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in Blog on March 23, 2022 by Sandy Hsu

Family Travel Gear Guide: Things that Make Trips With Little Ones Easier

One of the biggest challenges of traveling with little ones is that you still need to manage their day-to-day needs — feeding, bathrooming, play, and sleep — without all of the comforts and conveniences of home. 

For being so little, babies and toddlers sure need a lot of stuff! The sheer amount of things I needed to pack when we first started traveling with a little one felt so overwhelming; but over time, I’ve learned that instead of trying to bring all the things, simply having a few of the right things can really make a big difference. 

So, if you’re feeling intimidated about traveling with your baby or toddler, I’ve got you covered with family travel gear recommendations to help make your time away from home easier. The best travel gear strikes that fine balance between serving an essential function while also being portable and easy to use, and these things do just that!

For Getting Around

Cosco Scenera Next Car Seat

The Cosco Scenera Next is pretty basic as far as car seats go, but it checks so many boxes that makes it perfect for traveling with young children: it’s lightweight, easy to install, affordable (only ~$49 and can be used over and over again versus the ~$10 a day to rent a car seat), easy to clean, and approved by the FAA for use on airplanes. 

We use the Cosco Scenera Next as our dedicated travel car seat anytime we fly. We prefer to use a car seat on the plane for our children (ages 4 and under) whenever possible since it provides a safe, familiar, and sanitary place to keep them contained and help them sleep.

Mountain Buggy Nano Stroller

When considering travel strollers, look for one that has a compact fold (there are many now that fold down to carry-on dimensions so it can be stored in the overhead bin on airplanes), the ability to recline, some sort of sun shade, and is relatively easy to maneuver. We love that the Mountain Buggy Nano meets all of these criteria and has a universal car seat adapter system so you can use it with an infant car seat for little babies.

One of my favorite travel-gear hacks is using the Mountain Buggy Nano Stroller with the Cosco Scenera Next Car Seat attached! This trick is so handy for when you are flying with a toddler, stroller, and car seat— our daughter is simply able to sit in her car seat attached to the stroller so there’s no need to bother with any extra contraptions to transport the car seat. Here’s a video demo of this amazing hack. 

Baby Tula Discover Free-to-Grow

A comfortable, easy-to-use baby carrier is a must for traveling with a baby to help you stay hands free while keeping your little one close. Baby-wearing is especially helpful when the journey involves air travel, train, or any other type of public transportation.

We love Tula baby carriers for the easy-to-use, ergonomic design that’s comfortable without adding too much bulk.

For Sleep

Phil & Teds Traveller Travel Crib

We’ve taken the Phil & Teds Travel Crib on multiple international trips with our toddler. It’s lightweight (just 6 lbs!) and breaks down into a compact bag that fits easily into our larger check-in suitcase with plenty of room to spare. Like most travel cribs, the mattress is pretty thin and basic so we usually cushion the area under the crib with additional blankets.

Toddlers will outgrow this travel crib sooner because of its space-saving design; but, if you are flying and want the flexibility of bringing your own crib for your baby, the ease and portability of this travel crib just can’t be beat!

Lotus Travel Crib

The Lotus Travel Crib is another great option for babies and toddlers, especially for road trips or if you are staying at a few different places over the course of the trip. The set-up and break-down of this crib is super fast and easy—it folds up in just a few seconds— and has greater longevity than other travel cribs because the mattress rests on the floor so there isn’t a weight limit. However, it does have a larger footprint than the Phil & Teds Travel crib so if you are flying, it is likely you will need to check it in separately or bring it as a carry-on. 

Portable Window Blackout Curtain

A dark room is key to helping babies sleep more soundly in a new place. This portable blackout curtain folds up into an easy-to-pack size and has worked great for stays at the grandparents and airbnbs. Blackout curtains also work wonders for encouraging toddlers to take that much-needed midday nap.

Portable White Noise Machine

A white noise machine creates a familiar, soothing sleep environment and drowns out random noises to help your child sleep better away from home. If you already have a white noise machine that your little one is accustomed to using at bedtime, definitely prioritize space in your luggage to bring it along; if you are wanting something more compact that can be used on the go, the Yogasleep white noise machine is just 3.5 inches in diameter, charges by USB, and can operate up to 6 hours off a single charge. 

Slumberpod

If you are sharing a room with your baby or toddler while traveling, the Slumberpod is a godsend. The Slumberpod is basically a little pop-up tent that can fit over a Pack ‘n Play, travel crib, or even a toddler mattress to provide your little one with a private, dark place to sleep. It has a steeper price tag, but if you visit family often or stay regularly in a single hotel room as a family, it may be worth it for getting extra sleep and better naps.

For Feeding

Summer Pop ‘N Sit Portable Booster Chair

Meals are so much more enjoyable when your baby has a place to sit that’s not your lap. This foldable high chair sets up in seconds and is perfect for taking on the go! It’s lightweight and packs up neatly in a bag that is easy to carry on it’s own or throw it in your luggage, stroller, or backpack. The detachable tray is on the smaller side, but that’s what makes it compact and perfect for any airbnb or hotel, camping, the beach, restaurants, and the park.

Munchkin Latch Microwave Sterilize Bags

If you need to sterilize bottles, breast pump parts, pacifiers or teethers when you are on the go, this is the perfect solution! These microwavable sterilizing bags can be reused up to 30 times, kills 99.9% of bacteria, and only takes up as much space as a ziploc bag.

For the Bathroom

Summer 3-in-1 Train with Me Potty

A travel potty in the back of the car has been such a lifesaver for us on trips! Being able to opt out of gross gas station bathrooms and the outhouse at national parks is such a relief when traveling with a potty-training toddler or preschooler. 

I love that the Summer 3-in-1 potty can be used as a potty seat, potty topper, and step stool while still remaining compact in size. For hotel or airbnb stays, the potty topper and step stool makes the bathroom kid-friendly so that preschoolers and little kids can use the bathroom independently just as they would at home. When we are out and about, we line the inside of the potty with a disposable, absorbent liner for easy, mess-free cleanup.

Inflatable Bath Tub

If you are staying somewhere without a bathtub, this inflatable tub is a great way to give the baby a bath without trying to maneuver around a sink or risk having your little one fall down in the shower. This tub inflates to provide a padded safe place for baby to bathe and when you are finished, it deflates for easy storage without taking up much space.

Other Gear

Packing Cubes

If you aren’t already using packing cubes in your family’s luggage, trust me— you need these in your life. Packing cubes keep everything compact and organized, especially when you are packing all of those tiny pieces of little kid clothing. I like assigning a different color for each family member so that anyone in the family can easily grab our own belongings out of the giant suitcase without rummaging through a big pile.

iClever Headphones for Kids

A comfortable pair of child-sized headphones is a must for on-the-go screen time (lest you want to listen to cartoon voices and the annoying rings and dings of games for hours on end). The iClever headphones are padded, foldable, has volume control to protect little ears, and allow for audio sharing for multiple kids.

Kids Backpack

Putting an older toddler or preschooler in charge of their own backpack is such a great way to lighten your own load on travel days! 

Whether we are traveling by car or plane, I always pack my daughter her own backpack with a water bottle, change of clothes, snacks, headphones, and a few small toys (crayons, stickers, pop-it, and these cute little animal erasers that she currently loves). Even if she isn’t actually carrying the backpack around much (like on a road trip), it’s still helpful to have the things she will most likely need all in one place.

Bell+Howell Ultrasonic Personal Portable Humidifier

For little ones prone to dry skin, eczema, or bloody noses, a portable humidifier is great to have on trips, especially for travels during the winter months or to places with a dry climate. The Bell+Howell Personal Humidifier turns your standard sized water bottle into the water tank so you don’t have to worry about lugging around a humidifier with a giant tank!

Related

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: babies, products, spring, summer, toddlers, travel

About Sandy Hsu

Sandy is a wife, mother of two, and scientist-turned-writer living in Los Angeles, California. When she’s not reading to her girls, cleaning up mealtime messes, or struggling to keep up with the laundry, Sandy enjoys writing, painting, and planning travel adventures with her family. A lover of good stories and thought-provoking conversations, Sandy strives to find joy and beauty in the midst of the daily grind and hopes to encourage other moms to do the same.

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Comments

  1. Anna says

    March 31, 2022 at 1:41 pm

    this slumberpod tent looks amazing! i must say i’m intrigued and will make some more research. so thanks a lot for new ideas especially about sleep cause this stresses me the most. i’ve even used sleep training step-by-step guide as a preparation before travel! btw it was How to teach a baby to fall asleep alone by Susan Urban and i loved it!

    Reply
    • Sandy says

      April 1, 2022 at 1:49 pm

      That’s awesome! And yes, I totally agree that sleep is probably the number one thing I stress about for trips with little ones— it can really make or break a trip for me 😛

      Reply

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Happy kickoff to a long holiday weekend for many! Happy kickoff to a long holiday weekend for many! It's time for our monthly roundup of sponsors and affiliate partners, where we thank the brands who help support our show and remind YOU of their great deals. For our unique promo codes and links, just tap our saved "Sponsors" highlight. We also collect ALL our active promo codes on our Deals & Offers page on our website. Just tap on this image at the link in our bio to check it out!

Thank you for checking out our partners and using our links + codes!

Shoutout to our new & featured partners:
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👗 @stitchfix ($20 off your first purchase of styles you'll love!)
🤖 @kiwico_inc (50% your first month + free shipping!)

And welcome back . . .
⭐ @hellofresh (50% off America's #1 meal kit!)
⭐ @rakuten (save $ when you shop!)
⭐ @scholasticinc (books for kids of all ages!)
⭐ @minted (art, cards, decor & more!)
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This week's episode has elicited more comments and This week's episode has elicited more comments and emails than we've gotten in a LONG TIME. We're so glad the topic touched a nerve and appreciate every one of the notes we've received.

Speaking of "doneness" and all the feels about moving out of the baby-having years, this result from our listener survey surprised us. 72% of listeners who responded to the question about plans to grow their families said they are totally done. This is a big jump from previous surveys where we asked the same question (in 2021 59% said they were done; in 2019 47%).

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Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
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Escape your busy routine and spread out along 825 miles of beaches, 700 freshwater springs and over 1300 trails with breathing room to run and play. Discover new experiences in the most comfortable place to get out of your comfort zone, only on a family vacation in Florida. (It’s just the best.)

Start planning your Florida vacation and learn more about all the places to go by clicking on this image at the link in our bio. 🏝️ And thanks for supporting the brands that support our show! @visitflorida #VisitFlorida #LoveFL
New episode! A parent of three is exhausted by di New episode!

A parent of three is exhausted by dinnertime sillies and wants help steering conversation at the family table. A stay-at-home mom asks what to do when her child says, "don't tell dad I got in trouble at school!". And a parent of a tween who wants acrylic nails asks a bigger question about letting kids alter their appearance in general. Meagan and Sarah tackle tricky parenting challenges with our best attempts at nuance, compassion, and humor in today's episode.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Looking to enrich your home library with nature-in Looking to enrich your home library with nature-inspired children's books? Sandy Hsu (@hopefulsmiles) has a roundup on the blog this week with beautiful book series that bring science and nature to life with compelling visuals. Check it out by clicking this image at the link in our bio!
New episode! Happy Mother's Day! Meagan thought i New episode!

Happy Mother's Day! Meagan thought it would be fun to surprise Sarah with an episode full of lightning-round-style "this or that" questions and "would you rather" head-scratchers. Join us for lots of laughs, silly questions and tons of fun! If you've been listening for a while you know that we're chronically lightning-round-challenged. Find out if we answer all the questions before the buzzer goes off! 

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast#podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast#podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
A few thoughts on family vacations . . . –writte A few thoughts on family vacations . . . –written by @catieparrish on our team, in partnership with our sponsor @visitflorida . . . #AD

There's a lot that isn't shown in a vacation highlight reel. The impatient kids, the out-of-order elevator, the lost ball cap that caused so many tears, the tighter-than-usual vehicle seating arrangements that prevent siblings from keeping their hands to themselves, the weary parents trying to juggle it all.

But - thankfully! - throughout the trip, there are moments that make you think, "Totally worth it." One of those moments, for me, was our first beach walk after arriving in @vspc. The kids were ecstatic to see the ocean, the view was stunning, and I could feel the stress of managing a million details melt away. 

It's not that different, really, from anything else we do. We spend time, effort, and money to create and maintain a home that serves our family. It leads to the "worth it" moments of big weekend breakfasts and cozy family movie nights. We keep up the text thread, move stuff around on the calendar, and figure out childcare, so we can laugh with neighbors at a taproom. We put in the hours at work; for the paycheck, yes; but also to be able to say, "I helped do that."

I'm so happy our family got to have so many totally-worth-it moments in Florida. If you're interested in planning your own Florida vacation, click on this photo in our bio.

#visitflorida #loveFL
New episode! Meagan spent a soggy day helping eig New episode!

Meagan spent a soggy day helping eight grade science students release salmon into a creek, and it inspired this conversation all about kids and field trips. From tiny toddlers at the fire station to teens on a red-eye flight to Washington, D.C., time outside the classroom requires a ton of flexibility from everyone; we're here to discuss the both/and nature of field trips bringing added hassle AND growth opportunities. We also hear from two teachers and a special needs parent about their thoughts on field trips and swap stories about California vs. Michigan excursions for school-aged kids.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts

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