By Lydia Fairbourne, Travel Writer
Between passports, boarding passes and the eternal scramble for snacks, family travel is already a juggling act - but it turns out one small stowaway is often the biggest source of drama.
New research has found that nearly one in five families say they’ve missed a travel connection or delayed a journey because their child’s teddy went missing.
A quarter (26%) have spent up to half an hour hunting for a lost toy, while 12% say the loss ruined their family trip altogether.
As festive travel plans start to take shape, new research from Heathrow Express has revealed how much chaos a missing cuddly toy can cause for families on the move.
Nearly a third of parents (29%) admit to having bought a replacement bear while abroad, with 45% spending up to £50, and 11% shelling out as much as £100.
Around 7% have resorted to shipping a replacement teddy internationally - and 11% admit to “ageing” a new bear with dirt to pass them off as the original.
Meanwhile 34% have told a white lie to their child about a lost bear’s whereabouts, claiming it’s “on holiday”, “staying at home to watch the house”, or “visiting a teddy hospital”.
Heathrow Express has teamed up with pre-loved toy organisation Loved Before to launch Operation Teddy Rescue - a new initiative to help lost toys find their way home.
Families who lose a bear while travelling will now be directed straight to Loved Before to check if their best friend has been found, giving parents an easy way to search, and children some reassurance.
If all else fails, and the original owner can't be found, teddies will eventually be lovingly re-homed.
Aoife Considine, business lead at Heathrow Express, said: “Travelling with children can be full of joyful highs and tumultuous lows, and we know how much little comforts, like a favourite teddy, can make the journey more bearable and special.
“Our research shows the incredible lengths parents will go to keep those smiles shining, and I will never forget the wonderful railway staff who once reunited me with my teddy, Robert, many moons ago. That's why this year we’re launching our lost-bear initiative to help reunite families with their much-loved travel companions.
“We’re proud to offer a reliable, family-friendly service that parents can count on to make at least one part of the journey smooth and stress-free. And if a few well-loved bears find their way home in the process this Christmas - even better.”
Follow @heathrowexpress and @lovedbefore_london on Instagram to see the latest rescued teddies and find out how to report a lost bear, or adopt one who’s looking for their forever home.