10 Essentials for Travelling with Kids

Moms know the secret to a good trip isn't just remembering the sunscreen, it's the perfectly packed kids' carry-on. Here's our pick of the pack.

You gotta have a good base—a bag strong enough to hold the goods, but not so big that the kids can't carry it. We like the canvas stylings of the Baggu sailor stripe bag—it just gets better with age.

Think the old Leapster Explorer has had its day in the spotlight? Think again. It's amazing what the addition of a new game—especially featuring favourite characters—can do to revive interest. Plus, it's portable and educational, and works well in rotation with the tablet.

Finally, a scrapbook made for even the most DIY-challenged. The Smash Book comes with all the pages and a glue pen, so that keepsakes can easily be added and augmented with some fun accessories. We love their motto: ‘For all the stuff that's too good to forget. For any reason and for no good reason at all.'

In the age of digital SLRs and smartphones, there is still something to be said for the wonder of instamatic cameras, especially ones as fun as the Instax mini. Kids love the immediate gratification of seeing their snaps and immortalizing them in a scrapbook.

Never, ever discount the worth of a soft and cuddly travel pillow for sweet dreams and nice naps. While your lap and shoulders are always their first pick, they're just not available while you're driving…

With all the music and videos they'll be streaming through the iPad on vacation, the kids just have to be outfitted with good headphones. Attempting to go the low-budget route in this department will only lead to frustration (besides, we'll be the ones using them after the kids are asleep). We're investing in a high quality pair that just happen to be on trend.

We feel that there's a little control freak in all of us, and if that trait in our kids extends to searching for all the hidden objects in the always amazing Usborne pirate book, then we say: good neural development!

Headphones are the only way to go when travelling—but what to do when you've got one iPad or screen between multiple kids? Plug them into this genius headphone splitter, that's what.

We love the concept of a rolling sphere that can be guided by a smartphone, making it a remote-controlled anything you can imagine, from car to bowling ball to pet stand-in. It's also small enough to tuck in the bag and still provide some of the Wii/ Air Hog stimulation the kids will be craving.

While on vacation, we like to indulge in some family movie time, but are often watching via iPad. We're smitten with this pocket-sized speaker that not only looks cool, it provides sound for all reaches of the hotel room.