The best toys for keeping a toddler entertained while traveling
Keeping a toddler entertained is a stressful experience for any parent or caregiver. Traveling is a handful with security, seating, and pandemic restrictions. Then add in the uncertainty that your child will make it the 11-hour flight without an epic meltdown. Over years of traveling with my children, I have found these toys to be my tried and true. They help ease my mind by knowing I can keep them distracted at least for little stints of time.
Puffy Stickers
Yes, the puffy part is essential. I buy these in bulk and let the kids stick them everywhere. So, the seats, the windows, the trays, the iPads, and my face are all fair game. I don’t usually let them play with stickers at home, so it’s a special treat, and the puffy stickers are extra easy to peel off without leaving residue behind. Plus, the cabin crew will be much happier with you.
Sticker Activity Books
We have had success with the Melissa & Doug sticker activity books. These are excellent quality puffy stickers with laminated scenes that they can add on. Most importantly, these can also be used if you have older children since the added settings allow them to use the activity more.
Melissa & Doug Vehicle Activity Book
Melissa & Doug Dress-Up Activity Book Pack
Melissa & Doug Paw Patrol Re-Stickable Book
Sensory Cubes and Pillows
Do you have a toddler that loves flipping on light switches? Or maybe playing with the keys and locks. My son is obsessed with these things. So rather than bringing on a giant sensory board in my carry-on, I found these small cubes on Amazon.
I would recommend bringing one of these for the child who loves buckling and unbuckling things. Another benefit is that they can easily clip to whatever piece of luggage you are traveling with.
FatBrain Toys
Whirly Squigz
These spinners from fat brain toys are great because they have suction cups that can stick to the plane windows or trays. Because of this, your toddler can spin them or hit them as much as they want, and they stay on very well. There are also a few other brands with the same concept you can find on Amazon as well.
Dimpl Digits
This number dimpl toy from FatBrain toys was my son’s favorite in his first year of life, and it held up well. We took this on trips, to dinner, car rides, and train rides. It fits a lot of the needs of a young toddler.
Improvise
When all else fails, improvise with what you have around you. For example, I did not want to bring out the plethora of toys I had packed away on a short connecting flight. Seeing my struggle with my son, the flight attendant gave us a small stack of paper cups. It worked like a charm! He stacked them, put items in them, dumped them out, and put them all on mom.
