Favorite gear and tools for travel with our Montessori infant and toddler
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Inspired by both our Montessori lifestyle, and our need to remain sane and functional while traveling with a child, I’ve put together a list of our favorite tools from our experience traveling with an infant, a young toddler, and an older toddler, both by car and air.
For Montessori and respectful parenting principles to bring along with you (since you likely won’t bring the glass cups with you), check out our other travel blog entry. For everything else that we did decide to bring along, keep on reading!
I also showed you many of these in action in some way in my home and through our travel pictures on Instagram.
Books for prep and entertainment
Soft books and indestructibles are my favorite tool for travel because they are light, safe for independent use (if traveling by car), and versatile enough to bring into the pool or bath—and withstand the inevitable spill.
Young toddlers benefit greatly from learning about the various parts of the journey ahead of time. The three books pictured here is what I have used with my own child numerous times to both prepare, and process the experience after travel.
Consider also soft photo albums for both babies and toddlers ahead of travel, during, and after. Fill them with pictures of family members they will meet, places they will visit, or quickly fill it with 1hr prints from CVS or Walgreen from your journey for the ride back home.
Gear
Safety (top pick!)- If you are traveling by car you have a carseat already—but how do you keep a toddler safe during air travel? The CARES Kids Fly Safe kit is the only FAA approved harness to safely secure your child during those “seatbelt on” moments. Beyond using as a tools for establishing safety boundaries, to have a harness that fits them and is made for them (and that they even packed themselves!) provides a sense of control and belonging to their seat during travel, promotes collaboration.
Car seat for travel - This Cosco carseat is a favorite in many travel blogs not only because (as all car seats) it meets the necessary safety standards, but because it weights only SIX POUNDS. There are plenty of options from manufacturers and Amazon alike for protective bags to check your favorite carseat during air travel. We have personally not gone that route because of potential damage and the extra weight to carry around (many of you travel solo!). Car rental companies also rent car seats for a daily fee, which in our case has always exceeded the investment for this amazing car seat we have used multiple times.
Sleep - We love the Lotus Travel Crib by Bjorn for both stays at grandma and grandpa and hotel alike. Parents that feel comfortable with the available space to open the zipper for a floor bed equivalent can do so, while other can simply keep it as a classic crib. It is completely collapsible and you can carry it as a backpack around the airport.
Eating - Whether your infant or young child is used to joining you at the table with the Stokke Tripp Trapp, they are used to meals that a table their size, or you simply want a practical way to have them join you at any table, the Inglesina Floating chair attaches to most tables at homes we visited and restaurants, and even our kitchen island when we lived at a tiny apartment. It folds and collapses to easily be tossed under the stroller.
Keep your hands free - During the infant months, carrier will help you keep your hands free, which was a life saver when I flew halfway across the country by myself with an 11 month old. The Ergo Baby 360 is our favorite option.
Snacks and eating
Snacks - Consider both the expected snack backs and containers (check out that collapsible one!) and also an unexpected twist—a pill box with push button open mechanism filled with surprise snacks. The pill box trick is such a hit during air travel, doesn’t weigh much, and can be easily refilled for the flight back.
Insulated pouches - For the infant stage, I used these to keep frozen breast milk bags cold (i froze one with water and pack it along with the milk for extra cold storage during long travel). For the toddler years, these come handy for storing cold snacks like cheese sticks, yogurt or fruit pouches, veggies,
Entertainment for the road
For infants, I’m all about materials that can double as teethers, bath toys, and that they can use independently without us having to hold them. Soft pinning toys that adhere to airplane windows or trays can also easily attach to a bathtub at your destination.
For toddlers, spinning teethers are not quite enough.
When it comes to air travel, I heavily favor anything with magnets to provide some interactive work and and keep their attention with pieces that won’t easily slide. Blocks with magnets are also a hit and light enough for the plane tray. Whether you use these for air or car travel, make sure you are able closely supervise.
Water Wow notebooks are always a hit. Air travel, car travel, waiting at a doctor’s office, you name it—by the time they finish the last page the first one is often dry and ready to be started again.
Replicas and miniatures—hear me out. They may not be the first choice since they could get lost and there may not be a surface for them to work with, but I am known to travel with a set of them hidden in a zipper bag somewhere in my luggage. If needed, they usually make an appearance when we are at the room in our destination, and even in the car or plane if I’m able to provide enough attention to keep track of them. The zipper bag or container works as a mystery bag they are eager to open and explore, and I usually pack miniatures related to the animals we may see when we arrive, or even related to the books i brought along for reading, which creates additional extensions for work and language should we need an activity. Older toddlers also love having these in the bath, or hiding them in the sand.
In general, we did not use screens at home, but when it cames to air travel I always came prepared with an emergency iPad and a set of headphones. It’s not just about the plane, but the many other parts of the journey that we asked them to wait through—and how our own patience and attention may not be available in every moment.
Other necessities
A travel potty option, the most flexible unbreakable sun glasses, and our favorite sun hat at various ages. All linked in these images.
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