Baby & Toddler Travel Must-Haves

With hundreds of flights and trips between us, these are all of the must-have items we bring with us when we travel, whether it’s for the best possible sleep to the most useful items to make things run smoothly, this is everything you didn’t know you needed!

portugal with a baby

Here’s Every Travel Product Post

Whether it’s strollers that can fit in an airplane overhead bin, diaper bags for one or more kids, the best hiking backpack carriers, and baby sleep on vacation, these are the products we’ve loved the most. All tried and true by our team here at Parenthood Adventures!

The Best Advent Calendars for 2-3 Year Old Boys
At Home | Our Favorite Products | Toddler Essentials | Toys

The Best Advent Calendars for 2-3 Year Old Boys

There’s something magical about advent calendars when you’re a kid. Each little door or drawer holds a tiny surprise, counting down to the ultimate celebration. For a 2- or 3-year-old, it’s pure joy—a daily spark of excitement and a memory-making tradition that sets the tone for the season. This year, we’ve done the research (and…

lovevery play kits
Our Favorite Products | Toys

The Ultimate Gift Guide for 2-Year-Old Boys This Christmas

Ah, two-year-olds. They’re in that magical stage where every new skill feels like a major life accomplishment—pouring water, organizing stickers, and even occasionally, cleaning up. If you’re shopping for the toddler in your life, here’s a list of gifts that will capture their endless energy, curiosity, and need for hands-on play. From classics like wooden…

jsx airline with way b pico
Car Seats

WayB Pico vs. Cosco Scenera Next – I Tried Both to See Which is Better

Let’s talk about two popular car seats that claim to make travel easier, especially if you’re navigating airports with a toddler on one hip and three bags on the other. The WayB Pico and Cosco Scenera Next are both lightweight, compact, and fit-for-travel seats, but each has its quirks. I’ve used both—on planes, in taxis,…

jsx airline with way b pico
Car Seats | Toddler Essentials | Travel Essentials

WayB Pico Car Seat Review: Perfectly Portable but with Some Trade-Offs

If there’s one travel item I’ve grown to be picky about, it’s car seats. You’re essentially bringing along a bulky, toddler-sized safety cocoon for every leg of the journey, and if it’s difficult to install, uncomfortable for the kiddo, or an issue in any way, it becomes a huge stressor. Safety is the most important…

lovevery play kits
Our Favorite Products | Toddler Essentials | Toys

Are Lovevery Play Kits Worth It for Toddlers? My Honest Take

We’ve loved Lovevery play kits since the beginning. Here’s everything to know about making the investment during the toddler years. Editor's Rating: 5 We’ve loved Lovevery play kits since the beginning. Here’s everything to know about making the investment during the toddler years. Editor's Rating: 5 If there’s one thing I’ve learned about parenting, it’s…

norway with a baby toddler
Our Favorite Products | Travel Essentials

How to Pick Travel Insurance for Your Family Trip

Traveling with a family is a fantastic adventure, but it also comes with its fair share of unpredictability. From flight delays to medical emergencies, having the right travel insurance can save you a lot of stress and money. We learned this the hard way when my son got sick in Indonesia and it turned out…

no reception club getaway diaper bag
Baby Essentials | Our Favorite Products | Toddler Essentials | Travel Essentials

Is No Reception Club The Best Travel Diaper Bag? I Tried it to Find Out!

I tested the No Reception Club Getaway Diaper Bag on a 3 week trip in Europe, here’s what I honestly think Editor's Rating: 5 I tested the No Reception Club Getaway Diaper Bag on a 3 week trip in Europe, here’s what I honestly think Editor's Rating: 5 I’ve just returned from a three week…

best suitcases for families
Travel Essentials

The 8 BEST Luggage for Families – We’ve Tried Them All!

Traveling with kids is an adventure in itself, and choosing the right luggage can make a world of difference. After boarding over 100 planes with my toddler, I’ve learned that the right suitcase is the difference between a stressful and easeful check in experience.  From finding a spot for the travel bed to ensuring there…

Best Travel Diaper Bags
Our Favorite Products | Baby Essentials | Toddler Essentials | Travel Essentials

The Best Travel Diaper Bags: Our 20 Favorite Picks

When it comes to traveling with little ones, a diaper bag is more than just a place to stash diapers and wipes. It’s the one bag that holds all the essentials and keeps them close at hand for that crucial moment when you need to find a clean pacifier during takeoff and can’t waste a…

Little Bloomer Play Boxes Honest Review
At Home | Baby Essentials | Our Favorite Products | Toys

Little Bloomer Play Boxes Honest Review

As a first-time parent with a full-time job, playtime with my baby is very precious to me. I make a conscious effort to select toys that are not only fun, but also support motor skills development, and encourage parents’ involvement, so we can have fun together as she learns! I avoid battery-operated toys, and keep…

guava lotus bassinet
Travel Tips and Hacks | Baby Essentials | Our Favorite Products | Travel Essentials

Is the Guava Lotus Travel Bassinet and Crib Worth It? (Not Sponsored Review!)

Editor's Rating: 5 Editor's Rating: 5 When I was building out my baby registry I came across all kinds of premium products and wondered if any of them were truly worth it. Like the SNOO Smart Sleeper, Artipoppe baby carrier, anything by Nuna or UPPA Baby, Willow wearable breast pumps, and of course, the Guava…

ergobaby metro stroller review
Our Favorite Products | popular | Strollers | Travel Essentials

The 10 Best Strollers that Fit in an Airplane Overhead Bin 2024

If you’ve ever flown with your infant or toddler, you know that gate-checking your stroller creates an extra step before takeoff and risks damage to it while it’s out of sight. It also means waiting on a crowded jet bridge for crew members to bring the stroller back to you after landing — when all…

bentley trike review
Our Favorite Products | Strollers | Toddler Essentials | Toys

Is the Bentley Trike Worth It? My Honest Thoughts

Is the Bentley Trike worth it? Apart from how sleek it looks, does it make sense to shell out on this particular trike, or any trike, for your kiddo? Editor's Rating: 4 Is the Bentley Trike worth it? Apart from how sleek it looks, does it make sense to shell out on this particular trike,…

miamily suitcase review
Our Favorite Products | Travel Essentials

Is the Miamily Ride Along Suitcase Worth It? My Honest Thoughts

Is the Miamily ride along suitcase worth it? Here are my honest thoughts and full review after use over many trips with our toddler. Editor's Rating: 5 Is the Miamily ride along suitcase worth it? Here are my honest thoughts and full review after use over many trips with our toddler. Editor's Rating: 5 We’ve…

7 of the Best Italy Resorts for Kids
Destinations | Hotel Reviews | Toys

7 of the Best Italy Resorts for Kids

If you’ve ever traveled to Italy, you might have noticed how much Italians adore children. Restaurants here are famously kid-friendly, museums offer free activities for little ones, and people are generally accommodating and happy to go the extra mile to make sure youngsters are happy and having fun. Some of the best resorts for kids…

Milk x Whiskey diaper bag backpack review
Baby Essentials | Our Favorite Products | Travel Essentials

The Best Travel Diapers for Babies and Toddlers

You’re planning a trip, and amidst the frenzy of packing, organizing, and mentally preparing yourself for the adventure ahead, you suddenly realize you’ve overlooked one crucial aspect—diapers. Yep, that’s right, diapers. If you’re a parent like me, you know that when it comes to traveling with little ones, choosing the right diaper can make all…

Dagne Dover Diaper Bag Review
Baby Essentials | Our Favorite Products | Toddler Essentials | Travel Essentials

Dagne Dover Diaper Bag Review: Are They Worth Your Money?

Editor's Rating: 5 Editor's Rating: 5 When deciding on baby gear as a soon-to-be mom four years ago, I chose an inexpensive backpack-style diaper bag. Although I liked the bag’s look, it quickly became evident that the materials weren’t durable, and the design was lacking. There was no way to open the narrow bag wide…

Best Baby Travel Bassinets
Baby Essentials | Our Favorite Products | Travel Essentials

The 10 Best Baby Travel Bassinets

If you’re traveling with your baby in those precious first few months of life, you’ll need a designated safe spot for your little one to sleep. Depending on your accommodations, a hotel crib may be an option, but many parents opt to travel with a portable bassinet. We’ve scoured the market for the very best…

nuna mixx stroller review
Car Seats | Our Favorite Products | Strollers

UPPABaby vs. Nuna – I Tried Both Brands To Find Out Which is Better

In the ultimate show-down between premium baby brands that prioritize nontoxic materials, my search led me to two contenders: Uppababy and Nuna. Both are American brands at a similar price point that make some of the best car seats, strollers, and other baby gear on the market. So if your search led you here, I’m…

Graco SlimFit3 LX vs Extend2Fit
Car Seats | Our Favorite Products

Graco SlimFit3 LX vs Extend2Fit Car Seats: Complete Comparison

Graco is a well-loved brand for baby gear and child safety seats, especially for its top-ranked Extend2Fit 3-in-1 convertible car seat and newer SlimFit3 LX 3-in-1 convertible car seat. The Extend2Fit is a popular choice for parents because it’s safe, comfortable, and easy to use, but it’s too wide to fit three across in the…

Best Gifts for Two-Year-Old Boys
Our Favorite Products | Toddler Essentials | Toys

The 40 Best Gifts for Two-Year-Old Boys

Tailoring your birthday and holiday gifts to the evolving developmental stage — and short attention span! — of a two-year-old isn’t easy. We’ve learned from experience with our two young children which gifts are winners for young toddlers, and which ones aren’t worth the investment. Read on for our toddler-approved list of the 40 best…

Graco SlimFit3 LX 3-in-1 Car Seat Review
Car Seats | Our Favorite Products

Graco SlimFit3 LX 3-in-1 Car Seat Review: A Mom’s Honest Thoughts

Editor's Rating: 4.5 Editor's Rating: 4.5 For parents who have more than one child, or families with smaller cars, it quickly becomes clear that convertible car seats can be large, bulky, and difficult to maneuver. Fortunately, there are a number of great car seat models, like the Graco SlimFit3 LX 3-in-1, that are durable, comfortable,…

Best Gifts for Three-Year-Old Boys
Our Favorite Products | Toddler Essentials | Toys

The 50 Best Gifts for Three-Year-Old Boys

In our attempts as parents to find the best presents for toddler boys over the years, we’ve found some that are major hits — and some that are serious misses. Based on our experiences with toys, games, and other fun toddler gear, we’ve rounded up the 50 best gifts for three-year-old boys, all loved by…

deuter kid comfort carrier review
Baby Essentials | Our Favorite Products | Toddler Essentials | Travel Essentials

The Best Baby Hiking Backpack Carriers (We Tested Them All!)

As an avid hiker, before, I became a parent, I knew that I still wanted to hit the trail as often as possible after having my baby. Beginning at his third month of age, our first hike involved a soft carrier before graduating to one with a frame, which provides more support and better weight…

deuter kid comfort carrier review
Baby Essentials | Our Favorite Products | Toddler Essentials | Travel Essentials

Deuter Kid Comfort Pro – Worth it? My Honest Review

Is the Deuter Kid Comfort Pro worth buying? After testing both the Deuter and the Osprey, these are my honest thoughts. Editor's Rating: 4 Is the Deuter Kid Comfort Pro worth buying? After testing both the Deuter and the Osprey, these are my honest thoughts. Editor's Rating: 4 As an avid hiker (and parent), I…

cares harness review
Our Favorite Products | Travel Essentials

Should You Use a CARES Harness on Flights?

Once upon a time in the early days of traveling with my baby, I came across a device called the CARES harness. It’s an Federal Aviation Association-approved device that allows you to travel without a car seat on an airplane by making the typical airplane seatbelt more appropriate for older babies and toddlers. I’ve used…

Best Travel Baby Bathtub
Travel Essentials | Baby Essentials | Our Favorite Products

The Best Travel Baby Bathtub: Our Top 12 Favorites

Infant bathtubs are classically one of the bulkiest and most difficult baby items to travel with. Although you can always fill your large basin-style tub with baby clothes, toys, and other essential travel gear to throw in the trunk of the car, it can help to find more compact bath time solution for travel, especially…

Best FAA-Approved Car Seats
Car Seats | Our Favorite Products | Travel Essentials

The 10 Best FAA-Approved Car Seats for Air Travel

Although bringing a car seat on an airplane might seem cumbersome, using a car seat on board is the safest way for little ones to fly. Fortunately, many of the best convertible car seats and infant car seats are approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for use in flight. Whether you’re looking to buy…

can you take a baby on safari
Our Favorite Products | Car Seats | Travel Essentials

Is the Cosco Scenera NEXT a Good Travel Car Seat? My Honest Thoughts

It’s lightweight, affordable, and easy to tote on trips. The Cosco Scenera Next is one of the most popular travel car seats out there, but is it safe and worth using? Now that my son has aged out of his infant car seat, this is the one we travel with after reading numerous reviews stating…

Best Toddler Travel Toys
Our Favorite Products | Toddler Essentials | Toys | Travel Essentials

The 50 Best Toddler Travel Toys — All Mom-Tested and Approved!

When we set out for family adventures with our two toddlers, toys are always a priority on our packing list. Although we’ve been known to travel with large toys like our daughter’s Fisher-Price Piano and our son’s Strider Balance Bike, it’s important to find options that are compact, lightweight, and engaging for little ones away…

Strider Bike Review
Our Favorite Products | Toys

A Mom’s Honest Review of the Strider Balance Bike

A balance bike can be a scary purchase for parents. I distinctly remember thinking, “We’re really going to buy our two-year-old a bicycle with no pedals, no brakes, and no training wheels?” Despite my fears, our son picked up the balance bike technique over time, and now he wants to ride it every time we…

Best Baby Travel Toys
Our Favorite Products | Baby Essentials | Toys | Travel Tips and Hacks

The 50 Best Baby Travel Toys — All Tested from Experience!

Whenever we travel with our two young kids, toys are always at the top of our packing list. We’ve even traveled cross-country with a suitcase designated for toys alone — so we’ve learned which ones are winners, and which ones aren’t worth the extra space. Read on for our complete list of the 50 best…

The 12 Best Portable High Chairs
Our Favorite Products | Baby Essentials | Travel Essentials

The 12 Best Portable High Chairs

When traveling with youngsters, the packing list gets pretty overwhelming pretty quickly. Parents need to think about travel beds, strollers, and baby carriers, in addition to bringing the essentials along, like diapers, wipes, pacifiers, and clothing.  As you’re tackling your massive list, don’t forget to add on a portable high chair. These are perfect for…

Best Car Seat Travel Bags
Our Favorite Products | Baby Essentials | Car Seats | Toddler Essentials | Travel Essentials | Travel Tips and Hacks

The 20 Best Car Seat Travel Bags for 2024

Flying with young kids is no joke. Between keeping them entertained in flight, choosing the right stroller for the airport, and figuring out how to lug their car seat to your destination, travel day can be daunting.  Kids’ car seats are bulky and heavy, but families often need to bring them along for travel. A…

Best Lightweight Strollers with Trays
Our Favorite Products | Baby Essentials | Strollers | Toddler Essentials | Travel Essentials | Travel Tips and Hacks

The 10 Best Lightweight Strollers with Trays

Every parent of young kids knows that a toddler’s life revolves around snacks. If you’re one of those parents who never leaves the house without packing enough crackers and drinks to feed a family of six, a stroller with a child snack tray can help keep food and water within reach on the go. When…

babyzen yoyo review
Travel Tips and Hacks | Our Favorite Products | Strollers | Travel Essentials

Is the Babyzen Yoyo2 Worth Buying? A Mom’s Honest Thoughts

The Babyzen Yoyo2 might be the most well-known compact stroller on the market. A French brand that’s now part of the Stokke umbrella of companies, they’ve been making high-quality strollers since 2006. But is the Babyzen Yoyo2 worth the hype? I’m on a mission to find the best travel stroller, and this could easily be…

babyzen yoyo vs joolz aer strollers
Travel Tips and Hacks | Our Favorite Products | Strollers | Travel Essentials

Babyzen Yoyo vs. Joolz Aer – Which is the Better Travel Stroller?

In my quest to find the best travel stroller, I’ve ended up testing quite a few to see which one could be our go-to. Most recently, that’s been the Babyzen Yoyo2 and the Joolz Aer, both of which we’ve taken on international trips. After testing quite a few, I can confidently say these are two…

joolz aer travel stroller
Travel Tips and Hacks | Our Favorite Products | Strollers | Travel Essentials

Is the Joolz Aer Worth Buying? I Tried it to Find Out!

Friends, I am on a constant search for the best travel stroller, particularly that can fit in the overhead bin of an airplane. I’ve searched high and low, trying several in my quest to find the best. On my most recent trip to Southeast Asia, I brought the Joolz Aer along to see if it’s…

ergobaby metro stroller
Travel Tips and Hacks | Our Favorite Products | Strollers | Travel Essentials

Is the Ergobaby Metro+ Stroller Worth Buying? (Mom Tested and Reviewed)

I’m on a quest, friends, to find the best travel stroller that fits in an overhead bin. Though there are plenty on the market, my criteria are high. It needs to fold easily, be comfortable for my son, be sturdy, and have great storage. Ergobaby recently sent me the Metro+ Deluxe stroller to test and…

Diono Radian 3QX Car Seat Review
Our Favorite Products | Car Seats

The Diono Radian 3QX: My Complete Review and Comparison to Other Radian Car Seats

Of all the baby gear you’ll shop for, your child’s car seat is one of the most high-stakes items you’ll choose. It needs to keep your precious son or daughter safe on the road, last through years of relentless wear, and remain within a reasonable budget for your family. Families who plan on having multiple…

Uppababy Mesa vs. Nuna Pipa Car Seat (From a Mom with Both)
Our Favorite Products | Car Seats | Travel Tips and Hacks

Uppababy Mesa vs. Nuna Pipa Car Seat (From a Mom with Both)

Which is better, the UPPABaby Mesa car seat or the Nuna pipa RX? As a mom with both, my friends, I have thoughts. Both UPPABaby and Nuna are household names for those of us who prioritize nontoxic ingredients in our baby items. It’s how I was initially led to both brands myself when looking for…