Do you have no clue what to buy your family and friends? Do you wait until a few days before Christmas, and realize the holidays have sneaked up on you once again? Did you forget to buy a present? Hey, it happens. No need to panic! We have you covered with some Great Last Minute Gift Ideas for Kids & Travelers.

We received samples to facilitate this post, but we only recommend products we would love to receive or give as gifts.

Great Last-Minute Gift Ideas:

Gifts for the Traveler:

Gadget Guard Insured Flex Screen Protectors – I learned a valuable lesson earlier this year on the importance of screen protectors. I had placed my backpack on a hook in an airport bathroom stall when the strap broke. The backpack crashed onto the tile floor with my iPhone resting at the bottom of the heap. The screen smashed. Later that day, a colleague on the trip dropped her brand new Samsung onto the concrete at the hotel parking lot with similar results.

When I purchased a new phone, the first step I took for protection was adding the Black-Ice Sapphire Tempered Glass Screen Protector by Gadget Guard.  They have screen protectors for all sorts of devices and brands and they’re designed to hold up to drops and falls.  What’s different about the Black-Ice Sapphire? It’s optical grade tempered glass infused with sapphire to provide 7X the shatter protection, superior edge chip protection, and greater impact force distribution. On top of all that, it’s designed to repel smudges.

They back up their products with a lifetime warranty. If your guard breaks while protecting your product, they’ll replace it. And, if you purchase the + edition screen protector, they back it up with a $150 repair warranty if your screen is damaged. Don’t believe me? They have over 75,000 5-star shopper ratings.

The Gadget Guard Insured Flex Screen Protectors start at around $40.

Waypoint Goods Travel Scarf
There’s nothing like the thrill of traveling; seeing new places, meeting new people, dragging a bulky purse where ever you go. Wait. Scratch that last one. The worst part of travel is trying to keep the items you need-room keys, debit cards, passports-safe. Now, there’s a stylish and practical way to keep these items close; the Waypoint Goods Travel Scarf.

This buttery-soft scarf, available in over 35 colors and patterns, has a special zippered inside pocket, measuring 8” by 7”, designed to hold everything from cell phones to sunglasses. At 22 inches in wide and 32 inches long, its versatile enough to use a scarf, a shawl, or as a blanket during those long, chilly flights.

I chose the Pewter scarf from the Basic Series because it would pair well with a variety of colors, making it an accessory I could use every day during a trip. Because of the high-quality design, it slips easily from casual wear to evening wear. No matter whether I’m sipping a cocktail at an elegant dinner or chasing a three-year-old around the children’s museum, thanks to my travel scarf, I can relax and enjoy the moment.

The Waypoint Goods Pewter Travel Scarf is available for $30.

Edifier Splash-proof Bluetooth Earphones – While the Edifier Wireless Stereo Earphones are designed to be splash and sweat proof so you can use them for daily exercise, they’re also perfect for travel. Thanks to the metal ear hook that holds them securely in place, you’ll be able to listen to the music you want, listen to that book on tape, and block out the snoring by the person beside you. With their IPX5 rating, you can wear them while walking in the rain in a romantic city, or more likely, getting splashed by a cab.

Edifier uses upgraded 10 MM drivers so you can experience a wider sound range and excellent resolution. If you’re all about that bass, these earphones are designed to capture those lower frequencies. And, since the earphones can be simultaneously paired with two devices, you don’t have to worry about reprogramming every time you want to switch.

Charging time is short-only two hours-and the batteries will last up to ten hours. Or plenty of time to make it through a six-hour cross-country flight. With an impressive range of up to 10 meters away from your device and a stylish carrying case that’s easy to find in a backpack, these earphones will become your new favorite travel or workout accessory

The Edifier Splash-proof Bluetooth Earphones have an MSRP of $47.99.

Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle -If you’re a frequent-or occasional-flyer, you know the struggle of bringing liquids into the airport is real. My flight experiences usually involve long delays or layovers. Since I often travel with a three-year-old, I keep snacks in my backpack for her frequent hunger pangs, but I have to purchase a drink at the airport. It pains me to pay more for one bottle of water than I’d pay for a 24 pack at the grocery store. Now, thanks to the TSA approved Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle I don’t have to anymore.

Not only does the bottle fold down to a compact size when not in use, but it’s also actually sturdy enough to stand alone when it is in use. Made from durable silicone, this stylish bottle is easy for little hands to grip. That means it won’t shatter when they drop it! And, you know that’s going to happen. I’m a fan of their patented lip screw cap and lid, which makes it leak-proof when it’s stashed in my backpack.

The Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle is free of BPA, BPS, phthalates, and is made of only health-safe materials. It’s available in 11 different colors, is dishwasher safe, can be frozen, and holds hot or cold liquids. Our long layovers have just gotten a little bit easier with our Nomader.

The Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle has an MSRP of $29.95.

Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Backpack Cooler -We’re lucky enough to live near several state and national parks. That means we spend a lot of time hiking, exploring, or playing in the lakes with the three-year-old. And, if you’ve ever been anywhere with a small child, you know that at least half of the day will be spent with requests for snacks and drinks. We usually packed a cooler and kept it in the back of the car. That meant a hike back to the car to get a drink whenever her water bottle spilled. This happened a lot.

Out trips have gotten easier now that we have the Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Backpack Cooler. This cooler holds 24 cans and keeps ice cold (when filled completely) up to two days. The exterior uses Rhino-tech coating to resist moisture, stains, and uv rays, while the therma-flect interior reflects heat instead of absorbing it. Most food residue-which you know you’re going to have with a kid-can be wiped off the cooler with a damp cloth.

The shoulder straps adjust for easy carrying. I took the backpack on a two-mile and it’s comfortable to wear. With leak-resistant lining, microban protection to resist odors and bacteria, and deep freeze insulation, this is our new favorite cooler.

The Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Backpack Cooler has an MSRP of $39.99.

LifeStraw Go & Lifestraw Play Water Bottles -I love to travel outside the US, but I have one problem. The water in other countries never agrees with me. Let’s just say it is no fun to spend your vacation with food poisoning. That’s why the Lifestraw Go is my new go-to. It protects against bacteria, parasites, microplastics, chlorine, and organic chemical matter, like pesticides and herbicides. How does this work? It uses a long-lasting, microbiological filter to provide up to five years of safe water.

Tested around the globe, you can fill this durable BPA-free bottle anywhere; streams, rivers, or airport water fountains. Of course, you can use it from conventional tap water fountains too where it improves the taste of the water. The Lifestraw Play, their version for kids, is a leak-proof bottle that offers all the bonuses of the Lifestraw Go, as well as advanced filtration against heavy metals. Kids will have fun personalizing their bottles with the included graphics, and you’ll feel better knowing they can drink safely. And, Lifestraw gives back! For each bottle purchased they give one child one year of clean water.

The Lifestraw Play and the Lifestraw Go both have an MSRP of $39.95.

Gifts for Kids:

Boppi the Dancing Llama – What do you do when your child wants a llama (or a pony, or a unicorn, or some other ridiculous animal) when you live in an apartment? What if you don’t live in an apartment but you have no desire to take care of a llama? (Llamas are so hip right now. When did this happen? How did I miss it until a five year told me llamas are the cool new thing?)

Well, if your kid has fallen into the “llamas are trendy” camp, no worries: Pets Alive is here to help. Boppi, the battery-powered booty-shaking llama, is everything your child could want in a llama, but cleaner, better, and way more fun. Boppi features cute and realistic details, and a fun pink mane, making her perfect for even the most exacting llama fan. She has three great songs to dance to, and shakes her booty, spins her head, and turns 360 degrees! Dance along with Boppi and have fun with the whole family. It’s a great way to get your kids up and moving— they won’t even realize they’re exercising while they’re wiggling along with Boppi!

Boppi the Dancing Llama is intended for ages 3-10 and has an MSRP of around $29.

Robo Alive Baby Shark – There are probably very few people in the United States who haven’t heard Baby Shark. It was a viral sensation, suddenly and inexplicably on the lips of kids everywhere. It spawned a million parodies, spoofs, and product lines— and a million happy kids who just found their new favorite song. My child was no exception. Baby Shark is still one of her favorite songs to sing and dance along to.

Well, Robo Alive has made her bathtime way more fun (and more musical) with their new Baby Shark Battery-powered Sing and Swim Bath Toy. The Baby Shark bath toy is available in three colors: yellow (baby shark), pink (mommy shark), and blue (daddy shark). Choose one or collect the whole family! It is water-activated and sings Baby Shark for four minutes once you put it in the bath! After that, it goes to sleep to save power, but can easily be restarted by taking it out of the water and resubmerging it. It doesn’t only sing though! The Baby Shark Bath Toy also swims through the tub like the sharks in the viral music video.

Robo-Alive Junior Shark is intended for ages 3-6 and has a price point of around $18.

Pediped Flex Maggie Fuchsia Boots – A pair of good boots is a must for our winter wardrobes! In fact, they’re one of the first things we buy every winter– coats and boots. This year, my daughter is sporting the Flex Maggie Boots from PediPed, and we couldn’t be happier with them. They come in three colors: gingersnap, which is a rich brown; purple; and fuschia. Critter chose the fuschia color, which is a versatile pink color that works with most of her wardrobe. Her feet grow unusually fast, but one is smaller than the other by nearly a full shoe size— the Flex Maggie Boots are perfect for her because they feature additional flex insoles which lower the size of the shoe by ½ size and can be removed when your child grows to make their boots last longer. We currently have one insole in and one out, but if your child’s feet are the same size, this is simply a great way to extend the life of your shoe!

We also love that the Maggie Flex boots feature a self-cleaning, flexible rugged sole which allows for natural foot movements in all weather conditions and also keeps your child from tracking in more mud and ice than you previously thought humanly possible. These boots are approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association for promoting healthy foot development. They feature suede uppers and a faux fur lining along with the rubber sole.

The Pediped Flex Maggie Fuchsia Boots have an MSRP of $49.99.

HappyPop Sox-My child, like many children, doesn’t like socks. She thinks of them as uncomfortable prisons for her feet and protests them at every turn. We’ve tried a million different brands and styles, and she’s turned up her nose at most of them. Luckily for us and for the only-socks-in-the-classroom policy at her preschool, we stumbled upon HappyPop socks. HappyPop socks are 80% cotton with a y-shaped heel, comfortable elastic cuff, and smooth flat toe seams. They come in a variety of fun prints and colors, like this Unicorn Sock gift box, so even the pickiest kids will find socks that work for their comfort and fashion.

The Unicorn Socks Gift Box is available in three sizes: Small, for ages 2-5 years, Medium, for shoe sizes 10.5-13/women’s sizes 4-6, and Large, for shoe sizes 12.5-3/women’s 6-9. They come packaged in a cute and sturdy gift box and retail for $19.99. Love the look of these? Don’t worry, kids don’t have to have all the fun! HappyPop also makes sock gift boxes for adults— perfect for a gift for yourself or a fun stocking stuffer!

The HappyPop Kids Unicorn Socks Gift Box has an MSRP of $19.99.

Tiger Tribe Toys – In a world full of electronics, it’s refreshing to have old-fashioned toys designed to stimulate a child’s creativity. Tiger Tribe toys began in 2007 when a mom and dad team began producing engaging, creative toys for ages birth through twelve from their garage. But, better yet, they designed their products to be compact enough to stuff into a purse or backpack, portable enough to travel, and affordable. If you’ve ever been on a road-trip with a screaming kid, you know why this is important!

We received the Magic Painting World “Things That Go” Kit, The Alphabet Flash Cards, the Bath Crayons, and the Dinosaurs Coloring Set. We’re always trying to make bath time more enjoyable and these eight crayons-with included washcloth and a holding tray-are the way to go. “Critter” can draw on the tiles, keeping her happy while in the tub, and I’m happy to be able to wipe the walls clean after she’s finished. The Alphabet Flashcards are made from sturdy cardboard with colorful pictures of animals on each side. They have a plastic ring to keep them together and are large enough for little hands to grip.

The Dinosaurs Coloring Set is perfect to take with us on the go. It folds into a small package, but when in use, it folds out into a sturdy board with an attached 48-page Dinosaur coloring book. There are also 10 markers and 5 sticker sheets enclosed in a small box. Everything you need to keep a child busy on a plane trip! The Things that Go Magical Painting Set has 4 paintings that will reveal a picture when rubbed with the accompanying water brush. The paintings disappear as the water dries and can be used over and over. An “eye spy” game is included on the back of the cards to keep kids entertained finding various people, animals, and things.
Prices for the Tiger Tribe Toys listed above are $6.99 for the Bath Crayons, $7.99 each for the Flashcards and the Magic Painting World, and $9.99 for the Dinosaurs Coloring Kit.

Be sure to check out our other gift guides.

For Book Lovers

Adult Holiday Gift Guide

Foodie Gift Guide

Kid’s Holiday Gift Guide STEM & Creative Play

Kid’s Holiday Gift Guide Games, Stocking Stuffers, Fun Stuff To Have

Great Last-Minute Gift Ideas