The 10 Best Travel Toys For Toddlers
This wiki has been updated 21 times since it was first published in December of 2018. Hitting the road with little ones in tow can be a nightmare, so having the right travel toy onboard for your toddler can make a world of difference. All of a sudden, there may be total quiet, at least for a short while, as your youngster is fully engaged in his or her play. These durable and portable options include a variety of games and cuddly friends to keep your kids happy. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Buckle Toy Buddy Backpack
2. Manhattan Snuggle Lil' Peanut
3. Fire 7 Kids Edition Tablet
Editor's Notes
July 27, 2020:
Any time we are reviewing products for babies or children, safety is a top priority, and we always err on the side of caution. With that in mind, we decided to remove a few of our previous recommendations. Though they may be intended as travel toys for toddlers, we thought the Aquadoodle Neon, Peradix Kids Magnetic Drawing Board, and Tegu Pals Building And Stacking needed to be removed from the list. We didn't like the idea of tots using a pen-shaped item in a car with the first two, and we felt the edges of the Tegu Pals Building And Stacking were just a little too sharp.
We also decided to replace the Buckle Bizzy Activity with the Buckle Toy Buddy Backpack. Though they both feature similar activities to keep a child occupied, the latter is more functional as it doubles as a backpack, so kids can carry some of their own stuff through the airport or once you get to your destination.
The Fire 7 Kids Edition Tablet is another new addition to our list this year. And while some people may think a toddler is too young for a tablet, we tend to disagree, especially when it is this particular model. Not only does it come with one year of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited included, so children will have a near endless amount of content at their finger tips, but it is housed a sturdy case that should effectively protect it from drops and bumps. Plus, it is backed by a free two-year replacement guarantee, so even if it does manage to get damaged somehow, Amazon will replace it for free.
While we think kids will love toys they can cuddle with, like the Manhattan Snuggle Lil' Peanut and Skip Hop Bandana Buddy, we are big fans of items that can provide both fun and learning at the same time. For example, the Fat Brain Toys Dimpl Digits teaches numbers and counting in both English and Spanish, the Melissa & Doug Take-Along Shape Sorter helps with shape recognition, and the Sesame Street Elmo's On the Go Letters can be used to teach the alphabet and basic reading skills.
December 12, 2018:
A big category with a lot of potential entries, some of which fell out of contention due to safety concerns. Items like the Manhattan Snuggle Pod and the magnetic drawing board shaped like a bear are almost too cute to handle, while the practicality of items like the Aquadoodle is undeniable.
4. Fat Brain Toys Dimpl Digits
5. DeMoca Quiet Book
6. Kidzallient Montessori Activity Board
7. Fisher-Price My First Fidget Cube
8. Skip Hop Bandana Buddy
9. Melissa & Doug Take-Along Shape Sorter
10. Sesame Street Elmo's On the Go Letters
A wandering writer who spends as much time on the road as in front of a laptop screen, Brett can either be found hacking away furiously at the keyboard or, perhaps, enjoying a whiskey and coke on some exotic beach, sometimes both simultaneously, usually with a four-legged companion by his side. He has been a professional chef, a dog trainer, and a travel correspondent for a well-known Southeast Asian guidebook. He also holds a business degree and has spent more time than he cares to admit in boring office jobs. He has an odd obsession for playing with the latest gadgets and working on motorcycles and old Jeeps. His expertise, honed over years of experience, is in the areas of computers, electronics, travel gear, pet products, and kitchen, office and automotive equipment.