Whether it's by car, train, boat, or plane, your first trip with your kids or your fifth, the preparation can be daunting. Unlike celebrities, most of us don't have an entourage of nannies and personal assistants to help us manage the process, or access to private jets, but we came up with some of our favorite travel tips to help you travel like a celebrity. So grab your huge sunglasses and check out our summer travel cheat sheet to minimize the stress.

Click Continue Reading for what to pack and more tips.

Photo: Heidi Klum with son Johan (bauergriffinonline.com)

• TravelforKids.com has a great suggestion for how to pack for your kid: Imagine that you’re going for a long weekend to a childless friend’s house and pack your diaper bag accordingly. You’ll be able to buy all the usual favorite items (sippy cups, bottles, formula, diapers, wipes etc.) at local pharmacies or grocery stores, but you want to have a good three days before making that stop.
• Inevitably, your kid won't want to sit in his stroller so make sure you pack a sling. We like Karma Baby's Solarveil sling ($69), which can be worn in or out of water and dries very quickly. I've used it in the pool, ocean, and even the shower!
• We asked Dr. Laura Jana, pediatrician, American Academy of Pediatrics spokesperson and Injury, Violence and Poison Prevention section member, author and mother of three, for her best road safety trip. She said, "When hitting the road, make sure young children are strapped in properly.  Look for child seats with higher weight limits for rear-facing and five-point harness use, as well as side impact protection. And go to a car seat check up event to make sure your seat is installed properly."

Good things to stock up on:

• When you first arrive at your destination, stop at a Target, K-Mart, supermarket, etc. to stock up on the basics like diapers, wipes, swim diapers, formula, beach toys, sunscreen, etc. (Before you leave, call the hotel to find out which one is nearest the airport or hotel.)
• If you're traveling out of the country or to a vacation area, buy sunscreen at home because hotel shops tend to be quite expensive.
• For toddlers, pack a few instant hot cereal, instant rice, and other just-add-water packets. They'll come in handy at restaurants where nothing on the menu appeals to your little one.

Other travel goodies:

• The Cereal-On-the-Go container ($3.99) keeps the dry snacks dry and the cool drinks cool.
• Reduce the amount of gear you carry with an all-in-one product like Mariska Hargitay and Brooke Burke (right), who use Lilly Gold's Sit'n'Stroll ($220), a 5-in-1 product that you can use as a rear- and forward-facing car seat, a stroller, toddler dining booster seat, and an FAA certified airline seat. It is suitable for babies from newborn to children up to 40 pounds.
• Check out our summer-related reviews of:
  
  • Lands End beach gear
  • KooKooBears.com's towel-in-a-bag
  • So Cozy Green Apple Swimmer's Shampoo
  • Snapper Rock UV Protective Clothing
  • Sun Busters' full coverage swim apparel
  • MaxOUT Swimwear
  • Hippie Love Bikinis by Lyla Blu
  • Konfidence Baby Warma and Baby Wetsuit
  • Zutano's sun hats
  • Keen shoes
  • Crocs Alice shoes
  • Cold Seat
  • Cabana Life's sun protective, stylish clothing

What travel items are must-haves for you and your family?