Traveling with a Toddler: Must haves
click the picture to shop all products in this post
Let's be honest, traveling with a toddler is not easy. Traveling internationally is especially difficult. But when we got invited to a fabulous wedding in Scotland and Andi was asked to be the flower girl - we knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime trip we couldn't pass up.
My busy-body 4-year-old is like most kids her age, doesn't like to sit still for too long and can be picky and finnicky about everything. So I did a LOT of research about what we should pack for the trip - but especially for that 6+ hour long flight.
Here's what I bought, what was worth it and what I would leave off the list.
-Boogie wipes: self explanatory. Have a pack of these in 2 separate bags: your carry-on and your checked bag.
-Sound machine: hotels and airbnbs can be noisy. This one is cheap and hooks onto just about anything.
-blanket and pillow: seems obvious but bring her favorite pillow and blanket from home helped her sleep in strange places.
-melatonin: some parents are against this - but our pediatrician said it's ok on occasion! I gave it to her at take-off and it helped her get some sleep. (talk to your doc!)
-mess-free coloring books: these things are genius and cheap. ONLY downside is if you lose the marker you're in trouble. These are great too!
STICKERS, STICKERS, STICKERS
-stickers and extra regular coloring book: stickers are cheap and easy. These stickers are reusable and easy to use.
-And this coloring book box is easy to travel with.
-drawing pad: this thing was probably one of my favorite amazon finds. It comes in a pack of 2 and the battery lasts forever. It's lightweight and perfect for traveling. Or this resuable drawing pad booklet.
-munchkin snack holders: so those bags of goldfish don't get crushed
-extra thermos: because the cup you get from the airport will spill and get crushed. (this one comes with stickers they can decorate on the plane!)
-snacks: bento box filled with little snacks in each compartment
-pouches: these were lifesavers on the flight.
-trash bags: these come in a little trash bag holder that I hooked onto her luggage. I used the bags SO much on the flight. I loved being able to throw trash in them and stay organized in between flight attendant service.
-lollipops: Great for take off and landing to keep their ears from popping... but also an easy bribery tool. and these have low sugar!
-wet wipes: I brought 5 packs of these and put them in every pouch, haha. Andi liked being able to help me clean!
-tissues: individually wrapped packs for the win
-headphones: non-negotiable - these work with her ipad and with the monitor on the plane. Get this iphone adapter plug to be able to use it with apple accessories, too.
-ipad: download all the episodes beforehand so you don't have to stress about wifi at the airport or plane. If you don’t have one, this refurbished one is perfect for kids.
-ipad case: this one is durable and a great stand.
-extra charger and cord: Avoid meltdowns when the battery dies.
-tylenol & syringe: because you never know when a fever will spike.
-dechoker: this one was highly recommended to me
-carbon monoxide detector: depending on where you are traveling, this is a must.
-outlet adapters: this one is for most European countries
-spray sanitizer: I love this hand sanitizer - it's not goopy and messy and doesn't spill in my purse.
-#1 item on my list: the Bedbox from Stokke! This thing was a GAMECHANGER. It's like 5 products in one.
The "box" is a rolling suitcase with a strap for her to hold and a leash for me to pull. Andi loved riding on the suitcase around the airport, and I didn't have to constantly say "hurry up!" when we were rushing around.
The actual suitcase is perfect for her to use as a carry-on. We couldn't fit everything in there, but we did put snacks, coloring books and her ipad. On the flight, we unpacked everything and got her alll set up.
Now the best part - the bedbox comes with padding that folds out perfectly to make the plane seat into a bed. The 'box' part/suitcase goes under her legs, the padding attaches to it and it supports her so she can sprawl out.
I upgraded and got the matching backpack, she loved being able to pack some of her snacks and headphones in there.
SLUMBER POD!
BONUS idea for traveling with little ones: the slumber pod. We did not use it for Andi because she's a big girl now, but if you have little ones who are light-sensitive, this pod is so great. Especially if you're traveling to places like Scotland where the sun stays out until 10:30pm!
What I would skip:
-toilet covers: I hate using airport & airplane bathrooms and I hate putting my daughter on them even more. I bought these disposable ones to use on the flight and in public restrooms, but I only used them once. I ended up just using toilet paper and it worked just fine.
-ear planes: I read several people who said these really helped kids, but lollipops did the trick for us.
