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.

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.

A whopping 35 per cent also reported their children have had meltdowns due to missing essentials.

Kirsten Stagg, spokesperson for the makers of new seven-seater family SUV which includes wireless charging for gadgets and integrated ChatGPT, said: “As a parent myself, I understand the stress and panic of getting to your destination and realising you’ve left behind essentials.”

The study also found visiting the British seaside is the nation’s favourite family daytrip destination.

While it emerged 30 per cent of families enjoy a daytrip at least once a week, with nine in 10 travelling by car for such a day out – covering an average of 88 miles in the process.

Stressed parents revealed the biggest barriers to getting their little ones out the door are packing lunches (32 per cent), getting them dressed (25 per cent) and a last-minute round of toilet trips (25 per cent).

And despite their best efforts to do otherwise, many have forgotten essentials leaving mums and dads feeling annoyed (37 per cent) and unorganised (26 per cent).

It’s also resulted in 49 per cent forking out for replacement items and 16 per cent blaming their partner for the mishap.

While 35 per cent admitted their children have had meltdowns due to missing essentials.

The study, carried out via OnePoll, found parents typically pack four entertainment devices and toys, including tablets (49 per cent) and soft toys (37 per cent).

However, 23 per cent feel they never have any space in their car once it’s packed for a day trip and 44 per cent said the number of items they take with them makes a day out feel like a mini holiday.