ParentlistBaby Car & Travel Essentials
Car seats and the gear that makes trips with kids smoother
Car and travel covers the gear that keeps your child safe in the car and makes time away from home manageable. The car seat is the one item nearly every family needs from day one, since you'll want your baby properly buckled in for the very first ride home. After that, the sequence is fairly predictable: an infant seat or a convertible seat used rear-facing, then forward-facing, then a booster as your child grows.
Everything else depends on how often you travel. A backseat mirror helps you glance at a rear-facing baby, and window shades keep the sun off on longer drives. If you fly, a gate check bag protects your stroller and a tray table cover keeps a toddler's snack area clean. A travel crib earns its space if you visit grandparents often, and a small backpack lets an older toddler carry their own snacks and toys.
By age
- Newborn essentials
- 3 Month Old essentials
- 6 Month Old essentials
- 9 Month Old essentials
- 1 Year Old essentials
- 18 Month Old essentials
- 2 Year Old essentials
- 3-5 Year Old essentials
All car & travel items
Backseat Car Mirror
Shatterproof mirror that lets you glance at a rear-facing baby without turning around.
Convertible Car Seat
Seat that stays rear-facing longer, then turns forward-facing as your child grows.
Infant Car Seat
Rear-facing seat that clicks into a base and a stroller, needed for the ride home.
Booster Car Seat
High-back booster that positions the adult seat belt correctly for bigger kids.
Car Window Sunshades
Cling or roller shades that keep direct sun off a napping baby in the back seat.
Gate Check Stroller Bag
Durable bag that protects your stroller or car seat when you check it at the gate.
Travel Crib
Lightweight folding crib for hotels, grandparents and holiday rentals.
Airplane Tray Table Cover
Stretch cover that turns a grubby tray table into a clean play and snack surface.
Airplane Harness (CARES)
Aviation-approved belt-and-shoulder harness for toddlers in their own airplane seat.
Toddler Backpack
Small backpack sized for little shoulders, for daycare spare clothes or a flight toy stash.
Rear-Facing Car Camera
Dash screen and camera with a clearer view of rear-facing riders than a mirror.
Momblet
Something calm for kids and parents, from the people behind Parentlist. Join the waitlist and we'll tell you when it's ready.
Questions parents ask
- Do I need an infant car seat, or can I start with a convertible seat?
- Both can work from birth if the seat fits your newborn's weight and height. Infant seats click in and out of a base and often onto a stroller, which is convenient in the first year. Convertible seats stay in the car and last much longer. Check the labeled limits and have the installation checked if you're unsure.
- When does my child switch to a booster seat?
- Children move to a booster after outgrowing the forward-facing harness limits of their car seat. Follow your seat's manual and your local car seat laws rather than age alone. The common advice is to keep kids in each stage until they reach that seat's maximum limits.
- Is a backseat car mirror a good idea?
- A mirror lets you see a rear-facing baby without turning around. Choose a shatter-resistant mirror that straps firmly to the headrest so it can't come loose. Adjust it before you drive rather than while driving.
- What do I need to fly with a baby or toddler?
- Most families bring a gate check bag for the stroller or car seat, snacks, a few small toys and a change of clothes. For a toddler in their own seat, an approved airplane harness or their car seat are common choices, so check your airline's rules first. A tray table cover is a nice extra.