Travel Favorites for Toddlers
Traveling with a 3-year-old on a long-haul flight from the US to Europe can feel like a daunting task, but having the right toys at hand can make all the difference. Over the years, I’ve discovered a variety of travel toys that keep my little one entertained and engaged, especially during those crucial moments when boredom strikes—a challenge on flights that can last up to 10 hours. While I always include some of their favorite at-home toys, I also like to surprise them with new finds, saving these hidden gems for key moments like hour eight into our journey or during a long car ride. In this blog post, I’ll share my top travel hacks, products and toys that have worked wonders for us, helping to make our adventures enjoyable for everyone involved.
Pack your kids toys in this and hang it on the seat in front of them for easy access to everything they need on a flight!
I use these bags daily! They are great quality, lightweight and the way they clip together makes them great for airplane travel! Use them to organize snacks, small toys, etc.
I got this baby carrier WAY TOO LATE. It has a hard shell bottom, so for kids it feels like sitting on a seat. Zip the top part off when the kids get older for an easy toddler hip seat!
Our vtech monitor has been the best travel purchase! Use this at home and on the go!
Fits the GB Pokit perfectly! But my favorite thing about this stroller bag is, it packs down small and has a trolley pass for sitting on your rolling suitcase
This iPad case has saved us many falls and accidents. It's easy to hold and carry and you can even add a strap to hang on an airplane seat.
The tray cover keeps toys for falling off, has storage pockets, a loop for holding a water cup and folds up easily! Perfect for airplane travel. Plus no need to wipe down a tray to snack on. Just wash this when you get home and it's ready for your next trip.
I cannot explain the hold this simple toy has on my daughter. She spent one hour of a road trip playing with this green phone. It's easily her most entertaining toy outside of an iPad.
Dot art can keep toddlers entertained for a while! It's tedious work but once they get the hang of it, it's time consuming & fun!
Reusable stickers are perfect for different settings! Pick your child's favorites and let them build their own scenes!
Another fun alternative to screen time for older toddlers and young kids!
Hands down my favorite travel purchase! My daughter will ride on his from security to the gate and onto the airplane, so no more chasing toddlers or convincing her to sit in the stroller. She can ride all the way through and she loves it!
This rotating snack container is perfect for the kids who need a lot of food to stay still! Click the button and rotate to a new snack.
These Bubble Podz are great for bubble baths on the go, but you don't have to worry about liquid (spills, 3 oz rules, etc.)
Travel sound machine, not just for babies! I love this thing for all ages!
I got this to free up my hands when pushing a stroller and watching my Google Maps walking directions! It's a great easy fix to travel problems!
These crayons are great for not making a mess in your bag! Just twist them up as you need them!
We never travel without this LED writing pad! Hours of entertainment in the size of a sheet of paper.
No-mess art on the go?? Sign me up! Your kids can do this foil art on an airplane easily!
These tiny play dough containers don't take up any space, but easy to pull out when traveling!
These mini magnetic tiles are great for building on an airplane, but don't take up much space.
These counting cards are a bit more involved for parents but an airplane can be a great way to grab a child's attention and learn something new.
On shorter trips, I can pack all of my 3 year old's clothes in this toiletry organizer. Roll up shirts, shorts, pants and dresses. Shoes and socks in the bottom along with hair and toiletry items on top!
I love how these stay clean, but also can easily be packed away when they are dirty!
These stain treaters are individually wrapped and easy to throw in your bag and pull out when you have a spill or stain.
Don't gamble on black out curtains at your rental house. Pack these along for an easy way to black out bright windows and maximize the chance of your kids sleeping in!
This stroller is the lightest and smallest on the market! I hate lugging a large stroller around. 9/10 the airlines let us walk this on the plane and put it in the overhead bin. No more gate checking the stroller!
Finger puppets are the perfect tiny and entertaining toy for your little one! Lots of hours spent with these during our baby shark phase.
Calling all sticker fans! This is an easy and fun way to keep lots of stickers coming!
Once your toddler is at coloring age - you can't get enough of these! We took about 12 of these on an 18-day trip with our 3-yr-old and used them all!
Graduating from play dough can be daunting. This putty is not quite slime, but perfect for the kids constantly the move. We use putty on airplanes and restaurants when our toddler needs some movement but she can't run around.
This pad is cheap and simple but a great alternative to screen time!
These stuffed animals double as an activity! With buckles and straps included, they can work on buckling. Lots of versions out there, but an airplane version could be fun for kids excited to travel on an airplane. And if they love stuffed animals, you've got a great stuffy for your trip!
