Diapers, wipes, formula or breastmilk, medications—some items are essential while traveling with babies and young children. After that, the stuff you “need” while flying, road-tripping, or simply venturing into your city for the day varies. (If parenthood has taught me anything, it’s that no two caregivers or children are alike; what works for your family might not work for another—and the other way around.)
Yet, through trial and error, trips under the belt, and time spent loving little ones on the go, caregivers quickly learn what works (and what doesn’t) for their families. Ask them what they’ll never leave home without ahead of a trip, and they’ll tell you about a sound machine that saved their sleep in a foreign hotel room, a stroller that’s been with them for years, or a set of clear plastic pouches that kept them from constantly digging through a diaper bag.
The best “things,” then, have stories attached to them; they are products that don’t just simplify travel but infuse joy, relaxation, and exploration into it, too. These 12 items, in particular, have earned their spots in the cars, carry-ons, and packing lists of caregivers after plenty of time spent with young children on the go; consider them for your upcoming travel near and far.
Parent-approved picks:
GoBe Kids snack spinner
If there’s one thing kids want lots of (all the time but also while traveling), it’s snacks. Sarah Owens, a mom of two in Lewes, Delaware, favors this GoBe snack spinner, which doubles as a toy and even comes with stickers that your child can use to decorate the case. “It’s great for road trips, the beach, play dates, and is just super versatile,” she says. “It can also keep kids busy with sorting activities or fidgeting.”
Hatch Rest Go portable sound machine
No parent needs to be reminded of how missed naps, jet lag, or sleep that’s disrupted in any which way can wreak havoc on a day. That could be why a portable sound machine is a must-pack for many parents. With its clips, many muted hues, and 10 sound options, the Hatch Rest Go stands out in the market, with parents saying they use it in noisy and unfamiliar hotel rooms, long car rides, and even while out and about exploring. “We use the standard version at bedtime every night at home, so having it while traveling helps maintain a sense of normalcy in our nighttime routine, ensuring the girls aren’t completely off-kilter,” says Lauren Dana Ellman, a New York–based Traveler contributor and new mom of twins.
Read a full review here.
Once littles are old enough to trot alongside you, mini roller bags transform terminal walks from a schlep to a practice that allows a budding sense of independence (and fun!) to emerge. My husband and I have easily rolled these alongside our own luggage (sometimes with our children on top of them) when little hands tire, too (try that last part at your own risk). We like Calpak’s and Béis’s options; the latter is slightly larger (a 39-liter capacity versus Calpak’s 28-liter), and the former comes in fun neon colors kids will love.
Thule Urban Glide 3 single stroller
A traditional travel stroller a run stroller is not. Still, I have traveled with our Thule Urban Glide 3 (and its double companion, for that matter) by car, ferry, plane, and foot, and I’ll go as far as to say it’s the best kids’ item we own (and is still chugging along just fine five-plus years and three kids into parenthood). Despite its size, it folds up with one hand, has wheels that easily detach, fits in the back of any SUV, and can be gate-checked. It stands up against any terrain, even the double makes it through tight city doorways, and—this is a biggie—has offered me moments of peace and exploration through exercise amidst the chaos that is having little kids.
Veer All-Terain wagon
This past summer, we added Veer’s All-Terrain Cruiser to our lineup of beach gear, and I can attest that the wagon gives the stroller a run for its money. It feels more “fun” for toddlers who may be in a stroller strike phase. The XL size can fit four kids (making it a good pack for group travel), and the company sells beach wheels that easily pop on and off and make hauling all the stuff a little bit smoother.
Ubbi on-the-go bag refills
“I didn’t understand how versatile a small plastic bag was until I had a baby,” says Hannah Pasternak, a special projects director at Condé Nast and mom of one, who never travels without these Ubbi on-the-go bag refills. “I use these to hold soiled clothes after blowouts, dirty diapers changed on the go, baby spoons and sippy cups that fall on restaurant floors, wipes that have cleaned a very cute but messy face—the list goes on.” They’re easy to tie and take up essentially no room in a diaper bag. “I can just as easily keep one in my coat pocket if need be.”
SlumberPod
Laurabeth Bucur, a mom of one in Atlanta, Georgia, says she “never ever” leaves home without the SlumberPod, a popular blackout sleep tent for babies and toddlers. “We have used it in hotel rooms, in the homes of friends, beach houses, and even grandparents’ homes. It creates a sleep space similar to home (sound machine, dark, cool with fan) and allows my husband and I to enjoy vacation after the 7:30 p.m. bedtime. We can keep the lights on and have a glass of wine while not disturbing my son and keeping him on somewhat of a normal schedule.” Bucur packs the item in a large suitcase but notes that due to its size, it can be “cumbersome to travel with.”
Mori Flamingo one-piece
I am serious about sunblock, but covering three small children in SPF has proved no easy task. I am a sucker for—and will not travel anywhere warm without—UPF swimwear for my kids (ideally, items that cover at least their arms). Mori has proved to be one of my favorite brands, with sun-safe options that last from infanthood through age five (and hold up as hand-me-downs). You and your kids will love the cute designs: Peppa Pig, strawberry one-pieces, or sweet flamingos, sometimes with sun hats to match.
Doona car seat and stroller
Two-in-one products are always attractive to caregivers—pack less, get more—which is why the Doona (a stroller! A car seat!) makes its way onto many best-of lists for traveling families. It’s only 10 pounds, is slim enough to fit down most airplane aisles, converts quickly into a car seat that fits snugly into airplane seats, and works without a base in any car. Brittany Burke, a mom of one in Chicago, Illinois, has used her Doona “countless times,” traveling as far as Paris with her firstborn. As a C-section mom, she says that the item made travel easier when her baby was an infant.
Hydrate metal straws
Plenty of parents pack stainless steel water bottles for their kids to keep up with hydration (a solid pick), but Ashlea Halpern, a Traveler contributor and mom of one, tosses a few stainless steel straws in her carry-on, too. “Carrying my own metal straw was the best workaround—a cinch to stick in whatever drink I wanted him to try (lassis in India, ayran in Saudi Arabia, Kopi C in Singapore) and less messy than dragging around a leaky tumbler,” she says.
Lonely Planet Kids Create Your Own travel journal
Travel journals are a surefire way to enrich any trip, says Kelsey Haywood Lucas, a mom of two in Baltimore, Maryland, and founder of the online platform Motherspeak, who has tried her fair share of them. The Lonely Planet Kids Create Your Own Travel Journal is a “perfect kids’ starter kit,” she says. “It keeps kids present and engaged during all their new experiences, provides activities to bust boredom during downtime, and eventually becomes a great keepsake to hold memories from your travels.”
Auruza toiletry bag
Bucur says she uses clear, zippered pouches to organize just about everything while on the go—toys, snacks, and sleep items like a sound machine and pacifiers—so that random items are not floating around in the abyss of a backpack. “These clear pouches have saved hours of my life, avoiding digging through a bag.” Enough said.
