Here’s a great idea. The Littlelife Runabout Toddler backpack fills two purposes – a bag and harness in one. The bag itself is a great child-friendly size, large enough to fit the essentials in such as a snack, a drink and a couple of nappies if needed, but not too bulky for your child’s back. It also features a chest strap to stop the bag slipping from your child’s shoulders and then there’s the detachable parental safety rein which you can discreetly clip on and off as you wish.

The Lifeline Runbout backpack is a handy alternative to the familiar child harness of old that would have my eldest child squirming in protest at the confinement the whole way around a shopping center. It’s perfect for the stage we are at now with our youngest – a little too big for a pram yet still not trusted to walk beside us by himself.

The Lifeline Runabout Daysack comes in both red and pink and is available from Haggus and Stookles for $39.95. Delivery is available Australia wide.