When my son was born, getting out the door with him (and with everything we needed for him) seemed like an insurmountable task at times. Since then we’ve become total pros at it and have gone on to not just getting out the door, but taking him with us on adventures up and down the state. Traveling with kiddos is rewarding—watching them discover new things is just about the best thing ever. One thing is certain: you’ve got to be prepared for a whole new world of travel scenarios once kids come into the picture. Be bold, and adventure onward! Here’s a roundup of a few of my favorite travel hacks for kids that make things on the road or on a trip a whole lot easier.
Check them out in the slideshow.
41 Genius Hacks for Traveling with Kids
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Press 'n' Seal Travel Cup
Turn any glass into a travel-safe kid's cup by sealing it with Press'n Seal and sticking a straw in it.
See the hack at Glad.com.
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Road Trip Goodie Bags
Reward good behavior on road trips by preparing some goodie bags. When the kids reach a milestone without any disruptions, they get a bag of toys and sweets to fill the time in the car.
See the hack at We Have Aars.
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DVD Coloring Case
Turn an old DVD case into an awesome little travel art center. There's a place to store all of your colored pencils and a stack of paper.
See the hack at Handmade by Stacy Vaughn.
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Kid Safety Temporary Tattoos
Out on a trip with little ones and worried they might wander off? Write your phone number on their arm and cover it with liquid skin. Ta-da! Waterproof temporary tattoos so your lost ones can always be found.
See the hack at The Paper Mama.
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DIY Magnetic Travel Games
Turn a cookie sheet into a travel game center by making some DIY magnetic games. Puzzles out of pictures and popsicle sticks look like a ton of fun!
See the hack at Life Through My Eyes.
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Airplane Seat Back Hanging Screen
Tired of getting a sore neck while watching your phone on an airline with no built in TVs? Try this hack to mount your phone to the back of the seat in front of you.
See the hack at Light in the Box.
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Pacifier To-Go Cups
Keep those pacis clean in your purse by sticking them in some sauce to-go cups. The salsa bar at Baja Fresh is where I usually snag them from.
See the hack at Buzzfeed.
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Baby Powder at the Beach
A little known secret of removing sand from your skin at the beach is baby powder. Bring along a bottle, sprinkle it on your feet and legs, and keep the sand out of your shoes, your car, and anywhere your feet land all summer long.
See the hack at Frugal Coupon Living.
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Packing Shoes
The best way to keep your dirty shoes off of your clean clothes in your suitcase is to wrap the soles in a shower cap.
See the hack at Lifehack.
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DIY
A great way to occupy little hands is to give them an "I spy" game to play with. Fill a bag with little trinkets and beads, and let the kids hunt for items for hours.
See the hack at Six Sisters' Stuff.
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DIY Seatbelt Pillow
Make your own seatbelt pillow wrap to make napping in the car much easier.
See the hack at Good Ideas for You.
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DIY Sparkle Bottles
A great way to keep track of time-outs is to hand your kid one of these and say they have to be silent until the glitter all settles to the bottom. Plus, they are fascinating to watch.
See the hack at While He Was Napping.
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Phone Number Bracelets
Want your kids to have your phone number and you don't want to tattoo it to their skin? How about making them a bracelet with your number as the beads?
See the hack at Danya Banya.
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Road Trip Snack Necklaces
A clever way to keep your kids fed on a road trip while reducing the mess of a bowl full of snacks. Make some snack necklaces as a fun activity, and then take them on the road!
See the hack at And This Is How the Story Goes.
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Sippy Cup Lasso
Keep from having to reach around to the backseat floor to retrieve dropped toys and bottles by attaching them to your kid's carseat.
See the hack at We Have Aars.
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Road Trip Pillow Cases
Make some customized DIY travel pillows for your kids. They will be more comfortable in the car and have some fun activities built in too.
See the hack at Amazing Mae.
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DIY Magnetic Board Games
Turn all of your favorite old board games into magnetic travel versions.
See the hack at Choose to Thrive.
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Bagged Outfits
Make packing and getting ready each morning easier by pre-planning your little ones' outfits and packing them in Ziploc bags.
See the hack at All Things Simple.
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DIY Kid Travel Lap Tray
Make a great looking carry-all for your kid's road trip travel toys that includes a tray to play with them on.
See the hack at Pretty Prudent.
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Travel Dollhouse
A bit of an involved sewing project, but a great travel toy nonetheless. Make your little one a fully functional travel dollhouse out of fabric.
See the hack at Country Kitty.
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Not-Ugly Car Trash Bag
Put your sewing skills to work again and make a not-ugly trash can for behind your car seats.
See the hack at Pink Chalk Studio.
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Portable Lego Kit
Make your kid a portable Lego lunch box where they can store their pieces and have a building platform for constructing on the go.
See the hack at Mama Papa Bubba.
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Sealed Travel Toiletries
Keep your gels and liquids from exploding in your bag by sealing the tops with Saran Wrap before you leave.
See the hack at Alexa Travels.
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Waterproof Your Phone
Stick your electronic goods in a Ziploc bag to keep them dry while at the beach or pool.
See the hack at One Good Thing by Jillee.
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Frozen Juice Boxes
Freeze some juice boxes before you leave, and they will serve multiple purposes on your trip. Keep your cooler cold, and they hydrate the kids when they thaw!
See the hack at Kids Activities Blog.
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Dryer Sheets
Toss a dryer sheet in your suitcase to keep odors away while traveling.
See the hack at Popsugar.
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Silicone Cupcake Liners
Put some of these in the bottom of your cup holders to keep crumbs and sticky stuff out of there.
See the hack at Kids Activities Blog.
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Car Seat Buckle Protector
Keep your kids from unbuckling their own safety belts with this nifty DIY trick.
See the hack at Frugal Freebies.
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Reuse Wipes Container
You always need plastic bags when you are traveling, whether for trash or to hold wet swimsuits. Pack some extra ones by reusing an old wipes container.
See the hack at Infarrantly Creative.
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Sheets Under Car Seats
Keep your car clean on a long trip by putting a sheet underneath your kid's car seat to collect their crumbs and trash.
See the hack at Popsugar.
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Recycled Snack Containers
A great way to travel with snacks is in some old coffee creamer jars. The flip-top lid is a great way to dispense them for the kiddos.
See the hack at Stockpiling Moms.
