When a pediatrician—and grandma—shared her #1 travel tip on TikTok, she probably didn’t expect to kickstart a full-on parenting movement. In her now-viral video, @ask.bubbie holds up a tiny device that costs just around $20—and parents everywhere are calling it a game-changer: a portable carbon monoxide detector (easily found on Amazon).
It’s a simple, powerful tip that’s resonating deeply, especially as more parents look for ways to feel safer and more in control when traveling with kids. Recent tragedies linked to carbon monoxide (CO) exposure in vacation rentals have only fueled the urgency, making this one small device feel like a non-negotiable.
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Why a pediatrician grandma is urging parents to pack portable CO detectors
Carbon monoxide is invisible, odorless, and deadly. While most homes are equipped with detectors, not all hotels, Airbnbs, or vacation rentals are—and that’s where the risk quietly creeps in.
As a pediatrician, and now a proud grandma herself, @ask.bubbie knows just how important prevention can be. Her advice landed hard with parents everywhere. One commenter @jumpthetable shared, “We’ve had this for years because I’m paranoid and always hear of news that tourists just die in their hotel room because of carbon monoxide poisoning.”
Questions poured in, too. When one parent @mdan836 asked, “How many would you suggest staying in a 3 bedroom house?” @ask.bubbie replied, “The recommendation is at least one on every floor and within 15 feet of each bedroom door.”
@morgankrause0 worried about logistics asked, “can this go in a carry-on through TSA?” one asked. @ask.bubbie reassured them, “It has!”—proving this life-saving device is easy to pack, even for air travel.
As for where to get it? “The link is on my Amazon page in bio!” she shared. (And yes, the detectors she recommends are affordable and highly rated.)
Expert Insights on CO Safety During Travel
Safe Kids Worldwide emphasizes the importance of CO safety, particularly when traveling. They advise, “Pack a CO alarm—bring a portable carbon monoxide alarm, especially when staying in older buildings.” They also recommend inquiring about the presence of CO alarms in accommodations and being aware of CO poisoning symptoms, which can mimic the flu or food poisoning.
And the risk is real: according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), “infants and children have an increased susceptibility to CO toxicity because of their higher metabolic rates. Fetuses are especially vulnerable.” The AAP also notes that most unintentional exposure is caused by “faulty or improperly vented gas or gasoline-fueled appliances, solid fuel appliances (like wood-burning stoves), clogged chimneys, smoke inhalation from fires, motor vehicle exhaust and tobacco smoke.”
A small step that feels really big
Packing a portable CO detector is one of those tiny parenting habits that feels incredibly grounding. It’s affordable. It’s easy. And it gives moms (and dads!) a layer of protection in spaces they can’t always control.
We spend so much time carefully planning trips, picking the “perfect” stay, making sure car seats are installed just right. Adding a portable CO detector is just one more way to quietly say: I’ve got you—even when the world feels uncertain.
Because being a parent isn’t about eliminating every risk—it’s about stacking the odds in your favor. And sometimes, all it takes is a $20 device in your suitcase to help you sleep a little easier.
Related: Pediatrician shares water safety tips for parents amid new CDC data on drowning