courtesy of David D
Planning a trip can often be a grand ordeal. But when you add children into the mix, there’s a whole other slew of things that have to be considered, including special items to pack, places to go (and not to go), and when to schedule activities.
If you’re traveling with little ones on your next vacation, try out some of these helpful travel items that are carefully designed with kids in mind:
1. A Travel Highchair – While many restaurants, attractions or hotels certainly have high chairs available for use, it’s often hard to find one that’s a perfect fit for your baby. When that’s the case, using a travel highchair made of fabric (that wraps around a regular adult seat) ensures your 8-month-old to 2-and-a-half-year-old will sit securely upright while you feed him/her.
2. A Baby Food Dispensing Spoon – Not only does this product prevent babies from finger painting with their food or wearing it like a mud mask, it also allows parents to feed their children with one hand, if necessary. This utensil is ideal for traveling, as it’s small, very portable and easily washable while on the go.
3. An Electric Bottle Warmer – Having an electric/portable bottle warmer is a must-have for parents traveling with an infant or a baby younger than about 15 months. Depending on where you’re traveling to and how you’re getting there, there might not be a microwave or hot water readily available to you, nor an electrical outlet for plug-in bottle warmers. Many of these products (i.e. Squirt by Boon) warm milk in less than a minute, accommodating fussy babies quickly and effectively.
4. Mess-Free Activities – No activity is ever truly mess-free, but there are some crafts out there that come pretty darn close. Crayola’s Color Wonder Mess Free Markers, for example, offer a way for children to color with markers that have special ink that appear only on Color Wonder surfaces (which means parents don’t have to worry about marker spots on furniture, fabric or their children’s skin). Other mess-free activities include calming activities like watching a movie on a tablet or laptop, or listening to an audiobook.
5. A Travel Tray – A travel lap tray provides a soft, yet durable nylon surface with edges for containing toys, food and more in one convenient spot. Even the super messy stuff (like if your child wants to play with LEGOs or eat popcorn as a snack) stays contained and can be easily cleaned up. Star Kids makes a great one—the Snack & Play Travel Tray—which includes buckles for around the child or a stroller.
6. A Family First-Aid Kit – You can try to prevent as many accidents as possible from happening, but it’s almost a guarantee that all crises won’t be averted. To prepare for the inevitable, pack a family first-aid kit that has all the essentials: adhesive bandages, antibiotic sprays and creams, chewable aspirin tablets and anti-inflammatory medication, cold compresses, plastic tweezers, thermometers, latex gloves, and more.
7. A Neck Pillow and a Blanket – For children, sleep can happen at any time and in any place. So for parents, being prepared for their impromptu nap times is a must. Having a children’s neck pillow (or one small enough to support them) and a blanket handy is a great way to ensure they will get rest without waking up cold or with a sore neck.
8. A Personal Belonging – No matter how excited children might be to go on vacation, when it comes to bedtime, sleeping in an unfamiliar place can be difficult for them to deal with. Try bringing a couple extra personal belongings, like a nightlight or a stuffed animal to make them feel at home while they’re away.
Traveling with kids should be easy and fun, and it can be with some of these convenient children’s travel accessories. Learn more about other travel resources from E-Z Rent-A-Car, such as exclusive E-Z discounts, travel-related blog posts, special coupons and more.
courtesy of Angel Antonio Polcari
