5 Products That Make Traveling With a Toddler Easier
- Dallas Mom Friend
- Aug 10
- 4 min read
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Our family just returned from our first week-long, out-of-state vacation with our toddler in tow. As excited as we were to take the trip, I’ll admit that the logistics of traveling with an almost two-year-old had made us hesitant to book a bigger vacation sooner. Between navigating the airport, surviving the flight, sleeping somewhere new, and somehow bringing everything a toddler needs, it felt like a lot to manage. But after a wonderful week away, I’m already looking into where we should go next! These are a few products that made traveling with a toddler easier for us — and a few I wouldn’t want to travel without again.
Our son has never been much of a lap child, so when we booked our flight, we decided to purchase him his own seat and have him sit in his car seat on the plane. The only downside? We then had to figure out how to tote his giant car seat through the airport. Enter the J.L. Childress Wheelie Car Seat Travel Bag.
This bag was a lifesaver. Our Graco car seat fit easily inside, and it was simple to get it in and out when we went through security. The wheels made navigating the airport surprisingly easy, too. It struggled a little over bumps and uneven surfaces, but never enough to really slow us down.
As a bonus, once we installed the car seat on the plane, we used the empty bag to hold our travel stroller and gate-checked the whole thing. One less loose item to keep track of while boarding with a toddler is always a win!
From toys and snacks to diapers and wipes, there are a lot of things you need to have in your carry-on luggage when traveling with toddlers. Our son has always loved to copy us and be helpful, so why not let him take ownership of some of his own necessities?
We found this mini backpack from STEAMEDBUN, and it was the perfect size for our toddler. We were able to fit several diapers, a few toys, and his water bottle inside, freeing up some much-needed space in our own carry-ons. My favorite feature, though, is how adjustable the straps are. They can be shortened enough to fit him comfortably, but they also extend far enough that I can throw the backpack on my own back when he inevitably decides he’s done carrying it.
3. New Travel Toys
We definitely relied on Disney+ for part of our return flight, but before breaking out the screens, we had another trick up our sleeves: brand-new toys. We surprised our son with a few new options at the airport, and two quickly became his favorites — this Montessori Busy Cube and this Mini Magnetic Drawing Board. Full disclosure: the mini drawing board actually came from a multipack we originally purchased for party favors, but its small size made it perfect for travel.
While these particular toys worked really well for us, I think the real magic was simply that they were new. Save a couple of toys your toddler has never seen before and pull them out when you need a distraction — you might be surprised by how much mileage you get out of the novelty!
When we first arrived at our rental, one of the first things we noticed was just how many windows were in our son’s room. It was beautiful during the day, but we immediately knew all that natural light would be a problem when it came time for naps and bedtime — and we were very glad we had packed these portable blackout curtains.
If your toddler is used to sleeping in a dark room at home, you quickly realize that not every hotel room or vacation rental has the same definition of “blackout curtains.” These were lightweight and didn’t take up much room in our suitcase, and being able to darken an unfamiliar room helped us recreate our son’s normal sleep environment while we were away. Anything that helps a toddler understand that yes, it really is time to sleep — even when you’re somewhere completely new — earns a spot in our suitcase.
Our almost two-year-old has reached the point where a traditional Pack ’n Play feels a little cramped, but he’s still comfortably sleeping in a crib at home — and we weren’t about to introduce the freedom of a toddler bed on vacation! The Guava Family travel crib gave us the best of both worlds.
It was compact and easy enough to travel with, but once set up, it gave him plenty of room to sleep comfortably without feeling squeezed into a too-small space. It was also nice to be able to recreate a familiar, crib-like sleep setup while we were away, making this one of those travel products we’ll be able to keep using as he gets bigger.
Traveling with a toddler may take a little more planning (and a lot more stuff!), but don’t let the anxiety of traveling with a little one keep you from taking the trip. We spent so much time worrying about how our son would handle the airport, the flight, and being away from home, only to discover that it was far more manageable than we had built it up to be. Having the right products certainly helped make things easier, but more than anything, this trip gave us the confidence to know that we can do it again.
The memories we made were absolutely worth the extra logistics — and now the only question is where we’re going next!
Sincerely,
Your Dallas Mom Friend
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