Traveling with a toddler is completely different than traveling solo or as a couple. There is a lot to consider like eating, sleeping, clothes, activities, entertainment. Although travel items list varies depending on the type of trip and what is your plan on doing with your little one, but we will give you a list of most useful items for traveling with a toddler.
Particularly in foreign countries that may not be stroller-friendly, a comfortable baby carrier is necessary. We highly recommend a lightweight carrier that folds/rolls up and fits nicely into a carry-on. For families looking to have a versatile all around carrier that can work equally well on nature hikes as in the city.
There are also special baby wearing shirts that allow both moms and dads to enjoy the benefits of baby wearing without the intimidation factor that comes with figuring out multiple straps or complicated tying techniques. Parents can bond with baby and enjoy all that snuggly closeness just by popping them in the easy to use pouch. Baby wearing is the way to do it while traveling, especially while on paths and cobble-stoned streets that are not very stroller friendly.
- Convertible Car Seat and Stroller
If you want to make sure about safety and comfort of your toddler during traveling, then you need to get a car seat. Eventually, little legs get tired and they just want to be held. Particularly, you should look for special car seat that can easily convert from car seat to stroller. It is easy to use because this unique piece of baby gear has integrated wheels. It is a complete travel system in one and it is super simple. Just push down the lever, wheels pop out of your car seat. Pull up the handle and it turns into a stroller.
- FlyeBaby
This item is small enough to easily stash in your carry on. If you fly a lot, then having this item you can see how placing a sleeping baby in one of Flyebaby swings would be so much more comfortable for everyone involved. This item would make your baby’s fly much pleasant.
- Portable travel chair
Portable chair is perfect for when you stay at an apartment rental. Most big name hotels and restaurants provide high chairs, but apartment rentals and small cafes rarely have high chairs available. You can also take it with you when you are visiting friends and family that do not have a high chair available, so you can use it outside of travel situations too. Portable chair is most useful between the ages of 4 months to 16 months.
- Portable Travel Crib
Portable crib is an important item in every toddler travel arsenal. Most hotels have standard pack-n-play style cribs available, but especially with a newborn, you should be careful with rental cribs. Most apartment rentals do not provide baby cribs, so you are forced to either rent a crib from a third-party service or bring your own with you. You will feel much more comfortable having your baby sleep in a bed that you are familiar with and it is reassuring to know that your baby is sleeping in a safe, clean place.
- Toddler Sleep Sacks
These sleep sacks are a safer option then traditional blankets and they provide a clean, familiar sleeping experience when traveling. Most importantly, they make it difficult for little climbers to climb out of the crib or bassinet. You can have several sleep sacks with varying thickness and material, which allows you to regulate their sleeping temperatures.
- Portable baby bassinet
This portable baby bassinet can replace the portable travel crib mentioned above. This travel bassinet has a metal frame that folds to fit easily in your suitcase. It is relatively small and lightweight, so it travels well. It is possible put it on the bed beside you when you sleep. It has a breathable mesh wall so you do not have to worry about him suffocating.
- Baby video monitor
It is small and easy to set-up, so you can bring it whenever you stay at a vacation rental or if there is a chance you will need to put your baby down for nap. It comes in handy when you are in a loud environment or far away from the baby room. It gives you peace of mind to know that if baby is crying you can hear and see him.
- Baby bath tub chair
Without a quality bath, you risk having a cranky baby that cannot get to sleep, which is not fun, especially if you are sharing a hotel room. Holding a slippery baby in the bath is not an easy task, so you can use a baby bathtub chair. On the surface, the bathtub chair appears to be an awkward travel item, but it is actually very easy to travel with. It is lightweight and fits easily in your suitcase. Because it is made with hard plastic, it provides protection for liquids and other breakable items that are in our luggage. You can use it as an anchor and pack around it. Babies love this bath chair because it gives them the freedom to sit calmly in the water without you having to hold them upright. This, in turn, results in longer, more enjoyable baths. If you have a baby that loves bath time, you will want a baby bath chair with you when travel.
- Tablet with cartoons, games and white noise
Tablets have become an essential travel item for every family. You can have cartoons, movies, games, music, videos that would make a travel of you baby more fun. There is also a lot of fun baby apps to download. You can load tables with white noise (sounds of rain, waves crashing on the beach, etc.). At night or during naps, you can crank up the volume and put the tablet beside baby’s crib. The loud white noise is soothing and drowns out other sounds that could potentially disturb baby while he sleeps. It works especially well during daytime naps, when you are awake and moving about the hotel room or apartment rental.
