Travel checklist: Essential toddler travel toys

With the attention span of an easily distracted gnat, entertaining a toddler is usually a matter of having lots of different toys and activities lined up. Which isn’t always so easy on a long-haul flight.

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But while anything that beeps or squeaks is likely to drive you and the other passengers mad, and luggage restrictions mean anything too big is out for planes and trains, here is my essential packing list of toddler travel toys, perfect to keep little ones entertained while travelling…

Travel toys for toddlers – top tips!

You can also try wrapping toys so they’ve got the fun of ripping the paper off – or you may prefer not to spend the journey picking up shreds from the floor. Alternatively, use a lunchbox or similar size storage box to put smaller items in for a similar ta-dah moment.

Anything that’s fiddly in a confined space or with too many easy-to-lose pieces is likely to leave you frustrated, and anything that needs to be thrown or knocked over is a recipe for disaster.

Don’t forget to think how it will be played with too. Toy cars can be fantastic… as long as they don’t have to be driven the entire length of a compartment/onto nearby heads.

And although a favourite toy can be great, if you’re taking something irreplaceable, attach it very securely… or guard it as closely as your passport.

After countless flights, tried and tested by my own toddler, here’s my list of essential toddler travel toys – or download the list here.

☐ Toy animals – check out your local charity shop for little animal figures (especially if they’re likely to get lost along the way) or the Happyland range has zoo, farm and pet animals sets to play with.

☐ Crayons – easy to stash in a bag, and great to while away a few minutes as long as you have something to draw on. Crayola Jumbo Crayons are chunky to hold so perfect for 12 months plus, unless they’ll simply get chewed, or triangular washable crayons for 2+ as they won’t roll away.

☐ Books – what you pack depends on their age, but something interactive is best as it lasts longer. This lift-the-flap counting book has loads of bright pictures and is fairly sturdy, even for pre-counting. Or try Julia Donaldson’s Tales From Acorn Wood – this three-in-one set of stories is paperback only so best for older toddlers, or get a board book version. Planes by Byron Barton is fun to prepare them for a flight, and you can use it as an I Spy tool during the journey too.

☐ Sticker books – my daughter would stick stickers for hours if she could, so ideal for a long journey. And they’re great for younger toddlers too, just watch out for them trying to eat the stickers. I love the Usborne First Sticker Book series, especially this version with over 500 stickers including shapes, numbers and letters. There’s also animal, train and plane versions.

☐ Finger puppets – leftover from baby days, I’ve found these are still useful to stick in a pocket for quick distractions in queues or on take-off/landing.

☐ Apps – although I limit screen time at home, travel is definitely the time to relax those rules. There’s huge numbers of apps, both fun and educational, free and paid-for, Apple and Android. Duck Duck Moose and Little Learners are good for under 18 months, while the Monkey’s Preschool series are fun and there are some familiar faces on CBeebies. My daughter also loves the animal puzzles from Little Clever.

☐ Cartoons/TV – whether it’s in-flight entertainment (even without headphones) or old favourites, this might be your chance to eat undisturbed. Go onto BBC iplayer before you leave (as you can’t access it outside the UK) and download a few episodes of their favourite show. You can keep it for 30 days after download, or 7 days after you’ve started watching.

For more ideas of the best travel toys for toddlers and preschoolers, check out more of my recommendations on Amazon or shop the blog

ESSENTIAL TODDLER TRAVEL TOYS: PIN FOR LATER

Disclosure: Contains affiliate links – any purchase you make is unaffected but I may receive a small commission. All opinions are my own, and products have been soundly tested by my daughter on multiple flights.

Images courtesy of Depositphotos

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