When it comes to traveling with a toddler, there are some things that are worth lugging through the airport or piling into the trunk of the car. The convenience they offer is worth the space they take up!

Before you pack up, check with your accommodations to see what they offer. Many hotels and some Airbnbs have you covered on some of the bulky items. Otherwise, you can often rent baby gear - especially items like car seats, pack-n-plays, toys, high-chairs, and eating utensils - at your destination from a company like BabyQuip.

I highly recommend buying used travel gear when possible. It saves you money, is eco-friendly, and helps out another family. We have gotten killer deals on many lightly-used baby items on OfferUp, Craigslist, the “Buy Nothing” Facebook groups, and at children’s resale stores.

This article may contain affiliate links - when you purchase products we recommend through a link; we may earn a small commission at no cost to you. We only recommend products we love!

1 | Travel Car Seat

If you are taking a road trip, this is a no-brainer - of course, you need a car seat! While you are not required to use a car seat on a plane, chances are, you will need a car seat wherever you are headed. Sure, you can rent them from a car or baby rental company, but I prefer my toddler to use his car seat on the flight! It keeps him safe, contained, and I swear he is more likely to fall asleep quickly and stay asleep longer in his car seat! I can still take him out and play with him in my lap, but when he gets fussy, I can avoid the head-butts and face grabs by buckling him in!

A travel car seat is different than a standard car seat in that it is light-weight, bare-bones, and often does not include a base. They are relatively easy to install. We love our Cosco Scenera NEXT car seat ($60), but we think the Cosco Onlook car seat ($75) is also great for those who want built-in cup holders. If you have room in your budget and prefer an effortless forward-facing car seat (ages 2+) that folds up, check out the WAYB Pico Portable Car Seat ($380)! All of these options are lightweight, approved for air travel, and use the LATCH system.

2 | Travel Sound Machine

This is a staple in my diaper bag and has come in handy countless times! If my son falls asleep in the car, I just turn it on to help keep him asleep. We use it on the plane and for stroller naps.

I specifically like the Rohm Travel Sound Machine ($30) for its quality of sound and volume control settings. There are three different sound options, but the deep white noise is my favorite (is it weird to have a favorite sound?). I had another brand at first, but it was not nearly loud enough and had a higher pitch that kinda made me crazy. The Rohm sound machine is small, has a charging cord, and holds a battery all night.

3 | Thermometer and OTC Medication

It is a family rule that we bring both a rectal thermometer and over-the-counter medication on our travels. The backstory: while traveling in Mexico City, our son started to feel hot to the touch, and I was concerned he had a fever. We were thankful we had a thermometer on hand and didn’t have to search for one in a foreign country in our time of need. It turns out we were right - he had a low temp fever. We checked rectally about three times a day, provided Infant’s Tylenol, and contacted his pediatrician back home. An accurate temp was necessary to determine the best course of action for our little guy. Pack both items in your carry-on luggage, so it is available should you need them in transit! It is nice to have a small supply on hand to administer quickly - and it allows time to troubleshoot where to get more if needed. On most trips, we don’t use these at all, but they are worth the peace of mind. It’s not worth leaving these at home!!

We like the Fridababy Thermometer ($14) because it is compact, affordable, and takes a 10-second read - ideal when dealing with a squirmy fussy baby! We prefer Infant Tylenol ($9) for our 18-month-old and look for a 3.4oz or smaller bottle with a syringe applicator. We have found our toddler prefers this to a cup of medication. When he turns 2, we will move to Children’s Benadryl ($6). These take up very little space and are a literal lifesaver when you really need them.

4 | Travel Baby Monitor

A travel baby monitor gives us added freedom and peace of mind. We often request rooms close to a pool near the restaurant, or at least with a balcony so we can spend some quiet quality time together while our toddler sleeps. A baby monitor allows us to sneak out for a rendezvous. There is nothing worse than finding out your baby monitor doesn’t work!

Our favorite is the Wyze Cam V3 ($35), as we can watch our toddler sleep from an app on our phone. We set push notifications to be alerted for motion or sound and either check it periodically or leave the app open so we can watch continuously without drawing attention carrying around a baby monitor. The camera plugs into the wall, and we can usually find a suitable spot to place the camera for good viewing. There is no range that is too far as long as you have WiFi! At such a low price, it is easy to add more cameras to your setup if you have additional children to watch or if you want to check on any pets left at home. However, the Wyze Cams are Wifi-reliant; some may be concerned about security breaches, especially over shared broadbands such as at a hotel. We have also occasionally had issues connecting to Wifi networks that require landing page permissions or to go through a captive portal (such as at a hotel). If you prefer non-Wifi options, we recommend the Infant Optix DXR Monitor ($200) for its clear image, price point (these things can be expensive!), battery life, and noise reduction qualities. If you are happy with an audio-only monitor, the VTech Monitor ($40) is hailed for its long-range (1,000 feet without large obstructions) and quality audio.

5 | Car Seat Bag

The first few times you fly with a car seat, you might think, “there has got to be an easier way”! I have good news - there is! You can purchase a car seat bag to carry your car seat on your back. There are other options, such as car seat trolleys and wheelie bags, but I prefer to have the car seat on my back. It is lightweight and tells onlookers, “I am doing a lot - please give me grace!”. We get away with tossing in a pack of diapers, blanket, or jacket when needed, too, as there is plenty of extra space.

We customized our car seat bag by adding an iron-on mammoth decal and our phone number. It makes it super easy to spot in the rare case we have to check it! This YOREPEK car seat bag ($50) is very lightweight, sturdy, lightly padded, and will fit a larger car seat when our son gets bigger.

6 | Black-out Curtain or Tent

We prioritize sleep when we travel - otherwise, none of us have very much fun. I notice that my son will wake up earlier if even a little light peeks through in the morning! This is especially rough when we are dealing with time zone changes. You never know the sleeping conditions at your hotel or Airbnb. If I am not absolutely sure that the room can be darkened enough for my toddler, I will bring backup!

These black-out curtains ($28) work well when your toddler has their own room. The Slumberpod ($175) or more affordable sleep tents ($30) is ideal for when you have to share a room with your toddler. For the long term, we like the tent options because they play better in a wider variety of scenarios. They make sharing a room with your little one more comfortable as you can have the lights on and move about the room freely!

7 | Sleep Sack

We find our toddler goes down and sleeps longer when we keep the bedtime routine similar to our routine at home. A sleep sack is the number one indicator to our son that it is time to sleep - he has been known to bring it to us when he is ready for bed! We make sure to bring his sleep sack when we travel to mimic our routine at home.

We love the Kyte Sleep Sacks ($55) because they are silky soft and come in various colors and thicknesses. We also love to use the Burt’s Bees Wearable Blanket ($23) during the summer months as they are very breathable.

8 | Silicone Bib, Snack Containers, and Spill-Proof Cups

When we can, we do our best to avoid a mess. We use silicone bibs, snack cups, and leak-proof cups when we eat out and on our travels. Spill-proof containers do a great job of minimizing the mess and keeping the snacks from hitting the floor. Bonus - they also slow down my toddler, allowing snack time to become an ‘activity’ on a plane or car ride. We fill them with pretzels, goldfish, peanut butter puffs, or even fresh blueberries!

We love these silicone bibs ($11/3 pack) because they are affordable, and we don’t feel too bad if we accidentally leave one behind. They are sturdy and easy to clean, and our son has difficulty pulling them off when he decides he is done with dinner. We are happy with our spill-proof snack containers ($6) and cups from Munchkin ($13); be sure to remove the silicone covering to clean out the lids properly. They are sold online and in brick-and-mortar stores. Since the snack containers are not completely air-tight, the food can get a little stale. Be sure to change out the snacks frequently. Our most recent snack upgrade has been this stackable snack tower from Whiskware ($13)! It fits more easily into our diaper bag!

9 | Pacifier Clip or Toy Safety Strap

Straps help keep your stuff from falling on the ground - especially useful in airports, planes, hotel rooms, and restaurants where cleanliness is suspect. We use them to attach toys and pacifiers to high chairs and car seats. They are lifesavers when traveling on a plane - a stray toy or pacifier can be especially challenging to grab in those tiny spaces!

These toy straps ($13) are stylish and affordable, and you will have plenty on hand. If your toddler still uses a pacifier, use whatever they are used to! Our son loves the MAM Pacifiers ($6), and we like the Glow-in-the-Dark version, so we can find it in a dark room without turning on the light!

10 | Carrier, Hiking Backpack, or Stroller

Depending on the destination, we’ll either take a carrier, umbrella stroller, or hiking backpack - or, if we are feeling extra bold, some combination of the three! I like to wear my toddler in a carrier throughout the airport and on short walks at our destination. If we are spending time at an amusement park, we will bring the stroller as it provides a place for a nap-on-the-go, can store extra snacks and backup clothes, and offers the best shade. If we are hiking or otherwise enjoying the wilderness, we opt for a hiking backpack as it is the most comfortable for long treks on uneven terrain.

We like the Ergobaby 360 Carrier ($117) as it is sturdy for bigger babies, breathable, and comfortable to wear. It can be stored in a stroller or car seat bag easily. We were in awe at our friend’s Kolcraft Compact Baby Stroller ($80) for its affordability, one-handed fold, ability to recline if your toddler needs a nap, and shade canopy! It weighs just under 12 pounds and has a cup holder and snack area for both the toddler and the caregiver! The ClevrPlus Hiking Backpack Carrier ($115) comes highly rated and has storage space for snacks, sunscreen, and an insulated pouch for water or bottles! The shade cover and foot stirrups make it a more comfortable ride for your little one.

11 | Travel High Chair or Chair Harness

These high-chair alternatives are great if you stay at a relative’s house and plan to eat at home a lot. With your toddler safely in their chair, they can doodle at the table while you make dinner and eat independently while you enjoy your dinner! It beats getting whacked in the face with a handful of apple sauce while trying to wrangler on your lap! If we know our Airbnb has a high chair, or we plan to eat out at restaurants for the majority of our trip, we might skip packing one of these.

We use our Travel High Chair ($28) when we visit Grandpa, just up the street from us, and when we visit family across the country! It fits in our luggage, though it does take up a fair bit of space. The buckles are easy to manage but not easy enough for our toddler (yet!). We love the ease of the Travel Chair Harness ($30) - it straps securely to almost any chair and can fit in a diaper bag!

12 | Portable Crib, Pack ‘N Play or Inflatable Toddler Bed

Whenever possible, we arrange to have a pack n’ play provided upon arrival at our destination. Luckily, many AirBnBs and most hotels can accommodate with early notice. In a pinch, we would borrow, rent or buy used, even for a short stay. We do our best not to add a portable crib to our packing list. As our son gets older, we are looking forward to inflatable travel beds, which fit easily into a checked bag.

Throughout our travels, I have found each pack n’ play is as good as the next for a toddler. However, to point you toward a solid choice, we would suggest the Graco Pack ‘N Play On the Go ($80) for its easy setup, quality, and settings to accommodate both infants and toddlers. If you feel more comfortable traveling with your own portable crib, consider the more compact and travel-friendly Pamo Babe Travel Crib ($150). When your child transitions out of a crib and into a bed at home, consider the Hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed ($80).

Before we leave, we go through our packing checklist and make sure we have a plan - either to pack, rent or borrow, or purchase at our destination. We have traveled enough to know that our trip is made easier by the tools we bring. We hope this list of must-haves helps you as your plan your next adventure!

If you found this list helpful, you might also like our "Travel Snacks" post, curated explicitly to help you get through travel days. 

What did we miss? Let us know in the comments!