Kid-friendly travel accessories to help smooth the way

Family vacations can be a lot of fun, but no parent would ever call it easy. Try these portable gems designed to help make for a more relaxing trip

For capturing memories

Spark your little one’s creativity with a digital camera that’s all their own. VTech’s KidiZoom is sturdy and easy for little hands to grip. Just point, shoot and use the built-in screen to add fun filters and effects to the captured image.

VTech KidiZoom Camera Pix Plus digital camera, $52, bestbuy.ca

For age-appropriate entertainment

This durable Amazon tablet comes with a one-year subscription to the Kids+ service, for access to books, movies and more, geared to children three to seven years old. The content can be downloaded pretravel, and parental controls also let you limit screen time. Amazon Fire HD 10 kid’s tablet, $260, amazon.ca

For a safe ride

If you have a family of frequent travellers and want to invest in a portable booster car seat, Mifold’s compact option has a convenient carrying strap and can fit under an airplane seat. It’s adjustable in size for kids between 40 to 100 pounds. Mifold Hifold fit-and-fold booster car seat, $310, thebay.com

For sky-high lounging

Pack clothes and toys in this Stokke carry-on, then once you’re at cruising altitude, expand it into a leg rest, or roll out the included mattress pad to create a mini bed. The top is also designed for sitting, so your kid can roll around on it back on land.

JetKids by Stokke BedBox, $260, bedbathandbeyond.ca

For on-the-go cleaning

Wash and air out baby bottles with OXO’s mini drying rack. At 8.8 x 5.7 inches, it squeezes into most travel bags and includes a flexible brush cleaner to give your bottles a quick scrub. OXO Tot travel drying rack and bottle brush, $25, chapters.indigo.ca