t reusable, unlike normal stickers they are very easy to remove, simply lifting them away from the paper with your fingernail without any residue or ‘sticky’ stuff left behind.

Once you have used all 300 stickers however, you can buy a refill pack to reload the stamper and use again.

What are the activity pads like?

The activity pads themselves are great – with a variety of designs all around the same theme as the character. The pages are brightly coloured with engaging illustrations. Neve loved the variety of activities on each page, from completing a circle, stamping numbers in order, following set patterns and even ‘freestyle’ pages like the one below, where she was able to simply stamp to her hearts content.

Sticker wow tiger stamper

What we love about Sticker Wow

  • Ideal for entertainment during travel (without any mess)
  • Stickers are easy to remove and don’t leave a residue like traditional stickers
  • Brightly coloured and educational activity pads
  • Super cute stamper characters
  • Reusable stamper can be refilled when stickers run out
  • Good value for money

What would we change about Sticker Wow?

  • At £4.99 each, we wish the refill packs were a little bit cheaper, but Amazon do sell some combination packs (with a pad and refill pack) at a discounted price, which offers better overall value for money.

Where can I buy Sticker Wow?

The Melissa and Doug Sticker Wow Activity pads are available now at Amazon.

Make It Through Your Trip To London Without Getting Too Lost

Make It Through Your Trip To London Without Getting Too Lost

This is a collaborative post

If you are going to be travelling to London, then we want to know that you’re not going to get lost on the way. London is a big place, and it’s very easy to get confused if you don’t know where you are going, or if you don’t know where you are. Of course, sometimes this is part of the fun when you visit somewhere new, but it’s always better if you can work out where you are, and where you need to be. The good news is that if you’re worried about this, then you’ve come to the right place because we can help. If you want to find out more about how to make it through your trip to London without getting lost, keep reading.

How to get around

Public transport is probably the best way to get around London. There is absolutely no point in trying to rent a car because it’s going to take you twice as long to get you where you want to be if you try to drive. Not only this, but people are always getting a little angry in the London traffic, meaning that people aren’t always driving their best, they’re just driving to get through. As such, you need to do your research into London public transport. 

Your main options to travel around London are going to be either via bus or the Underground. Both of these are popular, but seeing as the underground is all connected and trains come every couple of minutes, this is probably your best bet. It can be a little tough to understand at first, so it’s probably a good idea that you do some research before you get there.

Plan Out What You Want To Do

If you want to avoid getting lost, then you can plan out where you want to go and what you want to do. By doing this, you can plan your route to get from A to B, and you just then need to follow this and not deviate. For example, if you want to go and see some West End shows, then you can plan out when you want to go as you will need to buy tickets, and then you can work out how to get there from where you are going to be. 

We promise you that it’s not going to be nearly as complicated as you might think, and you just need to relax. There are apps that you can download for your phone, or you can write down a route that you can take so that you can follow it from your phone without forgetting.

The Locals Can Be Helpful

While the locals can be helpful, you are also in a place where there are a lot of tourists. If you stop someone on the street to ask for directions, they may be able to help or they may be in the exact same boat as you. It just depends on who you stop, but it’s never possible to know who lives there and who doesn’t, making it all the more difficult. 

However, this doesn’t mean that if you need help you shouldn’t ask, because there will always be someone around who is able to assist you.

There Are Maps Everywhere

The last thing that we’re going to say is that there are maps all over London, so if you can read maps then you should never get too lost. There are pictures of maps on walls, there are places where you can purchase maps, there are maps on the Underground to show you what line to take and where to go etc. As such, if you ever find yourself getting a little bit lost, just look around a little as there should be a map somewhere for you to follow. As we mentioned above, there are even apps that you can download onto your phone to help you navigate London if you feel as though you need one.

The last thing that you want when you are on your trip in London is to get lost all the time because you didn’t do your research beforehand. If you follow the advice that we have given you then this isn’t going to happen, and your trip to London is going to be the best that it can be. If you don’t, then you’re likely going to find yourself lost, wandering around aimlessly and missing out on some of the time that you should be spending doing fun things.

Screen-Free Fun for Stress-Free Travel with Kids

Screen-Free Fun for Stress-Free Travel with Kids

Heading on holiday for the last weeks of summer? Already thinking about your October half-term holiday? Whether you’re packing up for a long car journey down to the coast, a train trip to visit relatives or even a long-haul flight to (hopefully) warmer and sunnier climates, travelling with kids can be really challenging.

Like many parents, we’ve relied heavily on screens in the past, hoping they can help entertain and distract our children during long travel periods – but is there an easier way?

We’re generally a screen-free family, but the downside of relying upon technology is that not only does it require charging, battery life and pre-planning of content – but it can also disturb other passengers. Whilst we always take our Yoto Mini with us on holiday, it’s great to find more hands-on activities that the kids can do while listening to the audio, keeping their hands busy and creating a sense of calm during travel.

Thanks to the affordable range of puzzles, stickers and activity books at Books2Door, we’ve found some great alternatives that can keep your children calm, quiet and content during travel. Even better, thanks to Books2Door’s huge discounts on the RRP, they’re super affordable too, meaning you’ve got more money left to spend on souvenirs and ice creams when you finally reach your destination.

Benefits of activity books for children during travel

  1. Hands-on activity – My girls love listening to audiobooks, but they sometimes struggle to sit still. Activity books such as solving puzzles, creating scenes with stickers, ‘search and find’ stories, spot the differences and colouring books can really help pass the time, whilst keeping their hands busy and tend to prevent them from getting restless in their seats.
  2. Fine motor skills – There are some educational benefits to activity books too, whether that’s using their fingers to find their way through a maze, holding their pencils correctly or peeling and placing stickers in the right place, they all encourage patience and dexterity, particularly with more detailed mindful colouring or precise sticker designs.
  3. Creativity – activity books such as doodle pads, colouring books, stickers and stamps can encourage children to use their imagination and get creative, bringing out their artistic flair.
  4. Quiet and focused – Children can get really engrossed in activity books, meaning that they will often be calm and quiet without having a disruptive impact on other passengers
  5. Screen-free – Screens aren’t always a good idea whilst in transport – they can make children feel tired and even trigger motion sickness. With scree-free activity books, you don’t have to worry about these negative effects, and there’s also no need to consider battery life or internet access.
  6. Lightweight – these activity books are generally lightweight, compact and easy to pack in your hand luggage, without taking up valuable space in a carry-on bag.
  7. Calm distraction – Activity books can be a great source of comfort and familiarity for nervous passengers and a fun mindful activity to help them relax and focus on the task at hand.
  8. Bonding – Search and find books and quizzes are a great way to not only pass the time (ideal if your flight is delayed or whilst waiting for meals in restaurants) but they can also provide a fun way to bond with your children and share experiences. Who can find the differences first? Where exactly is Wally? A great conversation starter and some quality time with your kids.

The range of activity books and book packs at Books2Door is fairly extensive, so here are some of our favourites:

Big Stickers for Little Hands Collection

It goes without saying that kids LOVE stickers, but why settle for stickers on their own? This fab selection of sticker activity books Big Stickers for Little Hands comes in a pack of ten for just £12.99 (RRP £49.90). Aimed at children 5-7 years old, not only does each book contain four pages of themed stickers, but it also has activity puzzles and press-out card designs that are sure to keep them entertained – whether that’s colouring in scenic pictures, peeling off stickers, creating their own door hangers and much much more.

With a range of themes from dinosaurs to unicorns – there’s an activity book here that your child will love!

You Choose Series 4 Books Children’s Collection Set

We are HUGE fans of the You Choose Your Adventure series by Nick Sharratt and Pippa Goodhart. These fun, interactive picture books allow children to get fully immersed in the story and decide what happens next. From the character you choose to the location, where you live and who you meet along the way.

This 4-book set is just £20.99 and includes four different themes – from the original You Choose book to You Choose in Space, You Choose Your Dreams and You Choose Fairy Tales. Ideal for early readers and older children too, they make a great activity for children to share and discuss together, or for parents to snuggle down and bond with their children. We love the handy sleeve that keeps them all safely stashed together too.

Unicorns Shimmer Activity Pack Colouring Books & Stickers 3 Books Collection Set

If you’re after something really portable, these little carry-along Activity Packs are ideal, with a lightweight box full of activity books with a handle that’s perfectly sized for children to carry themselves.

Inside, you’ll find two unicorn colouring books and a sticker book as well as 150 reusable stickers on sheets – allowing kids to personalise their pictures and add some extra sparkle. With beautiful mythical themes, this set is also ideal for waiting in airports, restaurants and air travel.

Whatever your travel plans, there’s plenty of choice at Books2Door, all at super affordable prices! Check out the full range as well as our review of their book subscription service Box2Door – a great gift option for mini book worms!

4 Practicalities of Your Moving Family to Another Country You Must Consider

4 Practicalities of Your Moving Family to Another Country You Must Consider

This is a collaborative post

Sometimes, to teach our children lessons that are so important in life we might feel that we need to make a fresh start. It’s something many parents consider these days because of current circumstances. There might be limited scope for professional progression or the cost of everything is becoming too much to bear. So if you are considering upping sticks and moving your family to another country it is a significant undertaking. But what do you need to consider? Here are some of the practicalities to prepare for:

The Requirements of Your Chosen Destination

There are things to consider like the legalities and visa requirements, but also the cost of moving your life to another country. There are companies that specialise in UK to Portugal removals which can result in a lot more cost, especially when you are moving from a non-EU country to the EU.

Transportation

You should understand the transportation options, not just for getting to the place, but also for getting around. It is critical to have an understanding of how you can get around in your new location and if it is feasible. You might move to a country that requires driving a long way to get to the nearest town. If you don’t have a driving licence or you never learned to drive, now might be the perfect opportunity to ensure that you are ready but can also have more freedom as a result. If you move to an inner city location, there are always public transit options but there’s also numerous striving regulations. It’s critical to have a plan to ensure you can get around sufficiently.

The Cultural Components

We like the look of the new country, or maybe we went on holiday there and it felt great, but we have to dig deeper in order to ensure that, if we have our heart set on this new location, we can transition into our new lives properly. We’ve got to be respectful of local or traditional customs and this is something that many expats could benefit from learning. There are so many different things that can be insulting to the locals but we have no concept of. It’s far better for us to research the cultural norms, values and etiquette so we display that all-important respect.

Deciding What You Should Take with You

One of the toughest decisions you can make with moving to another country is about what you should take with you. We need to plan our budget for the move but we also need to look at customs, regulations, and overall shipping costs. We might think that we should take a piece of home with us but it could be the thing that tips our budget over the edge. Taking those opportunities to understand what will serve you well in your new life is essential.

There are so many practicalities involved in moving to another country and it can be a very complex process, especially with family members. But if you are looking for a new life for yourself and your loved ones there are a multitude of options and opportunities ahead of you.

4 Countries You Should Travel To This Year

4 Countries You Should Travel To This Year

This is a collaborative post

From travel blogs to social media and influencers, there is no shortage of sources to find your inspiration for your next trip. However, deciding which destination to settle on can be overwhelming and time-consuming. A recent survey shows that over 54% of people in the UK plan at least three holidays this year. Are you undecided about where to travel? Below are four countries you should consider for your next holiday this year. 

Germany

There are many reasons why Germany appeals to many tourists worldwide. The Central European country has magnificent beaches, postcard-perfect communities and great hiking spots. Germany is jam-packed with spots like the Berlin open-air museum, the Thuringian Forest gnome museum, and the Weimar onion museum. The German Christmas market is also unrivalled. Nothing beats the sizzling bratwurst and sweet-smelling gingerbread on offer. Apart from its endless coasts, Germany has spectacular mountains, such as the Alps and the lesser-known Harz ranges, making the country undoubtedly a top place to visit this year.

Spain 

Explore the varied scenery of Spain and its lively culture. Food and wine are two of Spain’s greatest interests; indulge in the tastiest tapas in a rustic bar for a gourmet experience that will undoubtedly be the most memorable of the trip. Combine it with the diverse energies of Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, and Antoni Gaudi. You may visit Spain between July to August and October to May. You can attend the famous Tomatina Festival, enjoy tapas and watch a Flamenco show. 

Greece 

Athens is one of history’s oldest and most significant civilizations, having invented democracy and the ancient Olympics and laying the groundwork for Western science, art, and philosophy. Are you searching for rich history, Mediterranean charm and stunning landscapes? Greece has something for everyone and should be on your list. From lounging on beautiful beaches to exploring ancient ruins and hiking mountains, there are endless opportunities for adventure and discovery. And with over 17 million tourists visiting Greece yearly, you will be in good company too. You can check out these luxury villas for rent in Mykonos if you want to experience the magic of Greece for yourself this year. 

Egypt 

Many people think of mummies, sphinxes, and tombs when they hear about Egypt. But few know how much there is to this country of the Pharaohs, which has been enchanting visitors worldwide for centuries! This mystical paradise will likely give you one unforgettable holiday, with majestic monuments in deserts, lovely hamlets by the Nile, large museums preserving ancient history and relics, tall pyramids, great food, and vibrant culture. According to studies, The Pyramids of Giza receive over 14 million tourists annually. The Valley of the Kings, the Egyptian Museum, the Great Sphinx, and many more famous sites exist. 

Ultimately, visiting a new country or location can be a satisfying experience. Are you longing for adventure, exploration or relaxation? Your options are limitless. Why not add any of the above countries to your holiday travel plans this year?

Top Tips for Center Parcs with Babies & Toddlers

Top Tips for Center Parcs with Babies & Toddlers

We recently returned from a family holiday at Center Parcs and had such an amazing time. It was great to spend some real quality time together as a family, enjoy some of the great outdoors and teach the girls more about nature and wildlife. Having been a few times now with both one child and two, both as babies, toddlers, and now as young children, I thought it would be useful to share my top tips for Center Parcs with babies and toddlers, including hints, tips and tricks for making the most of a Center Parcs break with your little ones – babies and toddlers and children under 5. I hope you find them useful! If you have any other questions about our experience please ask!!

Top Tips for Center Parcs with Babies and Toddlers – Before You Go:

Selecting your accomodation

  • When making your Center Parcs booking, you can pay a little extra (£60) to pick the exact lodge where you will stay. We found that this was worth doing when young children are involved, particularly when you have been before and know where you are likely to spend the majority of your time. This year we paid to have a lodge closer to the pool and an outside play area, knowing that these were likely to be our frequent visits and a popular choice with the children. Alternatively, you can choose whether you want a lodge in the central, middle or outer areas of the park, obviously with less walking / cycling required the closer you are to the centre. If you have children with little legs who don’t like to walk, and you don’t fancy lugging a pushchair back up a hill, this will be money well spent.

Checking in online

  • Don’t forget to check in online before you arrive (including details of your guests and your car registration number). This speeds up how quickly you can get through the Center Parcs arrival desks. That said, they email you a few times regarding this so it is pretty hard to forget! 🙂

Don’t forget the essentials

  • Take some toilet roll with you. Unfortunately the lodge we stayed in only supplied one roll in each bathroom, and as such it doesn’t last very long, particularly when you are also wiping your babies’ or toddlers’ snotty noses!

Upon arrival at Center Parcs:

Make use of the facilities

  • On your first day at Center Parcs, don’t forget that although you can’t check in till the afternoon, you are still able to arrive early on your first day and use the Center Parcs facilities if you wish. We arrived around 11am, and went for some lunch and a swim before checking in later that afternoon. I would recommend packing a swimming bag separately in the car in case you want to do this, so that it is easy to hand should you decide to go and try it out!

Don’t rush to check in

  • Avoid the check in rush – as my Mum always used to say, there is no point rushing to get to the back of a queue. All of the Center Parcs locations are traffic free sites, however at check in time you are able to retrieve your car from the car park and temporarily take it up to your lodge so you can unpack. It does get pretty busy at 3pm which is the official check in time, so everyone tends to go at the same time, however if you wait till around 3.30/4 to go and get your car, you will get straight out and avoid sitting in a car park for a while!
center parcs woburn forest babies and toddlers

Tips for the Facilities at Center Parcs:

The Onsite Supermarket

  • The on site shops at Center Parcs can be expensive, but not as bad as you may think – slightly dearer than your normal supermarket perhaps – but we still managed to pick up some ‘essential’ items for reasonable prices (e.g. four pack of Sol beer for £4). There are some items that are significantly more than a normal supermarket (e.g. £2.99 for a single pack of Pampers baby wipes) so I would recommend only using it for the things you really need and not doing a full weekly shop, particularly if you are shopping on a budget. We arranged a click and collect from the nearest local supermarket (in our case was around 5 miles away from Woburn Center Parcs), and used the onsite shop for small stock ups only. Whichever Center Parcs location you choose, check out the location of the nearest supermarket before you arrive
  • The small trollies with a little flag pole in the onsite shop are really very cute, and walking babies and toddlers will really enjoy feeling just like Mum and Dad wheeling this around and popping items in as they walk around the store. Bear in mind though, you may end up getting more than you planned (Erin used to try and put EVERYTHING in!) and there may be some tears / tantrums when you have to leave it behind.
center parcs woburn forest babies and toddlers

Wildlife at Center Parcs

Take animal food with you

As the shop (at Woburn anyway) didn’t sell any, and it can be bad for animals’ tummies to eat bread or other foods for humans! Depending on where you stay, you are likely to have a variety of wildlife come close to your cabin and babies and toddlers will love leaving them food to eat and squealing with glee as they watch through the patio doors! At Woburn, we saw plenty of squirrels, ducks, pheasants and a large hare. At more established parks like Center Parcs Elvedon, we have also been known to see wild deer – a really beautiful sight to see.

Shopping at Center Parcs

  • The newer parks have wristbands which are your door locks, but can also be used for cashless purchases. This is really handy if you are spending the morning in the pool and fancy some lunch or a drink. You simply pre load your wristband at guest services with the amount of your choice, and then can simply swipe it to pay. A real positive not having to shiver all the way back to your locker to get your purse!

How child friendly is the accomodation at Center Parcs?

The lodge is very child friendly, with baby stair gates supplied (if you are on two floors), as well as a high chair with tray, cot bed and even a little step in the bathroom to make it easier for them to brush their teeth. There are chalkboards in every lodge at Center Parcs with a small bowl of chalk so that children can create their own designs. Whilst a really small feature, it’s something that has always gone down really well with my girls!

Cots at Center Parcs

The cots at center parcs may vary from one parc to the next, however at our accomodation there was a travel cot style cot with mattress. We found this to be clean and acceptable, however you do need to take your own cot bedding as this isn’t supplied. This didn’t bother us as its something we would have done anyway. If you ring up the individual Center Parcs you are staying at they can provide more detail on the cots supplied, or you can look at trip advisor reviews where some people have uploaded photos. According to Center Parcs twitter account, the cots at Center Parcs are 121cm x 60cm. Mattress sizes are 116cm x 52cm

High Chairs at Center Parcs

The high chair supplied at Woburn during our stay was a plastic white Ikea style high chair with basic strap and tray. We found this perfectly sufficient but if you have a very young baby you may prefer one a ilttle more padded.

The only thing I would say is that the curtains at Center Parcs are very thin, so if your baby or toddler needs a dark room to sleep, you may want to take a black out blind and a small night light otherwise in the summer it may take them a while to drift off!

Washing facilities at Center Parcs

The lodges at Center Parcs don’t include a washing machine, so you will need to pack accordingly. You can however take some hand washing liquid with you, but I wouldn’t recommend hanging it outside to dry when you’re not in the lodge as there is a lot of wildlife that may pay you a visit!

Entertainment and Activities for babies and toddlers at Center Parcs

  • Take some DVDs – the majority of lodges at Center Parcs (check your booking) have DVD players inside, which is ideal if you want to create a home from home environment before bedtime. Take along a few of your baby or toddlers’ favourite films or TV shows, and this can keep them quiet if another child needs to nap or if you want to cook a meal in the kitchen or recover from your morning’s activities.

Subtropical Paradise Swimming

  • One of my best tips for Center Parcs with babies and toddlers is that swimming later in the afternoon (around tea time) tends to be the quietest time as many families go out for dinner or return to their lodges for a siesta! At the time of updating this post, the Covid time slot restrictions for swimming have been lifted and you no longer need to book.
  • The Subtropical Swimming Paradise pools are open till 9pm so if your children can cope with staying up a bit later this might be an option too. Unfortunately for early risers, the pool doesn’t open till 10am, so a very early morning swim isn’t an option. This is one thing I really wish Center Parcs would change, as I love the idea of an early swim to kick start the day.
  • Buoyancy aids (swim vests) are available to borrow at Center Parcs pools for younger babies and toddlers so you don’t need to take your own, however, you may want to take larger inflatables such as hoops and rings, as these are only available for a fee.
  • Don’t forget your swim nappies for younger guests, as you’ll pay a premium for these onsite.
  • If your children are under 3, we can recommend taking part in the Baby Dolphins sessions, where a parent and child can splash, sing, paddle and play in a calmer quieter session with the whole pool to themselves before it opens to the general public. The session is free to attend (but must be booked in advance) and is a great way to build your toddler’s confidence in the water.

Hiring bikes at Center Parcs

  • We have hired bikes everytime we have been to Center Parcs (we don’t have our own bikes), and although this is an investment, we felt it was worth every penny. Not only are the bikes a great way to get around the park quickly, but some fun exercise – Center Parcs Woburn is quite hilly, so we definitely burned off some of our dinner on the way back to the lodge.
  • We hired a Center Parcs Bike trailer for the girls to sit in (ideal for babies and toddlers that can’t walk very fast!), and they absolutely loved being transported around like Lady Muck, waving at other people as we passed. The Center Parcs Bike trailers are suitable for babies from 6 months of age.
  • If you don’t decide to hire a bike. I’d recommend taking a pushchair – Woburn in particular is quite hilly and even confident walkers may struggle after a busy day of play. For younger babies, taking a sling or baby carrier is recommended.

center parcs woburn forest bikes and trailers
  • With babies, toddlers and younger children you really don’t have to spend a lot of money at Center Parcs to have fun, and whilst the activities are great, there are also many free activities at Center Parcs for babies and toddlers on site too, including the beach, indoor and outdoor play areas and of course the swimming pool. We actually paid to do very little else, with the exception of hiring a boat on the lake.
  • The tenpin bowling and crazy golf are also some fun options that the whole family can enjoy (they do bumpers and rolling ramps for toddlers in the bowling alley – and if you are rubbish like me you can even choose to leave the bumpers up for every player lol).
  • Walks in the woodland (with wellies if its wet) is also a great free Center Parcs activity and we got some great fun family selfies on our adventures!
  • Take a bucket and spade with you, or you can guarantee you will be cajoled into buying one when every other family is doing wackaday style castles with moats.
  • If you do decide to hire a boat on the lake (we do this every time) I would recommend paying slightly extra for an electric one, otherwise 5 minutes in to your 30 minute slot your legs will be knackered and you will be looking at a another family zooming around with ease and wishing that you had!
center parcs woburn forest electric boat

Food and Drink at Center Parcs

  • In terms of eating out tips for Center Parcs – Hucks (available at all Center Parcs locations) is a little bit like a TGI Fridays style American diner and we are BIG fans (particularly of their fajitas!) They recently launched a new Early Dining Experience which works out much cheaper and includes a sharing platter starter, a main from a set choice and a drink. For children there is a hot buffet that included hot dogs, chicken nuggets, chips, beans, peas and sweetcorn and crudities and dip. Erin LOVED being able to go up and help herself to what she wanted. Would definitely recommend this however it does need to be booked in advance before your stay, so you can’t just turn up and request it on the night. At Center Parcs Woburn Forest Café Rouge and Strada also do great 3 course children’s menus which went down well with Erin.
  • The takeaways at Center Parcs are a great option if you have picky eaters, or if you prefer Chinese and the kids want Pizza – you can order whatever you like from either Indian, Oriental or Italian either to collect or have it delivered straight to your lodge. My advice is book early for the time you want to eat – don’t wait till you are hungry until your phone up to order or you may be in for a longer wait. No one wants a Hangry Mummy!!
  • For babies, lots of the onsite restaurants offer free baby food as well as facilities to warm your food. They don’t generally bring hot water to your tables for health and safety reasons.
  • Many of the restaurants at Center Parcs have a small soft play area inside. You may wish to a) sit close to these so you can eat in peace whilst your kids have fun and are still in eyeline or b) sit as far away as possible and not let them see it till after they’ve eaten. We went for the latter, as there is no way our kids would’ve eaten their tea otherwise!

After you leave Center Parcs:

  • You can save money on a return visit by booking it within 28 days of your stay (the stay itself can be for later in the year). You also get £25 of Center Parcs vouchers to use on your stay, and free cancellation insurance, as well as a price match guarantee that says if for any reason the break you have booked reduces in price, they would refund the difference.
center parcs woburn forest babies and toddlers

If you are visiting Center Parcs this Spring or Summer I hope you have an amazing time and find my tips for Center Parcs helpful! Having everything we needed in one place really was ideal when the girls are young. We have visited both Center Parcs Woburn Forest and Center Parcs Elvedon and loved them both. I am now dreaming about our next visit in a somewhat post holiday come down!! 🙂

*This is not a sponsored post – simply me sharing my experience and top tips for Center Parcs in the hope it will help others who are planning a visit!*

Center Parcs with babies, toddlers and young children, including what to do, where to go and how to save money during your stay.