There are a lot of travel items for kids on the market. Some of them are wonderful, innovative products that make travel with kids easier. Others, not so much. After almost a decade of traveling with kids, we have tried various kids travel products and know which ones are the must have travel products, and which ones you can leave on the shelf. Keeping reading to learn more!
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The Best Travel Items For Kids When Flying
Light Weight Car Seat
Before you travel with kids, consider purchasing a lightweight car seat. When the kids were younger, we used the Cosco Scenera. It was the perfect lightweight seat that made for easy travel.
Flash forward a few years and Cosco has updated their popular seat. The Scenera Next is less than 7 lbs, making it easy to transport around the airport. Other convertible car seats weigh anywhere from 15-30lbs. The seat is FAA certified, meaning you can use it on the plane.
While we had a great experience with the Scenera, there are many other lightweight convertible car seats that are perfect for travel. One may be the best for your family!
Car Seat Travel Belt
One of the easiest ways to transport a car seat through the airport is using a travel belt. The strap design allows the car seat to be attached to rolling carry-on suitcase. A smaller kid can sit on the seat, strapped in correctly, and go for a ride through the airport!
Car Seat Travel Cart
With the same idea as the travel strap above, the travel cart allows you to roll your car seat easily through the airport and onto the plane, without having to carry it. These are perfect if you do not have a rolling carry-on to strap your car seat to. Many manufacturers design carts to fit their own products (Britax is one of them). They are more expensive than a strap, but still worth the investment!
Car Seat Gate Check Bag
If you plan on gate checking your car seat instead of using it on the plane, make to purchase a gate check bag. This will keep your car seat clean and contain all of the straps and accessories that may be on the seat. We recommend a gate check bag with two shoulder straps. It is easier to carry the seat around the airport like a backpack, instead of slung over one shoulder.
Stroller Gate Check Bag
Are you bringing your stroller with you on your trip? If so, consider purchasing a stroller gate check bag. Strollers get thrown in on top of all of the luggage at the gate, and can get damaged. Handle padding can get torn, or even cup holders falling off. A gate check bag will keep the stroller protected, and contain any pieces that might get lose during your flight.
The Best Travel Products for Kids For the Hotel
Inflatable Bed Rails/Bumpers
If your kids are still wild sleepers, consider purchasing these inflatable bumpers. The pack small and inflate quickly, giving kids an extra obstacle to keep them from falling out of bed. They are easy to put in place; just slide them under the fitted sheet to secure them.
Inflatable Toddler Air Mattress
If your hotel room does not have enough sleeping spaces, or your kids don’t want to share a bed, a kid-sized air mattress is the perfect solution.
These mattresses aren’t as big as a twin mattress, so they don’t take up a lot of room. Thought at 62″ inches (157 cm) long, even big kids can fit comfortably on them.
Travel Air Pump
Especially useful for the above products, a travel air pump is a must-own when traveling with inflatables. We own the plug-in air pump; however, there are battery operated ones for those who will not be near an electricity source.
Our Must Have Travel Item: Compact Travel Booster Seat
The mifold compact travel booster seat is perfect for travel! It is small enough to fit in a backpack or large purse.
Use this in place of renting a booster seat to save you money on your next trip!
Other Travel Items for Kids
Before we take a vacation with the kids, I make sure to stop at our local Dollar Tree! In addition to the travel-sized toiletries, Dollar Tree has a bunch of other products that are perfect for traveling with kids. You read more about them here.
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