TRAVEL GEAR WE LOVE
The little things that make a big difference.Some things make it into our bags again and again. Others only come along when the trip calls for them.
This isn’t everything we pack. It’s a mix of our core essentials and a few things beyond the usual suitcase-and-toiletries list that have made traveling as a family a little easier.
BROWSE BY TOPIC
Tips for everything before you board
Tips for everything before you board
Keeping Track
Tips for everything before you board
Small Extras
Tips for everything before you board
Getting Around
The gear we use to get from one place to the next.
This is one of our go-to travel items, and I honestly don’t know what we’ll do when our son officially outgrows it!
For such a compact stroller, it’s surprisingly sturdy. We attach a fan, hook on a bag, and use the storage underneath for snacks and all the little things we want handy throughout the day. We’ve been taking it on trips for the past four years, including plenty of international adventures, and it’s held up incredibly well.
One of my favorite things about it is how easily it packs away. It folds into a compact little square, and we’ve been able to carry it onboard and fit it under the seat on our flights. Having it with us means we can use it right up until boarding, fold it quickly, and have it ready for our son again as soon as we’re back in the airport.
It’s just as useful once we arrive, especially on days with lots of walking. Even as our son has gotten older, having somewhere for him to rest lets us keep exploring a little longer.
Once our son outgrew his infant car seat, we needed another option for travel. We’d initially thought we could make do with renting one, but a few lackluster and anxiety-inducing experiences internationally changed our minds. We decided bringing our own was worth avoiding the uncertainty of what we’d get when we arrived.
I spent some time researching something lightweight, straightforward to use, and suitable for travel without a separate base. This is the one we landed on, and we’ve brought it on several trips where we knew we’d be driving or spending time in a car.
It fits nicely in our car seat travel bag, which has backpack straps that make it easier to carry through the airport. It’s still one more thing to bring, but the lighter weight helps. Once we reach our hotel, we can tuck it away until we need it. For us, knowing what we’re bringing and being familiar with how to use it has been worth the extra baggage.
As much as we love our travel car seat, we’re always looking for ways to lighten the load. For our Mexico City trip, we knew we’d be using Ubers and taking a longer drive outside the city. If we’d only needed airport transfers, we likely would have brought our car seat. But carrying it around between rides and sightseeing stops wouldn’t have been practical.
That’s when we discovered the RideSafer Travel Vest. We spent time researching its testing information, fit requirements, and instructions before deciding it was an option we felt comfortable using for our son.
Before the trip, we took it on several practice rides at home so we could get familiar with putting it on and positioning the seat belt correctly. Once we were traveling, its light weight and compact size made getting around so much easier. We could take an Uber, remove the vest when we arrived, tuck it into our day bag, and have it ready for the next ride.
Before buying: Check the age, height, weight, and fit requirements for the specific model and size, along with the vehicle requirements and rules where you’ll be traveling. Take time to practice using it according to the manufacturer’s instructions before your trip.
Comfort & Sleep
The gear we use to get from one place to the next.
We’re always looking for ways to help our son get comfortable on long-haul flights because, let’s be honest, if he sleeps, the journey is a little more peaceful for all of us!
He’s slept stretched across our seats before, but that means giving up some of our already limited space. This inflatable footrest filled the gap in front of his seat, giving him room to stretch his legs out instead of across me, and it worked!
There are a few trade-offs. You have to inflate it onboard, then deflate and compress it before packing it away, which can take some effort. Once it’s in place, reaching the bag under the seat is awkward, so pull out anything you’ll need beforehand.
Even deflated, it takes up carry-on space, so we save it for long-haul or overnight flights where we expect him to sleep. I probably wouldn’t bring one just for myself, but helping him rest has made it worth the extra setup.
Before packing: Check your airline’s rules, including whether footrests are allowed and any restrictions on where and when they can be used.
Sleeping arrangements can take a little more planning when your child has moved beyond a crib but still needs something along the sides of a regular bed. Inflatable bed rails were a handy find for us during that stage.
We bought ours for a trip to Moorea, where our Airbnb didn’t have a crib and our son would be sleeping in a spare bed. It wasn’t particularly high off the floor, but I knew I’d sleep better with a little extra reassurance!
These pack down nicely for travel, then inflate to create a raised edge along the sides of the bed. They worked well for us and gave us peace of mind with an unfamiliar sleeping setup.
You might only need them while your child is getting used to sleeping in a regular bed, but they served their purpose for us, and I have no regrets about buying them.
Before using: Check the product’s age requirements and instructions to make sure it’s suitable for your child and the bed you’ll be using.
I’m always cold, so traveling with a blanket is non-negotiable. I don’t care if we’re headed somewhere hot - one is coming with me!
Finding something warm enough and big enough to actually cover you, without taking up half your carry-on, can be a challenge. This blanket checks all those boxes. It easily covers both me and my son, then folds into its little travel bag and fits neatly inside my Longchamp. Bonus: packed in its bag, it can double as a pillow.
And even if you’re comfortable on the plane, you never know what the travel gods have in store. Mine has come in handy during an unexpected travel disruption that left me sleeping on an airport cot. Definitely one of those times I was glad I’d brought it!
Comfort & Sleep
The gear we use to get from one place to the next.
We’re always looking for ways to help our son get comfortable on long-haul flights because, let’s be honest, if he sleeps, the journey is a little more peaceful for all of us!
He’s slept stretched across our seats before, but that means giving up some of our already limited space. This inflatable footrest filled the gap in front of his seat, giving him room to stretch his legs out instead of across me, and it worked!
There are a few trade-offs. You have to inflate it onboard, then deflate and compress it before packing it away, which can take some effort. Once it’s in place, reaching the bag under the seat is awkward, so pull out anything you’ll need beforehand.
Even deflated, it takes up carry-on space, so we save it for long-haul or overnight flights where we expect him to sleep. I probably wouldn’t bring one just for myself, but helping him rest has made it worth the extra setup.
Before packing: Check your airline’s rules, including whether footrests are allowed and any restrictions on where and when they can be used.
Sleeping arrangements can take a little more planning when your child has moved beyond a crib but still needs something along the sides of a regular bed. Inflatable bed rails were a handy find for us during that stage.
We bought ours for a trip to Moorea, where our Airbnb didn’t have a crib and our son would be sleeping in a spare bed. It wasn’t particularly high off the floor, but I knew I’d sleep better with a little extra reassurance!
These pack down nicely for travel, then inflate to create a raised edge along the sides of the bed. They worked well for us and gave us peace of mind with an unfamiliar sleeping setup.
You might only need them while your child is getting used to sleeping in a regular bed, but they served their purpose for us, and I have no regrets about buying them.
Before using: Check the product’s age requirements and instructions to make sure it’s suitable for your child and the bed you’ll be using.
I’m always cold, so traveling with a blanket is non-negotiable. I don’t care if we’re headed somewhere hot - one is coming with me!
Finding something warm enough and big enough to actually cover you, without taking up half your carry-on, can be a challenge. This blanket checks all those boxes. It easily covers both me and my son, then folds into its little travel bag and fits neatly inside my Longchamp. Bonus: packed in its bag, it can double as a pillow.
And even if you’re comfortable on the plane, you never know what the travel gods have in store. Mine has come in handy during an unexpected travel disruption that left me sleeping on an airport cot. Definitely one of those times I was glad I’d brought it!
Keeping Track
What we use for our son and our luggage.
We bring an Apple AirTag for a little extra peace of mind when traveling with our son, especially in busy places. We still keep him close, but we like having another tool that might help if we ever get separated. We use this AirTag holder to pin it inside his pocket so it stays tucked out of the way.
At a children’s museum in DC, we briefly lost sight of him among the climbing nets and winding turns of the play area. We were confident he was still inside, but that moment of parental panic kicked in anyway! Checking Find My and seeing the AirTag showing nearby helped us stay calmer while we looked for him.
Worth knowing: AirTags are designed to locate belongings and don’t provide continuous, real-time tracking. We treat ours as an extra tool, rather than a guarantee of knowing exactly where our son is.
We also talk through what to do if we get separated. After a close call with closing subway doors in Tokyo, we realized that conversation couldn’t wait until something actually happened. Having a plan our son understands matters just as much as anything we carry.
Sleeping arrangements can take a little more planning when your child has moved beyond a crib but still needs something along the sides of a regular bed. Inflatable bed rails were a handy find for us during that stage.
We bought ours for a trip to Moorea, where our Airbnb didn’t have a crib and our son would be sleeping in a spare bed. It wasn’t particularly high off the floor, but I knew I’d sleep better with a little extra reassurance!
These pack down nicely for travel, then inflate to create a raised edge along the sides of the bed. They worked well for us and gave us peace of mind with an unfamiliar sleeping setup.
You might only need them while your child is getting used to sleeping in a regular bed, but they served their purpose for us, and I have no regrets about buying them.
Before using: Check the product’s age requirements and instructions to make sure it’s suitable for your child and the bed you’ll be using.