When it comes to flying with kids or going on family road trips, having the right travel gear can make the experience smoother and more enjoyable for everyone involved. As a mom to three tweens who has flown solo with my kids and planned lots of family trips over the years, I’ve learned a lot about kids travel gear!
It can be super helpful to see what parents pack when traveling with kids. So, I’m sharing my personal recommendations for kids travel gear — along with the top suggestions I received from other parents who follow me on Instagram.
Whether you need a portable car seat for travel, kids suitcase, or kids travel bed, I’ve got them all listed here. Normally I like to give you options, but this time I’m only sharing what I think are the best choices. I know how limited our time can be as parents, so hopefully this saves you hours (or even days!) of researching kids travel gear.
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Car Seats, Carriers, and Strollers
Having a portable car seat for travel will come in handy, whether you’re flying with kids, going on a road trip, or just running errands. Before kids start walking, it also helps to have a carrier — especially if you want to be hands-free. There are tons of great options out there, but I’m only listing my top choices so you don’t have to go down the rabbit hole of researching and comparing.
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.
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.
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.
BubbleBum Booster Car Seat: My older kids still need a booster seat, so the BubbleBum not only comes with us on trips, but it is also great for carpooling.
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.
Travel Cribs and Beds
Once you’re at your location, a quality travel crib or kids travel bed can come in handy. Think about it like this. Even adults can struggle to fall asleep in a new place or different bed when traveling. For kids, it can help to provide them with a consistent sleeping situation that feels safe, familiar, and comfortable.
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.
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.
Kids Suitcases
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!
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 kids, this kids suitcase will keep them entertained throughout the airport, and it fits in the overhead bins too!
Packing Cubes: 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.
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.
Comfy & Fun Travel Accessories
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.
Kids Headphones: My kids love 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.
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.
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.
Health & Safety Travel Essentials
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.
Children’s Ibuprofen: My kids prefer these chewable tablets, plus they’re easier to administer than liquid medicine.
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.
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.
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.
I’d love to hear your traveling tips and kids travel gear recommendations too, so please share them with me in the comments!
