Kids’ Travel Essentials to Bring on Every Family Trip

With a baby or toddler, sleep is probably the number one thing on your mind. You have tons of travel crib options, but two of our favorites are this Graco Pack ’n Play® and the BabyBjorn Travel Crib. The Graco is on the more affordable end, and the BabyBjorn is both fancier and likely to hold your toddler until he or she is a bit older — but at the end of the day, they’ll both serve you well. ($54.51+, Amazon) ($254.99+, Amazon)

We’re not exaggerating. We never leave the house without a pack of these bad boys, which work for so much more than diaper changes. Messy hands, sticky faces, marker drawings on the walls…you name it, we’ve used them to clean it up. Pack them in your luggage, ship them to your destination, or do both. ($40.84/12-pack, Amazon)

If you have the Nanit monitor, don’t forget this travel stand, which will make setting up your baby (or toddler)’s bedtime space easy. If you don’t use a Wi-Fi monitor at home, either pack up your home monitor to take with you, or pick up a separate non-Wi-Fi monitor for your trip. ($39, Amazon)

If you’re going on a day or weekend trip — or just want options for toting things around when you’ve reached your destination — this classic canvas bag is a great call. We like the extra-large size with long handles (so you can carry it on your shoulder), and zip top. Fun monograms optional…but recommended. ($39.95+, L.L.Bean)

Don’t underestimate the humble Pop It — or other similar sensory toys, like these colorful stretching tubes. For especially long car drives, throw a few toys like this into a backpack for each kid to keep boredom at bay. ($5.30, Walmart)

We love the Amazon kids tablet because of its wide range of curated content — meaning your kids won’t be asking you to buy something every five seconds, but you can also feel confident they’re sticking to appropriate material. (Make sure to adjust the parental controls according to your preferences before you hand the tablet over.) This version is for ages 3-7, but there’s one for older kids, too. Plus, the included case protects the device from the inevitable drops and bumps. ($69.99+, Amazon)

Unless you want to be listening to the soundtrack to every tablet game on repeat, invest in some headphones so your kids’ entertainment is a little more contained. This wired over-ear pair has over 30,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, and comes in five colors ranging from teal-accented black to pink. ($12.98+, Amazon)

There’s nothing like a trip to make kids extra-hungry — or at least, extra-likely to request snacks. Keep their interest piqued and save some money on expensive airport eats with these dishwasher-safe snack boxes that have eight (adjustable) compartments each. A two-pack of snack boxes also comes with 100 dissolvable labels. Don’t be surprised if they become an at-home snack time fave, too. ($29.95/pack of 2, Amazon)

Get kids excited about toting (some of) their own stuff with these cute bags which come in four different kids sizes. Pick a cute print like planes, hearts, or strawberries, or keep it classic with some color blocking — your kiddos will be the most stylish at the airport (and of course, they can use the bags for school, too). ($78+, State)

All you need is a little bit of water, and you’ve got a great car- or plane-trip distraction that’s essentially mess-free. The best part about these “Water Wow!” coloring books? Once the pages dry out, your kids can just start all over again. ($15.99/pack of 3, Amazon)

Long car drives or beach days require hydration…and preferably not the kind that costs $5+ per disposable bottle. These insulated water bottles come in enough designs to please any kid, and will keep their drinks cool and clean (we love that the top snaps over the straw so it’s not exposed to germs everywhere). ($12+, Amazon)

Sunscreen is an all-season necessity — so whether you’re going on a ski trip or headed somewhere tropical, remember to pack plenty. This baby-friendly mineral sunscreen is one of our go-tos for the whole family. ($11.48, Amazon)

Maybe you’re rocking a Vista or other similar-sized stroller at home. You’re probably going to want to bring something lighter and less bulky on your trip. Opt for an Uppababy Minu if you want something that will last a long time, or a Summer Infant umbrella stroller if you don’t mind something lighter and cheaper, but less sturdy. ($399.99, Amazon) ($59.99, Amazon)

Keep kids invested in their suitcases’ general organization with these fun pouches and packing cubes from Baggu. Made from recycled ripstop polyester and nylon, and fully machine washable, they’ll help rein in the chaos while adding a welcome pop of color to your stuff. ($36, Baggu) ($36, Baggu)

Liven up your luggage with this toiletry kit that comes in a range of fun colors (we especially love the hot pink and rainbow styles). It zips closed but also hangs from a hook, and has three compartments for all your bathroom necessities. ($68, State)

Skip the big diaper bag and try this combo purse and mini diaper bag with room for everything you need — even a matching changing mat (which you can add for $10 extra). There are two compartments, so you can keep the “mom stuff” separate from the diapers, and the camel vegan leather material won’t scream “diaper bag” to anyone except fellow moms…who might just ask where you got it. ($160, Poppy)