Wise packing is often the key factor that makes or breaks a family travel experience. Let me share our favorite travel essentials for kids!
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Top Travel Essentials for Kids
Traveling with kids
Based on our 5 years of Family travels, let me share the full review of our travel essentials when on the road with kids.
In this post, I will also talk about our favorite travel toys and will give away a few useful tips. My children are currently 4 and 6 years old, but I will also mention things we used back when they were toddlers. Especially, since many games & travel essentials are still working for us.
Our Travel Essentials For Kids
What we used on the road with toddlers:
- Yoyo stroller
- Travel Crib by BabyBjorn (+ Extra foldable mattress and Travel Crib Fitted Sheets for Baby Bjorn)
- A portable high chair
Travel essentials we still use (after 6 years of travels with kids):
- Cybex Car Seats (+ Car Seat Protectors), but I also like Wayb Travel Car Seat
- Waterproof Wet Bags
- Backseat Car Organizers
- Kids Travel Trays
- Car Seat Travel Belt
- Water Bottles for Kids
- Kids packing cubes
Creams and Essential Oils
If you have read my articles about Travel Beauty Essentials and Hiking Essentials, you might already know a few of my favorite eco brands on the go: Weleda, Pranarom, Burt’s Bees, 100% Pure, Dr. Haushka, Ringana, Urtekram, and Sebamed.
A few favorite products we still use after all these years are Badger Night Night Balm, WaterWipes Plastic-Free Original Baby Wipes, Weleda Baby Calendula Body Lotion and Shampoo-Body Wash Bundle, Burt’s Bees Baby 100% Natural Multipurpose Healing Ointment, Sebamed Baby Bubble, and Urtekram Spray Conditioner.
Also, Ora’s Amazing Herbal Travel Size Natural Baby Oil and Newborn Salve are great to use on the go.
Books
No matter what happens during the day, I try to read new wonderful stories with my kids every night. This tradition is part of our going-to-bed ritual (even on the road). So, I always pack a few travel-sized books. Although lately, I try to bring with me – The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep or The Little Elephant Who Wants to Fall Asleep. These are sort-of guided meditations for the little ones, really handy after the overexcitement from new experiences on the go. Let me clarify, it is not the favorite book of my girls (the little one says it is boring), but both of them fall asleep so fast while reading it (even my husband does lol).
Also, depending on the type of trip, I love adding books about ships, planes, cars, forests, and national parks. You can check the books we enjoyed before the Mediterranean Cruise in this post.
Kids´ Kindle is another great alternative for those who love traveling light and want to have access to a wide range of stories.
For more ideas, check my post about Favorite International Illustrators and Spain Books for Kids.
Toys & Games
Toys and games on the road have evolved a lot over the past 5 years of traveling with kids. Yet, some of our favorites seem to be eternal:
- SmartGames IQ Puzzler Pro (used from 4+)
- SmartGames Travel Noahs Arc (used from 3+ with an adult)
- Travel Tangram Puzzle (used from 3+)
- Usborne sticker books (used from 2+)
- Spot It! Classic Card Game (used from 3+)
- Timeline (used from 4+ with an adult)
- Waterproof Jungle Speed Beach (used from 4+)
I would like to highlight the importance of movement games on the go. Spending hours inside the car is tough for the little ones. During our road trips, I often bring either an Ankle Skip Ball or an Agility Ladder (you can find lots of ideas on how to use it with kids on YouTube). Every time we make a stop, I make kids jump or invent a few active games: this way they simply behave better inside the car. For flights, I love using the Gigamic Yogi Card Game (we do not play it by rules, I pre-select the cards we can use while sitting in a plane).
Here you have more ideas for active games on the go: Mattel Games UNO Junior Move, Fun Fitness Dice for Kids, Hopscotch Ring Game, Animal Action Cards, Fun Exercise Cards, Wackadoo Dice Imagination Act Out The Action Game (my girls love Bluey), and BOHS Egg and Spoon Race Game Set.
Also, I always have some sensory toys and dough balls on the road and find really useful a Puzzle Ball (this one never lasts, my girls break it all the time). Speed Cube is another great alternative.
You can check my IG stories Motherhood for more inspiring ideas. Looking for more tips on Spain board games? – Head to this post.
In the picture, you can see the cards with the world´s most famous paintings: I printed these from the internet alongside the portraits of the painters (kids need to match a painter with his artwork). The green bag is full of finger paint: my girls draw on it with their fingers (I bought the bag they could not open alone).
Travel Backpacks
Since a very young age, I have encouraged my girls to pack their personal Travel Essentials For Kids for every trip. I remind them to take one emotional toy (usually a cuddy toy – these make them feel at home anywhere) and something from their favorite things for sleep – T-shirts, PJs, cozy blankets, or even bed sheets (night is usually the moment of fears and worries – so my kids need to get extra cozy on the go).
Having their own backpacks embraces their personality, and makes them feel a part of the travel team.
Other Travel Essentials for Kids
- Car Seat Belt Travel Strap (to convert your car seat and carry-on luggage into an airport car seat stroller)
- Portable Door Lock ( useful if your little ones are extremely active and love exploring: this way you can make sure the kids won’t be able to exit the main door without an adult)
My Travel Tips & Favorites:
- Travel-themed Activities With Kids: Our Creative Playroom Tour (read it)
- Kids Bookish Inspiration: Favorite International Illustrators Around the World (read it)
- Favorite Clean Makeup for Traveling: Best Brands You Should Pack (read it)
- What to wear in Spain: My Favorite Spain Outfits (read it)
- My Travel Beauty Essentials & Hacks On The Go (read it)
- My Top Hiking Essentials On The Go (read it)
- Favorite Carry-On Essentials: What I Never Travel Without (read it)
- An Ultimate A to Z Spain Packing List (read it)
- Best Luggage for European Travel: My Honest Review (read it)
Read more about exploring Spain with kids:
- Family Holidays in Spain – Top 5 Destinations to Enjoy with Kids (read it)
- 10-day Spain Itinerary for Families from Barcelona (read it)
- Where to Enjoy Snow in Spain with Kids (read it)
- Cute Spain Books for Kids You´ll Love (read it)
- Barcelona Weekend with Kids: Top things to see and do (read it)
- Valencia With Kids: Top Places Your Children Will Love (read it)
- 5 Epic Reasons to Visit the Spanish Pyrenees with Kids (read it)
- My Favorite Cool Places to Visit in Spain with Kids (read it)
- Visiting PortAventura with kids (read it)
Pin it:
For more Spain travel tips check out my Pinterest board Spain Travel Collection and Flipboard Travel to Spain.
- Accommodation: For short stays, I usually book via Agoda and Booking
- Tours&excursions: My favorites for guided tours are GetYourGuide and Viator
- Museums&attractions: Get mobile tickets for attractions via Tiqets (use ATC5 code for a 5% discount via this link)
- Semi-private & private tours: LivTours is my favorite place for unique & crafted experiences in Europe
- For Foodies: Eatwith is a unique platform for finding culinary experiences with locals around the world
- Audio guides: Book audio excursions & tours in 35+ countries via WeGoTrip
- Flights: Find the best deals with Skyscanner and Kiwi
- Driving in a new country? – Check out Tripiamo guides (do not miss Tripiamo Driving in Spain Guide)
- Train&bus tickets: Currently, I book via Omio (10% off with code ATC10 for first-time customers)
- Car rental: To find the best deals, I use Discover Cars
- Top E-Sim: To avoid roaming fees, I like Holafly (use ATLIFESTYLECROSSROADS for for a 5% discount)
- Shop My Level8 Suitcase: get 15% off with the code ATC15 here
- Internet Security on the road: Connect safely to public Wi-Fi and bypass censorship with NordVPN
- Transfers: For individual transfer services, I like GetTransfer and Kiwitaxi
- Suitcases&Luggage: Discover where to store your luggage on the go with Radical Storage
- Travel Insurance: Find the best trip insurance plans via VisitorsCoverage and EKTA
- Compensation for delayed/canceled flights: Check out AirHelp and Compensair
- Renting Bikes: To find motorcycles, scooters, quads, and bicycles, I use BikesBooking
- Package Tours: Head to CheapOair and Expedia
- For Bloggers: To monetize my blog, I work with Travelpayouts and Stay22
- Website Owners: For hosting services, I work with and recommend Lyrical Host (get 10% off with my code ATC10)
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