When my two older daughters were young I bought each of them a small, lightweight Laura Ashley suitcase from TJ Maxx. They were the cutest things and the perfect size for an overnighter or two at Grandma’s. Even now they use them if it’s a single-night’s stay and no serious travel is required. I would be afraid to send those little suitcases on a cross-country trip or through baggage check at the airport. There is no way they’d survive the abuse!

And yet those ever-popular, far-too-many, carry-on rolling suitcases aren’t very child friendly (nor are they cute like our Laura Ashley ones). My point? I think every child needs his or her own solid, baggage-claim-friendly, child-friendly suitcase. Why? Because they’re more apt to tote it, which means one less suitcase for you to worry about, and less likely to lose it because it’s so dang cool. That’s why I love the children’s line from Heys USA. It’s fun meets function meets “take me cross country–I can totally handle it” luggage!

Heys sent us the Tinkerbell suitcase from their Disney line. What first took me by surprise when I pulled it out of the box is how extremely light it was–checking the stats it weighs in at just over 3 pounds! It was like I was holding a sippy cup full of milk rather than a hard-shell suitcase. Heys is awesome because they’ve put a lot of thought into their children’s luggage, and not just putting Disney characters on the front (Cars, Nemo, Minnie Mouse to name a few). They also have a “reverse-curve” handle at a lower height that curves in and up making it much more comfortable to hold and navigate. (Navigation is very important when making your way through an airport!)

Our Tinkerbell suitcase also has wheels that protrude out so it keeps the elevated even when rolled by a height-challenged toddler. And the inline skate wheels make rolling that much easier! I also love the printed patterns inside the suitcase and the nifty zippered divider. It might just keep all the clothes, toys and “treasures” organized–time will only tell!

Heys also has children’s backpacks that look as sturdy yet comfy (i.e. lightweight) as their suitcases. And the company has really awesome luggage for adults including messenger bags, suitcases, laptop bags and even handbags. It’s kind of like being a kid in a candy store but with really cool, really shiny, super functional and fun candy! –Emily