Station shortages

There will be a lot of devices (tablets, smartphones, smartwatches, white noise machines, etc.) while traveling with your family. Hotels and Airbnbs do not always have enough outlets around the bed or table to charge everything. If you have a USB charger that plugs in to multiple devices or a small outlet on hand, you’ll have no problems charging your electronics.

Sudden medical needs

Most parents remember daily medications, but often forget basic ointment or common remedies for sudden illnesses or bumps and bruises. Packing pain reliever, liquid bandage, motion sickness pills, and a digital thermometer will save you from going out in the middle of the night searching for a pharmacy.

Spill insurance for the flight

Parents always pack an extra set of clothes for their kids in their carry-on but often neglect to do the same for themselves. Whether it’s spilled drinks, projectile vomiting, or diaper blowouts, they always seem to occur while you’re holding your child, mid-flight or train ride. Keep an extra shirt in your personal bag so you don’t have to ride in dirty clothing for hours.

Overnight spot cleanup

Every family trip will involve some type of mess. From food to dirt, there is always something to worry about. Packing a stain remover pen, small laundry detergent, and a light sink stopper will allow you to wash your favorite clothing at night. If you take care of small stains while you’re staying at the hotel, you will not have to pack more than what you need.

Drench protection

You might need to swim one last time before leaving your resort, or it may start raining. Either way, you are going to have something wet that you need to pack. Pack some reusable wet bags or even thick plastic bags. By using these, you won’t be throwing all of your wet clothes in the same bag as your clean clothes.

Delay defense

Kids can always get hungry at the worst times. When you’re at the airport or traveling long distances, you never know when you’ll be able to buy food. Packing non-perishable backups of your kids’ favorite snacks means you’ll always have something to give them when lunch isn’t quite ready. Having healthy snacks on-hand will save you from the nightmare of low blood sugar meltdowns on long travel days.

Sun cover

While sunscreen is an obvious travel must-have, some parents forget physical sun protection. Wide-brim hats and UV-protected sunglasses provide protection during long days at the park or beach where shade is limited. Clip-on sunshades and stroller umbrellas are also great ways to keep toddlers cool and burn-free while outdoors.

Screen-free rescue

Entertainment centered around electronics only ends up biting you when the battery dies, or you realize you left your headphones behind. Bring along some old-school, mess-free activities (reusable sticker books, magnetic puzzles, or dry-erase doodle pads) to offer instant distractions. Having tactile games is a must for bored kids during airport layovers and rainy nights.

Midnight glow

Hotel rooms and vacation rentals can be dark, scary, and unfamiliar for young kids who wake up in the middle of the night. Portable plug-in nightlights or small battery-operated fairy lights make midnight walks to the bathroom less frightening. Your kids will thank you for the little light it casts on dark hallways and bathrooms.

Quick mess clearance

Airplanes, playgrounds, and city buses are full of germ-filled high-touch surfaces. Hand-sized sanitizer gels are great, but don’t forget to pack alcohol-based sanitizing wipes. These are ideal for sticky fingers, spilled kid food on high chairs, and sanitizing the tray table before dinner. Keep wipes in your daypack for times when you can’t wash your hands.

Nighttime comfort

Whether it’s a favorite stuffed toy, special blanket, or daily pacifier, forgetting a child’s beloved sleep item can result in a meltdown when it’s time for bed in a strange environment. Many parents will pack their children’s everyday items for sleep, but forget to toss in an extra duplicate or sleep backup. Pack 2 of your child’s favorite sleep essentials, just in case.

Spillproof hydration

Parents remember to pack reusable water bottles, but often forget leakproof straw cups or spillproof lids for young kids on-the-go. Regular plastic bottles and hotel drinking glasses mean spills on rental car seats, airplane tray tables, and fresh clothes. Bring your kids’ own tumblers that don’t spill so your kids can have liquids throughout the day without making a mess.

Secret grab bags

Take small, inexpensive toys or novelties and wrap them as if they were gifts. Place the wrapped gifts in a bag and let your little traveler pick out a new gift every few hours or so. Having something to look forward to will help kids endure those long hours. Also, unwrapping gifts is fun and will occupy them longer than if you just handed them the toy.

Water reveal books

Water reveal books are basically painting books that use a refillable water pen to reveal fun colors and pictures on thick cardboard pages. The books don’t use paint or dye, so when the page dries, the picture will disappear, and your child can paint right over it. They are perfect for toddlers who want to paint, but parents don’t want to deal with paint on clothes and airplane seats.

Audio storytelling

Listening to interesting audiobooks, mystery podcasts for kids, or full cast radio dramas will occupy kids’ minds (and cut down on screen time and motion sickness). Kids can listen to stories read by entertaining actors and use their imaginations as they follow along, while having the bonus of keeping their eyes closed for long periods of time on the road or in the air.

Magnetic game boards

Chess, checkers, and dot-to-dot boards with magnetic numbers keep players’ game pieces from sliding under seats. Children as young as 3 years old can play alone or with siblings without losing a key piece every time the vehicle turns or experiences turbulence. The game boards lay flat, so they fit easily into an airplane seat pocket.

Interactive travel journals

Give your older children their own travel notebook and some glue sticks, tape, and colorful pens and markers. They can paste in ticket stubs and brochures, draw local architecture, track flight miles, and journal daily memories. Not only will it keep them busy while waiting around during travel, but they’ll have their own custom souvenir from the family trip when they’re finished.

Reusable window clings

Kids will love playing with peel-and-stick window clings on the glass of your car or plane window for hours. These static vinyl clings allow kids to create scenes, move characters, and reinterpret stories as the landscapes change, without any residue when you’re done playing. The stickers don’t take up any luggage space and can be reused when you return home.

Sticky note challenges

A full pack of sticky notes turns into hours of quick, quiet activities when placed on the back of an airplane seat or car window. Write letters or numbers on the notes or draw simple pictures, then have your child match, sort, or organize the notes into patterns on the window. Best of all, they come off easily without ruining anything, so clean-up is easy.

Dry erase activity books

Dry erase books are wonderful because they have endless possibilities. They usually come with mazes, dot-to-dots, word searches, and places to draw. Pair them with some odorless dry erase markers and a small piece of felt eraser, and kids can fill them in, erase, and do them over again. It’s a great way to occupy kids for multiple stages of your trip.

Scavenger hunt lists

Print out a bingo card or checklist of things to look for out the window. You can include items such as different license plates, windmills, water towers, construction vehicles, and airplanes. Reward them with a small prize or sticker when they complete a row.

Lacing and threading cards

Cardboard pieces with shapes cut out and holes punched around the edges are perfect for kids to practice their fine motor skills. Give them yarn or shoelaces and watch them try to thread them in and out of the cards. This will keep them occupied for hours if given enough shapes and colors to try.

Travel-sized LEGO trays

Place a collection of LEGO bricks inside a plastic pencil box and line the bottom with a LEGO baseplate. Your kids will have a portable tray to build characters and scenes without pieces rolling off their laps. When it’s time to put the LEGO bricks away, they’ll snap neatly back into the container.

Handheld water games

Buy your little ones a handheld water pitcher game. There are many arcade games where children press buttons to move water around and slide plastic rings onto pegs. Water pitchers are silent, battery-free, and instantly gratifying. They’re also small enough to toss into your backpack and don’t take up much room.

Tactile modeling clay

Silicone play foam and wax stick play dough won’t leave crumbs or residue on airplane tray tables when your kids get creative. The colorful mediums can be twisted, pulled, and sculpted into endless shapes without drying out. Best of all, they are sticky to themselves and not your car seats.

Trivia and Would-You-Rather

Carrying a deck of child-friendly trivia cards or Would You Rather cards will keep everyone amused. They don’t take up any room in your luggage and will foster communication between you and your kids. Not only that, but you’ll be amazed at the stories and laughter you’ll share playing a simple game of “Would You Rather”.

Picture book puzzles

Search-and-find books with thick pages full of small details help children find things hidden in complicated illustrations. Children tend to focus and explore books with small hidden treasures for longer. They are great to use during quiet time when your child needs something low-key to relax before nap time.

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