The Best Gear for Traveling with Toddlers

If there’s one question we hear again and again from parents of toddlers who are planning a trip, it’s this, always asked in a frantic tone: What do we do about a car seat? And I understand why. Your toddler is out of their infant car seat and into a convertible, but convertible car seats weigh approximately four thousand pounds and don’t exactly scream “easily transport me wherever you need to go!”

The Cosco Scenera Next, one of our top rated convertible car seats, is your answer. This travel-friendly convertible clocks in at just about 11 pounds, so while it doesn’t attach to a stroller, you can sling it easily over your shoulder when you’re on the go or bungee cord it onto a rolling suitcase if you’re walking through the airport. It’s also extremely affordable and easy to install (although we do recommend watching the video first).

A lightweight stroller is the next must-have item to consider when traveling with a toddler. This one from Joolz rises above the rest in almost every single way. It weighs in at just 13 pounds, so carrying it when your toddler isn’t riding in it is a breeze. The fold—both when you’re opening and closing it—is quick and seamless. It handles like a dream, maneuvering easily in tight spaces and with a good amount of suspension for such a small stroller. And it’s small enough to fit in an overhead bin on an airplane when folded.

If you’re a family who flies frequently with young children in tow, a suitcase that conveniently has a seat for them to ride on is a lifesaver (especially if you’re checking your stroller or renting one at your location). The high-back seat has a safety strap to hold your toddler in place (when your child isn’t in the seat, you can use it for yourself). This carry-on is designed to hold children at least 2 years old safely, with a total weight capacity of 200 pounds, including the contents of the luggage.

A baby carrier is always something I throw in my bag whenever I’m traveling with my toddler. I’m mostly a stroller mom in real life, but when I’m in travel mode, I’ve carried my toddlers through airports and train stations. They’ve napped in carriers when they are too overstimulated to fall asleep—it’s a travel must. 

The Tula is my go-to carrier for older babies and toddlers because of its ergonomic design. It makes carrying a heavier child comfortable thanks to the wide, padded waistband, padded shoulder straps and different seat settings. It fits lots of body types (my husband and I both find it comfy and easy to wear), and I like that I have the option of a front or back carry position.

For toddlers who don’t want to be contained in a traditional carrier or a stroller, the Tushbaby Hip Carrier is a nice in-between option that you can use instead (or in addition to). The Tushbaby absorbs the pressure of toting around a toddler on your hip while your arm supports their back. When our family drove from North Carolina to New Jersey, I was able to quickly strap on my Tushbaby Hip Carrier and plop my toddler on during our driving breaks. Plus, it has five pockets and plenty of room to store snacks, diapers and wipes—so if you’re at the airport, you can just juggle your toddler instead of your toddler and a diaper bag.

The Tushbaby has an age limit of 36 months (or 45 pounds), and since it's more of a support product, you won’t be totally hands-free, but I’ve found it super helpful for my toddler who wants to ride my hip (versus sitting in a stroller or being strapped down in a carrier). 

Toddler backpacks can be tricky; they’re either too large and unwieldy for your little one to carry, or they’re too small to hold much of anything at all. This one from Itzy Ritzy strikes a perfect balance. It's small enough for a young toddler to manage but large enough to actually hold the things they want to tote around. There are plenty of pockets and compartments to hold things like books, small toys and a tablet and tons of fun designs. The straps allow it to be worn on their back or they can snap the top handles to carry it from the top.

I truly cannot count how many times this travel potty saved us while we were away from home during the throes of potty training (and for a few years afterward). It’s compact, easy to wipe down and has flaps that hold disposable bags in place. (You can buy bags from OXO that are designed specifically for the potty, or use standard plastic bags.) I’ve also folded up the legs and used it as a potty seat on a regular toilet.

Figuring out where your toddler is going to sleep is another stressor for many parents planning a trip. While there are a few great travel cribs out there we recommend often (and love), we think the Newton is the best toddler option out there if you’re traveling with a little one who still sleeps in a crib at home. The Newton has three things going for it: the mattress, the weight and the size. Made with the same Wovenaire technology used in the brand’s much-loved crib mattress, this travel crib mattress is 100 percent breathable and washable. (It’s also super comfy and GREENGUARD Gold Certified.) The playard weighs in at about 17 pounds, so while it’s not the lightest on the market, it’s still fairly easy to travel with and the weight is for a good cause, which leads me to size, this playard’s third big pro. It’s about two times larger than most other travel cribs, making it ideal for an older toddler who may be sized out of a smaller playard. And if you’re interested in checking out some of our other top-picks for playards, we love the Graco Pack n Play Portable Playard and the Guava Family Lotus. Both are smaller than the Newton, but are significantly lighter at about eleven pounds, making them ideal for car, train or airplane travel.

Sharing a hotel room or staying overnight in an unfamiliar place can really mess with your toddler’s sleep, as they won’t be used to the extra light or noise. This ingenious cover slips right over your playard or travel crib to create a dark, private space so your little one can doze off comfortably—and so you don’t have to “pretend” to go to bed at 7:30 p.m.

The Slumber Pod fits over all standard-size playards and travel cribs. It’s easy to travel with, weighing less than five pounds, and compact when it’s folded down. I also love the fan, which stashes into a built-in zip pocket, and the air vents throughout.

Much like traveling with a kiddo who no longer uses an infant car seat, hitting the road with a toddler who is no longer sleeping in a crib can be another head-scratcher for many parents. This inflatable travel bed is the perfect solution, whether you need it for a night at grandma’s or a week at a rental house where you’re short on extra bedrooms. (Lots of parents report it’s also great for camping.)

The bed is lightweight, super portable and inflates in seconds with the included pump. It’s also perfectly toddler-sized and toddler-friendly—four bumpers surround the mattress and ensure your little one can’t roll off. The mattress fits standard crib sheets and the whole package rolls up into the included travel bag so you can stow it away with the rest of your luggage.

The soothing sounds of white noise and toddlers go together like bread and butter, so it only makes sense to take one on the road with you. This portable sound machine is the best of the best. It’s tiny, but it packs a big punch sound-wise. I love clipping it to my stroller for naps on the go or stashing it in any room where my kids are sleeping to drown out outside noise during overnight sleep. The sound machine lasts about eight hours on a full charge, so I usually leave it plugged in overnight so it won’t conk out.

Like many things, eating on the go with a toddler can be tricky—and not just because you don’t enjoy having french fries thrown at your head. Toddlers can be fussy about where they sit, and most aren’t ready for a grown-up seat quite yet. And lots of booster seats are bulky and not ideal for travel.

The OmniBoost is versatile and works both on the ground (think beach, pool or camping) or on top of a chair (think dining at the grandparents’ house or out at a restaurant). It folds quickly and compactly into a small drawstring nylon bag. It includes a tray, which is great for easy clean up and outdoor use. And speaking of cleanup, the entire seat cover pops off and can be tossed into the washing machine, a must if you’re dealing with a toddler + mealtime.

If you want to check out some other travel-friendly booster options, we also love the Inglesina Fast Table Chair and the Fisher-Price Portable Toddler Booster (but it doesn’t fold). Also note that the hiccapop booster seat has a super high weight limit compared to the other two recs, though all options are perfect for toddlers.

When you’re in the throes of cleaning bottles, nipples and pump parts around the clock, a bottle brush is a daily-use tool. And when your kids enter toddlerhood this brush and drying rack combo will still be your go-to for scrubbing water bottles and other small items like snack containers and keeping them all contained on the counter while they’re drip drying. It’s affordable, compact and one of the first things I reach for when packing for a trip.

There are two things I look for in a travel-friendly water bottle: no leaks and easy cleaning. This one meets both of those requirements, plus it’s affordable, easy for even younger toddlers to sip from, lightweight and since it’s stainless steel, it’s also insulated.

The Contigo Kids is unique from other toddler water bottles because the valve and straw pop open on the underside of the lid for easy access cleaning. Everything is tethered to the lid so you’ll never lose anything while you’re scrubbing—a beneficial feature when you’re away from home and don’t want to worry about losing small bottle parts. Most importantly, the bottle is completely leakproof, even when the spout is up and it’s flipped upside down.

Silicone bigs are a go-to choice at home, but when you're on the go, these SuperBibs from Bumpkins are a better options since they take up a bit less space. You can keep a few rolled up and ready to go in your diaper bag at all times. We love that they’re large and easy to get on and off. They’re also wipeable, so you don’t have to wash them after every use; simply wipe them down or run them under water to clean them off and let them hang dry.

For a young eater who hasn’t mastered table manners quite yet, this set of grippy bottom tableware can make your life a lot easier (and a lot neater) when you’re away from home. This set includes one bowl, one plate and a cup that grips to the mat to keep it in place without suction. The cutlery is easy for toddlers to hold, making it easier for them to feed themselves (which they'll insist on doing). And the plate is dishwasher safe (but should not be microwaved).

Even if you’re not a germaphobe, it’s worth tossing a few of these disposable placemats into your diaper bag before your next trip. You can use them on airplane trays, extra yucky restaurant tables or wherever else you need a clean surface for your toddler to eat or play. And they’re just as great for keeping germs away as they are for protecting the surface from your toddler (think eating at a rental house where you don’t want to damage or stain a surface). I love that they’re extra sticky—I’ve never had an issue with them coming loose and they can even make cleanup a little easier.