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1. Keep toddlers from getting restless with a Montessori busy board that has plenty of zippers, buttons, laces, and buckles to tinker with. It also folds up conveniently with handles — making it easy to carry on the go.
2. And cut down on screentime with a set of games for the road that'll keep little minds busy for HOURS.
3. BTW, you can also download a road trip bingo game that'll get the kids excited to ~actually~ look out the window as they keep their eyes peeled for specific things on the list.
4. Convert an Ikea Dragan wooden box into a travel first aid box to keep in the trunk of your car.
5. Or take the guesswork out of what to take with a Welly First Aid Kit that contains all the essentials you might need for any small travel emergencies packaged in a ~cute as can be~ tin.
6. And, while you're at it, toss in a travel-size antiseptic and pain relief spray in your first aid kit, purse, or diaper bag to treat *ouchies* on the go.
7. You might also wanna buy a sleek touchless forehead thermometer. It's compact and lightweight enough to fit in a purse or backpack, and has a built-in sensor that'll let you measure your little one's temperate in seconds without disturbing them while they're sleeping.
8. Invest in a lightweight and comfy travel crib that'll pay for itself over and over if your baby absolutely refuses to sleep in those um, germ-laden hotel cribs. (The mama below, for instance, swears by the Babybjörn Travel Crib Light.)
9. Prevent your little one from sliding around the hotel tub with an inflatable bath tub (especially useful if your hotel bathroom only has a shower).
10. Baby's first beach trip? Make sure you pack a pop-up tent to ensure your little munchkin has a shaded spot to people watch and enjoy their afternoon siesta.
11. Speaking of sun protection, grab an easy-to-apply SPF 70 suncreen stick because getting kids to sit still while you slather is an *impossible feat*. This stuff is specifically formulated to apply easily to wet skin (no need to towel-dry before reapplying) during water play.
12. And if — despite using sunscreen religiously — your kiddos still tend to get burned after a day in the sun, you'll need a Burt's Bees sunburn soother. It's made with aloe vera and coconut oil to gently alleviate pain, redness, and swelling.
13. Save PRECIOUS luggage space with compression cubes if your family is unfamiliar with the concept of packing light and is prone to taking an *absurd* amount of stuff on vacation.
14. BTW, you can also maximize space by snagging these ingenious collapsible pails. You'll thank me later when you don't need to shell out $$ on an overpriced set at the hotel gift shop.
15. And try this mama's brilliant hack for packing kids' clothes: Pack each outfit (complete with underwear and socks) separately in gallon-sized Ziploc bags, and then suck the air out of the bags with a straw. It'll not only save space but ALSO save time if your preschooler is anything like mine and takes forever to pick out their vacation #ootd.
16. Don't leave home without a travel potty that'll come to the rescue on long car rides when there isn't a bathroom in sight. Line it with a plastic bag to make cleanup a breeze.
17. And keep these disposable toilet seat covers on hand if your potty-trained toddler insists on getting their hands ~all over~ gross public restroom seats.
18. Or try this travel urinal that many reviewers were skeptical of initially but then became huge fans of when their child had multiple pee emergencies at not-the-most-convenient times on road trips.
19. Tired of being the designated snack carrier on family trips? Create travel snack packs, aka fanny packs filled with fave snacks, for each one of your kids. No more digging through your big, cumbersome backpack and listening to constant demands of, "I'm hungry; please, could you give me a snack?"
20. Going camping? Add a personal water filter to your emergency kit for any situation that may arise where your family finds itself without fresh drinking water and needs to use the nearest river or puddle.
21. And if your kids are total mosquito magnets, keep the bug bite suction tool handy. It relieves the itching and swelling from all kinds of bug bites, so your kids aren't left scratching all day.
22. Create an easy DIY Lego travel case in five minutes flat using a storage box with adjustable compartments and some ingenious peel-and-stick baseplates. Perfect for Lego storage and play on the go!
23. Or give the kids their own little pod for drawing, eating, and playing in the car or on the plane with a travel tray that comes with a tablet-viewing stand, a cup holder, a dry-erase board that doubles as an eating tray, and storage pockets for markers and toys.
24. Get those iPads off their laps and at eye level with a back seat car organizer that's also great for organizing all the snacks, toys, drinks, and random things that tend to pile up in the back seat during a road trip.
25. Contain all the crushed Cheez-Its, sticky juice boxes, and other mysterious messes en route to your destination using a waterproof trash can.
26. And stock up on a pack of vomit bags with a twist-and-seal structure that'll be super useful if a tummy bug hits on the road.
27. Staying at a hotel or an Airbnb? Ensure kiddos who have outgrown the pack 'n' play won't roll out of bed with an inflatable travel bed complete with bumpers. Added bonus: Parents can have the hotel bed all to themselves. Win-win.
28. Lull your baby to sleep in unfamiliar places with an inexpensive portable white-noise machine that'll drown out noises with calming, spa-like sounds. It has thousands of 5-star reviews for a reason (adults swear by it too!).
29. Going to Disney World? Stay prepared with a family pack of disposable rain ponchos, because there's a 99.99% chance you'll be caught in a torrential downpour at least once during your visit to Orlando. (You'll pat yourself on the back later for not paying a fortune for these in the parks!)
30. And make sure your little one doesn't get soaked in the rain during your adventures with a stroller cover.
31. Let both your kids watch SpongeBob on the flight WITHOUT sharing headphones with the AirFly Pro, an ingenious device (for anyone who's ever wished to enjoy in-flight entertainment using their wireless headphones!).
32. Make this hands-free (rotating!) phone mount your travel BFF no matter which airline you're flying. Just mount it to the tray table or to the arm of a chair in the waiting area so your kid can stream Paw Patrol (and you can take a breather 🙏).
33. And finally, make sure your phone doesn't run out of juice with a small but mighty portable power bank charger so you can capture all those special family memories.
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.