The Best Travel Gear for Babies and Kids
Traveling as a parent with young children can be wonderful and also daunting. There are a million and one pieces of gear out there that promise to make your experience easier – but not all of it is necessary. We’ve tapped our community's most trusted frequent fliers for the travel pieces they won’t leave home without.
Getting Around
We originally got the Zoe Traveler stroller to take on trips because of its minimal weight and compact nature. However, it quickly turned into our primary stroller. Despite being light, it feels sturdy and easily handles our day-to-day needs. We love the extending canopy, which is perfect against the Miami sun. The attachable snack tray and cup holders are super convenient. It’s also extremely chic, which is always a nice to have when it comes to baby gear. The Zoe competes with the most luxe of travel strollers out there; however for a much better price. - Marika Frumes, Mysha founder
Few things simplified the first year of parenthood quite like the Doona+ Car Seat and Stroller. We relied on it as our everyday car seat, and as an anxious new mom, I appreciated being able to easily snap it into the base and put up the anti-rebound bar as an extra layer of protection. It was also a relief not to transfer our son to a separate stroller or fumble around securing a car seat into a stroller base. I could remove the Doona from our car and pop out the wheels with the press of a button. (It’s admittedly heavier than the average infant car seat, but it was still manageable.) And when we traveled, it was a breeze to use no matter what mode of transportation we used (rental cars, taxis, or metro). If, by some miracle, our son was sleeping when we went out to a restaurant, we could adjust the handle behind the canopy and tuck the Doona to the side of our table without being in anyone’s way. - Sarah Bruning, travel writer
I love the WAYB Pico Travel Car Seat so much that I wrote about it for New York Magazine. We started using it around the time my son turned two and have taken it on trips to Europe and Asia. In my experience, renting car seats in other countries can be hit or miss, so having this one thing in my control while traveling with a young child feels especially nice. I like that the WAYB feels sturdy, but is lightweight enough for me to carry in the brand’s backpack. I rarely check it, preferring to store it in the overhead compartment when we fly, so we don’t run the risk of losing it. My son has never complained about getting in it, so I’m assuming it is comfortable, and we’ll be able to use it for several years, which makes it feel like a worthwhile investment. - Berit Baugher, travel writer
I highly recommend investing in a good and supportive baby carrier for your travel adventures. I have purchased four different carriers, trying all the different styles before finally landing on the Ergobaby Embrace Carrier, and I must say, I am obsessed. As a travel minimalist, I needed a carrier that was lightweight and easy to pack, yet still a bit structured with lower back support. After researching and trying several options, I found most carriers to be way too bulky and awkward to pack, but the Ergobaby hits the mark. It's perfect for infants up to 25 pounds and rolls up small enough to fit into my diaper bag. It's easy to put on and adjust the straps on your own, leaving your hands free to deal with all things airport check-in related. Another major plus is that my husband loves this carrier as well. We switch on and off for baby wearing and he loves using it when we walk around and explore without the stroller. - Julia Silva, travel advisor
I’m a big fan of the Babyzen YoYo stroller. We used it as our primary stroller when we lived in Paris – it was the only stroller that fit in the tiny elevators in France and it seems like everyone uses it there. This summer we’ll bring it along on our travels to use for our 7 month-old daughter along with the ride along board for our 2.5 year-old son. - Hannah Fisch, travel advisor, MY Travel Center
Sleep
I borrowed a Slumberpod from a Mysha mom this past winter. I was headed with my family of five to Vermont for a long ski weekend, and put out the bat call to my Mysha Connecticut group. Within ten minutes a mom who lives 15 minutes from me had offered hers up— we’ve never met in person before, but she didn’t hesitate. (This was after I asked my preschool class moms and no one responded.) Ski trips with kids truly are TRIPS in all of the essence, and we were piling the family into one large room. Thank God for that Slumberpod, it was like a magic tent. I’d toss my toddler in there at night while his brothers were still jumping on the beds or midday when the sunshine was blazing in, and he was put under a trance and fell asleep instantly. Something about that cozy darkness must emulate the womb. - Brooke Lavery, co-owner, Local Foreigner
Is it normal for a 2.5-year-old to specifically ask his parents if they’re bringing his travel crib on a trip? Because ours does. That’s how much our toddler loves his BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light. Even if it’s not the most compact on the market, it’s slim and lightweight, coming in at just 13 pounds. We’ll happily bring it with us, whether we’re traveling by plane or car, because it means our son gets a great night’s sleep. The mattress offers plenty of cushioning, but it’s not bulky or awkward to pack back into the carrying case along with the frame. Plus, the whole setup couldn’t be simpler to put up or take down, and it’s proven surprisingly spacious for our tall guy. - Sarah Bruning, travel writer
The Munchkin Travel Pod is a portable and ultra-light bassinet that I can’t imagine traveling without. You can bring it to the beach (we brought it to Crete and our son played in it for hours) or use it on your flight (we put it at our feet and our child slept for 5 hours on an overnight flight). It works well for the infant stage before they start crawling and packs up flat. - Hannah Fisch, travel advisor, MY Travel Center
My four-year-old son and I have done a few long-haul flights without my husband and the piece of travel gear I’m most thankful for is an inexpensive inflatable footrest and electric air pump I bought off Amazon. The foot rest comes in a small bag that I can easily fit in my carry-on and inflates in a minute or two with the help of the electric pump. I wedge it between my son’s seat and the seat in front of him and lay out a blanket and pillow, which allows him to comfortably get a few hours of sleep. A major coup because traveling with a sleep deprived child is really hard. There are pricier models on the market, like the Flyaway Kids Bed, but this one has served us well for the past three years and doesn’t cost much. Some airlines, like Air France, don’t allow passengers to use these types of devices, so I always recommend checking your airline website before booking flights. - Berit Baugher, travel writer
Miscellaneous
Munchkin’s Toss Disposable Diaper Pails have become a travel MVP for our family. My husband discovered them before our first trip abroad with our son, who was 9-months-old at the time. They’re affordable, come three or five to a pack, and collapse flat to about the width of a thumb, so they fit easily in a checked or carry-on suitcase. Each one held at least three days’ worth of diapers, and they contained smells shockingly well. We’ve brought them on every subsequent trip and keep one tucked to the side in the bathroom of our Airbnb or hotel room. - Sarah Bruning, travel writer
I recently bought the Babymoov Aquani Tent and Pool with UPF dome for a three-week road trip through Portugal. I was hesitant at first to add more stuff to the packing list, but this proved to be a multi-use gem: it's perfect for the beach or any vacation where your baby will need protection from the sun and a safe space to play. It can also be used as a kiddie pool for hot summer days or a play area in your hotel room. It folds up into a small travel bag and is lightweight, you can even store extra toys in the bag to make use of all the available space." - Julia Silva, travel advisor
More travel gear we love and recommend: Guava Lotus Travel Crib, Wayb Daily Pack, Yoto Mini Player, Puro Sound Labs Headphones, YogaSleep Sound Machine, Calpak Packing Cubes, and Colugo Compact Stroller.
