The Ultimate Packing Checklist for Traveling with a Toddler

The holidays are coming up on us FAST, and you know what that means! Traveling with the feral animal that is your child.

We know firsthand that the last thing you want to hear when you get to your destination is “Ah, shit, we forgot something.” Especially if it involves putting your tiny, disgruntled human back into a car seat after a long trip.

I don’t want to say that my husband and I have it down to a science, but after numerous 12-hour road trips, with more to come as the holidays approach, we’ve managed to compile a list that ensures we don’t have any oh-shit moments. Here’s the list we came up with to pack for our 14-month-old every time we go on a road trip. Let us know if we forgot anything (chances are we probably did)!

Packing for our Toddler:

Travel Baby Monitor:

If you’re lucky enough to have your kiddo sleeping in a different room than you at your destination, it’s a necessity to bring a travel baby monitor. Depending on what type you have, make sure to check that you have all of the cords, plugs, and things that make it work otherwise you’re in for a huge “oh-shit” moment.

Pack n Play:

Depending on the situation, you may need to bring a Pack n Play or travel sleep situation for your little one. Because our parents have multiple grandkids, they’ve invested in one that they keep at their house so we can use it when we visit, but that’s not always the case for every family. Hotels will often have pack ‘n plays or cribs available for guests as well, but I would call and check ahead and check to make sure they can accommodate. There are also rental companies you can use in most major cities that have pack ‘n plays for rent if you don’t want to purchase one.

Pack n Play Sheets:

I don’t know if we’re weird or if this is normal or not, but we bring sheets for the pack ‘n play when we travel. I bring two sets; one for her to use every night and the other in case of a weird accident that requires me to wash the first one.

Pajamas:

Depending on how long we’re traveling for, we typically pack one pair of pajamas for every two nights since we reuse them. If we’re going somewhere with access to a washer and dryer then we know we don’t have to overpack because we can just do laundry, but it never hurts to have extras.

Sleep Sacks:

Our daughter uses a sleep sack every night, so I typically bring two in case of an accident. Depending on the location you’re traveling to I would bring sleep sacks with different tog ratings. If we’re going somewhere cooler I bring sleep sacks with higher tog ratings than what we typically use down in Florida.

Day Clothes:

When I pack up her clothes, depending on the weather, I usually pack them by shorts/pants and tops/jackets. I like to plan for two outfits a day, even if we don’t end up using them. Again, it helps if we’re going somewhere with access to a washer and dryer so I can plan accordingly, but as with any toddler, extras are always helpful.

Socks/Shoes:

If you have a walker on your hands, socks and shoes are a must-have. Depending on your destination, you can likely get away with one pair, but we often bring a pair of sneakers and a pair of sandals just in case. I like to pack a pair of socks for every day I’m there because they’re small and easy to pack (and I like options), but you can plan accordingly to your accommodations.

Diaper Cream:

You’ll never catch me dead anywhere without diaper cream, specifically A&D. If you’re going on a road trip, or even on a plane, there’s a good chance your kiddo ends up sitting in their diaper a little longer than they normally would which can chap the ol’ ass. Bringing diaper cream will allow you to cover them for the trip, and once you get there.

Wipes:

You can always buy more once you get to your destination, but I usually bring a Costco-sized pack of wipes (or two if I can fit them) so that I’m covered for the trip and usually for a day or two after I get there. I like to leave one in her suitcase and one in the car with me in an easy-to-access spot for pitstops.

Diapers:

Same thing as wipes – you can always buy more once you get to your destination, but I usually bring two sleeves if I can fit them. Just like the wipes, I’ll pack some in our trunk/car topper and a handful in the car with me in an easy-to-access spot for changes along the way.

Travel Sound Machine (& the charger):

If you’re sound machine people like we are, we take one for our daughter and one for ourselves every time we travel. She sleeps with her Hatch on every night, and we want to keep a good thing going since she sleeps through the night, hence the travel sound machine that comes with us on every trip. PSA: Don’t forget the charger!! I can’t tell you how many times we’ve done that, so I’ve added it to my checklist to ensure I never forget.

Sippy Cups:

Depending on how much washing I want to do depends on how many sippy cups I bring. The average is around four if we’re being honest. I’ll pack one in the car for the trip and three others for once we reach our destination.

Pacifiers:

We’re paci people and we have no shame in our game. I usually bring a ziplock bag of 5-6 pacifiers that I put in her suitcase and leave at least two on a tether in the car for emergencies and in case we happen to drop one at a gas station (which has totally happened before). I’ve found it easiest to tether one to the car seat strap and one near me somewhere where I have access to it when the first one inevitably gets lost in the car chaos.

Snack Cups:

Snacks will forever be our saving grace on trips, so I always have snack cups on deck. These come in handy on the trip itself and once we’re at our destination. I’ve even seen people use weekly vitamin organizers to put different little snacks in not for the sake of feeding their kid, but to keep them entertained and give them things to figure out how to open and get the food out. Anything that holds their attention and keeps them from screaming their head off is gold in our book.

Stroller:

We have a pretty bulky stroller that we’ve used since we brought our daughter home from the hospital, but just recently we invested in an umbrella stroller for travel purposes and to save space in our trunk when traveling and it’s been a game changer.

Baby Wearing Device:

We have a Babybjorn for our 25-pound bowling ball. I feel like more often than not I don’t use it, but I know the one trip that I don’t bring it on I’ll want it. Sometimes all she wants is to be held but we still want to do things, so I did find on the last trip we went on this came in handy so I could wear her on my back while we went shopping.

Bibs/Spoons/Forks:

To avoid having to do too much laundry, I pack two silicone bibs and I put her spoons and forks inside of them when I’m rolling them up. I put one spoon/fork in one bib and one spoon/fork in the other. If you have a hand-eater, you can forget the spoons/forks!

Plates:

Depending on where I’m going and if I’ll have access to plates that she can’t break, I bring two silicone plates that have suction cups on the bottom. (I linked the plates that we currently have because they are the most insane plates of all time – even we can’t get it off of her tray sometimes, so 10/10 recommend them. Not sponsored, just truly in love with these plates).

Hats:

If you’re going somewhere cold, this is your reminder to bring a beanie or warm hat, and if you’re going somewhere sunny, this is where I pack a sun hat/baseball cap for her.

Travel High Chair:

We’re a little high maintenance and bring two travel high chairs IF we’re traveling by car. We have one that can attach to any table or surface and one that’s basically a baby lawn chair with a tray. They both serve different purposes, so depending on our destination and how much space we have determines if we bring one or both, and which one.

Burp Cloths:

This may sound like a weird thing to bring for a kid that doesn’t technically spit up anymore, but we use burp cloths for cleaning up everything from spills to wiping her mouth and cleaning her hands. I pack about three in an easy-to-reach spot in the car for when her hands need wiping after snacks and in case of any accidental spills or messes.

Snacks:

Snacks on a trip for our family are a necessity. We use it as an opportunity to try fun, new snacks that we normally wouldn’t buy so that we’re entertained and engaged, and so is our daughter. I make a snack bag for everyone in our family a week or so ahead of the trip and leave it a surprise. Do I spend way too much on snacks? Maybe. Is it worth it? 100%. I keep it finger-food friendly but also mix in some healthy, easy-to-pack things like bananas.

Books:

My daughter LOVES books, but she also loves to drop them down in between her car seat and the car door on trips. Because she loves to read them on trips and before bed, I bring 5-7 books and keep them near us on the trip so we can cycle through them.

Toys:

We don’t bring a ton of toys for the destination itself, but I do put together a variety of activities for the trip. I bought a small $3 plastic bin with straps from Walmart and use that as our travel activity bin. It has a pickleball with pipe cleaners in it, more pipe cleaners, painters tape, small animal figurines, a few Fisher-Price toys that make noise, sticky notes, some cardboard with velcro and pom pom balls (although this wasn’t a huge hit), reusable sticker books, and some of those weird noise maker tubes that you can stretch out. I strictly keep this bin in the car so that it’s new & “exciting” when we go on road trips. (I also bring an iPad with an iPad holder for emergencies).

Blanket:

It’s hit or miss if she wants a light blanket, but I always bring one for the trip and plop it over her legs to remind her that it’s nap time. Sometimes she hates it, sometimes she doesn’t mind it, so I just bring one and leave it in the cargo net that we have above our seats so it doesn’t fall on the floor or out of the car during stops. Plus, that way it stays out of the way when we’re not using it.

Packing A Toiletry Bag for Your Toddler:

Bulb Syringe:

Sometimes when we’re going to a colder environment than Florida (which is pretty much anywhere), I bring a bulb syringe as a “just in case.” This also comes in handy when we’re traveling and she has a cold, so I make sure to pack for every trip.

Baby Tylenol:

I always pack baby Tylenol as a precautionary measure for things like new teeth or a random fever. Also pro tip: make sure you have enough, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve put a bottle in her toiletry bag to find out there wasn’t even enough for one dose.

Nail Clippers:

My daughter’s nails seem to grow so fast, she looks like Edward Scissorhands after a week of not clipping her fingernails. If we’re traveling for more than a few days, I throw the nail clippers in her toiletry bag for a mani-on-the-go.

Hair Brush:

Do we really need a hair brush? No, it’s something we could be okay with forgetting, but we can’t be the only ones who get extreme satisfaction out of brushing our daughter’s raggedy hair after a bath!

Toothbrush/Toothpaste:

We’re in the phase of getting used to brushing our teeth, so we bring a toothbrush and toothpaste to keep the routine consistent even while we’re traveling… even if she’s the only one who is allowed to brush her teeth.

Travel Soap/Shampoo:

I never assume that anyone has tear-free soap or shampoo, so I like to pack a travel bottle of soap/shampoo for her in her toiletry bag.

Travel Lotion:

Going from Florida to almost anywhere else in the country where the humidity isn’t 100% means that her skin dries out fairly quickly and we’ve found that CeraVe moisturizer is the best for her skin, and quite frankly, ours too. We usually bring a few travel bottles of this because we end up using it as well!

Packing for the beach or an outdoor trip?

Sunscreen:

This is something that I typically just leave extra of in the car, but if you’re heading to the beach, somewhere with a pool, or anywhere that you expect to be outside in the sun, I make sure to pack some mineral sunscreen.

Beach toys:

You can always roll the dice and end up buying beach toys at your destination, but they usually run high in terms of price once you get to a tourist spot. We have the luxury of living at the beach so we have some on deck, but you don’t have to go crazy. At this age, you can likely get away with a small bucket, shovel, a couple of those sand shape things, a small inflatable beach ball, and a small cup. Caden Lane makes some incredibly cute silicone beach toys that are easy to clean off and pack well.

Beach bag:

The Bog Bags are huge right now, but I couldn’t get myself to pull the trigger because of the price. We were gifted a beach bag, so we just fill that up with our beach items when we’re traveling so we don’t get the rest of our stuff sandy.

Sunglasses:

Who am I kidding? She never keeps her sunnies on, but a mom can dream that her kid will wear the cute, trendy ones I bought her.

Swim Diapers:

If you do end up going somewhere you’ll all be in water, don’t forget swim diapers. You can always rip the liner out of a regular diaper, but I prefer to take the easy way out and buy the swim diapers, even if they are a little more expensive. I’ve also heard that you can wash and dry them, but when I tried drying them they still ended up feeling wet, so I’m glad I brought an entire pack for a week-long trip.

Bathing Suits:

A necessity for the beach or pool. I typically bring 3-4 for a week-long trip knowing that we can reuse them or rinse them down in the hose and let them dry. Again, if your destination has access to a washer and dryer you’ll be in business for not having to overpack.

Swim Float:

I don’t know about you, but when I’m on vacation I need a second hand for a cocktail, hence why a swim float is crucial. I bring one that collapses down pretty small and also has shade so my daughter can float happily while I hang onto her with one hand and keep a drink in the other.

Travel Fan/Fan Charger:

Coming from Florida, we keep a fan with us 24/7 no matter where we’re going. Pool/beach days can get really hot, so having a portable fan is a must, especially if you’re little one doesn’t love the water.

Cooler:

For beach trips, I like to pack a little cooler that I can throw my daughter’s lunch in to take down with us. I would pack it in the morning while she was eating breakfast with snacks, her lunch, and a sippy cup so we didn’t have to take multiple trips up and down from the house.

Ziplock Bags:

I’m sure there are so many other options out there for keeping things sand-free or dry, but I already had these in my house so I brought a bunch of ziplock bags because I knew they would come in handy. I used them for everything from bringing Cheerios down to the beach to putting my phone in the beach bag.

Inflatable Pool:

Our daughter isn’t a fan of waves so we brought a toddler-sized inflatable pool to the beach with us so we could fill it up with water and she could stay cool, but still be out of the waves and next to us up on the beach. They make a variety of different options on Amazon, but this toddler-sized inflatable pool was super small and inexpensive. Bonus: it floats in the pool and can hold a full-grown adult or drinks.

Tent/Umbrella:

If you’re not renting a cabana/tent/umbrella, having a spot for shade is a must. After living in Florida and seeing people’s umbrellas and tents fly away one too many times, we’re Neso Tent people now (and we won’t be looking back anytime soon). They’re a little bit of an investment so if you don’t foresee yourself going to the beach often, I probably would go the route of a cheap umbrella/tent or a rental, but the Neso tent was super easy to pack, put up and down, and provided so much shade without us having to worry about it impaling someone.

Beach Towels:

Don’t forget to check if your destination has beach towels or not, and if not, make sure to pack a few. I bought a cheap pack of four off of Amazon and even though they weren’t super absorbent, they did the trick for the week we were there!

Beach Wagon:

This is something that we didn’t actually bring, but I wished we did. My sister-in-law brought her Radio Flyer wagon and it was an absolute game changer. We used it to cart stuff to and from the beach along with our daughter and I don’t think we would have survived without it.

Beach Blanket:

I LOATHE SAND. Absolutely hate it. That’s why I made sure to get an oversized, sand-free beach blanket and I’m so glad that I did. I loved that it had stakes that the kids couldn’t pull up and no matter how sandy they got, it just blew or shook right off. The fact that it was oversized also came in handy for my daughter to crawl around on when the sand was scalding hot.

As with any family, what we find essential, others may not. Let us know in the comments if there’s anything else that you bring (or don’t bring) on trips with your kiddo!