The Best Luggage for Traveling with the Whole Family
From diaper bags to ride-on suitcases, these are the best luggage picks for babies, toddlers and the whole family.
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Traveling with kids means packing twice as much—or even three times as much, if you’re packing diapers and extra changes of clothes for a baby. That means packing smart, and choosing a roomy-yet-lightweight suitcase to fit everything.
Whether you’re going on a road trip, flying across the country or just doing a weekend getaway, the right luggage makes all the difference. From large checked luggage that can fit your kiddo’s stuff in with yours to toddler-sized carry-ons (some that double as ride-ons!), here are our favorite options that keep the whole family organized while traveling. And be sure to check out our packing tips down below!
The Best Checked Luggage for the Whole Family
If you’re wanting to consolidate baby’s stuff with yours, then a larger suitcase is the way to go to maximize space while minimizing the amount of things you need to tote around. Look for suitcases that are 28 inches or larger with durable-yet-lightweight hard shells, spinner wheels and expandable compartments for hauling everything in one place.
Away
The Large Flex
Monos
Check-In Large
Samsonite
Freeform Large Spinner
Coolife
Luggage Expandable 28" Suitcase
The Best Carry-Ons for Light Packers
If you plan on buying diapers and wipes once you get to your destination or renting a lot of your baby's stuff (check out the pro tip on that below), then you can probably pack a little lighter and fit everyone's stuff into one or two carry-on bags. That's why we picked suitcases with features that let you pack more stuff into less space, thanks to compression ability, unique closure designs and more pockets than your average carry-on.
Luhxe
Travel Bag 2.0
Amazon Basics
21" Hardside Carry-On Luggage
NOBL
Carry-On: All-in-One
Travelpro
Platinum Elite 21-Inch
Quince
Front Pocket Carry-On Suitcase
The Best Diaper Bags for Traveling
Opting for a backpack-style diaper bag will make it easier to navigate an airport and plane while also carrying or towing your little one. And with all the diaper bag compartments you’re used to (including insulated pouches for bottles), they make organization and quick-grabs simple and efficient.
Freshly Picked
Convertible Classic Diaper Bag II
RUVALINO
Diaper Bag Backpack - Multifunction Travel Baby Diaper Bag
KeaBabies
Original Diaper Backpack
The Best Packing Cubes for Families
Packing and compression cubes aren't just travel accessories—they’re game-changers for organizing family trips. They save space, simplify packing and unpacking and keep everyone’s things separate, including dirty clothes.
Pro tips for using compression cubes:
Give each family member their own color or cube size. It makes unpacking and sorting go that much faster, plus it helps kids feel more independent—even toddlers can find their clothes quickly and easily.
Designate one cube as the “dirty laundry bag” to keep them separated from clean clothes and other items.
If you have baby items that you don’t want coming into contact with anything else for sanitary reasons—like baby care supplies (like a snot sucker) and breast pump attachments (side note: breast pump bags don't count as part of your baggage allowance)—you’re better off packing those in a Ziploc bag than in a packing cube, since Ziploc bags will stay totally sealed.
Quince
Revive Nylon Compression Packing Cubes (6-pack)
Monos
Compressible Packing Cubes
BAGSMART
Compression Packing Cubes, 6-Pack
CalPak
Medium Compression Packing Cubes
Amazon Basics
Lightweight Packing Cubes (Non-Compression)
The Best Carry-On Suitcases for Toddlers
Perfect for toddlers who love having their own “big kid” luggage, these mini carry-ons are just the right size for kids ages two and up to carry or pull on their own. They’re lightweight, fun and will fit a few outfits, snacks and a favorite toy or two.
Pottery Barn Kids
Mackenzie Hard-Sided Luggage
Rockland Jr.
Kids' My First Hardside Spinner Luggage, Expandable, 19-Inch
Wildkin
Rolling Luggage Carry-On Size
Stephen Joseph
Classic Rolling Luggage
The Best Ride-On Luggage for Toddlers
The true game-changers of family travel, ride-on suitcases keep kids entertained and save you from carrying them (both the luggage and the kiddo) when little legs get tired. Most options are suitable for ages two to six, though some can fit bigger kids and even adults—just be sure to check the weight limit.
MiaMily
Carry On
Stokke
JetKids BedBox
Trunki
Kids Ride-On Suitcase with Wheels
The Best “Personal Item” Bags for Toddlers
Once kids can carry their own small load, these backpacks are the perfect size for a personal item on the plane.
Wildkin
12-inch Kids Backpack
STATE
Kane Kids Mini Travel Backpack
Pottery Barn Kids
Mackenzie Mini 12" Backpack
Tips for Packing for a Trip with Small Children
Your kiddo’s luggage needs will look different depending on their age:
Babies: Little ones under the age of two don’t typically need their own luggage. To limit the amount of suitcases you’re toting around, many families find it easier to pack everyone’s things into one large checked suitcase, plus your diaper bag/personal item.
Toddlers: Once your little one is a steady walker, around age two or three, they may be ready for their own mini backpack and/or tiny carry on luggage. A small backpack can hold a change of clothes, a toy and some snacks—it’ll free up space in your bag and give them a sense of independence.
And in general, keep these packing tips in mine, especially when it comes to air travel:
Checked luggage can help you consolidate. Not everyone needs their own bag. For a family of four, a week-long trip might look like two checked luggages—each containing everything for one adult and one child—and then each adult has one carry on and one personal item, including a diaper bag (more on that in the next bullet point) to cover plane necessities and in case the checked baggage is lost. Two adults and a baby on a weekend trip could get away with one checked bag and then divide the rest between two backpacks.
Consider buying baby their own plane ticket to increase your bag allowance (and for safety reasons, too). With a single regular coach ticket (one without carry on bag restrictions), you’re allowed one carry on and one personal item like a purse, backpack or anything else that can fit under the seat. But lap infants don’t get their own bag allowance, so baby’s diaper bag would count as part of yours. But if baby has their own ticket (using their car seat secured on the plane seat), then you can technically bring four bags instead of just two. Baby safety experts recommend flying with a car seat anyway, since it’s safer than having baby sit on your lap.
Trendy packing hacks vary. Some parents swear by shoe organizers or packing cubes, while others say they take up too much space. Try different methods to see what works best for your family.
Small cooler bags for breast milk don’t count as part of your bag allowance. If you’re flying with breast milk or formula, you’re allowed to bring an extra cooler bag (as long as it’s small) on the flight in order to keep everything at a safe temperature without it counting as either a carry on or personal item. And as an added bonus, breast milk, formula and baby foods/purees aren’t required to adhere to TSA’s 3-1-1 rule for liquids, so you’re welcome to bring more than just 3-ounce bottles—though TSA strongly recommends keeping breast milk and formula in clear bottles for easier scanning.
Borrow or rent larger gear at your destination. You can check larger baby items like playards and travel high chairs, but you might also consider calling ahead to your hotel or airbnb to see if they have baby items available to use there. You might also be able to rent certain baby items at your destination.
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