Best Family Travel Resources:

Must-Have Essentials for Flying with Kids

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Airport to Plane: Sanity-Saving Essentials

YOYO³ Travel Stroller

If I had to choose one item that changed my life as a traveling mom, this is it. It folds down to fit in the overhead bin — which means:

  • You use it 100% of the time in the airport (even during layovers).
  • No more gate-check drama or broken strollers.
  • No more waiting around while your kids melt down after a long flight.

Sibling solution: the YOYO Board lets older kids ride along when little legs get tired. Seriously, buy this. It changes everything.

Ergobaby 360 Carrier

Essential for boarding planes with both baby and bags in your arms. Breathable, works in any weather, and transitions to a back carrier as your toddler grows. Pair it with the newborn insert for tiny travelers.

Diaper Bag Backpack

Airplane essentials: waterproof pocket for soiled or wet clothes, insulated sleeve for bottles, laptop slot for easy laptop removal at airport security, and a wipe-down changing mat.

Family Passport Pouch

When you’re juggling multiple kids and multiple continents, one pouch keeps passports, currencies, and vaccination booklets organized. I use a handmade leather pouch that I bought in Rwanda but since it’s not available online, this one from Amazon hits all the requirements!

Best Family Luggage (and Accessories) for International Travel

  • Kids’ backpacks (lightweight, durable, comfy straps)
  • Samsonite soft luggage (durable + expandable) – I’m old-school here. There are loads of newer, trendier, fancier luggage options with more frills and functions, but every time I’ve branched out away from Samsonite soft luggage I’ve regretted it.
  • Kids’ ride-on luggage (keeps them occupied + slightly faster at moving through
    airports)
  • TSA-approved luggage locks
  • Portable luggage scale (there is nothing worse than having to rearrange packed
    luggage at the airport check-in desk because one of the bags is overweight)

Tech & Gear We Never Travel Without

Travel Hygiene & First Aid Kit for Families

Travel-sized First Aid Pouch

Portable UV sanitizing bag

This is for quickly de-germing pacifiers, bottles,
toothbrushes, all the things that fall on the disgusting airplane lavatory floor…

A young boy and a baby laying on a plaid sunbed overlooking the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro in at the Amini Life Original Maasai Lodge in Tanzania.

What to Wear on Long Flights with Kids

  • Super slim slippers (for you AND the kids) so you don’t have to keep putting your shoes on for all those potty trips during long flights – or just slip your hotel slippers into your carry-on!
  • Comfy outfits for the kids, like this rainbow hoody lounge set or this minions sweatsuit. (Be sure to pack back-ups in a carry-on – just in case!)

Call me crazy but I love to get my kids matching travel outfits, and bonus points if they’re BRIGHT so I can spot them when they dash off into the Hermes airport duty free shop before they try on all the scarves.

For Mom:

For Dad:

I feel like dads just wear whatever they always wear…

Best Kids’ Activities for Layovers and Flights

The best travel toys or activities (1) are compact and lightweight; (2) minimize potential for making a mess or losing pieces; and (3) hold kids’ attention with minimal parental involvement (especially important if you have multiple kids).

Smart Snacks

  • granola bars
  • cheddar bunnies
  • yogurt-covered raisins
  • squeezable fruit pouches if you’re brave

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