Taking your children on the road, in the train, bus or across the ocean in a plane is such a sweet idea and helps them to expand their minds and to grow. I always say that travel teaches us more about ourselves than it does about the different places we go and I fully support taking the kiddos along!
That being said…it is quite a bumpy ride from point A to point B and the journey is not as joyful as you may envision it to be. Especially if it is a vacation, it may not be as relaxing as you would actually like.
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A way to try ease some of the difficulties is to make the ride as smooth and comfortable as possible. Some opt for hand held games, videos, car games or sing a long in order to keep the kids interested and off your nerves but distracting their attention is only half of the battle.
Being comfortable and getting quality sleep is the mountain that you truly need to tackle when you begin planning the trip. Whether you are going short distances or if you are planning some far away trips, keeping the little ones comfortable will actually make them more calm and easier to deal with.
Having comfy chairs, clothes and blankets helps to keep your kids relaxed in the back seat but a pillow is what I think makes the real difference. Travel pillows allow your children to lean their head back and rest his or her neck while watching TV, playing games or sleeping.
You can choose pillows that are made specifically for children’s sizes and are covered in soft, velour and velveteen cases so they can rest their skin against it without getting cut or chafed. They can come in different varieties of filling and stuffing to keep them elevated and make falling asleep easier.
Editor’s Choice for Best Travel Pillow For Kids
- Multiple design options
- Sturdy
- Snug
Top 5 Best Rated Travel Pillows For Kids Reviewed
Bcozzy Kids Chin Supported Travel Pillow
While this is a pillow specifically designed and marketed for children it is not ONLY for kids and has been enjoyed by many adults on long flights as well. It is a pillow that completely wraps around your neck, even overlapping in the chin area to give you extra support.
It is small enough to fit comfortably around your little ones neck but provides comfort and support for you as well, or you can order the adult size for maximum comfort. You can order the child, adult or adult XL size and you can order either a single pillow or a double pack.
On top of having sizing and package size options you can choose the color of your pillow from one of twenty different options. You can choose neutral or simple colors or get vibrant with warm, and exotic colors that really match your personality.
There is an adjustable snap that allows you to secure the pillow in place without worrying that it will slip around while riding along. If you do not want the pillow under your chin you can choose not to securely close it and leave it open, using just the back of the pillow or wrapping and tucking the pillow under.
Pros:
- 20 different colors
- Size options
- Adjustable
- Snap into place
Cons:
- Not memory foam
- A little flat
Critter Piller Kids Travel Buddy Pillow
Critter Piller have designed an extremely soft pillow that is going to be super soft and comfy to lay your baby’s face against. The casing of the pillow is not only hypoallergenic but made from recycled materials making it an eco friendly, sustainable pillow.
The pillow as you may have noticed is designed to look like various animals which your child will really love taking with them. It’s like a stuffed animal for comfort and a pillow all in one, your child will love to take it along for the ride.
This is a sturdy pillow that provides ample support without being too hard for you. It does not allow for your child to open it up and touch or eat the contents, making it a safe pillow.
There are four different animal options including a pig, a cat, a dog and or a cow depending on what animal you little one loves. You can also choose the dog and cat in a few colors like pink or red, purple or brown.
Pros:
- Cute designs
- Inexpensive
- Safe pillow
- Made from recycled materials
Cons:
- Flat
- Does not close in the front
Jay Franco Kids Travel Pillow
I only warn you with this one to check if you are purchasing a new or used pillow, while both are good options that may be something that is important to you and you should check accordingly. It is not a very expensive pillow regardless of which option you decide on.
This pillow is fun for kids because they come with different options that depict various children’s cartoon characters that they know and love. You can choose specific designs for girls or boys or go if you choose not to look at gender there are just the most well loved characters like Elsa and Anna and Lightning McQueen and Spider-Man.
The pillow is made of 100% polyester and is easy to keep clean by spot cleaning it with a wet cloth or towel. It does not close in the front but fits very snugly around your little one’s neck.
Pros:
- Many design options
- 100% polyester
- Snug
- Sturdy
Cons:
- Flat
- May be purchased as previously used by accident
Nido’s Nest Kids Travel Neck Pillow
Nido’s Nest kids travel neck pillow is a very lightweight pillow that is covered in kid friendly cases that have designs on them that your child will love. The center is a soft, yet sturdy pillow that will provide ample support for your child’s neck and head.
The pillow wraps around your child’s neck completely and allows you to snap it closed in the front to keep it secure and in place, or you can use the snap to fasten it to your suitcase or purse and make it easier to carry. The pillow inside is filled with micro bead that are not easily accessible to the child so you do not have to worry about it being a safety hazard.
There are five fun design options for you to order this pillow in depending on which your child will like the best. While they are shaped like animals they are not brown or black colored but designed with bright and fun colors; can choose from a bumblebee, ladybug, owl, frog or pig.
Pros:
- Fun and bright designs
- Safe pillow
- Snap closure
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Small
- Not firm enough
Trunki Kid’s Travel Neck Pillow
Trunks kid’s travel neck pillow is made with a soft and easy to clean cover that your kid is going to love laying his or her head against every time they get in the car. You can choose one of fourteen different colors for you little one from bright pink and red or purple and blue.
The case is also designed to look like you child’s favorite animal just with more fun colors. The paws on the pillow of your child’s animal travel pillow connect together because they have magnets in them, which keeps them together but not in an unsafe way.
The inside of the pillow is filled with thousands of tiny micro beads that are locked away and provide comfort without being a choking hazard.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Colors and designs
- Magnetic paws
- Promote good posture
Cons:
- Lumps a bit
- Small
Special Considerations For Compiling This List
Highly comfortable: Obviously you need a comfortable pillow to sleep on so you should have a comfortable one for your car rides too. This is comfort from the casing of the pillow to the filling inside of your pillow, keeping it soft to the skin and sturdy to rest upon.
No-slip: Some pillows have a tendency to slip and slide around while we are sleeping. While I chose sleekly designed pillows they are not going to slip out from under your child’s head while he or she is resting or sleeping.
Easy to wash: Let’s just be completely honest about this particular point, kids are extremely messy and hard to clean up after. While I didn’t find mess free pillows I found ones that were very easy to clean and keep cleaned.
Lightweight: This one is a no-brainer and sounds a little pointless but I think lightweight pillows are a must. You don’t want to lug around extra weight and you don’t want to have that weight resting around and on your child’s neck and shoulders.
Closing Thoughts
Get the kids packed up and ready, and find yourself a great travel pillow to keep them comfy and happy on the road. You can test out any pillow on this list as they all come with guarantees and great return policies if you are dissatisfied.
I don’t think you will be disappointed though because these are strong, sturdy and fun pillows for you little one to fall in love with. They will be snoozing in the car and your trips will become that much more enjoyable as time goes on.
