We’re about to take off on another family trip, and I’m busy packing for the flight! While I’m putting our favorite travel toys together, I thought I’d share the best travel toys for toddlers. Flying with a toddler is a special kind of endurance sport. You’re stuck in a tiny seat, everyone’s tired, you’re stressed, and your child suddenly wants everything they’re not allowed to have, like the tray table latch, the seatbelt buckle, the stranger’s headphones.
After flying dozens of times with toddlers (lap babies, newly walking one-year-olds, opinionated two-year-olds… all of it), I’ve learned this the hard way: the right airplane toys can make or break the flight.
This list focuses on quiet, screen-free, carry-on-friendly toys that actually hold a toddler’s attention without annoying fellow passengers or taking up half your bag. After traveling with our kids for over 7 years, here are our favorite travel toys.
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Quick Comparison: Best Travel Toys for Toddlers on Airplanes
| Toy Type | Best Age | Noise Level | Mess-Free | Why Parents Love It | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Busy Board (Soft/Felt) | 1–3 years | 🔇 Silent | ✅ Yes | Mimics plane “buttons” safely and keeps hands busy | busy book |
| Indestructible Books | 1–2 years | 🔇 Silent | ✅ Yes | Tear-proof, lightweight, and easy to clean | indestructible books |
| Pop-It / Silicone Fidget | 1–3 years | 🔈 Very quiet | ✅ Yes | Simple cause-and-effect entertainment | pop it, fidget sticks, suction cup spinner toy |
| Water Wow / Reusable Coloring | 2–3 years | 🔇 Silent | ✅ Yes | No markers, no mess, reusable | paint with water |
| Magnetic Drawing Board | 2–3 years | 🔇 Silent | ✅ Yes | Endless drawing without losing crayons | doodle pads |
| Reusable Sticker Book | 2–3 years | 🔇 Silent | ⚠️ Mostly | Great for tray tables and windows | reusable sticker book |
| Small Cars or Animals | 2–3 years | 🔈 Very quiet | ✅ Yes | Encourages imaginative play in small spaces | |
| Painter’s Tape | 1–3 years | 🔇 Silent | ✅ Yes | Cheap, flat, endlessly entertaining | different colors painter’s tape |
How to Use This Chart (Quick Tip for Parents)
- Flying with a 1-year-old? Prioritize busy boards + books
- Flying with a 2–3 year old? Mix one creative toy + one fine-motor toy
- Long flight? Pack 3–5 toys and rotate them slowly
Another pro parenting tip? Pack the right bag. I love having an “activity bag” for each child that allows them to see exactly what is inside without taking everything out.
Best Toys for 1–2 Year Olds
At this age, toddlers want simple, repetitive, and hands-on. Think fine motor skills + novelty, not complicated games or anything with a lot of little pieces.
Busy Boards (Soft or Felt)
Two of my children adored a busy book I purchased for the toddler age (we have this one), and one wasn’t really into it. The book we have includes activities like tying shoelaces, dressing a doll form with velcro clothing, putting felt food onto a felt plate, and the favorite in this house, clipping together the dog’s collar and taking it apart again.
A soft busy board with zippers, buckles, snaps, and Velcro is gold for this age. It has a ton to do in a small package, and a lot of the items are sewn down so you can’t lose small pieces in or under the airplane seat.
Why it works:
- Keeps little hands busy
- No small pieces
- Quiet and engaging
👉 Perfect for takeoff and landing when they must stay seated.
Indestructible Books
These are lightweight, tear-proof, and easy to wipe down. Toddlers can chew them, bend them, and flip pages endlessly. They’re easy to pack and often very affordable, so losing one won’t be the end of the world.
Bonus: No panic if it hits the airplane floor.
Pop-It or Silicone Fidget Toys
A favorite for anywhere, the suction cup spinner toys are part fidget and part sensory toy. They stick to windows, tray tables, high chairs… these are a must have for the diaper bag if you have kids who don’t do well waiting around for a long time. Simple, quiet pop-it boards or silicone pull toys are ideal for 1–2 year olds who like cause-and-effect play. Anything with a suction cup will stick to the airplane tray, the window, or even the arm rest.
Tip: Stick to single-color, simple designs—the flashy ones can overstimulate and lead to meltdowns.
Best Toys for 2–3 Year Olds
Two- and three-year-olds need toys that feel a little more “grown up” but still don’t require instructions (or parent involvement every 30 seconds).
Color Wonder markers and coloring pages
I love a good old fashioned coloring book and crayons as much as the next mom, but there’s something magical about Color Wonder markers. The markers ONLY work on the special Color Wonder pages (they come in specific characters, like Bluey, or you can buy the blank sheets for free drawing), which means you can’t get marker on the car seat, stroller, the beige couch in your rental home… Every Christmas I buy my kids an updated set of these coloring pages, and they’re always a hit. (Sometimes I’ll see them on sale and will snag them then, too, because I know how often I rebuy these!)
Water Wow / Reusable Sticker Books
Reusable sticker books and water-only coloring pads are a lifesaver. Another fan favorite, Water WOW Books are black and white until you “color” them with water – and then go back to black and white when they dry. We have had a bunch of these over the years and take them with us often! We even take them to the beach for when we need quiet time in the tent out of the sun.
Why parents love them:
- No mess
- Reusable for the flight home
- Easy to pack flat
Magnetic Drawing Boards
A classic for a reason. Toddlers can scribble, erase, and repeat without crayons rolling down the aisle.
I bought this set of 2 doodle pads about 3 years ago, and they’re both still going strong! (Though we have lost both pens, but they still work without them.) I love these as non-electronic tablets that let the kids draw, color, play tic-tac-toe and other games. Plus they’re affordable and last a while! These are at the top of my list for toddler toys to pack on vacation.
👉 Look for travel-size boards with a pen tether so nothing gets lost mid-flight.
Small Toy Cars or Animals
A few small vehicles or animals can spark imaginative play on the tray table.
Pro tip: Wrap each toy individually and hand them out one at a time—instant novelty.
Toddler-Friendly Books
I like to bring smaller books that fit nicely in toddlers’ hands, like this perfectly sized Richard Scarry book. We bring other fan favorites, like Peekawho and Dear Zoo. I don’t like to travel with a ton of books- just a few that I know my toddler will want to read at any time of day.
Best Screen-Free Travel Toys
If you’re trying to delay screen time (or save it for emergencies), these toys buy you serious minutes of peace.
Toniebox with Tonies
Tonieboxes are a wonderful audio book-esque product for kids. I love that the kids can use the little figurines as toys, too. The original Toniebox, which we own, has a headphone jack. The newer version (Toniebox 2) only works with bluetooth headphones. Either way, they’re a great screen-free alternative for travel days. My kids love to take these on long car rides with us. If there’s one Tonie they both want, we’ll just use a splitter between headphones to make it work. (I don’t buy multiples of the same Tonie.) Tonieboxes can be a bit bulky to travel with, but during our big trip to Hawaii a couple of years ago, they helped my kids fall asleep at night. I think it’s worth taking with you if you can make the space in your carry on!
Lacing or Threading Toys
Large beads or animal-shaped lacing toys help toddlers focus and build fine motor skills.
Montessori-Style Toys
Simple wooden puzzles, shape sorters, or peg toys are calming and durable.
I don’t know what it is about buckles, but toddlers love them. My oldest used to spend so much time trying to buckle things herself. It’s a great way to work on a toddler’s fine motor skills, and it keeps them busy! This buckle square is perfect for travel.
Stick to:
- 3–6 pieces max
- Flat designs that fit in a pouch
Quiet Books
Fabric quiet books with flaps, textures, and interactive pages are perfect for airplanes, especially during longer flights.
Best Carry-On Friendly Toys
Space matters. These toys earn their spot in your diaper bag.
Puffy Sticker Books
Ultra-light, inexpensive, and endlessly entertaining. They also work great stuck to the airplane window.
Painter’s Tape
Yes, tape. Toddlers love peeling, sticking, and making “roads” on tray tables.
Why it’s genius:
- Zero noise
- Costs almost nothing
- Packs flat
Snack Containers as Toys
Spill-proof snack cups double as fine-motor toys when empty. Add a few cereal pieces or toddler snacks and let them practice.
What NOT to Bring on a Plane
Learn from my mistakes.
❌ Toys with lots of tiny pieces
❌ Musical toys (even “quiet” ones)
❌ Messy crayons, non-washable markers, slime, or kinetic sand
❌ Toys that roll easily under seats
❌ Brand-new toys without testing first
If it needs batteries, makes noise, or requires a clean surface… leave it at home.
Travel Tips for Flying with Toddlers
These matter just as much as the toys.
- Rotate toys slowly (don’t hand everything over at once)
- Save the favorite toy for when things start going downhill
- Use snacks strategically (not all at once) and pack in a container that requires each compartment to be open one by one, like this spinner snack box.
- Let them explore safely! Walking the aisle during calm moments helps on a long flight or when they need to move their legs.
- Lower your expectations. A “good” flight doesn’t necessarily mean a quiet one.
And remember: most people are far more understanding than you think.
Final Thoughts
The best travel toys for toddlers on airplanes aren’t flashy or expensive—they’re simple, quiet, and familiar. With the right mix of toys (and a little patience), flying with a toddler doesn’t have to feel impossible.
Best travel toys for toddlers
What’s the best toy you’ve found for a long road trip or flying with a toddler? Let me know so we can try it out!
You may also be interested in additional travel content:
Traveling with a Car Seat: Tips & Tricks
Flying with A Toddler: Tips, Tricks, + the Mistake We Made
Ergobaby Metro Stroller Review: Worth Buying? (Our Favorite Travel Stroller)
My Best Tips for Flying with a Baby
Miamily Ride-On Suitcase Review: Is It Worth It for Kids?
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