Traveling with a toddler can feel a bit like preparing for a tiny, adorable tornado—but with the right mindset and a little planning, it can also be incredibly rewarding. Whether you’re gearing up for a road trip, a flight, or a weekend getaway, having a game plan helps reduce the stress and increase the fun. We all need some simple, practical steps to help feel prepared, confident, and ready for adventure. From packing essentials, like the BubbleBum Teleport Portable Backless Booster Seat, to keeping your little one entertained, consider this your mom-friendly guide to smoother, happier travels with your toddler by your side.
These are just some ideas; keep your own kid’s favorites in mind and incorporate them wherever you can!
Pack the Essentials
- Air Travel Tray Organizer from Serenity Organizers
- Portable Snack case
- Teleport Portable Backless Booster Seat,
- Hand Wash Wipes
Build Your Own Travel Case
The Fold-Up Travel Cosmetics Case – This worked like a charm last year, so I am sticking with it. I filled it with the following:
- New Small Books – who doesn’t love a book when traveling?
- Cars – These are small and allow for lots of imaginative fun. Chair arm? Now it’s a ramp. Mommy’s arm? Also a ramp.
- Window Clings – They fit into toddlers’ love for stickers, but are reusable and sturdier. Perfect for car and plane trips since they will stick to the windows.
- I Spy Bag – Get a zippered pencil case and fill it up with little odds and ends that will catch your kiddo’s eye.
- Pad of paper and Crayons – What can I say? Kids like to color, so make sure you have the stuff ready.
- Pipe cleaners – There is lots of versatility with these, so let their imaginations run WILD and see what they make!
- Small Photo Book – Put some photos in a little album (preferably of the people you are traveling to see) and this will provide lots of entertainment and serve to prepare your toddler for new faces.
- Anything with Zippers or Clasps – Toddlers love anything they can fill and empty over and over again.
Tips:
- Hide the kit from your kid before you leave. The power of novelty is strong with toddlers, so if it is new or something they haven’t seen in a while, it will hold their attention a lot longer.
- Try to make the kit something your toddler can play with by herself. If your child still puts stuff in her mouth, don’t include anything that could be a choking hazard or put them in a separate bag that you hang on to. Traveling includes lots of time where you might be distracted, so think about how safe the kit would be if you weren’t always on watch (or if your not-so-trustworthy cousin somehow gets kid patrol).
This toddler travel kit was pretty easy to put together, works like a charm, and I really loved being able to throw the whole thing in my bag on our adventures while we were out of town (no toy explosions!). What do you make sure to bring along with you when you are traveling with a toddler?
First published by contributor Elaine 6/1/16, updated by an Orlando Mom Editor 11/14/25
