10 Travel Must-Haves for Parents

If you have ever traveled with kids you know it’s HARD! I have a tough enough time packing myself for a trip much less thinking of the laundry list of things I need to pack for my kids. I try to keep it simple but let’s face it, you need to bring the house with you! I put together a list of my 10 Travel Must-Haves for Parents. These are items that hopefully make your life easier on your next trip!

#1 Bubble Bum Booster Seat

Bubble Bum booster seats are perfect for travel when you aren’t taking your own car. It inflates in seconds with a few puffs of air and when deflated, it’s small enough to fit in a backpack or purse. You can easily fit three across in a taxi or rental and they are designed for kids ages 4+ and up to 100lbs. You’re probably wondering how in the world an inflatable booster seat can be safe. Well you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find it not only meets all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards but it’s been rated a “Best Bet” Booster Seat by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). We have 2 and they are packed in our carry-on, ready to go!

#2 Clorox Disinfecting Wipes On-The-Go

With little kids it’s inevitable that there will be a mess with no soap and water in sight. I love to keep a pack of Clorox On-The-Go Wipes in all my bags so I always have some handy. They are perfect for grimy hands and also dirty surfaces. Plus they are a step up from baby wipes since they disinfect too. There’s nothing worse than catching a bug when you’re on vacation!

#3 BABYBJORN Travel Crib Lite

I know Pack n Plays are on every gift registry and super convenient but goodness they are heavy! This BabyBjorn Travel Crib is the bomb. It’s fold down compactly and only weighs 13lbs. Set it up and take it down in seconds and you don’t have to share your bed with a squirmy toddler. Have bigger kids? We love these Regalo Portable Travel Beds. They weigh in a 7lb and fit kids up to 50-inches and 75lbs. We use ours all the time and the boys love them!

#4 Disposable Bibs

I’m all for reducing waste but when you are traveling sometimes it’s easy to just simplify. I loved using disposable bibs when we were on trips. Stuff a package in your carryon and you’ll lighten your load as you go. No need to bring home dirty bibs or wash them out in the hotel sink. I preferred the Sassy brand because I thought they were the sturdiest. I can’t find them anymore so you might need to try the ones from Munchkin or Summer Infant.

#5 MyBuckleMate Seat Belt Buckle Holder

When you travel you often end up in unfamiliar rental cars or vehicles that are smaller than your own. I love to use these MyBuckleMate Seat Belt Holders. We actually use them all the time, not just when traveling! They keep the buckle in place so it’s easy for kids to snap the lap belt in quickly. Also, if you have to put your car seats three across, it helps prevent the buckle getting lost between the car seats. It’s a lifesaver, just don’t accidentally leave them in your rental car! You can check their website to see if it will work in your car.

#6 Chicco Travel Lite Stroller

My kids don’t use a stroller day-to-day but we still take one on vacation. Long days and lots of walking are hard on little legs. We love this Chicco Travel Lite Stroller. It’s light weight, folds compactly and sturdy enough for big kids. There’s a 2 position reclining seat which makes it ideal for babies too. The Chicco Travel Lite Stroller has a carry bag and shoulder strap – even a basket on the bottom and it only weighs 11 pounds. We’d be lost without ours!

#7 Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera

I don’t know about you but my kids LOVE to take pictures and are always begging for my camera. Why not grab them one of their own!? This Fisher-Price Kid Tough Digital Camera is built for kids and designed to survive drop after drop. It has a double viewfinder which means they can keep both eyes open, there are kid friendly controls. It the perfect vacation companion for your preschooler!

#8 Fire HD 6 Kids Edition

Technology can be a lifesaver on a long car or plane ride. My kids don’t use tablets on a daily basis so when we travel it’s a special treat to get to play for so long. It keeps them entertained for hours on end. They actually look forward to travel days because they know they get to play with the tablets! The Kindle Fire HD Kids edition is a winner. It comes with a kid-proof case and 2-year worry-free guarantee. If they break it, return it and Amazon will replace it for free. No questions asked. It also has free, unlimited access to kid-friendly content and best-in-class parental controls. Affordable, durable and fun. What more could you ask for!

#9 Melissa & Doug Trunki

I absolutely love the Melissa & Doug Trunki Suitcases. They are so cute and fun for kids. There is plenty of space for clothes and toys inside and the latches are super kid friendly. They come in several different vibrant colors but kids can also decorate the outside with stickers and other accessories to make it their own. One reason you’ll love the Trunki is because kids can ride it through the airport. It has straps to pull, horns to hold and sturdy wheels to keep it moving. Bring Trunki as your kids carry on and check the stroller. They can ride through the airport when their legs get tired!

#10 Kidz Gear Wired Headphones

You can’t go on vacation without giving your kids some headphones. I know all headphones seem alike but these Kidz Gear Headphones are awesome. They fit kids as young as two but also expand to fit adult heads too. They have great sound quality and come in a variety of colors. What I think really sets them apart from other kid headphones is the two separate volume controls. One is the typical noise reduction that you find on kids headphones. But the other turns that off and allows you to control the headphones normally. This is awesome for a loud airplane ride or when listening to softer, spoken word! And checkout the user reviews!

What are your travel must-haves? I’m always on the hunt for a new toy or gadget that will be perfect for our next vacation. Also, be sure to Follow Me on Pinterest and see all my great travel ideas. Here are some recent ideas I’ve shared: