25 Travel Must Haves for Toddlers and Baby
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Are you looking for must have items for traveling with a baby? We've traveled with a baby. Are you looking for travel must haves for toddlers? We've traveled with a toddler. We've traveled with a baby AND toddler. We've also traveled with a lot of crappy products and a lot of REALLY HELPFUL products. We have created a gift guide for baby travel must haves that will make travel easier both physically and mentally. Don’t be bogged down with irrelevant products and too much baggage; let us help with tried and true travel products for toddlers and babies!
This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. You can find an easy shopping list of all of these items on my Amazon Storefront.
Here’s a list of the 25 BEST products for traveling with kids!
1) Eddie Bauer Backpack Diaperbag:
Get yours HERE:
This backpack is everything. I would rank this as an absolute must have when traveling with baby. We tried regular diaper bags, over-the-shoulder bags, regular backpacks, backpacking packs, etc. NOTHING WORKED. Everything got disorganized, there wasn't sufficient space for baby/toddler needs, etc.
Traveling solo with the kids - i have my diaper bag on my back, baby on the front and toddler in the stroller!
We used the Eddie Bauer diaper bag from our first baby all the way to now - on our third baby!. This bag clips to our stroller, keeps bottles warm, holds a foldable toilet seat/diapers/wipes/toddler wipes/extra clothes etc. This is definitely the best diaper bag for travel.
Check out our post 12 Tips for Flying with Toddlers
another solo mom adventure with the GB pocket stroller, eddie bauer diaper bag, and tula carrier!
Check out my post on Tips for Flying as a Solo mom
This stroller FITS UNDER THE AIRPLANE SEAT. You read that right, you can bring the Pockit as a carry-on and slip it under the seat in front of you. We love this option because it means no more broken strollers and we don’t have to wait for a stroller on a layover. This stroller is so compact that it is easily carried with one hand and would fit in most large day bags if you didn’t want to use it the entire time. We swear by this stroller.
this grainy photo shows our pockit folded under an airplane seat! its truly an amazing stroller for toddlers
my 6 foot 2 husband pushing the doona in cartagena colombia!
The Best travel stroller for a baby is the Doona. Get your Doona from Amazon HERE or from Target HERE. With my first two babies, the Doona didn’t exist. But with our third, we couldn’t wait to get our hands on this car seat stroller! It is amazing for travel with an infant!
For older babies, we prefer the Mountain Buggy Nano because it has a great shade, folds up tiny, has an under basket, and lays flat with a 5 point harness.
here is our baby in an uber in quito, ecuador! We are able to pop him in and out easily with the doona.
3) Soft Baby Carrier (Ergo Baby, LilleBaby, Tula, etc):
Find it on Amazon — Ergo Aerloom HERE or Tula Free to Grow HERE:
Find it on Target (get 5% off with REDCARD) — Ergo Omni 360 (Similar to the Ergo Aerloom)
on the new york city subway with our ergo aerloom
We swear by our baby carriers!! We have always kept 3 carriers as our kids grew. They are an absolute must have for traveling with a baby. When I travel alone with my children, I wear one and push one in the stroller. When I only had one baby, my carrier made zipping through airports a breeze! We own (and love) an Ergo Aerloom and TWO Toddler Tulas. (Now, the Tula Free to Grow) Both the Ergo Aerloom and the Tula Grow With Me are able to be worn with children up to 45lbs. These are long term carriers! Soft baby carriers are must-haves for traveling with baby.
I currently use the Ergo Aerloom for my infant and it is SO comfortable and breathable. For the Aerloom and Free to Grow, you do not need an infant insert, the carrier adjust for size!
OUr third baby in his ergo aerloom while we backpacked through central america
Me tandem wearing 2 toddler tulas on a trail in colorado - my kids were 2 & 4 years old.
4) Yogasleep Hushh Portable White Noise Sound Machine
Get yours HERE.
our infant sleeping in the airport with his portable sound machine going
At home our kids sleep with white noise via their giant box fans, but we can't bring those with use each time we travel, so we use a portable sound machine! We even bring a portable sound machine ON THE PLANE and IN THE CAR to help our kids settle to sleep while we are in transit! I also keep it in the stroller for on-the-go naps while we are out sightseeing. It has helped TREMENDOUSLY! Sound Machines are nonnegotiable baby travel items in our house - we have two of them!
Our baby using his sound machine at an all inclusive in mexico! THis crib came with the room
5) Clip-On High Chair
Get yours HERE from Amazon or HERE from Target (RedCard get extra 5% off!)
We didn’t get a clip on high chair until our third baby and that was a huge mistake! These high chairs are incredible and so versatile for travel. We have used ours in 6 countries so far and can say, the chair is worth it’s weight in gold.
Ira hanging with my parents at a restaurant in barbados
The Inglesina Clip on High chair folds flat and has a connected travel bag so you never lose it. We easily packed it in our suitcase. It gave the baby somewhere to sit in our hotels and Airbnbs before he was mobile. A clip on highchair is one of the essentials for travel with a baby!
Our 6 month old baby hanging out in our airbnb at lake atitilan in guatemala
Check out our post on Taking Better Photos of Your Family While on Vacation.
6) Slumberpod:
Get your Slumberpod HERE..
The Slumberpod is a sleep game changer for parents. This allows baby to have a dark, safe place to sleep while room sharing on trips. If you’re staying with family or staying in a shared hotel room with a toddler, the slumberpod can give baby a dark, comfortable space to get into deep sleep without being interrupted by lights.
our baby slept amazingly in his slumberpod at the twa hotel in new york city
SlumberPod is a blackout privacy pod sleep nook that allows babies 4 months and up to get a good night's sleep in any room, day or night. It has a bottomless design to fit over playards, mini-cribs, travel cribs, or select toddler cots or mattresses
Check out our post 9 Tips to Get Your Child to Sleep on A Plane.
our baby sleeping inside his slumberpod in our airbnb in guatemala
we take our prepara kit everywhere, including this hike up to colchuck lake in washington
Having a first aid kit when traveling with kids is a MUST. You never know when you’ll need to cover a booboo on the go. Preparakit is our go-to for travel first-aid kits. They offer 2 convenient sizes; Take Along (larger) and the Mini-Take Along (Smaller). I usually pack both. The mini easily attaches to our diaper/carry on bag. I love that it comes with Band-Aids of all sizes and even includes stickers for the kids. This is one of my travel with toddler MUST haves!
using our preparakit at lake bled slovenia after our daughter took a fall
8) Best Travel Sippy Cup & Toddler Water Bottle
For Baby:
Munchkin 360 Stainless Steel Sippy Cup
Get yours HERE!
the babies in an airport having lunch with their munchkin 360 cups!
Normally, I wouldn't suggest a particular cup, BUT this cup is special. We love the 360 cups and this one HAS A LID. So when your running through the airport and it falls on the floor or it touches something unfavorable in your diaper bag, the part your kids mouth touches remains clean. ALSO, the stainless steel cup trumps the plastic version based on durability and ability to maintain heat/cold.
Best Cup for Travel with Toddlers and Big Kids:
YETI Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Get yours HERE!
my kids with their yeti water bottles in the ecuadorian amazon!
As I said before, we love the stainless steel YETI Water Bottle because they keep the kid’s drinks cold for longer. They are extremely durable and also NOT plastic! A win-win-win! We have two of these YETI Water Bottles. These are one of my travel essentials for 2 year old and up!
check out all the yeti water bottles on the table at a cooking class in colombia! THey are the best water bottles for kids.
9) Travel Foot Rest
Get yours HERE:
This inflatable travel pillow has been AMAZING to us. We have taken it on long road trips, on long flights and even camping with us! We use it to prop up the kid’s feet in the car and we inflate it on planes so they can lay flat to sleep.
our 6 month old sleeping on an international flight
This Inflatable travel pillow takes less than a minute to inflate or deflate, is easily packed into a carry-on bag and is VERY well made. We tried another brand before this, but were impressed with the quality of this footrest! This is one of my must haves when flying with baby on long hauls!
This is my son using our foot pillow on a long haul flight from Rome to Detroit!
Check out our post 9 Tips to Get Your Child to Sleep on A Plane.
10) Invest in a Travel Carseat:
Get your travel car seat HERE.
Travel car seats are a MUST have. If you are flying to grandma’s house or across the world, NO ONE wants to carry a 35lb car seat through the airport while wrangling kids.
when my older two kids were both babies and toddlers, we traveled with two cosco sceneras!
We love the Cosco Scenera so much for traveling with toddlers, we have TWO of them. The Cosco Scenera NEXT weighs about 10lbs. These car seats are approved to be installed on an airplane too & fit almost all airline seats.
The Cosco Scenera car seat is approved for rear facing up to 40lbs. For sure this is the best car seat for traveling with a toddler! It is very easy to install and so lightweight!
Doona stroller in colombia (and you can spy our big kid’s yeti water bottle too!)
If you are traveling with an infant, I HIGHLY recommend the Doona. We use a Doona for travel for our third baby and it’s been fantastic. Its a stroller that easily converts to a car seat. We have used our Doona Stroller in 7 countries so far and it’s been amazing. This car seat can be installed in an airplane seat as well.
if you have an infant, the doona is by far the most superior travel stroller since its both a stroller and a carseat in one! this is our baby in mexico
We have used these head-to-tow cleansing cloths while traveling with babies and toddlers since 2016. We like to use them on overnight flights to clean up the kids before putting them in their pajamas, we use the body wipes on long travel days with kids in lieu of a late night bath, and we love to bring them camping!
Body wipes are a must have item when traveling with kids! They are perfect for cleaning up a baby after a blow out and also great if someone get’s really dirty playing! The packaging is small and the wipes are huge! They also have a very nice scent.
12) CARES Harness - Child Airplane Travel Harness
We have two of these airplane harnesses. They have saved me sanity SO many times. I fly alone with my two toddlers more than I fly with help. These harnesses are FAA approved and a very smart replacement for bringing a car seat on a plane.
A CARES harness is one of my key must haves for flying with Toddlers and little kids. Both of my kids are extremely active, but they think they are in a car seat with these and they stay put! (and safe!)
these harnesses are amazing for young kids on planes
The harnesses are very simple to install, they keep the kids in the correct sitting position AND they fold up TINY. I can put both in my diaper bag without losing space for other items. These airplane harnesses have allowed me to use the restroom during flights, bring my daughter to the bathroom while my son stays in his seat, etc. Keep your children safe during unexpected turbulence and give yourself some needed airplane freedom!
Both of my Kids, ages 2 and 4, using their CARES harness on a flight from Florida to Philly.
13) ChooMee SoftSip Pouch Tops:
Get yours HERE!
our daughter using her cap in an airport lounge! no mess!
These caps CHANGED EVERYTHING for us. From day-to-day errands to 10-hour long haul flights. Your kids can no longer squeeze a pouch and get it EVERYWHERE. Save yourself the mess and get these pouch caps right now. They are durable and THEY WORK. We're on our third toddler using these, so we know a think or two! They are easy to rinse clean and small enough to carry on the go. AND THE TRAVEL CONTAINER IS AMAZING!
Check out our post 6 Tips for Traveling with a Picky Eater.
pouch caps for the wiN!
14) Packing Cubes:
Get yours HERE!
all of these clothes fit into one packing cube!
Packing cubes save marriages and vacations alike. Every person in our family gets their own packing cube in the suitcase, which makes packing/unpacking very easy. We also keep one stocked with wipes/diapers, one with snacks, one with electronics, one with charging cords, etc. These cubes range in size from tiny to large enough for several pairs of jeans. My husband also uses a special kind of cube for shoes, so our clothes don't get ruined!
Check out our post on How to Pack Light When Traveling with Toddlers.
We used packing cubes to compact our gear for our 9 week south america trip — everything you see here is everything we brought with us. 4 backpacks, a single checked bag, and the stroller.
showcasing their headphones
We love it when our kids use their headphones when we travel. On long road trips they can watch their own movies and we can listen to our music up front. On the long-haul flights they love watching movies on the headrest in front of them, so having their own headphones has helped keep the peace!
These headphones can also be connected to each other so the kids can listen to the same movie at the same time! They are the best!
Check out our blog on The Best Travel Apps for Toddlers and Preschoolers.
we absolutely love these headphones!
air tag bracelet and granzinadas in guatemala
Safety is paramount when traveling with babies, toddlers and kids. For mobile children we use AirTags to track our kids. You never know when a toddler will run off too quickly — accidents happen all the time.
We use bracelets for our older 2 kids that snap in an AirTag. We have them wear them on their ankles sometimes or their arms depending on where we are.
For your baby, you can add an AirTag onto their stroller or sew a small pocket into a onsie (as long as they can’t get to it).
the kids with ice cream and airtag watches in guatemala
17) Silicone Mat to Protect from germs in restaurants and airplanes!
Get yours HERE:
minimize germs with a silicone mat!
Silicon mats are an absolute must have for traveling with children. They can be used to put down on restaurant tables or placed on airplane trays to prevent germs or provide grip for toys and snacks. When you’re finished using the silicone mat, it’s easy to clean by wiping it down. It rolls up easily and stores nicely in diaper bags or backpacks. We have used these since our children were just old enough to sit in a high chair!
silicone mats are amazing for restaurants, but also for the nasy plane trays! They keep toys and food still
18) Graco Folding Travel Toilet Seat:
Get yours HERE:
The adult toilets in public restrooms are not made for young kids. This toddler toilet seat has grips to fit onto any shape toilet seat creating a comfortable spot for a toddler to relax and do their business.
This seat is AWESOME! (if a toilet seat can be awesome. HA!) This toddler toilet seat folds so small it goes in the side pocket of the Diaper Bag Backpack we use (Item one on this list) — AND we recently did several hikes with this bad boy.
19) Spill Proof Snack Containers
Get yours HERE!
Snacks are a MUST for traveling with babies and toddlers. These spill proof snack cups are a must have travel item for toddlers of all ages. The silicone lid keep snacks from falling out, but easily allows little hands in to grab. These snack containers fit most cupholder too!
There are two options for these cups: Plastic Cup with Silicone Lid or a Stainless Steel Cup with Silicone Lid. I have ordered both for my 10 month old!
Even at the white house, my daughter needed her snacks
20) Baby and Toddler Travel Toiletry Set
Get yours HERE!
We found this Pipette travel set just before our third baby was born and I wish we had had it for all three. All of the products are hypoallergenic, free of synthetic fragrance, and cruelty free. They are gentle enough for baby, but great for toddlers and big kids too! I absolutely love the travel pouch it came in too and we used it for our 9 week Central and South America trip!
21) Headrest Tablet Mount:
Get yours HERE!
We love having our iPad mounted in the car. It allows our kids to watch movies on long trips, but also not be able to exit out of the movie 3957329 times. We have also used this mount on airplanes by mounting it to the tray table so she can watch while we fly. This particular mount can adjust to fit many different tablets!
22) Braided Leather Pacifier Clip:
Get yours HERE!
I normally wouldn't be such a diva about something like a Pacifier clip, but these are amazing. They can get wet, the clips stay tight, and they are very durable.
the baby with his paci clip! THe pacifier would have been on the airplane floor if it hadn’t been attached to him! ***Don’t worry, i only restem him on the seat after we landed and I was getting our bags ready!!
We have lost too many pacifiers while traveling and these help us keep track and keep us from having to clean pacifiers over and over. We attach them to the baby in the morning and voila! No more lost paci!
PSST, if you’re using MAM Pacifiers, you can get these silicone circles to attach them to this clip. We only use MAM Pacifiers!
our little guy with his paci clip in the airport — he’s also riding along in his ergo aerloom
23) Wet Bags:
Get yours HERE!
Little did I know that WET BAGS are essential for traveling with kids. These bags are big enough to hold several spare outfits (for TWO kids), they clip easily to the stroller or diaper bag, they are machine washable, and of course, they are waterproof. I have put a lot of miles on our bag. It's saved us after MANY blowouts, an unexpected discovery museum water incident, unplanned beach entries, and many spills and accidents that left my kid’s clothes soaked or nasty. I LOVE this neutral print too!
24) The Best Travel Crib for Toddlers & babies
Best Travel Crib for Babies: Guava Lotus Travel Crib
We have used our Guava Lotus travel crib and bassinet since our third baby was born. As a matter of fact, its the only bed he used until he was 6 months old and we got a full sized crib for our house.
Our 6 month old sleeping in the guava lotus in our hotel room in the ecuadorian amazon - we used our spare sheet as a mosquito net.
the slumberpod sets up so easily and is very light to travel with! this is our baby in the guava lotus bassinet on a trip to virgina to visit family
We have used the Guava Lotus travel cot across 7 countries and it has been amazing to travel with. We actually put inside of our checked bag because it folds up so small. Set up is simple and the pad at the bottom is better than a regular pack n play. Even the bassinet attachment folds easily and packs light!
We were able to pack the guava lotus ANd the slumber pod in our checked back
Best Travel Crib for Toddlers:
If you have a very tall toddler, I wrote an entire blog on different sized Travel Cribs (HERE), but we came across the extended length travel cribs in Europe and knew we needed one. Our toddler was too long for a regular pack-n-play, but not old enough to sleep in a bed. As soon as we returned home, we bought one and it has been AMAZING. It folds up about the same size and weighs the same as a regular size. Every parent of toddlers NEEDS THIS NOW.
Get yours HERE!
25) Nursery Door Latch Cover Silencer
Get yours HERE!
You never know what kind of hotel room or Airbnb room you will get when traveling with children. One of the best baby holiday accessories I bring along with us is one or two of these nursery door latch covers!
These are SO easy to install and keep the door from slamming! No more creeping out!
These Nursery Door Latch Covers allow you to open and shut doors silently which keeps baby calm or asleep. Don’t be surprised by doors that slam shut or are loud to close — snag a couple of these Nursery Door Latch Covers!
As always, we love your feedback!! What are your MUST HAVE travel products for traveling with a baby or toddler or BOTH?
DON'T FORGET! You can find an easy shopping list of all of these items on my Amazon Storefront.
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