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It’s hard to believe but the holidays will be here before we know it. If you have friends who travel as a family, we’ve compiled a great list of gifts that they won’t only enjoy but will be useful in their travels.
Sleep Easy While You Travel
First up on our list is a product that I think is absolute genius. How many times have you been traveling and you spend an hour (or more) trying to get the baby/toddler to bed? It is almost an impossible feat when everyone is staying in one room. Or how about this-you finally get the baby to sleep and 2 hours later once you finally close your eyes the baby wakes to peek out the side of the pack and play to realize you are in the same room as them. Oy Vey! Enter the solution-Slumberpod.
Slumberpod is a portable pod/tent that can be set up around your baby’s pack-n-play or portable bed. It provides a safe, private, and cozy sleeping space for your baby. The product weighs 5 pounds (which includes the travel bag) which makes it a great option for traveling families.
I must admit I don’t have one because it’s a fairly new product and my youngest is too old to use it. However, it is at the top of my list because I think it is an essential family travel gift for families with children under the age of 2. You can purchase the Slumberpod here.
Games On The Go
One of the most challenging things for parents planning a trip is figuring out what to bring to keep the children entertained while traveling. I believe travel games are a great way to keep little hands and minds busy while on the go.
Growing up, connect four was one of our favorite travel games and it has become one for my family as well. While Connect Four was our favorite, Hasbro has several childhood favorites that are provided in the Grab & Go (travel) option. These are Battleship, Monopoly, Clue, and Trouble. Another great time-consuming game that is more suited for an individual to play is Kanoodle. Kanoodle is a brain teaser game using colorful connected beads.
Travel games not only provide a great activity for kids to do in the car or on a plane but they also provide a lot of great family time fun. In this day and age we are so consumed by electronics that sometimes it is nice to just spend time together laughing over a good game.
No Electronics Fun
In addition to the travel games, activity books are another great option to pass time on a trip. Some books that my children love to do and are great for practicing numbers are the Paint By Stickers Kids books. They have a variety of options to choose from like zoo animals, unicorns & magic, under the sea, and Christmas.
Another favorite around my house is anything Melissa & Doug. One of my kids’ favorites is definitely the Water Wow books. These books come with a little paintbrush pen that you simply fill with water. Then when the child rubs the notebook with the pen it makes the color appear (with no mess 🙂 There are a variety of options to choose from but some packs that look fun are fairy tale, make-up, and animals pack, vehicles, animals, and safari, or if you are looking for a 6 pack you can purchase the alphabet, number, safari, vehicle, animal, and under the sea pack.
Melissa and Doug also have other on the go options. They have magic color which is a great mess-free way to color. Some of the magic color choices are farm animals (pictured above), princess, and a combo pack. They also have the scratch art books. Using a wooden stylus the child reveals the colors under the picture by scratching the matte surface. I just purchased these for our next overseas trip 🙂 Some of the scratch art choices are safari, animal families, and the combo pack. For children who are a little older the Melissa and Doug secret decoder books will be a good option. We love Melissa and Doug products. The quality and fun are definitely there!
Say No To Germs
Can I tell you one of my biggest pet peeves of family road trips? Stopping to potty. Now I must tell you I am not a germaphobe, but one thing that drives me crazy is using public restrooms with children. No matter how hard you try to cover the seat with toilet paper or try to keep their undergarments’ from touching the toilet seat, it is bound to happen. Enter the next item on our list of great family travel gifts-disposable toilet seat covers.
Most brands provide full coverage for not only the top of the toilet seat but down the sides and the front of the toilet as well. Some brands even package them individually-which is a nice perk! There are a variety of prints to choose from-cars, Santa bear/kangaroo, owls, and stars. **Note: These are made by different companies so read the descriptions to find the best fit for your family.
**EDIT TO ADD: We have been using these on our last couple of trips and I cannot say enough about how much I love them. The Santa bear/kangaroo pack I purchased is so convenient. They come individually wrapped so you can put them in your purse. I will not travel without them anymore! (unless I forget them of course 🙂
Headphones for Kids
Next on our list of great family travel gifts are Cozyphones. Cozyphones are by far one of our travel accessories that we never leave home without. Cozyphones are a soft headband shaped headphone created for children and adults alike. The headphones come in many adorable prints including Paw Patrol characters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and unicorns. Cozyphones also come in adult options such as active Cozyphones and sleep Cozyphones. We have not tried the adult version yet but we are pretty sure we would enjoy them as much as our kids do. To learn more about Cozyphones be sure to check out our detailed article on them here.
Get Creative & Boogie
My children love to draw but I’m not about to load up crayons and markers to take on a trip. The Boogie Board is a great solution to this problem. This LCD writing tablet allows your child to draw, doodle, and erase without the mess. The Boogie Board we own and pictured below is the 8.5 inch version. We also purchased the Neoprene sleeve which is a great way to keep up with the pen and protect your board. The Boogie board brand also sells a version with a color LCD called Boogie Board Scribble and Play Color LCD Writing Screen.
Find It On The Map
Traveling around the world with your children provides a great opportunity to practice your geography skills. The only problem? A globe isn’t going to fit in your bag and a paper map is likely to not last long. The solution is in our next family travel gift-the scrunch map. Water and tear-resistant this map is a great way to encourage your child’s interest in geography as you travel. It scrunches up to fit in a carry case that comes with the map, and flattens out when you are ready to use it. You can purchase either the world scrunch map or the United States scrunch map. Even better purchase both!
Shine The Way
The next gift on our list for family travel gifts can be used at home or on the go. A headlamp is a great gift for a child or adult that loves to travel. It can be used while hiking, camping, or for a variety of other activities. There are several headlamps to choose from with different features. The MOICO headlamp uses 8 LED lights with various settings and it is also waterproof. It also has a backlight which is great if you also want to use it on bike rides. If you prefer a two-pack of headlamps Foxelli might be a great choice. Also waterproof and lightweight the Foxelli also has a variety of red and white light modes.
Building Time
The next gift is something my house is full of but I still buy for trips-LEGOS. Small lego kits are a great way to entertain kids and engage their minds at the same time. I typically look for sets under 100 pieces to keep the pieces manageable. Some kit this size are Kayak Adventure, Spiderman Car Chase, Emma’s Mobile Vet Clinic, and Construction Loader. A great way to keep up with all the little pieces is with the Lego Cinch Bucket. You could put your individual packages down into the sack and it also provides a place for your child to put their finished product.
Comfy Accommodations
As a family of five we often find that many accommodations are made for a family of four. Enter the last but not least item on our list of family travel gifts, the Hiccapop toddler travel bed. Having a travel bed can allow your family to stay in one hotel room and everyone still sleep comfortably. The Hiccapop portable lightweight toddler travel bed can be purchased with 2 bumpers located on the sides. It also comes with a pump and XL travel bag. It weighs 8 pounds so it is easy to toss in your suitcase for your next trip.
Buying holiday gifts that are useful for people is always a goal of mine. I hope this list of family travel gifts provides you some helpful suggestions for the travel families in your life. If you enjoyed this article please pin it to refer to later or share with others. Stay Peachy!
Great read. My cousin and his wife just had a baby and I had no idea what to get them for Christmas. Enter, Slumberpod. Heck, I want one! lol.
Jay,
Thanks so much! I’m happy this was helpful for you. Yes, I think the Slumberpod would be a great gift for your cousin and wife. As for wanting one for yourself-I agree! 🙂 Happy travels!
What a clever post idea. I love all these items, and especially the scrunch map. Although I travel solo, I kind of want that for myself now!
Jordan,
Thanks so much! Yes the scrunch map is fantastic. It’s amazing how small it can fold up 🙂 You should definitely get one-or two (the world & USA 🙂 Happy travels!
Very good ideas! When the kids were little I was always looking for fun things to keep them occupied while we were driving or flying somewhere.
Thank you! Yes it’s nice to keep them occupied-makes the trip go so much faster 🙂 Stay peachy!
We are big fans of the Water Wow books! I recently bought a tablet like the one you mentioned and use it to keep our youngest quiet while in church. I think it will be very handy on travel days, too!
Yes, we love the water wow books. I feel like you can never have enough of them 🙂 What a great idea to use it during church. I remember drawing on the bulletin when I was a little girl :). Stay peachy!
Man, I need those toilet seat covers; so cool! Loved the kids maps and everything I’ve ever seen by Melissa and Doug. Thank you for this list; soooo helpful!
Eva,
Right! My favorite is that the toilet seats cover the front and the sides of the toilet as well. I’m happy the list was helpful! Happy travels 🙂
These are awesome gift ideas for traveling families!
Thanks so much! Happy travels!
Great ideas for traveling with kids! I LOVE the scrunch map so much! I am definitely going to get one of those! Thanks so much for sharing ! 🙂
Vessy,
Thanks so much and your welcome. I hope you enjoy the scrunch map as much as we do! Happy travels!
All these ideas are great but I especially love the scrunch map. It’s a great map to travel with.
Leeanne,
Thanks so much! The scrunch map is such a great resource and gift. It is amazing how small you can make it. Thanks for stopping by. Happy travels!
These are all great ideas! My kids would love the different activity gifts.
Lisa,
Thanks so much! The activity gifts are some of my kids’ favorites as well. Happy travels!
I love all of these ideas, especially the slumber pod. Genius!
Shirley,
Thanks so much. I love the slumber pod as well! Happy travels!
Great ideas! Some are good even if your not going on a trip! Great Christmas present ideas.
Laura,
Thanks so much! I appreciate your kind comments. Stay peachy!
Wow that slumberpod is a game changer!
Arianny,
I agree. What an amazing invention-wish I had thought of it 🙂 Stay peachy!
What a great list! {erfect for any family traveling! Thanks!
Tricia,
Thanks so much! Happy you enjoyed it!
I love the map! Maps have always fascinated me. These are great ideas!
Yes! It is really great. I love the material it is made of.
Some fun ideas for young families!
Thank you! Happy travels!
Do they make the slumberpod for adults? It is would awesome!
Right?! I wish 🙂
We don’t have kiddos but appreciate tips for our friends & family that do!
Hera,
Happy it was helpful! Happy shopping 🙂
Wow this list is awesome. Can’t wait to get some of this stuff!!!
Thanks so much!
Great gifts for travelers and traveling families!
Thank you! Happy travels!
These are neat ideas, but hands down my favorite is the disposable toilet seat covers. I need to get some of those.
Eva,
I cannot say enough good things about those toilet seat covers. I don’t know if I will ever travel without them again. They are fantastic!
You provided a lot of really great items to take with you or for gifts for those who like to travel and have little ones.
Kristen,
Thanks so much! I’m happy you found the list useful! Happy travels!
Great recommendations. one of our favorite travel items is a inflatable toddler bed!
Thanks so much! Yes we ended up buying one and we just used it on our last trip-fantastic! Happy travels!
That slumber pod is something else hahaha! Love it!
Liza,
Right?! I thought the same thing. I just wished it would have been around when my kids were little 🙂
Great list! I love the games and activities. And those cozy phones are so cute!
Kendra,
Thanks so much! Yes games and activities are always a great way to keep kids entertained while traveling. Stay Peachy!
That scrunch map – that looks so much fun! Great idea for road trips!
Tiffany,
Thank you! The scrunch map is so great. You should see how small it folds up. We love it!
What a great list for travelers! I love these ideas as a new grandmother!
Tricia,
Thanks so much! Congrats on being a new grandmother!
That baby sleeping pod is so cool!
Right?! I thought so as well 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Great ideas!!! I don’t think I previously knew of the Melissa and Doug books, but I love everything they put out. I drive 3 hours with my granddaughter every other weekend, and I think she would love these!
Jennifer,
Thanks so much! I agree with you, we love everything Melissa and Doug 🙂 You should definitely check out their travel books for your granddaughter. Thanks for stopping by!
Ooh, I hadn’t heard of Kanoodle before! It reminds me of Mastermind (which I used to love). Thanks for this great gift idea!
Yes Kanoodle is a great game to keep the mind and hands busy. Your welcome. Happy shopping! ❤️
These gifts are fabulous! Everyone needs a headlamp!!
Thank you! I agree about the headlamp. Thanks for stopping by!
Great tips! I have the same pet peeve as you – I don’t like using public washroom during roadtrips or when travelling. I’m germophobe 🙂
You should definitely check out the toilet covers. I’ve been using them as well-so great!
These are really great ideas for traveling families. I especially like the activities that are hands on. Great post!
Thanks so much! Yes, the hands on activities are great for keeping littles busy. Happy travels!
The boogie boards are a great idea! We love water books. I love the slumber pod…it looks amazing!
Thank you! Yes the water wow books are so great! I agree that the slumber pod looks amazing!
We have Cozy Phones and Water Wow books and love them both! That sleeping pod sounds amazing!
Thanks for stopping by. Yes I would have loved that sleeping pod when I had littles 😀
So many great gift suggestions! I’ve never heard of scrunch maps but my boys would LOVE these! And I wouldn’t have to worry about them destroying it 😅. Ha! Great post!
Dena,
Thanks so much! Yes the scrunch maps are fantastic! Happy travels & non-ripped maps 🙂
Great gift ideas! I especially like the Melissa & Dough travel pads.
Tara,
Thanks so much! We really love the Melissa & Doug activity pads. They definitely keep the kids entertained 🙂
These look like great ideas! Finding gifts can be challenging at times!
Thanks so much! I agree. Finding gifts can definitely be tricky sometimes! Stay Peachy!
These are great products to use, when traveling with kids! What wonderful gifts these items will make.
Thanks so much! We really enjoy using them when we travel. Thanks for stopping by!