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The best travel toys for toddlers — no matter where you’re headed

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Traveling with a toddler can be tricky, especially when trips interfere with their regular schedule of naps, meals, etc. But bringing along some special toys can help a lot! We’ve gone in for the best travel toys for toddlers, and came out with some real goodies. Come see which ones your little will love the next time your family travels:

Color Wonder Mess Free Peppa Pig Coloring Set

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All the characters from the Nick Jr. Peppa Pig show are featured in this mess free Crayola coloring set, including 18 coloring pages and 5 mess free markers. The best part is the special “ink” that only shows up on the Color Wonder paper included — not on the car upholstery, airplane seat, or siblings’ faces. The handy folder holds everything together until it’s time for coloring again. Ideal for ages 3 and up. Get your Color Wonder Mess Free Peppa Pig Coloring Set here for $8.00.

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(Note: If your kids aren’t into Peppa Pig, don’t fret! There are numerous other characters to choose from on the Crayola site, including Paw Patrol, Toy Story 4, Moana, Frozen, Lion King, Baby Shark, Trolls, Daniel Tiger, and more.)

Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Take-Along Shape Sorter

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For toddlers ages 9 months and up, this Take-Along Shape Sorter from Melissa and Doug promises hours of learning and travel fun. A great way to help them develop their sensory, fine and gross motor, logical, and creative skills, this unique sorter comes with two sides of different activities (matching, identifying objects, and fitting the shapes through the openings). All parts fit into the carrying case with its sturdy handle, and fastens with a dog-shaped zipper. Dimensions are 13″ x 9.75″ x 3.75″ and it weighs only 1.5 pounds — light enough for your little to carry along on their own if they wish. Get the Melissa and Doug Take-Along Shape Sorter for $18.00 here.

Kenley Kids Travel Tray

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While it isn’t actually a ‘toy’, it holds many types of toys, making the Kenley Kids Travel Tray a brilliant way to travel with toddlers. It can fit across their laps, car seats, or over their car/airplane trays to hold all sorts of supplies from sippy cups to magic markers, iPads to playing cards, action figures to stuff animals. Have them enjoy their snacks over it (even the messy stuff like ice cream cones) — it’s waterproof and cleans up easily with wipes or a damp sponge. 

The travel tray comes with:

  • a medium iPad (or other tablet) pouch, 10 inches wide
  • two cup holders
  • a removable storage compartment
  • two zippered pockets and additional mesh pockets along the side
  • three fully reinforced sidewalls to keep things in place (each 4 inches tall)
  • a padded waterproof surface
  • holds in place with a super durable buckle, even if the driver slams on the brakes
  • flattens into a sleek carry-all for easy portability
  • a bonus free printable coloring book

Available in either blue or gray, the measurements of the travel tray are 16.5 x 13.5 inches.  Comes with a lifetime warranty. Get your Kenley Kids Travel Tray here for $30.00.

Disney It’s a Small World, Hello, World! Board Book

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This delightful board book shows children how 10 different countries say, “Hello!” Designed with the world-famous ‘It’s a Small World’ Disney theme park ride in mind, this sturdy 14-page book dazzles kids ages 3 and up with vibrant colors and enthralling artwork. Here is a video demo of the book being read aloud. Buy the Disney It’s a Small World, Hello, World! Board Book here for $6.00.

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Magnetic Owl Maze Developmental STEM Activity

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This colorful owl will develop children’s fine motor and color recognition skills as they work the magnetic beads through each path of the maze with the attached wand. Their hand-eye coordination will also gain skill as they maneuver each color beads into the space where they belong. Comprising smooth premium plywood and non-toxic, child-safe paint, this activity center is perfect for kids ages 24 months and older. Not into owls? That’s okay – there’s plenty to choose from when it comes to these development activities. Take a peek at the clownfish, sea turtle, choo choo train, or puppy dog. Get your Magnetic Owl Maze Developmental STEM Activity here for $17.00.

Melissa and Doug Reusable Sticker Pad — Habitats

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Make sure your little gets a window seat so they can make full use of these stickers en route to your destination! Let them create scenes for animal habitats in the desert, on a farm, in the jungle, under the sea, or even back in prehistoric times. The sky is the limit when you’ve got over 150 reusable stickers and five backgrounds! Ages 3 and up benefit the most from the Melissa and Doug Reusable Habitats Sticker Pad. Get your set of reusable habitat stickers for $5.00 here. Comes with a 100% happiness guarantee.

(If you think your child might enjoy a different theme of reusable sticker pad more than Habitats, Melissa and Doug also makes one comprising vehicles, dress-up fashion dolls, ‘make a face’, my town, and many more. Check out the variety here.)

Classical Naptime for Tots CD

When it’s time for their nap and you’re on the road, things can get a bit rough. Help smooth them out with a charming musical selection that’ll have them snoozing in no time. Enjoy the relaxing sounds of Bach’s Prelude in C Major, Debussy’s Claire de Lune, Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons La Primavera, and many more classical favorites while your toddler nods off toward their happy napping place. Available on vinyl, MP3 or CD. Get yours for $8.00 here.

We  hope you can find a few fun travel toys for your tot from among our finds above. What did you like or dislike? Let us know if we missed your toddler’s favorites, or if your tried our suggestions and they were a win! Most importantly — have a safe and fun vacation, whenever you head off on your adventures! We’d be thrilled to hear how everything goes.

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