After 13 years of family trips, I've had my share of travel disasters. I once stood in a crowded airport terminal, exhausted, 3-month-old on my hip, 2-year-old at my feet, while my travel stroller refused to open. (The strap was caught. I was too fried to figure it out. 🫠) Another year, a Disney cruise turned into the week from hell when two of my kids and I were seasick the entire time and ended up in the ship's infirmary.
The lesson I keep relearning: when you're traveling with kids, it's not if something comes up, it's when. The right kids travel accessories and travel gear for kids won't prevent the chaos, but they will absolutely make it more manageable — whether you're flying with a baby, managing a toddler in an airport, or wrangling tweens who think they need their own carry-on for a weekend trip.
To help you save time from endless researching and comparing, I'm sharing my personal recommendations for the best kids travel gear — plus top picks from parents who follow
me on Instagram. From travel gadgets for kids that actually get used to the best travel accessories for families, it's all here.
This post contains affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps me continue sharing helpful parenting tips with you!
Tips for Packing Kids Travel Gear
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If it makes life easier, pack it. As much as we all want to pack light, it’s also important for everyone to feel safe, comfy, and happy when traveling. Even if it’s slightly inconvenient in the short term (like lugging around a car seat), it’s worth it if it helps your little ones feel more secure — or if it makes navigating around less stressful.
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Keep things consistent, if possible. While you could use the hotel’s travel crib or rent a toddler bed, kids also thrive when their environment is predictable. Even adults can struggle to fall asleep in a different bed (or a new place) when traveling! For kids, it can help to provide them with a consistent sleeping situation that feels safe, familiar, and comfortable.
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Let them pack their own bag (or help you pack). While you could always share a suitcase, it can be fun for kids to have their own luggage when traveling. A kids suitcase can also teach them a sense of ownership and responsibility, while giving them the control and independence they crave. Plus it can be really amusing to see what a toddler will pack! My tween and teen rule: if you pack it, you carry it. That means wheeling it through the airport yourself.
Travel Gear for Babies and Toddlers (Ages 0-3)
Doona Infant Car Seat & Stroller: Go from car seat to stroller with the click of a button! This is an all-in-one travel system that’s designed to make life-on-the-go with kids even easier. For infants and toddlers up to 30 lbs. and 32 in.
Graco Contender Slim Convertible Car Seat: This is a great option that will grow with your child and save you some money. Plus it’s approved for planes, so your baby or toddler can fly safely in their own seat. Rear-facing (5-40 lbs.) and forward-facing (26.5-65 lbs.)
Ride Safer Vest: Several friends have raved about this one, and once you hear what it does, you'll get it. The RideSafer Travel Vest is a wearable child restraint that replaces the need for a bulky car seat in taxis, rideshares, and rental cars. Your kid wears the vest, it works with the car's existing seat belt, and you're good to go. Comes in a variety of sizes, starting at a min. weight of 26.5 lbs.
⚠️ Note: The RideSafer Vest is NOT FAA-approved for use on aircraft, it's for ground travel only. Always check that any car seat you bring on a plane is FAA-approved.
Ali's Pro Tip: Car seats and strollers can be a bit of an investment! If you want a few more options to choose from, check out my post on the best strollers for travel. If you’re taking a car seat on the plane, make sure it’s FAA-approved.
Car Seat Travel Backpack: This travel backpack keeps your car seat clean and protected. You can also stash extra, like diapers, wipes, and other items in the bag during travel. If you’re carrying too many things, this bag has wheels for easy rolling through airports.
Ergobaby Omni 360 All-Position Baby Carrier: This baby carrier is easy to use, breathable, and gives you multiple carrying options. It’s also very comfy with padded lumbar support and extra padded shoulder straps.
Lotus Travel Crib: A follower favorite and for good reasons! It's lightweight at only 15 lbs, sets up quickly, and packs up into a backpack for easy travel. For babies and toddlers up to 35 in.
Hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Bed: This kids travel bed is a lightweight, portable solution for when your little one has outgrown the pack n play. Featuring bumpers on all four sides and a plush mattress, it’s the perfect way to help your toddler sleep soundly no matter where they are!
Ali Pro Tip: If you’re bringing your own travel crib or bed, don’t forget to pack a fitted sheet, sleep sack, or blanket. In some cases, you could also use the sheet from your hotel or airbnb. Note: Most experts advise to wait until at least 18 months before introducing a lightweight blanket.
Travel Gear for Preschoolers (Ages 3-5)
Toddler Bed: Lightweight, portable, and easy to pack! It’s perfect for overnight visits at a family member’s house, weekend getaways to the beach, or staying at a hotel or resort while on vacation.
Trunki Kids Ride-On Suitcase: The perfect companion for travels big and small — kids can sit on it, ride it, or carry it around. If you’re flying with family, this kids suitcase will keep little ones entertained throughout the airport. And it fits in the overhead bins too!
Folding Travel Potty: Trying to hold your kid on the toilet while making sure they don’t touch anything can be stressful! This travel potty seat makes it easier for little kids to use public bathrooms, plus it folds up and comes in its own bag. For car rides and road trips, this portable toilet is a convenient option when you can’t get to a bathroom in time (or if your kid doesn’t want to use a public restroom).
Snack Spinner: This is a fun way to pack multiple snacks. Plus it serves as entertainment for little kids, too! Perfect for flights, road trips, and everyday use.
Disposable Placemats: If tray tables on planes gross you out, these placemats are the perfect solution. When my kids were little, I stuck these placemats on the trays so they could have a clean surface for cheerios and other snacks. They also work well in restaurants!
12 oz. Water Bottle: When my kids were little, they loved having themed water bottles, bedazzled with unicorns, trucks, dinosaurs or whatever their latest interest was.
Travel Gear for Little Kids (Ages 6-8)
BubbleBum Booster Car Seat: My kids have outgrown this now, but we used it for many years. Along with being a good booster seat for the car, it comes in handy for carpooling. It’s also inflatable, so it’s easy to pack in your carry-on when flying with kids.
Kids Suitcase: My kids got their first carry-on suitcase when they entered kindergarten. Finding a suitcase with a fun pattern or color made them want to be responsible for it while we traveled.
Lightweight Kids Backpack: My kids used Pottery Barn Kids backpacks from age 2 until they were 8. They come in so many fun patterns and sizes for kids of all ages. And most importantly, they fit under the airplane seats.
Stackable Snack Container: My kids never leave the house without snacks… and I have a teenager! These small, stackable containers are genius for travel as they fit perfectly in the side water bottle pocket of the backpack. Snacking made easy!
20oz Water Bottle: My kids go-to water bottle for years. Leak resistant and comes in so many fun colors. The only reason we don’t use this still is that we need a larger size! Don’t forget to add a personalized, waterproof sticker, as this is the age when my kids loved having their name on everything!
Travel Gear for Tweens (Ages 9-12)
Note: Depending on your state laws (and your kid’s weight, height, and readiness), you may still need a booster seat for the car past the age of eight. Make sure to research these requirements — as well as recommendations from organizations like The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — before you travel with kids.
Packing Cubes: My girls like to pack their own clothes and I am all for it! These packing cubes keep everyone’s stuff organized (and my sanity intact). Each family member has their own color, which makes packing and unpacking for trips so much easier.
Eye Masks: Sleeping in a room with 5 people means the light doesn’t go on or off when you want. My girls love to travel with sleeping masks so that us early risers don’t wake them up!
Toiletry Bags: My girls can’t get enough of this pouch for travel and sleepovers. Perfect for toothbrushes, sunscreen, lip gloss or whatever other beauty item they deem necessary to travel with.
Mini Earbuds: I love these mini earbuds as they don’t hurt my ears. And my tweens love them too! My two oldest girls have outgrown the kids' headphones, and given the price point, they are a much better option for tweens than Airpods.
Kids Suitcase: At this age, you can start thinking about getting your tweens real luggage. Cute luggage is fun when they are little, but once they’re older, they’ll need something bigger and more durable.
Ali’s Pro Tip: My tweens love packing and hauling their luggage. Do I oversee packing? Absolutely! But I guide them through the process. My rule is if you pack it, you have to be responsible for it. So that means wheeling it through the airport and to our destination.
Personalized Water Bottle: I love that you can find refill stations all over airports now. Will fill these up with water and ice for road trips or fill them up after security when flying!
Comfy & Fun Travel Accessories — for Kids of All Ages
No matter how old you are or how far you’re traveling, you want the trip to be comfy, relaxing, and enjoyable. The kids travel gear I listed here checks all of these points — and you can use them for many years in multiple ways.
Portable White Noise Machine: Your perfect travel companion. With 20 calming sounds to choose from, it'll help you relax, no matter where you go. It's a must-have for babies and adults alike — so don't leave home without it!
Travel Night Light: My kids can't sleep without a night light, and I can't blame them for requesting one when we travel. This portable plug-in LED night light is a tiny but mighty—perfect for hotel rooms or grandparents’ houses when your kid needs a soft glow to settle in.
Kids Travel Neck Pillow: Keep your little travelers comfy and secure with a kids travel neck pillow! It's super adjustable so your kid's head and neck stay supported during long car rides or plane flights. Ages 3-12+
Kids Headphones: My kids have all loved these headphones! They’re designed to be extra comfy and protective of kids’ ears, plus they fold up so they’re easy to take on trips. Even if your little ones don’t use tablets, these headphones can be useful for louder environments, like planes, train stations, and more. Ages 3-7
Headphone Splitter: I try to bring as few gadgets as possible, which means sometimes my girls will share the Kindle to watch movies. This headphone splitter allows them both to listen to the movie with headphones at the same time.
Kids Tablet: Long car trips and flights can be hard for kids, so we pull out this tablet as a last resort (after my kids go through their travel games and other travel activities). It has a 12-hour battery life, ad-free content, and screen time limits. Ages 3+
Car Seat Headrest Hook: Great for carpools, travel trips, or errands! You can use these hooks to hang your groceries, purses, schoolbags, and more. For long car trips, you can hang a tote with baby essentials or travel activities for kids.
Luggage Tags: If you’re checking your kids suitcase, make sure to add a luggage tag! These luggage tags come in bright colors, so your suitcases are easier to spot.
Apple AirTag: Throw one of these into each piece of checked luggage to keep track of it while you travel. They also work great to add one to your kids backpacks for vacation or a school field trip (especially for field trips that can run late)!
Health & Safety Travel Essentials for Kids
While I do my best to not overpack when traveling with kids, it still helps to be prepared for those what-if moments. The last thing you want to deal with while traveling is trying to find a vomit bag, bandage, or cold medicine. You may not always need them, but you’ll be extra glad you packed them if you ever do!
Vomit Bags: These bags are an absolute must-have for traveling — especially if anyone is prone to motion sickness. I highly recommend packing them in an easy-to-access spot, like the glove box in your car for road trips or in your carry-on when flying with kids. My youngest can get sick just looking at a car, so we always have these on hand.
Children’s Ibuprofen: My kids prefer these chewable tablets. Plus they’re easier to administer than liquid medicine. I keep them in my purse so they’re easy to grab if needed.
Welly Bandages: These bandages are flexible, stay on well, and they’re super cute for kids.
First Aid Kit: I like to pack a few more first aid supplies, so I put together my own kit. I prefer making my own over the pre-made kits because then I can add exactly what we need and make sure it’s easy to take along with us. This first aid post has tons of helpful tips for how to create your own kit, including what to pack and what to avoid.
FAQs for Kids Travel Gear
How much travel gear do I actually need for my kids?
It’s so easy to pack more than you need when traveling with kids. Everyone’s traveling situations are different and it may take a couple of trips to learn what will keep your kids happy, safe, and comfortable. This list includes my absolute top suggestions for kids travel gear so you can choose what works best for your family.
Is there anything else I need for travel that’s not mentioned here?
The one thing I always recommend when traveling with kids is snacks. All the entertainment in the world doesn’t matter if your kid is hungry and melting down during a long car trip or flight. It also helps to bring a water bottle along for when your kid is inevitably thirsty.
How do I keep my kids entertained while traveling?
This post is about kids travel gear that can help make traveling with your family easier and more enjoyable. For entertainment, check out my favorite travel activities for kids and the best travel games for kids.
Can I rent some of the kids travel gear mentioned here?
You could! I’ve always preferred to bring my own car seats, travel cribs, and strollers to ensure they’re safe and clean. Traveling with the same gear also makes the experience more familiar for kids, which can help them feel more at ease.
Is there anything you’ve learned to leave behind when packing?
It really depends on your kids, their ages, and what they’re interested in. Toddlers on their first flight might be more interested in the overall plane than toys or activities — whereas kids who have traveled before may need more activities to do. You can also pack more for road trips than for flights.
What do you use to keep carry-ons, suitcases, or bags more organized?
I highly recommend using bags (like these clear PVC bags or zippered pouches) to separate items like snacks, baby essentials, travel games, and so on. Your kids will ask you for various things while traveling, and having it all organized helps you find it quickly.
What are the best travel accessories to keep kids comfortable and entertained during a trip?
My top picks for comfort are the kids travel neck pillow and kids headphones. For entertainment, the kids tablet is my last resort on long flights (after we've exhausted the travel games). Don't underestimate the white noise machine either — it's a game changer for sleep in new places.
What travel gadgets for kids are actually worth buying?
The kids tablet, kids headphones, and portable white noise machine are my top recommendations for kids travel accessories as they pull real weight on long trips. The Trunki Ride-On Suitcase is also a hit at airports because it doubles as entertainment AND luggage.
What are some road trip essentials for kids that aren’t mentioned here?
To make traveling in the car easier, you could bring a car organizer or tote packed with entertainment options for kids, a cooler or containers for snacks, and a travel tray. For toddlers and little kids, window sun shades are a lifesaver, and a travel potty seat is basically non-negotiable if you're not near rest stops.
Final Thoughts on Kids Travel Gear
Traveling with kids can feel stressful, especially because flights and car trips can feel different at every age. You might find that it was easier to travel with an infant than a toddler — or maybe the reverse! First trips, especially, can feel overwhelming since you don’t know what to expect. That’s why it can help to see what other parents recommend and learn from their experiences.
As always, you know your traveling situation — and your kids — best. But I hope this list of kids travel gear helps when deciding what to bring when flying with kids or going on long road trips. At the very least, it may reduce your mental load, which is always a parenting win!
If you need more ideas for traveling with kids, make sure to check out these two posts: Travel Activities for Kids and The Best Travel Games.
Need help deciding where to actually go? Check out my guides to Spring Break Destinations, Universal Orlando, and Costa Rica with Kids, all written after trips we took as a family.
I’d love to hear your traveling tips and kids travel gear recommendations too, so please share them with me in the comments!
