You know that feeling when you find a product that just works every single time? These are the items that have genuinely earned their place in our travel routine. The ones I’d repurchase in a heartbeat. The ones I actually recommend to friends without hesitation.

Bugaboo Stardust Travel Cot £225 – BEST. PRODUCT. EVER!

Hand on heart, this is my all-time favourite product I’ve ever bought for Roman. Anyone who’s travelled with an overtired baby knows the insane pressure of needing a travel cot that sets up immediately.

On our road trip from England to Mallorca, we changed hotels nearly every night and I couldn’t deal with those awful travel cots that need poles and patience I don’t have at 10pm! The Bugaboo Stardust was our magic find.

I was skeptical at first how good could a travel cot really be? But this thing pops open in actual seconds (not the “seconds” that product descriptions usually mean, but real, actual seconds), plus it folds down in the same time and lies completely flat.

It’s given Roman a comfortable space to sleep in hotels, Airbnbs, basically wherever we go. And because he’s in a familiar sleep environment, he actually sleeps. Which means we actually sleep. Worth. Every. Penny.

Why I’m obsessed: Pops open in one second, one! And folds down completely flat in seconds too ✌️ It has a great newborn insert (Roman used it from 3 months) and lasts until 2 years. It also looks beautiful in any room, doesn’t take up much space, and the mattress and mesh sides are lovely.

Best moment: We arrived at a hotel in India at 3am after a hugggge journey. Roman was beyond tired. I had this cot set up in under 10 seconds, popped him in with his sleep sack, and he was out. That alone justified the purchase price.

Joolz Aer Stroller £319 – The best lightweight stroller for air travel

Okay, this stroller. THIS STROLLER. The one-handed fold alone makes it worth every penny and when you’re juggling a baby, a coffee, and your boarding pass, that matters more than you’d think.

It fits in overhead compartments which means no gate-checking and no waiting around for it to come out the carousel with an overtired baby.

We’ve taken it through 12 countries in 12 months, and it still looks (and functions) like new. Despite how compact it is, it’s incredibly sturdy… we’ve rolled it over countless cobblestone streets, taken it on sandy beaches, and even pushed it around a ski resort – it’s fantastic!

Why I’m obsessed: Glides like butter, folds one-handed, fits in overhead compartments on planes, lies flat for naps and is so lightweight you can carry it through the airport with a coffee in one hand and a toddler on your hip (because, of course, they’ve decided they don’t want to sit in it anymore!).

We pair it with the binibamba fur liner for extra comfort 😊 and a snoozeshade for sunny days!

Maxi-Cosi Pebble Car Seat £209.99 + Adapters £32 – For baby’s first flight

This combo is absolutely brilliant for those early months (0-16m). The car seat itself is safe, comfortable, and Roman always seemed so cozy in it. And the best hack? The adapters let you click it straight onto the Joolz stroller.

When you’re travelling with a newborn, every single item you can eliminate from your “things to carry” list is a win. Being able to move Roman from car to stroller to taxi without waking him? Amazing. The whole system just works seamlessly together, which is exactly what you need when you’re already managing a thousand other things.

Why I’m obsessed: This is one of those products that makes you think, why doesn’t everything baby-related work this smoothly? If you’re planning to travel with a little one or just want an stress-free car seat and stroller setup, the Pebble 360 paired with the Joolz Aer is honestly hard to beat!

Maxi-Cosi Nomad Toddler Travel Car Seat £149.95 – Compact, foldable, genius!!!!!

Once Roman grew out of the infant seat, I did SO much research trying to find the perfect travel car seat for a toddler.

The Nomad was exactly what we needed. It’s genuinely lightweight (I can carry it without feeling like I’m doing a workout), and it folds into this brilliant backpack-style bag that you can just throw over your shoulder.

Why I’m obsessed: What I love most about this travel car seat is how incredibly easy it is to install which matters when you’re in an Uber in a foreign country or a rental car at the airport. It uses the car’s seat belt rather than ISOFIX, which means you can pop it into pretty much any car. It literally takes seconds to set up, and once it’s in, it feels super secure.

Something to note – this car seat doesn’t recline and is forward facing only so might not be ideal for super long drives where baby needs a big nap!

Nuby RapidCool Formula Making Kit £79.99 – Cools formula in minutes!!!

This little machine cools bottles to the perfect temperature in minutes, which means no more waiting around in airports or cafés with a hungry, increasingly furious baby. It’s compact enough to pack easily, and it’s just made the whole formula feeding experience on the go so much less stressful.

Why I’m obsessed: I love how compact and portable this is. It fits easily into my changing bag, and because it doesn’t rely on electricity, it works anywhere – on planes, in hotels, in the car, or even out for the day.

Momcozy Travel Bottle Drying Rack + Brush £15.99– No more drying bottles on dodgy hotel bathroom sinks!!!

I love a product that does exactly what it’s meant to do with zero fuss. This compact little set opens up into a proper, clean drying space wherever you are. Hotel room? Sorted. Airbnb? Easy. Airport lounge? Done.

Why I’m obsessed: It’s hygienic, it keeps everything organised, and when you’re done, it folds away into basically nothing. These are the kinds of products that just make travel with a baby feel less overwhelming – small solutions that solve big annoyances.. The built in brush is also fab for scrubbing (and if you forget it, steal a hotel toothbrush). So tidy. So satisfying. Such… organised mum vibes.

Collapsible Washing-Up Bowl £5.99 – Not glamorous but totally worth it

Do hotel sinks give anyone else the ick? Just me? I know a washing-up bowl doesn’t sound glamorous. But hotel sinks? They’re just not designed for washing bottles. They’re too shallow, the plug never works properly, and honestly, I never felt like they were clean enough.

This foldable washing-up bowl changed everything. It’s purpose-built for cleaning bottles, cups, and dummies. It makes the whole process so much easier and more hygienic. And then it folds completely flat to pack away. It’s one of those products where you don’t realise how much you need it until you have it.

Why I’m obsessed: Six quid. It costs six pounds – well less actually! That’s less than a brew and biscuit on the airplane – and it’ll make every single trip easier. Sometimes the best travel products are the unsexy practical ones.

Artipoppe Baby Carrier – The Queen of baby carriers!!!

Some days you just cannot push a stroller — narrow cobbled streets, boutique shopping, crowded markets OR sometimes baby just doesn’t want to be anywhere but on you. 😂

This carrier is both comfortable and stylish, which feels like a rare combination in the baby gear world. Most carriers are either comfortable but hideous, or gorgeous but torture devices. This is neither.

I ended up using this carrier basically anywhere the Joolz stroller couldn’t go, like narrow streets, busy markets, or when Roman just wanted to be close and cozy (which was a lot of the time!). It was so convenient, and made those tricky outings feel way more manageable.

Why I’m obsessed: So many baby carriers look like you’re about to set off on an expedition. You know the ones I mean: big bulky straps, endless clips, and that “I’m ready to climb Everest” vibe. Not exactly what you want when you’re trying to feel put together and a bit glamorous, right?

Wildride Carrier (for 9m+) £88.99 – For when they get a little chunkier…

Once Roman got heavier, I switched to this and honestly, wow. Just wow. The weight distribution is incredible – it’s specifically designed for bigger babies, and you can really tell.

It’s been absolutely amazing in airports. You know those moments when your baby just wants OUT of the stroller? And on cruises? Perfect. Roman could see everything, he was happy, and I wasn’t dying under the weight. We genuinely couldn’t have done half our trips without it.

Why I’m obsessed: Neat, aesthetic, saved my back, and Roman loves it! It’s designed to last until they’re about 20kg (so potentially years of use), it’s brilliantly made, and the comfort factor means you’ll actually use it rather than it sitting in a cupboard gathering dust.

Final thoughts

I’m not going to pretend that having the right gear magically makes travelling with a baby easy. It’s still hard work. There are still moments of chaos. But these products have genuinely made our travels easier, less stressful, and more enjoyable.

They’re investment pieces, for sure. But they’ve paid for themselves in reduced stress, fewer meltdowns and actually being able to enjoy our trips rather than just surviving them.

To all the travel mamas out there – if you’re building your travel kit, I hope this helps!

What are your travel must-haves? I’m always looking for new recommendations – drop them in the comments below! And if you’ve got any questions about any of these products, ask away. I’ve probably used them in every possible scenario by now!