Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Traveling Must-haves for the lower tox baby and toddler parents
10
items Travel items that have changed the game for this mama! We did not anticipate being a traveling family, but our 2YO has now been to 10 different states and we already have plans for more! From the mountains of West Virgina to the beaches of Oahu, Hawaii, we've traveled by air and by land and have had much better experiences because of these items!
Sections
4
Sleep
Carriers
Seats
Medicine Cabinet
Sleep
As a scrunchier mama, finding things that support my family while traveling can be hard. We make compromises in some areas - for example, solid sleep is incredibly important to everyone in my family. We are very unhappy people without it haha. This m...
Now this is a good fit for specific situations - it does not fold down quite like the Guave Lotus, but it is a bit taller and narrower than the standard play yard - this makes it great for taller toddlers or narrower locations. We found it a nice fit for a roadtrip as it packs down flat and slides right into the trunk.
Bugaboo Stardust Portable Travel Playard
This here is the one thing I seriously regret not buying sooner! We just got back from a week in Hawaii with our 2 year old and it was absolutely life changing. Being able to create a separate, blackout, sleep space for our son within our small room was wonderful. I was worried about it not being breathable enough, but we put it right next to the AC vent and had a portable fan in the designated pocket and it was perfect! For any kiddos who love their own bed/sleep space, this is an absolute must have! We tested it out at home for a couple of nights before our trip which I think also helped set us up for success. We used it with SlumberPod's SlumberTot, but it is easily compatible with almost all travel play yards too.
SlumberPod
This was such a fun last-minute purchase for our family vacation this year. We went to Hawaii and had gotten the SlumberPod but did not want to bring a play yard. Our son is on the verge of crawling out of a crib, so having a bed version was a great in-between step for us. The tent still keeps him contained but I'm not worried about him falling. I will say, my one complaint - as with any air mattress, there is some significant off-gassing that occurs - we inflated ours a few days before the trip to let it air out. There was still a bit of “plastic” scent while on the trip, but much less than before. We added an organic cotton crib sheet to the mattress as well as a waterproof pad.
SlumberPod SlumberTot Inflatable Toddler Bed
I typically pack my full size hatch if I have room, but this guy is great for car rides, trips to grandma's or the one-off overnight. It comes in a variety of colors and offers a variety of sound options. Volume is easily adjustable making it a great add-on to your packing list
Hatch : Soothers & Sound Machines - Baby
Carriers
Now these can be a bit harder to find as they are no longer manufactured. But we found a Kelty Kids TC2.1 on Facebook Marketplace and it was such a great find. I think we paid around $50 which seems to be the going rate for these older models. But it is much less cumbersome than the newer hiking carriers. That said, it fits easily in the overhead compartment and offers a detachable diaperbag - it was such a great multiuse tool to have. We used it hiking, as a stroller alternative, and brought the diaper bag piece with us everywhere we went otherwise.
With Kids
This is my favorite carrier for little guys! My 30lb toddler will still sit in one, but it is not as comfortable for either of us any more. The biggest perk is that they fold down smaller than any structured carrier and can be tucked in a purse, diaper bag, or backpack and take up such little space!
Baby Ring Sling Carrier for Infants | Front, Hip, Back
Seats
Hands down, the best $40 I've ever spent. This cart holds up to 100lbs and while it says not to let the child ride the seat while its on the cart, it carried my 30lb son in his 25lb Britax Poplar seat all over 4 different airports this week. With a narrow enough car seat, we were able to wheel my son down the aisle of each aircraft as well. Such a helpful tool - and now i'm sure we'll find other uses for it around the house. Collapses down to fit under the seat infront of you or up in the overhead compartment - super nice
Car Seat Dolly for Airport, Black Roller Cart
So slightly controversial - this seat is no where near light. It is VERY heavy. But paired with a car seat dolly, it fits so nicely on the airplane. It even fits straight down the aisle on the cart with my son in it. If you need a narrow seat - or maybe for 3 across in your car, the Britax Poplar is a wonderful nontox option for your family
Britax Poplar Convertible Car Seat
Medicine Cabinet
This little spray helps protect you and your little ones on the go. We use it here at home, but it comes along in my carry on when we travel - especially by air. There is no telling how many extra germs we come into contact with at an airport/airplane, so knowing that I can help support my kiddo's immune system on the front end is a relief
Kid's Propolis Immune Support Throat Spray
This is my favorite sunscreen to have on hand - I use it on my whole family! It is so small and portable, but protects even the most sensitive of skin
Baby Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 50 For Sensitive Skin