Are you planning a family holiday? If so, read on to find the best kids travel tray for your journey.

Why is it important to have a travel tray for kids?

Whether you’re going by train, plane, ferry, or a long car journey, having a good quality travel tray for your kids can be a game changer. Travelling with kids can be a challenge at the best of times, and anything that can make it easier and less stressful is a must! When I first used a travel tray with my young son, I was amazed at how much it helped our journey. A happier kid means happier parents and a much better start to any holiday or long car journey. Plus, they make a perfect baby shower or nesting party gift – it shows you’re thinking ahead of the things a new parent might need, even years after their new baby is born.

Here are some of the benefits of having a travel tray for your kids:

• Keep them entertained on long journeys.
• Help them stay calm and focused on their activities.
• Prevent them from spilling food and snacks.
• Give them easy access to their drink.

What is the best kids travel tray?

There are a lot of travel trays to choose from, and it can be a bit confusing to know which is the best to buy. That’s why I’ve put together my top picks, including advice on where to buy, why I recommend it, and who/what it’s best for.

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1 The COOLJOY Car Travel Tray: Best for long car journeys

Described as ‘like having a nanny in the backseat’, the COOLJOY travel tray is at the top of my list is the best car seat travel tray as it gets one of the highest review ratings on Amazon. It has lots of storage with 15 mesh pockets, 1 zipper pocket and 1 back pocket, so you can load it up with all your kid’s favourite toys and activities to keep them happy. It’s simple to set up, and the flat surface tabletop has enough space for kids to place their cups, water bottle, toys, books, snacks and more for easy access and storage. Plus, there’s a tablet holder, perfect for a long journey.

It has a washable PVC Membrane, and the surface is waterproof and can be wiped clean. It can be used repeatedly and helps to keep your car clean.

How to use:

• Attach the harness to the back of the safety seat (behind the stroller).
• The straps can be adjusted in length.
• The tray is placed on the child’s thighs, and the safety buckles on both sides can be used.

Why I recommend it:

• The lap tray keeps everything in place while you’re driving.
• The adjustable straps fit kids of all ages, which also means it grows with your kid.
• Comes with a set of educational drawing sheets and dry-erase pens.

Where to buy the COOLJOY Car Travel Tray?

The COOLJOY Car Travel Tray is available from Amazon for £28.00

2 – Trunki TeeBee Kids Lap Tray Activity Table and Children’s Travel Toy Box: Best for young children

I love the TeeBee Trunki for train or plane journeys. It has a very handy storage box to put toys and activities in to keep your kids entertained on a long journey. The box quickly and easily converts into a food tray or play tray, so parents can pre-pack the storage box with surprise toys, snacks and travel games to keep kids occupied on a long trip. It can also be used for a car journey placed on a child’s lap but doesn’t have the straps to secure it onto a child’s car seat.

Why I recommend it:

• It comes with a fun travel activity pack, including face stickers for your child to personalise your storage box, colouring pencils and an activity book.
• The grab handle makes it easy for little hands to carry, and it can also fasten to backpacks and luggage and fits comfortably inside a Trunki suitcase – ideal for the airport!
• Trunki TeeBee is made in the UK using carbon-neutral energy and is 100% recyclable.
• When your kids outgrow their Trunki TeeBee, it makes the perfect childhood memory box. The ideal place to store your family holiday memories.

The Trunki TeeBee is available from Amazon for £19.99

3 – Everything in Place Travel Tray: Best for long car rides

This is another great kid’s travel tray that grows with your children due to the adjustable straps. It features multi-purpose storage compartments with mesh pockets. Plus, it’s compatible with strollers, high chairs, children’s chairs, aeroplanes, car seats and more.

Why I recommend it:

• It has a really handy thermal cup holder to keep water bottles cool.
• The dry-erase board doubles as a desk or flat drawing surface.
• It has a tablet pouch for iPads or tablets.

Everything in Place Travel Tray is available from Amazon for £24.95

4 – HAKACC Car Seat Organiser with Tray Table: Best for older kids

This is great for older children who might not want the tray strapped onto their car see or booster seat. It’s easy to set up. Just tie the long strap on the seat back and fasten the short strap on the headrest of the seat. Then you can put down the paper tray to hold items such as a book or even a laptop.

Why I recommend it:

• It’s good value for money.
• The universal size fits all kinds of vehicles like sedans, SUVs and minivans.
• A great choice for big kids who may want a more sophisticated design with a phone holder.

HAKACC Car Seat Organiser is available from Amazon for £13.42

5 – Lusso Gear Kids Travel Tray: Best for family road trips

Another great travel tray for long road trips, Lusso Gear’s child tray accessories are constructed of reinforced fabric and toddler-friendly plastic, and they come with a safety strap. The collapsible travel tray features mesh pockets and marker slots to keep toys and art supplies organised. The sturdy walls and detachable cup holder keep everything in place to protect the rear car seats and avoid any distracting mishaps on your travels. Like some of the other car trays, it attaches securely to any car seat, and you can also use it with a stroller, high chair, and more.

Why I recommend it:

• The detachable Cup Holder and Storage Compartment
• Easy storage areas with side walls with everything in easy reach.
• Comes with different colour choices.

The Lusso Gear Kids Travel Tray is available from Amazon for £25.99

6 – Navaris Kids Car Tray Table: Best for toddlers

This is another travel tray that’s great for younger children. This toddler car seat tray is perfect for your little ones to enjoy colouring books and travel toys.

Why I recommend it:

• It comes in a cute animal print
• Very sturdy and easy to clean.

The Navaris Kids Car Tray Table is available from Amazon for £20.99

7 – XJYMCOM Travel Tray; Best for budget

Although with fewer features than some travel trays, the XJYMCOM Travel Tray is still a good travel tray that will help to keep the kids occupied. With its simple design and lightweight construction, it is perfect for long car rides or flights.

It has a sturdy but flexible frame that allows it to be easily folded and stored when not in use. One great feature of the XJYMCOM Travel Tray is the adjustable strap that secures it to car seats or strollers. This ensures that the tray stays in place even during bumpy rides, giving your child a stable surface to work on. The strap is also designed to fit most car seats and strollers, making it a versatile option for all your travels.

Whether you’re taking a long road trip or flying across the country, the XJYMCOM Travel Tray is the perfect companion for keeping your child entertained and comfortable.

Why I recommend it:

• Adjustable Straps
• Dividers to prevent pens and snacks from spilling out
• Budget-friendly
• 1-YEAR warranty, free replacement or refund if there are problems with workmanship and materials

The XJYMCOM Travel Tray is available from Amazon for £8.99

8 – Burwells Kids Travel Lap Desk: Best for Convenience 

This very handy travel lap tray is perfect for any type of journey as it just rests on your child’s lap. It’s designed with two side pockets with zips, ideal for storing your child’s pens, pencils, or even small toys such as lego. Everything is to hand so your child can play independently.

Why I recommend it:

• A brilliant design. The “desk” also has corner straps to secure paper whilst your children are colouring, so they don’t drop their paper in an out-of-reach place in the car.
• It’s comfortable for your child. The travel table has a cushioned base to make it comfortable on your child’s lap for long journeys.
• The desk folds up so it can easily be transported. It also has a carry handle so it can be carried or attached to other luggage.

The Burwells Kids Travel Tray is available from Amazon for £16.95

9 – Joujou Kids Travel Tray, 2-in-1 Play Tray: Best for the detachable kids rucksack

This kid’s travel table comes with all the usual handy features, including a waterproof surface. But it also has a 2-in-1 robot bag. It is not only a storage bag for the travel tray, but it also can be detached as a separate backpack for kids. Perfect for placing notebooks and pens and teaching kids to organise their personal belongings by themselves. The travel table has 17 compartments for storing cups, pens, books, snacks, crayons, etc. These include eight mesh pen pockets, 5 medium mesh pockets, 1 slim zipper pocket, 1 large rear zipper pocket, 1 robot pocket and 1 pocket on the pocket.

Why I recommend it:

• It’s perfect for travel, and if you need to stop on the way, your child can detach the rucksack and take their activities with them. Also, perfect when you reach your holiday destination.
• It gets great reviews.

The Joujou Kids Travel Tray is available from Amazon for £28.99.

10 – Lenbest Car Seat Tray

The Lenbest car seat tray has a multi-functional design. One of its most important features is the multi-pocket design and detachable storage compartment. The tray can be changed to a car seat back organiser; it has a pocket with a touch screen window that can be placed in an iPad, mobile phone or favourite photo. The adjustable shoulder strap with buckle is easy to install, and you can secure the tray to the car seat quickly. And the lower board can be used as an anti-kick pad to keep the back of your car seat clean and tidy.

How to hang it behind the car seat

1. Store the tray first. Then buckle the button to prevent the two sides from spreading.

2. Turn over to the other side, place the side with the transparent bag on the top, and press the button to secure it.

3. Use the buttons on both sides to buckle with the arched ring.

4. Adjust the upper end of the strap to tighten and then hang it behind the car seat.

Why I recommend it:

• Ultimately I love this tray as it is multi-functional and very handy if you prefer to use it as a car seat back organiser.
• It has an upgraded transparent dry erasable top, so your kids can use whiteboard pens to draw directly on the dry-erase top.
• An educational drawing set is included with 6 coloured whiteboard pens and five educational activities.
• It comes in three different brilliant designs.

The Lenbest Car Seat Tray is available from Amazon for £29.99

11 – Tsumbay Car Backseat Organiser

This car backseat organiser is perfect for teenagers or kids. It is the ideal design to store your kid’s essential items and give you a tidy and spacious in-car environment. The tray has two pockets for storing bottles, two x pockets for storing phones and power banks, two pockets which are designed for their tablet and three compartments for storing magazines, snacks and etc. It has an adjustable buckle strap, plum buckles, an aluminium hook and strong straps to ensure the stability of the backseat organiser. 

Why I recommend it:

• It has a foldable table which can be put down and used as a dining table or a work desk to hold your tablet.
• Made to be more durable because of the high-quality four-layer material. The PU Leather perfectly prevents the back of your car seat from scratches, stains, mud, and dirt, whilst the composite sponge makes it soft to the touch. The knitted fabric strengthens its durability.

The Tsumbay Car Backseat Organiser is available from Amazon for £31.99

You can also get hold of some popular brands in America, like the Kenley Kids Travel Tray, but these currently have a hefty price tag in the UK!

Top tips on keeping kids entertained on long car journeys

So now that you have the perfect kids’ travel tray for your journey, what can you bring to keep them entertained? The key to keeping kids entertained is to have a variety of activities available. Choose activities that will suit the age and attention span of your child. Younger children are more likely to enjoy playing with toys, puzzles, or drawing. Older children may enjoy listening to music, watching a movie, or reading a book.

Here are some tips for keeping kids entertained during long car rides.

1) Bring a device: Bringing along a tablet or smartphone can be a great way to keep kids busy on the road. Download some educational apps like Reading Eggs to help them focus, stories like CBeebies Storytime or shows with the Netflix App. Make sure they are connected to WiFi where possible or if not possible, add some games they can play offline.

2) Keep their attention and prevent boredom by giving them something new every hour or so.