Traveling as a family of five is something we love to do but I’m not gonna lie, I have made a couple of mistakes in the last five years. From overpacking to completely skipping a travel stroller because we thought our 18-month-old would be fine with it. I know, I know, huge mistake! We had to learn that one the hard way but good news for you is I can hopefully help you not make my same mistakes.

Below is my list of must-haves for travel with a toddler. For a detailed look into how to pack for them, check out my Five Packing Tips For Traveling With A Toddler.

TRAVEL STROLLER

I learned the hard way so please don’t make the same mistake we did. Number one, our expensive baby stroller was ruined at the airport (handle bar and breaks completely destroyed) so avoid yourself the headache and invest in a travel stroller that can also become your day-to-day lightweight stroller now that baby is in toddler stage.

Number two, make sure it’s reclinable. And I don’t just mean, one little inch of recline; make sure it will recline enough so that they can enjoy a comfortable nap and just be able to relax while strolling.

Summer Infant has been one of my faves for lots of baby/toddler goodies and this mini lightweight stroller is not the exception.

PORTABLE HIGH CHAIR

One of the most annoying things to me with a toddler in this stage (he’s 14 months now) is to have to feed him without a high chair. Wiggling all over me, trying to play on me while they eat all while I am worried about not getting dirty, no thank you! At under $30 this has been my favorite portable high chair since my first born.

Not just a high chair, it’s a pop ‘n sit that you can take to the beach, park, or even use as a floor seat at home. You can also attach the high chair to a dinner chair to have baby join the family.

INFLATABLE TODDLER MATTRESS

On vacations we usually just make sure our hotel rooms will provide us with a crib but in Puerto Rico we will be going mainly with Airbnb’s which don’t provide cribs. This inflatable toddler mattress specifically created for little ones but also strong enough to hold up to 310 lbs., with four bumpers all around, is just perfect for us.

It brings its own small electrical pump which is a huge perk and it is also surprisingly lightweight and compact. Once we come back from vacation, I’ll update with our experience with it.

The next few must-haves on my list for traveling with a toddler are all part of the general things I carry in my baby bag. For a more detailed list of things I never travel without with toddlers in this stage, check out Vacation With Baby: Must-Haves.

FIRST AID KIT

You just never know so in my First Aid kit I pack everything I can think of. Bandaids, thermometer, Tylenol and Motrin (always make sure they are age appropriate), Desitin, Vaporub, Neosporin, etc. These are the things I always take with me on the plane.

Remember that in this post I am mainly listing things that help make our flights and travel a smoother experience but also don't forget to pack essentials like nail clipper, comb, sunscreen, insect repellant, etc.

SNACKS

For on-the-go I love pouches and individually wrapped snacks. They’re easy, Axel loves them, and for the on-the-go I stick to the less messy but I also always carry a silicone bib with me to help avoid any mess. Even with spills just a quick wipe down of the bib, instead of a whole toddler, and good as new.

My favorite ones right now are these Happy Tot bars and pouches which taste really good, are organic and reasonably priced. A non-spill snack cup is another good option if you want to pack your own snack from home.

SPILLPROOF STRAW CUPS

These Munchkin non-spill straw cups have been another favorite of mine for the last five years. I always make sure to have two with me. One for milk and one for water.

EXTRA PACIFIER

If your toddler doesn’t use a pacifier, skip to next one. If they do still use a pacifier, then I suggest packing two pacifiers just in case. Last thing you want is to get caught in the air with a crying baby who wants nothing but a pacifier you don’t have.

BLANKET

A comfy warm blanket is always a must for me with baby/toddler on the plane. They usually get so cozy they end up falling asleep at least for a couple of hours which I mean, it doesn’t get much better than that!

ENTERTAINMENT

At 14 months old, Axel’s at an age where sitting still for almost four hours will feel like an eternity and also at an age where nothing will keep him entertained for too long yet. My hope is he takes a nice long nap, can enjoy an airplane movie for a while and entertain himself for a while with his brother’s Pop It which he actually loves to play around with.

Hopefully this makes your travels with a toddler a much smoother experience but also remember that a baby, a toddler, honestly, a child of any age comes with some unexpected surprises, tantrums and tears. Take a breather, control what you can and try to not stress over what you can’t control. Safe travels! And hope you have a great getaway.

You may also enjoy: Five Packing Tips: Traveling With Toddlers and Things To Do In Puerto Rico With Toddlers.