Top 10 Travel Items For Kids Under 5: USA Edition

As a military family, we travel. A lot. We're currently blessed to be living in Europe, but even when we lived in the US we would often travel to visit family far away. Travel items often differ depending on location and airlines, so here's my list of top travel items for kids under 5: USA edition. Our child is only three right now so my items are focused on helping with travel for that age group. I'm sure it's quite different for those over 5. Some of these aren't allowed on European airlines, so I've got a different list for European travel!

1. gb Pockit + All City: This little stroller has been, hands down, the best purchase I've made since becoming a parent. It's lightweight, folds up small enough to fit in the overhead compartment, and you can buy a travel bag to go with it. I have this one, although it looks like there's a backpack version too! I can carry it over my shoulder, which has made it easy to bring with us to places that aren't always stroller accessible (looking at you, London Underground). It has a full canopy to protect my son from the sun, and reclines a bit for his naps.

2. JetKids Cloudsleeper: This cool little toddler-sized mattress is super compact. It comes with a washable cover and has a built-in foot pump that inflates it in just a few minutes. My kid also loves using this as a mini trampoline 🙄 This Hiccapop one has safety bumpers if you're worried about your child falling off.

3. JetKids by Stokke suitcase: This is a ride-on suitcase that turns into a seat extender/ plane bed once you get on board. It has given my son extra space to fall asleep many times, and he seems to enjoy the extra room it provides so that his little legs don't dangle off the edge. And riding on a suitcase through the airport is always fun!

4. Headband headphones: My child was pretty averse to headphones, and for a long time we had to play his movies super low on board the plane so we wouldn't bother any other passengers. I was always very self-conscious about the noise, and I was so relieved when I found these! They're soft and comfortable, and have a decibel limit so they can't turn it up too loud and hurt their ears. Plus they come in fun styles! They also have fleece ones, if your child doesn't sweat as much as mine does. My son loves wearing his "fox ears" now.

5. Gel cling stickers: Reusable, leave no residue and stick to all kinds of hard surfaces. My son loves putting them on the windows and asks for them the second we get on board now. They're an especially helpful distraction when we've boarded but not left yet, as he sees the other people moving around so he wants to move too.

6. Suction cup toys: Little suction cup toys that stick to hard surfaces and connect to each other, need I say more? They come in all kinds of different shapes and also work in the bathtub!

7. Beach ball: Most kids really enjoy tossing and kicking balls, and balloons. We were on a trip to visit my family once (they live on the California coast) and my son was obsessed with a beach ball the entire trip. My sister had the bright idea of packing a deflated one in my carry-on and it's been a staple ever since. He can use it in hotel rooms, the hotel pool, while waiting at the airport, you name it. And whenever we're ready to go, we quickly deflate it and it takes up almost no space.

8. LED drawing tablet: I never imagined that part of my parenting journey would include me turning into an artist, yet I've learned to draw whales, penguins, horses... whatever my son's imagination can think up. These are super lightweight and reusable, and my son loves requesting animals and telling us stories about them once we've drawn them. Soon we'll transition to him being the artist, but in the meantime, this has been great entertainment for the entire family.

9. Amazon kids tablet: Being stuck in a confined space for long amounts of time usually ends up meaning screen time. The Amazon kids tablet has been our favorite, coming pre-packed in a case. That came in handy when I opened the box and my son immediately threw the tablet on the floor. It's got built-in kid controls and limited apps so you can monitor what they're watching. We also love using the Amazon Kindle app on ours. Together with the Libby app, it means my son has books everywhere we go. We always read before bed so it's been really nice to not have to lug around extra books. Some of the books even read out loud to him, which is great when I'm getting ready in the mornings!

10. Portable toilet seat: Potty training while traveling can be intimidating! We found this portable potty seat to be great. It makes all the seats a little bit smaller so my son can fit on it comfortably without the fear of falling in. You do have to make sure that it is all the way flat, as you don't want them to get pinched when they sit on it. It fits inside my purse so it's always with us.

And 2 Bonus items!

Yeti Kids Rambler Jr. This will keep drinks cold for hours, and came in handy when my son was a big milk drinker. We could buy milk in the airport, stick it in his Yeti, and it would stay cold the entire flight. We still use it now, although with plain water in it most days. It's especially handy when descending, as drinking helps kids pop their ears and there isn't always water available when you need it. It's also easy for kids to open themselves, so you aren't having to lean over and help them open their water bottle every time they want a drink.

Wet bags: I carry a wet bag with me pretty much everywhere we go. They're great for potty accidents, muddy clothes, wet bathing suits, trash... whatever you don't want floating around your bag or getting on to other things. It's one of those things that I always feel is excessive until I need it. Then I'm so grateful I packed it.

There are so many more items that come in handy while traveling, if you have the space for them. These are our top items that I always make sure to have, although every family's needs are different. Why is this the USA version? Bed boxes aren't allowed on some European airlines, which is a bummer as it's been a huge help for us. Hopefully, you'll find something that meets your family's needs on our list!