It is a truth universally acknowledged that going on holiday once you have kids isn’t really a holiday at all – it’s simply parenting in a new location - and the real pinch point comes in the travelling itself.
I have numerous fellow parent pals who point blank refuse to go on holiday because they can’t bear the thought of having their toddler rampaging up and down the aisle on an airplane, or screaming bloody murder for a four-hour car journey. But it is possible to have a (relatively) stress free trip – you just need to invest in the right kit.
The main issue with travelling with little ones is getting them to sit still for multiple hours on end – not exactly a strong suit for young children. But packing the right gadgets and toys to keep them occupied can make all the difference.
What should you look for in a travel toy?
When choosing travel toys, it’s important to take a few things into account to make sure you get the right fit for your tiny tot. Do they need sound and music to soothe them and keep them entertained? Do they prefer using their hands to play? Is it important that you get involved too? Answer these questions and you’ll soon figure out which are the most likely toys to keep them quiet while you’re on the move.
To help, we’ve compiled a list of the best travel toys we’ve come across for one-year-olds.
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Tonies Toniebox
If you’re keen to avoid resorting to screens on your travels for keeping your little ones entertained, then investing in a Toniebox is a must. These clever little boxes are hugely popular with kids and parents alike, and for good reason.
It lets you take music, audiobooks and bedtime stories out and about with you wherever you go, with no need for screens at all. While it’s worth noting that children under three should be supervised when using it, the Toniebox is incredibly kid-friendly and easy to use – simply pop one of the characters (or ‘Tonies’) onto the top of the box and it will immediately start playing.
Our tiny tester loved playing with the figurines, which either come as recognisable figures like Peppa Pig or the Gruffalo, or cute-looking animals. Play their favourite stories to them while you’re in the car or up in the air, then when it’s time for bedtime or a nap you can switch to some Disney lullabies or classical music.
The boxes also come with a whole range of travel accessories, from headphones to specially designed carry cases, making packing it up a breeze. Yes, it’s a little on the pricey side, but your kids can enjoy it for years to come, at home and abroad, so it’s a great investment.
Buy now £71.95, John Lewis
JoJo Maman Bébé finger puppets
This one requires a bit of parental interaction, but it’s worth it to see your little one spellbound as you make the animals come to life. This cute set of farmyard animals will bring a whole new dimension to your singalongs, and will keep little ones enthralled as you waggle your fingers along to Old McDonald.
Finger puppets are also a great way to encourage imaginative play, as you make up endless stories for the characters. As your little one grows, they can get involved too, coming up with their own elaborate tales. Plus, this is probably one of the most fun ways to teach one-year-olds about different animal names, and help strengthen their vocabulary in the process. Fun and educational – it’s a win-win.
Buy now £19.00, JoJo Maman Bébé
Le Toy Van wooden stacking animals
A friend gifted us a set of these for our little one’s first ever flight abroad, and it was a godsend as we navigated long-haul travel with an 18-month-old. She loved being able to attempt to open the bag herself and pick out all the animals, which are incredibly tactile. Made from chunky wood, they’re also totally plastic free, which is great if you’re trying to adopt a more eco-friendly approach to toys.
The animal-shaped blocks are painted with eye-catching non-toxic paints and are really fun to stack high before watching them topple over. While they’re a great activity for a fold-down plane table, they’re also brilliant to take to restaurants when you’re out and about on holiday. This is another great option for teaching little ones about different animals, as well as helping develop their fine motor and sensory skills.
Buy now £13.60, Amazon
Ladybird Baby Touch book
It’s always great to pack a few of their favourite stories with you when you’re on the move, but I’d also recommend taking a sensory book that they can explore with their hands. The Baby Touch range from Ladybird is perfect for that. Brightly coloured and made from soft, padded cloth, tiny tots will be mesmerised as they explore all the different colours and textures.
Thanks to being made of cloth, the book is incredibly lightweight, meaning you can easily pack it away in the suitcase or stash it in your handbag. Designed to help stimulate developing senses, the interactive pages are guaranteed to keep them occupied on long journeys as well as days out at the beach.
Buy now £11.95, Amazon
Infantino Mini-Me Pretend gift set
Any parent knows there’s nothing little ones like more than pretending to be just like mum and dad – so this set featuring a mini replica mobile phone and set of keys is a guaranteed winner. Inside you’ll find a flip and peek phone with an in-built mirror and a set of keys with a musical and light-adorned pretend key ring, designed to stimulate their senses as well as keep them entertained.
Our tiny tester loved exploring the two toys in the set, particularly flipping open the phone and pressing the buttons on the key fob, which features real car sounds and a crinkle keyring. Light and easy to carry around with you, the easy-to-grasp toys are great for refining motor skills as well as fun sensory stimulation.
Buy now £17.86, Amazon
Mori Wooden Star shape sorter
Mori never puts a foot wrong when it comes to its super soft baby clothes or cleverly-designed toys. Case in point, this adorable shape sorter.
Designed to help little ones develop their understanding of shapes and colours, the tactile set is as beautiful to look at as it is fun to play with, featuring a range of celestial and safari characters painted in muted tones (a welcome change from the usually garish colours of most kids’ toys).
Made from wood rather than plastic and painted with non-toxic paint, they’re also a pleasingly sustainable option. Our tiny tester loved exploring how to use the toy and figuring out which shape went where, while parents adore the fact that it teaches problem-solving skills and encourages hand-eye coordination.
Buy now £19.20, Mori
Little Dutch stacking cups
Anyone with small children can attest how vital it is to invest in a decent stacking cup set – few toys have the ability to entertain like these. We particularly like this set from Little Dutch, which comes in a range of chic, muted colours.
They can be used in myriad ways, from creating a tower by stacking them one on top of the other to using them in the bath or the pool while on holiday for endless water pouring fun. They’re brilliant on the beach too, where your little one can fill them with sand.
The eight stacking cups in this set all have a number on the top, to help teach your little one about numbers, while also easily fitting into each other to avoid the tower from falling over. Designed to help develop fine motor skills and easy to pack thanks to the fact the little cups can be stacked into the larger ones, they’re a brilliantly versatile option to have in your handbag or suitcase.
Buy now £18.00, The Kid Collective
Baby Einstein Curiosity Clutch sensory toy
We’re yet to come across a Baby Einstein toy we don’t like. This sensory toy from the popular brand is a great one to pack on your travels, as it’s designed to keep fidgety little fingers occupied. It’s almost impossible for them not to be entertained as they grasp, pop, twist and press the multiple activities. It’s a brilliant first toy for introducing little ones to shapes, sounds, colours and textures early on.
As you might expect from a Baby Einstein toy, it’s been designed with plenty of educational features in mind. The toy encourages fine motor skills and cause-and-effect concepts through active two-handed play, as well as stimulating the senses with rattle sounds and high-contrast patterns. Easy to clean, our tester swore by this one for keeping her 12-month-old entertained on a long train journey.
Buy now £9.99, John Lewis
SmartMax My First Pirates
You’ve likely heard of SmartMax, the award-winning pre-school brand known for their magneticâ¯constructionâ¯sets. They’ve just added to their ‘My Firsts’ range, specifically designed for 1-5-year-olds to introduce them to the world of magnetism. The My First Pirates range is guaranteed to keep them enthralled as they try to figure out how the mysterious magic of the magnets work.
The set has been designed with travel in mind, featuring its own handy travel case for stashing all the pieces. Little ones will love putting together the pirates and watching as they wobble about on the deck of the pirate ship or go on a treasure hunt on the desert island. The sets develop skills too, helping hone fine motor skills, balance and fantasy.
Buy now £18.00, Kidly
Djeco pop up animals
Djeco is always a safe pair of hands when it comes to innovative and beautifully-made toys. This pop-up toy is a brilliant option to bring away on holiday with you, coming in handy both while you’re travelling and as a way to keep busy little hands occupied during mealtimes or days on the beach. Our tester loved being able to press on the colourful animals and watch them bounce up in the air.
Simple but effective, it’s great for encouraging manual dexterity as well as developing hand-eye coordination skills. Made from wood, it’s also another way to avoid too much plastic clutter both at home and abroad.
Buy now £18.95, Crafts4Kids
Verdict
Our top pick would be the Toniebox, which we love for the fact that it grows along with your child and can be used both for entertainment and relaxation. It’s also a great way to keep them away from screens while still letting them enjoy their favourite stories and characters in a novel way.
