Top essentials for travelling with a toddler – from plane-friendly pushchairs to the best toys to keep them entertained

YOU’VE made it through the newborn days and now have a toddler running around causing mischief.

The time has come for a holiday – either abroad or a staycation – and you’re quickly realising there’s an awful lot to take into consideration when packing for a little person. 

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Travelling with kids doesn’t have to be stressful – if you take an essential kit[/caption]

Well look no further because here we’ve created the ultimate list of essentials which will make your life easier and take the stress out of travelling with a toddler.

From the one item to help you whizz through the airport to keeping your little one entertained on the flight, we’ve got you covered. 

Just don’t forget to pack the passports! 

ON THE MOVE 

Whether you’re flying abroad or taking the car, you’re going to want a pushchair that’s light, easy-to-fold and more importantly – easy to transport.

Look no further than the Joolz  Aer+ . Weighing just 6kg, it’s as light as a feather and can fold up in just one second. 

It’s got a UPF 50+ sun hood – great for hot destinations – and a basket that holds up to 5kg… perfect for shopping on the go.

Best of all, it’s the ideal option for a flight as it folds up small enough to be stored in an overhead compartment on most aeroplanes and most let you take a pushchair onboard for free (although do check with your individual airline in advance to avoid any upset). 

It’s costly, with prices starting from £380, but you should get several years’ use out of it – so it’s worth the investment. And for those not wanting to break the budget, you can easily pick-up second-hand frames on Facebook Marketplace for as little as £20.

For those with kids who find the pushchair a little too restrictive, why not opt for a trike so they can feel that little bit more grown?

As it’s slightly bulkier than the Joolz, it’s probably more suited to adventures taken by car. But it offers another option for getting about to see the sights with a toddler in tow.

The Doona Liki Trike S5 is advertised as the world’s most compact folding trike – expanding at the click of a button – so can easily be stored in the car boot while still leaving room for luggage.

For those travelling with more than one child, a ‘buggy board’ might be a saviour.

The Lascal Mini can clip on to 99% of pushchairs and doesn’t take up too much extra room in your luggage – which means weary adventurers can hitch a ride when out and about and you still have the pushchair to hand for on-the-go naps.

For those with a newborn in tow, the lightweight Izmi Essential Wrap is material-only so folds up much smaller than other carriers and has UV protection so is perfect for sunnier climes.

If you’re a parent who likes to travel superlight, UK rental service Tiny Explorers lets you hire key baby and toddler items while you’re away.

From prams and travel cots to highchairs and sterilisers, they’ve thought of everything. Even car seats can be hired from £40 per week.

EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS

Any trip out of the house with a toddler requires a changing bag – and going on holiday is no exception. Keep it simple and try to pack as light as possible.

Kit & Kin’s reusable nappy can be re-washed while away or you can hit up your local supermarket for own-brand disposable nappies to keep the cost (and packing) to a minimum. Don’t forget swim nappies too if you plan to take a dip!

Storksak’s Eco Backpack comes with an built-in insulated pouch for milk bottles, as well as a padded changing mat. It also has clever straps to attach to a stroller and can be linked to a cabin bag for easy transporting – great for when you’ve got your hands full!

Having personally used this myself for recent travels, I couldn’t applaud it more. It’s well worth the money. 

Finnson’s Selby bag is a perfect shoulder option, if you prefer a Tote-style over a rucksack. It’s water repellent and easy to wipe clean – so can double up as a beach bag too. Or you could keep it simple with the infamous ‘Ryanair bag’.

The Narwey underseat foldable travel duffle is popular with holidaymakers because it fits exactly within budget airlines’ hand luggage requirements.

As well as nappies, a set of spare clothes and water & snacks, it’s probably also worth throwing a travel blanket in your changing bag too.

Little Green Sheep’s knitted cellular blanket can be used from birth right through childhood – and is especially handy to keep little legs warm on chilly flights or long car journeys. 

If you’ve got room in your checked baggage allowance, it’s well worth including extra wet wipes and a first aid kit in case you need them to hand while away.

And for those with tots who struggle to sleep without home comforts, it’s worth taking sleepwear with you so they can still have some similarity around bedtime.

TRENDY AND SAFE

Supermarkets and charity shops are hands-down the cheapest places to snap up kids’ clothing.

Going on holiday shouldn’t mean a whole new wardrobe, instead just pick up any essential bits from your locals.

Swimwear can be bagged for a bargain at most of the major supermarket chains, while second-hand shops are perfect for t-shirts, shorts and accessories such as hats. 

For those wanting to splash out, Swedish brand Polarn O. Pyret is a big hit with influencers for its colourful array of swimwear – all of which is made in sun-safe fabric and has the highest UPF rating. Prices start from £14.

For a beach towel, it’s hard to disagree with the thousands of reviewers who recommend Cuddledry. Having used a Cuddledry towel for my own baby, now toddler, for the last two years I can confirm it’s not only still just as soft, it has also far outlasted other ‘baby’ towels in terms of quality and ease.

I’d recommend them to all of my friends. The ‘penguin’ version is particularly cute for the beach.

To ensure you don’t lose any items while away, the clever Stamptastic lets you nametag clothing with one quick and easy go.

The gadget can be used on most things from shoes to clothes and even lunch bags and is a quicker way to name stamp than labouring over labels. 

To keep the sun at bay during nap times, celebs rave about the SnoozeShade which claims to block out 97.5% of the sun’s rays and help make the pram pitch black while still allowing air to flow.

Similar sun shades can be snapped up on Amazon – but be sure to check the UPF rating to ensure your little one is safe.

ENTERTAINMENT

Keeping kids’ entertained during the journey is arguably one of the most nerve-wracking things for parents. That’s why you need to go armed with an array of toys, activities and distractions – not to mention snacks! 

Maped has a host of creative travel ideas to keep tots entertained. The Travel Board comes with 4 erasable coloured markers, while the Magical Tablet is a device to encourage drawing and learning.

For older kids, Janod’s Magneti’stories, £9, allow little ones to build a magnet masterpiece – but are small enough to throw in your handbag.

If you’ve got a Toniebox at home, you could take it with you to try and keep your little one occupied.

With 7 hours of battery life, it can play their favourite stories without Wi-Fi access – ideal for long car journeys. But don’t snap one up just for holiday as they are regularly discounted on Black Friday or Prime Day deals.