Our product MVPS for Traveling with Kids

Traveling with children is stressful, to say the least. Personally, I begin packing for my son a week ahead of our trips, to ensure that I am not missing any must have items that will seriously impact our trip if we are missing them. After many trials and errors, we finally have our essentials and checklist down to a science. I am sharing our family’s personal favorites to make for a smooth (as smooth as it could possibly be…) travel day.

CarSeat & Stroller

DOONA Carseat/Stroller:

We absolutely loved our doona stroller when we were going on plane trips. Since our son has always been squirmy, we have always bought him his own seat on the plane. This carseat has wheels that pop out of the bottom to make it convert into a stroller. We found this extremely easy to navigate pushing him through the airport and buckling the carseat right into the seat on the plane.

Pros:

• very convenient and portable

• no need to bring an additional stroller

Cons:

• expensive

• no underneath storage

• not very cute and looks awkward to push, especially if you are tall

• Much heavier than the Nuna Carseat, which was our everyday carseat at home

Babyzen YO-YO Stroller:

We began using the stroller when our son was about 1 year old. It is extremely lite (13 lbs) , you can fold it with one hand, and comes with a shoulder strap to make for easy to carry when it is broken down. It also is small enough to fit in the overhead compartment of the plane, so you do not need to check it at the gate. This became our daily stroller at home, when my child would still sit still long enough to be strapped into a stroller. This stroller also has zipper storage by the handle and a canvas basket down below.

Pros:

• extremely lite

• easy to fold

• fits in overhead compartment

• has a shoulder strap

• has storage

Cons:

• for city travel, not country

• only fits one child.

WAYB Pico Carseat:

While carseats are necessary to keep children safe, they are also a total pain and logistical nightmare. This travel carseat is one of our favorite travel finds and a total game changer. It is only 8 lbs and comes with a storage case that works as a backpack but also slips onto a carry-on suitcase. It also fits into the overhead storage if you are not using it on the plane but do not want to check it at the gate.

This seat is only for forward facing children, so ages 2+. It is the easiest folding, unfolding, and installation of a carseat that I have seen so far.

I Highly recommend this carseat for travel!

Pros:

• lightweight

• can be stored in overhead or used on airplane seat

• can be used for children up to 5 years old

• narrow

• great carrying case

• easy set up and breakdown

• easy install

Cons:

• a bit expensive, but not compared to the higher end non-travel carseats

• not super comfortable for naps

Packing Hacks

The amount of S*** that you need when traveling with children is mind boggling… especially when traveling to a foreign country in which they may not have “CVS Essentials” that you can pick up upon arrival.

HOCKEY BAg:

We put my husband’s hockey background to good use, and created our travel secret weapon…packing all of the children’s packing list in a hockey bag. It may seem like a strange children’s travel essential since it is very similar looking to a duffle bag, but it is much, much bigger and it fits everything… and I mean everything (diapers, shoes, pillow, blanket, bathing suits, wipes, slumber pod, noise machine, monitor, pajamas, clothes…you name it, it’s in there)!

We also love that this hockey bag has wheels and a handle for easy movement when you pack it right up to the maximum weight capacity, because you are likely to…

Packing Cubes:

Within the hockey bag, packing cubes are amazing to organize your items, and your thoughts. I find that packing cubes make crossing items off of my ever growing packing list easier because each cube has a category. I have linked some cute ones from Mark & Graham and Minnow, however, there are tons of great ones on Amazon too!

Essential Items for the Plane Ride

In my opinion, keeping your child entertained throughout the flight is the hardest part. Toddlers have the attention span of a fly, so you need to come prepared with mess free items to keep them busy while in the air.

Here are a few of our plane ride “must haves”…

Fully stocked bento box

A snack fed child, is a happy child. it’s a fact. Personally, I go overboard on the snack backing for a plane ride with lots of options of food that will not be eaten too quickly. For the plane ride, I pack a full meal (depending on timing of flight, breakfast, lunch, or dinner) - typically I pack a peanut butter & jelly or a bagel, then some type of fruit, two granola bars, two packs of raisins, fruit snacks, nuts, and a trailmix of pretzels & goldfish, etc. This gives your child options and keeps them interested in what food they have next to come.

Crayola “Mess Free” coloring pages, markers & stamps

The people who work at crayola are genius. art without a mess is music to my ears. When on vacation, we not only use these coloring pages and markers on the plane, but also at restaurants, in the airport, at the beach, etc.

The Markers appear clear everywhere other than on the “magic” coloring pages, where they then take color. I also find that these do not dry out too quickly or easily. The stamps are fun as well because they come with many different shape and picture options, as well as, a chocolate scent which is a fun added treat (“mmmmm chocolateeee” - moms will get the frozen reference").

Kids Ipad Case and Headphones

Screentime. The thing we all try to avoid but desperately need. The best advice that I have gotten as a traveling mom is “put no end to screen time on a travel day. if it keeps them calm, happy, and entertained, let them have it. A day of screentime does not mean a life of screentime”. I take this advice very seriously when traveling.

Ahead of the trip, I prep the ipad with downloaded movies, shows, games, and books. My favorite apps for travel days are as follows:

“Epic!”: has thousands of books that can be read aloud or an older child can read to themself

Noggin: Educational games

PBS KIDS: PBS Kids has tons of free games for kids to play. Once you download the app, you have to go through each character and download the games. It is a free App

Crayola create & Play: kids can “color” with all different mediums on coloring pages

ABC Starfall: Alphabet practice and games

IPAD Case

This Ipad Case is extremely helpful for many reasons. The case it protects the tablet from breakage, as well as has handles to hold onto; a kickstand to make the Ipad stand upright, and a hanging tool to allow it to hang from a headrest in a car.

This Case does not work for all Ipad types- you need to order the case that matches your Ipad version.

Bluetooth HEadphones

We have tried a few different bluetooth headphones for children and, in our opinion, these are the best. They are easy to pair with your phone or tablet, they are adjustable, they come with a wire to allow for wireless or wired options, they play for 12 hrs, and they are foldable and compact.

We have also found that these are the most comfortable on childrens’ ears.

Magnetic Multi-play

We recieved this Magnetic multiplay pack for christmas and we bring it in our diaper bag everywhere we go now. within the pack, there is a white board, markers, a puzzle, and a magnetic “make a scene” board. everything has a place and stays put so it does not all tumble out when you open it. they make them in different themes. This item is a travel and restaurant “must have”!

5 MINUTE STORY BOOKS

If your family reads books before bedtime, these 5 minute story books are perfect.

We typically read two books before bed each night, however, when traveling, the weight of books in a suitcase (or hockeybag) is an avoidable issue. These books have multiple stories inside of the one book so consolidates your books into one place!

WE landed… now what?!

slumber pod

This item is truly our family’s mvp. we bring it on most trips. It is an easily pitch-able tent that allows your child to sleep in a non-dark room. It is perfect for when the room your child is sleeping in may not have blackout shades or if you have multiple people sleeping in one room. There is a cutout on top for a monitor and another spot to fit a fan (which comes with it).

The pod comes with a carrying case for easy packing and storage. It fits over cribs and pack & plays.

We Very Very Highly recommend this product.

Nanit Baby monitor Clip Mount

When going to a hotel or air BNB, you don’t always know what the room setup will look like. We find this Monitor mount helpful to be able to clip the monitor to the crib, pack & play, nearby table or bookshelf, to be able to give the same great monitor angle that we get at home.