I’ve been to more than 70 countries, but some of my most important travel lessons have come from flying with my 7-year-old daughter, who can get overstimulated while traveling. When you travel as often as we do, you learn quickly which products actually help make the experience smoother for everyone. After nearly 30 flights together, these are the five items that have genuinely changed the way we travel — whether we’re taking a road trip to Michigan or flying across the world to Southeast Asia.Claire Gallam Volkman, Claire Gallam VolkmanOur screen-free fave everywhere we goThe Yoto Mini has been one of our favorite travel buys since our daughter was 6, and now at 7, it still comes everywhere with us. At $79.99, it feels like one of the more worthwhile kid-travel splurges because it’s compact, easy to toss into a carry-on or backpack, and gives her a genuinely screen-free way to stay entertained on flights, road trips, and hotel downtime. She loves the Disney and Harry Potter cards most, but that’s part of why we keep reaching for it: there are so many options beyond those, including favorites like Magic Tree House, Roald Dahl, Marvel, music cards, and learning-focused picks for kids ages 6 to 8. Yoto also positions it as an on-the-go player with a compact design, up to 14 hours of battery life, and no camera, microphone, or ads, which is such a welcome relief from the overstimulation of YouTube kid's programming. Claire GallamComfy headphones to tackle overstimulation We've tested multiple pairs of headphones for our daughter, and even though the cheaper versions (that are less than $10 a pair) are easy on the wallet, they always fell apart after just a few trips. That's why Santa brought her this pair of Sony headphones. Not only is the quality better, they're more comfortable and have exponentially more battery time. A quick three-minute charge gives you about 1.5 hours of playback, and the lightweight design, soft ear pads, and swivel earcups make them easy to wear for long stretches and easy to slip into a bag afterward. And while they’re still reasonably priced, they come with a little more peace of mind than a random off-brand pair, with the trusted Sony name on the product and Amazon offering free returns and and generous window for refunds or replacements. ComfrtAn ultra-cozy sweatsuit for kidsComfrt's ever-so-slightly weighted hoodie and slouchy sweatpants — both in a soft cotton-poly blend — offers the perfect cozy cocoon of fabric that can keep a kid feeling warm and protected if the plane feels chilly and unfamiliar. While you can buy the pieces separately, you'll get the best deal if you purchase them in a set, which you can do on either product page. Both pieces are available in kids sizes XS-XL and a ton of colors.Claire Gallam, Claire GallamA functional kids backpack with vintage styleI love this backpack because it has that coastal, slightly nostalgic 1990s Cape Cod feel, but with enough structure to hold all the things I actually need it to. It’s light enough for her to carry comfortably on her own — which matters when we're rushing through the Chicago airport — but it still fits a surprising amount. We use it for snacks, our Owala water bottle (see below), a sweatshirt (see above), small toys, travel activities, and all the extra little kid stuff that somehow piles up fast. I also like that everything has a place, so I’m not constantly digging around for one tiny item at the bottom. It’s practical, easy, and cute, which is basically the dream with kids’ gear.Claire Gallam VolkmanOur favorite water bottle for life on the goI'll admit, it took me a while to get on the Owala train, but once we did, there was no looking back. The Owala Kids FreeSip is honestly the one we use for basically everything: school, travel, sports, random errands, all of it. I love that it’s leak-proof, keeps water cold for up to 24 hours, and has a wide opening that makes it easy to refill fast, which means she’s a lot less likely to end up hot, cranky, and suddenly devastated that her water is gone. The carry loop is also great for her little hands and doubles as a lock, which matters when the bottle gets launched into a backpack with zero regard for the rest of its contents. And honestly, part of the appeal is just that the colors are so good. Owala already has a ton of fun options, and the brand now offers customization too, which makes it feel a little more personal than the usual kid bottle.GabbA safe kids' watch that helps reduce my anxietyI have debilitating anxiety (which was amplified when I had my daughter), so the Gabb watch was one of the first things I got her when she was old enough to trust with an electronic device. I like that it lets her call and text mom-and-dad-approved contacts and gives us GPS tracking and Safe Zone alerts, so it feels useful in real life, not just like another gadget to charge. And because there’s no internet browser or social media, it feels a lot safer than handing over a phone. Plus, I love that it instills independence while giving me the peace of mind I need to breathe when she's not right next to me. StokkeA ride-on suitcase for airport ease The Stokke JetKids BedBox is definitely a splurge, but we’ve found it to be so worth it, especially on longer travel days. Our 7-year-old can ride on it through the airport when she’s dragging (which is like, all the time these days), and once we’re on the plane, it gives her a much better setup to stretch out and get comfortable. I also like that it doubles as carry-on storage, so it doesn’t feel like we’re bringing something that only serves one purpose. And unlike a lot of kid travel gear that feels overly loud or flimsy, this one comes in genuinely cute colors, plus it includes sticker sheets so kids can personalize it and take a little ownership over it, which makes the whole thing even more fun for them. Anything that makes the airport less stressful and helps her rest more easily in flight feels like money well spent.EveredenA travel kit to make packing fun (and easy)There's so much to keep track of when packing for your family, and not having to remember a million specific little toiletries for your kiddo is worth its weight in gold. This comprehensive set from Evereden — a personal-care brand for kids, tweens and teens vetted by three medical-professional moms — comes with all of the hair- and body-care goods you'll need for a smooth trip: a shampoo and conditioner, a detangling spray, face wash, and clean, safe moisturizers for face and body. (God knows that plane air can dry out your child's sensitive skin.)