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Skoot Founder and Mom of 4 Madi Nelson Has Taken 100 Trips—What She Packs

From packing cubes for each kid to the stroller she calls her “command center,” here’s what makes family travel a little easier.

By Briana Engelbrecht

Updated On Oct 12, 2026

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In This Article

1. A really good travel stroller

2. A baby carrier

3. A portable sound machine

4. Packing cubes

5. A cozy baby blanket

6. A portable changing setup

7. A mini first aid kit

8. A few brand-new plane toys

9. A ride-on suitcase

10. Extra clothes—for everyone

Madi’s Advice for Your First Trip With Baby

Content creator and mom of four Madi Nelson has made family travel part of her life—and her work. She and her husband, David, co-founded Skoot, a family travel brand that makes luggage bags, backpacks and accessories designed to make getting around with kids a little easier.

They've loved traveling long before they became mom and dad, and now, they see family trips as a chance to show their kids the world, spark their curiosity, and make memories together—even when getting there is a little chaotic. How many trips have they taken? Madi asked her eight-year-old, who estimated “probably 100.”

That means she’s traveled through just about every parenting stage—from nursing and nap schedules to toddlers who think the plane is a playground—and even tackled a 15-hour flight to China with a nine-month-old. Along the way, she’s figured out what’s actually worth packing (and what can stay home). Her approach is pretty simple: pack smart, expect a little chaos and let the trip unfold.

These are the travel essentials for kids she won’t leave home without.

1. A really good travel stroller

Mompush Lithe Double Stroller - Black

From $239.99

“I’ve learned that a stroller is basically my command center when we travel. It holds the baby, the bags, the snacks and all my stuff, too. I want something lightweight, easy to fold with one hand and compact enough that I’m not wrestling with it in the airport.”

2. A baby carrier

WildBird Aerial Carrier - Celestial, XS-XL

From $178.00

“A carrier is a must for me when they’re little. There are so many moments when you need both hands—security, boarding, grabbing luggage, helping another kid—and being able to wear the baby makes everything feel a little more manageable.”

3. A portable sound machine

Hatch Hatch Go Sound Machine - Putty

From $39.99

“This is a must when I’m traveling with babies or toddlers. For naps on the go, I attach it to the stroller or carrier, and I love having it when we’re all sleeping in a hotel room.”

4. Packing cubes

Skoot Packing Cubes

From $45.00

“I will never travel without packing cubes, especially with multiple kids. Everyone gets their own color, and I pack complete outfits together so I’m not digging through a suitcase looking for one tiny sock at 7 a.m. It makes unpacking so much easier too.”

5. A cozy baby blanket

Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Lite Ribbed Baby Blanket - Pink

From $74.90

“I’ve always been a Barefoot Dreams girl and love bringing this everywhere when we travel. A lightweight blanket can do so much more than keep baby cozy, too. I’ve used one as a nursing cover, stroller shade and basically anything else I needed in the moment.”

6. A portable changing setup

Skoot Diaper Caddy Zip Pouch

From $45.00

“I have changed babies in some very questionable places—and usually on the ground somewhere. I always want something I can throw down anywhere, wipe clean and fold right back up.”

7. A mini first aid kit

Babylist Baby First Aid & Grooming Kit

From $69.99

“You never know when you’re going to need a thermometer, bandage or medicine, and I like having those things with me instead of trying to track them down once we get somewhere.”

8. A few brand-new plane toys

“I always save a couple things they’ve never seen before for the plane. Nothing huge or complicated—just something new enough to buy me ten peaceful minutes.”

A few travel toy ideas from Madi:

9. A ride-on suitcase

Skoot SkootCase

From $225.00

“I know I’m biased, but our SkootCase is genuinely one of my biggest travel must-haves. We created it because I wanted something that made getting through the airport with kids easier—and now my kids actually get excited about that part. They can ride it, I can pull them when they’re tired and it holds their stuff. Anything that makes travel easier for me and more fun for them is a win.”

10. Extra clothes—for everyone

“The extra outfit cannot be in the checked suitcase. I learned that very quickly. And honestly, I pack an extra shirt or sweatshirt for myself too because somehow whatever happens to the baby usually happens to me.”

Her pro move is keeping the essentials even closer than the carry-on: “I bring a complete mini baby kit in my personal item: diaper, wipes, a change of clothes and feeding essentials. You want the emergency stuff physically under the seat.”

Madi’s Advice for Your First Trip With Baby

The first trip can feel like a lot before you even leave the house. Madi remembers being shocked by “how much stuff one tiny person requires.” But she was also surprised by “how doable it actually was. The anticipation was usually worse than the first flight itself.”

Her advice for making that first trip a little easier:

Feed during takeoff and landing. Madi found this helpful when traveling with a baby. When she was formula feeding, she asked a flight attendant for a cup of warm water as soon as she boarded; when she was nursing, she fed wherever they happened to be.
Give yourself extra time. A little breathing room can make security, boarding and all the unexpected baby stuff feel more manageable.
Let go of “easy.” “Your first trip probably won’t be ‘easy,’ but it’s not always easy at home either,” she says. “Your toddler is going to have a meltdown wherever you are—you might as well be somewhere fun.”
Remember that most people are on your side. “People are usually so much kinder than you think they’re going to be,” she says. “The majority of people love a baby, even if they’re crying.”

And after four kids and more trips than she can count, her travel philosophy is pretty simple:

“Traveling with kids is never going to look like traveling without kids—and once I stopped expecting it to, I started enjoying it so much more. You pack the snacks, expect a little chaos and just go with it. Some of our very best family memories have happened because we were willing to do the trip even when it felt like a lot.”

Skoot Founder and Mom of 4 Madi Nelson Has Taken 100 Trips—What She Packs

From packing cubes for each kid to the stroller she calls her “command center,” here’s what makes family travel a little easier.

By Briana Engelbrecht