Congratulations! You’ve recently welcomed a beautiful baby to your family and you’re ready to take your first big trip with the baby. In this blog we are sharing our baby travel essentials, including a packing list with must have items for traveling with baby and packing tips for traveling with baby. Basically, all things packing related!
We began traveling with our baby nearly full time when she was only 6 weeks old! We’ve definitely learned some important things throughout our travel experiences with her and we’re here to share!
There is so much to think about when you are preparing for your baby’s first trip! Here are tips for how to protect your stroller when flying, helpful tips to prepare for your baby’s first flight, tips for hiking with a baby and general tips for how to travel with a baby.
However, in this post, we are going to focus on packing for a baby and exactly what you need to pack to have all the baby travel essentials on your trip. We are big believers in packing light, yet we admit a baby requires more stuff. You don’t want to overpack, but you certainly don’t want to forget any of the important stuff either. To help, here are the must have items for traveling with baby and our packing tips.
Backpack/Diaper Bag
When packing, it’s important to be organized when traveling with a baby. Your diaper bag or backpack should be packed with the items you will need on your flight. Your backpack will be stored under the seat in front of you so you’ll have easy access to this bag and anything you put in it. Here are the baby travel essentials we recommend packing in your backpack or diaper bag.
Diapers, Wipes and Diaper Cream
This is obviously a no brainer. Babies need diapers, wipes and diaper cream. Make sure to have enough in your backpack or diaper bag to make it to your destination plus about a days worth of diapers. Travel is unpredictable and you never know when a delay or even cancellation is going to happen.
We recommend only packing enough to get you to your destination, so 1 travel sized diaper cream, 1 package of wipes and 2 days worth of diapers. Once you get to your destination make a quick stop to buy diapers for your trip. This will save you a ton of space in your bag!
If we really want to bring more diapers in our luggage, we typically sneak it in our car seat bag or stroller bag so we aren’t using critical space in our bags. More on this later.
Changing Mat
You never know when you’re going to have to change a diaper, right? A changing mat gives you a soft, clean space to do that wherever you are. It takes up very little space and always comes in handy for us, so we never leave without it.
We’ve changed diapers on the airport floor, on a train and even at the top of a hike. It’s nice to whip a changing mat out so your baby isn’t laying on a dirty floor. Also, if I have one of these I don’t always feel the need to find a bathroom and use a changing table. A changing mat is definitely a baby travel essential you will want to pack.
Pacifier
A pacifier is a baby travel essential if your baby uses one. Our baby uses one to sleep so we always have one on hand in case we have to do a nap on the go.
A pacifier is also great to help them equalize their little ears on takeoff and landing if they aren’t hungry to eat. The sucking motion helps pop their ears and keep them pain free. Also bring a pacifier clip to avoid dropping it every time your baby spits it out.
Not to mention a pacifier can be real life magic if your baby is fussy! I’d say a pacifier is a must have item for traveling with a baby.
Change of Clothes For Baby
Make sure to put a change of clothes for your baby in your backpack or diaper bag. This is because you never know when a blow out or accident is going to happen. Depending on your baby and how long your travel day is, you may even want a few changes of clothes available.
Trust me on this one, you’ll want to be prepared!
Change of Clothes for Yourself
On that note, also throw in a change of clothes for yourself. Your lap infant will most likely be on your lap the entire flight. Therefore if they have a blow out or spit up all over themselves, there’s a good chance it gets on you too.
You do not want to sit in pooped on or spit up on clothes the rest of your journey! Be prepared and throw in a lightweight change of clothes for yourself.
Light Weight Blanket
A light weight blanket will come in handy so many times on your trip. It can be used to swaddle your newborn, or keep your baby warm. It can also be used as a cover for breastfeeding or to block out distractions or light. I’ve used a light blanket as a spit up rag and changing mat. Lastly it can be used for shade or to protect your little one from the sun.
The options are endless with a light weight blanket
Sleep Sack
Our key for getting our daughter to sleep on the go has always been to keep her nap time or bed time routine as close to her routine at home. We modify it a little since we can’t do everything we typically would at home, but we keep as much as we can the same to cue her it’s time to sleep.
Therefore, if we want her to nap or sleep on the plane we always put her in her usual sleep sack before we help her fall asleep. When she was a newborn we used the Halo swaddle sleep sack. We transitioned to the Zipadee-Zip sleep sack when she started to roll and eventually to the Kyte sleep sack.
But we recommend using whatever sleep sack your baby uses at home.
Sound Machine
This goes along with our tip to keep your bedtime routine as close to your bedtime routine at home. Our daughter is use to sleeping with white noise, therefore we always bring a portable sound machine with us if we want her to sleep on the go.
White noise is also great for blocking out background noise. The key is to put it between your baby and where the background noise is coming from. So for example if we were on an airplane and the beverage cart was coming around, I would put the sound machine between my baby and the aisle.
Toys
Now, I say toys are baby travel essentials but keep in mind that almost anything can be entertaining for a baby. We typically packed a few small toys and then found other random things in our bags to entertain her.
These spinner toys were always a hit for us on the plane because they are small and easy to pack. You can suction them to the airplane window and let your baby have fun spinning them. If your baby is almost a big one year old, check out our post on the best travel toys for a 1 year old that entertained our baby on many flights.
Don’t forget to think outside of the box. Your baby will enjoy looking out the window, playing with the tray, singing songs and simply playing with your beverage cups. If you baby is eating solids, snacks are the best form of entertainment.
Medications & Thermometer
We never fly without our infant Tylenol and thermometer in our backpacks. This is because you never know when sickness is going to strike. Traveling can be hard on their new immune systems, so be prepared. Don’t have your medications in your checked bags or plan to buy them if you need them at your destination.
Have them in your carry on! Medications and a thermometer is a must have item for traveling with a baby. That way if your little one starts burning up mid flight there’s no need to panic!
Birth Certificate or Passport
Probably the king of baby travel essentials is your baby’s birth certificate or passport. Many people don’t realize that airlines have the right to ask for these. Only a birth certificate is needed for national flights, but a passport is needed for everyone flying internationally, no matter their age.
If they ask for these and you do not have them, you will be stiff armed at the check in counter! They will not let you on the flight.
Granted we’ve only been asked for our daughters birth certificate twice when flying domestically. But unfortunately you never know when they will ask, and when they won’t, so you will want to be prepared either way.
Checked Bag or Carry On
This section includes baby travel essentials that should be put in your carry on luggage or checked bag. These must have items for traveling with a baby are necessary for your destination, but aren’t needed on your travel day.
Baby Monitor & Charger
A baby monitor, and charger, are baby travel essentials because you’ll want to keep an eye on your baby while they sleep. Yet, you’ll want some freedom to leave their room. While we never promote leaving your hotel room or vacation rental when our baby is sleeping (in case of a fire), we do recommend spending time on your balcony or the other room.
We travel with a cheaper monitor that is compact and doesn’t require wifi for a connection. You never know how reliable the wifi will be at your accommodation.
Slumberpod
The Slumberpod is the holy grail of baby travel essentials. The Slumberpod is basically a small black out tent that gives a baby a private black out environment to sleep in. This helps them sleep better and also allows you to continue to use your space or watch tv if you are room sharing with your baby.
Pack N Play Sheet
We recommend bringing your own Pack N Play sheet even if your accommodation is providing one. It’s small and easy to pack but may bring some familiarity to your baby’s sleeping environment. Plus this way you know it’s clean and in good condition.
Baby Soap
Pack a small or travel sized baby soap for bath time. We like to keep our bed time routine the same when we travel so we always try to do a bath, even if that means a sink bath.
Baby Lotion
If you normally use baby lotion on your baby, then baby lotion is a baby travel essential.
Mineral Based Sunscreen
If your baby is 6 months or older and able to wear sunscreen then this is a must have item for traveling with a baby. Even in colder climates your baby can get sunburned. In fact, the only time our baby has gotten a sunburn was while hiking through snow in the Norway Fjords.
First Aid Kit
A small first aid kit is a smart item to throw in your luggage as a “just in case” or peace of mind. Make sure it is TSA approved if you plan to put it in your carry on luggage. A first aid kit is so easy to pack and one of the most important baby travel essentials.
Clothes (And Specific Clothing for Destination)
This is an obvious one. Your baby needs clothes to wear at their destination. But don’t forget the specific clothes needed for your destination.
If you are headed to a warmer climate or beach remember a swimsuit and swim diapers. If you are headed to a colder climate remember a jacket and warm gear like a hat, mittens and boots.
Swim Diapers
Swim diapers are an important baby travel item if you plan on swimming on your trip. This is one thing we’ve had trouble finding at our destination so now we always pack them.
Essential Items for Breastfeeding
Carry on
- Nursing Cover
Suitcase
- Breast Pump
Essential Items for Bottle Feeding
Carry On
- Bottles
- Formula or Breast Pump
Suitcase
- Bottles & Bottle Cleaning Set Up
If your baby has Started Solids
- Portable High Chair
- Bib
- Silicon Plate, Spoon, Fork
- Snacks and Snack Container
- Straw Cup
Extra Items
Baby Carrier
A baby carrier is a great option for carrying your baby while flying and also at your destination. I put it under the extra items because we use our baby carrier to board our flight with our baby and have our hands free for other bags. Therefore, the baby carrier doesn’t have to be packed in a bag and take up space or weight.
Once we are at our seats we just throw the baby carrier in the overhead compartment.
Babies can be fussy and you never know if they will want to be held or be content in a stroller. Therefore, we consider a baby carrier one of the most important baby travel essentials. Since it doesn’t take up room in our bags, it’s a no brainer to bring. It’s another option we have in our back pockets for strolling around a new city, hiking or napping on the go.
Travel Stroller & Protective Bag
We highly recommend investing in a good travel stroller if you plan to travel with your little one quite a bit. Travel strollers are compact and lightweight so they are easy to bring with.
A good travel stroller will fold up small enough so it fits in the overhead compartment of an airplane. This is a huge bonus because bringing your stroller on the plane with you means you don’t have to worry about it getting damaged under the plane.
Additionally, some destinations, like Europe, have tiny elevators or only stairs in many buildings or train stations. Our travel stroller is so light that one person can pick it up and carry it up and down stairs with our baby in it by themselves.
We love the Babyzen Yoyo because it’s lightweight, compact, and has an awesome sunshade and recline! Plus it has a bunch of additional add ons that are great! Like our umbrella which is so useful to protect our baby from the sun, and rain of course.
We also recommend the protective bag to keep it looking nice throughout your travels. A stroller and protective bag is one of the most important must have items for traveling with baby.
Car Seat & Protective Bag
If you plan on traveling at all by car at your destination then a car seat and protective car seat bag are both important baby travel essentials you must pack. Most airlines will let you check a car seat for free so it’s so easy to bring with and ditch it at the check in counter.
We always put our car seat in a protective bag for 2 key reasons. The biggest reason is to protect our carseat….DUH!.
The second reason is this is a great place to sneak in any other must have items for traveling with a baby that did not fit in your other luggages. We’ve never had this bag checked (although they have the right to) so we typically throw in extra diapers, toys and a hiking backpack (once she was a little older).
Pack N Play
We only recommend a pack n play if you cannot get one at your destination. We always try to book Airbnb’s that provide one. If we can’t find one, then we typically plan to buy one at our destination instead of pack one. We’ve found that buying one at our destination is usually cheaper than paying for an extra checked bag.
However, if you are looking for a great travel pack n play we recommend the Guava Lotus. It’s lightweight, compact, easy to set up and comes in a handy backpack bag for easy transport.
Enjoy your Trip with Baby
That concludes our list of baby travel essentials and must have items for traveling with baby. We hope you found this blog helpful and you now feed prepared to tackle your first trip as a family.
Traveling with a baby only makes travel sweeter! Enjoy your trip and keep adventuring!
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