16 Travel Essentials For Toddlers
We’re already aware it’s a lot traveling with kids, especially toddlers… especially when you have two. But I literally get off on organization, so there was no way I was going to be out on the streets scrambling while traveling with kids. Over the years, I’ve found some products that have made our travels with the kiddos more streamlined. I’m not going to say these make traveling with a toddler easy, because traveling with a toddler is not easy and I tell no lies, but they will definitely make your trips easier, more organized, and less stressful. Hopefully.
How Much Do I Actually NEED?
Well, that depends on the age of your children and whether they have any particular or special needs. But these products have served us so well on various trips and I think they will be very helpful for anyone traveling with small children.
We have this car seat, and it’s so amazing because it’s not a traditional car seat. It's more like a harness but still has a very high safety rating. It fits in a little pouch, is so easy to transport, and can also be used on an airplane.
But if you want something that feels more like a car seat/booster, the WayB Pico Forward Facing Car Seat is also a good option. It’s not as lightweight, but it’s only 8 pounds and easier to transport than a traditional car seat.
We used the Doona Car Seat for our first child, and I love it because it’s a stroller in one, so you don’t have to pack both. The only issue is that it’s always in a sort of reclined state when it’s in stroller mode, which I personally think only works for babies under 1. But if you have an infant, the Doona is a must and will make traveling so much easier.
3. Travel Stroller
We have the Lejoux 365 Baby Stroller Pushchair Pram and we absolutely love it. It wasn’t until we went to London that I realized how important a travel stroller is when navigating new places. This stroller is so lightweight, folds up small, and you can even roll it like a carry-on. The coolest part is that it fits in the overhead compartment on the airplane!
Having a sound machine/white noise maker is a MUST for us. It’s part of their routine at home, so it also brings that familiar element with them wherever they go, making it easier for them to fall asleep in unfamiliar places. Plus, it has a little nightlight, which we use on the red light setting. We love the Hatch for home, but this one is cheap enough that if you forget it on a trip, you won't cry about it.
5. Water Bottle
Water bottles for the kids are a must-must-must. The tiny bit of water they give you on the plane is never enough; my throat gets dry just thinking about it. Most airports now have filtered water stations where you can fill your water bottles so after we pass security, we always fill up all our bottles for the plane ride. It’s also helpful to have a bottle for when they do serve water on the airplane because you can pour it directly into your kiddos' bottles and not worry about spills.
We have this exact backpack for the girls and it’s small but mighty. It’s not very fancy, but it is so functional and fits so much. We usually pack their easy-grab snacks, iPads, headphones, and cleaning wipes/sanitizer in there.
7. Bento Box
I always pack a lunch for the girls when we're flying, and these bento boxes are so cute and functional. I love that they are stainless steel on the inside with a silicone outer layer, so no plastic! Every time we get on the airplane, the girls are always so excited for whatever they are going to have for lunch.
This is the best thing I have ever bought in my life. This potty seat folds up small and comes with a little bag to store. It’s super lightweight and has been one of our most valuable items. We’ve used it on the airplane, in public restrooms, hotel bathrooms, etc. I hate navigating public bathrooms with my daughter, so this makes it a little less off-putting because we absolutely will not be sitting on anyone's public toilet seat. It also makes the seat small, so they don’t fall in. If you get anything on this list, get this for your potty-trained toddler. It’s also great for use at home while you’re potty training your child. We have 2. One we keep at home and one we travel with.
9. Headphones
These headphones are perfect for small kids. They fold up fairly small and are comfortable on their heads. They have a cord making them easy to plug into the airplane TV. These are probably the biggest lifesavers for us because once we put on a movie on the plane, the children lock in and we can get a little break.
10. Tote Bag aka “Snack Bag” + Snacks
I always make sure to bring a snack bag for all of us which is usually a small tote bag. I mix adult snacks with extra kid snacks so we’re covered if we can’t grab food right away or if there are delays. It also prevents us from buying the super expensive airport snacks.
11. Tablet
I’m a no-screen parent (don’t judge), but I limit what my kids can watch, which is why I like having an iPad for them where I can control the apps on it. They only have the PBS Kids app, ABC Mouse, and Rose Mosie, all of which are educational apps.
12. Travel Blanket
I don’t always travel with a pillow and blanket, but if the flight is going to be long, it really comes in handy, especially for our little one who still takes naps. It’s a must for a red-eye flight (which I do not recommend with children if you can avoid it).
13. Drawing Pad
We’ve been on flights where the TVs don’t work, there is no Wi-Fi, and the poor children get so bored that we all go a little stir-crazy. I love these drawing pads because they don’t need to be plugged in, make no mess, and let the kids get creative and draw whatever they want.
Airplanes are really dirty and I don’t know if it’s just me but I feel like they don’t thoroughly clean them especially when they have back to back flights. The things I have found in the seat back tray have made me gag at times (I’m gagging just thinking about it). So I always bring along sanitizing wipes to wipe down all the surfaces me and my kids will touch on the flight. I love The Honest Company Sanitizing Alcohol Wipes . I also bring CleanSmart Skin & Hand Cleanser wherever I go. I love it because it dries as saline, so you can even use it to clean utensils (you know, like the ones your kid drops from their bento box). I use the CleanSmart Daily Surface Cleaner all over my home too. I also bring along Boogie Wipes to wipe and sanitize my kid’s hands because sometimes you need more than a spray to clean the mess. The moms know exactly what I mean.
We always travel with some sort of first aid kid. A travel size one is best. Really you just need some band-aids and Neosporin but it never hurts to have a little more in case you’re in a pinch.
16. Medicine
Traveling with medicine for the kids is non-negotiable. I’m especially particular about what medicines I give my children, so I'd rather not be in a position where I have to just use anything. We always travel with fever medicine. Our favorite fever medicine is Genexa Kids’ Pain and Fever Reducer because it works really well, and it’s also chewable, so you don’t have to worry about a liquid limit. For any potential allergy flare-ups, we pack Genexa Kids' Allergy Medicine Liquid. For cold relief, we love Genexa Kids' Cold Crush. We also bring along Little Remedies Sterile Saline Nasal Mist and Dramamine Kids Chewable, Motion Sickness Relief because our kids tend to get motion sickness. I always give it to them before we get on a flight or have a long car ride.
For the adults, we always have some ibuprofen on hand. When we are feeling the onset of a cold, Boiron Oscillococcinum works amazingly and can also be used for children 2 and up.
That’s pretty much what we always bring for our kids when we travel. These tried-and-true travel essentials have made traveling with kids so much easier.