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If you're taking on the challenge of traveling with kids, it's time to start preparing.

Promising review: "I am so pleased with this purchase. I bought it to travel with it. And while visiting my mom, I was able to use this in our hotel room or a friend's house and at the beach. We were able to maintain our usual routine while feeding my daughter, and she sat down and ate comfortably. Even one of my friends said she needed to get one because it was so convenient. It was easy to pop out and pop back in, and cleaning too." —Stacey

Price: $29.97+ (available in five colors and designs)

Promising review: "Perfect for small spaces." —Norma

Promising review: "I love that the case is sturdy enough to throw in a bag and go. The tray is perfect to contain the building projects. They work well with their larger counterparts." —Mary

Price: $19.97 (available in two versions)

Promising review: "Yessss!!! This is the third sound machine we purchased (trying to get one for every room). It has become our favorite, and we transport it from room to room instead of using the others. The white sound noise is pleasant (some others are so grating on the nerves it's hard to take, or there are strange background noises). This has a constant dull white noise. I also like the beach sound. It goes louder than our other sound machines, but not loud enough to damage eardrums. I love that it is portable but also can be used while charging/plugged in. We keep it plugged in by his crib to use at night and grab it when on the go. It's great to take to doctors' appointments or go for walks in the stroller. It calms him down and usually puts him to sleep, or at least makes him stop crying. I will buy this for every new parent and recommend it over all other sound machines! So glad we got it." —Beachbum

Promising review: "I bought this as a gift for my daughter. She loves it. It is a fun brain game. Adults can play. It comes in a nice travel case, too. Instructions are included." —Catherine

I keep a small trash can with me, and I am always surprised at how quickly it fills up. Luckily, the trash can fills up instead of my backseat. It's so easy to empty while I'm at a gas station or quickly before I head out with the kids, and it's saved so much mess. 

Promising review: "Fits right behind my console, is reachable from all seats, and takes up very little space. I've tried lots of other ideas for car trash, but this is the best!" —Sunny505

Preparedness is key, so having some things handy helps keep everyone happy during long outings. Water and a few toys can turn a long day into something with significantly less fighting — which I'm all about. 

Promising review: "Love love love it! We were able to use this as an alternative since we don't have a place on the back of our car seat to put a screen. So spacious and we can add so many other things to it — it's sturdy, and the quality is amazing!" —Mariam

Price: $12.96 (also available in a three-pack) 

Promising review: "I absolutely love having this little shade! I have two little boys who have health conditions that cause headaches and sensitivity to light, so this has been a blessing! I would recommend this to any parent to put in a vehicle. It seems difficult to constantly withhold use from a toddler. It's really handy. Also love how easily it can be switched to different vehicles." —Aprillynn45

Price: $11.48 (also available in a four-pack)

Promising review: "My baby loves this toy. When she was only a few months old, she liked to stare at the lights and listen to the music, but now that she's old enough to operate it, she loves it even more. It plays segments of good classical music. I'd highly recommend everyone to get this." —Bridg

When we discovered that my oldest had motion sickness, it was a race to find help prior to the road trip home. She's a hard sell on medicine, but LOVED these bands — and they work for her! She now wears them on long car rides and on airplane rides and gets total relief in about 20 minutes. I keep them in the car in case she needs them, and they're so handy. 

Promising review: "Happy with this purchase. I know some folks complain about not being able to choose the color, but honestly, we're just relieved that something (besides Dramamine) works for my daughter's car sickness. She has had a lot of anxiety about it lately and feels ill even on short trips with careful driving, but now these seem to work and give her more confidence about going places in a car." —C

Promising review: "Love having these around. I didn't have any issues with leakage, and once sealed, no odor issues either! For someone with gastroparesis, these bags are a lifesaver!" —Brittany

A lot of these trays are bulky and large. What I love about this one is how easily it can be moved. Have a pediatrician appointment or a long wait where your little one will be sitting for a long time? Bring it along!

Promising review: "The hero of our first long road trip with a toddler! She loved it, and so did we!" —jels

Price: $19.89+ (also available in a three-pack)

Promising review: "We put this in the middle of the backseat of the car. It holds drive-thru food and drinks. It's also good for holding light groceries when you don't want to deal with opening and closing the trunk or hatch all the way in the back. Just remember to slip the seatbelt in its back so it wouldn't fall to the floor when you brake." —Walmart customer

Keeping a kid-friendly game in the glovebox can be a really fun way to pass the time whenever you need to. For an added bonus during long road trips, keep score and give a prize to the winning team! 

Promising review: "Played this on the way to beach trip and everyone in the car played and laughed." —Abby

Promising review: "Soft material and fit perfectly for my 2-year-old." —Ashley

Price: $10.96+ (also available in a two-pack)

Promising review: "I like the magnet tips — it is small but powerful. I often use it to pick up branches in the yard. Foldable and easy to carry, and store. Good value for the price."  —Lily

Price: $19.99+ (also available in a two-pack)

Promising review: "I purchased this at the last minute for a trip with my toddler. It worked out really well — it's portable, and my toddler seemed comfortable on it for a few nights. I'd probably consider adding a little mattress topper type thing if it was going to be used for longer than a few nights." —Lac

Promising review: "This is a great purchase to keep your car seat safe during air travel. The straps on the back let you carry it like a backpack through the terminal, leaving your hands free to hold the rest of your luggage or a child. Great quality and we loved the Disney spring." —Stephanie

Promising review: "I love this battery bank. It has all the different cords that you need, so you don't have to carry 3 or 4 different cords in your purse. I bought one for my grandson so he can stick it in his pocket on bike rides. It isn't very heavy. I love the way the numbers light up, so you know how much battery is left, no guessing. Overall, it's a very well-made product and is perfect for what I needed." —Tina

Price: $19.84+ (available in two colors)

Price: $99.99 (available in five colors)

Promising review: "I bought this fan for my son last year, and I used it all summer long — even at bedtime — when it was really hot! This fan works perfectly! I just bought a second fan for his younger brother. If you're thinking about buying a stroller fan, this is the one to choose! Inexpensive and they work well while lasting a long time. Not to mention they hold a charge for a long while, too! This is one you don't want to miss!" —ashley

Price: $19.94+ (also available in a three-pack)

I love these boards, and they're a road trip staple for my family. They keep my kids fairly occupied for a while, and they store so easily in a car.  

Promising review: "My son really likes this LCD writing tablet. Writing on it is very smooth and easy to clean with just one click. You can write or draw whatever you want. Very lightweight and easy to carry with you." —swati

Price: $8.89+ (available in three colors)

Promising review: "This is the best portable potty seat I have ever owned! I purchased this for my youngest of five for her potty training adventure! It is amazing, it suctions to the toilet seat so it doesn't slide around, and will still stay put on odd-shaped toilet seats! The way it folds up means you never have to touch the suction cups, and they fold into themselves, helping keep everything sanitary! I will be buying this for any friend with a toddler!" —JDHarlow13

Price: $14.95 (available in three colors)

Each set comes with a zip-up travel case with a built-in rainbow drawing board, storage pockets, four reusable activity cards, two stencils, two stamps, a sponge stamp pad, a large water pen, and a cap with a tether.

Promising review: "My almost 2-year-old loves it. I love that it's mess-free!" —Amber

My sister-in-law started using a sunscreen applicator on her kids, and not only are they far less wiggly, but she gets comments from strangers all the time about her genius. I'm just impressed that there are very few arguments about sunscreen — I will take literally any win. 

Promising review: "This has come in very handy to pack snacks on the go. Worked great on our beach vacation to keep the sand off the snacks and also prevent spilling the snacks everywhere. Both my girls have loved figuring out how to use it and push the button ’til they land on the snack they want." —Amanda

Promising review: "Definitely recommend. It is so cute and portable. Has helped with cooling me and my son down when it was hot outside. My son enjoys the fact that he can use it anywhere. It has a safety stop when the blades hit anything. It has 2 speeds and a really bright flashlight. I originally bought it for myself because I go hiking a lot and it gets hot fast. I recommend this cute portable fan/flashlight. The only thing I wish is that there were more colors to choose from!" —Lily

Price: $17.99+ (available in nine colors)

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* Travel Is Expensive, But These 31 Things Are Here To Save You A Little Money At Every Step Of Your Journey

Plus, pet carriers, tips for traveling with a carry-on, a guide to the best luggage brands, road trip essentials, packing cubes, finds for frequent travelers and travel-friendly strollers, bathing suits, bags, pants, and perfumes.

Reviews for this post have been edited for length and/or clarity. 

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Raylyn Paquin is a freelancer who has been writing for BuzzFeed Shopping for two years, with a focus on products that make parenting just a bit easier — and hopefully more fun — home decor, kitchen gadgets, and whatever deals she can scope out.