Last updated: August 2026.
Ultimate ways to keep your infant entertained on planes, road trips and holidays
Travelling with a baby or toddler can feel daunting, especially when you’re wondering how on earth you’ll keep them entertained for hours on a plane or in the car. After taking R on countless flights and road trips in his first year, I’ve learnt that having the right baby travel toys makes all the difference between a stress-free journey and a testing trip at 30,000 feet.
Whether you’re looking for airplane toys for babies, car journey entertainment, or the best baby travel toys by age, this guide covers everything I’ve learnt along the way. Every toy in this guide has been used by us while travelling with our son. From long-haul flights and airport lounges to restaurants and road trips, these are the toys that genuinely kept him entertained at each stage of his development. We haven’t included products we haven’t personally used. I also update as R gets older, so I’m covering the best travel toys for babies at every age from newborn to 24 months currently but expect this to keep growing.
In this guide:
👉 In a hurry? Jump straight to the quick comparison table for our top 3 picks at every age.
Why the right baby travel toys matter for journeys and holidays
The right travel toys can transform your journey – and not just getting from A to B, but also when you’re at your destination. When R was younger, I quickly learnt that the toys he loved at home weren’t always winners on the plane. The best baby travel toys are compact, engaging, relatively quiet, and serve multiple purposes to save precious space in your luggage.
But it’s not just about the journey itself. When you’re away for longer trips – like our two-week American road trip through Boston, Vermont, Montreal, and Cape Cod – you also need toys that fit into luggage but will provide entertainment when you’re actually on holiday. Hotel rooms, Airbnbs, and restaurant waiting times all require something to keep your baby occupied. The trick is finding toys that are small enough to pack but engaging enough to get proper use throughout your trip.
The key is matching toys to your baby’s developmental stage. A 2-month-old has very different needs from a 10-month-old, and what works for one age can be completely boring for another. Toys with different textures, sounds, and colours tend to hold babies’ attention longer than single-purpose toys. Whether you’re flying long-haul to the US, heading to Mallorca, or just doing a UK road trip, these baby travel toys will keep your little one happy on the move.
Quick comparison: best baby travel toys by age
| Age | Top 3 travel toys | Why they work |
|---|---|---|
| 0-3 months | Hanging toys, Sophie La Giraffe, high-contrast books | Simple, safe to mouth, visual stimulation |
| 3-6 months | Suction spinners, musical toys, teething sets | Easy to grasp, sensory engagement, attaches to surfaces |
| 6-9 months | Suction table toys, felt flap books, cause-and-effect toys like maracas | Interactive, durable, encourages exploration |
| 9-12 months | Busy box cube, pretend tablet, soft busy book | Longer engagement, problem-solving |
| 12-18 months | Interactive cube toy, magnetic tiles, Tonies or Yoto Mini | Complex activities that keep little minds thinking |
| 18 months-2 years | Schleich animals, Poke-dot book, road track tape | Imaginative play, learning animal names, longer focus |
Best travel toys for newborns (0-3 months)
If you’re travelling with a newborn under 3 months, you probably don’t need many toys at all. At this age, babies sleep a lot and are mostly content being fed, cuddled, and watching the world go by. That said, having a couple of simple toys in your bag can be useful during those brief awake windows.
What newborns need in travel toys:
- High-contrast patterns (black and white) to stimulate developing vision
- Soft textures that are safe to mouth, and won’t hurt them if they drop them
- Lightweight and easy to attach to car seats or prams
- Simple rattles or crinkle sounds
Our favourite / best travel toys for newborns:
1. Hanging toys
You can never go wrong with a hanging bar toy, especially ones that crinkle and squeak. While you can’t bring a baby gym with you on holiday, clip-on toys are perfect for attaching to car seats, prams, or carriers, and the multiple textures and sounds keep babies engaged without being overwhelming. We used this hanging Nuby toy on the car seat from early on and R loved batting at it during car journeys.
He’s always adored Captain Calamari too, with its high-contrast colours, textured legs, and baby-safe mirror underneath. On holiday we attach it to the pram, car seat, or a baby gym – so it serves multi purposes in daily life. It’s so good that I always include it in gift hampers for my friends’ having a baby!
This classic French teether is a travel favourite for good reason. It’s lightweight, easy for tiny hands to grasp, and makes a satisfying squeak when squeezed. While it’s primarily a teether for later months, even young babies enjoy holding and mouthing it. I’m not sure what we would have done over the past 6 months without Sophie around!
3. High-contrast cloth books
Books with black and white patterns are brilliant for tummy time and for keeping babies visually engaged. Soft fabric books are travel-friendly because they’re lightweight, washable, and won’t hurt if baby drops them on their face (trust me, this happens!). They don’t last that long from an engagement perspective though, so if you haven’t been gifted one I’d jump straight to these crinkle books, or the activity book I mention in the below 3-6 month section.
Best travel toys for 3-6 month olds
At around 3 months, babies become much more alert and interested in their surroundings. This is when you’ll start to see them really engage with toys, reaching out to bat at things and bringing everything to their mouths. For travel, you want toys that are simple to generate a reaction from without being too fussy.
What 3-6 month olds need:
- Toys they can grasp and shake
- Teething-friendly options
- Toys that make sounds or have interesting textures
- Things that attach to car seats to prevent constant dropping
These simple suction spinners have been absolute lifesavers on trains, planes, and in the bath! They stick to airplane windows, car windows, high chair trays, and pretty much any smooth surface. R has been mesmerised by watching them spin, and they’re small enough to pop in your changing bag. At 9 months, he still loves playing with these on airplanes.
2. Baby Einstein musical tunes toy
This musical toy is great for babies from 3 months onwards. It plays classical melodies and has a volume control (crucial for plane journeys!), and babies love pressing the big button to hear the music. It’s not too loud and keeps them entertained without annoying fellow passengers.
This is a good one as it’s a rattle but also makes lots of noises that R finds captivating. It’s a little heavier than most here, so it’s more of a suitcase item for us rather than something for the changing bag, but brilliant for hotel room play and keeping R entertained during downtime on longer trips. It also rolls around which creates a bit of added fun.
4. Classic teething set
Around 4-6 months, teething often starts, so having a good teether in your travel bag is essential. Matchstick Monkey is fairly well regarded, and I love this set as R is obsessed with the flat face (from around 7 months) as well as the actual monkey teether. The different textures and shapes mean you’re getting multiple teething options in one compact package, and they’re easy to clean on the go.
We also have one of these Infatot teething gloves. R has never quite grasped how to properly hold it but he loves chomping on it, and some of his baby pals do hold it properly so I know it can work!
R loved this book from about 4/5 months. These crinkle books provide brilliant sensory stimulation with their various textures, and the attached teething ring means it serves double duty. Lightweight and easy to pack, they’re perfect for keeping in your changing bag or placing over your little one in the car.
One item we’ve absolutely loved from early on is a soft cube toy. We have the Little Dutch one but it was a gift and more expensive than this Mamas and Papas one which looks very similar. It’s super lightweight to fit in suitcases and great for playing with during lazy mornings in bed (R still likes it, but prefers harder things to chew or bash these days). The different textures, tags, and crinkly bits keep babies engaged, and because it’s soft, you don’t have to worry about them bonking themselves on the head with it!
Best travel toys for 6-9 month olds
This is when things get interesting! Babies at this age are sitting up, becoming more mobile, and have much longer attention spans. They’re also starting to understand cause and effect, which opens up more toy options.
What 6-9 month olds need:
- Interactive toys with buttons, levers, or moving parts
- Toys that encourage problem-solving
- Durable toys that can withstand being thrown
- Options that work on high chairs and plane tables
This Freddie the Firefly high chair toy also works well on plane tables – it’s a bit of a knack to get it to stick properly though! The suction base means it stays put, and babies love spinning and bashing the different parts. It kept R busy during many a meal.
2. Suction cup spinner toys (still relevant!)
Even at this age, suction spinners remain a hit. Babies now have better fine motor control and can spin them themselves, which provides endless entertainment.
3. Pop-up toys
Toys like this where babies can push down different characters and watch them pop back up are brilliant for this age. They’re great for developing cause and effect understanding and fine motor skills. Finding one that fits in your luggage can be a bit of a challenge, but this one is simple and good for larger suitcases or car trips.
While super simple and very dull for parents to read, I do recommend felt flap books – and there are many different animal themed ones available. R particularly likes the mirror at the end and he will hold the book himself at this age, playing with it for a good 5-10 mins in the morning. These ones seem relatively chew-proof unlike many books, which is a huge bonus at this age when everything goes in the mouth. The felt flaps are soft and durable, making them ideal for little hands to explore without pages getting destroyed. I enjoyed giving R this plane themed book as a holiday toy.
These silicone stacking cups are a great shout for this age because they double up as teethers — so you’re getting two jobs done with one lightweight item. Babies love knocking them down, they’re quiet enough for plane journeys, and the soft silicone means no sharp edges to worry about.
This maracas set became popular after 6 months and I’d say has come into its own post 8 months now R can shake it himself. I know many mums who used these with smaller babies but they had to shake them for their little ones, which R never seemed that fussed by. The bright colours and satisfying sound make them brilliant for entertainment, and they’re lightweight enough to pack in a suitcase. Perfect for hotel room dance parties!
7. Ball pit balls
R loves chasing a ball from his ball pit, so these are surprisingly easy toys to take with you too. Lightweight, soft, and endlessly entertaining – babies this age adore rolling them, chasing them (if they’re mobile), and just generally causing chaos with them. Pop a couple in your suitcase for hotel room entertainment!
8. Don’t forget yourself!
You’re your baby’s favourite toy! Peek-a-boo, silly faces, and songs don’t take up any luggage space and can be the best entertainment of all – although we all need a break now and then, so won’t judge some plastic fun!
Best travel toys for 9-18 month olds
The final quarter of the first year is when babies become proper little explorers. They’re often cruising, maybe even taking first steps, and they’re fascinated by how things work. For travel, you need toys that can hold their attention for longer periods.
Best travel toys for 1 year olds
If your little one has just turned one, the toys below are exactly the ones we’d reach for. A busy box cube, a pretend tablet, small toy cars, and magnetic tiles all suit 1 year olds who are cruising, exploring, and ready for a bit more complexity than a newborn toy can offer.
What 9-18 month olds need:
- More complex problem-solving toys
- Interactive toys with multiple activities
- Toys that encourage fine motor development
- Entertainment that lasts for decent stretches
This busy box cube has been brilliant since around 8/9 months – lots of parts to explore and R loved figuring out all the different elements. It has plenty of interactive elements that keep older babies engaged for surprisingly long periods – plus is quite compact when folded up. Perfect for flights when you need something that’ll last more than five minutes! He still likes it at 17 months!
2. Pretend tablet
I got a version of this fake Fisher Price tablet second hand and it’s super light, engaging and provides a lot of entertainment. Not ideal for quiet train carriages but absolutely fine against the hum of chatter and plane noise, this is a firm must now in our changing bag!
3. Toy cars
Particularly relevant as your little one gets to 11 months, small vehicles like these can be perfect travel toys. They’re durable, compact, and babies this age love pushing them around on surfaces. Bring one in your changing bag for instant entertainment.
4. Infant-safe busy book
There’s a lot of chat about ‘busy books’ but the ones I’ve looked at (and I was even gifted one) are around 3+ in age. R genuinely loves this soft one from Taf Toys that we gave him for our trip to Florida (his ‘new’ plane toy!) when he was 11 months old, and he still adores it now at 13 months. It’ll likely last well into this year as he’s only just starting to fully interact with some of the more complex parts. They have another fantasy-themed one which I’ve just ordered for our recent trip to Scotland.
5. Interactive cube toy
For our recent trip to the US at 16 months, one of R’s grannies bought him this cube toy and he loves it! It has a turning key and several parts to it which make clicking sounds. It says from 12 months+ and I can see how it would have been good from that age too.
She also bought this coin slot box which I am sharing because he has a lot of fun with it and it’s a nice size to go in the suitcase. Due to the nature of the small pieces it’s not the best for travel itself though.
6. Magnetic tiles
These magnetic tiles have come into their own now R is 16 months. They come in a small bag which makes them very portable for travel, and you can get boxes of all different shapes, sizes and number of pieces. They make an easy way to play building games without taking up as much space as Mega Bloks (and we have been known to cram a bag of these into our car seat bag and put it in the plane hold!).
7. Snack cups
This might not technically be a toy, but I’m including it because snack time is an activity once you’re through the initial weaning period! A pack of puffs or sticks can keep a baby entertained for ages!
Best travel toys for 18 months to 2 years old
As R heads towards 2, play gets more imaginative and toys need to keep up. These are the ones getting the most use in our house and in our luggage right now.
1. Tonies or Yoto story player
While these are described as for slightly older children, we got R a Yoto Mini for his first birthday and he loves it. He finds the device fascinating and while he is too young to understand the stories, given he doesn’t watch TV it’s a nice opportunity to expose him to the positives of audio listening without over exposure to a visually stimulating device. There’s some decent cards for little ones that I know he will grow into. A couple of my friends with similar aged children have the Tonies box which admittedly looks more fun, but is less practical for us travelling a lot. Their little ones seem to love playing with it and stop/starting the audio via the toy figurines that sit on top. He’s now 18 months and it’s still a firm favourite, particularly for wind-down time before bed.
2. Removable road track tape
This road track tape is such a simple but clever idea, giving you the ability to make a vehicle play track wherever you go on holiday. I also recently came across this version which has parking zone tape, train tracks and other stickers, opening up even more imaginative play. Just pack a couple of your child’s favourite cars or trains and create a different track pattern each time.
3. Schleich animals
R has really taken to his Schleich animals at 18 months. We’ve got a giraffe, an elephant and a few from the farm set, and it’s lovely watching him start to play with the animals together rather than just holding one at a time. He’s also picking up their names, and will grab his toy giraffe and hold it up to the page whenever his zoo book shows one. They’re small, well made and easy to slip a few into a suitcase or changing bag without taking up much room.
4. Poke dot books
We discovered these pop poke-dot books in America and they’ve been a hit ever since. They’re on the heavy side, so not something I’d pack in hand luggage for a flight (the suitcase or hold is a better home for them), but they’re great for keeping R busy on car trips. There’s also a mini version if you want something lighter to pack.
5. LCD drawing tablet
R’s a touch young to use this LCD drawing tablet on his own, but it’s already earning its place as a bit of quiet time together. I sketch something, he has a go with the stylus, and then we wipe it clean and start again. No paper to lose, no mess, and it folds flat enough to slip in a bag.
6. Very Hungry Caterpillar magnet book
We don’t have this Very Hungry Caterpillar magnet book ourselves, but a friend’s little one loved it on a recent flight, so it’s on our list to try. The magnets should keep small hands busy without pieces rolling off under the seat in front, always a bonus on a plane.
7. Farmyard find-it book
This farmyard find-it board book has been in heavy rotation since R started spotting and naming the animals hidden in each scene. Every page is packed with things to find, so it takes a good while to get through, which made it brilliant for eating up time on our recent flight to Greece.
How many toys should I pack for a flight?
One of the biggest mistakes I made on our first flight was overpacking toys. Babies don’t need an entire toy box to stay entertained – in fact, introducing too many options at once can be overwhelming.
For most journeys, I aim to pack five small activities, depending on the flight length. This gives me enough variety to introduce something new every 20–30 minutes. I usually buy toy out there, and really rate services like BabyQuip for renting baby gear on longer stays.
Our typical packing list looks like this:
- 2 familiar favourites – toys your baby already loves and finds comforting.
- 2–3 “new” toys – they don’t have to be brand new, just ones that have been hidden away for a few weeks. The novelty factor works wonders.
- 1 interactive activity – such as reusable stickers, a busy book or a suction spinner for the tray table.
- 1–2 books – soft books for younger babies or sturdy board books for toddlers.
Remember that toys are only part of the entertainment. Snacks, looking out of the window, walking up and down the aisle (when it’s safe to do so) and chatting to other passengers can all help break up a long journey.
My bonus tips:
- Save a few new toys specifically for travel. The novelty factor means they’ll hold your baby’s attention for much longer than familiar toys from home.
- Don’t hand over all the toys at once. Keep them hidden in your bag and bring out one item at a time. We found R stayed interested for much longer when each toy felt like a new surprise.
- Invest in a portable high chair seat. While not strictly a toy, this deserves a special mention as it’s been an absolute godsend to us since R started weaning at 6 months. For driving-from-home holidays, this seat means we don’t have to book somewhere with a high chair and provides a safe space for him to sit and play. It’s compact, straps onto most chairs, and has been brilliant for restaurant meals and Airbnbs. There’s also a cheaper version available which I think doesn’t go up to 3 years in age.
- Stop losing toys with these handy pram toy straps. These fabric straps are absolute lifesavers for travel, wrapping around car seats, prams, and high chairs to keep toys securely attached. No more picking toys up off grotty airplane floors or fishing them out from under car seats! They’re adjustable and work with pretty much any toy.
- Connect toys together or to a pram or bag with plastic links. These interlocking plastic links are brilliant for attaching multiple toys together or clipping toys to bags and prams. They’re also entertaining toys in their own right – babies love playing with the colourful rings. I always keep a few in my changing bag as they’re endlessly useful.
- And on the same theme, if your little one relies on a dummy for entertainment or sleep when out and about, be sure to pick up some dummy clips, an essential travel item in my eyes. I like the BIBS one (we use BIBS dummies), but I also have some backup silicone ones that work well like this, which are great because they’re easy to wipe clean and work with different dummy brands.
One of my go-to places for the toys in this guide is Natural Baby Shower – a family business started by parents, for parents, back in 2007. They stock over 140 carefully chosen eco, ethical, and premium brands, so you can shop with confidence knowing every product meets a high bar for safety and quality. They offer a price match service and points for every purchase which I’ve enjoyed redeeming off the next thing R needs!
Best baby airplane toys: our flight-specific picks
If you’re specifically preparing for a flight, a few toys stand out as particularly well-suited to the plane environment. The best baby airplane toys need to be compact enough to fit in your changing bag, engaging enough to last more than five minutes, and ideally quiet enough not to disturb fellow passengers.
- Suction spinners are the undisputed number one as they stick directly to airplane windows, giving babies something to focus on without you having to hold anything
- Felt flap books are silent, durable, and self-contained, perfect for the tray table
- Sophie La Giraffe for younger babies: lightweight, easy to grip, and safe to mouth
- Busy box cubes for 9 months+ as they offer enough activities to last a decent stretch of a long-haul flight
- Pretend tablets for older babies – these aren’t suitable for quiet trains, but absolutely fine against the background hum of a plane
- The golden rule for airplane toys is novelty: save one or two items specifically for the flight so the newness buys you extra entertainment time. I always tuck something new in my hand luggage that R hasn’t seen before – it reliably adds at least 20 minutes of engagement at 30,000 feet.
Frequently asked questions about baby travel toys
The best travel toys for babies depend on age. For newborns (0-3 months), high-contrast hanging toys and Sophie La Giraffe work well. For 3-6 month olds, suction spinners and musical toys are brilliant. For 6-9 months, try high chair suction toys and felt flap books. For 9-12 months, busy box cubes and pretend tablets provide the most entertainment. And for young toddlers, busy books and audio boxes like the Yoto Mini or Tonies offers an engaging and healthy entertainment option. The key is choosing compact, engaging toys that match your baby’s developmental stage.
The best airplane toys for babies are suction spinners (they stick to windows), a busy box cube for older babies, felt flap books, teethers like Sophie La Giraffe, and pretend tablets. Choose toys that are relatively quiet, compact, and won’t constantly drop on the floor. Bringing one or two new toys specifically for the flight means the novelty factor keeps babies entertained longer.
For a 6 month old on a plane, bring suction spinners that stick to airplane windows, a musical toy with volume control, teething toys, and soft books with different textures. High chair suction toys work well on airplane tables. Also pack pram toy straps to attach toys to the seat, preventing them from falling on the floor. The novelty of the plane environment itself will also provide entertainment.
The best travel toys for 1 year olds (9-12 months) are busy box cubes with multiple activities, pretend tablets, small toy cars, balls, and interactive books. These babies need toys that provide longer engagement periods and encourage problem-solving. Choose items that are durable, won’t break if thrown, and can work on various surfaces like high chair trays or hotel room floors.
For a long flight with 1 year olds, rotate through 3 to 4 toys rather than relying on one, since attention spans are still short at this age. A busy box cube and pretend tablet are good for sit-still stretches, small toy cars work well on the tray table, and saving one brand new item specifically for the flight buys extra time through novelty alone. Snacks in a spill-proof cup are also a reliable fallback when toys lose their appeal.
By 18 months, toddlers want toys with more to do and are keen to copy grown-up objects. Our favourites at this age are magnetic tiles for building, an interactive cube toy with buttons and sounds, road track tape for imaginative car play, and an audio player like the Yoto Mini or Tonies for screen-free story time. Look for options that hold up to being dropped repeatedly, since 18 month olds are testing gravity constantly.
You don’t need to spend a fortune on brand-new toys before every trip, but saving a few new toys specifically for travel is definitely recommended. The novelty factor means toddlers stay entertained much longer than with familiar toys from home. We usually pack a mixture of well-loved favourites and a couple of “new” toys to add some excitement. Even a toy that’s been tucked away in a cupboard for a few weeks can feel brand new to a baby. Rotating toys like this is a simple way to keep little ones engaged without constantly buying more. You don’t need expensive items – even a new teether or suction spinner feels exciting when it’s the first time they’ve seen it. Keep 1-2 new toys in reserve for the journey itself, particularly for plane trips or long car journeys.
For a baby holiday, pack 3-4 small travel toys in your changing bag for the journey, plus 5-7 slightly larger toys in your suitcase for entertainment at your destination. Choose items that serve multiple purposes – for example, a busy box cube works on planes, in restaurants, and in hotel rooms. Don’t forget that new environments provide lots of stimulation, so you won’t need as many toys as you think. A couple of balls from a ball pit are also brilliant and take up minimal space.
When packing toys for a flight, think about both the space around you and the other passengers. I’d avoid anything that’s noisy, has lots of small pieces that can easily get lost under seats, or rolls away every time it’s dropped. Messy activities like slime, kinetic sand or paints are also best left at home. Lightweight, compact toys that stay attached to the tray table or fit neatly into your changing bag are much more practical for travelling.
While there’s absolutely no judgement if you use screen time when travelling, we’ve found it’s often possible to keep babies entertained using a combination of toys, snacks and interaction. Rotating toys throughout the journey, reading books together, looking out of the window and exploring the airport can all help break up a long day of travel. We tend to save screen time as a last resort, which means it’s much more effective if we really need it later in the journey.
Flying with a baby doesn’t have to be stressful, and remember that the new environments will likely provide plenty of stimulation for your baby and you won’t need constant plastic entertainment. But there will be a point where you need to distract them from boredom, and the right travel toys for infants at each age will make the journey much more pleasant for everyone involved.
Remember, every baby is different. What worked brilliantly for R might not be your baby’s favourite, but the key is having a few options ready to go, especially on long flights.
And if you’re still in the planning stages of your trip, don’t miss my guides on what to pack when travelling with a baby, how to keep baby cool in summer, choosing the best travel pram, and once they’re old enough to want their own bag, the best kids suitcases for little adventurers.
Happy travels!
Allie, Jack and R x
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