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Essential Toddler Travel Tools- From Road Trips to Long Haul Flights!

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When it comes to traveling with babies and toddlers, I got you! I’ve curated multiple lists from sleeping to plane activities. All of these items have been tested by myself and my kids. Only the best of the best recommendations that actually work for...
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Travel Sleep

 
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We take this portable crib on road trips. It is easy to pack, easy to carry, AND easy to assemble/disassemble.
Lotus Everywhere Travel Crib: Lightweight Travel Crib for Babies
 
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The only monitor I use at home and on the road. It’s perfect because you can hook up multiple cameras and use the same monitor screen.
Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO Video Baby Monitor 720P
 
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Fantastic portable sound machine for travel. We use it in the car and in hotel rooms. We use the regular hatch at home!
Hatch Go Portable Sound Machine for Kids
 
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Love these wearable blankets/sleep sacks. They aren’t too hot but keep your baby/toddler warm at nights. We like to keep bedtime routine the same during travel and these are the only sleep sacks we use.
Yoofoss Baby Sleep Sack 0-6M Organic Cotton
 
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I always pack this milk for plane rides. It is so much easier to pack then trying to find whole milk at the airports. It’s also nice to have milk once you reach your destination and then go out and buy some later.
Voyager Toddler Milk On The Go, Organic, 16 Sachets

Interactive Books

 
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The cutest little interactive book. My daughter loves to pack this one for trips.
Stir Crack Whisk Bake: Toddler Baking Book
 
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These are reusable AND will meep your toddler entertained. I love to use these during layovers and on the plane.
Melissa & Doug Puffy Sticker Books Set of 3
 
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We LOVE these interactive flashlight books. There are others such as frog, dog, and lion! A great source of entertainment during travel day.
Goodnight Bear (Magic Flashlight Books)
 
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These books are a little on the pricey side but I can tell you that having at least one is worth it. Cookies is my favorite but there are others such as cake, tacos, pizza, and pancakes.
Cookies!: Interactive Recipe Book (Cook In A Book)
 
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Felt busy books are some of my favorite interactive books/activities for travel days. My daughter can easily be entertained for 30 - 45 minutes with this book.
Esjay Toddler Busy Board Montessori Toy - Blue Dino
 
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Can’t say enough good things about this busy book. There is also a Spanish version!
JoyCat Preschool Busy Book for Toddlers 3-5
 
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We LOVE the Peekaboo books. They have so many options to choose from: farm, zoo, sun, home, dog, and more. This farm one also comes in Spanish.
Peekaboo: Farm - Interactive Board Book w/ Mirror & Sliders
 
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A toy and a book in one! There also is a train version.
Wind-Up Busy Car Toy & Book: Driving Journey

On the Go Activities

 
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These keep my daughter and my husband entertained for a long time!! We bring them out on the plane and she could spend over an hour playing with them, creating new things. My only suggestion is to get two packs to be able to build more!
Magnetic Tiles Travel Set
 
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These Water Wow books are a must for car rides and plane rides. The refillable water pen is a genius idea. It keeps my daughter entertained for at least 30 minutes for one book! We pack around 5 of them depending on space and if we are in the car or ...
Water Wow
 
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Mess free finger paint? Say no more. This is highly entertaining for both child and parent. We spent a good hour on a flight using this.
Crayola Color Wonder Mess Free Fingerprint Set
 
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I love these just as much as I love the finger paint. Mess free markers for the win! Worried about your toddler drawing on your seat or the plane window? Not with these. They are clear and the special paper makes the color come out!
Crayola Color Wonder Disney Princess Set
 
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The perfect matching game for toddlers. It’s compact and has 10 cards to interchange. I love to throw this in our restaurant bag!
TINYLENS Kids Memory Matching Game with Flip Board
 
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I already love Melissa and Doug toys. They can just take all of my money. This magnetic puzzle is perfect for the plane, layovers, and restaurants.
Melissa & Doug Take-Along Magnetic Jigsaw - On the Farm
 
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These tablets are amazing. I get a pack of two so that myself or my husband can draw with our daughter. We play guessing games, write the alphabets/numbers, play tic tac toe, etc. I only suggest getting ones with the pen attached to the string. Learn...
EooCoo Toddler LCD Writing Tablet 2 Pack
 
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These may seem ridiculous but these are so entertaining especially at restaurants. I pack some paper and we can create different pictures with the stickers and markers. I also use them as tracing tools. I make a letter or number with them and she tra...
10 Color Dot Stickers 3/4 Inch 1600 Pcs
 
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These may be kind of loud for others around you so I like to keep them as a last resort but they do offer entertainment. They are actually amazing for a bath toy for trips and I use them for car rides.
BUNMO Pop Tubes Sensory Fidget Toys 8 Pack
 
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Another drawing activity that we love to pack and get a long time of entertainment out of it!
Wellchild Magnetic Drawing Board for Kids
 
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I love different interactive books. This one has multiple versions. We have building site, in the sky, trains, and trucks too.
Make Tracks: Farm (Volume 3)
 
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If you just want to try the reusable stickers they have a one pack!
Melissa & Doug Puffy Sticker Play Set - Princess
 
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Love this for restaurants and planes!!!
JoyCat Watercolor Painting Set for Kids
 
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Magnetic dot art! It comes with multiple sheets and shapes for entertainment
Chuckle & Roar Magnetic Dot Art Designer
 
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I only pack this for road trips because my daughter loves it so much! I put it in a mesh bag and leave the box at home!
Melissa & Doug Wooden Number Puzzles 40 pcs
 
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Give your toddler a camera. I love to see the trip from their point of view.
Toddler Camera

Travel Gear

 
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A must when traveling is a small toddler backpack. We use this to put a few snacks in and restaurant activities! It’s so easy for our daughter to carry on her back and if she’s done carrying it then we pop it in the stroller!
STEAMEDBUN Kids Kindergarten Toddler Backpack
 
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We always always always bring a spill proof/leak proof water bottle. This one is also great because it’s stainless steel and keeps the water cold. It’s also affordable and fits in cup holders on the stroller snack trays.
Contigo Kids Stainless Steel Water Bottle
 
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This snack spinner doubles as entertainment! It has different sections for different snacks and when you press the button it spins. I personally like to take this one on short car rides or short flights. I like a larger snack container for longer rid...
GoBe Kids Small Snack Spinner Flip Bundle
 
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This is my go to snack tray for long car/plane rides. We can fit SO MANY snacks in here. It is amazing! Plus you have a handle so you can easily carry it if needed.
Divided Serving Tray
 
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I buy the cup holder with the phone holder as well!! It’s great to have another phone holder there on walks.
Accmor Universal 360° Rotatable Cup Holder
 
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Toy straps are a MUST when traveling. I attach them to the stroller that way when we are walking she can’t throw her toys or snack cup out of the stroller. I know that everything is secure.
Andy Bear Silicone Baby Toy Safety Straps
 
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I was able to fit my daughter and myself into a carry-on to Europe for 2+ weeks with these packing cubes! They are a game changer.
BAGAIL Compression Packing Cubes Travel Set
 
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Use this backpack as my diaper back for plane rides! So many pockets. So much room. Fits under the seat or in the overhead bin. Cannot recommended this backpack enough.
coofay Large Black Travel Backpack Airline Approved
 
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This tray table cover is a game changer for flights especially long haul flights!!
Lusso Gear Airplane Tray Table Cover - Kids Travel Organizer
 
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The perfect snack cup backed it has a lid too. These are also great for your child if you don’t want to put a snack in their snack tray in the stroller. You can attach one of the toy straps to the stroller and the handle so you won’t lose it!
WeeSprout Silicone Snack Containers Set of 2
 
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I always, always, always travel with these clips. Even though we have the underneath part of the stroller, I love having a few of these attached to the stroller for bags and other things if necessary.
Stroller Hooks 6.3", 2 Pack Large Carabiner
 
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This stroller is fantastic for travel with two. You can also add more seats if necessary. It folds up with one hand, is lightweight and fits through standard doorways. Also, Disney approved!
Doubles - Zoe
 
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I’m obsessed with this stroller. We took this stroller to Europe and it was AMAZING!! It did fantastic on cobblestone streets. It fits in the overhead bin on most planes, is lightweight, and an easy one hand fold. We took this to Positano and it held...
UPPAbaby Minu V3 Stroller
 
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I always bring this portable changing pad with us. It’s great because I don’t like bringing a full diaper bag when we are walking around cities like Rome. I can put diapers, wipes, and extra clothes in the changing pad.
Kopi Baby Portable Diaper Changing Pad Grey
 
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I pack these for every trip. Are they disposable…yes but I alternate between these and a non disposable one for trips. Depending on my kiddos mood and how much entertainment needs providing at restaurants. It also provides easy cleanup for messes!
Babebay Disposable Stick-on Placemats 40 Pack
 
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I personally don’t like buying multiple snack trays for every brand of stroller so I like this universal one. It can fit on every stroller we have.
Swanoo Universal Stroller Snack Tray w/ Cup Holder
 
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Am I crazy to pack two sound machines? Maybe. This one doubles as a nightlight. We use one in the bedroom and one outside the room to drown out my loud husband!
Frida Baby 2-in-1 Sound Machine & Nightlight
 
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If you need to pack a beach bag and are flying I suggest this one. It folds down so small! I took it with us to Europe. It says frequently returned on Amazon but I’m not sure why??!
BAGSMART Foldable Tote Bag with Drawstring
 
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I always always always have wipes on hand. You never know when you’ll need 1…or the whole pack.
Honest Company Hypoallergenic Baby Wipes, 60ct
 
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One of these goes with me everywhere. Because I never know when my kid will have boogers, especially when traveling and weather changes.
Nasal Aspirator
 
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We always travel with a set of nail clippers. I’ve been scratched too many times not to have these on hand.
Nail Clippers