We’re taking our first flight with four kids next week to spend some time with Will’s parents in Florida and I thought I’d share our updated toddler travel gear packing list! We’ve previously traveled to Italy with one and two-year-olds while I was eight months pregnant with our third, and to London and Paris with three and four-year-olds, so I’m crossing my fingers next week’s quick trip will be a breeze by comparison. 🙂
Ultimately I really don’t believe there’s a perfect set-up when it comes to toddler travel gear (or at least any precise configuration that can guarantee a stress-free travel day with little ones!) but I thought I would share what I’ve landed on over the years in the hopes of making our travels as seamless as can be. I hope it’s helpful to some of you too!
Our toddler travel gear packing list
We ordered the Uppababy G-Link V2 double travel stroller in 2023 and it appears our exact model no longer available. It looks very similar to the current Uppababy Minu double travel stroller, except ours folds more compactly when not in use. We have previously used the Babyzen Yoyo2 stroller and it’s great for one child, but if you have little kids close in age, a double travel stroller is a purchase you’ll never regret.
We have heavy-duty Nuna Rava carseats for our boys at home, but for travel you can’t beat these much less cumbersome Cosco convertible car seats that we’ve both checked in car seat travel bags and buckled into plane seats for especially wiggly little ones.
Alternatively (and especially if you’re traveling with just one child 0 to ~15 months), the Doona car seat / stroller combination is a godsend for travel because it works as a stroller in the airport / at your destination and a car seat on the plane / in an Uber or rental car when you arrive. This is not one of our daily car seats at home (though I have friends who swear by it, so your mileage may vary!) but for travel in that first year, it’s an absolute game-changer whether you bring it on the flight or check it to your final destination.
I bought the Artipoppe baby carrier for my fourth and wish I’d had for my first, second, and third! This is how we’ll tote our 11-month-old Rory around on our trip next week, and I’m hoping he might even take a short nap in it during our flight. More on what I love about this carrier here.
We will not bring this convertible leg rest / bed with us next week on such a short flight, but for international travel this has been helpful for getting babies and toddlers to get a couple hours of sleep during the flight. It’s also easy for kids to wheel through the airport and there’s space around the mattress inside to house little toys and stuffed animals.
6. Slumber Pod and travel crib
The Slumber Pod was an emergency purchase during our first summer with Teddy on Nantucket, when he surprised us by waking up before the sun nearly every day for two months. Putting this over our travel crib made a world of difference and we haven’t traveled without the Slumber Pod since (in fact we now have two of them). If you’re worried about little ones being able to sleep in a hotel crib without blackout shades etc., this combo is your solution — plus they both fold up compactly and are easy to check and pick up at baggage claim.
We have three of these sound machines (one in each of our children’s rooms) at home so we always travel with at least one to recreate some semblance of their familiar sleep environment in our destination. Highly recommend the ocean waves setting for kids and adults alike. 🙂