The right travel-toys make trips so much easier with kids. Our kids first trip to Europe was when they were one and three. For that trip we went to Target and picked a few random toys to get for the trip that fit into a tote bag. Our second trip was about the same.
For our third trip across the Atlantic I wised up and the “Easter Bunny came early” that year with a delivery of travel toys prior to our departure. (And yes, I even took the kids to the mall to ask the Easter Bunny to come to our house early so the kids could keep the holiday magic alive.)
Having a set of specific travel toys in a bag that is just used for nights away from home makes the toys more novel, and eliminates some of the metal load of packing for our frequent trips. We can just grab the toy bag, charge the tablets and go. Here’s a list of items we have in our travel bag as well as a few that we got for those first trips when the kids were very young.
TRAVEL-TOYS
- Amazon Fire Tablet with Headphones: We don’t let our kids have a lot of screen time at home, but when traveling we will do anything to keep the peace. Tablets come in handy for long flights, train rides etc. but we don’t let the kids take tablets to dinner. Pairing the headphones can be a huge pain in the tail so we bring the cable to connect them to the tablet too.
- Travel Beach Ball: Great for both the beach, or inflating and using to keep the kids running around while waiting for a flight or boat.
- Travel Magnetic Tiles and People: Magnatiles are a beloved toy in our home, and this mini set with extra people is great for on the go. We have a set for each kid, and there’s something cathartic about sorting the tiles into two groups by shape and color when packing up from each hotel to ensure we have all of the pieces.
- Foxtail: We started bringing a fox tail to help the kids get energy out when we can’t find a real playground. It’s small enough to fit in your pocket too when exploring.
- Digital Camera: Both kids love using their cameras to capture pictures from their travels. I’m sure when the quality gets a bit better we will save more of the images.
- Thinking Putty: This was a new addition for our Scandinavia trip, and was a huge hit on the train ride. We even shared it with an older girl from Belgium who thought it was an interesting toy.
- Water rings, etch-a-sketch, and fidget spinners: I will put these in my pocket or purse before dinner so the kids have something to play with while we are out.
- Plus Plus Toys: We have the glow in the dark version which makes for fun play in the hotel room after a long day of travel or exploring.
- Clixo Toys: Part of our original travel toy set, they continue to be fun and super light.
- Magnetic Drawing Board: We have gone through a few versions of these tablets. I wish there was a more durable version because they are such a huge hit with the kids.
- Travel Tangram: A bid advanced for a four year old, but I am hoping the kids grow into this toy.
- Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza: We started bringing a card game for the kids and adults to play now that they are slightly older.
- Collapsible Sand Toys: Perfect for cruise ships, or packing in a suitcase for longer trips. While the zipper on the bag is not study, the toys themselves allow for hours of fun.
CAR SEATS AND CARRIERS
- RideSafe Vests: We got these for our first Disney Cruise, and they are super easy to use. They fit in a larger backpack with our travel toys.
- Toddler Carrier: We got this for when we need to transport two exhausted kids or a travel stroller doesn’t make sense. It most recently saved us after a late night flight home from Park City where we needed to carry a child from farthest away gate at Dulles to our car.
- Minu Stroller: We put this in the overhead bin as a carry-on so we never have to worry about not having a stroller when we deplane in Europe.
- Stroller Caddy and Bag Hook: These items help us attach and haul water bottles, bags, toys etc. when traveling with the stroller.
- Ergobaby Carrier: We used this carrier when the kids were younger, and it was comfortable to wear for longer excursions.
- Osprey Poco Child Carrier Backpack: We stuffed this backpack full of diapers, and gate checked it as a stroller for our younger child on our first two trips to Europe (Vienna, Budapest and London). It allowed us to not buy a second stroller, and be able to transport both kids when they were both unable to spend a meaningful part of the day walking independently.
- Cosco Car Seat: We had the younger child version of this car seat back in the day, and would attach it to the stroller with a cable to get it through the airport.
BABY TOYS
- Window Stickers: Window stickers can turn a mirror or window into a new play area. These were fabulous when the kids were younger, but lost their appeal when the stickiness started to lessen from all of the love.
- Baby Wheel Spinning Toy: This was a huge hit on flights with the kids, and got passed around our neighborhood for others to use.
- Porcupine Toy: This toy easily packs up and went with us on may trips with the kids until they were around three years old.
OTHER GEAR
- Vomit Bags: Pack them to make cleanup easier for kids who get motion sickness