As the travel season kicks into high gear, parents and grands are ready to test the new products that makes travel time easier. Here are some well-priced choices that may be worth their weight in gold. Best yet, these essentials for travel with infants, toddlers and preschool children are not only for little ones, but for grownups' peace of mind as well. And that's priceless.

Pedia-Pak

(www.pediapak.com, $65.95 - Total value if purchased at local drugstore, $150)
Easy to Use, Easy to Store, First Aid Kit
Parents are often worried about their child’s safety and with all the do’s and don’ts, who wouldn’t be. Preparing for the worst isn’t easy, but with Pedia-Pak you can know what to do in case of an emergency until help arrives. Pedia-Pak first aid kit comes with essential necessities for emergency care such as infant cold and allergy medicine, an icepack, band-aids, gauze pads, wipes, alcohol pads, scissors and Latex-free gloves, just to name a few. In addition to this kit, you will also receive a handbook that guides you through basic procedures from providing an infant with CPR to giving temporally relief to Dad’s dislocated leg or handling a burn. This is great for traveling because it assists in adult, child and infant medical treatment. Don’t worry about if you’ll ever use any of these things because just about everything I’ve used is in this first aid kit.

Snack & Play

(www.babyabby.com, $19.95)
Know Play Time for the Kids Doesn’t Have to Mean a Big Mess for Mommy
Just image that you’re on your way to your travel destination, you have your little one in the back seat trying to climb out of his chair and throwing all his of toys around in the car. What a disaster! If only you had a way for him to sit and be occupied for just a few minutes! (I’ll take a few seconds). Well you should try Snack & Play’s portable travel tray. It can go just about anywhere, from your car seat to your stroller or even a basic chair without a table. You can easily store your child’s coloring books, crayons, juice, and a favorite toy. The tray is easy to clean and has a rim to protect most toys from falling off. Storing “Snack & Play” folds up as simple as 1, 2, 3. Kids will love it and you won’t want to travel without it.

Cabin Cuddler

(www.amazon.com, Adults: $34.95/Children: $24.95)
Sitting Made Comfortable
Sitting on the plane and taking a nice nap or reading a book can feel like you’re home again. Cabin Cuddler’s blanket chair lies conveniently in just about any chair and supplies additional support with a pocket for the feet to fit in. It also wraps around you for the perfect fit. “Cabin Cuddler” comes in various colors such as black and blue, and in sizes suitable for the child and adult, machine washable and store in a matching bag. With all this great stuff, why just use it for the plane ride? Use it for car trips, nights out on the beach or even at home. The only downside I have with this blanket is that it is hard to fold up and place back into that little bag, but once you take it out you won’t want to put it back.

Sip & Stroll

(www.cyberbabymall.com, $12.95)
No More Searching through the Entire Stroller
Most of the strollers that I have come across don’t have an extra tray for holding a bottle or toy for the baby and if they do, it’s not in the most reachable place for a quick grab. Making a trip out with the kids should be as hassle free as possible and “Sip & Stroll” makes it really convenient. It is an elastic strap that attaches your strollers’ hand bar. It consists of a cup holder, a front pocket and a sturdy hook. You don’t have to worry about the bottle dropping since the holder is conveniently sized in height. The front pocket makes easy storage for parents’ bare essentials such as keys or a cell phone. Also, when you’re out and you decide you want to pick up a souvenir, you have somewhere to put it along side your “Sip & Stroll” since it comes with a handy hook shopping bags.

Messeez

(www.amazon.com, $15.99 car seat)
New and Improved Car Seat Cover
Cleaning up after the kids doesn’t have to be a drag on your vacation or trip. If you’re used to your toddler making a mess while eating in the car seat, then you know how it is to clean up after them. Just imagine your son or daughter drinking their juice and you’re not worrying about those splashes and spills. With Messeez’s portable car seat cover you can let them eat and drink and conveniently wipe off any mess, or toss the cover into the washing machine. It attaches to just about any car seat with adjustability to maneuver seatbelt straps as usual. Moms won’t worry about those short trips that make a handful of mess anymore.

Baby Cubes

(www.onestepahead.com, $6.95)
Storing Baby Food Made Easy
I love to see my son eating food and watch all the funny faces he makes, but sometimes storing all these foods and finding convenient places to put them in can be time consuming. Bebe Cubes has an easy slide in tray and removable cubes that allows easy portability. It also allows for easy storage in your refrigerator or freezer at home or in the hotel refrigerator. Not only does it store food but it is also useful for serving your baby and when you’re on the go, you can just place a few of the cubes in your baby bag and off you go. These are personally especially helpful when you are going out for a few hours and don’t want to carry such a heavy bag for the baby.

Putumayo World Music

(Available at www.amazon.com; $12.47)
Taking a trip with the kids to unfamiliar places can be a learning experience, but what if you added some more fun educational activities along with the trip? Bringing Putumayo CDs along can make your family’s learning experience even more memorable. Get you kids in the mood with sing along songs from different countries such as France, Africa, and the Caribbean Islands. Parents can enjoy these CD’s as well and even learn a few new words themselves. A book to provide visual imagery would also be rather useful so the kids can understand the different countries as they “travel” to different places. While listening to the music, children become more interested when they can see what they are hearing. But don’t worry, because the activity kit that includes the CD, passport journal and activity guide is coming soon.

Drop Stop

(www.ateakids.com, $6.95)
Do You Mean I Don’t Have to Pick Up Anything for the Rest of My Life?

I sat right beside my 9-month-old son and possibly picked up his toy and bottle at least 2 million times in 2 minutes. Oh! And how can I forget the facial expressions he gives me when it hits the floor. Now, finally, someone who feels my pain created the “Drop Stop”. It is a strap the attaches to the child’s seat belt and at the other end there is an elastic band and a Velcro strap that conveniently attaches to your child’s bottle/cup or favorite toy. Carry it along in your stroller when you’re traveling and on the go and don’t want to worry about anything falling on the floor and getting dirty. Remember you’re traveling experience is a pleasant one; slips, drips and falls shouldn’t be your issue so minimize it with “Drop Stop”