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Traveling with a Toddler - What We Pack
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items Traveling with a toddler is genuinely fun. It’s also a lot. People say they won’t remember these trips, but we as parents will. This is everything we’ve figured out through hotel stays, flights, tantrums, missed naps, and travel days that somehow fel...
Sections
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Full-Size Strollers (Worth the Gate Check)
Carry-On Strollers That Actually Fit Overhead
How We Toddler-Proof the Hotel Room
Full-Size Strollers (Worth the Gate Check)
We're a family that loves a good amusement park day, and after years of testing strollers on long, hot, 10-mile park days, these are the full-size strollers worth gate-checking at the airport (or driving down with). Real storage, real recline, and bu...
All four meet the strictest theme park size rules (Disney's 31" × 52", the tightest you'll find anywhere).
The lightest gate-check option on this list at 13.6 lbs, with a self-fold button on the handlebar (one push and it collapses standing). This is our pick if want full-size comfort without the full-size weight.
Bonus: comes with a travel bag actually protects it from baggage handlers!
Bonus: comes with a travel bag actually protects it from baggage handlers!
Nuna | TRVL™ Lightweight Stroller
This is hands down the best stroller (IMO). The biggest storage basket out there with 30 lbs of cargo space, which is the closest you'll get to a wagon.
Why I love it: a FULL lay-flat seat and magnetic buckle. (Think business class for your toddler, but in a stroller)
Why I love it: a FULL lay-flat seat and magnetic buckle. (Think business class for your toddler, but in a stroller)
UPPAbaby | Cruz ® V3 Stroller
This is the one that actually delivers on the "one-hand fold" promise, this one collapses in literally one second while you're holding a sleeping toddler.
It also stands up on its own when folded (so it's not lying on a sticky park floor or wet bus ramp), and a handle that goes from 5'2" parent to 6' parent without anyone hunching. Forever-air rubber tires don't go flat in the heat.
One honest note: the seat back is on the firm side, so add a small cushion if your kid is napper.
It also stands up on its own when folded (so it's not lying on a sticky park floor or wet bus ramp), and a handle that goes from 5'2" parent to 6' parent without anyone hunching. Forever-air rubber tires don't go flat in the heat.
One honest note: the seat back is on the firm side, so add a small cushion if your kid is napper.
Baby Jogger | city mini® GT3 all-terrain stroller
The "I'm not crying if this gets stolen at the park" stroller.
Why this cheap stroller and not others:
- Under $100 that's Aluminum frame
- 14 lbs
- deep enough recline (4 positions) that your kid will actually nap in it
- a 50-lb weight limit so it works past age 3.
This is my travel stroller when I don't want to risk my nice pricer strollers. Literally “I'm OK if this stroller was lost”.
Why this cheap stroller and not others:
- Under $100 that's Aluminum frame
- 14 lbs
- deep enough recline (4 positions) that your kid will actually nap in it
- a 50-lb weight limit so it works past age 3.
This is my travel stroller when I don't want to risk my nice pricer strollers. Literally “I'm OK if this stroller was lost”.
Summer by Ingenuity | 3D Lite Stroller - Jet Black
Attach this to the back of any of the strollers above and your older toddler (or 4-year-old who "doesn't need a stroller" until mile 6) has a place to ride.
Way easier through park crowds than a side-by-side double, and the gray saddle seat means they can actually rest their legs instead of standing the whole time.
I am not a fan of double side-by-side strollers.
Way easier through park crowds than a side-by-side double, and the gray saddle seat means they can actually rest their legs instead of standing the whole time.
I am not a fan of double side-by-side strollers.
Lascal BuggyBoard® Maxi Plus - Black With Gray Saddle
Carry-On Strollers That Actually Fit Overhead
Since we travel often and usually have multiple carry-ons with us, I wanted a stroller that didn’t feel like another giant thing to manage. These are compact travel strollers that are easier to move through the airport and may fit overhead, depending...
My personal favorite for the smallest fold.
This is the stroller I’d bring when I want something that folds down to personal-item size in the airplane and can literally be carried like a backpack. It’s not the most comfortable stroller for an all-day theme park trip, but for airports, hotels, ...
I cannot emphasize enough how nice it is to have a stroller that doesn’t feel like another giant thing to drag around.
This is the stroller I’d bring when I want something that folds down to personal-item size in the airplane and can literally be carried like a backpack. It’s not the most comfortable stroller for an all-day theme park trip, but for airports, hotels, ...
I cannot emphasize enough how nice it is to have a stroller that doesn’t feel like another giant thing to drag around.
gb Pockit+ All-Terrain Compact Travel
You know the moment at the gate where you're holding the baby, the diaper bag, and the bottle, and you have to fold the stroller with the foot you don't have? This is the one that folds with one hand in one second. Fits overhead bins on every airline...
Bonus: Rain cover included!
Bonus: Rain cover included!
Joolz | Aer2
The travel stroller flight attendants actually recognize on sight, meaning no awkward "is that going to fit?" conversation at boarding while 30 people stare at you.
The original cabin-approved stroller.
Honest Note: it's a two-handed fold, which is the one real downside. If you fly a lot and want the safest "they'll let me on" pick, this is still it.
The original cabin-approved stroller.
Honest Note: it's a two-handed fold, which is the one real downside. If you fly a lot and want the safest "they'll let me on" pick, this is still it.
Stokke | YOYO³ Stroller
The stroller if you want this as your daily driver, as well.
Where this stroller wins is the ride. It has better better suspension, way more comfortable for the Tuesday-morning Target run when you get home.
Travel + everyday hybrid stroller, slightly larger fold, much better ride for daily use.
Where this stroller wins is the ride. It has better better suspension, way more comfortable for the Tuesday-morning Target run when you get home.
Travel + everyday hybrid stroller, slightly larger fold, much better ride for daily use.
UPPAbaby | Minu V3 Stroller
How We Toddler-Proof the Hotel Room
The products we set up as soon as we check in. Nothing complicated just the things that make the room feel safe for our wild child.
Hotels somehow always have outlets exactly at toddler height. These take seconds to put in, and the giant pack means we just permanently keep extras in our travel bag now.
38 Pack - Electrical Outlet Safety Plug Covers
One of those things we didn’t think about until a heavy hotel bathroom door almost got tiny fingers. Now we throw these on bathroom doors, closets, and connecting rooms right after check-in.
Jool Baby Door Pinch Guards 6 Pack
Helpful during that stage where opening doors suddenly becomes their newest accomplishment.
Addalock Portable Door Lock
Mostly for those sharp hotel nightstands or TV stands toddlers somehow sprint toward immediately.
Soft Corner Protector Baby Proofing Foam Guards
We originally packed these for hotel curtains, but now use them for stroller covers, snack bags, and basically anything that needs to stay put.
Binder Clips Sizes & Colors | Steel, Rose Gold, Assorted - Target
Not exactly fancy, but we stick one command hook on each cabinet door and loop a hair tie around them to help stop our toddler from repeatedly opening hotel minibar cabinets.
We also use the hooks for hanging wet swimsuits, stroller covers, and random hotel room chaos.
We also use the hooks for hanging wet swimsuits, stroller covers, and random hotel room chaos.
3M Command hooks - 9 hooks, 12 strips