Traveling with Toddlers: A Comprehensive Blog for Parents

Are you a parent with a sense of adventure but hesitant to embark on a trip or a long flight with your little ones? Traveling with toddlers can certainly be challenging, but with the right mindset and preparation, it can also be an incredibly rewarding experience for the whole family. In this blog, we will explore the best tips and strategies to make traveling with toddlers — at any age — a breeze.

Check out my Travel Toys for 2 year olds collection and these fun candylab toy cars. Learn more about why our toys are designed for travel.

From surviving overnight flights and long distances to eating out with a small child, So Handmade provides toddler travel toys to keep little kids entertained and help smooth travel from start to finish. They fit neatly into your carry on bag alongside snacks, clothes, diapers, and all the other stuff — and can keep a toddler happy in car seats or airplane seats during car rides or downtime at the hotel. Check out our Screen Free Toddler Toys here.

Check out our collection for The Best Travel Toys for 2 year olds.

We also have some great coloring toddler activities like an alphabet workbook and Giant Coloring Page — coloring books are honestly one of the most helpful comfort items to pack, especially on a long haul flight. I also have a printable version of the construction coloring page. Our toys are also hard wearing and eco-friendly, like our wooden train gift set.

Explore more ideas in our interactive play mats guide and our playroom fun ideas blog.

Car Travel Tips & Flying With Toddlers

Whether you're after car travel tips for a road trip or advice on flying with a lap baby for the first time, this is the list that helped us ahead of time and will help you too. A few things that have made the biggest difference for our family:

• Book a window seat where you can — kids sleep better and love watching the world go by
• Pack a sound machine or white noise app for the hotel room and overnight flights to help with jet lag
• Bring extra clothes for both your daughter, son, and yourself — literally a life saver
• Rotate toys throughout the journey so nothing gets lost or boring too fast
• Scout out play areas at the airport while you wait — most part of any terminal has one
• A stroller is helpful for long distances through the airport — don't be afraid to protect your energy and use it
• Keep diapers, snacks, and comfort items at the top of your bag, not buried in luggage
• Ask your husband or travel partner to be the airport person while you manage the kids
• Book a bed for your toddler ahead of time — don't assume the hotel room will have one
• Light packing is the point — tired parents carrying heavy luggage makes everything harder

If it's your first time flying with a toddler, don't let the prospect of traveling with young kids deter you from exploring the world. With the right travel accessories and a bit of preparation, you'll find it's not only possible but genuinely enjoyable. Most parents we hear from say the same thing — they wish they'd started traveling with their little ones sooner.

Packing & Planning Tips From One Parent to Another

If this is your first baby or your first big trip, this list helped us more than anything else — and we hope it does the same for you. Other parents always say the same thing: the more you plan ahead, the better the trip. And we couldn't agree more.

Here's the gear that's worth bringing and the stuff that will save you on the road:

• Travel crib — don't assume the hotel has one. Book ahead or bring a lightweight fold-up so everyone can actually sleep
• Baby monitor — handy for hotel rooms when the little one goes down early and you want to rest without being in the dark
• Car seats — check your rental car situation before you arrive. Bringing your own gives you peace of mind
• Stroller — great for airports, arrival days, and long stretches on foot. Light and compact is the way to go
• Baby carrier — a lifesaver for boarding, moving through busy spaces, and keeping hands free for diapers, snacks, and everything else you're carrying
• Highchair — not always available, so a portable one is a great addition to your gear list
• Own seat on the plane — if budget allows, booking your toddler their own seat makes overnight flights so much easier for everyone

On the Plane

Pack stickers, small toys, and snacks at the top of your bag — not buried under everything else. The hours before landing are when kids need the most entertainment, so have it all handy before you board. Throw a few extra snacks in your carrier bag for the night flight and plan for the fact that things fall, stuff gets lost, and toddlers on airplanes have their own agenda.

A great trip isn't about everything going perfectly — it's about being light enough in your mindset and your luggage to roll with it. Play games, stay calm, and give yourself grace. You've got this.

Don't forget to pack So Handmade on your next trip! Like this bestselling Toy Car Storage, our Car Play Mat, our construction play mat, or if they are learning their letters, our ABC Play Mat.

Pack your bags, gather your whole family, and get ready for an unforgettable journey. With family friendly travel toys, smooth travel is closer than you think — and made a lot more fun.

Don't forget to pack So Handmade on your next trip!