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38 Best Toddler Travel Essentials (More Fun & Less Stress in 2024)

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Looking for the best toddler travel essentials to ensure your trip goes as smoothly as possible? Look no further!

Traveling with young children can be stressful, but the rewards far outweigh the difficulties.

To keep your trip as easy as possible, we highly recommend bringing along a range of toddler travel gear.

The best travel items for toddlers will be the ones that keep them safe, comfortable, and happy (as much as possible while still being realistic that tantrums will most likely happen regardless).

Don’t have time to read? Here are the most popular items from our list.

• The Best Toddler Car Seat for Travel: Safety 1st Jive (Convertible, slim enough for plane seats and lightweight)
• The Best Toddler Stroller for Travel: Gb Pocket Air (Foldable & Lightweight – For kids up to 4 years of age)
• Airplane Foot Pillow: Make a little flat bed section for your toddler to sleep on the plane. See it here .

But how do you find the best toddler travel essentials? Without having to spend a fortune and without feeling like a packhorse as you struggle to take everything from home with you on this trip.

One way is to use the tried and tested products from those who regularly travel with their little ones. We started traveling overseas with our youngest when she was only 2.5 months old.

She has been to Bali, Lombok, Australia, Japan, France, Switzerland, Germany, South Africa, Namibia, and many other beautiful destinations.

Travel has been a big part of her life since she was born, and we have tried so many different products to find the ones that are the easiest to travel with, the lightest, the most comfortable, and the easier to get from point A to point B.

There are so many toddler travel accessories out there, that it can get overwhelming.

So before we start, think about what items you already have at home, that you could take with you. And then scan through our list of the best travel accessories for toddlers.

To make it easier, click on the category mentioned next to hop straight to that section of the article.

• Toddler Gear to Get Around Easily (Strollers, Car Seats & More)
• Toddler Plane Travel Essentials
• Toddler Packing Essentials
• Sleep-Time Essentials (Blockout Curtains, Crib/Bed & More)
• Travel Items to Keep Your Toddler Safe
• Toddler Travel Items for Car Trips
• Other Must-Have Toddler Gear (Toys, Toilet training, High Chairs, Beach/Pool Items & More)

Quick Guide: 5 Best-Selling Toddler Travel Gear

After a quick list of our best-selling toddler travel must haves? Here are the best items to purchase.

GB Pockit Air Lightweight Stroller

• Perfect for toddlers
• Lightweight (only 4.6 kg)
• Folds up so small that you can pop it in the overhead locker on a plane

Best Toddler Car Seat

• For younger toddlers (aged 1-3) we highly recommend the Safety 1st Jive car seat.
• Convertible, slim enough for plane seats, and lightweight

Best Toddler Travel Harness

• For older toddlers (aged 3 years+) we personally loved using a travel harness as it is just so much easier to pack and carry.

Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids

• Safe (with parental controls) tablet for kids aged 3 – 7 to use.
• Includes 1 year of Amazon Kids+ – a digital subscription designed for kids to safely learn, grow and explore. 
• 12-Hour Battery

Inflatable Travel Foot Rest Pillow

• We used these on so many planes to make a flat area for our youngest to sleep.
• Our trick (for using it on planes that don’t allow it) is to only blow it up when the lights go dark (and the flight attendants stop walking around so much). And then pop down the tray table (we pop our little one’s feet on the inflatable) over the inflatable to hide it.

Fun N’ Fly Foldable Travel Tray

• Such a clever way to prevent all your kid’s toys from rolling off the tray table on the plane.
• Fits most standard airline tray tables
• Mesh pockets for crayons and pens, a cup holder, and a folding front panel for comfort.

Best Travel Gear for Toddlers to Get Around Easily

Let’s look at travel equipment for 1-5 year-olds that makes moving from point A to B easier.

Here is a list of our favorite toddler travel essentials that you should not leave your home without.

1. A Lightweight Travel Stroller (GP Pockit) with a Gate Check Bag

You will definitely need a lightweight stroller. We all know that toddlers love their freedom and independence but also get tired quickly from running around.

One of the best travel strollers is the Gb Pockit Air .

This stroller is lightweight (it weighs only 10.4 lbs) and foldable (yes, it can fit in the overhead compartments on trains and planes). It is one of the smallest folded strollers that I’ve seen.

It is perfect for kids up to 4 years of age (or 55 lbs. in weight).

Not only do I love the price of this stroller (plus how small it folds up), but it also has a mesh back which is brilliant for hotter countries. It is breathable and helps to keep your little one comfy.

The stroller is easy to push (even with older kids in it). It’s a smooth ride (it has great rubber wheels) and turning the corner is easy.

And best of all, it is pretty affordable compared to competitor travel strollers such as the Babyzen YoYo .

I do think that the canopy is a bit smaller than what I personally like. And I really wish it had a stroller strap to make it easier to carry whilst folded.

But otherwise, this is such a great stroller and at a fantastic price.

It really is worth the investment!

Protect your Stroller With A Stroller Bag

The one negative of the GP Pockit stroller is that it doesn’t have an easy way to carry it whilst folded. So this carry bag is essential as it has straps so you can pop it on your back.

Too often these days do they take you out of the airport and make you climb up the stairs from the runway up to the plane.

So having the stroller on your back so you can carry your toddler is essential.

It is also handy if you might prefer to gate-check it.

That way, you don’t have to try to carry the stroller and your toddler together with your carry-on bags onto a plane (especially a hassle when you have to leave the airport and climb stairs to get into the plane).

We prefer to gate-check our stroller (when possible – check with your airline).

That means you can use the stroller throughout the airport and then check it at the ticket desk a little prior to boarding the plane.

Some airlines will have large clear bags that you can pop your stroller in, but they are thin plastic bags that don’t offer any protection.

We much prefer to buy decent bags, and this specific bag is so convenient as it has backpack straps so you can pop it on your back and have your hands free for your toddler.

This specific bag is compatible with the Gb Pockit strollers; it is airline certified and is available in black.

TIP: Not planning many trips in the future and don’t want to invest in a stroller specifically for travel? You can also rent a stroller in the destination you are visiting! BabyQuip is a baby rental company and they have all your baby travel needs sorted. Perfect if you are visiting Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean and Costa Rica. Rent your baby gear by clicking here.

2. Tula Ergonomic Toddler Carrier

A toddler or baby carrier is a must for people who want to travel with a toddler.

While I’m not a big fan of having my toddler in a carrier (they are just so heavy, and of course, they want to be up and then down and back up again),  a carrier is essential if you visit a destination that has many stairs.

Tula is one of the few brands that manufacture special carriers, especially for toddlers aged from 2- 6 years (rather than babies), so this carrier is brilliant.

Tula’s Ergonomic Newborn Carrier is available in 38 colors and style options. There are multiple material options available, but my favorite is the 100% cotton ones, they are soft, comfortable and machine-washable.

Incredible I have a (huge) 16 month old and a 3 year old who both fit into this perfectly. It is so confortable and i can easily manage a hike with the 3 year old with this carrier. We also have a hiking backpack carrier which was quite expensive and the tula is so much more comfortable than that. I now feel that we can go anywhere and do anything without fear of my 3 year old asking to be carried. Alison B.   (Read More  Reviews on Baby Tula ) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We especially liked how you can use this carrier as a back carry and front carrier. Your toddler’s body development will not be impacted, thanks to its thoughtful, m-position seat.

It is the best toddler carrier on the market!

3. Clevr Premium Backpack Hiking Child Carrier

The Premium Backpack Hiking Child Carrier from Clevr is made for those who love hiking.

It features a hip belt and padded straps to ensure safety without compromising comfort.

We especially like the thoughtful inclusion of a sunshade visor and stand.

You get multiple pockets for convenient storage, including an extra-large pocket for diapers.

Toddler Travel Gear for Plane Trips

Next up is the all-dreaded plane trip. Talk about anxiety and nervous feelings! Fortunately, the older your child gets, the easier this bit gets.

Our little one just turned 3, and life is already getting easier when we get on that plane.

Tip:  You might also be interested in checking out the best toddler toys for airplanes  here.

Here is a list of some fabulous airplane accessories for toddlers.

4. Travel Car Seat or Child Airplane Travel Harness

It is so vital for your toddler to be in a travel car seat on the plane. According to News.com , it is not just to protect your child from plane crashes, but it is so important for turbulence.

Not only will the car seat protect your child in the case of an emergency, but it will also help keep your toddler sitting still as much as possible (which is great for your sanity).

The best travel car seat we love is the Safety 1st Jive 2-in-1 Convertible Car Seat ( find a different portable car seat on our  best travel convertible car seat  guide here ) when traveling with a toddler on a car or a plane.

This car seat is lightweight (14.25 lb) and slim enough (18″) to fit on plane seats .

It can be used in rear-facing mode for toddlers weighing less than 40 pounds and front-facing mode for toddlers weighing up to 65 pounds.

Would Highly Recommend! I’m very impressed with this carseat. You can’t beat the price, and it’s the same quality as some of the more expensive carseats out there! My kiddo loves how comfy and soft it is. It isn’t bulky at all, and comfortably fits both cup holders on each side… Love it Alison B.   (Read More  Reviews on Walmart ) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

For older toddlers aged 4 years+, you could also consider taking along a travel booster seat (although these can’t be used on planes).

An alternative to a car seat is the airplane toddler harness mentioned below. I would only recommend the travel harness for kids aged 3 years+.

Also, if it is an overnight flight I highly recommend the car seat as our toddler found the safety harness a bit uncomfortable to sleep with. 

Tip: You may also be interested in checking out this foldable travel car seat for 2 year old and/or this car seat for a 3 year old .

Protect Your Car Seat With A Travel Bag

If you are buying the convertible seat, we recommend getting the Volkgo Travel Bag with it.

It is an effective and easy way to travel with your convertible seat. This bag will ensure that your travel seat stays clean (plus it is a great way to sneak in some extra toddler items like a blanket or diapers or clothes).

Also, it is made from nylon, making it water-resistant.

For Older Toddlers – Airplane Harness

If you are taking a flight with your toddler, aged two years or older , you could get a safety harness instead of having to drag a car seat onto the plane.

It takes less than a minute to install and can fit into small bags.

My only negative with the harness is that your toddler will need to sleep upright in their seat. We’ve tried this harness with our young year old, and it was uncomfortable for her, it was much better when she was over 2 years.

You can read our full  CARES harness review  here.

5. Travel Foot Rest Pillow for Kids

Here is a product we just can’t live without! It might just be one of the handiest flight accessories for toddlers.

We recommend you get the inflatable foot travel pillow if your toddler is going to be on the plane overnight or during nap times.

This inflatable airplane pillow can be placed in the leg rest area to offer a relaxing flat position for your kid to sleep.

Whilst you won’t be able to use the pillow on take-off and landing (and sometimes the air hostesses might ask you to pop it away), it can help your child sleep much better on a long-haul flight.

Note: Not all airlines will allow you to use this product, but we have managed to use it more often than not in planes and it has been a lifesaver.

6. Fun N’ Fly Foldable Travel Tray

The next recommendation for toddler flight essentials is a multi-purpose play space that fits perfectly on nearly all standard airplane tray tables.

It can fold and unfold in mere seconds.

The fabulous thing about this table is that it has side barriers, so it is great for toys and crayons, etc. And you can wash it and reuse it as many times as you want.

I got so sick of playing pick-up in the planes, so this truly is fabulous to make life easier.

7. ‘Tux’ Kids Travel Pillow and Travel Blanket Set

Roamwild offers a three-in-one accessory that functions as a blanket, a comfortable pillow, and a penguin toy .

This is so brilliant because the Tux can be used to transform any armrest into a pillow for your toddler, making it ideal for plane, coach & train travel.

We love to travel with our own blankets. If you want to find a blanket for yourself, then you might also enjoy our list of adult  travel blankets for airplanes  here.

8. Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition Tablet

The next product on our list is not just a travel accessory, but rather a full-fledged tablet.

The Fire HD 10 Kids Tablet serves as the perfect tool for young minds to indulge in more than 20,000 famous games, apps, books, videos, and other educational content.

A 2-year worry-free guarantee backs it. You also get a kid-proof case , which comes in three colors – yellow, pink, and blue.

The tablet is really helpful to kill time waiting in airports or to give you some downtime on the plane to catch a few breaths.

9. Anble Kids Headphones

For toddlers who are fond of listening to music, there can be no better travel accessory than the Anble Kids Headphones.

It features a standard 3.5mm jack, which is compatible with nearly all popular smartphones. 

We especially liked its 93-decibel volume restrictor to ensure hearing protection for toddlers.

And did we mention that it has a sharing interface on the right side?

Best Travel Accessories for Toddlers To Keep Everything Organized

Here is our list of some of the best kids’ luggage, bags, and organizers to make life a touch easier.

10. JetKids by Stokke BedBox (Best Air Travel Gear for Toddlers)

Stokke is a well-known baby and toddler brand, so their JetKids Ride On Suitcase is one of our favorite toddler travel accessories. 

What makes this travel suitcase so great is the built-in flight bed . The suitcase transforms in 5 quick and easy steps once the seatbelt is switched off on the plane.

The suitcase also has space for your toddler’s essentials, so you can pack them away for easy access when not used as a ride-on through the airport.

The suitcase has front swivel wheels, making it super easy to pull along and steer.

Trunki is one of the most reputed brands when it comes to products for toddlers.

Trunki is a durable and lightweight suitcase for kids. It is available in two color options –  Terrance (Blue) and Trixie (Pink).

Your toddlers can use it as a riding toy or for storing luggage, and it can hold up to 75 lbs (which should be more than enough to store your toddler’s belongings for a trip).

We only r ecommend this one for older toddlers , as a one-year-old might still be too little for it.

So if you are not sure this is the right pick for your toddler, then we have other fabulous ideas for kids’ luggage on wheels  here.

12. Travel Organizers with Laundry Bag

Have you ever found packing your luggage to be stressful? We’ve used packing trips for most of our trips. We use these in our luggage as well as our carry-on bags.

Shacke offers a pack of four space-saving packing cubes that allow you to organize and pack all your essentials systematically. You will no longer have to wrestle with your suitcase to fit in everything you need!

Each of these travel organizers is made from high-quality nylon. The pack is available in nine colors and comes with a laundry bag.

We typically pack all our clothes and items for all three (Andrzej, myself, and our toddler) of us into one suitcase, so I really LOVE to use a specific color for each person, that way I can pull out the right cube of clothes for any of us quickly.

We always popped three of these in our backpack diaper bag.

One was to store toddler travel toys (here is our list of the  best travel toys for toddlers ) and the second was for snacks organized for the plane trip.

And when she was in diapers, we also used a third cube as our diaper caddy – it is so much easier to take a cube into the small plane toilet cubicles rather than a big bulky diaper backpack.

You can read through all our packing cubes reviews  here.

It is one of those travel things for toddlers that no one naturally would think about, but that comes in handy in so many different ways.

13. Mancro Backpack Diaper Bag

One of those travel must-haves for toddlers – whether your toddler is toilet-trained or not.

We absolutely love the Mancro Backpack Diaper Bag for travel purposes.

Featuring 114 easy-access compartments, this backpack will let you keep all your toddler essentials in an organized manner. We use it on the plane and while exploring.

We especially liked its included changing pad, stroller straps, and padded straps, making it excellent for traveling. You need not worry about any quality-related red flags, as it comes with a lifetime warranty .

After something a bit more girlie? We have a list of other fabulous  traveling diaper bags  here.

Best Toddler Travel Gear for Sleep-Time

Next up are some fabulous nifty toddler travel items to help with sleep and nap time.

14. BabyBjörn Travel Crib Light or The Shrunks Toddler Travel Bed

Depending on your toddler’s age, you can choose to buy either a suitable toddler travel crib or an inflatable toddler bed (see info on that below).

One of the best portable travel cribs is the BabyBjörn Travel Crib. This crib is perfect for children up to three years of age. It is a lightweight crib (13 lbs) and comes with a carry bag.

It can be set up very quickly and folds back conveniently , making it ideal for travel.

You can also find our guide on the  best travel cribs  for your research here.

If your child is older than 2 , you can opt for the Toddler Travel Bed by The Shrunks.

It comes with a powerful electric pump so you can inflate it quickly. We especially liked the guard rails on the sides of this bed to prevent toddlers from rolling out.

15. Portable Window Blackout Blind Shades

The worst thing is when you arrive at a hotel or Airbnb and they only have sheer curtains.

You already know that your toddler will be awake at the first sign of light.

Fortunately, you can take this fabulous product along with you.

AmazonBasics offers the Window Blackout Blind Shades to block out sunlight and UV rays, thereby ensuring that your kid sleeps quietly during the day.

It is made from 100% polyester and features Velcro edges, which allow it to fit several window sizes.

It adheres with suction cups , so you can stick it onto any window YEAH!

Toddler Travel Accessories for Car Trips

For those who will be spending loads of time in the car on a road trip. Here are some fabulous items to help keep peace in the backseat. 

16. Kinder Fluff Car Sun Shade

Kinder Fluff’s pack of four-car sun shades is a must-have if you plan to embark on a road trip with your toddler. It consists of two transparent and two semi-transparent sun shades for your car windows.

You also get a free storage pouch.

We especially liked the fact that you can install it quickly and easily without any adhesives or suction cups.

They are so easy to pack, take up little room, and honestly will help your little one to sleep better during the car trip.

17. Car Seat Tray

Keeping kids occupied with toys, activity books, or food more oft than not is an arduous task.

EcoZen Lifestyle offers a multi-purpose travel tray that can be used in cars and planes.

Your child will be busy with his toys, books, and food with the help of this exceptional tray.

Its side and front pockets allow for convenient storage of various things.

18. Shynerk Baby Car Mirror

Shynerk offers the Baby Car Mirror, which is an effective way of keeping your toddler under surveillance.

It pivots a full 360 degrees to ensure that you have the best viewing angle.

I’m sure you all have one in your car at home, but this one is fabulous to pack and take along.

We especially liked how easy it was to attach it to the headrest of the backseat of our car.

You need not worry about your toddler getting harmed by it in case of a mishap because it is crash-tested and safety certified.

19. Lusso Gear Car Seat Organizer

Nobody wants to clean a mess of toys, books, and spilled food on vacation.

Traveling with a toddler in a car can be a messy affair, especially when they have a complete arsenal of things to throw around.

Lusso Gear offers the Car Seat Organizer, which prevents this most efficiently.

It consists of nine storage compartments for various toddler-favorite products.

We especially liked the ergonomic handles that make it easy to carry.

Best Travel Items for Toddlers to Keep Them Safe

We all know that toddlers are super busy little people. And boy do they love to have their own way. So it can be really tricky to move through crowded areas when your toddler wants to run this way or that

These products will help give your child a touch of freedom, whilst still keeping them within a safe distance.

20. The Stair Barrier Portable Baby Gate

Not only can stairs be a safety concern for toddler parents, but it can also mean that you will have to take your toddler up and down the stairs all day long (our toddler just loved new stairs and kept asking to go up and down).

If you know that the hotel or Airbnb you will be staying in has stairs, it would be worthwhile to take this Stair Barrier Portable Fabric Gate with you.

It weighs only 6 lbs. It ties up with 3 dual-sided release buckles, which won’t leave marks on the staircase.

It is available in two size options and 11 different colors.

21. Jolik Child Motorcycle Safety Harness

Jolik offers the Child Motorcycle Safety Harness for parents who want to take their toddlers along when they go for a ride.

Its belt length can be adjusted to fit most motorcycles, snowmobiles, and ATVs.

It can be used for kids aged 2 to 12 years.

Helpful when you visit scooter-heavy countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, and Bali.

I hate seeing little kids on motorcycles with no protection, this is worth every dollar (and don’t forget to take a bike helmet  along as well!).

We liked the thoughtful inclusion of a reflective patch to ensure your child’s safety in darkness.

22. Blisstime Anti Lost Wrist Link or Skip Hop Toddler Leash and Harness Backpack

If your toddler has a knack for running around and getting lost, you can use the Anti-Lost Wrist Link from Blisstime to prevent that from happening when you are traveling. It comes in three color options – rose red, orange, and blue.

Instead, you may choose to opt for the Toddler Leash and Harness Backpack from Yisibo. It allows you to ensure that your child does not get lost in a crowded place.

You can detach the leash from the backpack when it is not required. It is available in five different and fun styles.

Other Must-Have Toddler Travel Essentials

And if you thought we were out of items, you were wrong. There is even more. Some nifty ideas for making mealtime more enjoyable and just some fabulous products to have on have. 

23. Munchkin Brica Travel Booster Seat or Zicac Portable Booster Seat Cushion

Anybody who has traveled with toddlers will agree that one of the most common issues they face is the low height of chairs in public places.

Not all restaurants have high chairs, and things get too complicated when you try to keep them on your lap while eating.

Depending on your toddler’s age, you can choose from these two seat boosters. You can also find some other fabulous recommendations for a   travel high chair .

Munchkin’s Booster Seat works best for toddlers aged 1 to 3 years. We especially liked its built-in storage space for diapers and bottles.

Zicac’s Booster Seat is better suited for toddlers aged three years or above.

It features a high-density sponge and two straps to ensure that it stays securely in place on chairs.

24. BabyBjörn Smart Travel Potty or Gimars Portable Reusable Potty Training

One of the recurring tasks that a toddler’s parents must do is changing diapers. It may not be convenient to do that while traveling, so you should use these two products.

We recommend the Smart Potty for car journeys and the Reusable Potty Training for planes and trains.

The Smart Potty takes up negligible space and is very easy to clean. Its splash guard eliminates the chance of spills.

The Reusable Potty Trainer has six silicone pads that are non-slip, easily foldable, and washable.

It can be used to help your toddlers learn how to use lavatories.

25. Papablic Portable Baby Bottle Warmer

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if your toddler could get warm milk on the go?

Papablic’s Portable Bottle Warmer does just that! It features a waterproof seal and vacuum insulation, which keeps water or milk hot for an entire day.

It has a 100% money-back guarantee and can easily fit in most standard diaper bags.

26. OXO Tot Drying Rack with Bottle Brush

Cleaning up a toddler’s essential products like bottles, nipples, or breast pump parts can be tiring, especially while traveling.

OXO provides a compact cleaning solution consisting of a firm, soft-bristled brush, and a detail cleaner.

It opens up to form a drying rack with flexible tines and ventilation holes to enable quick drying.

27. ChooMee SoftSip Food Pouch Top

When traveling with toddlers sometimes you have to do meals on the go.

With the ChooMee SoftSip Food Pouch tops, your little one will have a mess-free meal from any food pouch.

Simply screw off the food pouch plastic top and place the soft tops over the top to make mealtime comfortable for your little one.

The ChooMee SoftSip tops are made from silicone and are 100% BPA-free. They are also dishwasher safe which makes it easy to clean after use.

28. Munchkin Snack Catcher & a Sippy Travel Cup

Why are toddlers always so hungry!? Traveling with toddlers becomes much easier if you get this pack of 2 snack containers from Munchkin.

You can choose from two color combinations – blue and green or pink and purple. These containers fit most of the standard cup holders in cars and strollers.

We especially liked these spill-proof containers because they are made from BPA-free, dishwasher-safe materials.

Also, don’t forget to pack your sippy cups. You can just use what you have at home, but if you want something new, we love these sippy cups for young kids here.

29. ALVABABY Waterproof Wet Bag

With our next recommendation, we are adhering to optimal waste disposal standards. You cannot throw away a used diaper on the move and storing it for future disposal can be a hassle.

ALVABABY offers a waterproof wet bag that is a much better alternative than plastic bags. You can conveniently keep wet waste or wet clothes in this bag.

30. Speedo Kids’ Classic Swim Vest

Toddlers typically can’t swim well yet and often they aren’t always aware of how dangerous water can be, so best to ensure that they are safe when surrounded by water.

Speedo offers the Classic Swim Vest for small children in two sizes – medium for ages 2 to 4, and large for ages 4 to 6.

You can choose from seven different color options. It features an adjustable buckle strap and a full front zipper.

Your toddler will not be harmed by the sun’s harmful UV rays, thanks to its UPF 50+ protection.

>>>  YES! My toddler would love this – Buy it Now

31. Bigib Toddler Kids Swim Water Shoes

One of the significant concerns that parents have after their toddlers go swimming is the risk of slipping down and getting hurt.

Bigib offers swim water shoes that are non-slip and dry quickly to ensure that your toddlers do not face that predicament.

Just recently on our trip to Malta, we watched a little child run around the pool and in no time at all he was face-planting on the floor.

Even though we told our little one to walk slowly as a result, she still managed to slip as well. 

These shoes are just so fabulous for little ones who love to run.

They are also great when you are visiting beaches that have lots of shells, coral, or rocks on them.

You can choose from 13 fun and exciting style options for these unisex shoes. You can also find a list of other  toddler water shoes  here.

32. Cocosand Baby Sunglasses with Strap

Protecting your toddler’s eyes from the harsh sun rays when at the beach or pool is just as important as protecting your own.

We love the Cososand Baby Sunglasses that offer UV400 protection. The sunglasses come with a strap to help keep them on your little one when out and about.

The sunglasses come in a variety of colors for you to choose from.

They are made from a soft and comfortable material that is lightweight and won’t squeeze the ears or the nose of your little one when they are wearing them.

33. Monobeach Pop-Up Baby Beach Tent 

This pop-up beach tent is not only a great sun shade but can also double up as a small splash pool to keep your little one cool when at the beach.

It comes with its own carry bag and folds up small and compact making it easy to store and carry when out and about. 

You also get 4 pegs to ensure that you can secure the tent in the sand or ground when using it at the beach or even in the park when having a picnic.

The pop-up tent has a sun protection rating of 50+ UPF ensuring that your little one will have extra protection when sitting inside this great pop-up beach tent.

34. Sesame Street Elmo’s On The Go Letters

The Sesame Street On the Go Letters has a carry case with 26 letters helping your toddler not only have fun but learn the alphabet.

By playing with the On the Go Letters your toddler will learn letter recognition as they snap each letter back in place in the carry case.  

If you want to start spelling words you can use the space at the bottom of the case to place and spell words.

35. Buckle Toys Blu Whale

The Blu Whale Soft toy from Buckle toy offers comfort, development, and educational aspects.

The Blue Whale helps your toddler develop fine motor skills, color recognition, problem-solving skills, and hand-eye coordination.

The whale has a zipper pocket, embroidered numbers & shapes, and six colorful buckles with different clasps.

36. Story Time Finger Puppets

Story Time Finger Puppets are a great toy that helps develop creative play and imagination.

With 20 different puppets, 14 animals, and 6 people family members, there are endless stories that can be created to pass the time when traveling.

The puppets are made from soft cloth felt and fit securely on your toddler’s fingers but are also suitable to fit on adult-sized fingers so you can create stories with your little one as well.

37. Montessori deMoca Quiet Book Toy

The Montessori deMoca Cloth Book is a soft cloth book created to help develop your toddler’s fine motor skills.

With 9 different activities, your toddler will learn colors, shapes, and even how to use snaps and buckles.

Made from cloth materials you can wash this book whenever it needs a cleaning and it even comes with its own zippered washing machine bag to ensure the book keeps its shape during washing.

38. Suction Cup Pop Up Fidget Spinner Toys

Fidget spinner toys are such great toys that all kids love to play with and keep them occupied for hours!

These suction cup pop-up fidget spinner toys are great as they can suction onto the table on the plane when seated to keep your little one entertained during a flight.

They stick on any flat surface so even if you are not flying you can still use them if there is a flat surface.

The suction cup fidget spinners are also small and compact enough to slip into your carry-on bag and take up very little space so are great as a travel toy for toddlers.

To read more about great toys for traveling browse our tried and tested best airplane toys post.

Summary Of The Best T ravel Essentials For Toddlers

Toddlers can get extremely cranky while traveling; the best travel gear for toddlers can make or break the trip. 

We have incorporated various toddler travel must-haves in our recommendations to ensure that there is something worthwhile for everyone’s needs.

Did you know that we also have other helpful guides? Browse our  best travel accessories for kids ‘ guide, our  best baby travel gear , or general  travel gear  guide here.

Till next time, travel safely! I hope you found our guide to the best toddler travel items helpful.

Further Reading:

• Click here to grab more information on how to travel with a toddler .

Jolene Ejmont

5 thoughts on “38 best toddler travel essentials (more fun & less stress in 2024)”.

I love it! i was just planning a trip with my family and i will take my one year old baby, many people point out that it’s not very good to travel with kids as they get stressed on the flight and may make a lot of sense to some extent, however i think it’s great that you wrote this because you don’t know how much help you’re going to do with this!

Allisson, don’t listen to other people and just follow what works for you. You know what, our little one LOVES to fly and out of 50 flights she was only unsettled on maybe 3. Kids are all different though, some personality types handle things better than other. But I’m sure your little one will LOVE all the quality time that they will get to spend with you once they are there. If you are on facebook, come and join us in our little family travel support group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/wsfamilytravelsupportgroup . You will find it is a great place to come and talk to other parents who can give you some insight into what it is like 😉

I read your tips for travelling with kids. This is one of the best ways to travel with kids and very easy and useful gadgets to carry. I am planning a trip with my family and now I’ll also carry these things with me.

This was possibly one of the most brilliant lists I have seen. Planning a major trip soon, and I’ve added so many of these to my must have list! Thank you!

Thank you very much for your kind words, and sorry for the much-delayed response.

Comments are closed.

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20+ toddler travel essentials for 2024 – with packing list.

Items that helped us through the challenging toddler travel years

We’ve never denied that one of the most difficult phases we went through with our children was the toddler years. At home and travelling. The memories are still very fresh!

It never stopped us from travelling, but it certainly added to the amount of gear we needed to lug around the world with us (it’s kind of the same as babies, only it feels bigger and heavier, AND you’re chasing a little one around too!)

Essential Gear for Moving Around With Toddlers

Sleeping away from home, toddler meals on the move  , toddler essentials for flying, toddler entertainment on the move, other essential toddler items not to forget, this post is part of our best toddler travel advice series.

I bet if you’ve picked up this article, you already know toddlers have a mind of their own!  Not all tactics for keeping toddlers nearby when you’re in busy places will work the same. 

We’re going to suggest a few travel accessories for toddlers here that have variously worked with our three children – but we know they won’t suit all!

Toddler harness / reins

Some will love ’em, some will despise them!  Having a cute little character will definitely help your kids grow an attachment to this essential piece of toddler kit for a family trip. Perfect for crowded places, we haven’t left home without one of these for years.

Accmor Toddler Harness Leash

3 in 1 Toddler Harness Leash

Accmor Toddler Backpack Leash

You can see our complete guide to buying toddler reins and harnesses here

Collapsible Stroller

Once you have outgrown a full-sized baby buggy that carries basically your whole life in, it’s time to downgrade to something more sensible, practical, and lightweight for your family vacation.

We love the brands that collapse small enough we can take them right up the plane door and onto the plane with us, fitting into the overhead bin with your carry-on bag.

The Babyzen Yoyo was the first brand to achieve this and is still a great option, but there are many brands that have now followed suit.

We have used our trusty Mountian Buggy Nano for years, but you can also try brands such as the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 or the immensely popular microsized GB Pockit that comes in several variations.

Evenflo GOLD Otto Self-Folding Stroller

Mountain Buggy Nano V3 Stroller

gb Pockit+ All-Terrain

You can see our full guide on how to select the best plane stroller here.

Just be conscious of your child’s height and weight;  hopefully, this investment can last you all the way through to the preschool years. Try not to compromise too much when it comes to your tot still being able to comfortably recline and having a decent-sized shade covering and storage basket, features we would still look for even in a travel stroller. 

We also review the best lightweight double strollers for twins and baby/toddler combinations here.

TIP : If you are still looking to travel with a larger stroller, we suggest you protect your gear when flying or stowing on transport by placing it inside a stroller gate check bag – our full review of your different stroller travel bag options here . 

Toddler Carrier

By now, I am guessing most of you freuent travelers have discovered the joys that a baby carrier brings.  Many brands now see a child all the way through to their toddler years. 

We have used our Ergo across the continents for many years – but with our youngest now 4 (and, to be fair, a happy walker/runner – unlike the first two!!) we are finally ready to say goodbye – one of our best pricier bits of toddler kit we’ve never regretted investing in.

Ergobaby Omni 360 All-Position Baby Carrier

Beco Toddler Carrier with Extra Wide Seat

Infantino Carry On Multi-Pocket Carrier

You can find our comprehensive toddler carrier comparison guide here. 

Hiking Toddler Carrier

For those who do more heavy-duty walking and hiking, you can’t look past the Deuter Kid Comfort Pro . It is one of the most expensive on the market, so you could also look at the Deuter Kid Comfort II which is slightly lighter, but doesn’t include the built-in sunshade.

Deuter Kid Comfort Pro Child Carrier

ClevrPlus Deluxe Adjustable Baby Carrier Outdoor

Luvdbaby Premium Baby Backpack Carrier

See our complete comparison of hiking carrier backpacks here

Car Seats for Toddlers

Outgrown their baby capsule that conveniently fits with their travel system but not ready yet for a simple collapsible booster ?  Yep, this is one phase of travelling with kids that I’m afraid will be with you for a long time, even well beyond the toddler years!

Depending on your child’s age and stage, there are a few options, but inevitably, accept it’s a continual upgrade process (and one of the bulkiest and most inconvenient parts of toddler travel – sorry!)

Where possible, we try to arrange for pick-up services that include a seat or hire cars at a destination – but we know all too well, that travelling home to Australia (where car seat laws are IMMENSELY STRICT) hiring is not financially viable after more than a few days x 3 children, so for years, we’ve kept a complete set of extra toddler seats at the grandparents.  

Safety 1st Grand 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat

Evenflo Chase Harnessed Booster

Britax Emblem 3 Stage Convertible Car Seat

Tip: If you have any intention of travelling with your car seat on the plane, too (you need to buy a separate seat for the infant) then the car seat must be compliant for whichever airline you are flying with. FAA rules are a pretty good for international guidance – but note they apply specifically to US-based carriers, you need to check the rules for the country your carrier falls under.

Find our complete guide on how to travel with car seats on planes here

Don’t forget if you are checking your car seats rather than using them on the plane, you will need to make sure they are adequately protected to prevent handling damage in the hold.

This is our detailed review of the best car seat travel bags .

Toddler Neck Pillow

Another thing we noticed once our kids were out of their snug little capsules and into proper car seats is how much their heads seemed to wobble around when they were drowsy! We’ve researched and tried many a brand of head cushion to get the right fit:

Unicorn Toddler Neck Pillow for Kids

BCOZZY Kids Travel Neck Pillows for Toddlers

INFANZIA Kids Chin Supporting Travel Neck Pillow

You can see our extensive head toddler cushion review here .

Do note, if you want to use them in their car seat, as supposed to say on a train or plane, many of the cute toddler brand ones are too bulky. Microbead products like the BCozzyKids Travel Pillow we have found to be the most adaptable to different positions and modes of transport, even if they look thinner they still do the job well.

Just when you thought you had your nice little routine – then you up sticks and change time zone….. I won’t deny that some of the worst jet lag we have experienced actually happened during the toddler years. 

We have a full guide to jet lag survival with kids you can read here , but the primary things I would worry about packing to conquer this are:

This has been my go-to bedtime tool for years (still IS!). OK, it works a charm for 2/3 kids at least!  No matter where we are in the world, once you have a strict bedtime routine happening, the clock is a great first indicator to them whether they should be getting out of bed or not

Just be conscious of wattage if you are taking any electronic devices with you.  We have lugged many an item halfway around the world to discover it doesn’t work at our destination.  Particularly if you are flying US to a lot of other countries and vice versa, you will need to take not only international plugs but a wattage adaptor, like one of these:

Tommee Tippee Groclock Sleep Trainer Clock

Kids Ok to Wake Clock for Kids  

Hatch Rest Baby Sound Machine

Black Out Curtains

Another thing that helps with sleep patterns and time zone adjustment is having a dark room.  If there’s no guarantee the hotel room at your destination will have blackouts, so this is a great BYO solution if you can afford the space in your luggage, as they are a little bit bulky.

Most portable blackouts stick up with suction cups.

Gro Company Gro-Anywhere Blind

RUseeN Portable Blackout Shades 

Amazon Basics Portable Travel Window Blackout Curtain

Portable Toddler Cot

There’s also no guarantee your destination will have the best sleeping arrangements for your child either.  During these toddler years, we did intentionally look for hotels or apartments that COULD provide us with a cot, but many times especially staying with friends and family this wasn’t an option. We invested early on in a good, lightweight, portable cot (don’t get confused into thinking a bulky pack-n-play pen is the same thing!). 

Phil & Teds Traveller Travel Crib

Milliard Folding Floor Sleeper Cot

Regalo My Cot Pals Portable Toddler Bed

You can see our full range of toddler bed options reviewed here.

We tested the Phil & Teds Traveller a while ago and haven’t looked back since. We still think its one of the lightest and best-priced models on the market, but does take little construction skills.

Portable high chair

You can’t always rely upon every restaurant or hotel having a high chair, so it’s great if you can BYO an easily portable option.  They come in all sorts of designs, from clamp-ons to boosters or cloth wraparounds for restaurant chairs – each with its pros and cons.

Summer Pop ‘n Dine SE Highchair

Baby Delight Go with Me Uplift Deluxe Portable High Chair

Regalo My Chair 2-in-1 Portable Travel Booster Seat

You can see our full review of travelling high chairs (and whether we think they’re worth the luggage space) here.

Spill-proof sippy

You’ve no doubt moved on from purely boob and bottle to a sippy by the toddler stage.  It’s perhaps not until you’re on the move you realise that these things leak so darn much! Or that your toddler terror will do anything to deliberately make them spill! 

We have been through many different brands of leaf-proof sippy cups – just accept no matter which you try, they’re not fail-proof!

Contigo Kids Spill-Proof 14oz Tumbler

First Years Dinosaur Kids Insulated Sippy Cups

Elk and Friends Kids & Toddler Cups

(Note if you are taking any sort of water bottle on a plane, they can pressurise. We have had many a bottle explode water everywhere over the plane when opened… you have been warned!)

Easy clean bibs

Neoprene-style bibs were by far one of our greatest baby-to toddler year discoveries! (Sorry to all our family and friends who received these as gifts from us!) But we truly love them!

They dry so quickly and can be strapped high on your toddler’s neck without choking them so there’s no seep through.  We normally get several wears before they need to go in the wash, and they don’t take up much space, both of which are a good idea for travel.

PandaEar Set of 3 Cute Silicone Baby Bibs for Babies & Toddlers

Nuby 2 Pack Adjustable Easy Clean Soft Silicone Bibs

Snap and Go Easy-wear Bibs for Baby & Toddler

No-spill snack cups

These spill-proof cups might seem like one of the easiest to pack, logical items, but seriously took us years to discover! Do yourself a favour and get one of these for your diaper bag as soon as your kids are onto finger foods. 

They don’t necessarily stop all the crumbs but prevent major spillages and should come everywhere with you, ready to tackle those hangry moments.

Silicone Toddler Snack Cups No Spill

Ubbi Tweat No Spill Snack Container for Kids

Collapsible Silicone Snack Container

Reusable food clips

For when they’re claiming they’re dying of hunger, take two mouthfuls then leave the rest.  Yep, a handful of these cheap but essential clips are a lifesaver in your backpack diaper bag too.

Silicone Food Storage Bags

Otylzto 4 Size Assorted 40 PCS Food Bag Clips

8 Pack Stainless Steel Chip Clips

Snacks, snacks, and more snacks

This is my overriding toddler years memory! OK, there were some classic meltdowns too… But the constant, I’m hungry, minutes after they just declared they were to full for lunch. 

Keeping a good supply of things like rice cakes, carrot sticks, sultanas, cereal bars, and food pouches kept us going on countless day outings and long-haul flights – we have a great list of healthy toddler snack suggestions here.   

Quaker Chewy Granola Bars

Unsweetened Fruit Snacks for Kids

Quaker Large Rice Cakes

Got a little one on the fussy end of the spectrum (aren’t they all?) You’ll want to check out our tips for travelling with picky eaters

Before you read any further, make sure you’ve checked out flying with a toddler section!

Leg cushions for the plane

Guessing you’ve heard these are the latest craze, right? But are they even allowed on planes?  Are they worth the investment? Will my kids actually sleep better on a long flight? What age are they designed for? 

We have tested many of these products on behalf of the manufacturers and have a detailed review, including which airlines allow them here.

BleuWhisk Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed

Inflatable Travel Pillow Airplane Footrest Flight Pillow Toddler

Portable Foot Pillow for Toddler Kids & Adults

So, are these really toddler flight essentials?

My verdict : With one child, set up in the correct position, on a plane that will allow them, yes, they make for a more comfortable flight. But I recommend you read the above article with all the factors to consider before deciding if it’s the right thing for you.  There might be other ways you can get your toddler comfortable without the need for yet more gear (I can see your eyes boggling already how much you have to pack!)

CARES Restraint

As an alternative to taking a full car seat on a plane, but once your tot is simply too big and heavy to take as a lap child, try the FAA-approved CARES Harness.  Ideal for 22-44lbs children – note you do need to have booked the seat to use this.

Cares Airplane Harness for Kids

Airplane Kid Travel Accessories Cares Safety Restraint System

Child Airplane Safety Travel Harness, Safety Restraint

Toddler Plane Bags

You can also see what items we are packing in our toddlers plane bag  here, and read below about toddler entertainment throughout your travels.

Just remember, don’t go over the top when it comes to packing toys for young kids – here are 5 things we definitely recommend do NOT make it into your toddlers plane bag ! 

Wildkin Kids Insulated Lunch Bag

Solar System Planets Kids Backpack Toddler

YUPING Toddler kids Dinosaur Backpack

Tip: Until they are old enough to carry their own bag for the entire journey, do your self a favour and skip the cute novelty rolling bag until they are really ready or you are simply making additional luggage for yourself.  Fine with one kid, but when you have multiple children to consider ….  

Small tablet

We recommend these only for your older toddlers verging on preschool age.  I don’t recommend them for younger toddlers because I know how frustrated mine got when they couldn’t raise the sound, and I’m a strict headphones-only mamma when it comes to electronic devices being used in public places. 

And you reckon you can make a small toddler keep headphones on?

We have snapped our way through too many pairs (yes, even those claiming to be best ‘unbreakable’ on the market) through to your cheapest Walmart ones. NOTHING works on a wiggly toddler, so tablets are a no-go until they can sit still or survive on mute. 

When your toddler is ready to try, here are the best toddler headphone brands we recommend you start with.

For years we gave our kids our hand-me-down ipads but as they are starting to get outdated, we have discovered Amazon Kindle Fire , with its super sturdy case and ability to connect via Google Play and the Android system, as well as subscribe to FreeTime Unlimited for kids. 

Amazon Fire 7 tablet

IWEGGO Tablet 8 inch Tablet with Case

Tibuta Android Tablet

We talk more about Amazon Prime and why it can be a traveller’s best friend here.

Other favourite portable toddler toys:

• WaterWow books by Melissa & Doug
• Quiet Books
• Gel Stickers
• Triangle crayons

Jungle Animals Thick Gel Clings Winter Safari Window Gel

Triangular Crayons

My Busy Book Baby Soft Toy

For more travel toy ideas, pop on over to these detailed buying guides:

• Best travel toys for one-year-olds
• Best travel toys for two-year-olds
• Terrific toys to pack for a 3-year-old
• More toddler plane bag ideas
• Engaging road trip toys for toddlers
• Is it worth getting a travel tray for your toddler to play?
• A spare change of clothes
• Beach and water safety wear
• Wet bags for spares or dirty items
• Hand sanitiser
• Small detergent bottle for washing bottles and cups at your accommodation – don’t forget to check out our complete guide to travelling with bottles & sterilising here.
• A good first aid kit/medicine bag – you can see our complete family first aid packing guide here.

Germ-X Original Hand Sanitizer

ALVABABY 2pcs Cloth Diaper Wet Dry Bags Waterproof

First Aid Only 298 Piece All-Purpose First Aid Emergency Kit

Potty training stage?

We talk about potty training on the move in a lot more detail here , but for anything around toileting don’t forget:

• Wet Wipes! Not just for clean bums, you’ll want these little gems with you for YEARS! 
• Pull-ups, even if they are relatively newly trained, you will want to consider this fall back for long journeys
• Piddle pads for the seat , a great back up to prevent leakage

Wet Ones Travel Wipes

Toddler Pull Ups

Piddle Pad Car Seat Protector

Never forget a thing next time you’re packing by downloading our Family Travel Checklist   

Now we never said travelling with toddlers was light, right?  But it is still rewarding. With the right gear and right frame of mind, it really is a magical age to start opening children up to the world around them and creating wonderful happy memories.  

Further reading on the toddler years:

• That time we took 3 under 5 on a 16-hour flight
• Taking your toddler hiking; how to make it fun!
• Surviving a road trip with a toddler
• 5 travelling lessons my 3-year-old has taught me
• Our Best Toddler Travel Advice Home Page

Bookmark this page, share it with your friends or save it to Pinterest for later

Are your kids a little older?  See what gadgets we recommended for older families on the go , or pop back here if you’re still at the baby age and need our Ultimate Baby Travel Checklist

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links.  Purchasing any items listed on this page through an affiliate link will not affect how much you pay for the item but may earn us a small commission. Our  full disclosure policy  can be found here.

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2 thoughts on “ 20+ Toddler Travel Essentials for 2024 – With Packing List ”

Based on this guide, I need to carry the entire house with me on the plane or train. We travel a lot and each of us has only one backpack. Our toddler’s backpack goes in the stroller and has a bag of nappies, wipes, baby food, baby water, a toy or two, his clothes, home shoes, and essential meds and swimming gear if we plan to. That’s all and never had any trouble. Most taxis and car hires have toddler seats. Sometimes we take baby carrier. That said, our kid is a bit of adventurer. He wont use anything special if we don’t use it

That’s great you’ve learnt to travel light with your tot. It really depends on your style of travel and destination. Certainly, our needs have changed between kidsand we hope that by presenting a number of options, we can prepare first-time travelling parents with the information they need for different travel scenarios with toddlers – all these items we’ve needed at some point in our travels. Thanks for taking the time to stop by the blog and comment, happy travels 🙂

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Road Trip With a 1 Year Old: A Handy Guide

• Date: July 18, 2022
• Time to read: 5 min.

Traveling in the car is a great way to vacation with a one year old! It can be tricky, but I got all the tips and tricks you need!

Plan to Stop every 2 hours, pack a variety of snacks and travel during nap times to make the trip go as smoothly as possible. Plan stops where babies can walk around and get in some exercise. Pack the essentials in arm’s reach to make stops easier. 

When you are traveling with a 1 year old I like to keep a diaper basket under the seat. Keep diapers, wipes, diaper cream and a changing mat in this basket so that you can quickly grab everything for a diaper change. 

Older babies can enjoy some toys on a road trip as well. Pack some books, small toys and snacks in another basket that is in easy reach. 

Stopping every 2-3 hours is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics to help prevent positional asphyxia. This can happen when babies slouch down in their car seats and stop breathing. 

This happens more often in younger babies, but it can happen in older babies if they get themselves in a weird position and cannot get out of it. 

As a general rule, you should have an adult ride next to the baby to monitor their breathing and their comfort. 

Be careful when offering snacks on the road and be sure that you monitor the baby if they are eating to ensure they are not choking. 

Be sure to slow down and enjoy the trip. Traveling with a baby has it’s own pace and it may take some getting used to, but slowing down will make the trip much less stressful. 

Spend an extra night at the hotel, make an extra bathroom stop, slow down and embrace the trip. 

Packing for a 1 Year Old 

When you are packing for your one year old I recommend that you pack 2 extra outfits per 5 days of your trip , and be sure to have a plan if you need to do laundry. 

Eating habits can change on vacation and that can result in some messy outfits. 

Be sure to pack your regular brand of diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream. This can avoid a painful rash or allergic reaction while away from home. 

Choose engaging toys for travel times when your baby is awake and ready to play.

I have a packing for kids guide that might be helpful when you are making your packing list and organizing all the little outfits. There are some free printable checklists included in the linked post.

Great Road Trip Toys for a 1 Year Old

A 1 year old may be distracted by some well chosen toys on your road trip. 

These are the best, low mess, solutions that have worked for our family on 10+ hour road trips. 

Small board books are a great toy for the car. We love big sets of small books like the linked set, and classics in small board book form. 

Corduroy , We’re Going On a Bear Hunt , and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? have all been winners with my babies. I often find these at local thrift stores. 

Reading these to babies can be a great distraction on a long stretch of driving. 

When you need a sure fire distraction bubbles can be really special in the car. Choose a bottle that fits in the cupholder to keep the mess down. 

If you have responsible older kids this can also be fun for them to blow bubbles for the baby. 

Magnet toys are great for the car and they stay contained very well!

We enjoy magnet blocks like Magna Tiles . Just 2-3 blocks are really fun for a 1 year old. They also rattle when they are shaken, which is fun for a baby as well. 

Light Up Toys 

If you will be traveling at night, a light up toy can be super engaging. 

Simple toys like a small flashlight, a puck light, or glow sticks can be magical in a dark car. 

I know that my kids love traveling at night because it is such a new experience and the light up toys are just magical even for my 7 year old. 

Tips for a Traveling Alone With a Baby

I recommend that you travel with two adults whenever possible, but I know that sometimes you must travel on your own with a baby. 

I love a good adventure and this is what I have learned by traveling alone with my babies. 

Stop Frequently

You should plan to stop every 2 hours or less. This gives you time to check in on the baby and to be sure that they have what they need. 

This also gives you a chance to feed and change the baby. 

Mirrors that allow you to see your baby can be helpful, or a deadly distraction, consult your pediatrician about installing a mirror. 

Pack snacks and drinks for both of you in case you need to change plans suddenly. 

Be sure to pack any special foods that your baby needs, formula, snacks or medicine should be well stocked. Don’t forget mom’s favorites too, pack substantial snacks and cold drinks in the cooler. 

Having everything you need just feels good and makes you feel more secure. 

If you don’t feel comfortable stopping or your baby is sleeping you can choose to keep rolling and eat out of the cooler. 

I always think of my car like Mary Poppins carpet bag, or Herminone’s purse. Full of everything we could possibly need. Magically prepared. 

Be Sure To Rest

Drowsy driving is really dangerous and traveling alone with kids is exhausting. 

Be sure you are getting enough sleep to safely drive. Caffeine can help for a short time, but if you find yourself getting tired, plan to stop. 

The biggest tip I have for you is to go slowly. Do one thing at a time and try to be intentional. 

For example, be sure to put the keys in your pocket before leaving the car to unbuckle the baby, be sure to change diapers at each stop and double check buckles before you start driving. 

There are so many little things to do and check it is easy to forget and become overwhelmed. 

Rushing can make things much more stressful. 

When I travel with my husband he loves to rush and do things quickly, but I have to go slow or we will regret it later. 

Don’t be embarrassed by your pace if you are with a group of kid free companions. Focus on mindfulness and be present in each task. 

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25 BEST Travel Toys for 1-Year-Olds (2024)

The best travel toys for 1-year-olds! Ideas for planes, road trips, vacations, and more!

This post may contain sponsored or affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you). Please see my full  disclosure policy   for details.

Are you getting ready to take a trip with your little one? Looking for a way to entertain your toddler in the car?

It can be tough to keep a 1-year-old entertained while traveling because they tend to be very “busy” and have short attention spans!

The good news is you don’t need to go out and buy a million new toys for every trip. Planning ahead and packing a few essential items that will help keep your 1-year-old occupied can make travel easier and less stressful!

We’ve compiled a list of the best travel toys for 1-year-olds, including some classics and new favorites. These toys are easy to take on the go and can help keep your toddler happy and entertained on long flights or long car rides.

So, whether you’re headed across town or around the world, be sure to pack one (or more) of these great toys!

Things to Consider When Choosing the Perfect Travel Toys:

• Sound – selecting toys that don’t require batteries or make too excessive noise will help prevent disruptions in public places
• Size – pick toys that are small, so they don’t take up much room and are easy to pack
• Convenience – avoid toys that are messy or contain small parts that can easily get lost
• Preferences – of course, it’s important to choose toys that your child will actually enjoy playing with (which can honestly depend on the day!), but try to choose fun toys you think your toddler will be interested in

25 Awesome Family Travel Toys for 1-Year-Olds

1. busy cube.

This busy cube is genius. It is basically a bunch of random things that toddlers are always wanting to mess with (keys, light switches, knobs, etc.) attached to a wooden block.

2. Interactive Books

Board books with flaps, animal noises, mirrors, touch-and-feel, and other interactive features help to keep young children occupied for longer. You can read to your child or let them look at books in the car, on plane rides, or in the stroller.

Consider leaving noisy books at home if you will be in public places. 🙂

3. Busy Board

A Busy Board is one of the best toddler travel toys because of its compact design and different activities. A great way for those little minds to work on their problem-solving skills.

It can be frustrating for a one-year-old who can’t quite figure out how to manipulate and maneuver everything on the board, so it may be better to pull out the busy board when you are able to sit and play with your toddler (i.e. on an airplane).

4. Jellyfish Toy

This neat little silicone sensory toy allows toddlers to pull textured ropes in and out of the holes. It also has little buttons on the sides to push in and out. Plus it doubles as a teething toy.

5. Buckle Toy

There are many different versions of buckle toys. This penguin one is a stuffed animal + a buckle toy all in one! Soft toys are safe for using in the car and can be soothing for small children.

Most young toddlers love playing with buckles, but this is another one that might not be a good idea if you aren’t nearby to help.

6. Stacking or Nesting Cups

Stacking cups might be a little trickier to take on the go since they have multiple pieces to keep track of, but still a great activity for 1-year-olds.

This lion stack-n-stow nesting cup set is easy to carry around. Stacking cups are great for the beach or bathtime too – there are so many different ways to use them!

7. Finger Puppets

These cute little finger puppets provide easy on-the-go entertainment & are great for imaginative play and are the perfect size for taking on the go.

8. Montessori Quiet Book for Toddlers

This soft and durable cloth busy book has many interactive features, which are attached with reinforced fabric, making it a great travel toy.

This little book has many different textures, making it great for sensory development, fine motor skills, and other early learning skills.

The book is machine washable, making it easy to keep clean.

9. Car Keys

Keys are a hot commodity for one-year-olds, making a fake key set one of the best toddler toys. This toddler key set is pretty realistic looking, and won’t set off your car alarm. 😉

Take the batteries out if you don’t want them to make noise.

10. Cell Phone

Keep your toddler from stealing your phone by giving them their own toy cell phone . A fun toy for any age group!

We have this phone, remote, and key set . They are all very realistic looking, but they all make noise, so keep that in mind if you’re taking them on a plane or in other public places.

11. Indestructible Books

These little toddler books are called Indestructibles . Indestructibles are chew-proof, rip-proof, washable, and non-toxic, making them a great option for young kids who put everything in their mouths. They are just the right size for little hands.

These small and thin books are easy to bring along in your diaper bag or carry-on bag.

There are more than 40 different Indestructibles books to choose from.

12. Sensory Pop-It Toy

This toddler pop-it is small and inexpensive, making it one of the best sensory toys for on-the-go entertainment.

13. LeapFrog My First Learning Tablet

The Leapfrog Toddler Tablet has many features – 25 pretend apps, lights, songs, words in different languages, animal sounds, colors, numbers, shapes, and more.

14. Shape Sorter

Shape sorters are one of the best toys for one year olds. There are so many different designs to choose from.

This take-along shape sorter set is a great choice for travel. We brought this shape sorter on my son’s first flight, and he spent nearly 30 minutes figuring out the different shapes.

15. Stacking Rings

Stacking rings are great for hand-eye coordination. This stacking ring set is good quality and has occupied our toddler for extended periods of time on numerous long journeys!

16. Toddler Flash Cards

This flashcard set is one of the best car travel toys (great for planes too)! The cards are thick and durable, and the set comes on a ring, making them easy for little ones to look at without dropping them everywhere.

Our one-year-old loves studying the cards and looking at the bright colors and different animals.

17. Plush Car Set with Playmat Carrying Bag

This soft, lightweight car set is easy to transport because it comes with a convenient carrying bag that converts to a playmat with roads for “driving” the little cars around.

The best part is that the cars are friction-powered, so they don’t require any batteries.

18. Magnetic Wood Block Travel Set

This 8-piece magnetic block set is a fun way to let your little one build on the go, even in a small space. The blocks are aesthetically pleasing and come with a convenient carrying case.

The magnets help keep the blocks from falling constantly, making this set a better building option for travel than other block sets. These blocks are a good choice for one-year-olds but can be used for older toddlers and little kids as well.

19. Hedgehog Fidget Friend

Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog is a small fidget toy that will keep toddlers occupied on the go.

Turn the wheel, spin the crank, press the button, twist the knob, push the plunger, and move the switch!

20. Mushie Press Toys

These Mushie press toys are a similar concept to the sensory pop-it toy listed above, but these are so cute and aesthetically pleasing that I had to add them to the list!

21. Clip-On Steering Wheel

This adorable little steering wheel allows your little one to “drive”! It can clip onto the back of a car seat, plane seat, or stroller. It makes noises and plays songs.

A few reviewers said the horn sounds so realistic that they thought someone honking at them from behind, so be aware of that!

22. Toniebox

The Toniebox is one of our favorite travel toys. My kids listen to it in the car, in the stroller, and around the house. We have taken it with us on vacation and used it in our hotel room. We have even taken it on an airplane and used it with headphones.

My older toddler loves listening to stories through the Toniebox, and my one-year-old loves the songs and playing with the Tonie figurines. 

23. Reusable Sticker Books

These Melissa & Doug Puffy Sticker books are recommended for older kids (ages 4+), but my one-year-old likes playing with them.

I usually just let him play with the bigger stickers because the smaller ones end up getting lost or he tries to put them in his mouth.

The reusable stickers are nice and thick, making them easier for little fingers to maneuver.

24. Window Clings

These stickers are not actually sticky, instead, they cling to the book and other surfaces. I think the best way to use them is as window clings.

My kids love taking them on and off windows. We have used them on airplane windows and tray tables and love taking them on vacation. The best thing is that because they are so small, they are easy to pack and fun for the kids to play with in rental houses or hotels.

25. Suction Cup Spinner Toys

This little suction cup fidget spinner has been one of the top travel toys for my toddlers. They absolutely love spinning it and watching the vibrant colors go around and around.

The suction cup keeps it securely attached to any flat surface, including a tray table, windows, and stroller trays, making it a perfect toy for travel.

TRAVEL TIP : Try to have designated travel toys that you save for playing with only in the car or while traveling. It will make them seem more special and will hopefully help keep your toddler entertained for longer!

Other Ways to Entertain Young Toddlers On the Go

Here are a few more options for entertaining 1-year-olds on a plane, in the car, in restaurants, on walks, or anywhere else on the go!

Sing Songs or Play Music

Another way to entertain your 1-year-old (especially during car rides) is by singing songs. If you aren’t sure what to sing, try some classics like “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” or “Wheels on the Bus”, or make up your own songs about things you see out the window! And don’t worry if you’re a bad singer – I guarantee your toddler doesn’t care!

If singing isn’t your thing, you can play songs through the car speakers. You can find a toddler-friendly playlist on any music streaming app. And if you get tired of listening to kids’ songs, many toddlers will be entertained by “grown-up” songs too. 🙂

Give Them Random Objects

Because wallets, sugar packets, and rocks are much more fun to play with than all of the fancy toys you just purchased.

Snacks provide entertainment and keep everyone happy! Bring a variety of travel-friendly snacks – nothing too sticky or messy. The most important thing is to choose snacks that are safe for eating on the go.

These  snack cups  are helpful for containing messes, easy to clean, and they collapse for easy transport.

This snack spinner is so cool! It allows you to offer your toddler a variety of choices for a long haul. They can simply press the center button to open each snack compartment.

On-the-Go Snack Ideas

• Freeze-dried fruit
• Applesauce pouches or other food pouches
• Cheese stick
• Granola Bars
• Veggies – carrots, peppers, celery
• Fruit – apple slices, bananas, grapes, blueberries 

Ask Questions

Ask your toddler to point to their nose or other body parts. What sound does a cow make? What are some other animal noises they know? Can they point to objects that are different colors?

Asking questions can be a simple, quick, and easy way to entertain or distract/redirect a one-year-old!

Watch a Show or Movie

If your one-year-old will sit and watch a show or movie it can be a good way to keep them occupied during a long car ride or flight. Download a preferred show or movie onto an iPad or tablet. This can be one of the best ways to keep your little one entertained while traveling, even if you normally limit screen time at home.

Our toddler watches shows on the TV at home sometimes, but we save the iPad strictly for long road trips and flights so that it seems more special and exciting.

Tips for Keeping Toys Clean On the Go

Here are a few tips for keeping toddler toys clean on the go:

• Pack wipes – great for spills, sticky messes, toys dropped on the dirty floor, etc.
• Bring ziplock bags that you can throw dirty toys in until you have time to clean them
• Use hand sanitizer/wash hands often
• Use toy clips to keep your toddler’s items from falling (or being thrown) in hard-to-reach or dirty places

I hope you got some great ideas from this list of the best baby travel toys and activities for 1-year-olds. Happy travels!

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The Ultimate List of Toddler Travel Essentials (+Toddler Packing List!)

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Traveling with a toddler is not the easiest of feats, but it can be made a lot easier by bringing a few toddler travel essentials. These are items that make traveling with a toddler go much more smoothly for everyone in your travel group.

On our many trips with our toddlers, we’ve come to learn that there are some items that we just can’t do without when traveling with young kids. And others that we can ditch to save the luggage space…

In this article, we’ve included detailed descriptions of the toddler travel essentials that you won’t want to forget on your trip. We’ve also provided a toddler travel packing list to make packing for your child that much easier! Read on for everything you need to bring for a successful trip with a toddler.

If you’re planning on visiting the beach, check out our article on the beach essential for toddlers .

Toddler Travel Essentials

Getting around

These are a few essential items that make getting around with your toddler a lot easier during travel.

• Toddler carrier

When traveling with a toddler, a carrier is at the top of my list of toddler travel essentials. 

Toddler carriers can make life so much easier when traveling. They allow you to easily take your child places that are less stroller friendly and provide a perfect place for nursing (if your child is breastfeeding) and napping on the go. They’re also great for containing toddlers in places that might not be safe for them to roam free (say at the top of a bell tower or the edge of the grand canyon).

We’ve carried our toddlers in carriers all over the world and find it to be one of the easiest ways to travel with a toddler.

To find the best carrier for your child, see this article on the best toddler carriers for travel .

A stroller may or may not be a necessity for your trip, depending on what kind of trip you’re taking. We’ve taken trips with just a toddler carrier and others with both a carrier and a stroller (I always bring a carrier, even if I’m bringing a stroller). 

Strollers can be very useful for navigating the airport with a toddler and for trips where you’ll be visiting stroller-accessible locations. They’re nice to have along to give you a break from having to carry your child all the time (or chase them down constantly).

We love our gb Pockit for travel. It’s the most compact strollers out there and folds down small enough to fit into the overhead bit or under your seat on the airplane. Be sure to see our full gb Pockit stroller review .

Travel car seat

A car seat is typically going to be one of your toddler travel essentials, barring a few locations where you can get by just using public transportation. But if you’re planning on getting around by car, you’ll want a car seat to keep your little one safe. Strapped in their car seat is also the safest way for toddlers to fly on a plane. 

Younger toddlers might still fit within the safety requirements for an infant car seat, which are great for travel. Infant car seats are lightweight and easy to transport. 

If your child has outgrown their infant seat, it’s worth it to invest in a lightweight travel car seat. Trust me, after you’ve spent your whole trip hauling that thing around you’ll be glad to have left your heavy, bulky regular seat at home. Our favorite travel car seat for toddlers is the Cosco Scenera next.

Car seat bag

If you’re bringing a car seat, you’ll want to bring a car seat travel bag. These bags make transporting your car seat much easier and more manageable. 

There are a lot of different options out there so check out our review of the best car seat travel bags to find the best one for your trip.

Food/Snacks

These food relate toddler travel essentials will make mealtimes and snacks with your toddler go a lot more smoothly while on your trip. 

A bib is a helpful way to keep your child cleaner while eating. As an added bonus, it keeps their clothes clean as well, which makes it more likely that you can pack light and reuse outfits. 

These waterproof bibs are lightweight and pack down to practically nothing. We also love these silicone bibs which take a bit more space but are easier to clean and dry more quickly.

Snack catcher 

Snacks are a great way to entertain a toddler while traveling. And a snack catcher allows them to feed themselves independently without making a huge mess. This can be a helpful tool for distracting and redirecting a child who is getting bored or on the verge of a meltdown.

Our favorite snack catcher for travel folds down compactly, making it easy to store when not in use. The material it’s made out of does tend to collect lint and crumbs, so I recommend bringing a baggie to store it in when you’re not using it.

• Travel high chair

A travel high chair can be a useful item for traveling with a toddler. It ensures that your child always has their own seat at the table and helps keep them contained so that they’re not climbing all over you or running around. This can make for a much more relaxing meal for yourself and your toddler. 

Travel high chairs are not always necessary if you’re going someplace where you know high chairs will be available. However if there aren’t high chairs, or if you’re not sure if there will be, bringing your own can be a nice way to ensure that mealtimes go smoothly.

• Water bottle

You’ll want to make sure your child is drinking a lot while traveling, so be sure to bring a water bottle and offer it to them frequently throughout the day.

We prefer the straw kind because they are easier for our toddler to use and less likely to spill.

• Disposable place mats

Feeding a toddler when you’re eating out can be tricky. The places you eat might not have toddler-safe dishes andd it can be a pain to have to feed your toddler bite by bite (plus in my experience toddlers often insist on feeding themselves!). 

That’s where these disposable place mats come in so handy. They have adhesive on all four sides to secure it to the table, providing a clean and stable surface for your toddler to eat on. Once they’re done eating, you can easily pull the place mat off of the table and throw it away. This helps to minimize mess and allows your child to have an independent eating experience without you having to stress about them breaking the dishes. 

Sleep Items

Some of the most important toddler travel essentials are those related to sleep. Whether or not your toddler sleeps well can make a huge difference to the success of your trip. A tired and grumpy toddler makes for a very long day while traveling. 

These sleep items are ones that can be hugely helpful in getting your toddler the sleep that they need. For everyone’s sake!

• White noise

We always bring white noise for our children while traveling. It helps block any ambient sounds that they might not be used to and also means that we don’t have to be quite so quiet as we’re moving around our hotel room or Airbnb. 

Oftentimes we’ll just use a white noise app on our phone, but if you want to be able to use your phone for other things, you can bring a travel white noise machine . 

While you’re away from home, you’ll want to make sure your toddler has a cozy and comfortable place to sleep. There are a couple of different ways you can do this. 

First, if your child sleeps in a crib you can see if your accommodations have a crib or pack ‘n play available for you to use while you’re there.

If you have a bed for your toddler, consider getting portable bed rails to keep your child from rolling off the bed in the night. These bed rails are placed underneath the bottom sheet to form a barrier at the edge of the bed. They provide a lot of peace of mind for when your toddler is sleeping in a full-sized bed. We’ve compiled a list of the best portable bed rails for travel with a toddlers to help you out. 

You can also choose to bring a portable toddler bed for your child so you can set up a cozy spot for them to sleep wherever you are. These can come in several different forms, from toddler cots to inflatable beds to pop-up tents. You can see our reviews of the best options for portable toddler beds if you need help picking a good one.

Whichever option you pick, make sure that your child knows what to expect and do your best to make sure it feels as safe and familiar as possible. 

Favorite stuffed animal

If your child has a special stuffed animal or blanket, make sure to bring it along to help them feel comfortable and safe during their sleep time. 

You could also bring along a favorite story or two as part of their bedtime routine. The key is to help it feel as much like the environment they’re used to as possible. 

A monitor may or may not be necessary, depending on your accommodations. If you’re all sleeping in the same room this may not be helpful as you’ll be able to easily hear if your child needs you. 

However, if you have a suite, an apartment, or a balcony, a monitor can give you a lot of peace of mind knowing that you can keep a close eye on your baby while in an unfamiliar place. 

You can see our recommendations for the best portable baby monitors to help your decision.

Blackout options

For many young children, keeping a dark sleep environment is necessary for a good night’s sleep. This can be especially true if you’re changing time zones and trying to adjust their sleep schedule. 

Many hotels will have blackout curtains in their rooms, however rentals or Airbnb’s often do not. We had a couple of really bad experiences with our children waking up extremely early in a new place due to light and since then I always bring a black out option for our toddlers. 

One way to create a dark environment is to bring travel blackout curtains . These curtains have suction cups that you can use to attach them to the window, darkening the whole room for sleep. 

Another great sleep aid is a SlumberPod (see our full SlumberPod review ) or SlumberPod alternative to create a dark sleep environment for your child. These products go around your child’s bed to block out light to help them sleep better and longer. The nice thing about this option is that it creates a private sleep area for you child, meaning you don’t have to be quite so quiet and careful about light if you’re sharing a room with your child. 

• Toddler airplane bed

If you’re flying with your toddler, another helpful sleep tool is a toddler airplane bed. These are products that can be used to extend the length of the seat and provide a comfortable place for your toddler to sleep on the plane. These can make a huge difference for international or long-haul flights where you’re traveling through your child’s normal bedtime.

There are few different kinds of airplane beds, and you can learn about the best options in our article on the best airplane beds for toddlers .

When you’re traveling with a toddler, there are a few health items that you want to make sure to always have on hand. 

Medications

If your child has any medications, be sure to bring enough for your trip plus a bit extra to account for unexpected delays. 

Also remember to pack your child’s medication in your carryon luggage so that you aren’t caught without it in case anything happens to your checked luggage.

• Thermometer

Traveling with a thermometer ensures that you can monitor a fever if your child happens to get sick. I never travel without one and have actually had to use it a surprising number of times while on trips. It provides a little extra peace of mind knowing that you have a way to assess the severity of a sickness.

You never know when a child might get sick and bringing along some pain medication can make any unexpected sickness a lot less miserable for your child. This is another one I’ve had to use several times when traveling and I’m always so glad that I have it on hand. 

Hand sanitizer/sanitizing wipes

Traveling with kids means exposing them to lots of germs, which can often lead to them getting sick. And toddlers are the worst at this, as they tend to touch everything and then stick their hands in their mouths. Bring along hand sanitizer so that you can sanitize their hands frequently, especially before they eat. 

Sanitizing wipes are also very helpful for wiping down surfaces such as the tray tables and arm rests on the airplane and tables at restaurants. 

No one wants a sick kid, especially when you’re far from home. While you can’t always prevent sickness, sanitizing often definitely increases your chances of keeping everyone healthy.

Toddler travel essential basics

Having awesome travel activities is an absolute necessity when traveling with a toddler. That doesn’t mean that you need a lot of activities, but you do want a few great options that can capture your child’s attention and that they will return to over and over. 

Over our years of traveling with toddlers we’ve found some great activities that our toddlers always love. You can get some ideas from our list of our favorite toddler activities for planes and our favorite toddler activities for road trips . 

Consider not only activities for the flight or drive, but also for your hotel room and when you’re out and about. 

When you’re traveling with a toddler, you’ll want a great diaper bag to carry all of your essential items. I highly recommend a backpack diaper bag for travel. They are typically much more comfortable, secure against theft, and easier to carry over long periods of time. 

Diapers and wipes

If your toddler isn’t potty trained, don’t forget to bring along diapers and wipes. You can choose to bring along enough for your whole trip or, if you want to pack lighter, you can pack enough for the first few days and plan on picking some up at your destination (make sure it’s a place where they’re easy to find).

When possible, I try to just bring along all the diapers and wipes I will need for my trip to save myself the hassle of needing to pick some up during the trip. However, I know people who would prefer to pack less up front, so do what makes the most sense to you. 

Be sure to bring more diapers than you think you will need in your diaper bag if you’re traveling by plane. The middle of a long flight is not the place where you want to realize that your child is going through more diapers than you anticipated. 

• Travel potty

For toddlers who are potty trained or in the process of potty training, a portable potty can be a lifesaver when traveling. 

There are a few different kinds, but one of the most useful for travel is a foldable seat that can be placed over a larger toilet to make a secure and smaller seat for your toddler. This allows toddlers to feel safer on a toilet and helps to prevent any potty training regressions while traveling. They’re also compact and can easily be folded up and carried in your diaper bag.

See our list of the best travel potties for toddlers for the best options out there. 

Clothes are obviously going to be a travel essential. We’ll highlight a few items in this section and you can find a more detailed list of clothes down in the packing list.

If you’re trying to pack light, bring outfits that can be mixed and matched.

Make sure that you’re packing weather appropriate clothes for your toddler (eg. sun hat, swimsuit, sunglasses vs winter coat, gloves, warm hat). 

Plan on bringing an extra pair of pajamas or two in case of nighttime accidents. It’s also a good idea to bring an extra pair of shoes in case you lose one or they get wet. 

Toddler travel packing list

This is our tried and tested toddler packing list that I use for every trip. I love being able to pack for a trip and know I’m not missing anything important as long as I double check my trusty list!

Packing tip: Spend a few minutes thinking about your toddler to determine if there are any toddler travel essentials that you should include that are specific to your child. For example, our oldest went through a phase where he couldn’t handle the smell of the toilet, so there was a period where we always carried a travel sized Poo-Pourri around with us. Our other two never had the same issue, so that wasn’t included in their packing lists. There might be items that your child needs that other people wouldn’t think to include.

• Car seat travel bag

Food/snacks

• Snack catcher

Sleep items

• Stuffed animal
• Monitor 
• Blackout option
• Hand sanitizer/wipes
• Travel activities
• Diapers/wipes or undies
• Toothbrush/paste
• Pants/shorts
• Jacket/Coat

Warm weather gear

• Swim diapers
• Floatie/life jacket

Cold weather gear

Final Thoughts

With a little preparation, traveling with a toddler can actually be a lot of fun. We’ve had great experiences traveling with our toddlers over the years (along with the occasional meltdown of course).

These toddler travel essentials will help your trip go a lot more smoothly. And you can rest assured knowing that you’ve done everything you can to set yourself up for success!

Other posts you might be interested in:

How to Get a Toddler to Sleep on the Plane (Tips that work!)

The Best Airplane Snacks for Toddlers

How to Have a Successful Road Trip with a Toddler

How to Fight Jet Lag in Babies and Toddlers

11 Helpful Tips for Hiking with a Toddler

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26 pro tips for flying with a 1 year old – family travel guide 2024.

Table of Contents

Flying with a 1 year old is one of the most challenging aspects of family travel. If you are looking for top tips and advice then you’ve come to the right place. As a full time travel family we have flown with a 1 year old both short and long haul flights. We are super excited to share these top tips, hacks and secrets with you.

Flying with a one-year-old does present some unique and unexpected challenges. In this article we will help you get to grips with some of the challenges and prepare as well as possible.

If you are reading this article you are already doing the first thing right. You’re taking time to plan and prepare for flying with a 1 year-old.  Being fully prepared for your flight can reduce anxiety and help you and your baby have a smooth flight.

Don’t miss our FULL baby travel checklist . EVERYTHING you need to know to plan and prepare your trip.

You may also be interested in our guide on Booking Cheap Flights with Kids

Flying with a 1 year old – unique challenges

Why have we done an article just for flying with a 1 year old? Because it’s hard! Flying with a 1 year old is probably one of the most challenging ages to fly. Not trying to put you off. Just help you understand some of the challenges and get prepared. With a 1 year old you will need to consider more toys and activities. You will also need to consider a range of snacks and drinks for a 1 year old baby. Another challenge is that your 1 year old will be more aware of their environment and therefore can be harder to settle. 

What are your seating options flying with a 1 year old?

Bassinet seats 

If you’re on a long haul flight your airline may have special bassinet seats. A bassinet is an airplane cot for a baby. The airline staff should help you set the bassinet up, and this is a great place for your baby to sit, play, rest and sleep during the flight. Bassinet seats are sometimes available for FREE on request on a first come first served basis. 

Bassinet restrictions

It is worth being aware that some airlines may have weight, size or age restrictions for bassinets. It is normally required that your baby can comfortably fit in the bassinet and normally no more than 10kg – 15kg. Check your airline’s specific policy. Most small 1 year olds should be able to use a bassinet on a flight. Your baby will not be able to use a bassinet at take off, landing and when the seatbelt sign is on. 

What about car seats ?

It is also possible to book an additional seat for your infant. Normally, when you add an infant to your booking they will not be assigned a seat. It is normally expected that your baby will sit on your lap throughout the flight with an infant lap belt. However, it is possible to book an additional seat for your infant. This will normally cost a similar price to an adult seat. If you book an additional seat for your 1 year old you can then use an approved car seat. Traveling with a car seat may be awkward at times but it can be very helpful at your destination.

TOP TIPS for flying with a 1 year old – summary 

• Help them connect with the experience
• Get things organized early
• Book a good place to rest – check Agoda and Booking.com
• Find a flight at a good time
• Get a seat with a bassinet
• Use the space under the seats 
• Pack more than you need
• Bring some ziplock bags
• Bring some sensory toys
• Pre-prep some bottles
• Bring a baby milk bottle through security
• Request an infant meal
• Bring plenty of snacks
• Get some baby ear muffs
• Talk to people sitting near you 
• Prevent baby ear pain
• Get a travel baby changing mat
• Use your all of your baggage allowance
• Pad out your bags with nappies
• Bring a change of clothes
• Pack a small blanket
• Bring creams and medications
• Try to keep some normal routines
• Bring a pram through the airport
• Use a special assistance lanes in the airport
• Team work is dream work

Flying with a 1 year old – full guide

1 help them to connect with the experience.

Before you fly with a 1 year-old, take time to help them connect with the experience.  Babies are very good at picking up on our emotions and reflecting them. If you are positive and excited about the flight your baby will perceive and reflect these emotions. Introduce toys and books that have an airplane theme. Talk to them about the flight and about your trip. Try to find ways to make the experience unique and special for them. The flight is also a good opportunity to introduce an exciting new toy or book and make the experience feel special for them. This is a particularly helpful tip to create a good long-term mindset in your child. 

2 Get things organized early

If you are flying with a 1 year old, try to get organized nice and early. Get things booked as early as possible. Generally flights are cheaper if you book them early. Book your hotel early too – on Agoda and Booking.com you can often get great FREE cancellation policies. If you need to get a passport for your infant this can take several months. Applying for an e-visa (where relevant) often takes a few weeks. Things like travel vaccination can take a while to organize because they rely on appointments and immunity may take a few weeks to kick in. Getting organized early is one of the most important things if you are flying with a 1 year old.

3 Book a great place to rest 

Finding a good hotel To rest after your flight is very important. You will all need to rest and recover from the flight and adjust to the new time zone. Try to get a quiet location (or sound proof room), good black out blinds, air conditioning and baby friendly facilities (e.g. fridge, cot, bath etc…) 

LOOK for a hotel on Agoda

LOOK for a hotel on Booking.com

TOP TIP: Once you know where you are going, get your hotel booked early. One of the great things about using Agoda and booking.com is that you can often find places with very good free cancellation policies. You need to check this when you book.  Agoda and booking.com often have cancellation policies that allow you to cancel for FREE for any reason until close to your check in date. So if you don’t have time to look for the best hotel, just get something good booked early and then look more carefully when you have more time. 

4 Find a flight at a good time

If possible try to find a flight that works well with your baby’s routines. Of course you may not be able to choose the time of your flight, however it is worth considering flight times and layovers when you are booking tickets. It can be good if you can find a flight that departs a couple of hours before your 1 year old is due to nap. Their nap can be a nice way to break up the flight. Another good time to fly is a few hours before your baby’s normal bedtime. Also consider layover times and locations. The best layovers are either relatively short or very long. 1-2 hours is ideal so you have time to get to your connecting flight. Alternatively, 12 hours or more can actually work very well. With a 12 hour layover you may be able to leave the airport and check in to some accommodation to get some rest. You may also have time to see some attractions in your layover country. Also flights with a long layover tend to be cheaper than flights with shorter layovers.

TOP TIP: If you have a long layover check whether your bags go all the way to the destination. If so pack for your layover (clothes and toiletries)

5 Request a bassinet early

Okay this is one of the most important tips for flying with a 1 year old. We mentioned that on some flights you can get special bassinet seats for an infant. However these are generally available on a first-come first-serve basis.  Therefore, if you are on a long-haul flight with a one-year-old we recommend turning up as early as possible to request a bassinet seat. In some cases, a bassinet seat may be automatically assigned to you. However we do not recommend relying on this. 

6 Use the space under the seats 

Airlines normally allow you to put small bags underneath the seat in front of you or underneath your own seat. The only exception is if you’re on an emergency exit row – BUT this won’t happen when you are flying with a 1 year old (infants are not allowed on this row). When you are flying with a 1 year old you need to be able to access things quickly. If all your baby stuff is in the overhead storage it can be really awkward to get things. Pack your special baby carry on in a small flexible bag that can fit under an airplane seat. 

7 Pack more than you need

This feels more like a tip for life! Pack plenty – more than you think you need. Before your flight you will need to work out how much you need. Consider nappies, wet wipes, snacks and milk. Remember you also need to consider journey time to and from the airport, flight times, layover times AND potential delays. If you are stuck in the airport it may be tricky to find extra nappies and milk in the airport. So remember to pack more than you need. 

Don’t miss our full packing list for flying with a baby

8 Bring some ziplock bags

Pack ziplock bags or small plastic bags. These can be used for so many things. For example if your baby drops their dummy on the ground you can stick it in a ziplock bag and pop it in your bags. Or when clothing is inevitably covered in drinks and bodily fluid – stuff them in a ziplock pack and pack them away to clean later. 

9 Bring some sensory toys

Pack some small compact toys for your baby. Flying with a 1 year old may be a great time to introduce a new toy. Find things that are sensory, multi-purpose and stimulating. Bring along a few familiar toys and books. Consider toys that can be used for simple games like blocks, stacking cups and toys with moving parts and magnets. On the flight PACE yourself and your baby. Mix up activities. Keep some of your higher impact activities for later in the flight when everyone is more tired and worn out. 

10 Pre-prep some bottles

Before the flight, pre-prepare some milk bottles. If the milk bottle is clean, dry and sterilized you can add the correct amount of formula powder to the bottle in advance. Later all you need to do is add some warm water and give it a shake. Alternatively, portion up some formula in small plastic bags. You can then make up the bottle on the flight. Almost all airlines will be willing to provide water for formula bottles. If they only have boiling water available, just add a little clean cold water first (e.g. from a water bottle). 

11 Bring a baby milk bottle through security

Security checks usually have 100ml restriction on fluids. However, parents traveling with an infant should be allowed to take a baby drink through security. You will probably need to pop it in a plastic bag for security and they may also want to check it. But it is useful to have an extra drink for your baby. 

12 Request and infant meal

If you book a flight with a 1 year old you should automatically be assigned an infant meal (assuming there is a meal service on your flight). However, this is definitely worth checking. We recommend contacting the airline in advance to check that your child will be given an infant meal – especially if your infant has special dietary requirements. You may also want to bring along some of your baby’s normal food. 

13 Bring plenty of snacks

As every parent knows, snacks are essential to your baby’s happiness and a parent’s sanity. Airplanes normally offer snacks but these can be odd, sporadic and unreliable. See the airplane snacks as an additional bonus. Snacks with complex carbs will help fill your baby’s tum tum and hopefully make them more sleepy. Baby pouches can also provide a healthy and comforting energy hit for your baby. AND don’t forget to bring along a treat or two for yourself. You deserve it if you’re flying with a 1 year old. 

14 Get some baby ear muffs

Get hold of some special baby aeroplane ear muffs (yes – these really are a thing!). These earmuffs are designed to protect your baby’s ears from the loud noise of the airplane. If your 1 year old is comfortable wearing ear muffs they should help protect their ears and they may also help your baby sleep better on the airplane. Get your baby used to the earmuffs before the flight. At first wait till your baby is asleep before you put them on your baby so they get used to them. Eventually you may be able to put them on before your baby is asleep because they will be used to wearing them. 

15 Talk to people sitting near you 

When you get on the airplane, talk to the people sitting near you. If you’re flying with a 1 year old it is natural to feel anxious about the other passengers sitting near you. A short conversation is a great way to humanize you to the people around you. Showing that you are aware of other people’s experience and peace will encourage them to be more sympathetic and understanding. 

16 Prevent baby ear pain

The change in cabin pressure can be very painful for a baby’s ears. The best way to reduce ear pain is for your 1 year old to suck something. This could be a dummy. It could be feeding from a milk bottle. Or even breastfeeding. You baby will need to sit on your lap in a lap belt at take off and landing. If this is loosened it is possible to breastfeed a baby. 

17 Get a travel changing mat

Consider purchasing a travel changing mat. Baby travel changing mats for compact, small and provide a hygienic surface for carrying out nappy changes anyway. A good travel changing mat may also have additional pockets and pouches for things like hand sanitizer, baby wipes and nappies. You can put your own baby travel changing mat on top of baby changing tables in toilets for comfort and hygiene. Most airplanes have small baby changing tables in some of the toilets.

18 Use your all of your baggage allowance

Your baggage allowance will depend on the airline you’re flying with a ticket. You can generally find out your baggage allowance when you purchase your ticket. A good free allowance should be at least 20kg check in. Flying with a 1 year old you should be given some free additional allowance. Many good airlines will let you bring a pram or baby carrier for FREE. You should also be allowed an additional carry on bag for your baby. 

19 Pad out your bags with nappies

If you’re flying with a 1 year old make sure you bring mountains of nappies with you. In many countries you can buy nappies but they may be expensive, hard to find and not your preferred brand. Nappies are a great way to pad out your bags. Filling your bag with lots of nappies will not add much weight but will provide protection to your belongings. As you use the nappies on your trip the extra space in your bags can be filled with gifts and goodies. 

20 Bring a change of clothes

When you are packing your carry on, remember to pack a change of clothes for your baby and for yourself. When you are flying with a 1 year old it is only a matter of time before you will be covered in crumbs, spillages and bodily fluids. Having some clean clothes can really help you feel human again. 

21 Pack a small blanket

You may be given a blanket on a long haul flight but this is not guaranteed. Bring along a small comfortable blanket for you and or your one year old. This can be a familiar comfort to your baby and you can also use it in the airport during layovers or waiting time. A small blanket shouldn’t add too much extra size and weight to your carry on luggage. 

22 Bring creams and medications

You should be allowed to bring creams and meds in your carry-on luggage (as long as fluids don’t exceed 100ml). Make sure creams and medicines are in labeled containers and wrapped in plastic bags for security. Be aware that a long flight can exacerbate nappy rash. So even if your baby is not normally prone to red cheeks – it is probably worth having a good cream. 

23 Try to keep some normal routines

Stay as close as possible to your baby’s normal routines. This should help your 1 year old feel settled and increase their chances of getting some sleep. Consider small familiar comforts like their normal night time clothing, giving them a bottle of warm milk at bedtime or bedtime stories that you may read to your baby at bedtime.

24 Bring a pram through the airport

If you’re traveling with a pram, take it through the airport all the way to the boarding gate. Having your 1 year old in a pram is really helpful when you need your hands-free. When you get to the gate the airport staff should take your pram and store it on the aircraft so that it is available to you when you arrive at your destination. 

TOP TIP If you are not planning to travel with a pram, there are some other great options for you. Consider a sling. There are plenty of small, light, travel friendly sling options. Alternatively, many airlines will also let you switch out for a baby carrier backpack (FREE with an infant). This is a backpack with a baby seat built in. You can also stuff a baby carrier with some extra things like nappies, clothes or toys. 

25 Use a special assistance lanes in the airport

Most airports around the world have special assistance lanes. You can normally find special assistance lanes at immigration checkpoints, security checkpoints and also when you are boarding the aircraft. Make yourself known to staff and ask for help if you need it. This can save valuable time and reduce waiting time in queues. 

26 Team work is dream work

If you are flying with another adult, find ways to team up. Take shifts and switch out to give each other rest. When you are at stress points (e.g. security) try to divide tasks up. One person looking after your baby whilst the other focuses on bags. If you are not flying with another adult – then seriously respect to you. We do have a special article on flying solo with a baby . 

Tips for flying with a 1 year old – SUMMARY 

If you are flying with a 1 year old preparation and planning is everything. Whether it is organizing travel vaccinations, buying clothes and kit, packing or sorting flights and accommodation It’s going to be busy. SO keep your eyes on the prize. It will be worth it. Hopefully our articles will help you think through and plan all of the essentials. 

DON’T MISS our full guide on Booking Cheap Flights with Kids

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We always recommend that you use a good booking platform to sort out your hotel. This creates accountability and gives you a way to contact your hotel. You can also get other perks such as free cancellations policies.

Life loving, adventure chasing, Mum of 3 who loves travel. Over 10 years of travel writing experience. Emma now loves to give the best tips to help other travel loving parents plan adventures with their kids. Whether you need to find the best accommodation or just need to know how to pack your bag Emma is that travelling mum who love to help you.

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What It’s Like To Fly With a 1-Year-Old [Our Top 5 Tips for Success!]

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Flying With a Baby Under 1 Year Old

Flying with a toddler older than 1-year-old, economy vs. business class seats, ordering kids’ and baby meals, traveling with breast milk or formula, umbrella stroller, diaper bags: backpack vs. purse, lounge access with babies, 1. snacks, snacks, and more snacks, 2. schedule the flight around nap time, 3. bring new toys and activities, 4. pack smart, 5. go with the flow, final thoughts.

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My kids have been on countless planes, trains, and automobiles and have stayed in hotels, Airbnbs, and even an RV. They’re now 3 and 5 years old, carrying their own backpacks and attempting to pull their own carry-ons, but this wasn’t always the case.

If you’re new to traveling with small children, it might seem overwhelming or outright impossible. Sure, there’s a lot of stuff to pack and juggling to do while taking care of a tiny human, yourself, and all of your things. But it’s probably simpler than you think, especially if you follow some of the tips outlined below .

When kids are especially small — think a few months old to about a year old — it’s downright easy to travel with them. The plane provides white noise and lulls them almost straight to sleep as soon as you’re in the air, barring any pressure change discomfort, of course. They aren’t moving too much, nor are they requesting (demanding) to get out of your arms or the seat and walk the plane.

You can wear your tiny human on your chest or back and they pretty much go wherever you take them without protest. Their schedule and eating habits are predictable and they’ve yet to have their first meltdown.

The early days are almost blissful.

And then they turn 1.

The older your child gets, the more curious they become . The 1-year-old stage is a fun time because they’re walking, or just on the cusp of it, suggesting that they’re ready for more independence, have a sense of humor, and are generally well-tempered. This is a sweet spot right before their inability to communicate leads to temper tantrums and frustration.

Hot Tip: The biggest difference between flying with a 1-year-old and a younger child is how alert they will be.

Your 1-year-old might want to stand in your lap, or in the seat, and wave at, smile at, and talk to other passengers. For more active toddlers, you may have to walk around the cabin with them . And if they’re walking, they’ll likely want to walk on the ground themselves.

They’re hopefully eating solid foods so you’ll have to remember to pack food that you know they’ll like. Don’t rely on getting something at the airport or even the food provided on the plane. They’re also larger, so that tiny, inaccessible plane bathroom won’t be fun for either of you when it comes time to change a diaper at 30,000 feet.

But the biggest difference of all might be whether or not you buy your ever-growing infant their own seat.

Should You Buy a Seat for Your Toddler?

When my kids were young enough for it, I was of the mind that as long as my kids could fly for free, we wouldn’t buy them a seat. Plus, they’re only small for so long and I always loved holding onto them when they slept. Add to that the increasing costs of airline tickets, both in cash and miles, and I’m glad that we were able to save the money with a lap infant when we could.

To make having a lap infant easier, either my husband or I would wear the baby in an Ergobaby carrier when they slept so that we had full use of our arms . We could even sleep ourselves without fearing that the baby would fall out of our arms.

I know a lot of parents who prefer for each member of their family to have their own seat, mostly for the sake of space. But in addition to that, some children just don’t sleep well being held — not to mention the adult holding them might be pretty uncomfortable, too.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommends that children fly in a child restraint system (CRS) , which is essentially a car seat . There are specific requirements for CRS devices, so be sure and check out the website before you fly to make sure you’ve got the right type.

You’ll get a baggage allowance for your 1-year-old when you purchase a seat no matter how old they are. This would allow you to pack more freely instead of packing your child’s items together with the items in your carry-on … something I’ve done many times.

If you’re lucky, you’ll be seated in a row that has an empty seat next to you and your child can sit there free of charge when the “Fasten Seat Belt” sign is off.

Baby bassinets are detachable bassinets available on some planes in the bulkhead seat. These bassinets generally have age, weight, and/or height restrictions for use, and with a 1-year-old, your options to use a bassinet may be getting limited .

If you’re inclined to use a bassinet for your baby — particularly on a long-haul flight where you want to ensure the best rest possible — you’ll need to call the airline right after making your reservation to reserve your seat and bassinet.

Hot Tip: Not all airlines offer bassinets. Before you book, check out our ultimate guide to baby bassinet seats on over 50 airlines to find out if your preferred airline offers a bassinet or not.

The debate about whether or not kids and babies should be in premium cabins is one we won’t settle here. Still, parents traveling with young children may want to know some of the pros and cons of flying business class with a baby .

In business class, you’re guaranteed to get more legroom and larger seats. When traveling with a lap infant especially, it never hurts to have as much room as possible. In economy, you cannot sit in the exit row where you’d normally expect to have the most room in the back of the plane. That means that you’ll be jammed in a row, potentially with strangers.

With fewer passengers to take care of in business class, the flight attendants should have more time to help you when you need assistance. For example, you may need water to make a bottle or you forgot your child’s juice. In business class, you can expect to be taken care of a little more often.

Unfortunately, just by the sheer volume of folks in the economy compared to the number of attendants, you won’t receive the same service.

In premium cabins, depending on the airline, you may be able to reserve an infant or child meal in advance to be served during your flight. If flying domestic economy, you won’t have this option.

And lastly, flying in business could be cost-prohibitive to many. Even with points, business class seats often cost a significant amount more than economy class tickets. It’s easy to feel that the pros listed above don’t outweigh the dollar amount you’ll have to pay for those conveniences.

International airlines shine when it comes to their meal services (even in economy). As such, you can expect to be able to order a kids’ meal in advance of your flight or when you get on board.

The makeup of the meals and offerings varies depending on the airline, of course. Some airlines, usually depending on the length of the flight, will offer hot meals like pasta and even hamburgers. Others might only offer a kids’ snack box.

Whether or not these amenities are included in the price of your ticket depends on the airline as well. For example, United brought back kids’ meals that can be ordered at least 24 hours before your flight for flights over 2,000 miles and where a complimentary meal will be served.

According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), breast milk , formula, and toddler drinks are considered medically necessary. Breast milk, formula, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (including puree pouches) can exceed 3.4 ounces and do not need to fit in quart-size bags.

You are recommended to let the TSA agent know that you’re traveling with these items at the beginning of the screening and to take it out of your carry-on.  It is also recommended that these items travel in clear containers for the sake of expediting the screening process.

Though the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) categorizes breast pumps as a medical device and as such should be allowed in addition to your carry-on and personal item, this depends on the airline. It’s a good idea to call the airline you’ll be flying with before you check in for your flight to ensure that you can bring your breast pump onboard.

Helpful Travel Accessories

As your children get older, they’ll likely want to help carry their backpacks or pull their own luggage . Eventually, you won’t need to carry or push them in a stroller everywhere because they’ll want to walk on their own, too. In the meantime, however, when traveling with a 1-year-old, all of that still falls on you. Luckily, there are plenty of travel gadgets and accessories to help make it easier.

Umbrella strollers are lightweight, foldable strollers for babies old enough to hold their heads up. An infant stroller most likely works together with your car seat, which can be bulky and hard to maneuver through the airport. If your child is big enough, an umbrella stroller is the way to go.

Whether or not you go with the convenience of an umbrella stroller or elect for your larger stroller, you can gate-check your stroller and keep it with you right up until you board the plane. Your stroller will either be waiting for you at the gate when you land or will have made its way to the baggage carousel.

Car seat requirements are not the same for cars and airplanes, and to use your car seat on the plane the car seat must be FAA-approved .

It’s important to note that the EU has different requirements for car seats than the U.S., so you’ll want to be aware of this if that’s where you’re traveling. One major difference between EU and U.S. car seats is that EU-approved car seats do not have chest clips. EU regulation states that a child must be able to be removed from the seat in a single motion.

I think that baby backpacks are better for travel than baby purses (one-shoulder baby bags) for a few reasons.

First, you have a full range of motion when wearing a backpack with weight evenly distributed through your back instead of on one shoulder.

Second, a backpack tends to have more pockets for all the things you’ll be carrying for your baby. It doesn’t hurt that it’s probably easier to convince your partner to share the responsibility of carrying a backpack vs. a purse.

Speaking of all the things you’ll be carrying, here are a few items that should make traveling with a 1-year-old a little easier:

• Bottles, bottle liners, tops
• Extra clothes for you and baby
• Extra socks (and maybe shoes)
• Foldable changing pad for changes in public restrooms
• Formula dispenser
• Hand sanitizer
• Plastic bags for dirty clothes, diapers, etc.
• Spill-proof and independent snack dispenser
• Spill-proof sippy cup

Hot Tip: Check out our in-depth buyer’s guide to the best travel diaper bags , featuring both backpack-style and purse-style options.

There seems to be an ongoing debate on social media about babies in premium cabins (more on that a little later) and whether or not they should be allowed in lounges.

Lounges don’t typically have age restrictions (kids under 2 are even generally free!), though most don’t have amenities geared toward children. But what you get at a lounge is more space to spread out, with time away from the gate to relax and gather yourself before you fly.

Centurion Lounges , however, do a great job of welcoming and catering to young travelers with family rooms decked out with toys, games, TVs, and kid-size furniture. But even without that family-specific amenities, lounges are a great place to chill out before or after a flight with your baby.

At the lounge, you can also get warm water for formula, warm-up milk and kids’ food, and grab some fruit or other snacks for later.

Tips for Flying With a 1-Year-Old

Whether or not you choose to purchase a seat for your 1-year-old, we have some tips for making flying easier.

I used to think people were exaggerating when they said to bring more snacks than you think you need. But I underestimated just how important a well-timed handful of Cheerios would be.

It’s not so much that your child will be hungry, but that snacking tends to quell a fussy toddler. I cannot explain it any further than that.

Pack the snacks you know they love and maybe even a few surprises. There’s an endless list of snacks you could bring. Fruit, Cheerios, Goldfish, pureed food packs … anything that your child can safely consume will work.

Don’t forget that TSA allows water and food for toddlers in reasonable quantities above the standard 3.4 ounces allowed for all passengers. A standard sippy cup is probably enough to get you through your whole travel day.

This is one of my favorite tips, but I think whether or not a flight is timed well will depend on your child .

For some toddlers, the sound of the airplane in flight works like white noise and helps them sleep. But as they get older and are more alert for longer periods of time, the excitement of a new adventure might energize them enough to try and stay awake for longer than you expect.

In this case, scheduling a flight around nap time won’t matter. But for a first flight with a 1-year-old, it’s worth a try. If you find that your child didn’t stick to the schedule, you won’t have to worry about it next time. We live and we learn.

For long-haul flights, I recommend scheduling a red-eye flight to your destination and skipping the last nap before the flight . The reason for this is that the cabin is dimmed along with the white noise of the plane. I’ve never met a traveling child that could resist the urge to fall asleep under those conditions. Hopefully, they’ll be tired enough to sleep through the entire flight.

At 1 year old, your toddler will likely be awake for at least part of your flight, so you’ll want to have something to occupy them. Tablets are an easy go-to, but understandably, some parents won’t want to introduce screen time at this age, or at all. But if you do decide to go with a tablet loaded with movies, TV shows, or games, be sure and bring along child-safe and cordless Bluetooth headphones . Child-safe headphones should remain at lower decibels to preserve their tiny eardrums.

Avoid toys that make any type of noise so as not to disturb other passengers on your flight.

Hot Tip: Keep in mind that at a year old, your child may not be able to stay engaged by 1 toy or activity for very long, so it’s a good idea to have several options.

Luckily, there are a lot of other activities that are appropriate for this age. Here are a few of my favorite ways to entertain a 1-year-old on a flight:

• Window Clings : Your toddler can stick these on the window themselves, pull them off, and repeat to their heart’s content. Another alternative is circle stickers, like what you’d find at a garage sale. Really, any sticker will work, just test out how easy they are for tiny fingers to peel off.
• Flash Cards : Even if your toddler isn’t talking yet, flash cards can be a great way to practice learning their shapes and colors. Animals and objects flash cards are also a great way to increase your child’s vocabulary.
• Books : Bring along your toddler’s favorite picture book. Pop-up books are always a hit as well. If you can, bring a book that’s age-appropriate and talks about where you’re going, what you’ll be doing, or flying on a plane.
• Play-Doh : Play-Doh is a tactile activity that lets your toddler use their hands. You can even bring plastic cookie cutters to make different shapes out of them. Clay, an alternative to Play-Doh, is a little more difficult to mold but also a worthy activity for a 1-year-old and even helps to strengthen their grip.
• Coloring Books : Again, coloring books are something that your child can do with their hands. Get the jumbo crayons that are easier to hold and choose a coloring book that has characters they recognize. You can color, too! This is a great activity to do together.
• Water Wow! Books : Water Wow! books by Melissa and Doug are awesome and were an instant hit for my kids. You fill the paintbrush with some water and let your toddler “paint” the pages of the cardboard book. There are several designs to choose from, including construction, numbers, alphabet, and animals. The best part about these is that when they dry, the color disappears so you can use them over and over again.

In addition to the activities above, be sure to include items that are brand new to your child . In fact, all of the items listed could be brand new and you could gift wrap them . It’s the novelty of the surprise that gets them excited and wanting to play with whatever the new toy is. Who doesn’t love unwrapping a gift?

I wish that I could tell you that packing gets easier as your kids get older, but I can’t say that.

Yes, you can probably leave their 10 favorite blankets, nappies, and toys at home, but you’ll still need to pack a considerable number of items when you’re away from home. For example, I always packed 2 outfits per day that we would be away, plus a couple of extra. I didn’t plan to change my child’s clothes more than once per day, but we all know that stuff happens .

I would also bring an extra top for myself on travel days in case that stuff happened on me.

Your 1-year-old likely has at least 1 pair of shoes and might need a coat (and sweaters depending on the weather at your destination), gloves, and beanies. Clothes only get bigger along with your child and consequently take up more room in your luggage.

Packing cubes have been a dream for both packing compactly as well as organizing my family’s bags. We each have our own set of cubes in different colors and I roll whole outfits together to save time when we’re getting dressed in the morning .

Rolling outfits works best for the kids’ clothes since my and my husband’s clothes are too big to roll together like this. This trick also helps me avoid over- or underpacking because I always know what’s meant to go with what.

Once we arrive at our accommodations, I leave the clothes in the packing cubes and just put them into the dresser drawers. Packing cubes have immensely simplified the way I organize and pack for my family.

I wish I had a dollar for everything that didn’t go according to plan since I started to travel with my family.

Flight delays and cancellations , lost items, cranky kids, and more, will inevitably happen to you. One of my children almost always catches a cold 2 weeks before a long-haul flight. We even ended up in a clinic in Amsterdam on our first family trip to Europe and returned home with ear infections (yes, the whole family).

When you go with the flow of each day, it allows you to take each inconvenience in stride instead of letting it ruin or make you regret your whole trip. Traveling with children requires patience and grace with them as well as yourself, especially when it comes to how you plan your days.

You can’t pack each day with museum visits, tours, and other activities when traveling with small children. They simply don’t have the stamina to keep up and will let you know when they’ve had enough.

Schedule your activities around their nap times to maximize your experience together and to better ensure a good mood from your little one.

We can only plan so much and the rest is out of our control. Temper your expectations and you’ll be able to enjoy your vacation with your 1-year-old.

Traveling with a 1-year-old is different than traveling with a younger baby, but not always in a bad way. It’s true that traveling with babies younger than a year old is easier because they sleep more often, are easier to transport, and are overall more amenable to most situations. But traveling with an older toddler can also be more fun for you.

If you plan accordingly — while saving room for things you can’t control — and follow at least some of the tips outlined above, I trust that you’ll have a great travel experience when flying with a 1-year-old.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you keep a 1-year-old calm on a plane.

If your child is particularly anxious or energetic at any point during the flight, give them their favorite toy that usually calms them down. A pacifier or a bottle is great during takeoff and landing, especially for helping with inner ear pressure. Their favorite stuffed animals, blanket, or book are additional comfort items you could try.

What can you do if your baby cries on a plane?

You know your child best and what usually calms them down, so start with what you know.

Some other tips to try: shushing while rocking, walking the aisle when the “Fasten Seat Belt” sign is off, and good old-fashioned distractions usually help. Alternatively, ask yourself the classic question: is my baby tired, hungry, or wet?

How can you relieve ear pressure for a baby when flying?

During takeoff and landing, you want to make sure that your child is swallowing to avoid or alleviate ear pressure. The best way to do this is to give them a pacifier or bottle. Snacking may also work.

Where do you change diapers on a plane?

There are changing tables in the lavatory located on airplanes. Unfortunately, not every plane has changing tables in the lavatories.

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About Ashley Onadele

Ashley discovered a love for travel in college that’s continued as her family has grown. She loves showing parents how they can take their families on trips using points and has contributed to numerous publications and podcasts.

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What to Pack in a Carry On for a 1 Year Old

Not really a baby, not quite a toddler: from 14-22 months is about the toughest time to be traveling with a little one (or at least so i’ve read)..

And from our experience so far, I can definitely agree. So much has changed since the days of flying with Evelyn as an infant, sleeping soundly through an entire flight.

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Flying with a 1 year old is tricky. Evelyn’s become increasingly curious and wanting to explore all of her surroundings (that includes every seat at the gate, under the seat on the plane, in the aisles, etc…). Throw in a desire for independence and being all-around less easily entertained, and sitting quietly in an airplane seat for 3 hours can be pure torture.

So after a couple of disastrous plane rides trying to apply the same routine we’d used when Evelyn was a baby, we realized it was time to change our game plan. And that almost exclusively meant repacking our carry on.

(Want free tools to help you plan your perfect family trip? Subscribe to our email list below and get  access to all of our free goodies , like printable planning sheets, packing lists, and more!)

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First up, pick a trusty travel bag.

Before you even think about what to pack, you’ll want to make sure you have a good quality bag to put it in. I made the official switch from baby bag to backpack just after Evelyn’s first birthday. And while I miss having my crossbody bag at my side, it’s so much easier to carry the backpack and  Evelyn in the ErgoBaby at the same time, leaving my hands free to move around our other luggage . You can find some great options for stylish, yet affordable, backpacks here !

If you’re not into the whole backpack thing, this roomy weekender bag would also do the trick.

Alright, so now to the fun stuff, what to actually put inside the bag.

Here’s a few of our favorite items that go in on every trip!

This post contains affiliate links to products we love and recommend. If you purchase anything through these links, we may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you)! Thanks for supporting the blog in this way.

Baby Essentials

Starting out with essentials, you’ll pack mostly the same stuff as for a baby, but slightly adapted if there’s no more bottles needed (woohoo!). I still always pack:

• Diapers  | I pack about 8-9 for a travel day (ours tend to be pretty long), and that includes plenty extra to be on the safe side.
• Wipes & Travel Case  | I’ve switched over to this case from Huggies and really like it’s expandable/refillable design.
• WetOnes  |  These babies still get used all the time . Especially for cleaning up airplane tray tables or spills.
• Dirty Diaper Bags  | Like these from Munchkin .
• Extra Set of Clothes  | I haven’t needed a spare change of clothes for Evelyn in a long time, but I’m not jinxing it now.
• Sippy Cup  | After trying a few different brands, we’ve stuck with these from Munchkin . They’re pretty good about not leaking, as long as they don’t get flipped upside down in your bag. Anyone have a leak-proof sippy cup recommendation you swear by?
• Dropper Stopper | For holding that sippy cup close (or whatever else Evelyn feels like playing with/dropping at the moment). I never leave home without my Dropper Stopper .
• Cooler Bag & Whole Milk | This is where we had to change things up since Evelyn’s off the formula and onto big kid milk now. We will usually fill up a sippy with milk, and bring another one of those mini bottles of whole milk with us in a cooler bag  lined with these slim ice packs . It gets us through the day, and if we need more, we can usually (though not always) find whole milk for sale in the airport.

Side note: I tried bringing these milk cartons on our last trip (since I’d read they work great for traveling – no refrigeration needed!). But the TSA flagged us and said we couldn’t bring them through since their sealed opaque carton makes them impossible to be tested. I think I may try them again the next time we fly, since they are so darn convenient. It wouldn’t be the first time the TSA has lacked consistency in how they handle baby items. Anyone have a different experience with these?

The one downside to using a backpack is that everything tends to kind of get stuffed on top of each other. That’s where good organization comes in handy! After searching for a nice, slim lunchbox for Evelyn’s snacks, I finally settled on a plain old craft organizer like this one . Now I get why these “toddler snack boxes” are all over Pinterest! It may seem lame, but with its slim size, customizable dividers, and snap on lid, it’s perfect for toting a variety of snacks on the plane! Here’s what usually goes inside:

• Squeeze Pouches | It’s a struggle to get Evelyn good, nutritional food when we’re traveling, so having a few of these  is always a blessing (plus she loves to squeeze them herself, so less work for us)!
• Bananas | Because it’s one of the few natural foods that is super travel friendly! We always have nanas.
• Cereal | We store it in a snack size baggie so it will fit in the snack box, but Evelyn could entertain herself for hours picking one Cheerio at a time out of this snack cup (even if half of said Cheerios end up on the floor of the plane).
• Granola Bars | We’re big fans of these from Ella’s Kitchen.
• Real Fruit Gummies | Also a great little bribe …I mean…treat…

Entertainment

Finding entertainment is the toughest part of flying with kids at this age. All of our tried and true baby toys basically became useless after Evelyn’s first birthday! There are a couple staples we have kept:

• Books | Always a favorite. Either this First Words book with lots of pictures, or these mini Sesame Street books .
• Music Toy | Why this thing continues to amaze and stop a tantrum on sight, I’ll never know, but I’m not questioning it!

And instead of other toys, we’ve moved over to loading the iPad (protected by this super indestructable case ) with children’s shows and (semi-educational) games. I’m not ashamed to say it – nothing makes Evelyn a better traveler than some Bubble Guppies. For TV shows we use Amazon Prime because you can download episodes ahead of time to watch later on the plane (a feature not available on a lot of other streaming services). You can try it out for yourself with a free Amazon Prime 30-day trial .

Side Note: Did you know you can put your iPad into a “childproof mode” so that they can’t use any of the buttons or the touchscreen? Ok, maybe you knew that already, but I was just amazed and it has changed our lives! Here’s a full tutorial .

Medicine/Toiletry Kit

Of course, there are a still little things I have to have on hand at all times (I am a mom, after all). We use travel-size versions of all of these and keep them stored away in a quart size bag. They fit neatly into the front pocket of my backpack so they can be easily removed at security.

• Diaper Rash Cream
• Nail Clipper
• A few Bandaids
• Infant Tylenol
• Adult Pain Reliever
• Hand Sanitizer

And finally, I have a nice outside pocket for all of my stuff. Not much, but it makes it easy to grab what we need when checking into our flights.

• Small Wallet with ID  | I really love this  cell phone wallet ; it fits much easier into the bag than my oversized everyday one, and at the same time forces me to downsize to only what I absolutely need when traveling (i.e. not a million store rewards cards).
• Baby’s Birth Certificate | It may or may not be needed depending on the airline and if you are buying a seat for baby – but I like to always have it on hand anyway.
• Pen  | My husband is always appreciative when it comes time to fill out those customs forms.
• Earbuds | On the off chance that your little one might actually fall asleep, take in some music or an audiobook.
• Cell Phone  | (obvi)

And that’s it!

Did I forget anything? What do you always pack in your carry on for your ‘toddler baby’?

Read next: 50+ Ways to Occupy a Toddler on an Airplane

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Wife and mom to two sassy little girls, Laura has been sharing her family's travels here on Our Next Adventure since 2016! Though lots has changed in both our family and the world of travel over the years, one thing remains: we love exploring new places together!

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Easily one of the best traveling posts I’ve read- and I’ve read A LOT lately as we prepare for a 6 hour flight with a 15 month old. Thank you for all of these great suggestions!

Thank you Emma! So glad you found it helpful. And good luck with the flight! 🙂

A question about carseats… I’ll be travelling with my 10 month old who still rear faces in a car seat to Hawaii and I’m wondering what I do about car seats? do I bring ours? do I rent one? we aren’t renting a car, hoping to get about by tours, walking or taxi/uber.

Any thoughts or tips would be much appreciated.

I’d say definitely bring your own. Even if you aren’t renting a car, having a car seat to take with you in a taxi/Uber is super vital. Not sure what the laws are in Hawaii, but in some places an Uber can turn you away if you don’t have a carseat. Assuming your 10 month old will be a lap baby, you can check the car seat (with a good car seat travel bag) at the counter and pick it up at destination (that’s what we always did and never had any problem with damage). Good luck! xo Laura

It was great reading your post. I’m also a traveling mom with a 17 months old toddler, and reading your post was like going back to our last flight, all the items you listed were on my carry on, and definitely it’s so different traveling with an infant then a toddler, our last flight was 5 hours on my lap, I’m not doing that again I’m buying her a ticket, it’s almost impossible to keep her still. Great reading you! I’m preparing for a 3 hour flight to Seattle in one week the difference is that I’m flying alone with my baby girl… Wish me luck!

Isn’t it crazy how fast things change?? Good luck on your solo flight! I only did it once without my husband (and still had other family with me), but my daughter seemed to go easier on me that day. Maybe they can sense when you really need their cooperation. 😀

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Best Travel Toys For 1 Year Old

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Last Updated on December 9, 2022 by Ariana Svenson

What are the best travel toys for a 1 year old?  With two older kids who’ve racked up thousands of hours of flying as infants and toddlers, I feel like I should have a handle on this.

I’ll not lie, I am not looking forward to entertaining a 1 year old on a plane!  It will be a total of 12 hours of flying with a one-year-old on a lap and I will definitely need some good travel toys and strategies.   She is an active crawler and climber but not yet walking.  She is also got clear preferences of her likes/ dislikes and if you take a toy off her she will do the cutest little tantrum as she throws her head onto the floor and screams.

Did I say cute?  Yes well, it is cute at home, but I can’t imagine that it will be at 30,000 feet!  So here goes.  Here are my tips for traveling with a 1 year old internationally and the best toys for airplane 1 year old.

This post may contain affiliate links, from which we would earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. More info in my disclaimer .

1 Year Old Travel Toys and Airplane Activities

Who are these airplane activities and toy suggestions intended for?  On the day of our flight, my baby will be one year old and one day.  However, these activities could be used for a 9-month-old right through to 16-18 months.  If you are looking for the best airplane activities for 18 months old and older take a look at our post, Brilliant Toddler Plane Activities .

A Necessary Activity, Eating – Best Travel Food for 1 Year Old Baby

So what is the best travel food for 1 year old baby?  I assume that your bub is now eating a range of solid foods, and the short answer is that you take food that they like from home.

These days there is a wide range of nutritious convenience food available in the supermarket – especially fruit pouches, with mixes of fruits, and also nutritious meals.  These are all marked so that you know that they are age-appropriate.  The same types of pouches are available in yogurt.  You need to supervise carefully that bub doesn’t over squeeze the pouch and the puree or yogurt go everywhere  That is not a good look! What a mess!  However, in general, these are a great way to carry food for one-year-olds!

A 1-year-old baby can eat a wide range of soft fruits, like peaches, bananas,  strawberries.  However given that they need to be cut up into relatively small pieces and you can’t take a knife on the plane, these will need to be eaten sooner rather than later.  Sliced cucumber travels well, as does celery though you need to be careful that the baby doesn’t take a chunk.  There are always choking risks with raw vegetables.

When flying I also feed my 1-year-old from my own airplane meal.  Some rice, pasta or mashed potato would all work well.  I’d also take a little bit of my chicken or fish and give the baby tiny pieces of food to eat.

Most importantly, the baby still is drinking a lot of milk at 1 year old.  Breastfeeding on the plane or road trip is best, as the child gets sustenance and connection/and soothing while traveling.  If you are traveling with formula, make sure you have packed enough for the trip and that you have organized how you are going to heat it up.

So while food is not necessarily a travel toy, it can be a necessary distraction.

One of the key aspects of how flying with a 1-year-old on a plane is understanding that they love new things that they have NEVER seen before.  Make sure you put all these items away for a week or more before travel so that when you pull them out baby says, “oh wow, new”.

For awesome Screen-Free Kids Airplane Activities check here .

Toys That Move/Has Different Textures

Most prams will have a couple of these toys with lots of great parts.  We love the Lamaze Captain Calamari .  It has been hidden for over a week now in preparation for our trip.  Keep in mind that some of the Lamaze toys make noise – you don’t want them on the plane!  However, we think this is one of the best travel toys for babies hands down.

Board Books With Touch and Feel Sections

Not only do you read the books, but run your fingers over the textures again and again.  Books are a bit chunky in your bag, but in my opinion, it is worth packing 2 or 3 of them for your one year old baby to play with.  Books have always been amongst my kid’s favorite activities when traveling.

Some books we would recommend as best travel toys for a 1 year old are the “That’s Not My…” series of books (my kids love them)!  They are relatively inexpensive but provide hours of entertainment.  They are also great for family travel as you can have the older kids explore the book with the baby.  You can check out the current prices on Amazon below.

An Activity Ball

These plastic twisty balls have got bits that move, mirrors, and are designed to grab the attention.  There are also infant specific textured balls sets that you can buy.  However, we use one that was supposed to be for the dog.  Our little one loves playing with it.  It is inexpensive and makes a great 1 year old travel toys idea.

Chew Toy/Teether

This is not exactly an airplane travel toys for 1 year old, but something that every 1 year old has in their care kit!  Chew toys that they can munch their teeth on are great for the plane.

Fidget/Twisty Toys

I have this great cloth fidget toy which I keep in my handbag.  Plus, these little wooden fidget/twisty toys that you can pull out at any time.  This is one of the best travel toys for babies, in my opinion, because you can easily carry it in your purse.  They don’t occupy the one year old for long but its enough to distract them for a couple of minutes and avoid a meltdown.  It can literally buy you some time when you need just a few minutes to focus on something else like paperwork or checking-in with the airline.

There are toys that have buckles and zips that your baby can play with like this one .  I prefer to let them use my backpack and the clips on my travel handbag.

Having a big practical travel handbag with plenty of compartments is seriously the best thing for traveling with a baby – especially if they have lots of clips and buckles they can play with.  Not only is this great to keep a baby occupied when flying with a 1 year old but it is also one of the best road trip toys for a one year old.  Inevitably you will always have your purse with you so this is just an easy way to keep them occupied.

Things Already on the Plane

While it is great to pack lots of 1 year old travel toys, they can get bulky pretty quickly.  There are plenty of things already on the plane that will entertain a 12-month-old baby or toddler for a while.  Think 3 minutes each thing, that really adds up!

• The safety card (small babies love the safety card on flights)
• In-flight magazine
• Cutlery and cups from the in-flight service

Snacks are every parent’s go-to distraction.  While not necessarily one of the best toys for airplane travel for a 1 year old, they are a necessity and serve a dual purpose.

Everyday Items You Don’t Have to Buy

The top-secret best travel toys for 1 year old won’t cost you a CENT.

Look around the house for everyday items that are curious.  They need to be small, light, and easy to carry.  They need to move or rattle, and they need to be fascinating to a one-year-old.

These are some items:

• Clothes peg
• Syringe/medicine plunger
• Old glasses (without lenses)
• Little plastic bottle
• Sticky tape

The Plastic Bottle

Plastic? Yes I know, plastic is rapidly filling up the world’s oceans and is one of the world’s biggest environmental concerns.  However, they are usually given out on the airplane and, for the sake of recycling, are great 1 year old travel toys.  They are really something simple that can help develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination with your baby.

What’s the Best Handbag for Travel With a Baby?

So I bet you didn’t know that theft-proof bags or slash-proof bags could also work as great bags to have when traveling with a one-year-old baby!  They do!  And, after all, you need something to carry all of these best travel toys for 1 year old in!

You will see all sorts of reviews online for bags that are useful for travel with a baby.  I personally use an anti-theft handbag from Travelon .  Honestly, the anti-theft factor is mostly about protecting myself from my little thief (the one-year-old baby) than a thief themselves!  That is, the bag is very durable (being anti slash) and has a range of carabiners to close the zips.  These are useful so that the baby can’t open your bag and pull the passports or purse out.

There is also a range of very useful compartments so that you can put keys in one, lipsticks in another.

You will see diaper bags like backpacks, but in my case, I nearly always travel with my laptop so that the laptop needs to go on my back with baby clothes, nappy change bag, and toys for a one year old in, while my money and valuables are still in my handbag.

Best Bags for Moms with Toddlers and  Best Bags for Moms | Finding the Right Mom Bag for your Busy Life are great resources.

What About Screens?

It is recommended that children under 2 have absolutely no screen time at all.  I have noticed that my one year old loves my phone and will swipe the screen back and forth.  She gets frustrated pretty quickly.

It all depends on your attitude to screens but I’d rather not get my baby addicted to a screen early.  Also, I did experiment on the last flight to see if children’s shows would capture her attention.  They did, for all of 60 seconds! So based on my experience screens aren’t a panacea anyway.  While I know many parents rely on them, I wouldn’t personally recommend them as a best travel toys for a 1 year old.

How to Change a Nappy (Diaper) on a Plane

Having changed many, many nappies on planes, I’ve put together these tips on how to change a diaper in flight.

•  You realize that your baby needs a change – or will soon.  Look out for times when there is not a long line at the toilets.
•  Hopefully, you don’t need to wait too long, or the baby is happy and occupied since they are out of the seating area.
•  When the time comes for the baby to change you realize that there is not too much space!
•  Babies do love mirrors though, so you might want to let them get used to the strange sounds in the airplane toilet by looking at themselves in the mirror!
•  I put down a diaper pad/nappy pad, get out the nappy and wipes, and then lay the baby down.
•  If they are a wriggler you are going to have to keep them still, and hopefully not touching too much stuff.
•  Sing a song, talk about your actions, talk about their body parts, and talk about what you are going to do when you are off the flight!
•  Tidy up baby and put the nappy in a smell proof bag in the toilets.
•  A BIG WORD OF WARNING! The flushing sound of toilets on the airplane is very frightening to babies and children.  It is a loud whoosh and all three of mine have hated it.  So if you need to flush the toilet with the baby – get outside the cubicle and then flush!  Oh yes, if you are traveling solo, managing to go to the toilet on the plane while holding a baby is doable!  But requires some contortions!)

We hope that this gives you some ideas of how to change a diaper or nappy on a flight!

Tips for Road Trips with Babies

We’ve got a lot of experience with having road trips with babies.

We normally have an adult or an older kid sit next to the crying baby and try to entertain them, but sometimes it just doesn’t work.  Believe me a crying baby in a traffic jam when your boobs are leaking is not fun.  However, this is what we do so that our family can experience things together.  Read about it in Travel Hacks and Road Trip Essenti als for Kids .

What is the Best Car Seat When Travelling with Babies?

A baby car seat is one of the most important investments you can make for your child.  There are loads of buying guides and dedicated information about how to buy the best car seat.  And, besides safety, they can be entertaining for your child.  So while it is technically not a travel toy for kids, it can have some useful and entertaining features.

My Tips Are:

•  Buy a new car seat in order to ensure the car seat has not been in a crash.
•  Pay for installation for the seat – apparently, poorly installed children’s car seats are one of the reasons for injuries in accidents.
•  Pick a car seat that will be easy to clean – bright colors look fun but they show the dirt.  We had a red car seat – I know this from experience!
•  If you have multiple kids and they all need to fit in the back seat, you might need to look for narrow fit car seats to ensure all kids get maximum comfort

Bonus – Tips for Flying With a 1 Year Old

Likely your one-year-old is super active – if they are not walking they are crawling – fast.  Also, they are very opinionated as to what they like and dislike.  Our baby tends to sound like a scalded cat when she doesn’t get the toy she wants!

Be Prepared

Have the toys in a small bag easy to reach during take-off and landing.

Have an Easy to Use Baby carrier 

Having a baby carrier on the plane makes it much easier to carry hand luggage and move more freely around the plane.  There are many models on the market.  I’ve always admired the forward-facing baby carriers as the kids can see where they are going!

Accept Help

In my experience, people LOVE helping with babies – both in airports and on the plane.  Yes, you will get the naysayers and the people who look at you in horror – but they are far outweighed by the kind people who know that traveling with a baby is hard.  If you need to go to the restroom – why not ask a hostess or the friendly lady next door?  Flying with a 1 year old can be difficult if you don’t have anyone to help out.

Make Friends

On my last flight with the 1-year-old, she was kept busy for at least 20 minutes by people all around her playing peek a boo, smiling, and more.  She would reward them with big toothy smiles and I think that they were just as happy to pass the time as she was!

Prepare For Contingencies

I pack 2 changes of clothes and extra nappies for a flight.  An extra bottle, and extra snacks (is there a common theme here).   My number one tips for flying with a one-year-old is about OVER planning.  I don’t know why vomits and poonamis always happen on planes, but they do.

Here we have just covered tips for flying with a one-year-old – there are a lot of other tips for travel with a baby, take a look at our Guide to Baby Travel Essentials .

The Verdict – Best Travel Toys for Babies

In short, flying with a moving baby who is yet not verbal is amongst the most difficult times to travel!  Expect to get very little downtime and to spend a lot of time entertaining your 1-year-old on the plane.  However, hopefully, these ideas of the best travel toys for 9-month-old through to about 18 months old will give you some food for thought! Good luck!

Do you have any suggestions for best travel toys for a 1 year old? We would love to hear all your suggestions for best travel toys for babies in the comments below.

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[…] babies.  This includes items such as teething toys, activity balls, board books, and much more.  Best Travel Toys For 1 Year Old is filled with all our tried and tested […]

[…] and trial and error I created a post all about activities for smaller children.  Read it here in Best Travel Toys For 1 Year Old and also, Brilliant Toddler Plane […]

[…] Are your children younger?  A baby or one year old can actually be a little easier to occupy than a toddler or older child.  Check out this post for some simple ideas for the Best Travel Toys For A 1-Year-Old. […]

I bought Lamaze Captain Calamari for my daughter based on the positive reviews, and it didn’t disappoint. She actually shook with excitement when she saw “Friend-o”. That’s what we call it. It helps keep her quietly engaged in the car seat, which is a big win.

[…] Let’s face it – traveling with a toddler is a very different ballgame than any other travel you will likely experience!  We traveled a lot with our youngest as a baby and summarised our best travel toys and ideas for international travel with a baby at Best Travel Toys For 1 Year Old. […]

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What to Pack When Traveling With Baby

Fact-checking standards, latest update:, when can you travel with your baby, read this next, what to pack for your baby in a carry-on bag, what to pack in your baby's suitcase.

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What to Expect the First Year , 3rd edition, Heidi Murkoff. WhatToExpect.com, Flying With a Baby? Here's What to Know Before You Go , September 2021. WhatToExpect.com, Do Babies Need Passports? , October 2021. WhatToExpect.com, Best Travel Toys for Babies , February 2021. WhatToExpect.com, Baby Products You Can Take on a Plane , September 2020. American Academy of Pediatrics, Flying with Baby: Parent FAQs , November 2019. American Academy of Pediatrics, Is It Safe for Families to Travel Now? , August 2021. American Academy of Pediatrics, Travel Safety Tips , August 2018.  American Academy of Pediatrics, Is It Safe for My Baby to Travel in a Car Seat a Few Hours at a Time? , August 2021. Transportation Security Administration, Traveling with Children . Federal Aviation Administration, Flying with Children , March 2021. Mayo Clinic, Is Air Travel Safe for an Infant? , October 2019.

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12 Toddler Essentials for Air Travel

Last month, Eliza took her first trip on a plane. We headed to Texas to visit Dave’s mom and full disclosure — I had a lot of anxiety about the visit. Even without COVID, I would have had nerves about traveling with a toddler, but with safety concerns, those feelings were multiplied. In addition to the standard thoughts of “I hope she doesn’t get upset during the flight”, “what will getting through security be like with all. the. things?!”, and “what if there’s a diaper emergency?”, this trip also brought worries regarding sanitation and prayers she wouldn’t find a way to touch everything. When it comes to air traveling with small kids, we are far from experts. But, I think the nerves I have — while wanting Eliza to have as many practical comforts as possible — is more common and typical than seasoned pros with regular jet-setting toddlers. I planned, packed, and we successfully made it through our trip! We learned some things along the way that I thought could be beneficial for those of you who may be interested in hearing the opinions and experiences of the occasional travelers (newly with child in-tow 😉 ). Today, I’m sharing 12 toddler travel essentials from our flight that made our trip so much easier, along with a details on our general logistics when it came to our travel days.

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12 Toddler Travel Essentials (for Air Travel)

1. Kitty Backpack | 2. Spill-Proof Thermos | 3. Headphones | 4. Bibs Pacifiers | 5. North Face Fleece | 6. Fat Brain Toys Suction Kupz | 7. Fat Brain Toys Dimpl | 8. Tubby Todd Hand Sanitizer | 9. Water Wipes | 10. Happy Tot Pouches | 11. Diaper Bag Dispenser & Refills | 12. UPPAbaby Minu Travel Stroller

1. Kitty Backpack  

Because we were traveling after the holidays, I used Christmas as an opportunity to gift Eliza a few things for our trip. Eliza was 18 months at the time of travel, is very petite and while I wasn’t planning for her to walk much in the airport, I wanted her to have a little backpack she could manage, should she need to wear one (especially while boarding the plane). All airlines have different policies when it comes to carry-on items. I mentioned before that because I’m nervous, I like to be extra comfortable. While 2 and under can fly free as lap flyers, had Delta not had their current blocked middle seat practice in place, we would have went ahead and purchased Eliza her own seat. But, because Delta is currently blocking middle seats, I listed Eliza as a lap-flier, knowing we would have room in the middle seat for our family, also. But, without her being a commissioned flyer, I didn’t want to run into any snags in terms of carry-ons and personal items. (I think my anxiety is showing even in the explanation of my thought process, haha). Bottom line — I wanted a small bag she could carry on her back, onto the plane, while I was holding her, that could hold a few of her flight snacks and activities.

Because of her age and size, I didn’t know if this sweet little pack would overpower her but I was pleasantly surprised when it arrived to see how much space it had, despite its petite structure. The straps are adjustable, it’s easy to unzip and grab from, and the outside pockets are actually usable. It comes in both a mini and small (we have the mini) and coincidentally, it’s on clearance this weekend . Plus, there’s an additional 30% off clearance promo right now, using code COZY HERE . My mom has a black kitty that Eliza loves so I leapt at the chance to snag this backpack but there’s also a bunny version (on sale but not on clearance) HERE . Even if you aren’t much of a flier, these backpacks are sweet for everyday use, car trips, and days out. We opted to get ours personalized but without personalization, the mini (originally $45) is currently $18 with code COZY .

2. Spill-Proof Thermos  

At home, Eliza has her milk cups and her water cups with straws. Neither were appropriate for tossing in a bag and flying. I wanted something that was easy, wouldn’t spill, had a protected straw, and had a safe straw that was soft. THIS little thermos — which comes in a few colors — worked perfectly. The fact that it had little kitty ears and nestled inside Eliza’s little backpack side pocket perfectly was a happy coincidence 😉 One caveat not to miss — we brought it with us totally empty and then filled it with water from a shop on the other side of security. When we took it out after we were in flight and popped the top open, the pressure that had built up made water squirt all over. Shocking, funny, but totally embarrassing. If you use this as a travel cup and fly with it –which I would 100% recommend! — make sure to twist the lid to relieve pressure before popping the cap open once you’re in-flight ;).

3. Headphones

Flying is not the time I wanted to test my parenting skills to see if I could keep Eliza entertained without a screen, haha. These padded headphones for kids fold nicely for compact carrying, come in several colors, and worked perfectly! The cord is tipped with a standard headphone jack — which is compatible with the airplane TVs for direct input — but if you plan to plug into an iPad/iPhone, make sure to grab on of these adapters ( HERE ). Most Delta flights are equipped with TVs built into the headrests these days, but if you aren’t sure about your plane, THESE adapters are tiny and great to keep on hand, just in case.

4. Bibs Pacifiers

While Eliza typically only has a paci for sleep time, I brought several along for the flight for both takeoff and landing. They worked like a charm and she was totally unfazed by elevation/shifting of pressures.

5. North Face Fleece

When we were traveling, the weather was a bit funny. From ATL to San Antonio, the temperature shifts throughout our stay was anywhere from 30s to 70s. I didn’t want to over-pack heavy coats and even though I knew Eliza wouldn’t be going out at night during the coldest temps, I wanted something warm but lightweight for travel and “just in case”. Santa brought her this sweet little North Face fleece jacket that we love. It was light enough to wear through the airport and on the plane (and can fold up teeny tiny!), but would have given just the right amount of warmth as an added layer in the chilly temps. We went for classic black but they come in several colors HERE , and is available as small as a size 0-3 mo.

6. Fat Brain Toys Suction Kupz

I was really nervous about keeping Eliza entertained during our travel days and I really had to work to keep the carry-ons lightweight and not over-stuffed. These flexible silicone suction cups are so versatile — they stack, bend, and add virtually no added weight. Another perk — they’re easy to clean! I did bring a couple of books on the plane too, and those actually proved to be a waste. They were too bulky, heavy, and only kept her entertained for a few minutes — on the way back, I added them to our checked luggage.

7. Fat Brain Toys Dimpl

Another lightweight winner, this Dimpl is easy to toss in a carry-on. Even if you aren’t traveling, it makes a great carseat toy!

8. Tubby Todd Hand Sanitizer

It smells great, the spray feature is easy and provides full coverage, and it’s gentle on sensitive skin. It comes in a two-pack and I always keep one in the car and one in my purse!

9. Water Wipes

Good for face, hands, and diaper changes, flying with a single pack of water wipes instead of several different kinds of wipes was the perfect solution.

10. Happy Tot Pouches

Even if you aren’t a typical “pouch family”, these pouches are quick, easy, travel well, and are a great way to get some nutrients in when traveling. Eliza loves these and they have everything from sweet potatoes, squash, chia, and mango to carrots, spinach, green beans, and apples.

11. Diaper Bag Dispenser & Refills

These deodorized diaper bags aren’t just a top travel essential, but an essential for babies and toddlers, in general. They’re small and compact and totally conceal any smell. I know this is oversharing a bit and my mom will be mortified if she sees this but on more than one occasion, I’ve used these on the go, knotted them and tossed them in my purse, and totally forgotten they were there. Not only am I totally fine and confident storing a dirty diaper in these — even in my purse, should I not have access to a trash can — but they’re also great when you’re visiting someone’s house and you don’t want to put a dirty diaper directly in their trashcan. Even when I visit with my parents, I just don’t feel right sticking an unprotected, smelly diaper in their regular trash. You can find the dispenser with bags HERE for $3.99 (they ship free), and grab bag refills HERE .

12. UPPAbaby Minu Travel Stroller

The number one thing that was likely the source of the majority of my anxiety about traveling was the logistics and ease, making our way through the airport, through security, and onto the plane. We have always used an UPPAbaby Vista stroller (which by the way, I 100% recommend), but for air travel especially, I thought it would be too heavy, too bulky, and too cumbersome. I started researching travel strollers and from reviews, videos, and rankings, it seemed the UPPAbaby Minu was by far the best combination of easy and lightweight while still having premium features. We have been such fans of our other UPPAbaby gear, so the numerous comparisons I read weren’t surprising. Also, while we love our Vista , I thought it was probably time to consider going with something a little more easy and portable that could potentially transition into our new primary stroller. We got it c/o UPPAbaby just before our trip and, wow. Not only is it lightweight (while the Vista weighs in at over 26 lbs, the MINU weighs just under 15 lbs), but it folds down to its most compact size with one hand and has a carrying strap. While it doesn’t have the huge wheels the Vista has, it does maneuver effortlessly and easily — if you have experience with other UPPAbaby strollers, you know how well they glide. The best part — it fits in the overhead bin on the plane.

This alone was a huge determining factor for me when I was researching. I don’t trust checked baby gear and if it could be avoided, I didn’t even want to chance checking a stroller at the gate. When we went to board the plane, the gate agent gave us a slip to check it and I declined, telling her it was *supposed* to fit in the overhead bin. She was doubtful. When we boarded, the flight attendant said “um, that can be checked” and again, I told her it would fit in the overhead, hoping the claims of what I read were true. Dave easily lifted the stroller, slid it in the overhead compartment, and shut the hatch. The flight attendant was shocked and asked where we got it. Now again, this was the first time we flew with it but I was surprised she was so surprised. A stroller fitting in the overhead so easily is that rare?? Apparently, to her, it was.

In terms of the features, it has a hood, a sunshade, and the recline is adjustable. It has a basket underneath which still accompanied both Dave and Eliza’s bags as we cruise through the airport and just as the stroller fit perfectly in the overhead compartment on the plane, it has a single-handed fold-up that makes it easy and quick to put on the security conveyor. It’s upright and wheels in small spaces and isn’t too cumbersome to jump on and off the plane train at the airport. It was such a game changer during our trip that it now resides in the cargo space of my crossover and has become our primary stroller.

And, while we waited until now to test out the MINU , if you prefer something smaller and more lightweight in general, even at an earlier age, it does comes with the ability to attach an infant seat! You can find the adapter (it would have worked with our UPPAbaby Mesa, among others) HERE . There’s a big pocket on the back, it holds up to 50 lbs, and it has fee same-day delivery where we live HERE .

*BONUS* Gathre Leather Changing Mat

These things are lifesavers — they fold up into a tiny square, are easily wiped clean, and are not only good for diaper changes, but mats to eat on, also (I brought two with us). You can lay them on any surface and I prefer to put these on top of changing stations instead of trying to Clorox the entire thing.

Other Travel Favorites (Non-Flight Related)

While not flight-related, I wanted to share a few of our favorites we’ve used for trips by car, also.

Eliza is incredibly regimented so the first time we took an overnight trip, I was nervous about how she would sleep in a hotel room — especially while we stayed awake for hours longer. We ordered this Slumberpod which is essentially a blackout tent, designed to fit over a pack and play. It worked perfectly . It stays pitch black, is breathable and even has an interior pocket if you want to set a monitor inside.

We also set Eliza’s white noise machine — the Hatch — inside the Slumberpod so not only is it pitch black, but it also drowns out the noise outside of the pod. We use it nightly in her nursery so we just pack it in our luggage.

In terms of packing, THESE packing cubes are game changers — not just for kids, but for the whole family. For small kids specifically, though, with Eliza splitting suitcases with me, it so helped having all of her things grouped together, organized and separated. I swear these make it easier to fit so much more inside the suitcase, too. I used one cube for her outfits, one for diapers, wipes, and toiletries, and one for everything else. They come in several color options and are one of my most favorite discoveries of the last five years.

As we become more seasoned (one day), traveling as a family of three, I’m sure we’ll continue to learn and simplify but as for our first flight travel experience — especially during a more concerning time — the prep leading up to our trip totally paid off. Packing and traveling with small kids is no joke but I literally took inventory of our full typical day and tried to duplicate that in a travel-version. Are there any toddler essentials you swear by that make traveling with kids easier? If so, you can share those in the comment section at the bottom of the post!

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It’s not a travel essential but I wanted to share an experience. When my first born was a baby we flew across the country, changing flights twice. I wore white jeans, as it was summer. When I arrived at my destination I was a dirty mess. So if traveling with a baby or toddler leaves the white jeans at home. I’m also a nervous traveller. I love to travel and once on the flight I’m fine. I’m always afraid of missing my flight and never sleep much the night before departure, then airports freak me out. So..many..people! Once on the plane, I relax and look forward to my destination. I can’t wait until we can travel again safely.

Hi Joanna, Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by! I appreciate the tip. We also take our travel wear into account when we go on trips. You are so right that white is not the way to go. Thank you for sharing your experience and I also look forward to the time when traveling is easier for us all!

Not sure where in North Georgia you live, but flying out of Chattanooga might be worth the drive. We flew out of Atlanta with our 7 year old granddaughter and going through security was terrible. The security officer was yelling at everyone, which had my granddaughter in tears. I understand they have a serious job to do, but it was a horrible experience. Our flight back from Orlando went extremely smooth. We will fly from Chattanooga now.

Hi Fran, Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and leave a message. I agree that the Atlanta airport can be tough. I really appreciate your tip!

I don’t have a travel comment. I just want to say Eliza is just adorable! I could just squeeze her with those head phones on.

Hi Sara, Thank you so much for your sweet message! the head phones were definitely a hit with Eliza. xoxo

Our most stressful flight of all times was traveling back from China with a 22-month-old we barely knew (who was somewhat terrified of my husband)! It was a 17-hour flight! Some things that helped entertain our new son were not toys. A pad of post-it notes, a box of bandaids, a roll of masking tape, and lots and lots of snacks! Sometimes the novelty of getting to use something that is normally off limits (or at least not a toy) can work wonders!

Hi Libbe, Thank you so much for taking the time to visit! I can’t imagine a 17-hour flight, but it sounds like it was such a great one for a wonderful reason. Love your tips on the items you used to entertain your son. I appreciate you sharing!

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The Ultimate Packing List for Flying With Kids

From activity books to wipes galore, everything you need for your next flight with kids.

Alesandra Dubin is an LA-based lifestyle writer and editor. As a veteran digital journalist, she's covered travel, food, parenting, and more for over 15 years. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, TripSavvy, and countless other online and print outlets. An avid traveler, she often trots the globe with her husband and their twins. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @alicedubin. Alesandra holds a master's degree in journalism with an emphasis on cultural reporting and criticism from NYU, and a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley.

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Travel + Leisure / Reese Herrington

The trick to flying with young kids? Careful preparation. Our writer has traveled the world with twins, and she knows that flying with children can be miserable if you don't bring the right items on board with you. But with the right tools, a flight with your youngsters is not just feasible but can even be fun. We've rounded up all the supplies you’ll need for feeding, cleaning, soothing, and entertaining little ones — plus transporting all that cargo. So use this guide to prepare properly for your next family flight .

Packing Checklist for Flying With Kids

We've broken down all categories of things you’ll need to pack when flying with children and included the exact items we’d recommend.

Read more about our specific recommendations below and start your own checklist, too.

Entertainment 

• Best Tablet: Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Tablet
• Best Headphones: Puro Sound Labs BT2200s Kids’ Bluetooth Headphones
• Best Tech Stand: Airglo Cell Phone and Tablet Holder
• Best Coloring Book: Unicorn Imagine Ink Magic Ink Book
• Best Book: "Where’s Waldo? The Fantastic Journey"
• Best Activity Book: On the Plane Activity Book
• Best Craft: Purple Ladybug Wax Craft Sticks
• Best Game: Magnetic Travel Games
• Best Set: Mini Voyager 4-7 Jetsetter Travel Kit
• Best Sound Machine: Frida Baby Portable 2-in-1 Sound Machine
• Best Pillow and Blanket: Roamwild Kids Travel Pillow and Travel Blanket Set
• Best Portable Bed: Flyaway Kids Bed

Food and Drink

• Best Reusable Water Bottle: Yeti 12-ounce Kids Water Bottle
• Best Lollipops: Ring Pops (20 Count)
• Best Snacks: Healthy Snacks Variety Pack
• Best Snack Activity: Fred Match Up Memory Snack Tray
• Best Changing Pad: SkipHop Portable Baby Changing Pad
• Best Multi-purpose Wipes: Hello Bello Unscented Baby Wipes
• Best Face Wipes: Baby Wipes by Boogie Wipes
• Best Surface Wipes: Lysol Disinfecting Surface Wipes
• Best Hand Sanitizer: Kinia 8-pack Hand Sanitizer Holders
• Best Diaper Bag: Dagne Dover Indi Diaper Backpack
• Best Crossbody Bag: Kibou Vegan Leather Fanny Pack Diaper Bag
• Best Kids Backpack: Herschel Backpack Kids 9L
• Best Wheeled Backpack: Jansport Driver 8 Backpack
• Best Carry-on Suitcase: Rockland London Hardside 20-inch Spinner
• Best Ride-on Suitcase: Jetkids by Stokke Bedbox 19-inch Ride-on Carry-on

Accessories

• Best Luggage Trackers: Apple AirTags
• Best First Aid Kit: PreparaKit Take Along First-aid Kit
• Best Storage Bags: Hefty Slider Storage Bags

T+L's Top Picks and Tips

Entertainment.

Entertaining kids is absolutely critical to keeping the peace on any flight. For babies and younger kids, one rule of thumb is to think of entertainment in 15-minute increments; bring enough options to rotate activities often. For older or generally tech-minded kids? Well, the magic power of screens sure comes in handy.

Best Tablet

Amazon fire hd 10 kids edition.

Why We Love It: This tablet has plenty of storage space and comes in a virtually indestructible case.

What to Consider: This isn’t as full-featured as, say, an iPad, so kids will outgrow it eventually.

Tablets are great for long-stretch occupation — just be sure to download your child's favorite shows and movies ahead of time rather than relying on airplane wifi to stream. Amazon’s Fire for kids simpler and less expensive than standard adult versions, and it comes with an indestructible, kid-friendly case with a stand. The Fire HD 10 also includes a two-year guarantee and a yearlong subscription to Amazon Kids+. We find this to be a great investment to keep children from ages 3 to 5 occupied.

Best Headphones

Puro sound labs bt2200s volume limited kids headphones.

Why We Love It: These Bluetooth headphones have a safe maximum volume for kids.

What to Consider: They are pricier than some alternative kids' headphones.

In the same way that you’ll likely lean hard on that tablet to keep kids occupied, you'll depend on quality kids' headphones to go with it. This compact but powerful pair is made to protect early hearing damage by following the World Health Organization’s recommendation of an 85dB-limited volume range. The Bluetooth capability has a 30-foot range of movement so the child can feel free to move about the cabin, too.The lightweight, durable headphones come in nine fun colors.

Best Tech Stand

Airglo airplane travel essentials.

Why We Love It: This universal tech holder is a great hands-free solution for use in planes, cars, and more.

What to Consider: It might not be the most secure stand for larger phones or tablets.

This nifty gadget is the brainchild of a flight attendant who saw a need for a phone stand that would allow passengers to watch movies and TV shows on long flights. Now kids can also watch on your devices hands-free with this tool that fits any brand’s gadgets. It folds fairly flat when not in use, and this lightweight stand could also be repurposed to hang a bag on a chair or tray table.

Best Coloring Book

Bendon unicorn imagine ink magic ink book.

Why We Love It: This compact book is small, self-contained, and mess-free.

What to Consider: The cover is slightly misleading: This book isn’t actually full of unicorn themes.

These invisible ink activity books are self-contained — no crayon collection to roll under plane seats — and guaranteed mess-free. Kids just use the Imagine Ink marker to stay busy with 16 pages of games, all in a portable-size book just right for tossing in a travel bag. We've found invisible ink books particularly effective for children aged 3 to 6.

Where's Waldo? The Fantastic Journey Paperback

Why We Love It: This book is challenging for kids of all ages (including pre-readers) and delivers on a healthy dose of nostalgia for parents as well.

What to Consider: A book will never be as tempting as a tablet for tech-addled kids.

Books that challenge little ones keep them entertained. And Where’s Waldo does just that — even for kids who aren’t reading yet. The paperback book is not only small and lightweight for travel, but its journey motif fits in nicely with vacation adventures, too.

Best Activity Book

On the plane activity book.

Why We Love It: This lightweight book gets kids excited about their flight, with plane-themed games and activities.

What to Consider: You’ll need to bring and keep track of your own coloring implements.

Engage kids in the excitement of travel with this activity book that has an airplane journey theme. Think: spot the identical pilots on their way through the airport, true-or-false airplane and flying facts, and more. Just pack a pencil (or probably two).

Purple Ladybug Wax Craft Sticks for Kids

Why We Love It: This generously stocked wax stick kit has plenty of sticks to share between or among siblings.

What to Consider: You'll probably leave some sticks on the floor and in the seats.

This set of wax craft sticks will be a novelty for most kids, and waxy sticks won’t roll away as easily as crayons or markers. This kit comes with 300 sticks in 15 colors and two different lengths, plenty for multiple siblings to have a go. Kids can endlessly shape and reshape them with no noise and no mess.

The Purple Cow Magnetic Animal Homes Matching Puzzle

Why We Love It: Magnetic pieces keep this tin game set together for play on the go.

What to Consider: Pieces are only magnetic on one side.

Nothing’s more frustrating than trying to travel with a game that’s rendered immediately useless after some essential piece slides irretrievably under an airplane or car seat. This compact game set provides a frustration-free alternative with magnets that keep everything together. We recommend it for children over 2.

Mini Voyager 4-7y Jetsetter Travel Kit

Mini Voyage

Why We Love It: This kit combines a customized array of kids entertainment items into one grab-and-go bundle.

What to Consider: You may save money by finding and buying all of these items separately (if you have the time and inclination).

If creating a DIY bag of entertainment ideas for every flight seems like a lot of work, buy this kit, which compiles it all for you in one convenient bundle. Choose from multiple items to build your own customized pack based on your kid’s interests and ages, including stickers, books, toys, and games.

When kids don’t get adequate rest, the whole thing goes off the rails in a hurry — for everyone. In addition to comfy clothes and layers, these packable items help keep children warm, soothed, and rested on the plane.

Best Sound Machine

Fridababy 2-in-1 portable sound machine.

Why We Love It: This portable sound machine also has a nightlight, and it hooks onto a tray table hinge or arm rest.

What to Consider: It can be hard to differentiate the buttons in the dark.

This little machine produces five soothing sounds for kids, including shushing and a heartbeat. It has an adjustable strap, so you can hook it onto an arm rest or or tray table hinge, or a car seat or stroller once off the plane. During your flight, just but be mindful of using anything beyond pink noise in flight out of respect to your fellow passengers. Conveniently, it also has a nightlight with three glow levels which could help you locate items in a dimmed cabin, too.

Best Pillow and Blanket

Roamwild kids travel pillow.

Why We Love It: This cute and cuddly set is a pillow, blanket, and toy all in one.

What to Consider: While the sleeve-style cover adds comfort to an armrest, it’s still an armrest — so it may be too firm for some kids’ tastes.

A travel pillow and blanket are always useful tools in keeping children cozy for long flights. This one has a niche feature: After you remove the blanket, the sleeve-style toy slides over any armrest to transform it into a kids’ pillow. So, it’s a penguin toy, a comfy pillow, and a warm blanket, all in one cute and compact package.

Best Portable Bed

Flyaway kids bed.

Why We Love It: Not just a place to sleep, this comfy surface also keeps toys and accessories from rolling onto the floor.

What to Consider: You’ll be happy to have it on the plane, but then you’ll be committed to traveling with it for the duration of your trip.

When kids are overtired, everyone loses. And a tool like this can be just the ticket for helping them sleep on long flights. The bed for babies, toddlers, and little kids inflates in 90 seconds and deflates quickly, too. It comes in a carry bag with a pump included, and it can be wiped clean.

When it comes to traveling with kids, you’ll always need more snacks than you think. Think you’ve packed enough? Great, now double it. And don’t forget a refillable water bottle to kep your kiddo hydrated.

Best Reusable Water Bottle

Yeti rambler jr. kids bottle.

Why We Love It: This water bottle is impressively leakproof and made to withstand a beating.

What to Consider: The bottle itself is heavy, especially compared to its relatively small 12-ounce payload.

Staying hydrated with kids while traveling is a must, and this water bottle means business. The Yeti is durable, spill proof, and double-wall insulated to keep drinks cold (or warm) for hours. Plus, a straw cap makes it easy for kids to sip on the go.

Best Lollipops

Ring pop individually wrapped bulk lollipop variety party pack.

Why We Love It: It acts as both a snack and a bribe — er, reward , that is — and can help reduce ear discomfort on planes.

What to Consider: Nope, there’s no nutritional value here!

Lollipops and their ilk are a multifunction tool for traveling with kids: It’s a snack! It’s a reward! It keeps them busy! And the act of swallowing while sucking on them can also ease ear pressure on takeoff and landing. Even better, Ring Pops are a smart, toy-like alternative to stick lollies for hands-free holding.

Best Snacks

Stuff your sack healthy snacks variety pack organic care package.

Why We Love It: This variety pack includes 18 different flavors to keep kids interested.

What to Consider: The packaged snacks may be organic, but they are still processed food.

Having kids means having snacks handy at all times; traveling makes it all the more necessary to keep kids fed and comfortable to combat whining. This variety pack includes 25 organic packaged snacks from 19 different brands; 18 different flavors keep them intrigued as little surprises unfold throughout a long journey.

Best Snack Activity

Fred match up memory snack tray.

Why We Love It: Dispensing snacks this way keeps the experience fun for kids — and prolongs the process to keep them busy, too.

What to Consider: Make sure your child is able to push buttons.

Snacks serve two important functions: nutrition and amusement. For that reason, try to prolong these food breaks as a way to keep kids busy and amused. Try putting different snacks into this fun tray with compartments; it’s fun for littles to discover treats behind each door, and it adds time to the whole process. For slightly older toddlers and children, you can make a memory game out of it.

Keeping kids clean — and cleaning up after them — has long been a top concern among traveling parents. A global pandemic only underscored the importance of traveling with wipes and sanitizer.

Best Changing Pad

Skip hop pronto changing station.

Why We Love It: When you travel with your own changing pad, you’re guaranteed a non-public surface no matter where you are.

What to Consider: A separate changing pad may not be necessary if you have a diaper bag that comes with one.

Change a diaper on the go without fear of exposing baby to gross, public surfaces. This changing pad takes the form of a clutch, with a large mesh pocket that holds four diapers and accessories, plus a translucent wipes case. A front zipper pocket holds essentials like keys and cash. Drop it in any bag, or clip it on a travel stroller or luggage handle instead.

Best Multi-purpose Wipes

Hello bello unscented baby wipes.

Why We Love It: You can use these extra-soft baby wipes on just about everything.

What to Consider: These full-size packs aren’t tiny.

Is there nothing a baby wipe can't do? From diaper changes to on-the-go hand cleaning to wiping up half-eaten miscellany, traveling with baby wipes is a must. These are super soft with aloe and chamomile extract — and no alcohol, synthetic fragrances, phthalates, or parabens.

Best Face Wipes

Boogie wipes.

Why We Love It: These hypoallergenic, ultra-soft saline wipes are great for cleaning snotty faces and even clearing airways.

What to Consider: If you don’t want to pack a bag full of different wipe options, this specialty product might be the first to go.

With kids, runny noses are just about guaranteed for chunks of the year, and they're even more likely when you add in the fatigue and exposure from traveling. These hypoallergenic and alcohol-free cloths are designed expressly for nose-wiping, with gentle saline, vitamin E, aloe, and chamomile to soothe sensitive skin.

Best Surface Wipes

Lysol disinfecting wipes to-go pack.

Why We Love It: You’ll find tons of uses for this travel-sized package of wipes when traveling through public spaces with (or without) kids.

What to Consider: These are ideal for surfaces, but they are not for use on kids’ faces.

These germ-busting wipes are ideal for cleaning nonporous surfaces like a tray tables or seatback entertainment screens, and they're a must for both safety and peace of mind when traveling with littles known to touch everything.

Best Hand Sanitizer

Kinia 8 pack empty mixed kids hand sanitizer.

Why We Love It: These cute and colorful hand sanitizer holders keep gel easy to access for frequent cleanups.

What to Consider: Be advised these containers come empty, so you’ll need to fill with your favorite brand.

In addition to wipes, hand sanitizer is a must for quick cleaning on the go. Keep your gel handy by filling these colorful jelly wrap silicone carriers. The 1-ounce, flip-top-cap bottles attach with adjustable silicone cords to backpacks, diaper bags, and just about anywhere else.

Depending on kids’ ages and sizes, they may be candidates to tote their own cargo. Backpacks, rolling bags, and even ride-on options help keep the process moving smoothly. Adults, on the other hand, can benefit from bags that keep hands free in case they need to carry tired children or hold little hands along the way.

Best Diaper Bag

Dagne dover indi diaper backpack.

Why We Love It: This bag is sleek, chic, and unisex, and it delivers on functionality with tons of specialized compartments.

What to Consider: It's spacious and deep, so smaller items can be hard to spot in a hurry (and when are you not in a hurry when traveling with kids?).

Traveling with kids means prioritizing performance in a diaper bag ; we're huge fans of Dagne Dover because the brand fuses functionality with style so well. Done in chic, 100-percent vegan neoprene, this backpack-style diaper bag also clips to a stroller upon arrival. It includes a mini changing mat and extra pouches, with an extra zipper opening for easy access to wipes.

Best Crossbody Bag

Kibou diaper bag.

Why We Love It: This crossbody doubles as a compact diaper bag for hands-free convenience.

What to Consider: A diaper bag this small obviously isn’t a feasible option for longer outings or multiple babies, so consider your usage.

This vegan-leather waist pack, which extends into a crossbody, is a great choice for traveling through airports and wearing on the plane. The ultra-compact diaper bag has tons of features so you can travel hands free: A built-in waterproof pocket holds 20 wipes wet for up to a week, a detachable changing pad unfolds from the back flap, a hook holds a pacifier or key, slots secure credit cards or cash, and the nylon lining is wipeable and stain resistant. It's even possible to use this as a regular bag once your little ones are out of diapers, too.

Best Kids Backpack

Herschel heritage backpack | kids.

Why We Love It: Encouraging kids to carry their own backpack builds independence while keeping the family’s cargo moving.

What to Consider: This kid-size version is best for ages 3 to 7; move up to youth size for older kids.

Herschel has just the right size backpack for children preschool age and up to carry their own gear — both to help out the family and to develop a bit of self reliance. This kid-proportioned version is just 13 inches high and has a removable sternum support strap. The next size up is right for youths ages 8 to 12 and, at 15 inches high, it also features a 13-inch laptop or tablet sleeve.

Best Wheeled Backpack

Jansport driver 8 core series wheeled backpack.

Why We Love It: A rolling backpack keeps the weight off kids’ backs and holds a solid amount of cargo.

What to Consider: This well-equipped pack is substantially sized and a better bet for grade school ages and up.

This 21-inch rolling backpack is packed with features for bigger kids. It has two spacious main compartments plus skate wheels and a telescoping handle for a smooth ride. An exterior mesh bottle pocket stretches to fit large bottles, and a 15-inch laptop sleeve has a buckle to keep technology extra secure. It comes in an array of solid colors and appealing prints, and you can easily tuck away the shoulder straps when not in use.

Best Kids' Carry-on Suitcase

Rockland london hardside spinner wheel luggage carry-on.

Why We Love It: Kids can grow with this 20-inch spinner, small enough to manage but large enough to hold proper cargo.

What to Consider: A 20-inch spinner will be too large for preschoolers to easily maneuver.

When it comes to kids’ roller bags, we advocate for choosing a piece small enough for them to manage but large enough to hold a meaningful amount of cargo. To be worthwhile, it must be an efficient use of hands and bin space, not just a character-shaped gimmick that holds very little. Our writer's twins have these durable hardside cases, which they’ve carried independently since age 6 (going on three years and many miles and still going!).

Best Ride-on Suitcase

​​stokke jetkids bedbox.

Why We Love It: This wheeled ride-on suitcase transforms into a leg rest or bed in flight.

What to Consider: Not all carriers permit the use of items like these as leg rests while in the air.

This ride-on rolling suitcase has hidden talents beyond scooting through the airport: It transforms into a leg rest, or an in-plane bed, to help keep kids comfy and rested during the flight, too. Bonus: It even includes two sheets of stickers for kids to personalize their own luggage.

It may seem overwhelming to keep track of all the things you need to bring, especially after you've left home. GPS trackers can be lifesavers for locating your items during the journey, and a small first aid kit and plastic slider bags prepare for just-in-case moments and help clean up mid-flight messes, too.

Best Luggage Tracker

Apple airtag 4-pack.

Why We Love It: Track your kids’ stuff — or even your kids themselves — amid hectic environments like airports.

What to Consider: These tiny trackers are made to interface with Apple devices only.

In crowded, chaotic environments — especially when the dependability of baggage handling could use improvement — a small GPS tracking device tucked into a bag can make all the difference in reuniting with it after, say, a kid blithely walks away from their belongings after being distracted by a candy display. You can also use these tags on children themselves, with an array of specialty wristbands, keychains, and necklaces designed to incorporate the tags for wearability.

Best First Aid Kit

Preparakit small compact first aid kit for kids.

Why We Love It: This well-stocked first aid kit covers the basics in a compact, highly portable package.

What to Consider: You can save money if you choose to compile your own kit with customized supplies.

This TSA-approved mini first aid kit contains all the essentials for babies and toddlers in a package just about the size of a wallet. The curated array of 50 items includes bandages, gauze, tape, scissors, thermometer strips, and more. There’s also additional room to add your own prescription or over-the-counter medication.

Best Storage Bags

Hefty slider storage bags.

Why We Love It: They have a stand-up bottom for convenience.

What to Consider: They're less durable than sturdier bags made for freezer storage,

There are so many uses for slider storage bags while flying with kids: Use them within backpacks to organize cables, toys, and snacks. Or, use them to separate wet or soiled items, and to collect trash tidily. Plus, they’re super lightweight and waterproof.

Prioritize new or special items

When it comes to keeping kids entertained during a long flight, they’re most likely to stay engaged when playing with something that is new to them. Now’s the time to choose new or rarely used games, books, toys, and technology to pack in your kit for maximum novelty value.

Consider portability

You may be accustomed to your full arsenal of supplies at home, but carefully consider how portable and necessary each of these items is before committing to travel with it. Luggage fees add up, arms and hands quickly fill, and only the truly portable items are usually worthwhile to bring along on travels with kids.

Children over the age of two must have their own ticket, and therefore are entitled to the same baggage privileges of other ticketed passengers in the category. Check your airline and ticket class for the specific baggage allowances.

Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby or toddler food (including purée pouches) in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces are allowed in carry-on baggage, according to the TSA regulations ; these are considered medically necessary liquids. Just make sure to take these items out of your carry-on bag to be screened separately.

The same permission applies to breast milk and formula cooling accessories, like ice packs and freezer packs.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Alesandra Dubin is a career travel and lifestyle writer and a frequent traveler. She’s also a twin mom with plenty of hard-earned experience from world travels with kids.

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How To Vacation With a 1-Year-Old (Parent’s Guide)

Having a baby is undeniably a rewarding experience for any couple who has been longing to start a family. However, this new milestone may bring some unfamiliar, and sometimes even stressful, experiences. A vacation is an excellent way to freshen up, and having a one-year-old baby shouldn’t keep you from doing so. 

Here’s how to vacation with a 1-year-old: 

• Choose a baby-friendly destination. 
• Check your baby’s health and appetite before the trip. 
• Pack baby essentials. 
• Set a schedule for baby care with other adult companions. 
• Wear comfortable and practical clothes and shoes. 

First-time parents often feel burdened by societal standards, thinking they have to forego all the fun they used to enjoy and spend all their time caring for their baby, while feeling guilty indulging in a little bit of me-time. This article can help you plan a fantastic vacation without compromising your parental duties. 

1. Choose a Baby-friendly Destination

Ideally, it is best to avoid trips that require flying. However, if your area doesn’t have much to offer with regard to your idea of a fun vacation, you might want to select a destination that does not take longer than a two-hour flight, which is necessary to reduce the stress for you and your baby. 

More often than not, the exhaustion from a long flight or drive discourages parents of young toddlers from going on a much-needed vacation. Kids are unpredictable and have a difficult time sitting idly during a long trip. 

However, if you plan to go on one, make sure to keep them asleep or entertained. 

One-year-old kids are too young to remember anything from a trip, but they can benefit from a fun trip to the beach or an amusement park. 

Any place you like is also okay so long as they have baby-friendly facilities , such as: 

• Family restrooms with a diaper-changing station 
• Benches or resting areas 
• Stroller-accessible paths 
• Breastfeeding station 
• High-chairs in restaurants 

If you plan to stay overnight, check if the hotel or accommodation can provide a baby cot or if the room has enough space to set up one. You’ll want to consider the cleanliness of the room or the establishment as young toddlers tend to be vulnerable to infections. 

2. Check Your Baby’s Health and Appetite Before the Trip

The overall satisfaction from a trip with a one-year-old depends greatly on how healthy and happy your baby is before, during, and after the vacation. It gives parents less to worry about and the peace of mind to relax and enjoy. 

Check your children for any signs of a cold or a fever, and monitor their appetite at least two days before the vacation date. Maintaining a feeding routine can help you plan your trip schedule more efficiently. 

You must also bring light snacks, such as crackers, in case they get hungry shortly before the trip. 

If you are traveling by car, feed your toddler at least two hours before the trip to reduce the risk of carsickness. If the kid shows symptoms of carsickness , such as sweating, frequent yawning, restlessness, or becoming bad-tempered, pull over as soon as possible and let your little one get some fresh air. 

3. Pack Baby Essentials

Traveling by private car is almost always the best way to go for vacations with one-year-olds that take longer than one night. It can provide the convenience of packing all the bulky stuff that goes with traveling with young toddlers, such as a stroller or a child travel cot. 

Here is a list of things you may need to take with you on your trip with a one-year-old: 

• Pre-packed baby formula, bottles, and cleaners 
• At least two liters (70 fl oz) of drinking water 
• Light snacks like biscuits or crackers 
• Your baby’s favorite toy 
• Vitamins and first aid kit 
• Fresh diapers 
• Clean clothes and towels 
• Stroller or walker 
• Child travel cot 
• Child car seat 

For consumable or disposable items like baby formula, diapers, and clothes, always bring three extra sets in case of delays or extensions in the travel period. 

4. Set a Schedule for Baby Care With Other Adult Companions

Going on a vacation with a young toddler is, without a doubt, going to be physically exhausting for any adult. 

That’s why it is necessary to split the chores with other adult companions by setting a reasonable schedule. It can help ensure that everyone can get a well-deserved breather and avoid conflicts. 

5. Wear Comfortable and Practical Clothes and Shoes

Let’s face it. Traveling with a one-year-old is not going to be a glamorous vacation. However, it can feel and look less exhausting by wearing the right kind of clothes and shoes. Many apparel companies have developed clothing technologies that effectively blend comfort and style. 

Let’s take a look at some basics that you need to consider when planning your travel wardrobe.

Parents with long hair had better tie them up for convenience. It will be easier to manage young kids if you don’t have to worry about your hair all over your face. Keeping it off your neck could also reduce the discomfort from sweat. 

Your kids will also have nothing to tug onto during fits or tantrums. 

Breastfeeding moms should wear tops that would make it easier to feed their young toddlers discreetly when necessary in public. Meanwhile, in general, parents should wear comfortable clothes that would allow their arms a wide range of motion. If you aren’t wearing a comfortable top, you won’t be able to care for your baby as easily.

Parents should wear breathable practical pants that allow comfort and ease of movement. For example, if you need to bend down suddenly, you don’t want the embarrassment of your pants splitting open. 

The material should be appropriate for the weather, as well. 

Consider the number of hours you will spend walking or running while sometimes carrying your one-year-old in your arms. It can be pretty exhausting for your feet. Be sure to wear durable and comfortable shoes that can sustain your weight and your baby’s added weight. 

While traveling with a one-year-old can be challenging, it can also be fun if you plan ahead. Organize your schedule and the list of things you need to bring. If done right, it can become a wonderful experience for you and your baby.

I've been everywhere, man. Crossed the deserts bare, man. I've breathed the mountain air, man. Of travel, I've had my share, man. I've been everywhere!

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18-year-old Bowie High School student shot, killed by another student in Texas, police say

An 18-year-old Arlington, Texas high school student was allegedly shot to death Wednesday afternoon by one of his peers, prompting a lockdown and investigation, police said.

Etavion Barnes, a student at James Bowie High School , died after being found by school resource officers "lying unresponsive on the ground," the Arlington Police Department said in a news release .

Police received reports of shots being fired around 2:50 p.m. near a portable building on campus, according to the department. School resource officers initially found Barnes and attempted to perform live-saving measures until paramedics arrived, police said.

Waco, OKC bombing, Columbine shooting: How the April tragedies are (and aren't) related

'Please do not come to the school': Shooting prompted lockdown

Bowie High School was placed on lockdown "immediately," according to the department.

The high school subsequently shared a post on Facebook saying, "Bowie HS is on lockdown. APD is on the scene. Please do not come to the school."

Arlington police officers began searching for the alleged shooter after securing the area around the high school, the department said. They found the 17-year-old nearby and took him into custody without incident, according to the release.

The 17-year-old was booked into Arlington City Jail and charged with one count of murder, according to inmate records.

Victim and alleged shooter 'knew each other,' police say

Detectives are unclear about a motive but confirmed the alleged shooter and Barnes both attended Bowie High School and knew each other.

Once police took the 17-year-old into custody and secured the crime scene, officers began working with the Arlington Independent School District to lift the lockdown and move all students and staff to a reunification center so they could meet their families, according to the release.

"Our hearts are with the entire Bowie High School community tonight,“ Chief of Police Al Jones said in the release. “We, as a community, cannot tolerate this kind of violence. Not in our neighborhoods and not in our schools. Violence is never the right answer. We will continue to work in lockstep with our partners at Arlington ISD to ensure our schools are safe spaces where students can learn."

Bowie High School cancels classes for students on Thursday

Bowie High School announced Wednesday in a Facebook post that it would cancel classes for students on Thursday.

"When students return, they will have the full support of Arlington ISD's counseling team," the post said.

The high school communicated with parents throughout the lockdown on its Facebook page, including telling them when the shooting happened and when all students inside the building were deemed safe.

Bowie High School alumni offer prayers

Underneath the updates on Facebook, concerned alumni offered their sympathies and prayers to Bowie High School and Barnes.

Chyna Littleberry, who claims to be a graduate of Bowie High School, said in a comment, "I'm praying for everyone involved! Us volunteers believe in faith!" In a subsequent post on her own Facebook page, Littleberry wrote, "Our kids aren't safe in school! As a graduate of Bowie, my heart goes out to all of those involved. That baby died and I'm uneasy!"

Scott Marcum, who claims to have graduated from Bowie High School in 1997, said in a comment under one of the updates, "Please keep everyone that has been impacted by this incident in your thoughts and prayers and be there to support each other as everyone deals with this the best way they can."

Zachary White, another Bowie High School alumni, said in a comment, "This is extremely saddening. All y’all: the victims, the parents, (the) students, and all the staff will be in my prayers."