The holidays are stressful. So is traveling with small children. Put them together, and you wonder why you’re not just doing the whole thing via webcam. But with a few of the right tools, holiday travel doesn’t only not have to be a nightmare, it can actually be a good time. So along with standbys like coloring books and all the words to “To Grandmother’s House We Go,” pack up some of these great ideas to make getting there half the fun.
Whether you’re traveling by car, plane, train, or boat, this Travel Activity Kit ($13.56) is perfect for entertaining little ones on your way to your destination. Contains markers, ruler, cards for various games, and a book of activities—and hopefully some peace and quiet, too.
If you need a portable high chair that really is, well, portable, The First Years On-The-Go Booster Seat ($19.99) is your answer. Pull out the valve and it self-inflates into a sturdy and comfortable full-size booster seat; the adjustable safety belt with T-restraint helps hold your child securely. Mealtime’s over, just press out the air and fold. It’s compact, lightweight, and has its own carrying handle, making it great for restaurants or the Thanksgiving table, as well as saving precious trunk space in the car.
If you are destined to be in the car with a children’s CD on repeat, it might as well be Elizabeth Mitchell’s You Are My Sunshine ($11.69). The songs are child-friendly favorites, with staples like the title track, mixed in with some lesser-known but equally fun tunes. There are reggae beats, folk tunes, even hints of rock and roll. And her voice resembles one that could sing adult songs you’d actually listen to; in other words, she sounds so good that you won’t want to beat your head against the steering wheel when your kids want to hear it just one more time.
If you are flying and need your car seat, do double duty and use the Go Go Kidz Travelmate ($89). Instead of carrying your car seat through the airport, wheel your baby through the crowd with this platform that’s easily mounted or removed from your car seat. It features five inch razor wheels and a telescopic handle, and only weighs five pounds (a lot less than the car seat!). The quick release wheels provide extra clearance for storage and smaller x-ray machines, making it a family-friendly invention you’ll wonder how you ever flew without.
The days of getting on an airplane and getting a hot lunch are over. These days, meals while flying are pretty much left up to parents to provide—and these convenient, Go Picnic Mighty Munch Meals (from $4.99 a meal) are pre-packed, no-refrigeration necessary snack packs that please as well as simplify. Not only are they full of delicious and popular kid choices (this one includes Old Wisconsin turkey snack stick, Copper Cowbell white cheddar cheese slice, Sweet Perry Orchards natural strawberry applesauce, Calbee baked snap pea crisps, Mrs. May’s sunflower seed crunch, Surf Sweets natural gummy bears), they’re also gluten-free, egg-free, soy-free, and packaged in peanut-free facilities, so no matter what your children’s special needs are, you’re covered. They are smart, healthy, and include utensils and a temporary tattoo to play with after lunch is history. And they’re not just perfect for planes, either. For the price of a Happy Meal, you can keep kids happy without having to stop (or use up a giant bottle of Purell afterward).
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