Travel kit for toddler

Natural Nest Toddler Travel + Road Trip box — (2–8 Year olds)

Natural, faith-filled, montessori inspired and eco-friendly.

My Nest Travel companion (essential travel kit for traveling with 2 to 8 year olds. What you would need for traveling with a toddler. We have traveled a more than 48 hour trip to Zambia and have down to Durban a couple of times. this is what worked for me and my twin toddlers. You can DIY this box or purchase a travel kit from my store. Links are at the bottom of the page. Remember to relax, give yourself grace, have fun and pray on your trip. 

 Activities: Sensory & Creative Play

Natural Play & Art

• Mini coloring book + crayons or colored pencils
• Reusable mini chalkboard + chalk sticks
• Travel journal for scribbles + chunky pencil
• Maze / connect-the-dots mini booklets
• Stickers or reusable sticker sheets
• Mini puzzles / wooden shape sorters
• Storyboards (rearrangeable scenes)
• Mini matching / memory cards (animals, shapes, colors, or Bible-themed)
• Popsicle sticks and matching book
• Cars or dolls and changing clothes
• Play dough, tools, board

Fine Motor & Tactile Play

• Threading / lacing set: 20 wooden beads + cotton string
• Touch-and-feel items (fabric swatches, textured cards, etc.)
• Fidget spinner or hand fidget toy
• Soft balls

Imaginative & Faith Play

• Animal figurines (animals, trees, geometric shapes) for storytelling, counting, or pretend play
• Nature observation cards (1–2 per box)
• Bible verse cards (1–2 per box, laminated optional)
• Simple prayer reminder card (1 per box, toddler-friendly)
• Favorite toy as a “surprise toy” for fuss moments
• Bags with zips, clasps, buckles, or buttons

Music & Movement

• Small rhythm instrument (bell, shaker, tambourine etc.) or playlist suggestion
• Gentle travel song ideas or lullabies
• At the quick stops let the run around and stretch their feet
• easy Car stretch exercises

Road Trip Essentials bag

Wipes

Bum cream

Diapers

Change of clothes

Changing mat

Disposable biodegradable diaper bags

Soap bar

Mini All purpose balm (dry hand, lips, body etc)

Terry towel or old fashioned cloth diapers

Face cloth

Potty

Toilet paper

2 Wet bags

First Aid & Remedies

• Band-aids
• Natural antiseptic balm
• Baby powder
• Massage / baby oil
• Calm salve
• Booboo salve
• Anti-itch balm
• Tummy salve
• Lavender oil
• Panadol & syringe as last resort
• Tummy blues (ORS for diarrhoea , Constipation tablets and child safe rehydration drink)

Food & Hydration

• Mini water bottle or collapsible cup (herbal water, cooled herbal tea, spring water)
• Reusable snack containers or silicone snack cups
• Beeswax wraps
• Small reusable snack pouch
• Ziplock or silicone storage bags
• Flask with hot water
• Instant porridge or oats
• Eating utensils (bowl, spoon, cup, and bottle)
• Travel-friendly bib / wipeable mat for snacks
• Snacks (yogurt, fruit, fruit chips, homemade popcorn, unsweetened fruit cubes, pretzels, nuts (if not allergic)

Comfort

• toddler headphones or soft music CD
• Money / coin pouch
• Lovie or teddies
• Travel pillow & blanket

Travel Essentials to pack

Toddler Toiletries & Care Essentials

Bath & Hygiene

• natural soap bar (20–30 g, gentle, plastic-free)
• shampoo bar / conditioner bar (plastic-free or refillable)
• Cotton face cloth or small hand towel
• Wipes (biodegradable or compostable)
• Diapers and biodegradable plastics for disposal
• Changing mat
• Wet bag
• Toilet paper

Self Care in cardboard tubes or tin boxes

• Small salve / balm
• Lotion / all purpose balm
• Bum cream
• Hair oil
• Baby oil
• Comb / brush
• Wooden toddler toothbrush
• Toddler toothpaste
• Nail clipper & earbuds or wool

Extra Comforts

• Small toiletry linen or crocheted pouch or wet bag (cotton or linen, eco-friendly)

Travel Tips for Parents

• Plan quick stops so you avoid stopping everywhere. Remember the more stops you make, the longer the trip, the most likely baby will start to fuss.
• Mini versions dont take so much space.
• Be sure to only drink bottled distilled water or pre boiled and cooled down water (not tap water).
• Pack complete activities into small linen bags per activity.
• Pack extra changing stuff like wopes, diapers, bum cream more than you would think you need. I place wipes into every bag you never know when explosive poo happens, when it does you have wipes close by. Traveling may cause upset tummies because of different foods, environment, etc.
• Plan the trip during their sleeptime.
• Check the weather of your destination place before you leave. Pack spare clothes accordingly, I usually pack the opposite of the what they are wearing.
• Keep bath, sleep essentials and toiletry items close to the top of the bag (easier to reach when you arrive).
• Pray before you leave, during fussy moments, pray throughout the trip, play worship music or sing praise songs etc
• Let toddlers help pack and get ready for the trip
• Prepare physically and emotionally (let toddler know that you will sit in the car for a long time)
• Pack in advance (so you keep adding things you may have forgotten)
• Dont forget Chargers, cables, two pin plugs and car chargers.
• Buy filling healthy snacks before you leave, only buy cold water or food for lunch. (Shops on the road are more expensive)
• Carry important documents in a waterproof folder: babies birth certificate, passports, hospital immunisation card, letters or affidavits and copy of ID of parents, if the parents are not around (cops may ask for original if you only have copies)
• Sanitise toilets before your little one uses them. Put their sandals on.
• Do a quick tidy-up at every stop
• Place sandals in seat-back pocket(sandals like to run away in the car)
• its cheaper to buy bigger packets for family to share than individual meals on the road, you can put for them in their own utensils, takeaway containers are also flimsy so its easier to use their own utensils)
• Don’t introduce new foods on the road
• Use terry cloth diapers as a towel to cover their whole outfit, 😉better than bibs. They are also good for spills, sticky hands, throw up, accidents etc.
• make sure your car is locked by checking the handle before you leave the car
• Keep your child close by at quick stops and a watchful eye, hold their hands
• Park your car in safe areas
• Follow road rules, cops on the roads are brutal. And the cash helps (🙃🤪I didn’t say that)
• A tired or hungry baby is a fussy baby sometimes boredom too or if they are just unwell. Listen to your babies cues.
• Distraction (bigger exaggerated loud distractions) is the key to stopping a tantrums (eg oh wow! where is pet? Whats that? Is that a helicopter? Oh no, wheres teddy? Clap your hands, gasp, open your mouth wide, clasp your face, shake your head. Wheres the birdy? Sing a song. Did you see that? etc)
• Remember their concentration span is short so be sure to rotate activities.
• A cheerful heart soothes the soul
• Music is key
• Games, activities &
• Be present for your child throughout the journey
• Grace for you and your child & enough space and not cramped up
• Sit in the back with them sometimes
• Safety first
• Cash or coins for quick stops give them small change and show them 3 things to choose from the at shops
• Avoid sugary snacks and drinks including the day before travel

Purchase your Travel kit here: My Nest Busy Kit

Purchase your calming / sleep balm here: Sleep Salve

Nest Salves Set

Calm Baby Bundle

Shalom, Following Gods Ways, Natasha Chetty