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Ah, vacation. A time families look forward to all year long. Yet, for parents, as exciting as an upcoming trip is, it’s also a stressful endeavor as packing for small children is a whole other ball game. Travel crib? Check. Lightweight stroller? Check. Toys and teethers for the car or plane ride? Double check.
It can be hard to know what to pack for baby’s first getaway, from car and booster seats to play pens and activities. So, we’ve rounded up 25 summer travel essentials that will make your next trip a breeze. (Well, as breezy as a vacation with kids can be!)
Below, find everything from travel systems to sleep products and entertainment—all meant to keep baby, and mom and dad, happy while in a stimulating new locale.
If you have a baby in tow, the Doona is an absolute game-changer when it comes to travel. The system functions as a complete car seat and handy stroller, all in one. It has a versatile design, converts quickly, and has thick padded sides and impact protection for comfort and safety. Doona Car Seat & Stroller, $550 at Doona.com
Looking for something your young one can sleep and play in? The AeroMoov Travel Crib is it. It sets up and breaks down in seconds and is super light weight (under 11 pounds). The AeroMoov cot is also multi-level, so can be used from birth as a travel bassinet or crib. AeroMoov Instant Travel Cot Playard, $195.99 at BuyBuyBaby
Baby needs a comfy, secure place to rest during the day and at night, and the Halo Sleep Portable Bassinest is a good option. The lightweight bassinet can be taken on vacation or to family visits, and can easily be moved from room to room. It also has a patented lowering bedside wall, which is helpful for moms who are breastfeeding or recovering. It features fully mesh walls for breathability and visibility, and can be packed up in a travel bag. Bassinest Flex Portable Bassinet, $99.99 at Halo Sleep
The Bombol Pop-Up Seat is a portable booster with an innovative origami design that enables it to fold flat to the size of an iPad for storing. The 2-pound product, which comes in a carry-along bag, pops open to become a sturdy, comfy seat when needed. It fits almost all adult chairs and has been rigorously tested to meet the strictest global safety standards. Bombol Pop-Up Booster Seat, $130 on The Tot
The Hushh Compact Sound Machine makes sleep on the go easy for baby — and mom and dad. The portable white noise machine can fit in any travel bag or purse, features three sounds, has a gentle amber LED nigh light and USB-rechargable battery. It can also hook on to any car seat, crib or stroller with ease. Hushh Compact Sound Machine, $29.99 at Yogasleep
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And if you’re looking for an all-in-one baby monitor, Yogasleep’s Ohma All-in-One Baby Monitor combines the functions of multiple nursery devices into a monitor — so you can bring one item to cover a lot of bases! It has WiFi-enabled HD real-time monitoring with night vision capabilities, 20 sounds to gently soothe baby, a night light and built-in temperature sensors. Use it at home or pack it in your suitcase to be set for vacation. Ohma All-in-One Baby Monitor, $99.99 at Yogasleep
The Babyzen YOYO² Stroller supports children up to 40 pounds and features a travel strap, reclining seat, UPF canopy and foot pedal parking brakes, among other things. Tack on the YOYO+ Newborn Pack (sold separately at $179.99) and the lightweight, easy-to-fold frame turns into the ultimate newborn stroller with a bassinet attachment. Then the Color Pack 6+ (sold separately at $49.99) for babies 6 months and older makes the stroller commuter- and air travel-friendly. BabyZen YOYO² Stroller, $479.99 (for frame only) at BuyBuyBaby
The Tula Lite Baby Carrier holds little ones 12 to 30 pounds, in comfortable front and back carries, and packs neatly into an attached waistband. It includes a front hip pouch for baby essentials, as well as a detachable hood. It’s lightweight and quick-drying, perfect for the great outdoors. Tula Lite Baby Carrier, $79 at BabyTula.com
With an innovative 360° rotatable seat with load leg technology and 12-position recline adjustment, your child will feel comfortable while enjoying those long rides in the Cybex Sirona S. It has incredible SensorSafe Technology that includes temperature and safety harness alerts that detect when your child is too hot or cold or if they have an unbuckled chest clip, a Take a Break Alert for when the child has been sitting for more than two hours, and the Unattended Child Alert for anytime the car ignition is turned off and the child is still buckled in their car seat. All of the alerts go directly to the parent’s connected smartphone. Road trips will never be the same. Cybex Sirona S Convertible Car Seat, $549.99 at BuyBuyBaby
Heading camping or the the beach with your little one? The Veer Basecamp is the perfect shelter to keep baby in a shaded, bug-free space and out of harm’s way. It pops up and folds down with ease, is fully enclosed with exterior zipper access, is durable and water-resistant and comes with a carry case with a shoulder strap. Veer Basecamp, $189 at Veer
Veer also recently unveiled a multi-purpose stroller that is clutch for travel. The Switchback is a modular system that can easily switch into a single stroller, double stroller, or jogger stroller, as well as a bike seat, mealtime booster seat and camp chair. The system starts with the child seat (sold separately for $399) that docks onto different frame options—for sitting, biking or strolling. The Switchback package is costly, but serves many purposes and is great for the on-the-go, active family. The Switchback Stroller, $499 (for frame only) at Veer
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The Kibou Diaper Belt Bag is deliberately minimalist—boasting thoughtful features like a built-in detachable changing pad and waterproof pocket that holds wet wipes or a soiled onesie away from other items. There are interior slots for credit cards or cash and a key/pacifier hook. Also, Kibou can be worn as a fanny pack or a crossbody bag! Ideal for those lots-of-walking travel days. Kibou Fax Leather Diaper Belt Bag, $98 at Nordstrom
If you’re constantly washing bottles or breast pump parts, you’ll be doing the same on vacation. So, OXO’s On-the-Go Drying Rack with Bottle Brush is a great take-along accessory as it folds open with a snap and provides a place to dry your bottles etc. while away from home. On-The-Go Drying Rack with Bottle Brush, $17.99 at OXO
To make things easier while you’re on the go, Skip Hop has a useful feeding set complete with innovative, travel-ready items like a folding travel spoon, sip-to-straw cup, travel bowl and spoon, and formula to food containers. Skip Hop Baby Feeding Travel Set, $29.99 at Amazon
These 100% food-grade silicone bibs fold up for easy travel and are a breeze to wipe clean. Big, wide pockets catch food and spills making mealtime more enjoyable for baby and parent. Happy Healthy Parent Silicone Baby Bibs, pack of two for $16.97 on Amazon
For babies 6 to 24 months, this inflatable bathtub is a must-have. Bath time during vacation is made easy as the non-toxic and durable tub blows up when and where it’s needed. It cleans and deflates easily and folds up compact for on the go. Mommy’s Helper Inflatable Bathtub, $13.17 on Amazon
Give your little one a peaceful place to rest with the portable SlumberPod Sleep Canopy, which can be used over a standard playard, travel crib, mini-crib, and select toddler cots and inflatable mattresses. The breathable and light-blocking canopy creates privacy and darkens any space so your child can sleep comfortably. SlumberPod 2 Sleep Canopy, $174.99 at Pottery Barn Kids
This rayon and cotton muslin sleep sack from LouLou Lollipop is soft, comfortable and packing-friendly. It easily folds up and features a two-way zipper opening for easy overnight diaper changes. LouLou Lollipop Muslin Sleeveless Wearable Blanket, $41.99 at BuyBuyBaby
This multi-purpose, all season cover from Copper Pearl can be used endlessly, whether at home or on vacation. The stretchy and soft rayon fabric blend folds up easily for storage and fits most car seats, shopping carts, high chairs and nursing mothers. It can also be a trendy infinity scarf! Multi-Use Cover, $26.95 at Copper Pearl
For those hot, muggy days, this clip-on stroller fan is a lifesaver! The USB or battery powered fan is portable with flexible legs that allow you to secure fan it to a stroller, car seat or crib to keep your baby cool. It also can be used as a desktop air fan or handheld fan. WiHoo Stroller Fan Clip On, $20.39 on Amazon
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Keep baby fed and occupied with organic Baby Bellies’ snack packs, designed to help with food discovery and encourage palate and motor skill development so parents can naturally nurture their babies. They melt easily in the mouth to encourage safe self-feeding and are suitable for children from 7 months of age. Baby Bellies Individual Snack Packs, 6-count for $6.60 on Amazon
On-the-go cleanup is made simple with these sanitizing wipes from Honest. Wipe down surfaces, sticky hands and messes and kill 99.9% of germs with the wipes, made with 65% ethyl alcohol and a touch of aloe. Sanitizing Alcohol Wipes, 150-count for $16.49 on Honest.com
Cute and on brand, this Little Camper Baby Teether Toy will allow your baby to explore and use all their senses as they soothe their gums on a soft-textured campfire and camper. Little Camper Baby Teether Toy, $20.99 at Lucy Darling
This Take-Along Shape Sorter Toy is perfect for long road trips or takeoff. Babies will nurture childhood development as they use nine plastic shapes and the padded carrying case to lift crinkly flaps, identify pictures, match shapes, and drop textured blocks through the sensory sorter. Then they can pull the plush dog around the edge to unzip the case and start it all again. Take-Along Shape Sorter Baby and Toddler Toy, $25.99 at Melissa and Doug
This book will keep babies busy as they interact with activities designed to engage and strengthen fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive development. Each colorful page has learning opportunities, including zippers, ties, snaps, buckles, and puzzles — all beautifully curated to stimulate your little one’s mind. With a snap closure and a pocket to hold all the moving pieces, the Animals Quiet Book is a great travel companion. Baby Baby Books’ Animals Quiet Book, $64.99 at Maisonette
Up next, Shop The 50 Best Gifts for Two-Year-Olds in 2022.
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Your use of this website constitutes and manifests your acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy, Cookie Notification, and awareness of the California Privacy Rights. Pursuant to U.S. Copyright law, as well as other applicable federal and state laws, the content on this website may not be reproduced, distributed, displayed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, without the prior, express, and written permission of Athlon Media Group. Ad Choices
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