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Vacations may not look like exactly like they used to, but we are ready to bust out of these homes and go out to see the world, or Grandma’s house, or maybe a just little bit of cooler water or shadier trees that are more than a day trip away. And as happy as we are about making all those family trip memories, we can’t forget that traveling with kids can be a giant hassle too. But if you have the right travel accessories, that hassle does get a little bit smaller.
Whether you’re traveling with toddlers or teenagers, you know it’s never going to be as easy as when you were single and carefree. But you also don’t want to stay trapped in your home forever, nor do you have to. From the days when cavewomen learned how to strap babies to their backs, we have been taking kids on trips long and short. And luckily, we have more than handmade baskets and animal hides to help us. Folks have invented travel beds and ride-on suitcases, mobile entertainment devices and compact travel toys, snack packs and cleaning products that turns harried parents into super-moms and dads on the road.
Remember how good it felt the first time you figured out just what to pack in your diaper bag to leave the house for half an hour? (Change of clothing, extra wipes and diapers, and … an extra shirt for you.) You have it in your power to feel that mastery when you pack for family vacation now, too.
These are some genius travel accessories for kids that will make your vacation so much easier.
A Safe Space for Eating
Toddlers and babies aren’t especially well known for having the best table manners, and getting them to keep their food on a plate at home is challenging enough. This silicone mat provides a clean, safe space for them to eat on any flat surface and rolls up easily for storage or travel. It also doubles as a playmat and features a table-hugging bumper mat to prevent your little one from teething on germy corners.
Free the Lap
So you could rely on restaurants and friends to provide you with high chairs wherever you go, and then be resigned to feeding your kiddo on your lap when none is available. Or you could get one of these clever fold-up boosters, which work just as well on the ground as attached to a chair. They’re easy to clean, light, and may even have you tossing out your high chair at home, too.
Whine-Free Tour
If your kid has outgrown their stroller or you’re just not taking it, you will whining when it comes to long walks through hotels, airports, and the like. This ride-on suitcase will solve that problem (for kids ages 3-7), and then some. It also converts into a clever footrest that many airlines have approved for use during flight, turning an economy-class seat into a first-class naptime bed.
Sweatshirt, Toy & Friend in One
You don’t need to pack too many layers for warm-weather travel, but whenever your kid isn’t wearing their Cubcoat, they can cuddle with it. They also make for excellent little pillows in the car or plane.
Cool Customers
Hopping into a car that’s been roasting in a hot parking lot is kind of the worst. And shoving your kid into a hot car seat while you run around to turn on the air conditioning is a dance we’ve all performed. At least we know the breathable fabric in these Chicco booster car seats have “naturally derived volcanic mineral particles” so that heat won’t stay trapped there for long.
Build on the Road
It’s a pretty good idea to bring along at least one or two toys to keep kids occupied on vacation, but finding something that’s both compact and engaging for hours and days is a challenge. This PLUS PLUS Case comes with 100 pieces and a building base. (We can’t guarantee you will be bringing all 100 of those piece back home with you, sadly.)
Dried Fruit Airplane Snacks
If your kid is no longer nursing or drinking from a bottle and too young for the chewing-gum trick for unpopping ears during that painful take-off and landing period, feed them dried fruit. This gets them working those jaws just the same, and also sneaks some vitamins in there too.
Nap in Comfort Anywhere
Whether you’re at the beach all day, or crashing at a family member’s home with no crib easily available, your little ones need a comfy, safe, and shady place to sleep. The sleeping pad is built into the bottom of this little tent, and UV protection is built into its cover.
Sound Protection
When you finally decide to plug your child into a screen (or audio device) to get your own vacation peace and quiet (no shame in this), we definitely recommend headphones that won’t get too loud. These inexpensive and durable headphones also feature a built-in splitter, for when siblings and parents want to listen in.
Inspire Your Budding Travel Journalist
If your child loves art, you will always be on the lookout for an easy way to pack some art supplies for vacation. This little vacation journal kit includes pages for documenting the trip and markers, and it will be perfect to pull out during any down-time.
Cleanup at the Ready
It’s a scary, germy world out there — and also kids are messy. Cleanup before and after your children play in a new place with these wipes made from durable, plant-based material and kid- and pet-safe cleaning ingredients.
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