The best kids travel pillows 2023: from toddler to teenager (reviews & guide)
Few things tend to be as uncomfortable as having to sleep upright on a plane or a bus. Children are more flexible than adults, but giving them a neck or foot pillow can make a huge difference! Kids travel pillows make a trip a lot more enjoyable, and they can be a cute accessory too.
We’ve separated the products into three age groups: toddlers, children aged 3-10, and tweens & teens (and adults, if you like). There is a comparison table at the beginning of this article which lists the best travel pillows for kids and the age for which they are suitable. There are smaller tables and reviews for each product in the respective age groups.
If you are looking for a kid’s car pillow, you have come to the right website as well! Take a look at our car pillows for toddlers and older children section.
There’s a good chance this post contains affiliate links. This means that if you purchase anything through our link, we’ll receive a small commission (it won’t cost you anything! Thank you so much!). As an Amazon Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases. If you would like to learn more about our affiliate partners, click here for our disclaimer.
THE BEST KIDS TRAVEL PILLOWS: TOP PICKS
#AffiliateLinks
Best toddler travel pillow: Little Sleepyhead
Best travel pillow for preschoolers: Bcozzy Child
Best travel pillow for kids (age 5-10): Bcozzy Child
Best travel pillow for (young) adults: Bcozzy Adult
Best memory foam travel pillow: Dot & Dot
TIP: if you are wondering what other things to pack for a flight with your child, take a look here!
REVIEWS & COMPARISON
1. The best car pillow for kids
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | AGE | |
|---|---|---|---|
  |
Apomelo Car Seat Pillow
|
3y + | CHECK PRICE ► |
  |
YR Seat Belt Cover
|
3y + | CHECK PRICE ► |
  |
CoolBebe Car Seat Straps
|
infants and babies | CHECK PRICE ► |
  |
AMZ Rack Seatbelt Pillow
|
3y + | CHECK PRICE ► |
Before we head onto the best kids travel pillow products, let’s talk about car seat neck support for toddlers, infants, and bigger kids.
We’ve all seen it, right? When your kiddo falls asleep in the car, their head falls to the side or to the front, and it looks so very uncomfortable, especially for a toddler. Without buying a car seat pillow for toddler, the car ride will not be a comfortable experience for them. Also, as parents ourselves, we want our kids to be safe.
When they are still in a 5-point harness, we’re only talking about their neck, but when they get bigger and move onto a booster, things become even more straining and dangerous (when in an accident)!
However, if you’re looking for the best toddler neck pillow for car seat or the best toddler car seat head support pillow, we recommend you read this article and also this one. In short: it is dangerous to put anything between a child and their car seat! Therefore we will advise against a neck pillow for car use.
A car seat for a newborn is developed in such a way that it won’t require an infant head support for a car seat. A baby will turn their head to the side naturally as this allows them enough space to breathe.
This means you don’t need to buy any kids travel pillow to keep their heads looking forward. So scratch that cushion for baby car seat , baby neck pillow, or any baby travel pillow. (#AffiliateLinks)
For toddlers, the same rules apply. Don’t use any toddler pillows for the car seat, as putting something between the child and the seat may cause it to become unsafe.
Once your baby is almost a year, it will transfer to a bigger chair that sits much more upright. This will cause their head to drop forward. If it’s possible, pick a car seat and kids neck pillow, which you can tilt from a sitting to a sleeping position. This will prevent the head from dropping as well. Do not use a toddler neck pillow for a car seat, or a headband strap. (#AffiliateLinks)
SUMMARY: as long as your child is in a car seat, do NOT use a car seat neck pillow or any toddler travel pillow to keep their head or neck in place. They are not compatible with a car seat and may even be deadly in case of an accident.
Once a child is big enough to use a booster seat, a regular seat belt might hurt their neck. Therefore, a kid’s seat belt pillow is a great acquisition! They usually come as large stuffed animals as well, so that’s a win-win.
Out of the car seat, you don’t have to worry about safety compatibility (or lack thereof) anymore. Quite a lot of car pillows for kids, teenagers, and adults are available. Read more about them below!
#1 APOMELO CAR SEAT STRAP BELT CUSHION COVER
How cute is this fluffy dinosaur? It functions both as a giant teddy bear and as a car pillow for toddlers and bigger kids.
The dinosaur kids car pillow covers the seatbelt, which prevents your child from becoming uncomfortable. The velcro closure makes it very easy to pop it into the right position.
Travelwise it might not be the best companion as it is HUGE (9″x19.7″ (23x50cm)), but children love this seat belt pillow for kids, and they get to choose from a whole variety of cute animals.
#2 AMZ RACK PILLOW FOR CAR SEATBELT
When your child isn’t into cuddly teddy bears (anymore), these sober seatbelt pillows with clips will provide the same comfort.
The seat belt pillows are made of a soft plush on the outside, while the inside is filled with non-deforming PP cotton. The child travel pillow cover is also washable.
Each package includes 2 pillows that measure 11.8″x4.7″ (30×10 cm) each. They suit every seatbelt and clip onto them to prevent the cushion from sliding down.
The AMZ Rack covers are a great kid travel pillow for road trips! But you can use them as a seat belt pillow for adults as well.
2. The best travel pillow for toddler
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | AGE | |
|---|---|---|---|
  |
Trunki Neck Pillow Small
|
small: 18m-4y / medium: 3-5y | CHECK PRICE ► |
  |
Little Sleepyhead
|
toddlers + | CHECK PRICE ► |
  |
Squishmallow
|
toddlers + | CHECK PRICE ► |
  |
Inflatable foot rest
|
toddlers + | CHECK PRICE ► |
When it comes to a neck pillow for toddlers, think really hard about what your little one might benefit from. It’s no use tagging something along that you won’t use.
Our daughter, for example, wouldn’t dream of keeping a neck pillow on. She’d rather use her mommies as her personal pillow.
A lot of toddlers might prefer a small square pillow over a U-shaped one. Opt for the same type of neck support as at home: a soft travel pillow if they use a soft one in their bed or a firmer toddler airplane pillow if they are used to that.
If you aren’t too keen on a toddler napping on your lap, a travel leg rest is a great travel accessory! We believe that, in most cases, this will bring better use than a travel pillow toddler.
#1 TRUNKI YONDI
The Trunki Yondi child neck pillow, small or medium, is one of the only U-shaped kid neck pillows that is suitable for toddlers.
It’s perfect for snoozes on the go. The neck pillow toddler connects under the chin with hidden magnets which makes for a very comfortable pillow.
The filling of microbeads and the plush fabric add to the comfort level. A double fabric liner makes sure that even in case of rupture, the microbeads stay safely inside.
These neck pillows for toddlers come with the Trunki Grip, to which you can attach your child’s favorite blanket. Oh, and with 0.18 lbs (80gr), it’s super lightweight!
The Trunki Yondi travel pillows for toddlers are suitable for children from 18 months and up (small: 18m-4y / medium: 3-5y) and come in 6 funky colors and designs.
#2 LITTLE SLEEPYHEAD TODDLER PILLOW
The Little Sleepyhead toddler travel pillows are a perfect travel companion when your toddler doesn’t like to put on a U-shaped neck pillow.
It’s a small rectangular pillow with the perfect size and softness for a toddler and can be used at your destination as well as on your way there.
This toddler travel neck pillow is 100% hypoallergenic and machine washable. It measures 13 x 18 inches (33×45 cm)
TIP: you have to buy the pillowcase separately, but they come in a couple of nice designs!
#3 SQUISHMALLOW
These cute little stuffed animals are perfect small pillows for toddlers.
Although they are not necessarily travel pillows, they can function as one for sure.
The Squishmallow animal neck pillow comes in a lot of different shapes (make sure to check them all!) and in two sizes: 8″ (20cm) and 16″ (40cm). We believe the smaller size is big enough for a toddler to sleep on and easier to drag along on a trip than the larger one.
Bringing animal pillows for kids is like killing two birds with one stone, as your little one gets to play with a soft toy and sleep on it when tired.
#4 INFLATABLE TRAVEL FOOTREST
The Wandering Tot travel footrest pillow was created by a traveling family and, therefore, alone deserves a place on this list.
The Wandering Tot travel footrest pillow was created by a traveling family and, therefore, alone, deserves a place on this list.
Sleeping upright in a plane will be very hard for toddlers, and you’ll most likely end up with a sticky body like yours. To ensure that you can get some sleep as well, this travel hack lets your kids sleep with their legs up.
Such an inflatable leg rest for flights is completely safe, and you tuck it into the usually rather cramped space between the chairs. Your child now has a bed!
But you can use it as a footrest for a car seat while driving as well. Furthermore, it’s a great toy or table at your destination as well!
It is very lightweight (under 1 lbs/450g when inflated), and it comes with a small storage bag to carry it around when you’re not using it.
The portable footrest can be adjusted to 3 heights, and you can inflate it in 1 to 2 minutes with your mouth. Thanks to the 2 large valves, it inflates quickly and easily, so you won’t look like a tomato after doing so. Deflation happens in about 30 seconds.
3. The best neck pillow for kids age 4-10
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
  |
Bcozzy Kids
|
CHECK PRICE ► |
  |
Squishmallow
|
CHECK PRICE ► |
| |
Inflatable foot rest
|
CHECK PRICE ► |
#1 BCOZZY KIDS
The Bcozzy travel pillow is the most popular (kids) neck pillow travel that you can find.
You can twist it into several positions and control how tight you want it around your neck.
The airplane pillow for kids prevents the head from falling forward and offers support for your head, neck,
The travel pillow child version only weighs 7.4 ounces (200gr) and comes with a snap strap for easy storage of your luggage. Furthermore, it is fully machine washable and can be compressed.
The Bcozzy kids airplane pillow is available in a lot of funky colors and comes in adult size as well.
The Bcozzy children’s neck cushion is one of the very best neck pillows for kids when traveling!
#2 SQUISHMALLOW
These cute little stuffed animals are perfect small pillows for kids.
Although they are not necessarily a travel pillow, they can function as one for sure.
The Squishmallow animal neck pillow kids comes in a lot of different shapes (make sure to check them all!) and in two sizes: 8″ (20cm) and 16″ (40cm). Pick the small one for younger kids and the bigger one for older kids!
Bringing animal pillows for kids is like killing two birds with one stone, as your little one gets to play with a soft toy and sleep on it when tired.
#3 INFLATABLE TRAVEL FOOTREST
The Wandering Tot footrest airplane pillow kids was created by a traveling family end; therefore, alone deserves a place in this list.
Sleeping upright in a plane will be very hard for smaller children, and you might end up with a sticky body onto yours. To ensure that you can get some sleep as well, this travel hack lets your kids sleep with their legs up.
Such an inflatable leg rest for flights is completely safe, and you tuck it into the usually rather cramped space between the chairs. Your child now has a bed!
But you can use it as a travel pillow for the car seat as well. Furthermore, it’s a great toy or table at your destination!
It is very lightweight (under 1 lbs/450g when inflated), and it comes with a small storage bag to carry it around when you’re not using it.
The portable footrest can be adjusted to 3 heights, and you can inflate it in 1 to 2 minutes with your mouth. Thanks to the 2 large valves, it inflates quickly and easily, so you won’t look like a tomato after doing so. Deflation happens in about 30 seconds.
The Wandering Tot travel pillows for kids (and adults) are available in one color and come with an additional eye mask and earbuds for the parents.
4. The best travel pillow kids for tweens & teens
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
  |
Bcozzy Adults
|
CHECK PRICE ► |
  |
Dot & Dot
|
CHECK PRICE ► |
  |
Cabeau
|
CHECK PRICE ► |
  |
Kmall
|
CHECK PRICE ► |
Whether your tween or teen will be traveling by themselves or accompanying you on your family holiday, getting there and away is usually not all too comfortable. By car, plane, or public transport, chances are that they will be sitting upright for a rather long time, making travel pillows for kids necessary to experience a comfortable ride.
Most childrens neck pillows focus on the age group of 3 to 10, which means tweens and teenagers are big enough to pick a regular-size travel cushion. So, if you’re looking for an adult travel pillow for yourself as well, feel free to pick your favorite one!
#1 BCOZZY ADULT
The Bcozzy pillow is a travel pillow that you can wrap around your neck.
You can twist it into several positions and control how tight you want the kids travel neck pillow around your neck.
It prevents the head from falling forward and offers support for your head, neck,
The travel pillow only weighs 7.4 ounces (200gr) and comes with a snap strap for easy storage of your luggage. Furthermore, the children’s travel pillow is fully machine washable and can be compressed.
The Bcozzy is available in a lot of funky colors and comes in both adult and child sizes.
#2 DOT & DOT TRAVEL PILLOW
The Dot&Dot is a small travel pillow that – unlike most neck pillows that are U-shaped – is twistable into almost any shape.
The memory foam provides personalized support in any position you’d like to rest or sleep in.
This neck rest pillow is machine washable and comes with a snap closure so you can secure it in your suitcase. This way, you can also close it around your neck or around the car headrest.
It is one of the most unique travel pillows for children, teenagers, and adults.
#3 CABEAU EVOLUTION MEMORY PILLOW
The Cabeau travel pillow is made of memory foam which offers 360 – degree support.
Because of its comfort, the adult or older kid neck pillow makes for a great travel companion.
The soft velour cover is removable and washable and thus easy to keep clean.
Traveling is convenient with only 11.7 ounces (330gr) and the possibility to store it in a small storage bag at only 1/4th of the size.
The Cabeau Evolution memory foam neck pillow is available in a bunch of different colors.
#4 Kmall inflatable pillow
The Kmall travel pillow for teenagers is an inflatable pillow with push-button inflation.
This way, it can be easily and quickly inflated and deflated, and it prevents bacteria from spreading because you don’t have to mouth-blow it.
A lot of adult & children’s neck pillows for travel tend to get hot, but the
It comes with a built-in pocket for your eye mask or smartphone, or other valuables that doubles as the (tiny, square-shaped) carry case when you’re not using your pillow.
As it only weighs 7.2 ounces (200gr), there really is no reason not to bring it on your trip.
The Kmall children’s neck pillow is available in yellow, red, blue, green, and grey, and it might very well be the best inflatable pillow for travel!
INFORMATION GUIDE
How to find the best travel pillow for your child?
The size
Don’t forget that children have smaller heads and necks. Make sure that you choose a pillow that fits your little one correctly to prevent the head from falling forward and, thus, your child from being uncomfortable.
This is especially important when you use the pillow as a car seat pillow for toddlers or bigger kids.
The material
While some kids love a snuggly animal pillow with hair, others might get irritated by it. The same works for harder plastic cushions that your baby might not find comfortable.
More of the same with a fleece cover that will feel wonderful when traveling on a plane or in colder circumstances. However, it will feel sticky and scratchy when it’s hot.
Choose your pillow with the type of journey and the weather conditions in mind.
Also, when it comes to children, you’ll want a travel headrest that is machine washable!
The shape
In general, when talking about travel pillows, people mean a U-shaped cushion that you can put around your neck for support when you have to sit upright for a long time (on planes, buses, or in the car)
However, there are other options. Your child might prefer a rectangular pillow, there is this travel neck cushion that you can fold into any shape to suit your needs best, or you may as well let your kid sleep with an inflatable footrest in the plane. (#AffiliateLinks)
The filling
The 3 main types of filling are:
- microbead: a microbead travel pillow is filled with small polystyrene beads, which makes it lightweight. You can change the shape of the cushion easily, but it is usually not that portable and doesn’t provide a lot of comfort.
- inflatable: an inflatable travel pillow is meant to be blown up by mouth into the firmness of your liking. They are lightweight and very tiny to pack into your luggage. On the downside, one small leak and your pillow will deflate.
- memory foam: a memory foam travel pillow shapes itself into your neck. It offers the most support but is, in general, the least lightweight. They can be decompressed for transport, which is convenient when you have limited storage space.
FAQ
How do I choose the perfect travel pillow for kids?
Which travel pillow is the most suitable for your child depends on a number of factors. Your kid’s age is an important one, but also a preference for the type (inflatable, memory foam, microbeads) as well as the outer material.
Click here to read our detailed information guide.
Can you use a travel pillow in the car?
The short answer is: no! At least, not when your child is still in a car seat because you can’t have anything between the seat and their neck. There are, however, some alternatives.
Click here to go to our car seat neck support section.
What is the best travel pillow for toddlers?
Many toddlers don’t like the feeling of a neck pillow and will begin to squirm to try to get comfortable. We believe the best toddler neck pillow for planes, cars, and travel is either a small rectangular pillow or an inflatable footrest so they can lie down completely.
Click here to see the different options for toddlers.
What is the best neck pillow for travel for kids?
The Bcozzy (child or adult version) is the most popular travel pillow, and for good reason. It is simple, not overly expensive, available in different colors, and you can buy it in 2-packs.
Click here to read the full review.
what can I use instead of a travel pillow?
You could never go wrong with a fluffy squishmallow fluff. Stuffed animal plush toys are not only perfect companions during travels, but they serve as a great alternative to travel pillows too!
Can a toddler use a travel pillow?
They definitely can! Toddlers need to be comfy during travels too, not just adults. In this article, our top pick for the best travel pillow for a toddler is Little Sleepy Head’s Toddler Pillow.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Babs Rodrigus is the co-founder and main writer of Mums on FlipFlops . She is absolutely crazy about traveling – especially together with her wife and kids. Babs loves animals, chocolate (what did you expect from a Belgian?), reading, and writing.
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