I always pack our baby a few favorite baby travel toys any time we travel whether it’s by plane, car or even for the stroller. After several family trips with a baby, I’ve learned which toys will keep a baby’s attention and which baby travel toys aren’t worth packing. While I’m certain these baby travel toys will work to keep your baby entertained, just choose a few of these toys for traveling with a baby that will easily fit in your carry-on luggage or diaper bag.
When flying with a baby, space is an issue, so you’ll want to pack just a few toys to distract your baby and keep her occupied for short spurts of time. For road trips with a baby, you’ll have more space so you can pack a few more. Just make sure your baby toys for car travel are safe to let your baby have in the car seat without any choking hazards.
As your baby grows, they’ll spend more time investigating toys. Babies love toys they can pick up, shake, bang and toss, as well as moving parts like spinning wheels. You’ll find a ton of these travel toys in our list.
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If you are nervous about your first trip with a baby, I’m here to help. I’ve got lots of great tips on flying with a baby, tips for a road trip with a baby and have shared all of my recommended baby travel gear.
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Best Baby Travel Toys
The best toys for traveling with a baby and keeping your baby entertained on a flight are sensory toys. Your baby is discovering the world and will be interested in toys that make noise, feel different or that shake.
As the best type of baby travel toy differs with your mode of transportation, I’ve created three sub-categories, with the best baby travel toys for airplanes, road trips and in the stroller.
Best Baby Toys for Airplanes
Here are my favorite baby toys for bringing on an airplane. These travel toys for babies on planes will keep your baby occupied and don’t make any sounds to annoy other passengers.
Just make sure to attach the toys, so you aren’t always picking them up off the floor! Babies love to toss toys!
A palm-size pop toy with food-grade silicone bubbles that keeps hands busy during flights. It is BPA-free and easy to sanitize.
- Compact and durable for carry-ons
- Food-grade silicone bubbles
- No batteries or noise on flights
- Easy to wipe between connections
- Single activity may bore older toddlers
Ultra-light, rip-resistant, nontoxic and chew-safe, this Indestructibles title is perfect for tiny hands during takeoff and landing. It packs flat, wipes clean, without adding weight to your carry-on.
- Packs flat and weighs almost nothing
- Wipe clean and drool friendly
- Nontoxic materials designed for mouthing
- Engaging pictures with no loose parts
- No tether point without a strap
Suctions to tray tables or airplane window walls with a removable base. A simple rattle and spinning textures deliver cause-and-effect play without scattering pieces in tight seats.
- Removable suction base for versatility
- Simple spin action engages little hands
- Easy to clean on the go
- Affordable
- Suction requires a smooth surface
A soft, crinkly book with peek-a-boo flaps that entertains without hard edges. Washable fabrics make it practical for repeat flights and long layovers.
- Washable cloth pages
- Tactile flaps for tiny fingers
- Lightweight for carry-ons
- No loose parts to drop
- Flaps can wear with heavy use
A classic clip-on with crinkle noises and engaging textures for touching and feeling. Clips to diaper bags or carriers so it doesn’t hit the cabin floor.
- Clips to bags or seats
- Soft crinkle textures
- Teething surfaces
- Proven favorite
- Bulkier than flat toys
Compact, easy to grasp, and made with soft textured silicone around a stable ABS core, this teether offers 12 chew points to massage sore gums without noise. It packs small for flights and wipes clean quickly.
- Silent and flight friendly
- Multiple textures for gum massage
- Easy to grip for small hands
- Wipes clean and dries fast
- Mixed materials mean hand wash only
- Some colors may show wear over time
Can you tell I love soft books as a baby travel toy on airplanes? Soft, high-contrast pages support visual focus and tummy-time play at your destination. Lightweight and washable, with crinkle textures babies love.
- Silent and soft
- High-contrast visuals
- Washable fabric book
- Good for very young babies
- Lower engagement as baby grows
It's a great idea to bring along a baby teething necklace when traveling with your little one. If you are spending some time with your baby in the carrier on the flight or even while breastfeeding on the airplane, it gives your baby something to play with.
- Helps with fidgety feeding
- Soft silicone beads
- Portable and packable
- Easy to clean
- Not a baby toy and never for sleep or unsupervised use
Silent, light and endlessly useful, cups stack, nest, and become mini containers for snacks or small toys. Easy to sanitize on the go.
- Silent and versatile
- Very packable
- Multi-use beyond flights
- Budget friendly
Soft-headed rattles that make a gentler sound than plastic keys or balls. Pack flat and work well during awake windows.
- Softer sound than most rattles
- Small and light to pack
- Easy to grasp
- Trusted brand
- Still audible so use courteously
My son LOVED his activity ball - he'd never put it down! This brightly colored rattle is a perfect baby travel toy, offering sensory play, sound, and discovery to keep little ones entertained. With moving parts, a mirror, and engaging noises, it’s like a mini activity station for on-the-go fun.
- Light and durable
- Quiet enough for flights
- Multiple textures for grasping
- Budget price point
- Larger than pocket toys
Although this isn't technically a baby travel toy, it will keep your little one occupied for a long time on the plane. This soft silicone teething mitten is perfect for uncoordinated teethers still learning to hold toys. It keeps little hands busy and off the dirty airplane floor, making it ideal for plane rides.
Why are these straps on a best travel baby toys list? Imagine a flight where you are endlessly picking up baby toys in the cramped space beneath your airplane seat - I've been there - it's not fun...
These colorful straps are a must-have companion for baby travel toys, preventing accidental drops and keeping toys secure during plane rides.
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If you’d like even more options for your family flight, don’t miss my post on the best airplane activities for babies.
Baby Travel Toys for the Car
Looking for travel toys for babies in cars? Here are my favorite baby car travel toys for a long road trip with a baby:
Designed for rear-facing seats, this kick-activated toy adds music, gentle lights, a baby-safe mirror and soft hang toys to keep infants engaged on road trips. It attaches to adjustable headrests, adjusts for reach, and stays quiet enough for long drives.
- Kick activated lights and music keep feet busy
- Easy headrest attachment and reach adjustment
- Soft toys and mirror reduce hard parts near baby
- Folds flat enough to pack between trips
- Requires small batteries to operate
- Not compatible with fixed headrests
A palm-size classic for car rides, this music toy cycles through classical melodies with dancing lights and simple one-button control. It’s light, easy to wipe down, and fits in seat-back organizers.
- Compact and lightweight for travel
- One button is easy for babies to use
- Volume control is parent friendly
- Wipes clean quickly between stops
- Sounds may distract light sleepers
- Batteries required for lights and music
A machine-washable fabric book with crinkly textures and flaps keeps hands busy without noise. Ideal for rear-seat quiet time and easy to pack in a side pocket.
- Truly silent for long drives
- Machine washable for easy care
- Multiple textures for sensory play
- Large flaps are easy to grasp
- Bulky when wet after washing
A soft cube with a tuck-away selfie mirror, crinkle, rattle and link points. It’s easy to hand to baby in the car seat and gentle if dropped.
- Soft all over for safer laps
- Multiple textures for longer engagement
- Built-in mirror introduces self-awareness
- Link points attach to stroller or car seat
- Softer sounds than plastic toys
- Can occupy some bag space
A soft, Velcro-attach plush that plays short melodies with gentle glow—handy for short errands and early road trips. Attach to the car seat handle when parked or to a stroller on stops.
- Gentle light patterns calm many babies
- Velcro fastener for quick attachment
- Small size fits diaper-bag pockets
- Simple controls for caregivers
- Not intended as a sleep aid while driving
- Battery door must be kept secured
One-piece, food-grade silicone with ridges that can be chilled for extra relief. It’s small, easy to clean, and won’t rattle the whole back seat.
- One-piece silicone is easy to sanitize
- Compact and packable
- Textured ridges soothe sore gums
- Freezer-friendly for extra comfort
- Can collect lint if not bagged
A crash-tested, shatter-resistant rear-facing mirror with remote-controlled, glare-free LED modes for quick safety checks or gentle light patterns.
- Glare-free LEDs aid night visibility
- Remote activation from driver seat
- Large, clear wide-angle view
- Fast headrest install on most cars
- Not for fixed headrests
Baby Travel Toys for the Stroller
A great travel toy for babies is one that your baby will like to play with no matter where you are. From baby toys for plane or car rides to in the stroller, most of these toys listed are versatile enough for every scenario.
One thing to keep in mind for stroller toys is that unlike the airplane or the car, if your baby throws their toy out of the stroller, you may not notice and lose it forever. Inexpensive tether straps are highly recommended.
Here we have a few of our favorite travel toys for babies in strollers:
Flexible arch with multiple activities attaches to most strollers in seconds. The angle and clips adjust to bring toys within reach, while a baby-activated spinner encourages cause-and-effect. A top pick for everyday walks and travel.
- Flexible arch adjusts toward baby
- Universal clips fit most strollers
- Multiple textures and spinner for engagement
- Packs flat into the trunk between outings
- Bulkier than a single clip-on toy
Lightweight BPA-free loop design is easy for small hands and quiet for sidewalks and cafés. Chill it for teething relief and tether it short to the stroller to prevent drops.
- Easy to grasp with both hands
- Quiet rattle suitable for public spaces
- Fridge-safe for teething comfort
- Longtime parent favorite
- Open loops can collect lint if stored loosely
A soft clip-on with crinkle wings, textures and a tethered teether that attaches to stroller canopies or bumper bars. Gentle sounds keep baby engaged without overwhelming public spaces.
- Sturdy clip attaches in seconds
- Multiple textures support sensory play
- Tethered teether stays with the toy
- Larger footprint than a simple teether
Suctions to stroller trays for hands-on spinning and textures without loose parts. Remove the base for floor play at your destination
- Suctions securely to smooth trays
- Spinning wheel encourages batting and reach
- No batteries and wipes clean quickly
- Requires a flat, smooth tray to stick well
Ultralight, flexible easy-grip ball that tethers well to a stroller with short straps. Wipe-clean material and newborn+ suitability make it a reliable low-cost add.
- Very light and easy to hold
- Flexible design supports early grasping
- Wipe-clean and durable
- No clip; needs a short tether to prevent drops
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Are you in the market for a great travel stroller? Check out my recommended travel strollers for infants.
Final Thoughts on Baby Travel Toys
Before you go and buy a carry-on bag full these baby travel toys, don’t forger that your baby will also be interested in plastic cups, plastic bottles, the seat belt and everything around them (pack some wipes to get it clean first!). The best travel toys for infants are ones that your baby can easily grasp and suck or chew on.
While I know that the plane ride can be the most stressful part of traveling with a baby, just remember that’s it’s a very small part of your trip.
Read my post on why I don’t recommend handing out baby’s first flight bags, try to keep your focus on your baby rather than other passengers and don’t overpack!
With any luck you’ll get your baby to sleep on the flight and it will be over before you know it!
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Looking for some family travel inspiration? Why not check out this list of the best places to travel with a baby in the USA, or for the best places to travel with a baby around the world.
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This post was written & edited by:
Celine Brewer is the owner of Baby Can Travel. Not only does she have years of experience traveling with babies & toddlers, but she's helped millions of new parents travel with their babies and toddlers for over a decade. In addition to writing on her baby travel blog, she has shared her expertise on traveling with a baby or toddler by contributing to articles about traveling with a baby with the Washington Post, USA Today, the Lonely Planet magazine and Pregnancy & Newborn magazine.
Celine also writes about family travel on the site FamilyCanTravel.com, which she co-owns with her husband. Being from the Canadian Rockies, she shares her passion about her home and travel to Banff National Park and area on their site TravelBanffCanada.com.