Baby Gear, Toys, Strollers, Nursery Furniture | Magic Beans - Thanksgiving Essentials

Traveling for Thanksgiving? Whether your family is headed to Grandma and Grandpa's or to a friend's place, you'll need some baby gear to take along. Don't worry; we've done the work for you. Browse this page to find our favorite travel gear including high chairs, cribs, feeding essentials, and more. To make life even easier, ship your gear directly — shipping is free for orders over $99.

Here are some tips to help you have a warm and wonderful day.

1. The two major sources of meltdowns are hunger and exhaustion, and Thanksgiving can push the envelope on both fronts. You may be saving your appetite for the big meal, but your kids still need to eat lunch. Feed them on their usual schedule.

2. If you’re expected for dinner during naptime, bring along napping supplies. We tote along our Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light whenever we go to family outings for this very purpose. For older toddlers, a Tuckaire Toddler Bed is equally convenient.

3. Thanksgiving is usually a long day filled with adult conversation and football games. Have mercy and pack an activity bag with coloring books, crayons, a new Lego set, some Magna-Tiles a favorite book, or even an iPod loaded with games, audiobooks and a favorite TV show or movie.

4. During the meal, if you expect your children to be engaged, help to make this a realistic expectation. Conversation starter cards may not be your style, but they can help ensure that the kids feel included. We found a great downloadable set from Disney here. A disposable camera (or older digital camera) can be another great way to get the kids involved in the occasion (and have a fun kids-eye documentary of the day). Another great photo activity: ask all the relatives to bring a baby picture and get the kids to figure out who's who.

5. Check with your hosts in advance to make sure they have kid-friendly seating and dishware. If they don’t, bring it along for the trip. Having a familiar sippy cup, small-scale flatware and even a high chair or Me Too seat can make the meal go much more smoothly.