We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A hands-free (rotating!) phone mount because it can attach to almost anything like a tray table, the arm of a chair, and even luggage so your child will be able to watch their fave videos over and over again instead of being bored.
Promising review: "Essential for traveling with young kids! This thing is clutch. Just traveled with my almost 3-year-old. We used the item for my iPhone so she could watch shows and movies on the flight. Very sturdy, holds its position well. Versatile positions. Highly recommend." —ellierae
Get it from Amazon for $12.97 (available in two colors and a two-pack).
2. A set of dry-erase travel games so you and your kiddo will be able to play classic games like Hangman, Tic Tac Toe, Dots and Boxes, and I Spy to keep you both entertained during a long flight. These game boards are tiny enough to pack in your carry-on, yet huge on fun. They also come with a little bag and marker.
August Fire Designs is a small biz based in Bloomington, Illinois that sells handmade home decor, jewelry, games, and more.
Promising review: "Very cute and aesthetically pleasing kids activity/toy! I bought these for my step-children to have something to do when we travel or go out to eat — that is NOT an electronic!" —Tarah Ferguson
Get a four-pack from August Fire Designs on Etsy for $45 (games also available individually for $10).
3. Or a set of magnetic board games because your fam will be able to play classic board games without the pieces sliding off when you experience a little turbulence during a flight.
This set includes 12 games: Checkers, Chess, Chinese Checkers, Tic Tac Toe, Backgammon, Snakes and Ladders, Solitaire, Nine Men’s Morris, Auto Racing, Ludo, Space Venure and Racing.
Promising reviews: "I loved this product while traveling on the road. With three kids, we needed something to keep them occupied and this did the job well!" —Stacy Lowe
"Got these for the grandsons for a 12-hour drive. They're 14 and 7, and both enjoyed them." —hazel h
Get it from Amazon for $24.97.
4. An inflatable toddler travel bed so you can ditch the Pack and Play and still have a bed all to yourself. This is so easy to pack, fits most standard crib sheets, and has bumpers so your little one will stay put. Traveling with a toddler is hard enough, but sleeping with one on a tiny hotel bed? Hard pass.
Promising review: "My 2-year-old son recently transitioned out of his crib and we were nervous about what to do when traveling over the holidays (no more travel crib). This was a perfect solution. The bed is easy to inflate and it only takes a few minutes. The little mattress is separate so it’s easy to put on a sheet (We used the same sheet from my son's toddler bed to try and make it more like 'home') and I love the bumpers on it. It's strong enough to handle my son diving around on it and both of us laying on it but even if he did pop a hole they include patches." —Sofia A
Get it from Amazon for $79.92 (available in three colors).
5. Plus an inflatable bath tub that'll be a lifesaver when it's bath time and your hotel only has a shower. It's super convenient and so easy to travel with.
Promising review: "I love this little bath! The divider in the center helps keep my babe in her seat without slipping down! We have been to a few hotels and Airbnbs that didn’t have a bathtub and this has come in handy! Because it’s inflatable it is perfect to travel with. It folds down super small and is light weight. I’ve brought it on checked and carry-on bags through the airport with no problem!" —Pat&Court
Get it from Amazon for $13.19.
6. A pack of toilet seat covers to protect your toddler from gross seats at rest stops because you never know what to expect in a public restroom.
Promising review: "If you're a germaphobe like myself, this is a must-have in your diaper bag. The thought of placing my son or daughter on a public toilet with only a seat liner is disturbing especially since they're both little and still hold onto the toilet seat for support when peeing/pooping. These cover the toilet completely and even cover the lower part of the toilet where dangling legs and pants/skirts touch. My only complaint about these is that they are not flushable. It's difficult trying to gather the liner up (they are rather large) without touching the toilet or the possibly wet liner (because it partially fell in the water) and then scrunching it up to fit into a sanitary napkin bin. Other than that, these are great. Also, I don't use the adhesive strips at all since I have two little ones that usually need to go right away so we don't have the time to remove the adhesive backing. I usually just place the liner on the toilet and then carefully plop my kid on top and all's well." —Ting
Get a pack of 24 large covers from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in two sizes and various packs).
7. And a travel urinal for when you can't get to a bathroom in time during a roadtrip and your toddler is squirming in their car seat.
Promising review: "I purchased this for my son and our long car trips. How many times can we pull over to potty on a three-and-a-half-hour car trip? Ask my 4-year-old. When I saw this, I couldn't resist. We brought it along and when he had to pee, no problem. It's only a little gross when you dump it later. Well designed, definitely recommend." —Evan
Get it from Amazon for $9.98+ (available in two styles and various colors).
8. An amigurumi crochet kit so your child will be too occupied learning how to create an adorable dino to even notice how long a flight is. This set comes with step-by-step instructions and everything they'll need to learn a new hobby and create their own crochet masterpiece.
The Woobles is an Asian-owned small business whose mission is to make crocheting easy and accessible.
This kit might be best for older kids. New to crocheting? Don't worry, kits can be chosen by difficulty level and there are a lot of kits for beginners. And you can get help virtually or over email if you get stuck.
Promising review: "I am a true beginner and found this pattern very easy to follow. I really love the video explanations. Can’t wait to make more!" —K.S.
Get it from The Woobles for $30 (available in more animals here).
9. A portable white-noise machine because nothing is worse than a fussy and tired toddler who is wayyy overdue for a nap. This will help drown out loud noise or unfamiliar sounds so your child will be able to easily drift to sleep and stay asleep anywhere — a busy airport, on the plane, a long road trip, or noisy hotel.
Promising review: "Perfect travel sound machine. We have a Marpac Dohm sound machine at home, and let me tell you, it is a BEAST to travel with. It's heavy and bulky and such a hassle with its long cord. The MyBaby Soundspa is SO MUCH BETTER. It's lightweight, has a great range of volume, options, and the 'white' noise is actually something much more soothing (might be brown noise?). Just what we needed for our frequent trips to grandma's! I recently brought this with me on a 13-hour road trip and used the included clip to attach the machine to my baby's infant car seat and it was PERFECT for getting him to sleep on the road. I also used it for his nighttime sleep for all five nights we were gone, and the batteries lasted without a problem. If you're considering getting a portable sound machine like I was, DO IT and GET THIS ONE. Love the price, too!!" —Madeline Thomas
Get it from Amazon for $17.75.
10. A kids' travel table so your child will have an all-in-one entertainment table to keep everything they'll want in arms reach on your next roadtrip. This has a tablet viewing stand, a cup holder, a dry-erase board, and storage pockets for art supplies or small toys. It also can double as an eating tray.
Promising review: "Literal must-have for traveling with kids. We use this on long car trips or vacations. It’s a great place to color and keep markers and pencils close and it's also great for eating in the car. Many vacations we grab fast food to eat while we are driving and it’s so much easier for the kids to eat with this tray that keeps all their snacks and food close to them. I honestly don’t know how we traveled without this!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $28.95+ (available in nine colors/styles).
11. And a backseat car organizer for extra storage and space to pack activities, snacks, and anything your kiddo could need during your next family trip. It has pockets for days and even one large enough to hold a tablet.
Promising review: "This was so useful for vacation! The straps will fit a variety of seats, material is very sturdy (the kids really put it to the test!), and it holds so much! My only complaint is that the pockets were too narrow for a water bottle, but they were perfect for holding markers, crayons, small snacks, and coloring books. We were able to remove it from the seat with all materials still in it and hang it on a chair in the hotel room for kids to have their supplies there, too." —LeaM
Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (also available in a two-pack).
12. A travel seat that attaches to your luggage so you won't have to carry your child and your suitcase through a busy airport. And, this will save the day when your little one starts whining about being *too tired* to stand while waiting in the TSA line.
Promising review: "I attached this to my carry-on bag and it does what it’s supposed to do. My child, who weighs approximately 22 pounds was easy to pull through the airport with ease. I’ve also gotten lots of compliments. Definitely prefer using this if I don’t need a stroller for where I’m going. No need to remove it when stowing your suitcase it zips right up and lays flat." —Michelle B.
Get it from Amazon for $47.50.
13. Or a monster truck luggage with wheels because it's a triple threat that can be used as a suitcase, ride-along, or a toy. Not only can you pack some clothes and other essentials for your kiddo, but you can also easily pull your child without needing a stroller. Plus, reviewers say it also kept their kids entertained while traveling.
Promising review: "We bought this for my 3-year-old grandson. He loves it and it was quite the hit at the airport going home. Numerous people stopped my kids to ask where they got it and if it was a travel case. It did hold his essentials to keep him entertained which is what most parents fear while taking cross country flights. Not sure if it will end up a toy or a travel case." —BCC MI
Get it from Amazon for$101.99.
14. A pack of disposable bibs so you won't have to worry about your kiddo messing up their clothes while out and about and you won't need to wash a ton of bibs — I mean, who wants to think about laundry on vacation?
Promising review: "Great product. Easy clean up. Lightweight. Great for on the go." —McKenzy Deling
Get a pack of 30 for $10.34+ (available in three styles).
15. A travel tray that fits in your child's carseat or stroller cupholder so they'll always have access to nuggets and fruit snacks because, let's face it, they're always hungry! It's not only perfect for road trips, but also while they are waiting in a long line at a theme park, or being pushed around in their stroller.
Promising reviews: "Love this handy tray. Had a 15-hour drive to Arizona with our 16-month-old and this made the drive so much easier! Was easy to turn around place his snacks on the tray while he watched his movie, PLUS our food stops. I highly recommend this!!" —David reyes
"Best tray for travel. We used in the stroller and in car seat. Worked great for both!" —JC
Get it from Amazon for $17.99 (available in six colors).
16. A BabyBjorn travel crib because it's easy to set up and folds compactly so your little one can have a comfy place to sleep no matter where you stay.
Promising review: "We just got back from our vacation in Hawaii and I bought this for my 18-month grandson before we left. He slept like an angel on it. The soft sides netting helped because he's a restless sleeper. Perfect fit for him and still have room for him to move around. The assembling is a breeze!! All in one package and nothing else to screw in. Just pop it like a tent. The travel pkg is nice and compact and can be carried on in the plane. We all love it for its compact and lightness. Highly recommend it if you're going to a friend's for the night or on vacation." —Abby
Get it from Amazon for $271.59+ (available in two colors).
17. A hat that will help protect your kiddo from the sun so your beach baby will be safer from harmful UV rays while on vacay. This hat is water-repellent, dries quickly, and it grows with your child because of the adjustable head drawstring and chin strap.
Promising review: "I bought the pink hat for my 3-year-old daughter for our beach vacation. This hat was sturdy and protected her face from the sun nicely. She left it on the entire time while being at the beach/pool. She now wears it whenever we go on walks. I like that the hat is adjustable on the head and under the chin. I will be ordering more colors." —Shaman Ajmani
Get it from Amazon for $20.99 (available in four sizes and 14 colors).
18. An air vent extender hose to keep your kid comfy during your next roadtrip if they're always complaining about being too hot or too cold. This is especially helpful for rear-facing carseats. This hose will allow you to direct air to the back so your child can stay cool during those hot summer days or warm during the winter.
The Noggle is a small business that's all about "making the backseat cool again."
Promising reviews: "Great for those HOT summer days! Seriously so so helpful! A great way to keep my daughter cool and comfortable in her rear-facing car seat. So glad we bought it!" —Ashley B.
"Works great. Traveled a 19-hour trip with the baby in the back seat — worked great." —Sandy Bevan
Get it in gray from Amazon for $66.45 (available in more colors here).
19. An airplane bed because it turns an airplane seat into a comfy place to take a nap, saving you from a cranky, tired toddler who is about to throw a tantrum. It attaches to the tray table to give your little one a flat surface to sprawl out, without blocking the aisle or access to under-the-seat storage.
Napflat is a small biz based in Australia that was created by a mom who needed a solution so her children could get rest during long flights in their seats.
Promising review: "The Napflat was great for my 2.5-year-old during our 24-hour flight to Europe. It was easy to set up and very discreet, we had no issues from the flight crew. The Napflat made my trip so much more comfortable, instead of having my toddler sprawled over my lap. She could sleep with her legs stretched out in her own seat. Would highly recommend! Extra points for the very fast posting and friendly shop owner. 😊" —Julia Norrdahl
20. A diaper bag backpack that not only holds a ton of stuff, but it also extends into a diaper changing station. You'll be able to carry everything you could possibly need for your little one and you won't have to worry about finding a changing table while traveling.
BTW: This backpack also has a soft changing pad, a USB charging port, 18 pockets, two bottle pockets that can be used to keep bottles warm or cool, and a large compartment that can hold a laptop or breast pump.
Promising review: "I absolutely love how huge it is and the changing the table is going to be amazing for public use or home use. I love that it has the bottle warmer area and it attaches to my stroller wonderfully. The material seems like it's made really well and like it will last a long time. I had to reiterate on here that there was nothing wrong with the charger on it, there's just a cord on the inside that you have to plug in to charge it like a battery pack." —Amber Malone
Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in seven colors).
21. A pack of cooling towels to prevent a ~meltdown~ while waiting in long lines at any theme park. These will keep your kiddo from getting overheated and help them chill out when the temps are rising faster than the cost of living.
Just soak the towel in cold water, wring out, and give it a couple of snaps to feel instant relief.
Promising review: "We could not have survived Disney World without these handy-dandy 'Chilly' towels! They helped keep us cool all day. We had them around our necks, my kids wore them as bandanas around their foreheads LOL, at some point I wrapped one around my thigh to relieve my hot legs!!! LOL I'm sure people thought I was crazy. They also served as a 'blanket' in cool seating areas inside the restaurants with high AC for my kids." —Sayra Lugo
Get a pack of four from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in various color combos).
22. An inflatable travel booster seat because it's portable and super easy to pack. You can skip having to lug a bulky seat through the airport without compromising your child's safety. Before you hop into your rental or Uber, you can just inflate (only takes about 20 seconds) and buckle your little one in.
FYI: This is recommended for children 4–11 years old and 40–110 pounds.
Promising review: "I bought this for travel with 4 yrs old boy, and it works well. Easy to use and easy to deflate. With this, I can take uber easily in Chicago since I don't need to find special cars preparing carseat. Also, this is not heavy so it was easy to bring it when I was walking around Chicago. It was good choice to buy this!" — Jiyoon Kang
Get it from Amazon for $36.92+ (available in three colors).
23. Scented bags with a dispenser so you won't have to panic when you have to change your baby's diaper and there isn't a bathroom or trash can nearby. These are infused with baking soda and a lavender scent to cover up odor and the dispenser attaches conveniently to your diaper bag.
Promising review: "Just got back from vacation and these little bags were a lifesaver. They are big enough to hold a couple of diapers and garbage if needed. Suggest it to any one with an infant of toddler. The dispenser fits perfectly in the diaper bag." —tntcvm
Get a dispenser with 24 bags from Amazon for $4.39 (also available with larger amounts of refill packs).
24. A genius travel harness seat because you won't have to hold your squirming baby in your lap while trying to eat if a restaurant doesn't have a high chair. This has an adjustable harness, so it can fit on practically any seat while you're out and about. And, it rolls up small enough to fit in a diaper bag.
Liuliuby is a New York City-based small business founded by Mompreneur Mari Liu to reimagine everyday baby products after her own experiences as a new mother.
This harness is designed for ages 6 months and up.
Promising review: "This thing was amazing! Ten stars — it fit every type of chair we encountered on our Kenyan vacation! Kept our toddler controlled and made feeding on the go so easy. Very lightweight and packable, a vacation must-have!" —Kireme1
Get it from Amazon for $29.99.
25. A refillable sunscreen sponge applicator so you can easily and quickly apply sunscreen on your kiddo without the mess. Just fill this up with your fave sunscreen, give it a shake, and glide the roller ball and sponge over your child's skin. It'll prevent your hands from getting greasy and you won't waste a ton of lotion because you've squeezed out too much.
Promising review: "Used for the first time today on my 7-year-old. First time in his life he actually enjoyed having sunscreen applied to his skin! Very easy to use and not messy at all. Extremely pleased with this purchase!" —amyj
Get it from Amazon for $15.98+ (available in five colors and in multipacks).
You, before you discovered the airplane bed:
