Family Travel Essentials

Are you headed to Grandma's or perhaps planning a winter escape over the holiday break? Whether you're a seasoned traveler or taking your first trip in years, traveling with kids takes some thought and preparation. How much you can pack depends on whether you're driving or flying and how much space you have in your car. This guide contains some good products to take on the road or in the air to keep your trip running smoothly.

Products For a Good Night's Sleep

Sleeping on vacation with kids... ha!

I usually feel like I need a vacation to recover from my vacation. However, there are some things I like to bring to try to help everyone get some rest.

Pack and Play or Travel Crib

This one's essential if you have a baby or toddler! Bring your travel crib if you're traveling by car and space allows. Your baby will sleep better on a familiar surface! If you're traveling by air or are tight on space, many hotels and resorts offer cribs free of charge. Pack familiar sheets and sleep sacks to help the crib feel like home.

Luxury Pick: BabyBjorn Travel Crib

Although this travel crib is a bit expensive, I like it! It's very lightweight and folds neatly into a travel case. It's easy to pack, and the case protects the crib from getting dirty in transit. I found the setup easy. You could even do it one-handed, and only one adult is needed. The mattress seems comfy, and it's not crinkly when the baby rolls around. The materials are premium and it's decently non-toxic.

Graco Pack 'n Play® Portable Playard

Portable, affordable, and gets the job done, Graco is a no-brainer. It comes in a variety of colors and add-on options at different price points, but if you're looking for a budget option, the base value is good for safe sleep on the road.

Portable Sounds Machines

Your phone will work in a pinch, but I consider a sound machine an absolute sleep essential when traveling with children. If everyone's crammed into one room or you're sharing space with another family, all the rustling and moving around will keep everyone up. Portable sound machines are great because they're small and easy to pack, play a consistent sound, and don't need to be located near an outlet to work.

Here are some great options for a great night's sleep! They'll also work well for on-the-go stroller naps.

Babelio Portable Sound Machine

Hatch Baby Portable Sound Machine

Speaking of stroller naps, consider a clip-on stroller fan if you are traveling somewhere warm. It keeps the baby cool and provides consistent background noise—a win-win.

Stroller Fan

Travel Bed Rails

Consider a bed rail option for toddlers and pre-schoolers who have graduated from the Pack N' Play. I'll never forget the time we vacationed in a mountain cabin. I checked on my kids early in the morning and thought my 4-year-old had gone missing! She had rolled right out of her bed in the middle of the night and curled under the bed in her comforter. She slept through the whole thing! Some bed rails would have saved me the pseudo-heart attack I endured in the 15 seconds it took for me to locate her.

Hiccapop Inflatable Bed Rail

Hiccapop makes some cool kid products. These inflatable bumpers collapse to a reasonable size, and a travel case is included. What I like about this option is that it comes with an attached mat to slip under the sheet, hopefully keeping it in place through the night. For wiggly sleepers, this option should work well!

Dream On Me Bed Rail

If you prefer a rail instead of a bumper, this option from Dream On Me is good. The legs extend under the mattress for some stabilization, but it folds to a slim profile, making it a bit easier to pack in the car. It also comes in fun colors!

On The Go Necessities

Strollers, baby carriers, and a good all-purpose family bag are essential for sightseeing, shopping, amusement parking, hiking, or traveling via air or public transit.

Travel Strollers

Depending on the situation, you may want to pack your regular stroller. On our last plane ride, we packed our big double stroller. I thought it was overkill, but then I ended up being really grateful that we had it! Our plane was delayed, and it was great to have a home-base stroller to push the toddler around and hold all the bags and snacks.

Whatever you do, my biggest tip for strollers is to make sure you have one you can steer with one hand! While traveling, you'll inevitably end up with either a baby on your hip, a bag over your shoulder, a pre-schooler by the hand, or maybe all three! One-handed steering is essential.

If you need a lightweight portable stroller, these are my faves:

Graco Ready2Jet Compact Stroller

It's lightweight, folds compactly, and can be operated with one hand! The storage basket is a good size, and it should accommodate children of all ages.

Luxury Pick: Joolz AER+ Lightweight Baby Stroller

Okay, so this baby's not cheap. I do not own it myself, but I did test drive it once and loved it! It has all the essential features —lightweight, one-handed pushig, folds up quickly and compactly—but it also has lots of nice extras, like luxury fabrics, a nice recline, a huge canopy, and accessories to make travel easier, like carrying straps and cases. The list goes on and on. If your budget is big, give Joolz a look!

Baby Carriers

I like bringing a baby carrier along with my stroller in case the baby refuses the stroller or we're adventuring somewhere the stroller can't go. There are lots of good options out there, but over the years these 3 have emerged as my faves:

LÍLLÉbaby Complete All Seasons Ergonomic 6-in-1 Baby Carrier

This one is super comfy for parents. This is a great option for active vacations. My only con is that it doesn't fold up all that neatly.

I really like Ergobaby for something that folds up more snugly. The Embrace is awesome for newborns—it's so snuggly like a wrap but easy to use like a traditional carrier. The Omni 360 is great for all ages, and it's less structured, so it folds up more easily than the Lillebaby.

Ergobaby Baby Carriers

Diaper or Family Bag

Carrying everyone's stuff is an automatic guarantee. Diapers, wipes, water bottles, small toys, books, baby shusher, snacks, snacks, and more snacks. The list goes on and on. Choosing a diaper bag or family bag to carry ALL THE STUFF is a personal decision - size vs. comfort, color, material, etc. But for travel, I do recommend a backpack option. You'll pretty much always need your hands free! I have this one:

Skip Hop Diaper Bag Backpack

In Case of Emergency Essentials

Remember the days when you could throw a few things in a tote bag and take off for the weekend care-free? Yeah, those days are gone!

If you're traveling with children, it's a good idea to pack a first-aid/medical kit. Research your options for urgent care, virtual appointments, pharmacies, and grocery stores before you travel. Hopefully you can easily grab anything you might need when away from home. But it's nice to have a few essentials handy in case illness or calamity strikes when you're on the road or in the middle of the night.

Medications I like to pack include:

• Acetaminophen
• Ibuprofen
• Diphenhydramine (in case of allergic reaction, but I'm an over-preparer!)
• Any prescription medications that your children need
• The appropriate size oral syringe or medication cup for measuring

Make sure to safely store medicine in a spot inaccessible to kids! They get crafty when exploring a new area.

Some other things I like to have at the ready include:

• Thermometer
• Band-Aids and bacitracin
• A "puke bucket" or bag for the car, because... yup, vomit
• Paper towels, baby wipes, and Clorox wipes
• Purell or other hand sanitizer

Here are some shortcuts in case you're running low!

And Last But Not Least:

Snacks! So many snacks. 🍿🥨

Safe travels!

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This article has been reviewed by Andrea Morrissey, PharmD, Board Certified Pediatric Pharmacy Specialist, and Chief Content Officer of Kids Med Guide. The content is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for medical guidance, and call 911 in an emergency.

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