“How am I going to keep them entertained the whole time?!”
If you’ve ever traveled with a toddler, you’ve probably had that panicked thought at some point in the trip-planning process.
Traveling with young children requires a strategy to keep them entertained. One way to keep little kids occupied is with compact and interesting toys. My top pick to keep toddlers entertained during a trip is the Kindle Fire Kids Edition.
Along with the Kindle Fire, I reviewed multiple best travel toys for toddlers. The list includes toys that are lightweight, easily packed, quiet, and provide long-lasting enjoyment. The goal with toddler travel toys is to keep your little one busy without having to lug your entire playroom on vacation.
Best Travel Toys for Toddlers
The Tegu Magnetic Wooden Block Set is an 8 piece set of magnetic blocks with a pouch to carry them in, which makes them an ideal toy for on-the-go play. The Melissa & Doug Take-Along Shape Sorter is a 2-sided zipper, fabric activity bag that can collapse for extra space and includes 9 different shaped blocks for educational play.
8 Piece Tegu Pocket Pouch Magnetic Wooden Block Set
The Tegu Pocket Pouch Block Set is the perfect toddler travel toy. I love everything about this product. I actually struggled over whether to make this the top pick. But, it’s hard to beat the Fire Kids Edition.
My favorite thing about this toy is the pouch. It is cute and makes this block set perfectly packable. Also, the magnetic feature means the blocks will stick together. This is less frustrating for young kids and great for family travel.
The Tegu block set works great for planes, cars, restaurants, sporting events and anywhere else you need to keep your kids distracted on the go.
In addition to the pocket pouch set, Tegu makes larger magnetic block sets. The 42 piece set is great for home or as a gift. Plus, you can feel good buying this product. The toy is manufactured in Honduras in an effort to provide ethical jobs for one of the world’s poorest countries.
Pros:
- Ethically produced
- Includes convenient travel pouch
- Magnetic connection for simple play
- Fun and cute design
Cons:
- Only 8 blocks included
- Some customers complained of magnets damaging easily
Wikki Stix Traveler Playset
If you haven’t heard of Wikki Stix, let me educate you: it’s the lovechild of a pipe cleaner and a sticker! Wikki Stix are essentially a wax-coated piece of string that can be shaped and molded into all kinds of designs.
While Wikki Stix on their own are pretty great, this playset has everything your child will need to keep quietly occupied for a solid chunk of time. There are 144 Wikki Stix pieces, along with a 12 page activity book. The big red case locks shut and has a carrying handle.
There are also 2 mini packs in this set, with activities like connect-the-dots. These two sets are perfect for using with the larger playset, or for taking out on their own during a quick trip or during a doctor’s appointment.
Since the wax is food grade, you don’t have to worry about a big problem if your child puts these in their mouth (you know, to see if it’s actually a new kind of licorice or something).
Pros:
- Creative and hands-on activity
- Educational toy
- Works well for all ages
- Non-toxic and safe toy
Cons:
- Lots of pieces could make a mess or get lost
Melissa & Doug Take-Along Shape-Sorter
The Melissa & Doug Take-Along Shape-Sorter is a must have for toddler travel. This toy meets the standard you expect from the Melissa & Doug brand. Plus, this toy is designed to for on-the-go.
Kids love to sort. This shape-sorter is lightweight and collapsible. The shape-sorter has a zipper closure is on one side. The other side has flaps with cute objects printed underneath. This is a versatile and educational toy.
I highly recommend the Take-Along Shape-Sorter for airplane travel. This also works great to entertain your little one at your destination. This toy meets all the requirements for convenient travel entertainment.
Pros:
- Lightweight, quiet, quick to pack
- Fun design and educational
- Easy to open zipper
Cons:
- Blocks may fall out of the opening when transporting
- Must shake the container to make room for all blocks
Toddler Busy Board by Kenley
The Toddler Busy Board is great for travel or home. This lightweight and packable toy will keep your toddler occupied on flights, car trips and in hotel rooms. Overall, you won’t go wrong taking this button and buckle toy along on your trip.
The Toddler Busy Board includes a zipper, buttons, ties and buckles to help your child learn to dress themselves. The great thing about this product is it’s fun and educational. Plus, it travels well.
The Toddler Busy Board makes a great gift and will entertain children for several years of play. I also like that this toy is gender neutral.
Pros:
- Weighs less than a pound
- Multiple buckles, buttons and ties
- Includes a shoulder strap for easy carrying
Cons:
- May be frustrating for younger kids
- Felt material could be challenging to clean
Fat Brain Toys MiniSpinny
For younger children, Fat Brain Toys MiniSpinny is a wonderful travel toy option. This is an all-in-one toy with no little parts to lose.
This is a great fidget toy for toddlers to work on their fine motor skills. The toy is a corkscrew with three brightly colored propellers. The idea is for the toddler to spin the propellers up and down the corkscrew.
The MiniSpinny is a great diaper bag toy. This item works for flights, road trips, restaurants, and more. You’ll be thankful you have this toy in your bag to keep your young child engaged and quiet.
Pros:
- All-in-one design for quick packing
- Educational design encourages fine motor skill development
- Safe and quality toy
Cons:
- Older kiddos may get bored more quickly
Best Travel Tray for Toddlers
Kids Travel Tray by Moditty
Wow! The Kids Travel Tray by Moditty is not technically a toy, but it is an essential when traveling with toddlers. This handy product straps to a car seat, stroller or highchair. It also includes a variety of pockets to hold everything your kiddo needs on the road.
What I love about the Kids Travel Tray is the ease of use. It assembles quickly and easily. Instead of constantly looking for and passing back toys and entertainment items, it’s all stored within the tray. So cool!
The tray comes in two color options, blue and pink. It includes pouches to hold a tablet, water bottle and snacks. It also includes removal side pockets perfect for toys, coloring books and crayons. The best part is the surface where your child can draw, eat or watch a show.
When you reach your destination, the tray packs up and includes a shoulder strap for convenient transport. This is a great option to add to your toddler trip toolkit.
Pros:
- Convenient, lightweight and easy to use
- Cute and functional design
- Makes road trips or flights a breeze
Cons:
- Doesn’t attach to plane seats
- May feel bulky when transporting from place to place
Best Travel Books for Toddlers
The First 100 Board Book Box Set is a set of 3 board books that teach 100 words each book, including First 100 Words, First 100 animals, and 100 Numbers, Colors and Shapes. The Curious Columbus Quiet Book are fabric books that have interactive activities to keep your child entertained and quiet when on-the-go.
First 100 Board Book Box Set (3 books)
This set of Board books includes famous children book author Rodger Priddy’s:
- First 100 Words
- First 100 Animals
- Numbers, Colors & Shapes
These highly-rated books are full of colorful pictures and just the right selection of words for toddlers who are developing their initial vocabulary.
They come in a handy sleeve and are just the right size for toddler hands. The thick, stiff board pages are not completely indestructible (if you have a chewing puppy), but they are as strong as you will find.
Curious Columbus Quiet Books – When I Grow Up and My Big Day
Curious Columbus offers two Quiet Books perfect for travel. Both the When I Grow Up and My Big Day book will keep your toddler occupied on the road.
The Curious Columbus books are durable cotton with interactive accessories, like snaps, velcro and flaps. Each book fully zips to hold all the pieces in place when not in use. This is a great on-the-go toy because it’s lightweight, easy to pack, quiet and entertaining.
Not only that, but this toy is fun! Your toddler will enjoy exploring all the fun surprises this book has to offer. This simple toy makes a great gift option as well.
Pros:
- High-quality and durable design
- Fully zips closed
- Lightweight and easy to pack
Cons:
- High price point but worth it
- May frustrate young toddlers
Best Travel Tablet for Kids
Fire HD 8 Kids Edition
The Fire Kids Edition is the easiest way to keep toddlers distracted while traveling. I believe strongly in limiting screen time for kids. However, when I’m on a plane or road trip, my screen time rules go out the window. I just want to get us where we’re going without a meltdown.
I love how Amazon created a functional tablet specifically designed for kids. Unlike some devices, the Kindle is reasonably priced. Plus, it includes a kid-friendly protective case available in several fun colors. If you have more than one kid, Amazon even offers a package deal to purchase the Fire HD 8 Kids Edition 2-Pack.
There are several versions of the Kids Kindle available, but I think the Fire HD 8 is a good middle ground. When you purchase the Kindle directly from Amazon, you’ll receive one year of FreeTime Unlimited. This offer provides free content for children, including books, shows, apps, games and more.
The one drawback for the Kindle with toddlers is the recommended age is three. This is primarily because of small parts. My thought is when using the Kindle to occupy your child on a road trip, during a flight, or in a hotel room or restaurant, watch them to ensure they are safe.
Remember the goal with travel toys isn’t to educate. It is to entertain. Awesome, if you can combine education with entertainment. But, give yourself some grace. Little kids aren’t the easiest traveling companions, and sometimes you just need to do the easiest thing to get where you’re going.
Pros:
- Kid-friendly design
- Parental controls
- Easy to hold and use
- Includes FreeTime Unlimited
- 10-hour battery life
Cons:
- Recommended for ages 3 and up
- Can lead to excessive screen time
Comparing Travel Toys for Toddlers
The table below compares only the recommended products on this page. A low or high Price means it is low or high compared to the other products listed. The Popularity Score reflects how often readers click on and buy the product. The Quality Score is our assessment of the overall performance and satisfaction with the product compared to others in the table.
| 8 Piece Tegu Pocket Pouch Magnetic Wooden Block Set | 8.8 | 9.4 | 34.00 |
| Curious Columbus Quiet Books - When I Grow Up and My Big Day | 3.9 | 9.4 | 32.99 |
| Wikki Stix Traveler Playset | 6.2 | 9.2 | 18.60 |
| Melissa & Doug Take-Along Shape-Sorter | 9.6 | 9.6 | 17.99 |
| Toddler Busy Board by Kenley | 8.5 | 9.0 | 17.89 |
| Fat Brain Toys MiniSpinny | 8.4 | 9.4 | 15.95 |
| First 100 Board Book Box Set (3 books) | 9.9 | 9.6 | 13.98 |
| Fire HD 8 Kids Edition | 9.7 | 9.2 | - |
| Kids Travel Tray by Moditty | - | 8.8 | - |
What to Look for In Toddler Travel Toys
Traveling with kids, especially toddlers, requires lots of gear. This means you want lightweight and packable toys. Also, don’t be a rude parent on a flight. Instead, avoid toys that make loud or annoying sounds.
In addition to functional design, look for toys with educational value. However, cut yourself some slack when traveling. The goal is to make the trip as stress-free as possible for you, your child and other passengers. Don’t fret over screen time.
While toys designed for travel are great, I found many other things to entertain my children.
First, I always packed a special new toy for them to open on the trip. I also packed a backpack full of snacks, toys and their favorite comfort item. Just going through the backpack kept them entertained. Even now that they are older, it still does.
Good toys to pack on a trip:
- Color Wonder products
- Crayonsand coloring books
- Sticker books
- Board books
- Magnetic toys, like the Petit Collage Mix and Match Magnetic Tin Little Traveler
- Learn to dress dolls
More Toddler Toy Options
For more age appropriate toy options, check out our guides to boy and girl toys for toddlers:
