Traveling Light, What Toys to Bring for a 2 Year Old

I travel a lot with my 2yr old in the car. It usually helps for me to have plenty of healthy snacks. My son loves to read to, so that might keep you guys busy in the apt. and you could bring the little match box cars. Most boys play with cars! My son also has a travel booster seat which is very helpfull in getting him to sit still at someone else's house! Bring crayons and coloring books or paper. And most of all, just be goofy and play with him. If I could be there and had the energy, I know that my son could play with me all day long! Have fun and good luck!

You might want to try going to the dollar store and getting some cheap little toys just for the trip. Once in a while when he gets bored on the trip, you can pull out one of these "new" toys and he'll be busy for a while again. Have fun!

I just got back from a trip with my trio and I had brought their doodlepro's, books, elmo "phones" and few other things. They preferred playing with my cousin's pots and pans and the biggest hit was an empty wire mesh waste paper basket that they pushed around the family room. Go figure!

Hi J.,
We just returned from 10 days in Hawaii last month, and on the flight our 2 year old daughter occupied herself by drawing with crayons and paper or looking at picture books. Also, if you have a portable DVD player, this can be a lifesaver on a plane. If your flight is long enough, you may want to consider bringing one along (if you don't own one, a friend or family member could maybe lend one to you). Our daugther watched a movie and that killed 2 hours of the flight right there. Once we were in Hawaii, we actually purchased inexpensive beach toys for her there. A bucket, shovel, watering can, etc. We didn't want to try and pack these bulky items when we left, so we donated them to the hotel's pool for other children to play with. So, depending on where you are going on your trip, you may want to consider buying a few toys while you are there. You can always donate them to Goodwill before you leave, so you don't have to lug them home. Some suggestions for good "packable" toys to bring along are puzzles and books that pack flat on the bottom of a suitcase, and small stuffed animals that can be shoved into crevices of a bag. ColorWonder markers are the best - they draw only on special ColorWonder paper. You can buy them at Target. My daughter loves them. Also, if you'll be enjoying any pool time, a great idea is foam letters - they make them for the bath. Again, you can get them at Target. When wet, they stick to surfaces like the wall of a tub or the side of a pool. My daughter sat on the top step of the pool and played with these forever. They come in a tub, but you can throw a few in a ziplock and stuff them in a suitcase. Easy breezy.
Hope this helps! Have a great vacation!

If you are not completely against using a DVD player every once and a while, we got a travel one that has saved us many times on vacation. It is great for the plane ride and our son has trouble getting to sleep on a pack-n-play so we would put in the Baby Einstein dvds for him to fall asleep to. Works every time!
I know that there are a lot of parents who prefer not to use this form of entertainment, understandably, but it has really been a lifesaver for me. I am even bold enough to bring it to a restaurant (though thankfully I have only had to use it twice!) because I figure people would rather see that than watch him throw a fit etc.
The one I have is a Panisonic and you can also put an ipod in there (I load photos onto my ipod--my son loves to look at the pictures of himself, friends and family too!). I think it was about $75 and we have had it for 18 months. It fits right into his diaper bag with a few books and other small toys. The other great thing about it is that you can turn the screen 360 degrees...amazing how often this comes in handy, especially when my 18 mo old wants to push the buttons--we turn it all the way around so they are out of sight. We got it at Target, but I think you can get it at Best Buy etc. as well.
Have a great time!

My children always love when I bring a small photo album with pictures of our family. We go on a long road trip every year and I usually go to a few garage sales prior to the trip. I gather up a bunch of small toys that they have never seen and bring them out slowly throughout the trip. Something that is new to them usually can hold their attention longer.

You've already gotten lots of good suggestions. I would only add that wrapping up each toy or quiet distraction makes each item more fun, whether it is new, already beloved or even a snack. I used to time them (half hour apart or so depending on the length of trip and number of "gifts") but they are also a great way to encourage quiet when your little one gets rambunctious.

Novelty is important! Other moms have suggested most of the things I do (new books, inflatable beach ball, aquadoodle), but the key thing I'd suggest for you is that some of the "toys" be new or novel (something he has never played with before).

With books, to take some of the weight and space away, and allow space to bring a few more books, we go with paperback type books. Most book stores carry them, and you can order them from Scholastic Books (online). They are just like the hardcover books, but cost less, and are very light weight for traveling. Little hands can damage those books more easily, but we taught our son to be gentle with his, "soft books." Now he's older, and when we travel he picks the "soft books" to bring along.

He LOVES Aquadoodle.

We also bring along soft squishy balls. They are nice fidgets for him on the plane, and when you thrown them around inside, they are less likely to spot walls or break things.

A favorite "lovie" is always a good thing, but be careful! Those are easy to leave behind or to fall out of a bag while crossing the airport. We try and give our son a new huggable toy just as we're leaving. We go with new because if he does love it, and we do lose it, we can usually find an identical replacement! Harder to do with a well-loved toy!

Good luck!

Hi J.- when we travel with our 2 year old son we bring along match box cars, a few favorite books and his lovey (stuffed animal). He usually ends up making "toys" out of the things in the new environment anyway- kids are creative. Happy travels!

My 22 month old son loves to go through my purse and particularly my wallet. So on our last trip I made him his own wallet. I took one of my old ones and put all sorts of things in it for him to pull out, put back and look at. I put old insurance cards, gift cards, gift tags and the cards that come with the Thomas and Bob the Builder toys in it. I also made "cards" with paper and stickers and wrote his name on them. Between the plane ride, car time and hotel time he played with it for hours.

I traveled for the first time w/my daughter when she two too. I did not bring anything( a book maybe ) she was so interested in all the new things around her she didn't even ask about or appeared bored. Keep in mind if your staying in an apt. if they have plastic containers (glad or ziploc) give him those with some plastic spoons . Think simple. We were on vac. for 2 weeks too and it wasn't bad at all. Have fun and
good luck.

When we travel, we let each child bring their own backpack of things to do on the plane and on vacation. For the two year old, the suggestion of mini aquadoodle and color wonder is a great one. I'd buy one especially for the trip so it is new and fun. A favorite toy or blanket so there is something he is familiar with and also my little boy always loves playing with a few action figures or cars which aren't very big, too. Have a great trip!

I have a small cinch sack type backpack for each kid when we travel. Besides the absolutely necessary blankie or lovey or special bedtime toy, I bring a book or two that fits in the bag, plus a few basic toys like matchbox cars or linking rings or stacking cups. Mini aquadoodles or color wonder sets or magna doodles work well for us, too. My older daughter can pick her own things out, but knows she's limited to what fits in the bag. If I am staying at someone's house - especially those without kids - I borrow a few of their measuring cups or spoons and unbreakable kitchen items for my younger kids (22 month twins) to play with. I just make sure to wash them before I leave. Mine are easy to please. An empty water bottle with beans or pennies or pasta in it is a fun shaker. For a longer trip - like our 12 hour drive to a cabin for a week - I hit the dollar store for a few safe toys and/or kitchen utensils. We keep the toys for the way back, and leave the kitchen stuff for the next people in the cabin. They were excited to get something new, which kept their interest a bit longer. A favorite of my kids are the inflatable beach balls, too. They're perfect for packing deflated and quick to inflate and play with, especially outside or in the tub.

Depends on where you're going and if you want to spend the $$, but when we visit my aunt over the summer we found a place that rents baby equipment (crib, boosters, car seats, etc.) and they also have a "bucket of toys," and we also rent beach toys. I found the place we rent from on the Web, by searching for "baby equipment rental" and the location.

Hi J.,
We travel with our 5y/o son atleast 3 times a year. He's taught me that I only need to bring enough toys for the car or plane and then we can use everything we see as "toys." For example, make some puppets out of socks, stack up all the tupperware, collect rocks outside, build a castle out of all the pillows, etc. boys love to create. Have fun!

Coloring books, 1 or 2 favorite videos, tennis ball to sit on the floor with and roll back and forth, maybe a pot and wooden spoon of your nephews (kids love to bang). That's a start. Have fun

My daughter has been traveling with me every few months since she was 2 months old. I always had a few books, a soft/mushy ball, favorite (small) stuffed animal/doll, and a few little things, like cars. I also take a couple of DVDs (the apartment I imagine has a DVD player) and a small learning toy (leap frog radio or something).

If you'll be traveling often (by plane), I HIGHLY recommend investing in the Sit N Stroll. It's a car seat (up to 40 lbs., rear and front facing), stroller and booster seat (for in restaurants) all in one. It's VERY easy to use and you can steer it one-handed. Since my daughter and I always traveled alone, it was a life saver for me.

Good luck and safe travels!

I'd recommend bringing a favorite toy so a little bit of home goes with. Also, the travel aqua doodle is small and uses only water - you can draw pics and have them name them and he can draw himself. It may also be worth going to the toy story and stocking up on a few small things (new book, etc.) that he won't see ahead of time. Then as boredom starts to set in, present a new toy. Rotate them too while there should help.

I will "third" the Magna Doodle suggestion. Get the travel size, but get name brand (the other broke and had issues within a year).

books to read.

FYI-aqua doodles were recalled because the beads had a drug in it that injured if injested-feel free to look this up online.

When my daughter was this young I got a tube of the very tiny PlayDoh and it came with about 5 little cookie cutter type things. She played with this on the plane and at the desk in our hotel.

Color Wonder markers, small favorite cars or trains, Magna Doodles, bring a favorite DVD...We got a ball that came with a little straw to blow it up, it is about a 10" size. Then we can deflate it easily, but when we travel it is nice to have to take outside.

Dear J.,

I bought a new dvd and our dvd player to bring to help my kids unwind at the end of a busy day. i also brought crayons and a small coloring book. i was lucky that my kids play with the same thing. I went to the store and got a couple of new toys that would keep them interested. The kids really loved the package of bugs from walmart for about 88cents. While your at the house make toys like use the tube from the toilet paper and have use it as a telescope. Or if you have two pretend they are walkie talkies. Good luck.
B.