How to improve holidays with children

'Remember to pack the baby'

They say having a baby changes everything. I now know one tiny bundle of joy equals mountains of extra clobber.

So I'm delighted to report a whole crop of companies whose sole aim is to make life easier for people like me. Pick of the bunch is Tots to France (0870 458 5528; totstofrance.co.uk). They vet every house on their books and provide all the necessary gear, from toddler loo seats to baby monitors. And the properties are gorgeous too: check out La Loge Rose, near Bergerac: you'll love it as much for its socket guards as for its antique furniture.

Baby-Friendly Boltholes (babyfriendlyboltholes. co.uk) has a selection of stylish retreats.This year it has added the stunning Caserio del Mirador on the Costa Blanca, which comes with high chairs and a three-wheel mountain buggy.

But what about those bulky essentials such as nappies? Whether you're off to Blackpool or the Bahamas, tinytotsaway .com will make sure all you have to remember to pack is the baby. Now there's a challenge.