Products We Love for Travel With Kids!
We’ve used these products ourselves and love them! We recommend them to other family and friends all the time. Unless otherwise noted, we purchased these items ourselves, and have no professional relationship with the brands themselves (did not receive them as gifts). As an Amazon Associate, we earn a commission from purchases you make from our links, at no additional cost to you!
*We are constantly looking for new and awesome products to review and recommend! If you know of any that we should try, please let us know!!
Kids Travel Tray by Lillicrafted
Kids Travel Tray by LillyCrafted
We have used these on several road trips! I’m about to order three for my niece & nephews for their upcoming trip as well. They FOLD UP, which is a great space saver when you’re not using them! They have a small lip to prevent everything from rolling off the tray, and they have pockets! The strap connects behind the car seat.It’s great for eating, drawing, and other road trip activities.
Clear Packing Cubes
Clear Packing Cubes
I first learned about packing cubes in one of the awesome Facebook groups I follow about traveling with kids! I had never even heard of these until about five years ago. Since then, we’ve been through a few different types of packing cubes, but these are my favorite!! I love that I can use them for either clothes OR toiletries, and I LOVE that I can see everything in them!! Packing with these babies is a game changer. “Why?” You ask. Well, it’s all about containment (e.g., “my outfits HAVE to fit in this packing cube”). I also love that these are actually rectangular in shape (most packing “cubes” actually lack a lot of shape, and slide around). I love the structure of these!
Kids Travel Neck Pillow
Kids Travel Neck Pillow
Is this the cutest neck pillow you’ve ever seen? (I mean, obviously the answer is yes). COME ON. PANDAS???? These are a hit with my kids. Full disclosure, I did cut off that little snap in the front. My daughter didn’t love it, and my son couldn’t master it, and by the 10th time he asked me to snap (or unsnap) the pillow, I was over it. Otherwise, these are a home run. I’ve also thrown them in the washer and dryer, and they’ve come out great!
Water Bottles for Kids
BPA/Leak-Proof Water Bottles
Now, my husband and I buy ourselves some nice water bottles. (We’re big fans of Yeti!) That said, my kids lose water bottles like they lose socks. Their water bottles also somehow manage to reach a level of gross I didn’t think was possible. These are dishwasher safe, and they’re only a few dollars per bottle! SCORE.
Child Air Mattress / Travel Bed
Hugbino Inflatable Child Travel Bed/Air Mattress with Electric Pump
This is a no-brainer to throw in the car when we’re headed on a road trip. Depending on where we stay, there may or may not be enough beds for us. My kids CAN NOT share a bed. The could be in a king-sized bed with a pillow barrier between them, and somehow, someone will still get kicked in the face. If there aren’t three places for us to sleep, this extra bed is perfect. Also, technically the listing states that it’s for a “toddler,” but my 7 year old still loves it. I also love that they have small bumpers built around the air mattress.
Summer Infant 3D Lite Umbrella Stroller
The Summer Infant 3D Lite Umbrella Stroller
We gravitated towards this umbrella stroller because it still folds up to be fairly compact, AND it has a five-point harness. Babies can’t rock most umbrella strollers until closer to 1 year, because they’re still wobbly and need more support than a strap around their waist. This stroller keeps them nicely secured! It has decent control, and is easier to steer than other umbrella strollers I’ve used when with friends. I LOVE that there’s a little basket underneath (HELLO, STORAGE!) a canopy, and – it reclines. 🙌🙌 It doesn’t feel like rocket science to open/close, and it doesn’t break the bank.
J.L. Childress Gate Check Bag: Umbrella Strollers
J.L. Childress Gate Check Bag for Umbrella Strollers
Ah, the “gate check.” Here’s the deal. Strollers are amazing for getting your kiddo through the airport. Also, you’re going to want it on the other side. So, bring the stroller! USE the stroller. Once to get to the gate, have them tag the bag for gate check. Prior to boarding, bag up your stroller and leave it at the bottom of the ramp. It will be there when you get off the plane! Magic.
Safety 1st Guide 65 Convertible Car Seat
Safety 1st Guide 65 Convertible Car Seat
This car seat is approved for use on airplanes, is light, and thin. We don’t rent car seats when we get rental cars (you can’t guarantee it will be there, even if you request one, and it might be GROSS, even if it is there). For that time when kids are too small for any other option and the classic car seat is just a necessity, this is a good option. (Our seven year old is just now growing out of it, and you can see our two year old in it above on our way to Ireland!)
J.L. Childress Padded Car Seat Travel Bag
J.L. Childress Padded Car Seat Travel Bag
If your kids are at the age when they require you bringing a car seat with you, then they really should be in the car seat on the plane. Most people I knew personally had their babies on their laps during flights, and I had never seen a baby in a car seat on a plane before – so this was new to me. If you are going to be checking your car seat (which is also super rough on the car seat and not recommended), gate checking is best (even though to have to carry it through the airport), and either way, this baby will help you tote your car seat around!
Sleepy Wrap Baby Carrier
Sleepy Wrap Baby Carrier
This baby wrap is AWESOME. It has a bit of a learning curve right when you start to use it, but once I got the hang of it, I almost never used another carrier when my son was a baby. I would wear him to board the plane (since our stroller was packed up and ready to be gate checked), and this gave me free hands! It’s also great for walking around at your destination when the places you’re going aren’t stroller friendly.
Pacific Breeze Easy-Up Beach Tent
Pacific Breeze Easy-Up Beach Tent
This tent is AMAZING. It pops open in literally seconds, and the breakdown is easy! It’s got 50spf, and a few screened windows for breeze. (We also had a tiny fan with us in our tent). Bonus: some little kids hate sand. The next year they may try to eat it, but some hate it. This will be their haven. Also, I LOVED the shade this gave me! Practice the set up and break down at home before you go, just to boost your confidence. (The learning curve is a few minutes, and you don’t want your first time to be your first time on the beach with your kiddo!)
Melissa & Doug Water Wow! Reusable Activity Packs
Melissa and Doug Water Wow! Reusable Activity Packs!
My kids each had a period of time that they were OBSESSED with these. Kids “paint” (with water in the “paintbrush”) different pictures, which then turn into colors. These are great for toddlers. Love them.
Travel Booster Seat
The First Years On-The-Go Booster Seat
This is a GREAT travel booster seat for restaurants/eating out, especially if you’re on a road trip. It’s pretty secure, and is a lot less gross than most restaurant high-chairs. It folds up to such a small size!!
Shout ColorCatcher Sheets
Shout ColorCatcher Sheets
I am obsessed with these magic sheets. Listen, I hate doing laundry, especially on vacation. If possible, I want to do one load, and be done with it. This is hard to do when you have a daughter who has created an entirely pink wardrobe, and the rest of the family isn’t only rocking some version of chartreuse. You throw 1-2 these in with a load of laundry, and the colors don’t bleed. Seriously. Magical. I use them all the time now, even at home! (Seriously, just check out the reviews).
Portable Trunk Organizer
Trunkcratepro Collapsible Portable Trunk Organizer
This trunk organizer is awesome! We have one stocked and ready to go in our hallway closet. Whenever we’re headed on a day trip (or a long road trip), we throw it in the trunk! It already has most of our road trip essentials: Extra outfits for the kids, paper towels, extra sunglasses, plastic bags, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, activity fun packs, etc. Order it and and pack it now and thank me later!
Water Extenders and Foldable Stool
Bathroom Assists: Water Extenders and Foldable Stool!
Toddlers love to show their independence, and on vacation, it can be a tough transition (for you and your kiddo!) to needing to help your toddler every time they need to reach the sink. If you’re going to be vacationing in one spot for more than a few days and you have the room, consider packing some of these tools to make it easier! (While you’re at it, throw in a few nightlights!)
Ride Safer Travel Vest
Ride Safer Travel Vest
The Ride Safer Travel Vest is. a. game. changer. I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PRODUCT. It’s pure genius. Our daughter (7) wears the large, and our son (4) wears the small. This TINY, LIGHTWEIGHT PRODUCT turns a REGULAR SEATBELT into a FIVE-POINT-HARNESS. OOOOHHHH EMMMM GEEEEEE. I literally jumped up and down (not an exaggeration) when I realized I would never have to cart around another traditional car seat through an airport again. It’s worth practicing a couple of times before you leave home, but it is AMAZING. Taking a taxi? Shuttle? Rental car? GET THIS PRODUCT. It’s not worth risking the safety of your kids to take a ride share with nothing, and my kids are WAY safer in this than a traditional booster. PLUS, it’s smaller.
Emergency Car Kit
Emergency Car Kit
The emergency car kit that we have is no longer available for purchase, but the one pictured here looks fairly comparable. Having some of these tools on hand is a really good idea for road trips, especially if you’ll be driving for long distances, in areas that you aren’t very familiar with! Add to this kit (maybe in your new trunk organizer, above!)some bottles of water, food, and a blanket.
Breast Pump Car Adapter
Medela Breast Pump Car Adapter
Why? Because breastfeeding mommas on the road still have to pump. Don’t stress about figuring out where/when you’re going to pump. Simply do it on the road.