It’s hard to believe it, as I update and republish this post from March 2015, that my blog has been going strong for over 6 years.

I published this post when M was just 17 months old, and frankly I had much less experience with kids crafts, beyond my years in childcare and babysitting.

Now, with a little more experience under my belt, three kids from ages 6 months through seven years, I’ve been digging through my blog for “oldies but goodies” to revamp.

These printable travel sheets are one of my top posts of all time, with kids around the world enjoying them, as part of transportation units, travel activities, or just as a fun activity at home.

So I decided to rewrite it and reshare it with you so that even more children can enjoy it!

About these printable travel sheets & how to use them

These printable travel sheets were designed for use with the mini Do a Dot markers to make them more travel-friendly.

You can use regular size dot markers using less pressure to make the dot smaller than the full size. I find that my kids often don’t fill the whole circle anyway when using dot markers, and having smaller/more dots gives more opportunity for play and art!

While this is a full color printable, so that kids can color match, you can also print it in black and white to encourage more creativity. And if you love this, you may want to check out this huge travel activity bundle or this coloring and do a dot bundle with much more images to try.

These travel do a dot pages offer the following benefits::

1. Coordination and fine motor skills, by making the dots as much as possible inside the circles.
2. To match the colors.
3. To be able to name the various travel-themed drawings.

Your child can dot the markers into the correct circles, matching the colors. Younger toddlers who do not yet have these skills can simply make random dots. Kids of all ages love doing this!

You also don’t need to stick to Bingo markers! Try cotton balls held with a clothespin, cotton swabs, or any form of dot art!

Download your travel sheets below

 

Download Your Travel Do a Dot sheets

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Preview the printable travel sheets

Note: the images below are low resolution previews. Fill out the form above to download your printables.

Terms of Use:

Basically I let you use this how you’d like for yourself. Consider “fair use” – and contact me for any commercial applications.

• You may not sell it.
• You may not redistribute it.
• You can share it, by sharing the link to this page.
• You may not copy it.
• You can print a couple for your friends, but please be reasonable
• For personal or classroom use.
• If you have any questions pertaining to fair use of this, comment below or contact me.

Want more family travel solutions? try these!

The post Printable Travel Sheets for Mini Do a Dot appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Ever plan a trip and realize at the last minute that you don’t have enough entertainment? I know with M, it’s super important to have plenty to keep him busy on road trips. It’s the whole difference between a peaceful trip, and one with an irritable toddler.

This DIY travel toy for toddlers is perfect for last minute! It uses things you likely have handy, and includes a printable you can print out at home – so that you can truly make it the day before you go.

When I’m about to make a big trip, I don’t usually have time to look around for things for my toddler to do. I like to make use of my phone and mobile data while on errands and taking care of the last minute details. My husband drives, and I take care of things that need to be done.

Walmart Family Mobile offers amazing rates, with unlimited data! Plus, you get the first 1GB at 4G LTE speeds, so that you can download the printables that come along with this, and print them straight from your phone. The ZTE ZMAX is an amazing, fast device with a huge screen that makes it easier to read blog posts such as this one. Mix that with the service that Walmart Family Mobile offers, and you can find your child’s entertainment while doing your last-minute snack run. Plus, you’ll still have some money left over for your trip because of their amazing rates. Walmart Family Mobile service is $29.88 a month for the first line  on the Unlimited Talk, Text & Data service plan.

The Walmart Family Mobile plan is easy to sign up for – just look for where the no-contract phones are in your store. You’ll find the amazing ZTE ZMAX phablet there too. Once you have your service, you’ll be able to print these activities out for your toddler!

Practice shapes, colors, and patterns with this fun DIY travel toy for toddlers! Cut out the shapes, and make pictures and patterns. It’s intended to be open-ended fun, but I added some structure too! I made a few pattern and picture cards that your toddler or preschooler can follow along with. 

I made this into a travel game, in an actual travel tin. The magnetic shapes stick to the metal so that it’s contained. M actually is obsessed with magnets, so I had that in mind when creating it. If you don’t have time to glue the shapes to magnets, and you don’t have a metal tin or sheet to use (think, a cookie sheet), you can simply print it on card stock and arrange it on a stiff surface. 

What you need to make a DIY travel toy for toddlers:

• The shapes – print them out here. 
• The pattern and picture cards (optional) – print on card stock. 
• Promotional magnets, or, if you don’t have any, you can buy an 8.5×11 inch sheet that goes right into your printer.
• Spreadable glue (decoupage glue works) and brush – if you are not printing directly onto the magnet.
• A metal tin or cookie sheet.
• A sandwich size zipper bag.
• Duct tape

How to make a DIY travel toy for toddlers: 

1. Glue your shapes onto the printed side of your promotional magnets. If you have a few small ones, you’ll first need to cut it into smaller pieces and arrange it on the magnets.

2. When it’s dry, cut out your shapes. (I didn’t make all of them – I left a few as spare).

3. Tape the zipper bag onto the top half of the tin (or on one side of the tin). 

4. Cut out your cards. For the pattern cards: fold the page in half horizontally, and again horizontally, and cut along the folds. For the picture cards: Fold it in half in each direction, and cut on the folds. 

5. Store the cards in the zipper bag and the pieces in the tin. 

6. Depending on the level of your child, allow him or her to play with it. If your child is still very young, she can arrange the shapes and explore. A slightly older child can follow the patterns. If your child is able to, he can copy the pictures or even make his own.

Since I sit with M on car rides, I’ll be naming the shapes and colors with him, turning it into an extra learning experience. I even threw in a small/big comparison by making two sizes of squares! 

While I really hope you make this last minute DIY travel toy for toddlers, you’ll also find so many more ideas out there! You can just search Pinterest, and scour the web. There are so many ideas!

Walmart Family Mobile’s high speeds at low rates will allow you to download some amazing printables from the many bloggers who put their best work out there fore free! Having a high end phone like the ZTE ZMAX at a low cost allows you to work efficiently and quickly, and to get everything done on the go. And you have plenty left over to…. well, actually go on your vacation!

Where will you be taking Walmart Family Mobile on vacation? Or did you already?

Downloads: 

• shape travel toy
• shape travel toy picture cards
• shape travel toy pattern cards

Disclaimer: All prices for phones and plans included in this post are accurate as of the date of posting; however, these prices are subject to change. Please refer to Walmart Family Mobile or your local Walmart for current pricing.

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Hitting the road with a toddler? These tips for a road trip with a toddler will ensure that you survive. Okay, I’m exaggerating. But these simple tricks will help your trip be more pleasant…  

With a grandmother a two hour drive away, we hit the road pretty frequently. And no, the trip doesn’t usually take two hours. There’s traffic. There is ALWAYS traffic. On Memorial Day weekend, the trip took nearly four.   I am always looking for ways to make things more pleasant during these long trips. These tips for a road trip with a toddler will help you during shorter trips, and multi-day trips too.  
 

5 Tips for a pleasant road trip with a toddler:

1. Bring plenty to do. Children get antsy when sitting for long periods, and distraction is key!  

2. Sit next to your child when possible. If your spouse is driving, and you don’t have other children to keep your toddler busy, take up the back seat next to the car seat. This was a lifesaver during our Memorial Day trip, as I was able to talk to M and really keep him busy during that time.  

3. Bring plenty of food, diapers, and other provisions – and plan for extras! We planned for a 2-3 hour trip on Memorial Day weekend and arrived really hungry. My husband and I tried to be mature about it, but my toddler let us know…  

4. Toddlers don’t accommodate your requests when to dirty diapers, or even get car sick. They’ll likely choose to do it at the moment that you CAN’T pull over clean up or change. Make sure you’re equipped with plenty of PERK Visor Wraps to help make things more pleasant until you arrive.

I love PERK’s great-smelling air fresheners because they don’t dangle in your face! They are a sleek, subtle gray that go so nicely with my car, keeping things neater. Plus, they don’t leak, and they’re lightweight and slim.  

5. Always have a spare! I stow extra PERK visor wraps in my glove compartment since we travel often. There are so many things to think of when traveling with a toddler – this is one I can have handy without extra work.  

I found the PERK visor wraps easy to install and very pleasant-smelling. They don’t intrude at all with the function of the visor, and allow for full use of the mirror as well.  

PERK visor wraps have StediScent™ technology that provides consistent, amazing smell throughout so that if you have a dirty on that ten hour haul, you’ll still have a great smell and a pleasant trip!  

You can get PERK visor wraps anywhere car fragrances are sold, including most of the places you’ll do your regular grocery shopping! Plus, you can get a   $1 off PERK coupon here!
 

Want to win it?

Enter below to win a gift basket courtesy of PERK to make your road trip even more fun! Prize includes a six month supply of visor wraps, two pairs of PERK sunglasses, and a PERK travel mug!Follow PERK’s Facebook page, and then enter to win using the form below:

Perk Gift Basket Giveaway    

Disclaimer:  Moms & Crafters is not responsible for prize shipment or fulfillment.  Prize delivery and fulfillment is the responsibility of the sponsor (PERK).  The winner will be notified via email and has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be selected.  Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter are not endorsing or liable for this giveaway.

The post 5 Tips for a road trip with a toddler appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Gerber is a brand my baby has grown with, and their Gerber Graduates offer so many options – not just for mealtime, but for snack time as well! They have an amazing program going on right now where you can get a free gift! I’ll let you know about that soon but first….

6 Easy Travel Snacks for Toddlers:

Here are a few easy solutions. I’d love to hear your suggestions as well in the comments!

1.  Cut fruit and veggies (try seedless cucumbers, and clementine segments)
2. Cheese sticks, string cheese, cheese slices
3. Yummy fruit and veggie muffins, or try these healthy oat muffins too!
4. Gerber Graduates yogurt and fruit pouches
5. Healthy chocolate chip cookies that you can make
6. Gerber Graduates Puffs, Lil’ Biscuits, and other dry snacks

Celebrate your Win Win Moments with Gerber Graduates:

The first sign that you’ve got a toddler, is finding yourself resisting the urge to yell “no!” every minute. When we hear the word “toddler”, our first reaction is a messy little troublemaker. Sometimes we ever wonder if we can skip that stage entirely…

But toddlerhood is full of winning moments too. Think about that first step. The first time he said the word “Mommy” (mine still hasn’t…) The first time she ate dinner by herself.

There are smaller “wins” too! The first time M touched my nose and said “beeep!” was a moment to remember. All of the new associations he makes are too. His first molar came as a surprise. The first time he cuddled onto his miniature armchair like a little man.

Gerber Graduates is with you on this journey. They have a huge amount of options for toddler food. Our favorites are the Puffs cereal snack. M loves them and gets so excited when he sees them. We try to avoid giving him junk food, cookies, and cakes. Gerber Graduates helps us add nutrition into his snack time, giving him a much better option.

Gerber Graduates also has ready made meals. Their line includes yogurts in squeeze pouches, fruit pouches, and so many puffed snacks that your toddler will never tire of them.

How to get your free gift set:

Gerber Graduates is offering an adorable gift set, including a Gerber MealMat by Nuk and a Gerber bib! You get it with your purchase of any ten Gerber Graduates food items. Here’s a step-by-step:

1. Go shopping
2. Buy ten Gerber Graduates food items in one trip
3. Snap a photo of your receipt 
4. Head on over to the Gerber Graduates Win Win website
5. Upload the receipt
6. Watch your mailbox
7. Eat puffs!

And by “eat puffs” I don’t just mean your toddler – I mean you too! I put them in my salad instead of croutons and it’s delicious.

What is your toddler’s favorite on-the-go snack? Have you tried out the Gerber Graduates Win Win promotion?

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post; Moms & Crafters received compensation in exchange for promoting the product. This post contains an affiliate link.

The post Travel Snacks for Toddlers appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Graco Pack n Play Jetsetter reviewis unique in comparison to the rest of the Pack ‘n Play line from Graco. The look is streamlined, and so are the features. Instead of packing in every feature possible, it includes just a few key conveniences. The result is a much easier option for on the go, but a great solution for at home too.

Key Features of the Graco Pack n Play Playard Jetsetter:

• Weight: 17.5 lb
• Colors: Fern (pictured) and Sunshine
• For children less than 35 inches tall
• Bassinet for babies up to 15 lbs
• Dimensions: 26.9 x 10.5 x 10.4 inches
• Folds easily, even with the bassinet attached. Legs fold inward too.
• Features a removable domed canopy that snaps on

• Features a cozy removable bassinet
• Features a diaper changing pad that can clip on, and has multiple storage pockets.

• Storage bag with pockets, and backpack straps
• Two levels of vibration (removable) on the bassinet

What I love about the Graco Pack n Play Jetsetter:

This playard is much more compact and portable than most. The unique shape allows it to fit in between a much smaller space between beds at my parents’ house. It also folds smaller.

The shape also makes it harder for my toddler to climb out.

The large, visible buttons make it easy to fold, without help.

The padded mattress is very comfortable. This makes more than usable for extended visits. We used it for over a week, and my fussy toddler slept very well.

The backpack-style straps on the carrying case is my husband’s favorite feature! When he loads up the car for our visits, the hands-free carry saves him a trip.

The diaper changing pad is a feature that I do NOT have use for now. However, this adds a lot of functionality for use of this at home with an infant. We used a playard for M until he was about five or six months old. Having the options of a built-in changing pad, with storage for nearby supplies, both at home and while on the go, makes things so much easier.

This brings me to the bassinet… I love what the tapered sides do for the bassinet. It makes it much smaller, and more infant-sized. The mattress is tucked into the sides so that it’s firmer in place. The playard folds with the bassinet intact.

The bassinet attaches with an easy-to-use zipper. The zipper is covered with a velcro closure, making it more secure, and hiding it from curious eyes.

If I were to choose one “unnecessary splurge” on a playard, it would be vibrations. M loved them when he was little (he had them only on his bouncer) and it’s a great way to soothe an infant! The Jetsetter has two levels of vibration for the bassinet.

Finally, my favorite feature of all time is the canopy. It is easy to install and remove. While it’s not the best option for toddlers (M didn’t let me close it and then took it right off), it’s perfect for infants.

The darkening shade allows infants to relax better. It has large, open mesh areas so that you don’t need to worry in the least about airflow.

One Drawback:

The one drawback of the Graco Pack n Play Jetsetter is the fact that you can’t fit all the accessories in with it. The bassinet folds in with the playard, however the canopy and the diaper changer were stowed in the outside pockets, making it a bit bulky. That being said, I normally wouldn’t bring all the accessories along. I just wanted to photograph it in use at my parents’ house 🙂

In conclusion:

If you’re looking for a sturdy and beautiful playard, the Jetsetter should be an obvious choice. It has just the features you need to make it great both for on-the-go and for an alternative to a cradle or bassinet for an infant. I love how Graco streamlined it without stripping it of the handy “extra” features that make me a huge fan of the brand.

Get it on Amazon   |   Like Graco on Facebook 

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Moms & Crafters received a sample product free of charge to facilitate this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The post Graco Pack n Play Jetsetter Review appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Sponsored by: Crayola, Cool Gear, Zutano, Kids Fly Safe, Kidz Gear, Kidco, and Baby Bjorn

Hosted by: Moms & Crafters

Co-hosts: Libby’s Library, Faith Filled Food for Moms, and Just Plum Crazy

Have you ever traveled with a toddler? If you have, you’ll know that this is no easy feat! Toddlers have minds of their own, and keeping them in check while on a long journey is a challenge.

That’s why I created the Traveling with Toddlers series, to share my experiences and make things easier. Many companies recognize this challenge as well, and design products to help out. We’ve come together with this giveaway, full of products to help moms of tots travel easier!

For those of you who have been following along with this series, this is the moment you have been waiting for! Various companies have come forth and shared their favorite products for traveling with toddlers. Now it’s time to choose a winner!

One lucky winner will receive the prizes listed below:

1. Crayola busy bag supplies: to entertain and distract your child! Includes the busy bag art kit, Doodle Magic travel mat, and Color Wonder products. (estimated value: $50+)

2. Cool Gear travel pack: including the travel potty, Snack Grabber, SnackTime container, Cereal on the Go, and Go Gear 3 oz travel tubes. (ARV: $65+)

3. Zutano $75 gift card: to buy comfy and stylish clothing for your tot to travel in!

4. Cares Safety Harness: so that you can travel safer! This will allow your toddler his or her own seat on the plane, while you don’t need to drag along a car seat. (ARV $74.95)

5. Kidz Gear Headset Headphones + accessories: for entertaining safely. After your trip, you can use it for learning apps, with the Boom microphone attached! Prize includes a travel bag and splitter. (ARV $45.97)

6. KidCo PeaPod Plus: a bed for your tot that can come along! It’s easy to use, and folds really small. (RV $99.99)

7. Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier One: the new baby carrier that works for back carrying toddlers too. (MSRP $189.95).

Total value is approximately $585!

Giveaway is open to legal residents of the US, age 18+. Enter using the Rafflecopter below. Only the first entry is mandatory – the rest are extras to help you improve your chances. I know it’s a bit of a longer form than I usually make. This is due to the nature of a multi-vendor giveaway, where various sponsors need to be represented. To combat that, I’ve made a very easy mandatory entry, and I’ve included fewer bloggers than I normally would for such a large event.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  Moms and Crafters received products for review only and no other compensation for the giveaway.  No other bloggers involved in the promotion of this giveaway were compensated in any way for the promotion of this giveaway.  The bloggers involved in this giveaway are not responsible for prize shipment or fulfillment.  Prize delivery and fulfillment is the responsibility of the sponsors.  The winner will be notified via email and has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be selected.  Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter are not endorsing or liable for this giveaway.

The post Traveling with Toddlers Giveaway – $500+ value (over) appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

For those of you who don’t know yet, I am very into car seat safety, ever since our little scare a year ago.  Our tall boy was about to outgrow rear facing in our old convertible, and he was only just approaching eighteen months. The AAP recommends toddlers to rear face AT LEAST until age two, or until they outgrow the maximum height and weight on the car seat.

When Graco contacted me to review their Milestone All-In-One car seat with Safety Surround, I was delighted. I will be offering my review based on two factors: 1. Car seat safety and the usability in accordance with the rules, and 2. convenience of features.

About the Graco Milestone All-in-One Car Seat with Safety Surround:

This car seat is intended to be good for most babies from birth, until they are ready for a backless booster. It is designed to be comfortable for baby, while providing utmost protection. Here are some features:

• Rear-facing infant car seat from 5–40 lb, and while head is at least 1 inch below the red handle.
• Forward-facing 5-point harness seat from 20–65 lb and 27″-49″
• High-back belt-positioning booster from 30-100 lb and 38″-57″
• Features Safety Surround™ Side Impact Technology
• 4 position recline
• Removable cup holder
• Simply Safe Adjust™ Harness System for changing back height and harness position.
• InRight™ LATCH system for vehicles that are LATCH enabled
• Certified for use on airplanes when used with the 5 point harness.
• Expires 10 years after manufacture.

What I love: 

This car seat is a far cry from any other I’ve had in ease of use.  It’s super-simple to adjust the back and the harness using the red handle by the head. . This makes it more convenient, and also more likely that the harness height well be properly adjusted when baby grows, giving it a few points in the safety category.

The multiple recline positions means that even while rear facing M can go to sleep or sit up and see the world. All along the car seat are clear stickers with visible instructions (in both English and Spanish) to make safe installation more likely.

It’s easy to adjust between recline positions, using another red handle, again making a safe install more likely.

The Safety Surround design offers side impact protection. Our accident a year ago was a side-impact crash, so this feature is a definite must for me. I also love the extra head support and comfort it provides M with.

The (removable) cushion as well provides extra comfort. We often travel two hours to visit my parents in New Jersey. With traffic it can take three or more hours, and it usually overlaps with M’s nap or bed time. Having a comfortable seat that he can sleep in is a major bonus for us, and will make the trip much more doable.

It was easy to readjust the position of the bottom half of the buckle, but not too easy. I don’t mind this, as it’s something that only needs to get done occasionally. You need to lift the entire seat pad, but from there, you don’t need to do major threading.

Tightening the harness is very easy – you simply pull on the strap at the bottom. Loosening it is much harder (you need to remove the seat pad). This, to me is an advantage, as it helps discourage using a bulky coat in the winter, which is unsafe. It takes the same effort as re positioning the bottom half of the harness, which is only done on occasion, when the child really grows.

It has a built-in, removable cup holder – yay! That is such a simple and basic feature that we have been sorely missing.

What I didn’t love: 

On the first two tries I had a really hard time opening the chest clip. I was deliberating if this is an issue or not, as my tot loves opening buckles. I could just get a seat belt cutter (an essential for every car regardless) and be glad he won’t open this one. Then I tried again a third time. This time I tilted it slightly so that the front was facing upward. It slid right open. That means that in a pinch, I will not have trouble getting my baby out, but hopefully he will have a hard time figuring it out.

The bottom line: 

I love it, and so does M. I tried to take a photo to show how happy he was, but he wouldn’t stop dancing around in it…

We will be using it on our upcoming trip to my parents and can’t wait for our first big ride in a comfy car seat. 


I would highly recommend it, and would definitely buy it if I were on the market. The buckle issue had me scared at first, but I can see that Graco has really made it easier (I am speaking as a customer of various brand car seat recalls). It’s not easy to get a safe install in general, and this car seat makes it easy.

Bonus tip: Always read the car seat manual cover to cover. It contains valuable, potentially life-saving car seat safety information, and is one of the best ways to educate yourself.

Milestone All-in-One Car Seat   |   Graco Facebook   |   Graco Twitter

Disclaimer: I received a free sample in order to facilitate this review. No monetary compensation was received. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way. I only review and endorse products I think highly of. This post contains affiliate links.

The post Graco Milestone Car Seat Review appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

9 Tips for surviving a flight with a toddler:

1. Ignore the neighbors.

With all those stories circulating about parents giving out candy to their seatmates on flights, don’t feel obliged to do so. The more I heard about it, the more I felt I had to do so. That led me to think I have a responsibility to shut my kid up.

Kids are humans with needs and can’t just be “shut up”. Toddlers throw tantrums – that’s who they are! Especially after missing two naps, plus a night of sleep. You don’t need to apologize, nor should you feel guilty when your kids act like kids.

So ignore your seatmates, and tend to your child as needed.

Hey, as a bonus, we had one who got up and moved to another part of the plane, leaving us a row of five seats for ourselves!

2. Switch up the attitude

Children can sense your stress. Enter into it with a sense of excitement, rather than the foreboding that normally comes with a flight with a toddler.

Don’t worry! You will survive!

3. Come Equipped

Having the right gear to get you through can really help you in a pinch. Have a toddler baby carrier so your hands are freer. Plus, tots love piggy back rides, even when they’re cranky. A harness is a lifesaver when your toddler suddenly makes his escape.

And if people stare? Refer to #1.

4. Bend the rules

If you have a “no sweets, no cookies” policy, this may be the time to bend those rules. When your child falls asleep for an hour, and a loud teen in the next seat over (and everyone was worried about your loud baby…) wakes her up, there will be some very noisy tears. Pulling out a cookie is a quick fix. (Don’t overdo the sugar – you don’t want a sugar high either!) If you don’t allow screen time, you may want to allow some on the flight.

As a bonus your tot will learn a new word real fast: “Cookie”! 

I was a bit worried about doing this, as my toddler does not even know what sweets are. Finding a healthy substitute for after the flight can definitely help. Or think ahead, and pack some healthy ones to start.

5. Take care of yourself

Don’t forget about mom! Take a refresher to wash your face, brush your teeth, and eat your dinner. You’ll be much more equipped for survival.

6. Be prepared

Have everything you need handy nearby, and all your “in case of emergency” items overhead.

Don’t pack light.

7. Get an extra seat

There is lots of controversy out there as to whether having a lap infant is safe or not. If you are traveling with a toddler under 2, as I was with my 17 month old, trust me! You’ll want that extra seat for your sanity.

Even if your tot is in his own seat, having an empty one nearby can help.

Once all passengers are seated, ask a flight attendant if there are extra seats that offer more space for movement.

8. Ask for help

If you are traveling alone with a toddler, don’t be afraid to ask for help! If you need to go to the lavatory, refresh, or even if you are struggling with your bags, there is no shame! The flight attendants have done it before and will do it again.

9. Distract like crazy!

Toddlers are moodier than teens sometimes. You never know what they’ll want to do or play with. Bring along loads of entertainment for the flight. You’ll end up using only one or two, but you’ll be glad you had choices.

“Distract” is the toddler word for “entertain”.

When your child is overtired and moody, distraction can really help! So think of all this entertainment as a distraction from her overtired, cranky, “get me out of here” mood.

Do you have any advice for how to survive a flight with a toddler? Share in the comments below!

Follow along with the rest of the Traveling with Toddlers series:

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

The post How to Survive a Flight with a Toddler appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

These are the items we used along the way that helped make things easier, plus some things we wished we’d had.  I’ve included Amazon affiliate links for your convenience, and the link to my review where applicable.

1. Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier One:

On our first flight, we did not have a chance to put M in before boarding. It was a disaster of diaper bags, flying coats, rolling carry-ons, and dropped water bottles. When I wore him, I had two hands free to handle everything else.

The Baby Carrier One is from Baby Bjorn’s new line of baby carriers offers back carrying as well, so it’s great for toddlers. You can read my full review here.  Buy it on Amazon.

2. Manito Rain Covers:

This made the whole difference between getting out or staying in on rainy days! We could not have managed without. Manito rain covers are very well made and convenient, and easy to use. You can read my full review here. Buy it on Amazon. 

3. KidCo PeaPod Plus travel bed: 

This incredibly compact travel cot is appropriate for toddlers. It will take care of all your sleep solutions while taking up much less space than a play yard. Read the review or buy it on Amazon. 

4. CARES Safety Harness:

This was  a lifesaver on our flight! It works instead of a car seat, is easy to install, and weights/measures almost nothing! Read the review or buy it on Amazon. 

5. Baby Buddy Security Harness: 

Even if you’re the kind of person who cringes at the thought of putting your toddler “on a leash”, this inexpensive harness can save the day. While I was half asleep in the large airport, I was able to let my toddler wander without having to worry that he’ll make his escape the moment I space out.  Buy it on Amazon.

6. Kidz Gear Headphones

These volume-limiting headphones saved the day when my baby was super cranky and hard to calm down. We would give him an old phone with some baby shows loaded on, with these headphones of course to calm him down. They ensure that the volume is not too loud for kids, plus they are made to fit little heads! Read the review or buy it on Amazon. 

7. Cool Gear Potty:

If you’re at the potty-training stage, and you don’ want to ruin all your hard work, this portable potty will be a lifesaver. It uses disposable bags (you can re-use produce bags for this) so that all the gross is contained.  Read the review or buy it on Amazon.

Bonus: Cool gear also makes great ice pack/snack cup hybrids and snack cups. Their silicone travel tubes came in so handy for us!

8. A Sun Hat and Zutano Coordinates: 

When we went to Jerusalem it was often 75 degrees and very sunny by day, and then it dropped to 50 by night. We packed lots of layers and coordinates, including this adorable outfit from Zutano, so that we were able to add or take away accordingly. Having matching coordinates means if baby dirties his pants, you can just change that, without having to change the entire outfit. This really helped us avoid the need to lug around too many soiled garments at once. Read the review or buy it on Amazon.

9. Crayola Color Wonder products: 

From our entire Crayola busy bag, this was the product we used the most. These markers color only on special Color Wonder papers, so when M tried to decorate the airplane tray along with his paper, nothing showed up. Read the review or buy it on Amazon. 

10. Graco Literider Stroller: 

While this is not my stroller of choice for everyday use, it is great for travel! It has a full tray, so we used it as a high chair on the go. that means that on a day on the town, we were able to simply place whatever food we wanted on M’s tray, and continue on the way. Other features that really came in handy were the huge basket, the one-hand-fold,  and the full parent tray (which always had on it bus tickets, water bottles, etc.). Plus, it’s inexpensive, which means that we didn’t worry about the airline tossing it around too much.

Outside of the trip, we use it as  our regular travel stroller, which we keep in the car for everyday shopping, etc.  Buy it on Amazon here. 

11. Reusable Plastic Cups:

Believe it or not, bringing along just four of these helped entertain our toddler for hours! We would lay it out on the tray, and he stacked them up, again and again. Check out more travel activities for toddlers, or buy it on Amazon. 

12. Thinkbaby Safe Sunscreen:

Even if it’s not the middle of the summer, if you’re spending lots of time outdoors, you’ll want sun protection. This sunscreen is free of the toxins that mainstream brands have. Buy it on Amazon. 

13. Wet Ones Singles:

These were great for an extra wipe-down after using public restrooms. Plus, I used it to wipe down all the areas around our airplane seat as my toddler likes to chew on everything… I bought the singles and not the travel packs because: 1. They’re small enough to fit in my handbag and 2. The packets on the travel packs don’t stay closed very well, making them leak and get other things wet and ruined.   Buy it on Amazon. 

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You can find instructions and more information (and, in some cases, the printable) by clicking on the links. I hope you’ll love it!

Printable Travel Activities for Toddlers:

Printables activities are an easy and cheap way to go! They’re limitless, and the supporting supplies are negligible. Plus, you can abandon them at your destination, and then re-print at home.

Practice some fine motor skills with these printable sewing cards from Pickle Bums

Make a DIY Doodle book with a free printable from Hi It’s Jilly:

I’ve created for you some printable travel sheets to use with Do a Dot mini markers:

Here’s a fun Spring coloring sheet from Arts & Cracker. Print out a bunch, and scribble away!

And here are some printable road trip drawing prompts from Pickle Bums!

DIY Travel Toys for Toddlers:

DIY toys make great travel activities for toddlers! Worry not about losing parts, while engaging for hours. They are compact, portable, and easy to stock up on.

Check out the cool things that Desert Chica Ramblings has done with these Velcro Craft Sticks:

I also love her cardboard building toy! We will be trying these ourselves.

Check out the DIY travel sorting toy for toddlers I made for M! He loves it. It’s self-contained and has plenty of spare parts.

These adorable discovery bottles from Mind of Meesh are also terrific – just make sure to only do the ones without water if you’re flying!

Book time! travel activities for toddlers:

Book activities have an extra level of of  engagement in the form of turning pages – which toddlers love! Plus there’s more space to have fun!

Of course, bringing along a few favorite board books is the first way to go.

Get creative with a chalkboard book from Parenting Chaos!

Or make this no sew quiet book , chock full of fun activities, a la Can’t Google Everything.

Travel-friendly Activity Trays for Toddlers:

Pack along one for a plane ride, or a few for your road trip. These activity trays are a great, contained way to entertain on the way!

This one from Growing Book by Book involves an adorable car trip game:

This Disney Planes travel activity tray from Occasionally Crafty is perfect for a long flight!

Here’s another great kids’ travel activity tray from Desert Chica Ramblings:

And another great activity tray from We Like to Learn As We Go:

And finally, Mission to Save uses promotional magnets to create car ride game trays.

Creative Stimulation on the go…

Kids should learn be creative from the start, and on the go is the perfect time to implement that!

I put together this travel-friendly Crayola busy bag for our trip. You can combine that with Sunny Day Family’s drawing kit ideas as well. Or, you can check out the adorable travel chalkboard that Simplee Thrifty created.

And when all else fails… 

Pull out that smart device! There’s a reason they call it smart… it’s the only one that knows how to entertain your toddler when no one else can! Dowload some favorite movies and apps, connect some volume-limiting headphones, and your toddler will be busy!

If your nerves are frazzled by the time you get to that stopover, involve your toddler in some family yoga at the airport. It’s a definite fix…

Do you have any travel activities for toddlers that you’d like to share? Comment below!

Follow along with the rest of the traveling with toddlers series by clicking on the image below. You’ll find helpful tips, printables and more!

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