Toddler Europe Packing List

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Are you planning a trip to Europe with your toddler? If so, you’ve landed in the right place. We are about to embark on our second 3-month Euro trip with our almost 3 year old. Packing up your babe is probably one of the most stressful parts of planning a trip abroad in my opinion. Aside from the basics, there’s just so much gear to fit and figuring out everything your little one needs to have a comfortable and enjoyable trip is so overwhelming.

Thankfully I’ve e made this list twice: once for 21 month old and this time for an almost 3 year old. Keep scrolling for essential items to pack when traveling to Europe with a toddler, how I go about packing efficiently, and my go-to travel snacks.

** don’t forget babe’s passport! **

Clothing

When packing clothes for your toddler, keep in mind the weather conditions of the places you'll be visiting. Europe can have very diverse weather patterns, so pack a variety of clothes that can be layered. Don't forget to pack enough pairs of socks and underwear, as well as comfortable shoes for your babe. My rule of thumb for trips that are 1+ months is to pack 1.5 weeks worth of clothes for each extreme climate you might hit. If it’s all sunny and warm weather, then all you’ll need is 1.5 weeks worth of clothes (assuming you’ll have a washing machine available). For us, since we will have pretty varied temps, I basically packed 1.5 weeks worth of clothes for hot weather and 1.5 weeks worth for colder weather. Everything on this list is inclusive of travel day clothes/gear.

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Travel + SLEEP GEAR

If you're planning on doing a lot of walking which is basically most of Europe, a stroller or a wheeled device is a must. For us, we swear by the Doona Trike. We started using it when she was 1 yrs. old and it is the best travel device ever. (you can see it in action here and here). For smaller babes, a baby carrier is also a great option for when you need to navigate stairs or narrow passageways.

To bring a car seat or not? Only you can really answer that question. Things to keep in mind:

• Most car rentals will have a carseat option (make sure to check before hand because some small towns don’t)

• Getting around on public transport is easy to do without a carseat

• By law Ubers are not supposed to take you without one and I have seen them turn away people who don’t have them.

• I believe taxis allow you to ride without a carseat but if you’ve seen the way European taxi drivers drive… then you know that is probably not the safest move.

• Will you need a carseat for any inter-Euro plane travel?

This will be our second year traveling with the WAYB Travel carseat (it’s also our second car carseat at home) and we are absolutely obsessed with how compact and easy it is to set-up. It fits in the overhead and in one side of a large clamshell suitcase. We have the travel backpack which makes it easy to throw on our back in between Uber rides when we are adventuring.

Sleep! Ahh, the gear needed for sleep is just wow but worth it. Let me tell you I cannot wait until this babe is officially sleeping in a big girl bed. Last year we requested travel cribs from all our AIRBNBs and that worked out fab. We paired it with the slumberpod and it was a match made in heaven.

This year, she’s nearing 3 and has outgrown most travel cribs so we are bringing the Hiccapop toddler mattress to be safe (still requested cribs from our AIRBNBS). The slumberpod fits over the mattress, too! I highly recommend the slumberpod because not only is it a dark space, it provides the SAME dark little room for them no matter where they are. Babes are less likely to get nervous or distracted by their new space; it’s a game changer if you’re planning a multiple-stop adventure. We have been using for 2+ yrs.

If I had the foresight, we probably would’ve transitioned her to a big girl bed before this trip but as we were planning, she really didn’t feel ready. It’s only in the past week (since we left) that I feel like she could do it. Who knows, we may end up coming home sans mattress and slumberpod BUT to have the option makes me feel so much better.

You can see how I’m fitting everything in our checked luggage on this PACKING REEL.

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Toiletries and Medications

I always pack basic toiletries like a few diapers, wipes, baby shampoo, and lotion then stock up in Europe; it’s good to have a little starter pack. If your toddler is potty trained, bring a travel potty or seat for public restrooms. It's also important to bring any preemptive medications like a fever reducer along with a thermometer. We always pack a nose sucker, too!

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Entertainment + Toys

When we traveled last year (21 - 23 months) our daughter wasn’t really into screens yet so we had to pack SO many things to entertain her on travel days: play-doh, stickers, coloring books, quiet books, post-its, snacks on snacks….

Now that she’s almost three, she watches limited movies and tv and has a great attention span which makes travel days 10000x easier. We travel with an iPad that has her favorite movies and shows downloaded (I didn’t include in the checklist above because it’s my husbands and goes on his packing list). We tried the AMAZON FIRE last year and absolutely hated it - it’s sooo glitchy and was more trouble than help. The iPad works amazing and it’s one less thing to pack! This year I also packed a bunch of crafty things, magnatiles, books, and little toys for our days around the house. As well as this special travel kit I created with Learning with Kelsey - it’s filled with open ended activities that can be re-used over and over again.

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SNACKS

This is a sample of what I typically pack for flights in a lunchbox like this with thin freezer packs. We’ve had no issues with TSA or traveling through Europe with the below or freezer packs.

• Banana bread muffins

• Berries

• Yogurt drinks - these are under the TSA approved amount

• Banana - I always pack in our “banana phone” to keep it from getting bruised

• Sea weed

• String cheese 

• Pistachios 

• Cheerios

• Cheddar bunnies

• Prosciutto 

Luggage + DUFFLES

This year we managed to pack all our toddler’s clothing, gear, carseat, and snacks in one large checked suitcase, one carry-on, and a duffle bag. My husband and I split all of the same, so as a family of 3 traveling for 3 months we have: 2 checked bags, 2 carry ons, and 2 duffles. Plus my hubs carries his computer and portable monitor in a backpack. We have used these packing cubes for almost a decade. Side note: my 20% off Dagne Dover code is currently still valid: PURSUITS20. We have the XL + M Landon Carryall with us. The medium works great for under the airplane seat and XL goes in the overhead. I’m working on my packing blog post - stay tuned to early next week. Let me know if you have any Qs on the above. I’m always happy to help!

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And if you’re type A like me, here’s the break-down of how I fit everything in our luggage:

Carry On:

• Slumberpod

• Nanit w/ travel stand + case

• Hatch

• 1 bag of Sleep Undies (Pull-ups on hand)

• Potty Seat

• Small packing cube with: 2 crib sheets, 2 undies, pjs, and one change of clothes

• toddler blanket

Checked Bag:

• Wayb Carseat

• Blow-up Mattress

• 2 packing cubes of clothes

• Coloring books + craft kits

• 4 books

• All shoes

• Toiletry bag

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