One of the biggest challenges we face while traveling is what to pack to keep the kids (and therefore ourselves) happy. Long gone are the years of slinging a backpack over a shoulder with just a couple of outfits, a Lonely Planet guide and a camera. Oh no, packing has become a straight up science in this family. We study it, we practice it, we test it, we tweak it and then test it again. Sometimes we fail miserably, like the time that we tried to take the Tube in London with two umbrella strollers, two kids, two backpacks and three rolling bags. As you could imagine, it was a cluster****. Anyway, the point here is not that we have failed, but that we have learned about what works and what doesn’t from years of trying.
Traveling can be stressful but it’s so much easier if you start out your journey with the right kit for your crew. Also, a combo of gear that works for one group may not be the right set-up for another family, or the same family but several years later. This what we have found to be the most helpful and long-lived equipment for our traveling family.
Carseats and Luggage Straps
CAfter hauling our full-sized carseats across the country once, I vowed never to do it again. If you have a baby it’s probably easier to bring a reclining carseat, especially if it clicks into your stroller, but for older kids with huge strap-in carseats the Ride Safer Travel Vest is a lifesaver (both literally and figuratively). Since my son was on the smaller side for his age (like 30 lbs and 4 years old) and couldn’t safely ride on a booster, I had to search all over the internets to find a safe, smaller alternative to the massive standard seats. This vest may look like he is going parachuting, but it meets the safety standards for the USA and is rated for kids weighing 30-60 lbs. It is a little pricey at $150-ish dollars (a bit more for all the straps and pillows) but it only weighs 2 pounds and fits into a tiny backpack which, in my opinion, might as well be priceless.
Even more mind-blowing is the Mifold Grab and Go Booster Seat. We have friends that swear by this and have jettisoned their regular boosters and carseats at home in favor of these. This booster is the size of a large wallet and weighs under 2 lbs, meaning that a kid could carry it in their backpack or it can fit in a glove compartment. It’s perfect for traveling and at $35, it won’t break the bank! It also meets the safety standards in the USA and children must meet size/weight requirements- 40 lbs, 40 inches tall and 4 years old. Our kids aren’t quite that big yet so we haven’t tried it yet but I’m counting down the days.
Don’t despair if you have a toddler that doesn’t meet the weight requirements for the boosters mentioned above. Carseat Travel Belts may be the way to go if you absolutely must bring an unwieldy carseat. Strap that sucker to your rolling luggage with your kid in the carseat and roll the whole thing around. Carseats can be checked at airport counters or at the gate if you want to keep it to haul your kid around the airport. It may be the best $15 you could spend.
As a last resort, most car rental companies can provide carseats for a fee. I’m not advocating this but if you are traveling abroad, some countries don’t require carseats for children at all, but that is a risk/reward decision that only a parent can make.
Baby and Toddler Earmuffs
If you have a child, then you need Baby Banz Headphones. They are a life-saving piece of equipment, and not just for the traveling family. The adjustable, padded, noise-dampening headphones are perfect for newborns through toddlerhood. I can’t even count the number of times that we used them in restaurants, at concerts, for fireworks, parades, mowing the lawn, vacuuming, and running the blender. Not only do they protect sensitive little eardrums from loud noise, but I also credit the headphones with reducing some of the anxiety that my kids have when facing new environments. Granted, this is anecdotal and may be specific to my children, but I have found that reducing a small bit of sensory simulation allows my kids to keep their cool in situations when other families are frantically scrambling to leave. While there are many brands to choose from, some seem tight enough to permanently misshapen a baby’s head, other headbands just can’t physically withstand the force of a toddler on a destructive streak, so do yourself a solid and just get this go-to brand.
Baby Carriers
Strollers have their utility but if you are traveling frequently, or find yourself on cobblestone streets or facing massive potholes, a baby carrier is an absolute must-have. There is a virtually unlimited number of baby carrying devices but my personal favorite is the Ergo 360, well because as the name suggests, we find it the most ergonomic and comfortable kid hauler around. The 360 degree feature allows a baby to be held on the front, the back, on the side, as well as facing in or facing out, and so many options make it perfect for kids as they get older and heavier. Granted, our children are still on the small side but we will still carry our 5-year old when he gets tired and needs a break. We don’t travel around the world just to stay within a toddler’s walk of the hotel so virtually any piece of equipment that allows us to stay out longer, later and go further is worth the price. The Ergo 360 is roughly $160 and has lots of color and fabric choices.
Sleeping and Eating Gear
Avoid extra charges at hotels for cots, AND more importantly keep all those gains made in sleep training by bringing your own portable baby crib. I consider this a luxury item not worth hauling around; however, other parents swear that it is an absolute requirement. If you fall into the later group, I have done some research and the UniPlay Portable Playard is highly recommended. It weighs only 8 pounds, folds up to the size of a briefcase and for $75 you can have the peace of mind that your baby won’t roll off the bed, that a toddler won’t get out of bed and flush all their toys down the toilet, and that your nearly potty-trained kid won’t pee on an AirBnB mattress. Plus, you can throw a fitted sheet on top to provide shade at the beach, etc. Ok, I have just convinced myself that I need this.
I have noticed in our travels that some countries are more baby travel-friendly than others. One small example is the lack of availability of highchairs. The Inglesina Portable Highchair attaches quickly to tables and can be used anywhere from picnic benches, restaurant tables, hotel desks, etc. It can hold a child up to 37 pounds and collapses down to 4.2 pounds making it easy to carry in a backpack or diaper bag. Our friends just traveled for 5 months straight with their 1-year old and swore that a portable highchair was their most highly recommended kid-travel accessory.
I have to admit that we get a little kickback from Amazon if you buy from the links in this article, so go ahead and DO IT! This stuff is really great, but if you disagree, leave me a comment and tell me why.
Under 6 Overseas 