Do you remember when traveling with your kids became a breeze? Yeah, me neither! But it has gotten much easier as they have grown out of diapers and bottles. I am always on the lookout for gear that makes family travel easier. Here are some of my favorites. This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Last summer I shared my travel boredom buster backpack for kids (tablets, apps, crafts, etc.). We were able to get through two 6-hour flights without any issues. You can read about it here and make your own.
In this post I will be covering my favorite:
- Booster seats
- Car seat backpack
- Strollers
- Packing cubes
- Carry-on/Suitcases
Booster Seat
During our family travel adventures, we have tried two different kinds of booster seats when traveling with kids and we love both (it comes down to your preference). If you are looking for a booster seat that you can use everyday and then only use the bottom portion when traveling, check out the Nuna AACE. The latch attachments make for a quick and easy install. I love this because you can adjust the booster as your child grows, making it a great investment.
Another great option is the Mifold. I had seen the grab-and-go booster in Target a few times and was curious about it. When Mifold offered to send two I was all about trying it out. This booster folds up and is small enough to fit in your purse or backpack. It is also great for uber/lyft and taxi rides. I would lean towards bringing along the Mifold over the Nuna because I don’t want to risk losing or damaging my everyday booster. I have taken pictures of the Sport edition and Original side by side below.
Car Seat Backpack
My son is not big enough for a booster yet, so we still travel with his car seat. I bought this car seat backpack over 5 years ago and it is still in great condition. I love the heavyweight material as it protects the car seat much better than the red bags you typically see. The padded shoulder straps help distribute the weight making it much more comfortable than one would think.
Strollers
When my kids were smaller I had a slight obsession with strollers. I have had over 16 strollers since my kids were babies. When my daughter was little I bought a Maclaren for travel and thought it was okay. Then I was given a CityMini and that was an awesome everyday and travel stroller! It seems strollers have come a long way. This one by BabyZen is pricey but good for everyday use too. It folds up easily and fits into most overhead compartments on airplanes! So cool!
Now we travel with this Austlen stroller. It holds up to 150 lbs and is perfect as a luggage cart. While they don’t sell the sit and stand attachment anymore, the platform is good for older siblings in a busy airport. You should see people’s eyes when we expand the base to hold the suitcases.
Packing cubes
How did I just discover packing cubes last year?! I must have been under a rock. Instead of dividing by person, I lay out outfits for the family by day and roll them up and put them in a cube. There are a lot of different types but these ones are my favorite and a steal. I also like these compression ones. They are a bit more money but worth it if you are a heavy packer like myself.
Suitcases
We have had a lot of suitcases over the years. I always bought soft-sided luggage because I assumed they were lighter. Last year we switched to hard-sided luggage and haven’t looked back. I love how easy they are to clean. I always take a disinfectant wipe to them when we get home and before I put them in storage. Check out this one by Away that has a charger built in for the carry-on.
Do you have any travel gear you can’t live without?
With love,
Shahla
Love our gb Pockit stroller for travelling. We have a backpack that it fits perfectly into.
That’s awesome!! It is one of those where-was-this-when-my-first-kiddo-was-born strollers!!