Must-Have Products for Traveling with Kids

Traveling with kids can be challenging, but these practical and innovate products may help your next trip go smoothly, allowing you to enjoy your trip a lot more.

If renting a car is part of your travel plans, taking along a child restraint with you can save a lot of money and worry.

The fees for a child restraint can add up, especially if you have more than one child.

And at times rental agencies may not have any car seats available even when reserved ahead of time.

Some parents may even be wary about the condition of a rental car agency-provided car seat.

Therefore, many parents simply take their car seats with them.

If you plan to take a car seat with you on your next trip, there are a couple of lightweight compact alternatives that are convenient for traveling.

One alternative is a child restraint vest, such as the RideSafer. There are two different vests - a small and a large. The small vest is suitable for kids ages 3 to 6 years old, 30 to 60 pounds, and 34 to 52 inches tall. The large vest is suitable for kids 5 to 8 years old, 50 to 80 pounds, and 45 to 57 inches tall.

The RideSafer meets or exceeds Federal Motor Vehicle Standards FMVSS213.

For kids ages 4 to 11 and weighing between 40 to 80 pounds, the BubbleBum is a portable, inflatable booster seat that also meets FMVSS213.

Both the RideSafer and BubbleBum can easily fit in a carry-on or suitcase, making them ideal for travel.

Being separated from your child while at a crowded amusement park or shopping center can be a parent's worst nightmare.

But because kids can be naturally curious and spontaneous, it's important to be prepared in case your child does get lost.

In addition to explaining to your child what to do should he or she become separated from a parent (e.g. look for a security officer or find an employee who can assist), ID Bands can come in very handy.

ID Bands allow you to write down important information such as the child's name and emergency contact numbers. Some bands also have room for other critical information, such as a child's health history or allergies.

While traveling on planes, little children often complain about ear pain from a flight's air pressure, and some are even uneasy just from the plane's loud engine.

EarPlanes can help to relieve the pressure and discomfort felt during a plane's descent, and can also help to reduce outside noise.

EarPlanes are available in children's sizes and come in a small carrying case, allowing you or your child to keep them handy in a pocket.

Motion sickness can happen no matter what your mode of transportation - boat, plane, car, train, bus, or even helicopter.

Sea-Bands, an acupressure band that is drug-free, is an accessory that kids can wear around each wrist to help relieve motion sickness.

The bands are comfortable and unobtrusive, and kids can wear them prior to travel or at the onset of any nausea.

Sea-Bands are available in a variety of colors and work almost immediately.

The Zhip, a little contraption made out of Polycarbonate material, turns your mobile phone into a hands-free compact movie screen.

Simply expand the Zhip around your phone, extend the cord around a car seat's headrest or loop it over the little lock for your tray table on a plane, and let your child watch pre-downloaded movies or TV shows.

No more paying for in-flight movies or carrying around a portable DVD player, and no more worrying about your child dropping your phone or launching other apps.

The Zhip is small and light enough to fit in a purse or pocket, making it quick and easy to convert your phone into a mini mobile movie screen.

For more travel tips and must-have products, check out:

Must-Have Products for Traveling with An Infant

Tips for Traveling with a Child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder