2017 Holiday Gift Guide for the Traveling Family

Traveling with kids is one of the most joyous family activities we partake in. While it can seem like a daunting task with all the gear kids required with the right products you can have an amazing vacation.

As someone who has traveled to 17 countries with a 1 and 3 year old I’ve tested a lot of travel products on the market. Here are 13 products that will surely make traveling with kids easier so go ahead and add them to your Christmas List!  For a chance to win each product below be sure to follow us on Instagram as I will be giving out each product from December 1-12th.

1. The SmartMove Car Seat Transporter by Brica

Anyone who has traveled with a convertible or toddler car seat knows how heavy they are and what a struggle it is to get them through the airport. Brica has created a lifesaver with their SmartMove Car Seat Transporter, which turns your car seat into a stroller. This makes it not only easy to get your car seat from the parking lot to your gate but it also turns your car seat into a stroller while maneuvering through the airport so you have one less item to bring to the gate. Click here for my full review and watch the video below to see how it works!

2. Mountain Buggy Bagrider

Who wants one less thing to push to the gate but still doesn’t want to carry their child?!? If you answered yes and are like me then you need a Mountain Buggy Bagrider. It is  a 2-in-1 carry-on suitcase and stroller, the perfect option for when your little one is getting too heavy to carry but still not going to be able to walk all the way to your gate. Keep your little one secured all the way to your seat on the plane as the Mountain Buggy Bagrider rolls down the aisle like any other carry on suitcase. Watch the video below to see how it works!

3. Fly LegsUp Flight Hammock

Surviving an overnight or long haul flight is much easier when your child can sleep comfortably. This is why a Flight Hammock by Fly LegsUp is a must! This product turns your child’s airplane seat into a bed so they can sleep well on their own and not lying on top of you.  Use promo code “FLYCHILD” for 10% off. Click here for my full review.

4. The Shrunks Inflatable Bed Rails

One of my biggest fears when traveling when my daughter was too big for the pack n play but not truly big enough for a rail free bed was the thought of her rolling off the bed at a hotel. This meant she always slept in the bed in between myself and her dad. We had a bed rail at home but it was way too big to travel with. Then I discovered inflatable bed rails and we never had to share a bed on vacation again! The Shrunks Inflatable Bed Rails are extremely compact to travel with and give me a piece of mind not only at hotels but when visiting family members who don’t have toddler beds or bed rails of their own. Click here for my full review.

5. The Shrunks Junior Toddler Bed

If you are traveling to a destination where you won’t have two beds for your family, The Shrunks Junior Toddler Bed is the perfect solution for you. Gone are the days where your child sleeps in between or next to you kicking and constantly moving around interrupting your sleep. The Shrunks Junior Toddler Bed is perfect for sleepovers at a family or friends house as well as when traveling the world. We often times book a one bedroom Airbnb to save money so bringing a bed alone for my oldest daughter means both she and my husband and I will have our own space. Click here for my full review.

6. Cover Guard Car Seat Tote by Brica

Flying with your car seat can be a pain! If you aren’t using it on the plane and want to protect it and have an easy way of carrying to the ticket counter or gate the Cover Guard Car Seat Tote by Brica is perfect for you. It keeps the dirt from under the plane off the space your child lies their head and prevents scratches and tears to the material. The Cover Guard Car Seat Tote also allows you two ways to get your car seat from point a to point b; you can carry it backpack style or use the wheels to pull it behind you. Best part is it can fit both infant and convertible car seats so it will last you a very long time. See below for a video of me pulling it as well as photo of me wearing at as a backpack.

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7. Ergobaby 360 Carrier

There aren’t enough words to describe how helpful and necessary my Ergobaby carrier has been throughout our travels. My Ergobaby has allowed me to be hands free to carry our luggage, avoid the struggle of carrying a stroller with a child in it up and down the stairs in places like Venice, easily maneuver throughout crowded streets and fitting on crowded buses and subways. I never leave for a trip without my Ergobaby and I also use it at home when sweeping, vacuuming, and going to the grocery store. It is the most practical necessity of every parent and I couldn’t be happier with the Ergobaby 360 which has 4 carrying positions including front and back carry.

8. Motif Duo Battery Operated Breast Pump

Breastfeeding and traveling without your baby or traveling with your child and exclusively pumping can seem like a nightmare. Long haul flights, delays, or long connections means there will be no way you can make it without pumping. I have pumped on many planes and a compact, quiet, and battery operated pump is what you need. The Motif Duo is exactly that! It weighs less than one pound, can be used as a single or double electric pump but also has a battery option, which stays charged for 2.5 hours of use. Best of yet, it’s silent so you can discreetly pump wherever you need to. For more tips on traveling without your baby and breastfeeding click here.

9. EZ Packing Cubes

I was introduced to packing cubes on a trip with my girlfriends to Australia. One of my friends packed only a carry-on on her suitcase. I was amazed at how many clothes she was able to fit in her bag and how organized everything was. I ordered some as soon as we got back and my packing life hasn’t been the same. I love how easy it is to separate all of our clothes by each of us having our own set of packing cubes in our own color. I also love how easy it is to separate our clean clothes from our dirty clothes and how the EZ Packing Cubes keep the stench from the dirty clothes away from our clean clothes as they are fully sealed. If by chance your bag ends up being overweight you also no longer have to figure out what to take out and where to put it. Simply remove a cube from your luggage in one second and already have a place to store those extra belongings as they are already in a bag. Lastly when you need something from your bag last minute it makes it so much easier to find things than to dig through and mess up your neatly folded clothes. Just pull out the cube that has what you need, only go through that one and put it right back. Below is a video showing how my family of 4 used the EZ Packing Starter Kit to pack for all 4 of us for a weekend getaway. Use promo code ‘thetravelingchild’ to save 15% off Ez Packing Cubes.

10. My Little Seat Travel High Chair

Whether you are traveling the world, visiting your local restaurant or having dinner at a friend or family members home who doesn’t have kids you will want the My Little Seat Travel High Chair. It is great for infants who can’t fully sit up in a restaurant high chair which lacks back support and a 5-point harness, when restaurant high chairs are filthy, and avoiding having to bring your full-sized high chair to your families dinner. It is completely light-weight and folds down to the size of a diaper so it doesn’t take up much space. I’ve used mine all over the world and it’s extremely convenient. Click here for my full review.

11. Ergobaby Diaper Backpack

Adventuring around the world with kids means you need to be as hands free as possible but also comfortable! This is why I have always been a fan of diaper backpacks over diaper bags. Ergobaby had already earned my trust with their carrier so when I saw they created a diaper backpack I was eager to try it. I always traveled with a regular backpack as my “diaper backpack” but it wasn’t created with parents in mind with all the compartments we need, the ability to keep drinks warm or cold or the comfort factor in wearing it all day long. The Ergobaby diaper backpack meets all of these needs and still looks cute which I love.

12. Phil & Teds Traveller Cot

If you have an infant and have considered a traditional pack n play, think again! The Phil & Teds Traveller Cot is the LIGHTEST travel crib on the market at only 6lbs. It has been so convenient to travel with it as it also is small enough to count as a carry-on and doesn’t cost anything additional to fly with it. Better yet, if you are traveling with a full-sized suitcase it can actually fit inside! It takes only 3 minutes to put it together and comes with a nice carrying bag. Click here for my full review.

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Disclosure: “Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. The commissions earned helps me offset the costs of running this blog so please support if you choose to purchase, it is much appreciated.”