Essential Accessories for Traveling with Toddlers

Hitting the road this summer? Don’t miss these Essential Accessories for Traveling with Toddlers!

Summer Road Trips are right around the corner and if you have toddlers you know that long road trips can be tricky! Hitting the road with all the right gear makes things so much easier. Here are a few things I found to be invaluable when my kids were smaller.

:: Car Seat Organizer

Toddlers can be a little demanding. Make things easier with an organizer to keep all their favorites handy and within reach. We filled ours with pre-portioned healthy snacks, a sippy cup, favorite books and toys. The boys could often reach the items themselves and when they couldn’t it was easy for me to grab an items and hand it to them. Plus, it helps keep all the stuff organized better and keeps it from getting lost in the car.

:: Travel Tray

Older kids can balance trays on their laps but that’s a tricky task for littler ones. These Children’s Travel Trays are awesome because you can clip them around your child’s waist so they stay in place! No balancing act necessary. These trays are perfect for eating on the go, coloring or any other activity that needs a flat surface. Plus there are pockets on the sides to help contain all their art supplies or other items.

:: Tablet or Portable DVD Player

Let’s face it. Sometimes it’s just easier to turn on a movie. Make sure to pack a tablet or portable DVD player for your child to enjoy on a long trip. Even if you try to keep technology at a minimum, it’s a great things to have as a backup for those times you are still hours from your destination and you need a break! Many car organizers have display pockets you can tuck the tablet or player into so it’s easy for the kids to watch.

:: Perfect Art Supplies

Kids love to draw and color. It’s a great on-the-go activity to pass the time and promote creativity. But honestly, markers and crayons in the can can be a mess! If you are traveling with toddlers you need the perfect art supplies for you journey. We love traveling with Crayola Color Wonder books and markers. These special markers don’t work on anything but the special Crayola Color Wonder paper. Your kids can draw all over the car and there won’t be a mark. But hand them a color wonder books and the colors come to life!

:: An Awesome Car Set

If you spend a lot of time in the car like we do, you need to invest in an awesome car seat. You need one that is comfortable for your child and provides some valuable extras that make your life easier. We like the Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 Car Seat with TrueShield Technology. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children ride rear-facing until at least 2 years of age. The Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 Car Seat with TrueShield Technology makes that easy with their 4-position extension panel that provides 5″ of extra legroom allowing your child to ride safely rear-facing longer.

Once you go front facing, the seat has 6-position recline helps keep your child comfy and a 10-position headrest that adjusts easily for your growing child. Plus the (machine washable) seat pad is comfortable for kids. Another perk is that it has dual cup holders. Some seats only come with one cupholder and others none! The Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 Car Seat with TrueShield Technology has two to help kids have drinks, snacks, whatever close at hand.

Another reason to love the Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 Car Seat with TrueShield Technology car seat, and why it’s perfect for families on-the-go, is the new TrueShield Technology. When you spend a lot of time in the car, you want to make sure your child is safe! The new TrueShield innovations provide side impact protection from your child’s head to hips, in case of a side impact accident. In the Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 Car Seat with TrueShield Technology you can travel with peace of mind.

We love our Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 Car Seat with TrueShield Technology car seat. We don’t worry about our little one’s safety because of the true shield technology. I also love the different reclining levels so that if she is sleeping, the seat can be reclined back and if she wants to see more, we can sit it up.

The cover is easy to remove and clean if necessary which is inevitable with little ones. It is also nice that the cup holders can be easily taken off to clean or if they are not being used. When the time comes, it will be great to extend her leg room while she is still rear racing. We want to keep her as safe as possible, as long as possible!

What are your Essential Accessories for Traveling with Toddlers? Anything you can’t live without on the road? We have several road trips planned for the summer and I’m always up for trying next things!