Top 10 Must Have Travel Items for Kids - Holiday Travel Essentials for Moms
Traveling with kids this holiday season? Discover the top 10 mom approved travel essentials that keep kids calm, entertained, and busy perfect for flights, road trips, and family visits. Shop the full list now.
If you’re gearing up for holiday travel with kids… bless us all. Truly. Whether you’re hopping on a plane, cramming into the car, or juggling bags, snacks, and tiny humans through an airport at 5 AM traveling with kids is a whole experience. Over the years, I’ve figured out which things are actually worth packing, and which ones just take up precious space in my already bursting bag.
So if you’re heading out for the holidays, here are my top 10 must have items that make traveling with kids about 200% easier (or at least less chaotic!). These are all things I personally use and love, and you can grab every single one of these from my curated Amazon travel list for moms here:
1. Sensory Activity Board (Silicone Fidget Toy Set)
A total calm-down lifesaver. This soft, quiet fidget toy set keeps hands busy (and minds focused!) without making noise so it’s perfect for planes, cars, or waiting rooms. It even comes with a travel bag which I LOVE because I can toss it right into my carry on.
2. Amazon Basics 21" Hardside Carry-On Luggage
I swear by this suitcase. It’s lightweight, rolls smoothly, and holds way more than you’d expect thanks to the expandable zipper. Plus the hard shell means it can survive being sat on, climbed on, or used as a makeshift table for airport snacks. Mom life.
3. Wacky Tracks Fidget Links (8-Pack)
These are a HUGE hit for both kids and teens. They snap, twist, and click into different shapes and keep little minds busy for SO long. They’re great stocking stuffers too, but for travel? They’re an instant distraction when the “Are we there yet?” starts.
4. Transformable Fidget Spinners (4-Pack)
Okay my kids are obsessed with these. They flip, fold, and twist into different shapes, plus they spin. It’s like a two-in-one sensory toy that keeps them entertained in the car seat or on the plane without needing screens every second.
5. GiiKER Super Blocks STEM Puzzle Game
If your kids love puzzles, this is AMAZING for travel. It has over 1,000 challenges (yes, really!) and it’s all compact so it fits perfectly in a backpack. No loose pieces rolling everywhere either. This is one of my “quiet time” essentials.
6. Toddler Peg Board Montessori Set
This one surprised me! It comes with stackable pegs, pattern cards, and a drawstring bag so everything is contained. It keeps toddlers busy using their fine motor skills, and because it’s easy to pack, it’s become one of my go-to activity toys for hotel rooms or long drives.
7. Melissa & Doug Water Wow! Pads (2-Pack)
If you’ve traveled with kids before, you already KNOW. These are mess free, reusable, and somehow keep kids entertained for way longer than you’d expect. Just fill the little water brush and let them reveal the pictures again and again. Perfect for restaurants, planes, and car rides.
8. Lowercase Magnetic Alphabet Letters (42-Piece Set)
We stick these to a little travel cookie sheet (mom hack!) and the kids make words, match letters, or just play around. Great for learning on the go and perfect for keeping little hands moving while big siblings nap or zone out.
9. Amazon Essentials 4-Piece Packing Cubes
Packing cubes are the difference between “chaotic suitcase explosion” and “I know exactly where things are.” I use one for snacks, one for activities, one for pajamas, and one for emergency outfits. They make repacking SO much easier too, especially after staying with family.
10. LEGO City Electric Sports Car Set
A small, easy to pack LEGO set is ALWAYS a win. This one comes with a minifigure and keeps kids entertained at the airport, in the car, or while waiting for everyone else to finish getting ready at Grandma’s. It’s compact, fun, and great for ages 5+.
Mom to Mom Travel Tip:
Pack a little bit of everything one sensory toy, one fidget, one building toy, one puzzle, one reusable activity pad, and one “special new thing” they’ve never seen. Rotate them as the trip goes on, and your kids will stay entertained much longer.
Final Thoughts
Traveling with kids is never going to be 100% smooth (we’re moms, we’re realistic), but having the right activities and organizers makes such a huge difference. These are the items that keep my kids busy, keep me sane, and help us actually enjoy the journey mess, meltdowns, and all.
You can shop all these must haves and even more of my travel favorites right here on my Amazon list:
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