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1. A 26-piece set of travel Magna-Tiles for a little screen-free entertainment in the car or on a flight. It's everything they love about Magna-Tiles, but in and smaller, easier-to-store format. Honestly, a no-lose situation for anyone.
Promising review: "Out of a haul of toys we purchased to keep our two very active young boys busy on a flight, this was hands-down the most loved. They are satisfyingly tactile shapes. The pieces fit neatly back into the tin, and it is so easy and compact to slip into a backpack pocket! Would absolutely recommend — awesome toy." —Alexis P
Get it from Amazon for $19.97+ (available in three styles).
2. A set of small markers that's perfect for a little travel-time artwork. Each travel-size set contains 24 markers and paper, making it a quick and easy creative toy to pull out anytime.
Promising review: This was perfect for a mini family road trip with my 6-year-old. It was nice to see her take a break from the tablet and let her imagination go wild. They were easy to wash off my seats since some of them lost their lids. Luckily, they still clicked into the case even without the lids." —Asia
Get it from Amazon for $13.17+ (available in three versions).
3. A four-pack of fidgets for keeping your littles AND bigs occupied during a long flight or a long car ride. These fidgets have many functions — clicking, posing, and spinning to name a few — that'll keep them engaged far longer than your average spinner. They're also great for theme park vacations to give them something tech-free to do in line.
Promising review: "I bought these as an additional item to keep my kids busy on our long car ride this past summer. They were a hit with our 9-, 12-, and 16-year-olds. I'm not ashamed to admit my husband and I also both enjoyed tinkering with them. There are so many movable parts; they aren't terribly noisy when you move them, which is good for quiet, enclosed spaces. For me, personally, I struggle with small noises, so these little fidgets were great." —Shelby B
Get them from Amazon for $9.98+ (available in various colors and pack sizes).
4. A ride-on suitcase that'll give your little one something to do at the airport or in a hotel room. Pack this travel-friendly suitcase with clothes or toys, and let your kiddo enjoy being in control of the movement. If they're looking for a travel buddy, it also comes with a leash, giving YOU one less suitcase to drag along the terminal or an easy place to keep them once their legs officially give out.
Promising review: "This surprisingly fit a ton of clothes and some toys for our toddler, she loved sitting on this through the entire airport. Had my sweater wrapped around her since it was cold, and people didn't even notice she was sitting there as we were walking until after she said something. It was fun for her and helped us be pretty hands-free. It's super durable and fits perfectly overhead. This luggage turned a lot of heads, and we got so many comments about how cool it was. Wheels glide and are super easy to push around. Great item for the price. Will be using it more as it's made our trips easy. Bonus, she loved putting stickers all over it. The were stickers included." —celina
Get it from Amazon for $179+ (available in two sizes and four colors).
5. A rechargeable fan to keep everyone cool and happy when visiting somewhere warm. Vacation means either tons of walking or tons of warm-weather lounging, but you don't need to sacrifice comfort anymore. And since it's compact and has a safety-stop in place, younger kids can take a *spin* too.
I bought this beautiful thing last summer before visiting family in central Florida. This thing was a true lifesaver. Not only could I walk around more comfortably — and therefore be less grumpy — but my kids also took turns cooling off. Since it stops when it hits something and it doesn't hurt, I didn't have to worry about tears. Once we got home, I brought it to swim lessons, sat with it outside, and otherwise made it my warm-weather BFF.
Promising reviews: "Love this portable fan for travel! The flashlight is a useful feature. Lightweight, battery lasts a long time. My kids also use these in the car at home when they feel hot or motion sickness — it seems to help." —Jessica
"I purchased these little beauties when I took a trip to Disneyland with my family. Especially with long wait lines and for it being the summer months, this was a lifesaver, each child had their own fan, it was nice that it has a recharging USB port and it comes with a small short cord for recharging the device itself. The fan has three levels, and it is compact. I highly recommend getting a fan." —Lisa
Get it from Amazon for $14.39+ (available in three colors).
6. A scavenger hunt card game that'll make long car rides a bit more interesting for the whole family. If you want to make things extra interesting, team up and offer a prize to the winning team. They'll put that device down in no time.
Promising review: "I bought this for our road trip, desperate for something to keep our kids entertained. This was super fun! My husband, I, and our 5-year-old had fun playing it together. My 3-year-old was trying, but is a little bit too young for it. The pictures are fun and engaging. I honestly had a great time and would recommend this to other parents looking for something to keep their kids busy!" —Heather
Get it from Amazon for $11.27.
7. An LCD doodle pad to give your kid something to do without having to keep track of 47 crayons, 12 markers, and tons of wasted paper. This thing will make reaching for a crayon only to see it roll into the depths of your car a thing of the past.
Promising review: "Bought three of these for a road trip for my 2-year-old, 3-year-old, and 10-year-old — should have bought five, cause man oh man were they a hit. My 1-year-old and 13-year-old kept fighting with the other kids over who would take turns. They are super lightweight and amazing to use. The erase feature is awesome — kids treat it like magic. It was way more fun for them to draw with this than with normal paper and crayons, and whiteboards are just no fun. They came with an extra battery for the erase feature, also, which is so convenient! Will be buying more of these as gifts!!!" —Allison Rangel
Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in four sizes and six colors).
8. A travel activity tray that's great for car seats or any stop you might make. This tray has a dry-eraseable bottom, dry-erase markers, a tablet stand, and pouches for snacks and toys. You can enjoy travel for a few minutes free of charge.
Promising review: "Bought this to keep my toddler entertained during a seven-hour road trip, AND IT WORKED. Easy to set up quickly, stores away flat, great size, and convenient pockets to hold the dry-erase pens and eraser (included). We did lots of coloring, but also used it as a stable table to play with other toys and eat snacks. Definitely recommend getting one!" —Chloe Young
Get it from Amazon for $25.99+ (available in 11 designs and in a two-pack).
9. A pair of motion sickness bands to help alleviate your symptoms without medicine by using acupressure. Cleaning up vomit on the side of a two-lane highway where the speed limit appears to be "follow your heart" is absolutely not on the agenda.
When we discovered that my oldest had motion sickness, it was a race to find help prior to the road trip home. She's a hard sell on medicine, but LOVED these bands — and they work for her! She now wears them on long car rides and on airplane rides and gets total relief in about 20 minutes. I keep them in the car in case she needs them, and they're so handy.
Promising review: "These have helped my daughter so much. She has had motion sickness issues for as long as I can remember. On long car rides, she uses these. She also used them on her first plane ride for a family trip to Disney. Just making sure she has them on for any carnival/fair rides is a must because if not, she has issues and feels sick. These have helped her to be able to enjoy things that she normally would not be able to if she didn't have these. I am so thankful I found this product so my daughter can still enjoy long trips and rides with her friends." —Kim
Get them from Amazon for $9.99+ (also available in a two-pack and in four colors).
10. A helpful cup holder tray to give them a sturdy place to keep snacks while driving. With a cup holder and a plate firmly in place, you don't need to worry about a freshly opened package of crackers falling into oblivion.
Promising review: "So glad I ordered this in time to receive it before the six-hour road trip I took with my just-turned-1-year-old! It made the trip so much easier for us. It fits perfectly in my son’s car seat without the adapter or grip, and it matches it perfectly. My son had a great time snacking and using the tray to put his toys when not snacking. His Dr. Brown’s weighted straw cup fits well in the cup holder, and he can sip his water whenever he wants. It also fits the Munchkin brand weighted straw cup. I dropped it on the way to my car, and it held up just fine. I washed it and let it dry in my dish rack before first use, and was wiping it down with baby-safe disinfectant wipes on the road. Couldn’t recommend this product enough!" —AC
Get it from Amazon for $16.99.
11. A car seat travel bag that makes getting the car seat to check in significantly easier and keeps all of the parts together once it's checked. This is also awesome if you plan to keep your child in a car seat during the flight, but have no idea how to handle wandering around the airport during a layover.
Promising review: "I've been using this car seat travel backpack for over a year now, and it has truly been a game-changer for every trip I've taken with my toddler. As a parent, the convenience of being able to carry a bulky car seat without juggling it with luggage or attending to my toddler is priceless. The backpack design frees up my hands, which is a lifesaver when traveling solo.
The durability is impressive. Despite frequent use and being tossed around during air travel, the backpack has held up remarkably well. It provides excellent protection for the car seat, preventing damage during loading and unloading on the plane. It's clear that the design is meant to protect not just the car seat, but also the stress of traveling with one.
Overall, this travel backpack has made airport travel so much smoother, and I would highly recommend it to any parent traveling with a car seat. It’s a reliable, practical solution that has made my trips easier and less stressful." —customer review
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in eight colors).
12. A technology mount so they can watch something on a phone or tablet without getting sticky apple juice on the screen. And since this holder can attach to a seat back or sit independently, entertainment during a layover has never been so easy.
Promising review: "I love this thing! Not only is it great for holding your phone/iPad on flights, car rides, or anywhere, but it also makes for a great toy for kids. My son used it as a 'hill' for his car for half the flight. He also would park his cars underneath it. It provided a lot of entertainment, and the possibilities for what you can use it for are endless. The best part about it is it doesn’t slide around since it’s made out of a rubber/silicone-like material." —Shelby Hartzler
Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in three versions).
13. An ingenious SlumberPod designed for your kids that aren't in the big-kid-bed stage yet. Just slip it over their Pack 'n Play or travel crib to provide a dim, quiet environment for them to drift off to dreamland. Goodbye, grumpy child who hasn't slept nearly enough and will personally victimize all of you in swift retribution.
Promising review: "We have had our SlumberPod for two years now, and it's still one of our fav baby items. It is so useful for staying in hotels, sleeping at grandparents', traveling, etc. It folds up compactly and weighs very little, so it's great for packing in a suitcase, and it fits nicely over our Joovy playard, which is pretty large for a Pack' N Play. It could easily accommodate most Pack n' Plays.
It really does block out any light, and it's very breathable, so even in the summer, our daughter sleeps comfortably at the cabin. It fits anywhere her Joovy fits, so we set it up with her sound machine placed inside. Once we zip it up, I think she feels like it's a cocoon in there because she falls asleep very quickly and soundly.
I can't say anything negative about it. It's very simple to set up and take down, basically like a mini tent that only has two rods. It holds up even if your kids get rowdy in there. We always take it with us when she can't be in her crib at home. If you are staying in a hotel, you can use their Pack' N Play, and all you need is this to create a private space for your baby. This has been the only way for my husband and me to stay up past our daughter's bedtime when we're in a hotel room. Even if she's in a separate room, this helps her feel safe because her sleep surroundings look the same.
There are so many random baby things we've bought, and this has been one of our best purchases. So worth the money if you plan on sleeping somewhere other than your house." —Jenny C.
Get it from Amazon for $199.99.
14. A travel cot for when you're short on beds or just don't feel like getting kicked in the chest all night by a tiny acrobat sharing your space. These are great for hotel stays and camping because they fold up easily and can be stored away, but they are also off the ground.
Promising review: "I love this cot. It is so easy to set up and put away. It's perfect for frequent travelers. We have a camper that isn't really toddler-friendly for sleeping, and we use ours when we're staying in ours. This is also wonderful for those that may stay away from home more often. I love the design of this cot because it supports my child easily, and that says a lot about how sturdy it is, because she is a little rough with it at times. The small size makes it functional for many areas, keeping things out of the way. I love that it folds up easily and can be put in a corner or closet, and be out of the way. I bought this one and then found another for sale at Goodwill and bought that one as well. Now we keep one in the car for travel and one in our camper. I do recommend using the sheet with it because if your child is easily woken, they may not sleep well without the sheet or something covering the cot." —Stephanie R. Williford
Get it from Amazon for $29.98+ (available in three sizes and six colors).
15. A portable high chair with its own carrying case to give your little one a safe place to eat, no matter where you are. From hotel rooms to friends' houses with zero baby supplies, having a high chair you can easily check or throw into the trunk can take a ton of stress out of travel.
Promising review: "This chair is great to bring on trips for our little one. We flew with it in checked luggage, but it would also fit in a carry-on, and we bring it on all of our road trips. It pops up easily, and the fabric is easy to remove and wash. The lever that removes the tray table broke after about 8 months, and I reached out to customer service. They sent a replacement tray within about a week. Overall very pleased!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $37.99+ (available in three colors).
16. An airplane seat back organizer that'll keep everything they need handy without jamming a water bottle into the seat pocket — and therefore another person's back. We could all use a little more space, and this applies doubly to an airplane seat back pocket.
Promising review: "After trying every traveling 'hack' out there, we found these and got them before a cross-country trip. They are a game-changer and made our flight so much easier. Snacks? Accessible. Drink? Right there. You need to pee? iPad in pocket. Stuff on the floor? Nope. Need to deboard? Packs up teeny tiny in your bag. Absolutely my favorite item for traveling with kids." —Katie
Get it from Amazon for $29.99.
17. A portable charger so you can keep phones, tablets, or headphones charged even after your flight is inexplicably delayed. This bad boy has four different outlets and can charge up to six devices simultaneously.
Promising review: "We grabbed this Charmast portable charger because someone in our family always seems to hit 5 percent battery at the worst possible time. This thing has already earned its place in the backpack. The built-in cables are super handy. I don’t have to hunt around for a charging cord or worry about forgetting one at home. You just plug in and go.
It holds a ton of power. We’ve gotten 2–3 full charges out of it before needing to plug the charger back in, which has been great for travel days and long outings. It is a little heavier than the tiny pocket-sized chargers, but that makes sense given its capacity. I’d rather carry a little extra weight and know I am not scrambling for an outlet.
It charges phones and tablets at a good speed, not instant, but definitely faster than those older, cheap battery packs. The built quality feels solid, too. Nothing flimsy or rattly. Overall, this has become our go-to backup battery for trips, kids’ activities, and just everyday life when batteries run low at the wrong time.
We bought four of them, one for each person in our family, and they have all been working great for the past few weeks." —John Thao
Get it from Amazon for $30.99+ (available in six colors).
18. A small organizer that'll easily fit between car seats and is great for storing toys and activities for older kids. Keeping some fidget toys, drawing pads, dolls, and other small toys handy can keep your kiddos occupied and perhaps distract them from another "when will we get there?!" — at least for a few minutes.
Promising review: "This is between the captain's chairs in our second row. I use it to store a box of tissues, baby wipes, fidget toys, headphones, etc. I love that my kiddo can reach everything he needs, and it keeps everything contained so it's not rolling around in the backseat. It feels very sturdy, and I'm sure it will last a long time considering it just sits and doesn't get moved." —KR
Get it from Amazon for $21.95 (available in three colors).
19. A stroller fan for keeping everyone cool in warm vacation destinations. This small, battery-operated fan features a flexible tripod clip to keep it secure and three speeds, which is perfect when you've had enough of the heat and want to cool off.
Promising review: "We bought these for our tiny humans last July as we made the Uncle Sam-mandated journey from Alaska to South Carolina in the absolute worst heat of the summer. They kept our little Alaskan babies cool (for the most part) all last summer and this summer. These guys may be little, but they are mighty! A year later, they’re still going strong! Today I left my car door open for 6 hours during a thunderstorm and rainstorm, came out, and my car was SOAKED. After blotting as much as I could with towels, I decided to put these little fans to work to help the rest air dry. And what do you know! In less than 30 minutes, they had most of the water gone!! (Maybe a little help from the SC heat, but it’s 11 p.m.! There isn’t a super ton of that out rn.) I will 100% be buying again if these lightweight, strong little guys decide to kick the bucket." —Denae Grimlaw
Get it from Amazon for $25.99+ (available in six colors).
20. A compact potty seat that travels easily and makes any full-size potty kid-size. Save yourself the hassle of trying to hold your toddler as they are freaking out over the airplane toilet and just give them a seat their size. This seat is easy to put on any toilet, making the job more comfortable for everyone. Now to attack the dreaded flushing sound...
If you're planning a road trip and can't risk a "Next rest stop in 70 miles" sign, check out this travel potty that's a total lifesaver!
Promising review: "I bought this for my toddler to use on a trip to Disney World. It worked on every single toilet in the Disney World parks that we used and it worked on the airplane toilet. Love that it suctions so it won’t slide around easily. Folds up well and fit in our diaper bag. It’s easy to wipe down to clean. Now that we’re back from travels I find it’s still nice to have in the car/diaper bag for emergencies. Very useful and I would recommend to anyone who’s got a child that isn’t quite confident on a 'big potty' yet." —M
Get it from Amazon for $14.95+ (available in five colors).
21. A set of magnetic people for imagining or just plain exploring. And since they're magnetic rather than suction-like similar fidgets, you're not going to annoy the people in the surrounding rows with a constant "POP POP POP."
Promising review: "Best entertainment for the money! No assembly required, which is great for my little kids. Easy to pack up and go, small enough to travel. Amazing quality and overall great fun for all my kids ages 3–10." —abs
Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $15.99 (available in two versions and in a 20-pack).
22. A reusable puffy sticker play pad that combines imaginative play and sticker fun. Kids will love peeling off the stickers and creating their own farm scene, and you'll love not having to peel stubborn stickers off of wherever else they decided to stick them.
My kids are particularly fond of the fashion-dress-up version of this book, and they have gotten literal years of play out of it. They love creating new outfits and scenes in their books, and I love how low-stakes the stickers are — and I am an outspoken sticker-hater.
Promising review: "We bought these for a recent trip, and they entertained my daughter for a few hours. We would bring them out occasionally throughout the trip, and she continued to enjoy them. Highly recommend!" —kelsie
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $18.95.
23. A four-pack of classic Highlights Hidden Pictures books because they are just as fun now as when you were a kid. And since these come in a three-pack, there's no reason you can't keep one for your own inner child.
My family is HUGE fans of these books — especially my 5-year-old. These are the exact same hidden pictures pages from the Highlights you'd find at the dentist's office when you were a kid, but some other kid hasn't already circled them before you could get your hands on them. If that sense of relief wasn't enough already, kids actually love these just as much today. My daughter can't find her shoes when they're two feet away, but she will spend a surprisingly long time searching for the hidden pictures in these books. I can only hope those seek-and-find skills will one day transfer to the real world, and she'll actually find her shoes one of these days.
Promising review: "Kids had a blast on the road trip — something other than technology!" —Bash
Get four books from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in four versions and a version for younger kids).
24. A TikTok-famous Kanoodle brain teaser puzzle that allows them to solve 200 puzzles in one small package. This is a great boredom buster for long trips, a fun challenge for puzzle-lovers, and an activity that'll get those strategy skills flowing without beeps, buzzes, or crashes.
25. A tub of Stickikubes for building and creating with some sticky sensory fun. These small cubes stack, stick, and inspire creative play — and with 125 cubes in each tub, the possibilities for play are endless. When they're done, they can just go back in the tub or be wiped down and stored again for the next leg of the trip.
Promising review: "Bought these for air travel and they did not disappoint. My son loved building towers with them and sticking them to the airplane's window. They go back into the container easily, and you really can just rinse them with water, and they are clean and still sticky." —Suzy E.
Get them from Amazon for $19.99.
26. A travel-size Simon because this epic game still delivers. Kids and teens can both enjoy matching the light patterns — the perfect distraction for a road trip or a layover.
Promising review: "Got it for a long car trip and it was fantastic. Excellent size for traveling, and different ages had a great time using it." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $9.84 (also available as a two-pack and in a Bop-It combo pack).
27. A Water Wow travel set to give them plenty to do with nothing but the set and some water. Along with a water-activated free drawing panel, this set comes with stamps, stencils, and a pen on a harness, so nothing gets lost.
Promising review: "MY kids love this product. It's totally mess-free and easy for them to use. It's also great for when dining out. It is compact and can be easily taken for travel. IT'S very well-made and holds their attention for a decent amount of time." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $19.97.
28. A sunscreen applicator that'll make applying sunscreen SO much less *dramatic.* Just fill the applicator with sunscreen of your choice and let the soft sponge apply it rather than your sandy hands while you're trying to wrangle your slippery octopus child.
Promising review: "This is a GAME CHANGER for the summer. I had it saved for a while, but was hesitant to buy it at the price for something that didn't include sunscreen. I'm so glad I finally purchased it. The container is easy to fill and holds an entire tube of our sunscreen. The roller/sponge made it easy to apply to a squirmy toddler, and only needed a tiny bit of rubbing in after using. Will be phenomenal for using on the playground and beach this summer — and my husband has asked for one for the grown-ups in the house too!" —Kate
Get it from Amazon for $15.98+ (also available in 12 other colors).
Still need to grab a few more things before your next trip? Let us help:
* Travel Products You’ll Use For Every Trip For *Years* To Come
* Products For Anyone Traveling To A Warm Destination In The Near Future
* If You Have Some Long Travel Days Coming Up, These 37 Products Can Help Make Them Less Stressful
* Products You Need If You Absolutely Refuse To Check Your Luggage
* Flight Attendant-Approved Travel Products You'll Wish You'd Known About Sooner
* Super Comfortable Shoes Reviewers Say They Wore During An Entire Trip
* Products That’ll Make Traveling With A Toddler Just A Wee Bit Easier
* Things Reviewers Have Used On Long-Haul Flights
Plus, tips for traveling with a carry-on, a guide to the best luggage brands, road trip essentials, packing cubes, finds for frequent travelers and travel-friendly strollers, bags, and perfumes.
Reviews for this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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Raylyn Paquin is a freelancer who has been writing for BuzzFeed Shopping for two years, with a focus on products that make parenting just a bit easier — and hopefully more fun — home decor, kitchen gadgets, and whatever deals she can scope out.