I don’t know about you, but I’m firmly in the “love to travel, hate to pack” camp. It stresses me out trying to figure out how to fit everything into our luggage or car and I always worry that I’m going to forget something. PS - I almost always forget something, and it’s usually no big deal.
Travel toys are one place where I’ve learned that less really can be more.
The best travel toys for babies and kids are small, lightweight, easy to clean and, most importantly, can be played with in lots of different ways. You don't need to fill an entire suitcase with toys to keep your kids entertained while traveling.
Over many years of traveling with my own kids, I've found that a few carefully chosen toys (plus some surprisingly entertaining everyday objects!) can go a long way.
Here are the things I look for when deciding which toys are worth packing.
What Makes a Great Travel Toy?
It Can Be Used in More Than One Way
Toys that can be played with in different ways are especially useful when traveling. You get more entertainment without adding more stuff to your luggage.
A simple bucket is a perfect example. Use it for sand and water at the beach, as a bath toy, to collect “treasures” on a hike, or to carry little toys around your hotel room.
It Works for Different Ages
If you're traveling with more than one child, look for toys that can work for different ages. Your kids may not use them in exactly the same way, but it means fewer things to pack.
A few examples:
-
Paper and crayons or markers: Little ones can scribble while bigger kids can draw what they see, journal about the trip, or play games.
-
A small ball: A rattle ball can entertain a baby, while a toddler or older child can use the same ball for a game of catch at the park or beach.
It Doesn't Take Up Much Space
Look for toys that fold down, deflate or nest together. Small toys that offer lots of ways to play earn their spot in your luggage.
It's Easy to Clean
Travel toys are going to end up on airplane floors, restaurant tables, hotel carpets and who knows where else.
I like toys that can easily be rinsed in a hotel sink or shower while we're traveling and thoroughly cleaned in the dishwasher or washing machine when we get home. Hard-to-clean toys usually don't make my packing list.
It's Lightweight
Small, lightweight toys are easier to pack and, as kids get older, easier for them to carry themselves. Save that precious luggage space and weight for the things you really need.
Those same criteria — lightweight, compact, washable and useful in more than one way — were a big part of why my husband and I designed the Lay & Play Adventure Mat the way we did.
The Lay & Play Adventure Mat weighs less than two pounds, packs into its own stuff sack, is machine washable and includes three adjustable toy straps so you can attach different toys your baby already loves, in addition to the three ring toys that come with the mat. It works as both a regular baby play mat and a portable play space you can take to airports, hotels, parks, grandparents' houses and just about anywhere else your adventures take you.
My Favorite Travel Toys for Babies and Toddlers
You really don't need a suitcase full of toys to keep babies and toddlers entertained while traveling. In fact, some of my favorite travel toys aren't really toys at all.
Look for small things that give your baby or toddler lots of opportunities to explore, manipulate, stack, stick, pull apart or play with in different ways.
Things That Stick
There is something about pulling things off and sticking them back on that can keep little hands busy for a surprisingly long time. As a bonus, all that pulling and sticking is great fine motor practice.
A few of my favorites:
-
Painter's tape or masking tape: Tear off a few pieces and stick them to a tray table, window or other safe surface for your baby to pull off. Colored painter's tape is especially fun.
-
Washi tape: Similar idea, but the different colors and patterns make it even more interesting.
-
Sticky notes: Lightweight, inexpensive and easy to pack. Stick them around your airplane seat or hotel room for little ones to find and pull off. Bigger kids can draw on them, write notes or use them for games.
-
Stickers: Pick up an inexpensive sheet of stickers and some paper and you've got an easy travel activity. Pro tip: pull off the outline around the stickers before handing the sheet to a toddler. It makes it much easier for little fingers to remove the stickers independently.
-
Bandages: This one sounds a little strange, but inexpensive colorful or character bandages can be surprisingly entertaining. Kids can peel them, stick them and use them on their toys or stuffed animals.
Just be sure to remove anything you've stuck to airplane windows, tray tables, hotel furniture or other surfaces before you leave.
Small Toys That Can Be Played With in Lots of Ways
Rather than packing lots of single-purpose toys, I like bringing a few small toys that kids can use differently depending on where you are.
Some favorites include:
-
Nesting or stacking cups: Stack them, knock them down, put things inside them or use them in the bath, pool or sand.
-
A small ball or rattle ball: Babies can shake and explore it, while toddlers can roll, toss and chase it.
-
Finger puppets: Use them for peekaboo, songs, silly conversations or making up stories.
-
Small blocks: A handful of lightweight or magnetic blocks can be stacked, sorted and used for imaginative play.
-
Paper and crayons or washable markers: One of the simplest things to pack and something that can work for lots of different ages.
And remember, novelty goes a long way when you're traveling. That doesn't mean you need to buy a bunch of new toys before every trip. Put a few toys away for a while and bring them back out when you travel. Something your child hasn't seen in a few months can suddenly feel brand new again.
For Toddlers and Bigger Kids: Pack a Few “Guys”
This idea served me well for years, starting when my kids were toddlers. Ask your child to pick a certain number of small plastic figures to bring along. My kids always called them their “guys.”
Over the years, our “guys” included everything from Paw Patrol dogs and My Little Pony horses to dinosaurs from party favor bags, fairies and LEGO people. It really doesn't matter what they are — the idea is to bring a small number of toys that can be played with in lots of different ways. This is not only convenient, but it encourages open-ended play.
Why I love this strategy:
-
It encourages imaginative play. Their “guys” can jump on hotel beds, build forts from rocks and sticks while camping, swim at the beach, explore a vacation rental or become part of whatever adventure you're having.
-
It keeps packing simple. Instead of bringing a bunch of toys in different shapes and sizes, you've got one small collection.
-
It's easier to keep track of everything. Decide how many “guys” you're bringing and periodically ask, “Do you have all six of your guys?”
-
They're usually easy to clean. Most small plastic figures can be quickly washed off in a hotel sink when needed.
And because your child gets to choose which “guys” come along, packing their travel toys becomes part of the adventure too.
Keep a Travel Toy Bag Packed
This is one of my favorite packing shortcuts.
Find a bag you don't need for anything else and keep it stocked with some basic travel activities. This does two things: it speeds up packing, and toys that have been tucked away in the travel bag for a while suddenly feel a little more exciting when they come back out.
Our travel toy bag has included things like:
-
Travel headphones
-
Coloring books
-
Crayons and markers
-
Partially used coloring or activity books
-
Stickers
-
A deck of cards
-
A few books
Before a trip, we would check the bag and add anything that didn't permanently live there like our “guys,” another small game or a book we were currently reading.
For a road trip, the whole bag could simply go into the car. When flying, we'd usually divide everything between our carry-on bags.
The best part is that you're not starting from scratch every time you travel. Keep the basics packed, rotate a few things occasionally, and that's one less part of packing you have to think about.
What If You Forget the Toys?
First, don't panic and definitely don't feel like you need to go buy a bunch of new toys.
There are usually plenty of everyday objects in a hotel room or vacation rental that can become surprisingly entertaining toys for babies and kids. Sometimes the things that aren't toys are the most interesting things to play with!
A few ideas:
-
Plastic cups: Hotel bathroom cups are great for stacking, scooping, pouring or playing games of put-it-in and take-it-out. If you're staying in a vacation rental, plastic food storage containers work well too.
-
Travel-size shampoo and conditioner bottles: Once they're empty and clean, little bottles can become people or characters for imaginative play. If you have markers, draw faces on them. Babies can practice putting the bottles into a cup or ice bucket and taking them back out again.
-
Hotel notepads: Don't overlook that little pad of paper sitting next to the hotel phone! Draw pictures, play simple games or let little ones scribble.
-
Clean food containers and plastic utensils: For easy no-need-to-pack beach toys, rinse out containers from your meals and use them for sand play. Small yogurt containers make surprisingly good buckets, and plastic spoons and knives work great for digging and shaping sand.
The best part? You don't have to pack any of it or take it home. Recycle what you can when you're finished.
And don't forget that the world around you is entertainment too. Look out the airplane window, watch the luggage carts at the airport, collect rocks on a walk, explore a new hotel room or sit outside and watch the birds. Especially for babies and toddlers, ordinary things in a new place can be just as interesting as the toys you packed.
Keep Travel Toys Simple
When you're packing toys for your next family trip, remember that you don't need to bring everything. A handful of small, versatile toys — plus a little creativity with what you find along the way — can provide plenty of entertainment without taking over your luggage.
If you're traveling with a baby, you might also like my post How to Keep a Baby Entertained While Traveling, with more ideas for airplanes, airports, hotels, road trips and everything in between.
And if you're planning a bigger trip, start with my Ultimate Guide to Traveling with a Baby for practical tips on packing, getting through the airport, choosing baby travel gear and making travel with a baby feel a little more manageable.
Most importantly, don't put too much pressure on yourself to pack the perfect toys. The world around you is often the best entertainment.