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Aka, items to help me survive the travel without needing a vacation from the vacation.
1. An insulated sippy cup that does not leak AND is insulated for a hot day at the beach. Think Stanley Cup for children, but at a reduced cost.
Target
Price:$7.99
2. A set of two companion snack cups that will prevent Goldish and Cheerios from spilling everywhere (or at least save you money by reducing your Ziploc bag usage).
3. A spray-on kids' version of the beloved Black Girl sunscreen to protect your littles from the sun without the pasty white streaks. Bonus: Even if your kid has a case of the wiggles, the coverage would still be good.
4. A pack of reusable water balloons for fun at the hotel pool or beach. They're way easier to clean up since they have a resealable magnetic closure, and the bright colors will help you find them quickly when the fam is done playing.
5. A travel-ready first aid kit to help with boo-boos on the spot so you can all get back to enjoying the vacay. If only it were as simple to prevent the injury from happening in the first place...
6. An activity set to keep your kiddos occupied on the plane with less screen time. The kit comes with all the supplies necessary to reenact various scenes from Bluey plus a bunch of art supplies to keep their imaginations engaged.
7. A compact potty seat to help your toddler go to the bathroom anytime, anywhere. It folds into the included carrying case and is easy to store in a carry-on bag for emergency potty visits.
8. An action-based game to keep everyone occupied while waiting in those dreadfully long lines at amusem*nt parks. Thanks to all the different game categories included, you can keep your little ones (the whole family, really) busy for hours while on the go.
9. A 20-pack of plastic rain ponchos for that unexpected wet weather. These are small enough to keep in your go-bag, purse, or pocket at all times, so when the sky tries to rain on your parade, you'll all stay dry and have a ball.
Target
Price: $19.49 for 20 (originally $28.99)
10. A travel activity tray for hours of entertainment in the car or airplane. It folds up small and is easy to store while not in use. Imagine getting through one whole page of your book without a complaint, question, or request to find and hand over art supplies and snacks — heaven.
Target
Price: $33.95(available in three colors)
11. A Pikachu neck pillow with an attached hood that covers the eyes. Hopefully this will encourage your kids to get some shuteye on the plane so that you (and the other passengers) can have a few hours of peace.
Target
Promising review: "I was actually really surprised at how firm and comfortable this neck pillow is. The material reminds me of a firm Squishmallow. It has a really soft feel but is firm enough so you won’t get a neck ache. There is also a Pikachu hood that is big enough to cover your eyes." —Ally B
Price: $14.99
12. A ride-on suitcase because who doesn't want to be wheeled to the gate? Plus, you'll have one less suitcase to lug through the airport. And yes, subtracting 5 pounds from your 300-pound load of half the family's worldly possessions *will* make a difference.
Target
Promising review: "This is our second ride-on suitcase purchase (originally purchased the blue puppy, and now we have a kitty). This suitcase is amazing. Our 4-year-old rode this all over the airport on our trip to Hawaii. We have never needed to use the pull handle because the kids love to ride them so much. We now have two, one for our 4-year-old and 6-year-old. They are the perfect size for toys for trips, and the kids get around on them really well. We have had countless strangers comment on them while they were gleefully riding through the airport. Makes waiting at a terminal a joyful experience, and the kids had endless entertainment riding them around, waiting at the rental car station. They are super durable and have lasted for 3+ years." —Megan B
Price: $29.99
13. A light-up, pop-it fidget game to help pass the time and work on fine motor skills — whether that be on a long-haul flight, train, or car ride. You may even find yourself calling dibs.
Target
Promising review: "The toy is well designed and ergonomic to fit into little hands. The programming is spectacular! There are three different ways to play, and it’s super easy to comprehend IF you read the instructions included in the box. This was a gift my 5-year-old asked for, and that my husband and I keep in our nightstand to play as well. Highly recommend this toy for anyone over 4-years-old." —annaaaa
Price: $18.59
14. A pack of chewable motion sickness tablets specially formulated for kids in case the planes, trains, and automobiles are too much for their lil' tum. These help to preventatively relieve nausea, dizziness, and vomiting.
Target
For children 2-years-old and up; If you have specific healthcare concerns or questions about this product, be sure to contact a licensed healthcare professional for advice or answers.
Promising review: "Purchased these tablets for my 6-year-old who has had motion sickness since she was a baby! Nothing had worked until trying this! It works like a charm!! No more stomach pain and vomiting all over the car while on car rides. For my daughter, it worked by giving it to her 1 hour before. It has been a lifesaver 🙌🏻🙌🏻 I highly recommend it for any mommy dealing with this issue with their little ones." —Sandyjany
Price: $4.39
15. A set of packing cubes to avoid blaming that pesky sock monster for any missing items. With these handy cubes, you can fit more clothes while keeping them organized.
Target
Promising review: "I used two sets of these to fill up a larger suitcase. They are not compression bags, but they still cut down the amount of space used if you slightly overfill them and then squish the top down. Great way to keep my entire wardrobe organized and in one suitcase." —ras42
Price: $49.99for a seven-piece set
16. A wet/dry bag that, in the best-case scenario, can keep wet swimsuits stored away until you get back to the hotel. Worst-case scenario: Your child has an accident, and you need a place to keep the soiled clothes away from the clean ones. Let's just hope you don't roll the motherhood dice and get both.
Target
Promising review: "I love this bag for the summer. Perfect for putting bathing suits in. Obviously, don't put a drenched suit in it. Great for on-the-go spillage as well. Much better to have than a plastic bag. I use the outer part for spare dry clothes. Never had any issues with mine. To clean it, I put it in the wash and then air dry it. Comes out perfect every single time." —MissMaryMac
Price: $17.99
17. An On The Plane Activity Book so the kiddos can learn airplane facts and geography, *and* stay busy with the various puzzles and mazes.
Target
Promising review: "This was perfect for my 6-year-old on our vacation. Thick pages and adequate space." —CoffeeMama
Price: $7.39
18. A pair of foldable, over-the-ear headphones to keep the nursery rhymes playing on repeat, or so they can indulge in a bit of screen time without bothering you and the other passengers.
Target
Price:$14.99
19. A portable booster seat so your child can enjoy food, crafts, toys, etc., and most importantly, avoid parent lap fatigue. It folds up to fit in a diaper bag and can be used on camping trips or when restaurants don't have highchairs available.
Target
Promising review: "I keep this chair in my vehicle at all times. We use it at friends, family, restaurants, and outside when feeding our small kiddo. This is my go-to item for baby shower gifts! 10/10 recommend! Easy to clean, great size and quality. You can't beat this product." —Alyssa
Price:$28.49
20. An inflatable Marvel-themed toddler bed to reduce worrying about your toddler falling out of the hotel bed *and* so they have a comfy place to sleep on your next camping trip. A good night's rest is also included with this durable mattress.
Target
Promising review: "Our toddlers love this air mattress! We’re eager to bring it camping with us this summer. It’s easy to inflate and durable — our toddlers have been putting it to the test with lots of bouncing shenanigans. It feels pretty comfortable and has galvanized lots of superhero play." —RaeBeth
Price:$28.23 (originally $35.99)
21. A copy of the classic picture book Where's Waldo? to keep your child busy in their endless search for Waldo and his friends. Or, maybe you never found Waldo and need to relieve your childhood with your kid.
22. A baby carrier to help keep up with the other kiddos or at least be able to maneuver through a crowded train station or airport faster than when pushing a stroller.
23. A power bank (or two) to charge the family's electronic devices because no one wants to experience a parent with a dead phone while traveling.
24. A travel-sized white noise machine in case the excitement from a vacation doesn't ease bedtime routines. It's wireless and rechargeable, and the soothing shushing sound can help relax your kid or put you to sleep. Either one is a win.
Target
Promising review: "I love this white noise machine!!!! It is essential in our everyday life for our little. I use it in the car when she is cranky and sleepy, it puts her right to sleep or at least helps calm her down! I also use it when I have to go run errands like groceries and such! It’s a lifesaver! Battery lasts 6 hours once charged! It’s worked out great for us!" —Alyssa
Price:$40.03
25. A portable fan to keep everyone chill when you have to pull over for a potty break, it's 90 degrees outside, and your child won't stop asking some version of "Are we there yet?"
Target
Price: $24.99
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.
