Kids Travel Gear You Actually Need (and What You Can Skip)
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If you’re into family travel, you’ve seen a billion lists of kids travel gear you supposedly need. I’ve flown with my kids all over the world, and I’ve stopped buying most of it. The less you carry, the easier traveling with kids is.
But some things really do make flying, driving and long travel days with kids safer and easier. This is the travel gear for kids we actually use, sorted by what you need it for: the flight, safety, strollers, entertainment and packing.
Our short list
- A CARES harness for the plane
- An inflatable booster seat for car rides abroad
- A small first aid kit
- A few quiet, screen-free activities
- Kids headphones
Flying with kids: gear for the plane
CARES airplane safety harness
This is the one I’d tell every family to travel with. Turbulence happens, and the CARES harness keeps your little one secure in their own airplane seat. It’s the only harness-type child restraint approved by the FAA, for kids roughly 22 to 44 pounds who have their own seat. It weighs about a pound, fits in a diaper bag, and takes a minute to install.
Beware of knockoffs. There are lots of lookalike “airplane harnesses” on Amazon that are not FAA-approved. Look for the CARES name and the FAA approval label before you buy.
See the CARES airplane safety harness on Amazon
Entertainment on the flight
We keep it small and screen-light. These are the things that actually buy us quiet time on a plane:
- Suction cup spinner toys: they stick to the tray table and keep toddlers busy for ages.
- Water Wow reusable activity pads: just water, no markers, no mess.
- Boogie Board writing pad: endless drawing with nothing to pack up.
- Wikki Stix: quiet, light, and somehow entertaining for an hour.
- Plus-Plus travel case: building blocks in a case that closes.
- A buckle pillow for little hands that love to clip and unclip.
- Volume-limited kids headphones for movies without blasting little ears.
- Kids sleep masks for red-eyes and bright cabins.
Travel safety gear for kids
Inflatable booster seat for international travel
We don’t fly with a bulky booster. An inflatable booster packs flat, blows up in seconds, and is perfect for older kids in taxis, rideshares and rental cars abroad. This one is made for kids about 4 to 11 years old.
See the BubbleBum inflatable travel booster on Amazon
Car seats
For our youngest, we bring one car seat. On one trip to Mexico, the airline let us use it on the plane, even with small seats. Car seat rules are different in every country, so check the rules where you’re going, and check with your airline before you fly.
The rest of our safety kit
- A mini first aid kit: plasters, wipes and the basics, in a hard case.
- Mosquito repellent bracelets for tropical trips.
- Insect repellent for the jungle and the beach.
- Sea-Band bracelets for kids who get motion sick on winding roads and boats.
- Electrolyte powder packets for long travel days, heat or a tummy bug.
- LifeStraw water filter for hikes and places where you’re not sure about the water.
- A rechargeable headlamp for late arrivals and power cuts.
Travel strollers: what to look for
A travel stroller can make or break a city trip with a toddler. We look for a stroller that folds with one hand, is light enough to carry up stairs, and fits in an overhead bin.
Check your airline’s rules before you fly. Some airlines abroad count a foldable stroller as part of your cabin allowance, so a personal item, a carry-on and a stroller can be one item too many. Gate-checking is usually free, but strollers do get damaged, so use a padded gate-check bag.
Entertainment on the road
- Kidnoculars: turns any walk into a safari.
- Light-up pop tubes for car rides and restaurants.
- A small Bluetooth speaker for dance parties in the hotel room.
Packing extras that make travel easier
- A universal travel adapter with USB-C, so one plug charges everything.
- Laundry detergent sheets: pack for a week, wash, repeat.
- A packable daypack that folds into its own pocket.
- Reusable snack bags: snacks are non-negotiable.
- A kids packable rain jacket and merino base layers for mountains and cold mornings.
What we skip
Anything bulky, anything we’d only use once, and anything we can buy at our destination. Diapers, wipes, sunscreen and most toiletries are easy to find almost everywhere. Travel light, and the trip gets easier for everyone.
Kids travel gear FAQ
Do I need a car seat for my child on a plane?
Many airlines let kids under 2 fly on a parent’s lap. Once your child has their own seat, an FAA-approved car seat or a CARES harness keeps them secure during turbulence.
Is the CARES harness worth it?
For toddlers in their own seat, yes. It’s tiny, it’s FAA-approved, and it means you don’t have to carry a car seat through the airport. Just make sure you buy the real CARES, not a lookalike.
Can I use my American car seat in Europe?
Many European countries require car seats approved to European standards. Check the rules for the country you’re visiting before you pack one, or rent or buy one there.
What’s the best way to pack light with kids?
Pack for a week, not the whole trip, plan to do laundry, and only bring the gear you can’t easily buy at your destination.
Everything we travel with is in our Amazon storefront.
Xoxo, Marae: your travel mom bestie