Going home for the holidays family travel tips - Best travel gear

November 3, 11:27 AMEarly Childhood Parenting ExaminerAngele Sionna

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When you're loading up the car for your big trip this holiday season and begin to realize all that has to fit in there, even if it's just a short drive to the airport or train station, you're going to want some good travel gear. It will also make your home away from home more, well, homey.

Best Baby and toddler travel sleep solutions

Peapod Plus ($89.95, onestepahead.com) I LOVE this product! We brought this bed on our trip to Disneyland last month and I just can't say enough great things. It is by far the smallest portable crib I've ever tried. Only about 15 inches when folded, it fits in nicely inside a suitcase! How cool is that.

The Peapod can be used for newborn babies through children six years old (or 49-inches tall. We used it for my one year old's crib. She went right to sleep. But both my girls also used it as a little play house before bedtime. I wish I had two of these because my toddler would have loved camping out in one next to her sister.

You can watch a video demonstration of the Peapod being put up HERE.

The Tyke Light by MOBI is perfect for helping little ones sleep on the road (or anywhere). They look like a glowing hug. Tyke light comes in rechargable and battery version. They're both great but I prefer the rechargable one because my girls like them on all night long, either on the road or at home.

Getting around

Leave your stroller at home. Instead take a baby carrier or a toddler leash. They take up less room and leave your more flexible for getting around. For my recommendations of the best baby carriers, read my story on them HERE. Also read about my choice in toddler harness/leashes HERE.

When you're out and about, particularly at crowded places like airports, it's best to put an ID band on your child's wrist. It's more likely to stay put if it's cute. I really like the Stuck On You's Stick With Me Wristbands. We used them at Disneyland last month and they stayed on both girls all day. You just write on your band any info you want like your name and cell number and put on your child.

On the road or in the air

These are some great products to make life easier and cleaner while on the go to your destination (click to see products):

Snack Trap - These little cups with slotted lids are the best solution I've found for kids to feed themselves without everything getting everywhere.

Car Valet by Alex - Like a briefcase for kids to hold all their art project goodies, coloring books, etc... that hooks onto the driver or passenger seat in front of them. This is best for bigger kids in booster seats rather than carseats because hangs down a little far I've found to lie flat on kids' laps in a carseat.

Star Kids Snack and Play Travel Tray - This is a better "desk" for toys and snack for toddlers and babies because it hooks around the child in the carseat, allowing it to be at any level in the car.

Luggage

My Bag by Kushies ($79.99, kushiesonline.com) A great bag for kids to bring on trips to grandma's house or anywhere in the world are these fun duffles by Kushies. They come in a brown and blue dog (which we have) and a pink and orange cupcake. They come packed with coordinating products to stay organized like bags for dirty clothes and shoes plus come with a travel pillow and blankie. And they're super cute. Read more about their features HERE.

If you're going to load your children's things into your luggage, particularly if you're flying and don't want to pay for extra checked luggage, you might want to get these cool labels by UBrand. They come in monograms and fun shapes and can make your bag stand out in a crowded airport terminal. These aren't stickers. They're kinda rubbery and super sticky.

The UBrand labels are also a great way to personalize backpacks or other luggage items without a lot of cost.