The Items Needed for Traveling With a 2-Year-Old

Food and Clothing

• A 2-year-old can destroy an outfit in mere minutes, so be sure to pack two outfits per day you plan to be gone; lighten the load if you know you'll have a chance to do laundry. No matter your destination, your toddler needs a sweatshirt and possibly a rain coat, parka and hat and gloves. Bring at least two pairs of shoes and socks for every day, as well as a bathing suit and two pairs of pajamas -- choose one long-sleeved and one short-sleeved pair. Your tot will need a few bibs and a stash of sippy cups, and a few toddler utensils will be handy to keep on hand. Pack a bag full of non-perishable, bite-sized snacks; KidsHealth suggests low-sugar cereal, whole-grain crackers and mini muffins. Bring a few packets of oatmeal and microwavable pasta bowls in case your dinner plans don't suit her tastes.

Diapers and Pottying Supplies

• The contents of your diaper bag will depend on where your 2-year-old is in the potty-training process. If she hasn̵7;t started yet, and many 2-year-olds haven̵7;t, bring a two-day supply of diapers and wipes and plan to buy more at your destination ̵1; unless you̵7;re traveling by car and have plenty of trunk space for a jumbo pack of diapers. If she has started potty-training and is early in the process, you may opt to take a training break while traveling, but if she̵7;s accustomed to using the toilet daily, bring at the least a potty seat that can be set on top of a standard toilet. You may opt to bring her training potty along for the ride if you have space in your car. Bring her potty chart, stickers and underwear too, if you̵7;re feeling ambitious.

Toddler Safety Gear

• Unless you̵7;re sure that you̵7;ll have use of a safe car seat at your destination, it̵7;s imperative to travel with your toddler̵7;s car seat. That̵7;s obvious if you̵7;re taking a road trip, but on an airplane, you might opt to check the seat with your luggage; the Federal Aviation Administration suggests a child between 20 and 40 pounds ride in a car seat that̵7;s FAA-approved for use on a plane, but a child weighing between 22 and 44 pounds may also use an FAA-approved safety harness. (The latter is not provided by airlines, so you̵7;ll have to buy and bring your own.) A narrow, compact stroller is a helpful travel item for transporting your tot through crowded streets and winding airports. At 2, she might still fit into a pack and play that can be used for sleeping, but leave it at home if you̵7;ll have access to a safe bed.

Extras

• Despite her insistence that she's "big," a 2-year-old still has little-kid anxieties -- and that means leaving home can be unsettling, even when you're with her. Pack a few comfort items, like her favorite blanket and stuffed animal, as well as three or four of her favorite bedtime stories. Pack her nightlight and a few pacifiers, if she still uses them, as well as her shampoo, soap, a toothbrush and toothpaste and sunscreen. She'll need plenty of entertainment along the way, so pack magnet games, coloring books and chunky crayons, magnetic blocks and stickers. Your tot doesn't need any documentation if you're traveling with her domestically, but if you're traveling internationally, she'll need a valid passport and any documentation required by your destination country.