Top 10 Holiday Gift Ideas for the Traveling Parent

Have a friend, relative or colleague parent with wanderlust? We've scoured through the myriad of travel products out there to present to you Momaboard.com's Top 10 Holiday Gift Ideas for the Traveling Parent (ahem.. this includes you too!). These trendy and useful items match any budget and style preference and cover the gamut of travel accessories and gear. Without further ado, we present our list:


1. KidCo Peapod Plus Indoor/Outdoor Travel Bed : Lightweight, portable, UV protection, self-inflating mattress and a phenomenal price compared with other portable beds. Any traveling parent will thank you profusely!

2.  The Totseat: You know how we love it. Now available on Amazon.

3.  Sunshine Kids Stow 'N' Go Car Seatback Organizer: Never lose another bottle or pacifier in the backseat. Great for roadtrips, with 2 bottle holders and several other compartments. Plus, great price.

4. The Pottery Barn Kids Travel Collection: Mix and match items from this stylish collection for any kids' ultimate travel set. DVD players with matching cases, backpacks, rolling backpacks, rolling suitcases, water battles, cameras, you name it. You can get each item monogrammed for an additional $6. I got Karam a backpack and matching rolling suitcase with his name on it for his birthday. Must have for trendy travelers!

5. Aquadoodle Travel-Doodle: Self-contained with only 2 pieces, travel size and with the potential to entertain for hours (ok, who are we kidding? 30 minutes - but that's awesome in baby time!). Great for road trips, on a plane, at restaurants or just generally hanging out. The kids will thank you this time.

6. "At The Zoo" Reusable Sticker Tote: If your child has discovered stickers, nothing will work better than this all-in-one back with sticker book and 100 reusable stickers. Cheap and cheerful!

7. The iPad: Now this has got to be for someone you really care about (like, yourself?), but the iPad is the ultimate in gifts that say "I get you" to parents traveling with children. Available in select (many) countries.

8. Swimways Baby Spring Float Sun Canopy: A great gift for the water lovers. Baby hangs out in this float, complete with sun protection and mum and dad can take turns snoozing on the beach.

9. Central Park Blanket: Ensure a rest stop anywhere with this easy-to-clean-and-stash mat. Durable and stylish for sure and a respectable price point for a good friend gift.

10. Stokke Changing Bag: We love Stokke's European compactness and style. The changing bag stashes all your sanitary needs effectively and is light and versatile to carry. So much better than those overpriced and bulky diaper bags (you hear us, Kate Spade?)

Happy Holidays, and safe travels from Momaboard.com!

Other posts in the Miscellaneous  series:

Where the Globe-Trotter Rests

10 Tips to Surviving a Long Flight with Your Infant - Alone!

I just completed a 16-hour trip including one long flight and one stopover with Karam (19 months now) and it almost killed me. Here are some of the things I learned about surviving a long flight with your hyper infant:

1. While there is a fair bit of debate about the easiest age to travel with kids (eg. when they are 3 months and oblivious vs. 12 months and on solids), it is clear that the 18 month mark is tricky because no airline has bassinets big enough to accompany them, but they are too big to be on your lap the whole time. Therefore, your best bet is to call the airline as soon as possible and every day before you board to ensure that you have an vacant seat next to you. If it's a packed flight, consider buying a seat or at least upgrading to business class where the seats are wider and the stewards have to be nice to you.

2. Opt for the night flight. At 12 months or so, children need their sleep and will not be likely to stay up through the night. This means that you get at least 6-7 hours of peace without them bouncing off the airplane walls.

3. Buy an iPad. I swear, Apple made this gadget for parents. Download a bunch of free apps for kids and movies and songs and you can buy at least 2 hours of entertainment. Priceless! You can't play YouTube videos until the skies become internet-friendly but iBooks has a bunch of kids' books with vivid graphics and realistic page-turning.

4. Consider a mild sedative. Hey, no one's judging you because many mums before us have done it, and no one ever died of a little extra drowsiness. Cough syrups like Benadryl or Phenergan are popular options. Always clear with your doctor and check the right dosage, particularly with Phenergan as it can backfire with hyperness if not dosed properly (karma, I suppose!).

5. If you are in transit, ensure that they give you your stroller at your transit stop or arrange for a loaner one. Duty free shopping is so much harder with a child in your arms.

6. LAY OFF THE SUGAR. In any form. If your child is anything like mine and gets wired just from the thought of being restrained, avoid any form of sugar that could make them hyper. You need to exude mellowness in all that you do and offer.

7. Entertain them with food. Bread, cheese, fruit, water, anything they can spend time counting, rearranging or eating will help pass time.

8. Try not to think about the other passengers too much. Sure it's embarrassing when your child is going nuts on your lap and down the aisles but some people act like it's a crime to bring a baby on a flight. They have either never had a child, or forgotten that they were one. Don't pay too much attention.

9. Ensure that your accommodation is easy to access once you land. If you are going home, great. If not, try to plan it such that you have an easy cab ride to your destination, ideally directly to your hotel or to a home where help is at hand.

10. Ask them to put priority tags on your bags - most airlines will oblige.

Other posts in the Airlines and Flying series:

For First-Timers: Overcoming Your Worst Fears of Flying with Your Kids

For Travelers in America: Preparing and Protecting Your Children from New TSA Security and Pat-Down Procedures

Flight Safety Tips from a Professional!

Airlines and Flying: Traveling Domestically? Carry Age Proof (for the baby)

10 Insider Tips for Travel with a Baby

Kudos to Qantas for Child-Friendly Skies!

Six Reasons NEVER to Fly Air China (even without a child)

Packing for China: My All-Inclusive List

Air China: Most Baby-UNfriendly airline!

A note on airplane bassinets (and other notes)