We officially took our first trip on a family of four on an airplane a few months ago. As much research as you do, I don’t think you can ever prepare enough or ever be prepared enough. There were a few products that were lifesavers for both the baby and the toddler:
Baby’s Brew Portable Bottle Warmer– This is a product I should’ve had on my baby registry. It’s very small and uses a USB to recharge. It fits almost all bottles and heats them to whatever temperature you set it. I’ve easily heated up 3-4 bottles, which was an all day outing, without having to charge once.
Uppababy Vista V2 Stroller– Trust me, I’m one of the last people to spend a large amount of money on baby gear. Especially on only 1 item that technically only does one thing. However, when you have two kids in a busy airport or new place and need to keep them safe and contained, this stroller is worth every penny. It grows from newborn to bigger kids with the piggy back stand, too. There’s also plenty of storage so you don’t have to carry anything with you. Also, see one of my other baby travel posts for the best coffee/phone holder addition!
Bentgo Fresh 3-Pack Meal Prep– As soon as my oldest daughter started bringing “real” lunches to school, I got one for each day she goes. I meal prep all of her lunches on Sunday night, which makes weekdays much quicker and we all need those precious morning minutes. Since we already had them, I filled one each for both kids with snacks for the plane and they fit perfectly in the diaper bag and my toddlers backpack.
Nenos Kids Headphones– I bought these headphones for my 3 year old about 48 hours before our flight and I’m so glad I did. They were the best $10 I spent! We don’t do a lot of screen time, but a flight is certainly the right time and place for me. They weren’t too loud and fit her small head perfectly. These are a definite in my book.
Simple Modern Kids Water Bottle with Straw– These water bottles were another item that we’ve been using at daycare for a while now. It was a no brainer to bring them with us since I wasn’t about to pay for water at the airport. I do recommend being careful when you open them on the plane since sometimes the pressure makes them leak a little or water shoots open the first time it’s opened. Once I knew this (I definitely made the mistake and hit a fellow passenger with water the first time…whoops!), I’m so glad we brought them.
Skip Hop Portable Baby Changing Pad– This was on my baby registry and I’ve been consistently using it for over 3 years. It’s compact when folded, but big enough when open. It also has a loop for hands-free carrying. On the inside, there’s a small wipe container, that comes with it, and a mesh zipper pocket for a few extra diapers. It’s all you need to carry into those tiny airplane bathrooms.
The Honest Company Wipes– I might be a little biased since I only used these wipes for my first. However, for my second we needed to stick to a budget, so I tried other wipes that I had coupons for or that were on sale. They were no wear near as thick and durable as the Honest brand. I immediately switched back and now just stock up whenever there’s a sale.
Britax Car Seat Travel Bag– The first time I traveled alone with my toddler, I had only a car seat travel bag with a strap, no wheels. It was miserable to say the least. For our next trip, I knew we needed a better solution and this was exactly what I was looking for. It has both straps to wear it as a backpack or wheels to easily maneuver it straight to the gate. There’s no other way to travel with a car seat.
LILLEbaby Complete All Seasons Ergonomic 6-in-1 Baby Carrier– Last, but not least, is another item I had on my baby registry and I’ve used it through both kids. It’s comfortable, breathable and easy to adjust. I’ve used this in the airport for my first and pretty much anywhere else we wanted to go.
These are my current top 9 products for travel and I’m sure the more places we go, that this list will only keep growing. What did I miss? What are your travel product must haves?