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July 6, 2024The summer travel season is upon us, and if you are preparing to take a trip – especially with kids – the idea of packing may seem overwhelming.
With so many gadgets and gizmos available, sometimes it can be difficult to know what is truly worth the extra luggage – literally. But we have taken all the guesswork out with our roundup of family travel essentials.
Safety
Keeping kids safe while traveling is huge. But just because you want to keep them safe doesn’t mean you have to lug your hefty car seat around the airport. Thankfully two brands – Doona and WayB – are helping ease parents’ minds while also taking the weight off their shoulders.
For newborns and infants, the Doona stroller and car seat is a breeze. Just wheel your little one around and with a click of a button, fold the stroller down to a car seat – your baby doesn’t even have to come out. In your own car, there is a LATCH(does this need to be in all caps?) base, but this car seat can also be easily strapped in with just a seatbelt for rental cars or ride shares. Unfortunately, the Doona should only be used until a child reaches 32 inches, or I would be using this until its expiration.
But never fear, for when you’re ready to have your child forward facing in a car – and they are at least 22 lbs and 30 inches – WayB has created the 8 lb foldable car seat. Like the Doona, the Pico car seat meets all U.S. safety standards. This car seat quickly folds and can use the LATCH system in any car, so even if you’re hopping in a ride share, it doesn’t take long to strap in the car seat and be on your way. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4TYfISA-I_/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=1080&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fadmin.travelpulse.com&rp=%2FWorkArea%2FContentDesigner%2Fdialogs%2Frichtextentry.aspx%3Ffolderid%3D1410%26contentid%3D552847#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A17912.39999999944%7D
Comfort
Walking around with your baby should also be, well, a walk in the park. The YoYo stroller from BabyZen was designed for exactly that. It can easily fold and unfold, has a permanent shoulder strap for easy lifting and has a great travel bag.
I recently took this stroller on a flight and checked it; no damage came to it or the well-made bag protecting it. I also really liked how sturdy the base of this travel stroller is – you don’t have to worry about the stroller falling backward if you’re not holding onto the handle.
For those Road Trip Warriors, the Tiny Traveler may be right for you. This in-car monitor can be placed on your dashboard to decrease the distracted driving of looking back at your child, or struggling to see a mirror. The camera also has a separate holder to be used as an overnight monitor in hotel rooms. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7zZIYWOu_o/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=1080&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fadmin.travelpulse.com&rp=%2FWorkArea%2FContentDesigner%2Fdialogs%2Frichtextentry.aspx%3Ffolderid%3D1410%26contentid%3D552847#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A15709.600000023842%7D
A must for my family is the sound machine. Hotel rooms can provide such a different environment for babies and kids alike, add in other guests being loud in the hallways during the middle of night, and you might not be getting all the sleep you need. This travel sound machine takes up the smallest amount of space, has multiple white noise sounds to choose from and can run for hours on a single charge.
Children, and adults, love blankets. Hotel sheets can be uncomfortable, or they’re too thin to provide any sort of warmth. The PediPocket blanket has a deep foot pocket, so your toes will never have to sneak out from under the blanket, thus essentially creating your own portable bed sheet when traveling. It’s incredibly soft and nearly six-feet long.
Luggage
Beis Mini roller with matching backpack & waist bag
Build a love for travel by getting your kids their own set of luggage. Beis has recently released the Mini Roller with a matching kid’s backpack and waist bag. My daughter has fallen in love with this bag after a recent trip to the beach. It’s easy for my four-year-old to wheel around, even if it’s full.
The handle is adjustable and comfortably padded. Make it a complete set with a coordinating kid’s backpack and waist bag. These have really come in handy on flights for having activities and favorite stuffies close at hand. The waist bag can even be attached to the backpack, making it just one personal item.
Another great kids set of luggage is the BedBox + Crew BackPack – Travel Bundle. This set includes a ride-along suitcase with a matching backpack. The suitcase contained the bed box – a thinly padded mattress that can be used to create a sleeping space for kids in economy-style seating on flights. The top of the suitcase can even be flipped over to help elevate a child’s legs, giving them a more comfortable flight experience.
Wayb minipack and pods
Not to be missed is a parent’s backpack, which when loaded down with all the kids gear can get a little unorganized. But WayB has created a comfortable and functional minipack that pairs perfectly with their pods for ultra organization. It’s a 15L backpack with an interior pocket for a laptop or tablet up to 13 inches, comfortable shoulder padding and can even be gifted down to kids as they get older – ideal for those 6 or older ergonomically.
The pods come in a variety of shapes and sizes perfect for holding diapers, toys, snacks and electronics. They can also be attached to the inside of the book bag to ensure nothing slides under your neighbor’s seat when taking something out on a flight.
A multi-purpose bag, the JustinCASE serves as a cooler and a carry-on bag all in one. Perfect for the beach, the lake, the pool or just whenever you have the need for wet and dry items but you don’t want to have more than one bag. It holds up to 38 liters of dry luggage or cooler space, and it can keep ice cold for over 24 hours. Use it as your carry-on bag on the plane with all your clothes, unpack at your destination and then use it as a cooler throughout your trip.
This article originally appeared in TravelPulse.