essentials for travelling abroad with a baby

Travelling Abroad With A Baby: The Ultimate Guide

Travelling abroad with a baby can feel like an overwhelming experience for any parent. You want to make sure that your little one is comfortable and happy while also navigating through the logistics of international travel. But don’t worry, I’m here to help!

As a mom who has been in your shoes, I understand the unique challenges of travelling with a baby. I know that you want to create amazing memories with your family but that you also want to make sure that your baby’s needs are fully met. That’s why I’ve put together this comprehensive guide to make your journey stress-free and enjoyable.

In this guide you will find plenty of travel tips and tricks – from researching your destination and booking family-friendly accommodations to packing essential items for your little one and and advice on how to keep your baby entertained during the flight.

From my own experience, I have also learnt that travelling can be unpredictable, so I’ve tried to include advice on handling unexpected situations like delays, lost luggage, or illness.

My goal is to help you feel confident and prepared so that you can focus on enjoying your family trip rather than worry something might go wrong for the entire trip.

I know that travelling abroad with a baby may seem daunting right now, but always try to remember that it is such a great opportunity to create unforgettable memories. So, whether you’re planning a family beach vacation or a trip to see loved ones abroad, let me help you make your next family adventure stress-free and enjoyable.

PREPARATIONS BEFORE YOU TRAVEL WITH A BABY

As a mum who travels a lot with my little one, I totally get how daunting it can feel to plan you first trip with your baby. In fact, as a keen traveller, I already started to worry about this during my pregnancy.

But trust me, it’s worth it! With a little extra planning and preparation, you and your little one can have an amazing time exploring new places together.

First things first, it’s crucial to prepare thoroughly to ensure a safe and comfortable trip for both you and your baby.

In this section, I will therefore share some helpful tips based on my own experiences travelling with my little one.

CHECK THE TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS AND DOCUMENTS

Let’s start by getting all your paperwork in order. Before you start packing your bags for your family trip, it’s crucial to check that you have all the necessary travel requirements and documents for your baby and the rest of the family.

Every country has its own rules and regulations, so it’s essential to research and plan accordingly. The information can usually be found easily on the web.

The most important document you will need to bring for your little one is a passport, so make sure to apply for it as early as possible. Keep in mind that obtaining a passport for your baby can take several weeks, so it’s best to get started right away.

You might be worried about taking a photo for your baby’s passport. But it isn’t as complicated as you might think. The guidelines for passport photos for babies are far less rigid than for adults. T

Some countries may also require additional documents such as a visa or a birth certificate for your baby, so be sure to check for these requirements before you go.

Apart from travel documents, it’s also important to check if the country you’re travelling to has any specific health requirements for your baby.

Some destinations may require a certificate of vaccination or a letter from your doctor stating that your baby is in good health. Taking care of these details beforehand will ensure a smooth and stress-free trip for both you and your little one.

VACCINATIONS AND HEALTH CHECKS

When travelling abroad with your baby, their health and well-being is probably (and should be) your top priority.

Before embarking on your trip, make sure to talk to your paediatrician to ensure that your little one is up to date on all necessary vaccinations for the country you’ll be visiting. This will help protect your baby from potentially harmful diseases that may be present in the region.

Additionally, it’s crucial to be prepared for any potential health issues that may arise during your trip. Research the medical facilities in the area you’ll be visiting and consider purchasing travel insurance that covers medical expenses. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!

Packing a small first aid kit with basic supplies like band-aids, antiseptic wipes, and fever reducers is a good idea and can also be helpful in case of minor injuries or illnesses.

With these precautions in place, you can enjoy your trip with peace of mind knowing that you’re prepared for any situation that may come your way.

PACKING ESSENTIALS FOR YOUR BABY

When you start packing for your family trip, make sure to include all the essential items your baby might need to have a comfortable and stress-free journey. Items that immediately come to my mind include diapers, wipes, formula, bottles, and baby food if your baby is already on solids.

Travelling with a baby, is one of those rare occasions, where I believe that it is better to pack more than you think you’ll need. This is even more important if you’re traveling to a country where these items may be difficult to find.

Another important factor to consider is the weather and climate of your destination. Make sure to pack appropriate clothing for your baby, such as plenty of layers for colder weather or lightweight clothing for warmer weather.

You might also need your baby carrier, stroller and car seat, depending on the type of trip you are taking. So take some time to think about all the baby gear you might need to take with you. Or read our thorough guide on all the travel baby necessities for some inspiration and to get you started.

When travelling abroad with a baby, space can be a real challenge. Luckily, fold-away pushchairs are a game-changer! They’re compact, easy to store, and fit into even the smallest car boot. Plus, they’re a lifesaver when it comes to flying. Some models even come with car seats that attach to the pushchair, giving you the best of both worlds (and one less item to carry).

When choosing a fold-away pushchair, be sure to opt for a model that is suitable for your baby from birth with a seat that lies flat. Keep in mind that some models are only suitable for babies from six months when they can sit up. With the right pushchair, you can make travelling with your little one a breeze!

Another option for carrying little ones whilst traveling is to use a sling or backpack carrier. Slings can be a comfortable way to keep your little one close to you while leaving your hands free, while backpack carriers are a great option for older babies who want to look around and explore. Just be sure to choose a carrier that is appropriate for your baby’s size and age, and practice using it before your trip to ensure a comfortable fit.

By packing everything your baby needs, you can ensure that your trip will be enjoyable for both you and your little one.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT ACCOMMODATION

Choosing the right accommodation can make all the difference when you travel with your baby. Make the wrong choice and your trip could become very challenging. Make the right one and your trip has a much better chance at being trouble free.

Look for hotels or apartments that offer amenities like cribs, highchairs, and kitchenettes to make your stay more comfortable.

Choosing a central location can also be helpful, especially if you’ll be exploring the area with your little one.

Before booking your accommodation, be sure to ask about any additional services they offer, like babysitting or laundry services. You should also read reviews from other families to see if they had a good experience.

Note that some places require you to book a family hotel room for fire reasons. We nearly got caught out by this when we first travelled to France.

TIPS FOR FLYING WITH A BABY

If you’re planning to fly with a baby, it can be nerve-wracking to imagine all the possible challenges that you might face.

I remember the first time we flew with our son. I remember the first time we flew with our son. He wasn’t even one year old. In fact, he was only a 3 month old, so really still a newborn baby. I was so worried that our baby son would cry throughout the entire flight and was desperate not to upset the other passengers.

But fear not! I soon learned, that with a little bit of preparation and the right mindset, you can breeze through the journey without any hiccups (or very few).

As a fellow mom who has now flown with her little one on several occasions, I’m here to share some valuable tips that can help make your trip stress-free.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT FLIGHT

To ensure that your little one is well-rested during the journey, try to find a flight that suits their sleep schedule. While in the past, my priority was to maximise our time at the destination, now I try to find flights that align with my baby’s sleep schedule.

This means we usually opt for mid-day flights that give us enough time to get ready in the morning without being too early, and allow my little one to nap during the flight. Priorities change when you travel as a family.

It’s also important to avoid flying when your baby is unwell, particularly if they have an ear infection or are experiencing ear pain. This is because the pressure changes during take off and landing can cause discomfort and pain in young children. In my experience, this always leads to crying with little ones, which can be stressful for both you and your baby.

It’s better to wait until your baby has recovered before flying, unless you have no other choice.

PACKING FOR THE FLIGHT

When it comes to packing for the flight, specifically your hand luggage – remember that less is more. Even for a long haul flight. From my own experience, I’ve found that packing light is key when travelling with a baby. It can be tempting to bring everything you think you might need, but in reality, you won’t use half of it.

Pack only the essentials in your diaper bag, such as diapers, wipes, a change of clothes, and a few toys to keep your baby entertained. You don’t want to be lugging around a heavy bag that you can barely carry, especially when you have to tend to your little one.

A lightweight blanket or swaddle is also a must-have item in your hand luggage. Airplane cabins can get chilly, and you want to make sure your baby is cozy and warm throughout the flight. This can also double up as a nursing cover if you’re breastfeeding your baby.

Also, don’t forget to bring a few plastic bags to dispose of dirty diapers and clothes. You don’t want to be caught in a situation where you have nowhere to throw away a dirty diaper, especially during a long flight. Bring a couple of bags to ensure you have enough for the entire journey.

KEEPING YOUR BABY ENTERTAINED

Finding ways to keep your baby entertained during a flight can be tricky, but there are plenty of tricks to keep them happy and engaged.

Bringing along some favourite toys, like a teething toy or a soft book, can be a great way to keep them occupied.

Additionally, downloading some of their favorite TV shows or movies on your phone or tablet for older babies can be a lifesaver during a long flight. I am not ashamed to say that we discovered the wonders of the amazon fire tablet for kids early on into our family travels .

However, to avoid disturbing other passengers, be sure to pack a pair of headphones to keep the noise level down or set the device to mute. Babies are mainly interested in the colourful pictures anyway.

FEEDING YOUR BABY DURING THE FLIGHT

Ensuring your baby is well-fed during a flight is vital to keep them comfortable and hydrated.

If you are breastfeeding, try to nurse your baby during take off and landing, as it can help stop your baby’s ears from popping due to the change in air pressure. We found that this family travel tip also work with a bottle. In fact these days we give our toddler juice or gummies to eat. It’s all about that swallowing movement.

If you’re formula feeding, remember to pack enough formula in your carry-on bag for the entire flight. Be sure to bring a bottle warmer and a few extra bottles to make feeding easy.

If your baby is already eating solid foods, pack some snacks like rice cakes, Cheerios, or pouches of baby food to nibble on.

In summary, flying with a baby requires some extra planning and preparation, but it can be a smooth and enjoyable experience.

By choosing the right flight, packing smart, keeping your baby entertained, and feeding them during the flight, you can ensure a stress-free journey for both you and your little one.

ENJOYING THE TRIP WITH YOUR BABY

Taking a trip abroad with your baby can be very different from travelling alone. Gone are the days when you would cram your itinerary full to the brim out of fear of missing out.

Travelling internationally with a baby requires some forethought. So, in this section we will provide tips on how to make the most of your trip whilst keeping your baby happy and comfortable.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT ACTIVITIES

When planning the itinerary for your trip , it’s essential to select options that cater to your baby’s needs and are compatible with your schedule.

Look for activities that are adaptable and won’t disrupt your baby’s daily routine.

Opt for attractions and activities that are age appropriate. Some of our go-tos when our son was still a baby were visiting a wildlife park or aquarium, going for a hike, or spending a day relaxing on the shore.

You might also want to consider booking tours or activities that are tailored to families with young children.

The best tip that I can give you, is to plan ahead but still be ready for any unexpected situations that may arise during your travels with your baby.

With some patience, flexibility, and creativity, you can create an unforgettable and hassle-free trip for your entire family.

GETTING AROUND WITH A BABY

Travelling abroad with a baby requires some extra thought when it comes to transportation. No matter what mode of transportation you choose to use, we would highly recommend you plan ahead (before you have left your house).

If you are planning to use the local public transportation, make sure to bring a stroller that’s easy to fold up and transport. You don’t want to be caught out by an underground tube that is packed to the brim.

If you are planning to rent a car, remember to request a car seat for your little one or bring your own. Personally, we like to take our son’s car seat with us, as we know for sure it’s safe and fits him.

If you choose to hire a taxi, make sure the car has enough room to fir both you and your baby in comfort.

In summary, take some the time before your holiday to consider your transportation options to ensure a safe and comfortable journey for both you and your baby.

NAVIGATING MEAL TIMES

When you’re traveling with a baby, mealtime can be tricky.

To make things easier, try to locate baby-friendly restaurants that have highchairs or booster seats, so that you can eat hands free. It’s a good idea to do some research beforehand to avoid any surprises.

Additionally, if your little one has been weaned, it’s always a good idea to pack some snacks for your them, such as fruits, crackers, and baby food. This way you always have something to hand for your baby to munch on.

Be sure to pack some spill-proof cups and utensils as well to avoid any messes.

DEALING WITH EMERGENCIES

It’s always good to be prepared for emergencies when traveling with a baby.

Pack a first aid kit with essentials such as bandages and antiseptic cream, as well as any medications your baby may need.

Keep a copy of your baby’s medical records and have the contact information of a paediatrician on hand in case of any medical issues.

It’s also important to keep important items like passports and tickets in a safe and easily accessible place in case they get lost.

Remember to stay flexible during your trip and be willing to change plans if necessary to accommodate your baby’s needs. Prioritize your baby’s well-being above all else. Make the most of your trip, capture plenty of memories, and take lots of photos!

RETURNING HOME AFTER A TRIP WITH YOUR BABY

Congratulations, you’ve reached the final section of our ultimate guide on traveling abroad with a baby!

By now, you’ve probably had an incredible time exploring new destinations and making unforgettable memories with your little one. However, as your adventure draws to a close, it’s essential to get ready for your journey back home.

PREPARING FOR THE FLIGHT HOME

Preparing for the return flight is just as pivotal as preparing for the outbound one, particularly when traveling with a baby. To make the journey back as seamless as possible, here are a few tips to consider:

Pack wisely: Remember to pack all the essentials in your carry-on bag, such as extra diapers, wipes, formula or baby food, and a change of clothes for both you and your little one. Keep in mind that you may have acquired some souvenirs during your trip, so leave some room in your luggage or consider shipping items home.

Check in online: Save time at the airport by checking in online. Choose seats that will provide you and your baby with the most comfort and convenience. If possible, upgrade to a seat with extra legroom or request a bassinet for your baby.

Time your flight: Try to book a flight that works well with your baby’s feeding and sleeping schedule. This can help ensure that your baby is well-rested and content during the flight. Avoid connecting flights if possible, as they can add stress and extra time to your travel.

DEALING WITH JET LAG

Travelling to a different time zone with a baby can be tough, but there are some tricks to help your baby adjust to the new schedule and reduce the effects of jet lag:

Spend time outdoors: Exposing your baby to natural light during the day can help regulate their sleep cycle and reset their internal clock. We like to plan in plenty of outdoor activities like walks in the stroller or trips to nearby parks to get some fresh air. This tip also forks for adjusting to the new time zone when you first arrive at your destination.

Stick to a routine: Keeping to your usual routine, especially with feeding and sleeping times, can help your baby adapt to the new time zone faster.

Be patient: It may take a few days for your baby to fully adjust to the new time zone, so try to stay calm and patient. Your baby can sense your stress, so staying relaxed will help them relax too.

Travelling abroad with a baby can be a wonderful experience, but it’s important to be prepared and informed. We hope the tips and advice in this guide will help you feel confident and excited to embark on your next adventure with your little one. Wishing you safe travels!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TRAVELLING ABROAD WITH A BABY

Can You Fly Internationally With A Newborn?

Yes, it’s possible to travel internationally with a newborn, but it’s important to plan ahead and keep a few things in mind. As someone who has flown several times with a baby, I’ve learned that it’s crucial to research the airline and destination country’s policies on traveling with newborns. Some airlines require babies to be at least 2 weeks old, while others may need a doctor’s note confirming that the baby is fit for air travel. You’ll also want to make sure that you have all the necessary documents for your baby, including their passport, visas (if required), and any other essential paperwork. The process of obtaining a passport can take some time and you can usually only apply for a passport after your baby is born. Your baby’s health and comfort during the flight should also be taken into consideration. Bear in mind, that doctors usually advise parents to wait until their baby’s immune system has had a chance to mature before flying. So be sure to speak with your paediatrician before the trip to ensure that your baby is healthy and ready for air travel. Finally you will want to consider your own recovery after giving birth before planning an international trip with a newborn before even reaching your due date.

What is the best age to travel internationally with a baby?

There really is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The best age to travel with a baby overseas really depends on a number of factors such as your baby’s temperament, health, and developmental stage, as well as your own comfort level with traveling and the destination you have in mind. That being said, many parents find that the best age to travel with a baby overseas is between six and nine months. At this age, babies are generally more adaptable and can handle longer periods of time away from home. They are also usually still breastfeeding or taking formula, which makes feeding easier while traveling. Additionally, babies in this age range may not be mobile yet, so you won’t have to worry about chasing after a crawling or walking baby in an unfamiliar place. However, I would like to stress that every baby is different and there are many factors to consider when deciding the best age to travel with your little one. For example, if your baby has health issues, you may need to wait until they are older and stronger before traveling. Similarly, if your baby is a fussy or difficult traveller, you may want to wait until they are more settled and can handle the stress of travel better. Ultimately, the decision of when to travel with a baby overseas is a personal one that should be based on your individual circumstances and preferences. I would recommend consulting with your paediatrician before making any travel plans, as they can provide advice based on your baby’s specific needs and health. And always remember to take it easy and enjoy the journey, no matter what age your baby is when you travel!

How do I keep my baby safe while travelling?

Travelling with a baby can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. As a parent, your number one priority is (and should be) to keep your little one safe and sound throughout the journey. That’s why it’s crucial to take all those extra precautions to ensure their safety. First and foremost, it’s essential to properly secure your baby in their car seat during any car rides. Never leave your baby unattended, even for a moment. When checking into a hotel or any other accommodation, take the time to baby-proof the room and remove any potential hazards. To create a safe and comfortable sleeping environment for your baby, consider bringing a portable crib or playpen. This will give your little one a familiar and secure place to sleep, no matter where you are in the world. By prioritizing safety, you can enjoy your travels with peace of mind and create unforgettable memories with your family.

Is it safe to use car seats and cribs provided by hotels or rental car companies?

It can be tempting to use the car seats and cribs provided by hotels or rental car companies when travelling with a baby, but safety should always be your top priority. So before blindly using these items, take the time to do some research and make sure they meet the highest safety standards. Always check that the car seat or crib has been properly installed and is in a good condition. If you’re uncertain about the safety of the provided equipment, it’s always better to bring your own to ensure your baby stays safe and secure. We certainly always opt to bring our own with us.

What do I do if my baby gets sick while we are traveling?

When your little one falls ill during a trip, it can be concerning. The best thing to do is to seek medical attention right away. This could involve finding a local doctor or hospital or reaching out to your paediatrician for guidance. It’s always wise to pack a small first-aid kit with essentials like fever reducers, cough syrup, and bandages, just in case of any unexpected health issues. It is also why we always make sure to get travel insurance before any trip.

What vaccinations does my baby need before travelling abroad?

It’s crucial to check with your doctor or a travel health clinic well in advance of your trip to determine what vaccinations your baby may need. The recommended vaccinations vary depending on your destination country and your baby’s age and health status. Some vaccinations may require multiple doses over several weeks or months, so it’s important to start the process early to ensure your baby is fully protected before your trip.

What documents do I need to travel with my baby?

When travelling abroad with a baby, you will need to bring several important documents. These usually include your baby’s passport, visa (if required), and any medical certificates required by your destination country. It’s essential to check the requirements well in advance of your trip to allow enough time to obtain any necessary documents. Remember to also check the expiration dates of your baby’s documents, as some countries require that passports be valid for at least three or six months after your travel dates.

Can I bring my baby’s stroller on the plane?

When travelling with a baby, bringing a stroller can be a lifesaver and save your back from a lot of pain. However, whether you can bring your stroller on to a plane depends entirely on the airline. In our experience most airlines will at least let you check it in as luggage. Some airlines may require you to check in your stroller at the gate, while others may allow you to bring it on board and store it in an overhead bin or designated closet – as long as it folds up small enough. As a general rule, it’s a good idea to bring a lightweight and compact stroller that’s easy to fold and transport. This will make your trip a lot easier. PS: We bought a stroller specifically for our holiday, that folds up nice and compactly, because our main stroller was way to clunky. We also like to use it when we are eating out at a restaurant.

How do I handle airport security with a baby?

Going through airport security can be a daunting experience for anyone, but it can feel especially challenging with a little one in tow. To help ease the stress, here are a few tips that can make the whole process a bit smoother. First and foremost, pack all liquids you need for your baby (like formula, breastmilk or food pouches) in a clear plastic bag and keep them separate for easy screening. Note that the usual restrictions for liquids do not apply for your baby’s items. It’s also a good idea to have a copy of your baby’s birth certificate or passport handy to confirm their age and identity. When you get to security, don’t hesitate to communicate any concerns or questions you may have to the staff. You will normally be asked to carry your child in your arm as you walk through the metal detectors. Remember, patience and flexibility are key, and taking a deep breath can go a long way in keeping everyone calm and relaxed.

Can I bring baby food and formula through airport security?

Travelling with baby food and formula through airport security is allowed, so no need to worry! If you feel particularly anxious about this, give the airport a ring before your trip. They will be happy to answer any of your questions. Just be sure to pack the food, formula or breastmilk in a clear plastic bag and inform the security officers during screening. Additionally, it’s always a good idea to pack a little more baby food / formula to cover any potential delays during travel.

Can I breastfeed on the plane?

Yes, most airlines allow breastfeeding on the plane. However, it’s a good idea to bring a nursing cover or a lightweight blanket to ensure your privacy and your baby’s comfort during feeding times. Covering your little darling in a lightweight breathable fabric will shelter them from distractions (of which there are many on the plane) and keep them focussed on nursing. If you are formula feeding, consider bringing pre-measured formula and a portable bottle warmer to make feeding on the go easier.

How do I deal with a crying baby on the plane?

Crying babies can be stressful for both parents and other passengers on the plane. However, it’s important to remember that crying is a natural way for babies to communicate their needs, especially during a flight when they may be uncomfortable or experiencing ear pressure changes. Try to stay calm and comfort your baby with gentle rocking, feeding, or a change of position. Bring along some favourite toys or books to distract your baby and consider taking short walks up and down the aisle to soothe your baby and give them a change of scenery.

What should I pack in my carry-on bag for my baby during a long flight?

As a parent, you never know what to expect when it comes to travelling with a baby. That’s why it’s crucial to pack your carry-on bag / nappy bag wisely and prepare for any situation. In addition to the usual necessities like diapers and wipes, I always make sure to bring extra food, formula, and snacks to keep my little one happy and fed. I also pack a few of their favorite toys and books to keep them entertained during the flight. It’s important to remember that accidents happen, especially when travelling with a baby. That’s why I always pack a change (or two) of spare clothes for both me and my baby, as well as a small blanket to keep us warm on the plane. I also bring a few plastic bags to store any dirty clothes or diapers, making clean-up a breeze.

How do I find baby-friendly accommodations when travelling?

Travelling with a baby requires careful planning, especially when it comes to finding the right accommodations. To ensure a comfortable stay, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, look for options that offer baby-friendly amenities, like cribs or playpens, and consider whether the location is suitable for travelling with a stroller. It’s also important to check if there’s a kitchenette or microwave available for preparing baby food. Reading reviews from other parents who have stayed at the accommodation can also be helpful in gauging its family-friendliness. If you have any specific needs or questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to the hotel or rental property directly. With a bit of research and communication, you can find a place that meets your family’s needs and ensures a comfortable stay.

How do I manage sleep schedules when travelling with a baby?

Travelling with a baby can wreak havoc on their sleep schedule, but there are ways to ease the transition. One helpful tactic is to gradually adjust their sleep schedule a few days before your trip, so they’re closer to the new time zone when you arrive. Another option is to maintain their routine as much as possible while on the trip, like keeping their usual bedtime routine or nap schedule.  Above all, it’s vital to be understanding and patient since your baby might need some time to adjust to the new environment and routine.

How can I make sure my baby gets enough sleep while we are traveling?

One key to ensuring that your baby gets enough sleep while traveling is to maintain a sense of consistency. Stick to your typical nap and bedtime routines as closely as possible, and don’t forget to bring along comforting items like a familiar stuffed animal or cozy blanket. If you can, consider booking accommodations that provide a separate sleeping area for your little one so that everyone can rest peacefully throughout the night.

How do I navigate cultural differences when travelling with a baby?

Travelling to a foreign country with your little one can be an exciting adventure, but it’s important to be mindful of the cultural differences you may encounter. To ensure a smooth trip, take some time to research the cultural norms and practices around parenting in your destination country. This can help you avoid any unintentional cultural faux pas and allow you to better appreciate and respect the local customs. For instance you might want to bring a lightweight blanket to cover yourself and your nursing baby in a country where modesty is a concern. Additionally, be sure to pack any necessary supplies, such as formula or baby food, as these may not be available in the country you’re visiting. Especially if your baby has very specific requirements. Remember, embracing new cultures and customs can be a wonderful learning experience for both you and your baby.

As I wrap up this ultimate guide on travelling abroad with a baby, I want to remind you that it’s totally normal to feel overwhelmed or nervous about travelling with young babies. But, as I mentioned a couple of times above, with some planning and preparation, your trip can be a wonderful experience for both you and your little one.

Travelling with a baby can be challenging, but it can also be an incredibly rewarding experience. Seeing the world through your baby’s eyes is a joy and creates memories that will last a lifetime.

Always remember to prioritise your baby’s needs and plan ahead. But also think of your own wellbeing and don’t overwhelm yourself. Don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it.

By following the travel tips and tricks in this guide, you can make travelling abroad with your baby an enjoyable experience.

So go ahead and plan that trip you’ve been dreaming of with your little one. With the right mindset and preparation, you can both have an amazing time exploring new places, meeting new people, and making unforgettable memories together.

ABOUT KATHARINA

Katharina is the founder, editor, photographer and the main travel writer at A Life Beautifully Travelled. She created this British family travel blog in 2017 to document her adventures around the globe with her husband. Born in Munich, Germany she has since lived in Dusseldorf, Paris, Glasgow, and London. She currently resides in Yorkshire with her family.

Katharina started travelling in her early teens and has explored over 4 continents, 16 countries, and 87 cities. Growing up trilingual and having graduated from an international school, she has a strong interest in other cultures. When she isn’t gallivanting around the globe or busy in her 9-to-5 job as an architect, she can be found exploring the UK (the country she currently calls home). There isn’t much Katharina, her husband and their son Finn love more than a fun family weekend getaway.

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What to Pack When Traveling With Baby

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The ultimate packing list for traveling with a baby

Be prepared for just about everything with this tried and tested list. 

What to pack when traveling with a baby 

What to pack for your baby in a carry-on, free printable baby packing list.

Pre-kids, my husband and I were the people who'd show up at the airport 40 minutes before a flight, breeze through TSA pre-check, refill our water bottles, and walk right onto the plane with our carry-ons. 

After I had two children, this strategy pretty much went out the window. It didn't matter if we were going away for one night or two weeks: when we started traveling with a baby , we packed nearly everything we owned. It took four years and countless trips, but I've since perfected the art of flying with a baby . 

 Ahead, find out exactly what you'll need to pack for a baby.

To make the packing process easier on yourself, start with the BabyCenter-approved list below. You can print it out and make any changes as needed – such as eliminating items your baby has outgrown, adding new things they need, and making adjustments based on the length of your trip and the climate. 

It's helpful to start gathering supplies about a week in advance, laundering anything that needs to be cleaned (such as a pack 'n' play sheet), and shopping for used-up supplies (such as travel-sized toiletries). 

If you're looking for more guidance, get extra-detailed tips below.

Travel gear

To get your baby from point A to point B, you'll need a few basics. 

Travel stroller

If you're running late to catch a flight, it's much easier to push your baby in a lightweight umbrella stroller   than to carry them through a long terminal. Some travel strollers are Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-approved and fold to fit in the carry-on bins on board, but most get gate-checked. Remember to bring the travel bag that came with it to protect the stroller from damage. 

Add bag hooks and a stroller caddy (the Colugo Opens a new window one even doubles as a fanny pack), and utilize the under-basket storage. Some travel systems allow you to hook the car seat on top of the stroller, meaning you have one less item to lug around.

While you can rent car seats at your destination, experts highly recommend bringing one with you. "Renting one often comes with challenges, including risking it not being appropriate for age, weight, or height," says Chandani Patel DeZure, M.D. , a pediatrician and BabyCenter Medical Advisor . "In addition, it is safest to fly on an airplane with a baby in a car seat – just make sure the car seat is FAA-approved."

You can also use it for car rides to and from the airport.

Car seat bag

One of the best perks of traveling with a car seat is using a car seat bag, a giant lightweight backpack that fits a car seat. Usually, you can stuff extras – such as a package of diapers, swim floaties, or other odd-shaped items – that won't neatly fit in a suitcase. 

Baby carrier

Parents swear by baby carriers for airport travel. I find them most effective for babies under 6 months . (After that, they get heavy!) Just don't baby wear on the plane during take-off or landing, per the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). 

The same sleep safety rules apply when you travel: Your baby should sleep alone in a crib or bassinet with nothing in it. Borrow a crib, bassinet, or pack 'n' play from your hotel, or try a reputable rental company (such as BabyQuip Opens a new window ). 

Consider bringing a SlumberPod Opens a new window , which is a blackout tent that goes over the pack 'n' play. If your baby sleeps best in dark spaces, you can also pack travel blackout curtains or tape black garbage bags over the windows.

Don't leave home without the sleep accessories your baby is familiar with, such as a white noise machine, sleep sack or swaddle, and pacifier.

Breastfeeding, pumping, formula bottles, and solids feeding supplies

Depending on how you're feeding your child, you'll need certain gear. (And if you have a newborn, you'll also want a burp cloth on hand.)

Breastfeeding

Pack a daytime nursing bra, sleeping bra or tank, travel breastfeeding pillow (Boppy makes an excellent one Opens a new window I used on a plane with my then 4-month-old), and any nipple skincare products you use (creams, butters, pads, and the like). 

You may also want to bring some sort of shawl to drape over the baby for in-public feeds. (This doubles as a way to keep both of you warm on chilly flights). 

I've also traveled with breast pumps – both the Spectra (an electric pump ) and the original Elvie (a wearable pump). If the latter works for you, I highly recommend it as I was able to use it during the flight . You'll also need pump cleaning supplies (such as a brush, soap, drying rack, and on-the-go cleaning wipes), a pumping bra , milk storage bags , and bottles to feed the baby. And don't forget to bring a charger for the pump!

If you plan to freeze any extra milk, bring a freezer bag and ice packs. Frozen breast milk is easier to get through security than fresh milk, which may require testing. Read more about breast milk travel regulations .

Formula feeding

Ensure you're packing enough formula for the trip by measuring what your baby eats in a day and then bringing extra. You'll want more than enough in case of travel delays or spills. For in-flight travel, you can pre-measure formula , and store it in a Ziploc bag or bottle. Bring filtered water, or buy it at the airport to make a bottle in a snap.

You'll also need to bring bottles (I typically bring two), nipples, and bottle washing supplies (like a brush, soap, and drying rack). If your baby prefers warmed milk, you can pack a thermos. For your travel day, fill it with hot water and use that to warm up a bottle on the go. There are also travel bottle warmers .

First and foremost, you'll need to bring enough food for the travel day. (Squeeze pouches are always a great idea.) Additionally, pack kids' silverware ( spoon and fork), grippy plates and bowls, a sippy cup for water, spill-proof snack cups, and food storage containers. We always travel with an easy-to-wipe silicone bib (which also can save an outfit if your baby is a messy eater).

Unless your baby is going to sit on your lap for every meal (which might be miserable for you), you'll need to rent a high chair or bring a fold-up one (like the Bombol pack-up booster Opens a new window , which packs flat).

The easiest way to get a high volume of diapers to your destination is to send a package to the hotel or cruise line in advance. Otherwise, throw a sleeve or two in the stroller bag or car seat bag (as diapers take up precious space in suitcases) and buy more when you get there. 

If you are bringing diapers with you, count how many diapers your baby typically uses in a day. Then add enough for at least one extra day, since you never know how a trip will pan out. Here are some quick calculations, but note that every child is different:

Newborns: eight to 12 diapers per day

2-3 months: eight to 10 diapers per day

3-6 months: seven to nine diapers per day

6-12 months: five to seven diapers per day

You'll also need wipes (throw extra packs in the car seat bag!), a travel changing mat (or disposable changing pads), diaper disposal bags, and diaper creams (Aquaphor, butt paste, etc.). Remember to bring swim diapers if you're going somewhere with a pool or beach .

Clothing, outerwear, and shoes

Little ones, especially newborns, go through multiple outfit changes a day thanks to spit-up, blowouts, and other unexpected events. Pack about two outfits per day and extra pajamas (as the same principles apply overnight). Don't forget socks, shoes if you have a walker, and layers. (Babies get cold and hot quickly.)

If you're packing for a cruise or headed somewhere tropical, toss in a swimsuit, hat, and UPF clothing. For cooler climates, make sure your baby has cozy sweaters, booties, and a warm hat.

Some hotel rooms only have showers, and if your baby typically washes in a tub, you'll need to get creative. We've used an oversized kitchen sink as a makeshift bathtub, and we've also rented  baby tubs or brought an inflatable one. Plan this in advance.

You'll also want to bring travel baby shampoo , body wash, and lotion – especially if your little one is sensitive to fragrance. We've also brought a baby towel and familiar bath toys to help our kids adjust to a new setting.

Health and safety

You won't regret traveling with a baby first aid kit. It can include band-aids, infant pain reliever, any other medicine or prescription ointments your baby uses, a thermometer, insect repellent, and baby-safe sunscreen. Pro tip: Throw in a few vomit bags for potential motion sickness incidents.

Consult with your child's pediatrician with any questions for this packing category.

Entertainment

What you pack comes down to parental and baby preferences. A tablet, preloaded with shows and movies, can be helpful to get through a flight or long car ride. If screentime is not on your agenda, try books, activity pads, coloring books (specifically the "magic marker" ones Opens a new window for less mess), and reusable stickers (great for sticking on plane or car windows). (Check out these kid-friendly  car games for more family fun.)

Once you're there, you might want to have tummy time mats , sand toys , or baby dolls on hand. You can have toys delivered to your hotel from services like BabyQuip Opens a new window , or pack a selection of "surprise" playthings yourself. And don't forget your baby's favorite stuffie or lovey!

You'll never be prepared for all situations, so level-set expectations, but you can still be very prepared for most! 

To start, your baby will need a passport if you're traveling internationally . 

Also, grab extra diapers (at least a day's worth), a pack of wipes, a travel diaper pad, and diaper creams for mid-flight diaper changes . Pack an extra change of clothes for both you and the baby, because if they're sitting on your lap, any mishaps (spit-up, throw-up, or massive poop) may end up on you, too. Plastic bags – to catch vomit or store stained clothes – also come in handy. 

Bring a full day's worth of food and some extra, as well as anything you need for breastfeeding and pumping. If your flight is delayed or you hit road trip traffic, you'll be so grateful to have a pump, milk bags, and a cooler on hand. (It's happened to me.) 

Add in the first aid kit and meds. Then stuff as many toys as you can in the extra space left.

Print or download our BabyCenter-approved checklist for easier packing when traveling with a baby.

Was this article helpful?

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BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies .

American Academy of Pediatrics. 2023. Tips for Traveling with Young Ones this Holiday Season. https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/health--safety-tips/american-academy-of-pediatrics-tips-for-traveling-with-young-ones-this-holiday-season Opens a new window [Accessed February 2024]

American Academy of Pediatrics. 2023. Safe Sleep. https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/safe-sleep/ Opens a new window [Accessed February 2024]

Transportation Security Administration. Undated. Is Breast Milk, Formula and Juice exempt from the 3-1-1 liquids rule? https://www.tsa.gov/travel/frequently-asked-questions/breast-milk-formula-and-juice-exempt-3-1-1-liquids-rule Opens a new window [Accessed February 2024]

Lauren is a New York-based content director, writer, and brand consultant. She is a #girlmom to a school-age daughter and a toddler.

Where to go next

How I've kept traveling -- even after having a baby

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

Before I had a baby, I had traveled to almost 60 countries and was on a plane every other week.

A huge fan of solo travel , yoga retreats with friends and adventurous escapes with my husband, I was always on the move. Thanks to the ability to work remotely, travel was easy. Then COVID-19 hit, and shortly after, I got pregnant .

So life changed, and so did travel.

But now that travel is picking up again , I'm back at it — with my eight-month-old in tow.

Here's how — and why — I've navigated travel with a baby.

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Why I travel with my baby

Because i have to, and so does he.

I live in Europe and my entire family lives in the United States . Like it or not, my child will have to constantly go back and forth between the two continents, and I want this to become second nature for him. I started flying with my child when he was three months old. He's already on his 15th flight and 4th high-speed train ride -- and has a few road trips under his elastic waistband.

Have some flights been really easy? Yes. Have some flights been harder? Also yes. But it doesn't matter all that much either way, because we have to travel if we want to spend time with friends and family back in the United States. And most of the flights, with a few small exceptions, have been great.

Even you don't need to travel with a baby, just know it's possible. It may not always be easy, but you can absolutely do it if you want to.

I want him to experience the wonders of the world instead of material things

My apartment was recently broken into. As violating and frustrating as it was, I realized that I was able to get over the things they took from me (cash and jewelry) relatively quickly, even though some of the jewelry pieces were family heirlooms.

When I'm still traumatized emotionally about having my space invaded, the robbers couldn't take from me what I most valued: my family and our shared experiences, especially the ones we've had traveling.

My hope is that my son will grow up understanding these same lessons and placing value on experiences and connections instead of things. And the best way to show this is by modeling the same behavior for him, which is often what motivates me to plan that next family vacation .

Because it's fun

Playing with my son in the peaceful Caribbean ocean waves, watching him stare at the Chicago skyline with awe or seeing him smile at the iconic Eiffel Tower are memories I'll never forget. Although he definitely won't remember these trips, we will — and we'll have lots of photos to show him one day.

How I make travel with my baby easier

Traveling with a baby isn't always easy. From diaper blowouts during landing and bleary-eyed nights with a jet-lagged infant to nasty stares from passengers if my overtired son shrieks during take-off, traveling with a baby has its downsides and complications. Here are some hacks I use to make it easier.

I bring someone along to help

I know I'll travel alone with my child as he gets older. However, for now, whenever possible, I try to have another adult in tow to help out — whether that be my partner, a family member or friend.

While I'm not expecting a friend to deal with a crying baby or his meltdowns, it's helpful to have someone along to help carry luggage, make sure I don't forget my jacket in the airport, hold the baby while I head to the restroom or help me fold up the stroller at TSA .

These little things can really make a difference when traveling. Once my child can at least walk on his own, I'll start traveling with just the two of us.

I pack as light as possible

It's true that kids — and especially babies — can need a lot of stuff. And there are things I really don't want to be stuck without on a long plane ride like diapers or snacks (more on this in a moment).

When traveling with my baby, I try to bring everything I need but don't go overboard. I swear by lightweight travel strollers and always take along a baby carrier and diaper backpack for a hands-free airport experience.

I like to book rental properties with as many baby and kid amenities already present as possible, such as a crib, high chair and more to avoid taking extra stuff along. I've also used rental companies in destinations for key items such as car seats, too.

Always bring these key items — especially when flying

What you can carry with you when flying is obviously very different than what you can lug along on a road trip, which offers you more space and added flexibility. That being said, these are key items I always take in my carry-on when flying with a baby:

• Extra clothing for both you and your baby (yes, trust me, you need a backup outfit just in case).
• Layers of clothing or blankets (plane temperatures can vary).
• Pacifier and clip (and backup).
• Comfort toy or blanket.
• Extra diapers (enough for an unexpected delay).
• Formula/breast milk/pump.
• Snacks (for you and/or your baby).
• Baby wipes.
• Sanitizing wipes.
• Extra bibs.
• Ziploc bags for soiled clothing (or a reusable, waterproof bag).
• Baby Tylenol or any infant medications.
• A basic first aid kit.
• Small toy(s).
• Anything that can help your baby fall asleep.

For more on what to pack and how to prepare for traveling with a baby, read this article .

Use points and miles for a more comfortable and affordable trip

This may be an unpopular opinion, but I love using my points and miles to fly in business class with my baby .

He's actually better behaved than other passengers in some cases. Also, having the extra space to stretch out makes a real difference for all of us, especially on long-haul flights where sleep is essential for the entire family.

I have also dipped into my stash of points and miles to buy three seats in economy, taking a car seat along so my baby can safely sit in his own seat, even though that isn't required at this age. The bassinet was once an option if I had enough points or miles for just two seats, although now my baby has surpassed the weight limit.

If you want to use the bassinet, always call the airline to see if this option is available and what the weight/size limits are, which can vary by airline or even route .

I verbally prepare my baby for travel

I'm well aware that my baby probably can't understand what I'm saying. But as he gets older, he is starting to recognize words, and I want "airplane" to be one of them as quickly as possible. Whenever we travel, I softly and carefully explain to him what's happening several days in advance each day before the trip.

I tell him we're going to fly high in the sky on a plane, that we need to be calm, quiet and happy. I tell him that we'll be spending time with many other people in a small space, so we need to not scream or kick the seat in front of us and bother other passengers.

I explain that we're visiting a certain destination or specific family members or friends, where we'll be sleeping and for how long we'll be gone.

One day, he'll slowly begin to associate these explanations with the journeys that follow them. Kids ask a lot of questions and want to understand what's going on, so I hope explaining things to him will help him feel safe and in control as he gets older, as well as excited to fly and to travel.

I fly or take a train trip at least every two months with my son

I realize that as someone who's worked remotely for more than 10 years, I'm afforded the flexibility to travel frequently and take my son along with me. I'm teaching my child how to eat properly and sleep well, and will pretty soon potty train, so I'm training him to travel, too.

With the convenience of low-cost air carriers and high-speed trains here in Europe (and a solid stash of points and miles), it's easy to get my baby on a plane or train every few months to get — and keep — him used to travel and make it part of a familiar routine.

I minimize travel stress with early arrivals, elite status and lounge access

Running through the airport with a baby and luggage is stressful and not at all how I want to start a trip.

I find the calmer I am, the calmer our whole family is — especially my baby, who tends to absorb my energy and mental state. Getting to the airport with lots of extra time helps me feel relaxed and in control — and these feelings transfer to everyone in my travel party, especially my son.

Having elite status and lounge access doesn't hurt, either, as I can avoid long lines and hang out in the lounge if I have time to kill before flying.

Both The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve card offer lounge access, and considering my home airport of Madrid Barajas (MAD) has several really nice Sala VIPs that are part of the Priority Pass network, I find this credit card perk a valuable one.

My Oneworld Sapphire status makes flying on airlines like Iberia much more comfortable, too, allowing me to use the business class check-in area, board first and check a bag at no added cost.

I plan flights around bedtime and nap times whenever possible

While my son sleeps fairly well on planes, I prefer to plan flights strategically at times where he'll already be fed, calm and rested. Although I can't always make this happen, I do so whenever my schedule and flight schedules permit it.

I organize sightseeing and beach days around naps, too

When traveling, I always try to organize my days so that my baby can either nap at the hotel or vacation rental, or while we walk in his stroller.

Cobblestoned European streets are particularly helpful in coaxing my son to sleep in his stroller, as the vibration is relaxing for him. I also bring everything along possible to encourage sleep while on the road — a portable sound machine in the stroller, a portable night light, his lovey, a tent for the beach , our own sheet for the travel crib to remind him of home — really anything that will help him to nap and sleep, keeping him and the whole family calm and happy.

Bottom line

While I'm not hopping on a flight every other week like I was in those pre-pandemic, pre-baby days, having a baby hasn't ruined travel for me.

I know it can be more restrictive and more expensive, but I now look at travel in a whole new way. I see it as an opportunity to bond as a family, give my son new experiences and help him grow into a flexible, excited young traveler .

My hope is that starting with these experiences while he is young will make travel a habit for him, just like going to school or playing with friends — something he is familiar with and learns to love and do with joy.

New YouTube Video : Baby wake windows

25 Baby Travel Essentials (for Smooth Travel)

Traveling with a baby can be a bit of work, but is possible! Grab these baby travel essentials to make life easier before hitting the road with baby .

This post and the photos within it may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link, I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

I know that one of the hardest parts of going on a trip is getting everything packed. There’s so much to remember, especially when you’re packing for a baby.

But don’t let the packing list scare you. I’ve compiled a list of baby travel must-haves to help get you on your way.

Here are my top baby travel essentials for setting out on an adventure with your little one!

IN THIS ARTICLE:

Baby Travel Essentials for Sleep

One of the hardest parts about traveling with a baby is the possibility of lack of sleep.

Here are some baby travel sleep essentials to consider while you’re packing your bags.

Make sure to check out my baby travel sleep tips as well to ensure you get rest on your vacation!

White Noise Sound Machine

The Yogasleep Rohm+ is one of the best baby sound machines for traveling due to its long battery life. It charges via USB port, so is great for camping or on-the-go stroller naps.

Travel Bassinet or Portable Crib

Sometimes it’s easier to just travel with your baby’s Pack and Play instead of relying on borrowing or renting one when you reach your travel destination.

If you’re looking for a portable bassinet, I like the Fisher Price Rock With Me bassinet . It’s a small-space bassinet and a great Rock N Play alternative .

I also love the Pack N Play for travel. It grows with your baby, and can also be used as a play yard when you’re away from home.

The SlumberPod is a portable privacy pod that fits around your Pack and Play. It’s a great way to keep light out while you’re traveling, since you never know what kind of blackout curtains the hotel will have.

If you’re sharing a room with your little one, the Slumberpod is a lifesaver.

It keeps you out of sight and gives baby the privacy of being alone. If your baby can’t see you in the room, it’ll be easier for them to settle down to sleep.

There are also some SlumberPod alternatives if the price is too steep.

You can use my SlumberPod discount code THEPOSTPARTUMPARTY to save on your SlumberPod. Shop here

Blackout Curtains

If you can’t get your hands on a Slumberpod, you can get portable blackout curtains that are designed for travel.

These ones from Sleepout are 100% blackout and come with suction cups so you don’t have to use any tools or equipment to hang them up. These are so easy and convenient when you’re traveling!

Travel Crib Sheets

Make sure to pack the proper sized sheets for your travel crib. It might need smaller crib sheets than you use for your standard crib at home.

Remember that for safe sleeping , there shouldn’t be any loose bedding in your baby’s crib until they’re at least 12 months old.

Swaddles or Sleep Sacks

For your newborn, make sure to pack a few swaddles that they’re familiar with from home.

If your little one has grown out of swaddling , a sleep sack is a great alternative to the swaddle. See the best sleep sacks , including summer sleep sacks and winter sleep sacks.

Bedtime books

If you incorporate books into your bedtime routine , then stick a couple in your suitcase so you can keep your routine similar, even when you’re in an unfamiliar environment.

Doing the same 3 to 5 activities each night, and even when you travel, helps cue your baby’s brain that sleep is coming!

Baby Travel Essentials for Feeding

Portable High Chair

You can’t always count on a restaurant to have an available high chair.

This portable high chair makes it so easy to have baby sit in any available char at a restaurant and saves you the hassle of having to clean a high chair before and after baby’s meal.

Plus it’s so compact and won’t take up much space in your suitcase!

If your baby is eating solids, he probably gets pretty messy. Since you may not have access to laundry, or as many clothes as you do at home, bring several silicone bibs that you can easily wipe up and use at each meal.

Portable Baby Bottle Warmer

If your baby prefers warmed milk, you’ll want a quick and easy way to safely warm it, even while you’re out and about.

With this portable warmer, the water stays hot for 6 to 8 hours and it’s designed to hold all standard sized bottles, so you can warm the bottle so easily!

Baby Travel Essentials: Toiletries

Your baby probably doesn’t need nearly as many toiletries as you do. But there are a few essential toiletries that you’ll want to make sure you bring along on your trip.

Sanitizer Wipes

Traveling can mean exposing your little one to more germs than usual.

Hand sanitizers are so prevalent now, but so many of them contain ingredients that shouldn’t be ingested. That’s a problem when you’re traveling with a baby who is constantly putting their hands in their mouth!

The AAP recommends against using hand sanitizer on children younger than 24 months.

Instead of using hand sanitizer, it’s often safer to sanitize surfaces that they’ll be touching. Be sure to pack some travel-sized sanitizing wipes .

All-In-One Bath Liquid

I recommend looking for travel-size options of your favorite tear-free baby wash, like the Aveeno Baby Wash & Shampoo .

For toddlers with longer hair that tangles easily, try So Cozy Kids 3-in-1 soap to save space in the toiletries bag. It shampoos, conditions, and washes their bodies all at once without using parabens, sulfates, or synthetic dyes.

First-Aid Items

Our little ones can get sick or hurt even while we’re traveling, so it’s best to be prepared. Pack some first-aid items so you’ll have them in a pinch.

Make sure to include Band-Aids , Infant’s Tylenol , and children’s Benadryl .

Keep in mind that if you’re traveling abroad, pharmacies might carry unfamiliar products. There might also be a language barrier, so better to have some familiar medicine from home.

One added bonus of having Band-Aids on hand while you’re traveling is they can be used as makeshift outlet covers in a pinch!

Reliable Thermometer

It’s always nice to have a reliable thermometer on hand when traveling with your baby in case they get sick! The FridaBaby 3-in-1 thermometer is small enough to pack in your toiletry bag and gives you different options for checking baby’s temperature.

Baby Travel Essentials for Going Abroad

The things you pack for your baby will often remain the same regardless of where you’re going. However, if you’re traveling abroad, there are a few extra items you’ll need to bring with you.

Travel Identification and Documents for Your Baby

All you need on domestic flights is a birth certificate, but your baby will need a passport to travel abroad.

It might seem funny to have to go get a passport photo taken for your baby, but it’s required to travel out of the country!

Wait-times for passports have gone up in the past year. Make sure to start the application process with plenty of time to spare before your departure.

Non-WiFi Baby Monitor

A wifi enabled baby monitor might work just fine at home, but access to wifi can be hit and miss when you’re traveling abroad.

If you’re traveling overseas, make sure you’ve got a way to monitor your little one that doesn’t necessarily involve strong wifi connection.

If you want to keep it simple, use an audio-only baby monitor . You’ll be able to hear baby but won’t have the hassle of setting up a camera monitor for a short trip.

Outlet Adapter

When you’re traveling abroad, the outlets might look different from what you’re used to at home. To avoid frying your breast pump or baby monitor, make sure to pack an outlet adapter.

I like this outlet adapter because it comes with options for adapters you’d need to travel almost anywhere in the world!

Baby Travel Essentials for the Airplane

I know there’s a stigma surrounding babies on airplanes, but I encourage you to take full advantage of flying in those first couple years when your baby flies in your lap for free.

I promise people are much more tolerant of babies on planes than the movies would have you believe.

Even if things don’t go smoothly and your baby cries for most of the flight, chances are that you’ll never see those people again!

Here are a few essentials to pack that will make your time in the airport and on the airplane a little easier.

Baby Carrier

It always feels like I need at least three hands when I’m at the airport! Keeping track of tickets, phones, and luggage is already hard enough without having to look after a little one (or three!) at the same time.  

If your baby will let you, wearing them through the airport is a great way to keep your hands free.

I like the Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier because you can use it with newborns all they way up until they weigh 45 pounds.

Lightweight Stroller

If your baby is easily worn in a carrier, you might be able to get by without a stroller. But if you like the option of having a stroller while you’re traveling, make sure it’s compact enough for air travel.

I like the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 , because it only weighs 14 pounds, it’s easily foldable, and it fits in most airplanes’ overhead bins. It reclines to allow for naps, and there’s a spacious mesh basket at the bottom which is perfect for stashing extra travel essentials.

The Baby Jogger City Tour 2 also comes with a wearable carrying bag. This makes it a great choice for either strolling to the gate or checking with luggage to arrive at your destination.

Spill-Proof Snack Containers

To avoid getting puffs or crackers all over your seats and the plane’s floorboard, pack a snack cup with a lid. This collapsible silicone snack cup has flaps to keep the food in, but also allows your baby to reach in easily.

For a durable, spill-proof water bottle option, we love the Contigo water bottles . Just remember that the pressure from the plane will create a crazy spill if you don’t relive the pressure first. (We definitely learned this the hard way when we opened our Contigo mid-air and strawberry milk went shooting to the woman behind us!)

Yes, I know going on an airplane isn’t the same as going camping or rock climbing! But carabiners are the unsung heroes of traveling with a baby.

They help you keep track of things that might otherwise end up forgotten on the airplane floor.

Use a carabiner to attach your baby’s water bottle to your purse strap, or to connect their favorite toy to their car seat or the back of the seat in front of them.

Other Baby Travel Essentials

If your little one is still under a year old, here are a few extra items you should consider to help your trip go more smoothly.

Muslin Blankets

A lightweight muslin blanket is super versatile! It can be used as a swaddle for sleeping or a sunscreen in the stroller.

You can also use them as nursing covers, tummy time blankets, or for added warmth in a chilly airplane.

I am a big fan of the Aiden + Anais muslin swaddles for travel because they are large but breathable. They also fold down small enough for easy packing.

Pacifier Clip

When you’re at home, you’ve pretty much got an endless supply of pacifiers that you can wash and re-use. But when you’re on the go, you don’t necessarily have that luxury!

A pacifier clip helps you keep track of the binky and keeps it from falling and collecting germs. These silicone bead paci clips are especially great because they can double as a teething toy when your baby is cutting a new tooth.

Diaper Changing Pad

When you’re traveling with a baby, you need to be ready to change diapers on-the-go at a moment’s notice! One thing I learned quickly while traveling with an infant is that blowouts happen at the most inopportune times.

Packing a travel diaper changing pad can save you the time and stress of tracking down a changing table. I like this changing pad because it can attach to the stroller or a seat back for easy access.

You can’t always vouch for the cleanliness of the floors where you’re traveling. For peace of mind, pack a play mat to ensure a safe space for tummy time or getting wiggles out.

I like traveling with a compact outdoor blanket because you can use it indoors or outside. It also repels water and sand, so it can double as a picnic blanket!

I hope I’ve given you some helpful ideas for getting packed with baby travel essentials to hit the road (or the skies!) with your little one. Bon voyage!

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Baby Travel Essentials: The Best Travel with Baby Gear

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Last Updated on March 20, 2023 by Ariana Svenson

When keen travelers become parents, many are surprised at just how much baby travel gear they quickly acquire.  But how much do babies actually need?  This post will focus on the baby travel essentials, rather than a lot of stuff that they – and you – don’t really need.

We’ve all seen those zen-like mums who seem to get away with having very little.  Smiling serenely as they glide by, while you drag several suitcases of baby travel items.  Other parents seem to swear by some items and decry others.  Ultimately, you are the best judge of what best baby travel gear is really necessary – for each individual child and yourself.  Here is lots of great information to consider when travelling abroad with a baby.

While we found that many travel baby essentials did make life easier, their benefits had to be weighed up with how much luggage was actually necessary.  All babies and toddlers tend to come with a lot of paraphernalia – but deciding which really are traveling essentials for baby is always the first step in our travel packing and planning.

This guide aims to cut through any non-essentials for traveling with a baby, so you can travel with baby gear that is genuinely useful.  We assume that you already have items like clothes and nappies, as those things are required for everyday life, not just for travel.  The next section of this article thus covers the basic items we’ll assume you already have.

This post may contain affiliate links, from which we would earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. More info in my disclaimer.

What’s NOT Included in this List of Travel Essentials for Baby?

When searching online for travelling with baby essentials you are likely to come across a wide range of suggested products.  Yet even as a new parent, you’ll already know that you need to take a lot of things – even when making just a day trip with your baby.  Just a simple trip to a local park or café to enjoy a catch-up with a friend can become quite complicated when you have a baby’s needs to consider.

So for the sake of clarification, here are some of the things we’re assuming you already have for your baby:

• A diaper bag or nappy bag that is big enough to carry enough diapers for a day out.  This is also likely to contain a change of clothes for the baby, a spare shirt for yourself, and a wet bag for storing soiled garments.

If you are looking for a new one, we recommend this diaper bag that doubles as a crib.

• Feeding supplies.  If your baby is formula-fed, you will never leave home without all the right equipment.  (Having done this once, people rarely forget a second time.)  For babies who are eating solids – especially pureed food – there are some great and very portable pouches out there.
• Teething toys and/or teething gel if your baby is teething

If you do need a teething toy, we recommend this carrot-shaped one that’s easy to hold.

• Pacifier or dummy if they use one – as well as a spare or two.  Our daughter got very attached to a certain brand and particular color of dummy!

If you do require a pacifier, this 2-pack is highly rated by parents and comes in many colors.

• Feeding cover – or a muslin sheet – to cover yourself.

For those seeking a feeding cover, we recommend this 2-pack for breastfeeding and car seats.

NOTE –  If you don’t use a feeding cover already, then it’s a good idea to do some research regarding the cultural norms in your destination.  Some countries will require to cover up when feeding.  As part of being a responsible traveler, we fully support that.  Click here to read more on responsible family travel.

• Once they start eating solid foods, you will also need baby bibs, a silicone feeding mat, and a sippy cup.  Below are our recommendations.

What Age Range are these Baby Travel Must-Haves Recommended for?

The term ‘baby’ can cover newborn infants right through to pre-school age.  Toddlers are classified as such from about 12 months to 36 months.  After this, they become preschoolers.

Most of the baby essentials for travel listed here are necessary from newborn age right through to around 36 months.  The specific items required do of course vary with each individual child.

Where does this Advice for Baby Travel Essentials come from?

Experience, baby!

Our first daughter was born overseas and took her first flight at just 4 weeks old.  By the time she was 4 months old, she’d been to 5 countries!  In fact, she did a lot of traveling in her first two years, and we found it pretty easy traveling with just one kid.  Our second did a reasonable amount of travel in his toddler phase.  The third baby did a lot of traveling, racking up 5 countries in her first year plus two prolonged interstate trips.

Are these Tips for Flying with a Baby or for General Travel with a Baby?

This guide covers all kinds of travel, including general travel and flying with a baby.  You can see our tips for taking flights with babies in our post   Best Travel Toys For 1 Year Old .

Getting Around – Baby Travel Essentials

Diaper Backpack

A diaper backpack is one of the key travel with baby essentials.  The best ones have grab handles and stroller straps as well as shoulder straps, so you can carry them any way you want to.  Other useful features include insulated bottle pockets, a portable changing pad, a pacifier case, and a diaper pouch for soiled nappies.

We’ve discovered a couple of great options for anyone seeking a baby diaper backpack. There’s one we mentioned above that doubles as a useful travel crib. If you don’t need that, we recommend this feature-packed unisex travel backpack .

It has shoulder straps, grab handles, and a luggage strap for the stroller, plus a total of 18 pockets so you can really stay organized.  There is a portable diaper pouch and machine washable changing mat, as well as insulated bottle pockets and a case for pacifiers.

This backpack diaper bag is stylish, durable, practical, and ideal for mum or dad.  It also attracts great customer reviews and ratings.

Baby Carrier Or Sling

While it can depend on your baby’s age and what you plan to do, a baby sling or carrier can be a life-saver.  Especially if your child can be clingy.  Investing in the right baby sling carrier gives you the ability to go hands-free and keep your child contained.  Anyone who has cared for a fussy baby at home, and carried them around the house to keep the peace, will know that a baby carrier or baby sling really can save the day.

At first, we used a soft baby carrier like the Boba Wrap .  This was used until our babies were about 4 to 5 months old.  This type of sling holds the baby firmly – yet organically – against the parent’s body.

From the age of about 6 months to 36 months, we used the Ergobaby Baby Carrier and absolutely loved it (pictured below).  The Ergobaby Baby Carrier truly makes traveling with a baby a breeze.  We really love this carrier and recommend it every time someone asks us about baby carriers.  A baby carrier or sling is definitely one of the top essentials for traveling with a baby.

Baby Hiking Backpack

If you plan to do some day hikes or longer trekking trips, then a baby hiking backpack is highly recommended.  You can find out all you need to know about finding the best hiking backpacks for babies in  The Best Toddler Carriers And Baby Backpacks For Hiking .

If you are planning to trek, then a properly designed trekking carrier is one of the best travel baby gear products you can invest in.  We adore the Deuter Kid Comfort III Trekking Carrier , and it has accompanied us all around the world!  It carried each of our kids until they were around 4 years old.  If you plan to do any hiking or trekking, this one of the baby travel essentials you don’t want to forget.  Not least because trekking with a baby without one would be almost impossible.

Baby Strollers

When talking about baby strollers it’s important to clarify the difference between a stroller and a pram.  A pram is designed for carrying newborns and younger babies, normally while lying down.  Prams are strong and sturdy and usually cannot be folded down.  By contrast, a stroller tends to be foldable and more lightweight, and collapsible.  Strollers or buggies are ideal for older babies.

If you travel frequently as a family, it’s worthwhile investing in a decent travel-friendly stroller to take on trips.  We love the Babyzen Yoyo2 or the City Jogger .  Both are ultra-lightweight, super easy to fold, and very durable.  Babyzen says theirs can be taken on the plane – but do check with your airline in advance of travel if you want to make certain.  It should fit into the overhead luggage lockers.

While we are firm believers in babywearing, there’s no denying that taking a stroller is a great idea for many reasons.  Not least because it saves back strain for the parent – or parents – who inevitably end up carrying the child.  Strollers certainly make life much easier when visiting cities.  We also recommend the BOB Gear Rambler , a lightweight option with space-saving inflatable tires.

Baby Car Seat

A car seat for your baby is one of those traveling essentials for baby that you can hire.  So it’s worth weighing up the pros and cons of renting one versus taking your own.  If you do want to take your own, then we recommend the Graco 4Ever Car Seat .  As the name suggests, it’s designed to last for a 10-year period – right from newborn.

Sometimes we have taken along our own car seat, while other times we have rented one.  It’s a question of doing a cost/benefit analysis to see what will work out best overall.  Do you mind paying extra if it saves you from carrying one?  It may also depend on your modes of transport – such as your own car, a rental vehicle, or a bus or coach.  Some people like to fly with a car seat – you will find all your questions answered at this useful guide to Flying with a Car Seat.

Mealtime Baby Travel Essentials

There are several travel essentials for baby that concern feeding time.  These include travel high chairs.

Best High Chairs for Travel

At the outset, you should ask yourself:  will there be high chairs where you are traveling to?  We have used two during our family trips and both worked quite well.  One was a chunky yet space-saving seat that we used to the age of 3.  This worked better for longer stays and was more reliably stable as the little guy got heavier.  We love this one from Fisher-Price .   The only downside was that it took up a lot of luggage space!

For both children, we used the  phil&teds Lobster Highchair when they were under 18 months old.  Though it seemed like a slightly precarious contraption, it was much easier to pack and did the job very well.

If you are likely to dine in restaurants without high chairs, then the old-fashioned solution of sitting the babysitting in your lap while eating can work.

Having the phil&teds travel high chair did work quite well when establishing a dinner routine for a baby who spent much of her first two years on the road.  While we wouldn’t consider this an absolute must-have among travel essentials with baby, if you do have room to take one it is a very nice item to have.

Sleeping – Baby Travel Accessories

Where will your baby sleep when you’re away from home?  A portable cot, crib, or play tent can be a very useful addition to your range of traveling with baby essentials.

Portacot/Portable crib/Travel Tent

Once more your requirements will depend on how long you are traveling and where you are staying.  When it comes to traveling with little ones, there is a lot to be said for cots being provided in hotel rooms.

If you are traveling for longer or on a budget, however – whether staying with friends or renting vacation homes – you might need a portable crib.  We used a Pack and Playstyle crib for both of our kids and have no complaints.  For us, this is definitely another of those baby travel essentials.  It makes traveling – and life in a hotel – much more manageable.

We’ve seen travel tents – or pods – and regarded them with something approaching envy.  They seem ideal for picnics and camping trips, as well as traveling.  The only potential issue I can imagine is that the child could get out by themselves.  So this might not work where you are trying to establish a night-time routine, where the kids need to stay in bed.  If they ‘escape’ from this tent – and the closer they get to age 3 the more likely that will be – then it’s going to involve a lot of putting them back in.  We didn’t use one personally, but the KidCO products come highly recommended.  In the future, this is certainly a baby travel item we would consider purchasing for a young child.

Bring bedding that you use regularly – even if it has been used for a few sleeps – so it smells like the child and home.  It seems simple, but we believe things like this can be enormously comforting for a small children, especially when they are falling asleep.  (As well as when they are wake up in the middle of the night, in a strange place.)

With baby #1 we struggled with her not sleeping for months.  When in Peru, the local ladies asked repeatedly why we didn’t just take her to bed with us?  We quoted the risks of SIDS associated with co-sleeping.  At about 4 months old, we did some more research and decided to go for it. We took all adequate precautions, then co-sleeping quickly became part of our life.  That’s not to say that both kids weren’t put down into a cot in an attempt to establish a routine, but co-sleeping seemed natural and – with the right precautions – worked for us.  When traveling, it’s a no-brainer as we try to convince the hotel to charge us less!

If you have one, also pack a portable sound machine from home.  You can also use an app on your phone for this, but you will need a portable speaker if you want to use your phone at the same time.  A white noise machine can also play gentle surf sounds and doesn’t have to cost very much.  We like the very affordable Marpac Hushh .

Make sure you practice putting your baby to sleep in the travel cot – with your white noise if you use it.  It will definitely pay off once on holiday if the baby is more familiar with the cot and the sound. 

Also – let’s not avoid that elephant in the room.  If you are traveling across time zones, you and your baby are likely to experience some jet lag. Take a look at this article for tips on how to deal with it.  Check out  Jet Lag With Toddlers: How To Deal With It .

Baby Travel Essentials – Things to do with your Baby

How much you will need to pack for entertainment purposes will depend on the age of your baby.

I have an amusing parenting admission to make.  When my first baby was born, she had just one stuffed toy.  Nothing whatsoever that was colorful, bright, or made a rattling noise.  Yup, I had no idea.  As I’d read that babies didn’t need toys or distractions, I didn’t buy anything.  At about 4 weeks old, I finally headed out to buy her first (and only) rattle.

For babies that are 3 months plus, you definitely need to bring some distractions to keep them happy!

Travel Toys For 1-Year-Olds

We have written a specific article listing all the best travel toys for kids aged around one.  This includes all kinds of toys, such as books, teething toys, balls, and textured items.  Find out more in  Best Travel Toys For 1 Year Old .

Toddler Plane Activities

We have also covered ways to keep toddlers entertained on the plane in another separate article.  You can read all about our suggested toddler toys, games – and even snacks – in  Brilliant Toddler Plane Activities .

What about Washing and Bathing?

You can buy inflatable baby baths online, and they’re not very expensive at all.  We recommend the highly-rated Mommy’s Helper Inflatable Baby Bath .  It can be used within the bathtub and is suitable for use between 6 and 24 months old.

If you have a small baby and don’t want to carry another item, you can simply bathe with your baby on your lap. It gives you some skin-on-skin time and an opportunity to connect.  Another option when travelling with a baby is to use a baby swim wrap in the shower.   We cover this in detail at our post  Best Swim Baby Wrap | Why you Need a Water Baby Carrier .   In short, you can shower with the baby in a swim wrap – and then use it at the beach or pool. Win-win!  As some babies don’t like showers, however, it’s best to give this a go before leaving home!

What are Essentials for Toddlers or Older Babies?

Do you need to travel with baby gear when your child is one year old,  or older?  We’ve found that the following items really can belong on a list of baby travel essentials for slightly older kids.

Graco Folding Travel Toilet Seat

If you want to toilet train during your holiday, then perhaps you are braver than we are!  If your child has almost mastered the use of a toilet, though, you’ll definitely have a travel toilet seat. We recommend this Jool Baby one .

Travel Foot Rest

Some people swear by a blow-up piece that effectively converts a plane seat into a toddler bed.  In fact, these products have taken the family travel world by storm somewhat in recent years. In short, they make the seating area more like a bed by filling the space where passenger’s legs would go.  Ideal for in-flight napping.  Before you invest in one, though, do make sure they are allowed by your airline, as not all airlines permit their use.  This one comes highly recommended. 

Medical Kit – An Essential for Travel with Baby

We always travel with a medical kit to treat all members of the family.  We have briefly covered the medical kit we pack in our post  Our Family Travel Medical Kit .

Beach Gear when Travelling with a Baby

If you have recently had a baby, then a beach holiday can sound like the best idea in the world.  It can be great fun – but do make sure you take have the right beach gear.

Where your trip will include days at the beach or by the pool, you’ll need a few extra items.  There’s a whole list of baby beach essentials  here if you want lots of ideas, but if you’re sticking with minimalism, here is what we think you really need.

Baby sunscreen is an absolute must and no one should travel without it.  We really rate the sunscreen from Blue Lizard .  It comes in a convenient spray bottle and there’s a choice of sizes.  It’s mineral-based, fragrance-free, and suitable for sensitive skin.  It’s also water-resistant.

Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to swimwear. You can check out a great range of swimwear for baby boys and girls here.

Swimming Diapers

Swim diapers vary by size – as well as style.  You can see a selection of diapers for use at the pool or on the beach here.

Inflatable toys

Let’s face it – small inflatable toys don’t take up much space and may keep kids happy amused for hours.  You can take a look at some great kids’ beach toys here.

Travel Essentials for Baby – Totally Random things that can be Helpful

So to round off this article, we thought to include details of several completely random items that we’ve found invaluable when traveling.

• Clear tape.
• Muslin sheet. This can be used as a pram or stroller cover when your child is sleeping, a breastfeeding cover, or even as an emergency changing mat.  We love the Pabablic 3-pack that is made from bamboo and cotton.  They come in a choice of colors and styles too.
• A stroller hook. While we’re on the subject of stroller essentials – where would we be without a Mommy Hook ?

The Verdict – A Guide to Baby Travel Essentials

As a family of five, we’ve done it all – from long-haul flights to road trips with babies and toddlers. When you’re flying with a baby, you really don’t need the added stress of carrying more bags and baby travel items than you need. Don’t forget that you need to lug them around the airport, or find space for them in your rental car.

So what do you really need when travelling with a baby?  As every family is different, there is certainly an element of finding your own way in this.

This guide details all our top baby travel essentials.  As a traveling family who spends a lot of time on the road, this is based on our experience of both international travel and more local getaways.  Many of the products listed here are items we have bought, tried, and tested ourselves, and would recommend without hesitation.  Others, that we may not have used ourselves, are included because they are highly regarded by other families.

The good news is that there are at least a few things you can test at home before purchasing any products.  Such as having a shower with your baby.  Like any good scout would say, when traveling with kids it’s always best to be prepared!

worldoftravelswithkids

Ariana Svenson has been travelling since she was a baby, and a discovery of the world and its magic is a vital part of who she is. As an adult she has travelled much of the world (with the exception of Africa!), falling in love with Peru in 2002, over 20 years ago. Since then Peru and Latin America has dominated her life and identity; she co-founded Apus Peru Adventure Travel Specialists in 2008, and not for profit social enterprise Threads of Peru a year later

12 comments

Cancel reply.

there are some really great ides here and love the travel tent. Thanks for linking up to #MondayEscapes

You need so much when travelling with kids isn’t there, I love this post a great guide of what you need than travelling thanks so much for linking up #mondayescapes

yes unfortunately you do need so much stuff, .. but the question is… which stuff?

We usually take both a pram and a carrier. They both come in handy when going away #familytraveltips

Yes the sure do! Thanks for commenting!

Thank you for including some of my ideas. There is so much to consider isn’t there? The location often dictates what is most useful too. We are heading somewhere quite remote so no stroller for us this time! #familytraveltips

Such a useful post! We were very firm baby wearers as well, and actually never put my youngest in a stroller / pram / buggy. When I went to Paris with my eldest when she was 9 months old, I was so glad to have an ergo baby carrier rather than a buggy, it would have been a nightmare on the underground! Thanks for linking up to #familytraveltips Nat.x

[…] one or two kids, but three kids at different ages and stages.  We not only have a great list of must have baby travel items but travel activities for kids, including 21 Awesome Screen Free Airplane Activities For […]

[…] too.  For this reason, we have covered everything you need to know for travel with babies in Baby Travel Essentials – A Full Guide To Baby Travel Gear.  In short […]

[…] were traveling with the baby and had our cot for her (one of our Baby Travel Essentials).  If you don’t have your own toddler cot, no worries!  My friend also stayed at the Rydges […]

[…] Here we have just covered tips for flying with a one-year-old – there are a lot of other tips for travel with a baby, take a look at our Guide To Baby Travel Essentials. […]

[…] When traveling with babies, packing can be an entirely different ball game.  Check out our Baby Travel Essentials: The Best Travel with Baby Gear. […]

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40 Practical & Encouraging Tips for Traveling with a Baby

Home » Blog » Family Travel » 40 Practical & Encouraging Tips for Traveling with a Baby

Adventuring with a little one can be overwhelming, but these practical tips for traveling with a baby will make it feel much more manageable. After reading this article, you’ll feel encouraged and confident to start planning your dream family vacation.

After taking all types of different trips with our daughter in her first year – from National Parks to European Christmas Markets to traveling Scotland by campervan (and so much more!) – we have learned so much about traveling with a baby. 

Why keep all these tips to ourselves when we can share them with you ?!

We know how overwhelming it can be , especially when other people tell you how hard it is traveling with kids. 

But you know what? It can also be amazing, too. 

Traveling with your little one will full your cup, create lifelong memories, and will open your eyes to a totally different way of looking at taking trips. 

While traveling with a baby certainly looks different and requires more flexibility and planning , we’re still able to do some pretty epic things. And you can too (if that’s what you want).

Traveling with our daughter has truly been life changing, and we can’t wait for you to experience this magic, too. 

Guide to traveling with a baby

• Our story: Read about our travel-style and our background so you understand our approach to traveling with a baby.
• Top tips: Wanna get to the good stuff right away? Jump right down to our top tips for traveling with a baby! 

This article is full of practical tips, gear that is actually worth packing, and encouraging advice that will help you feel prepared and confident about traveling with a baby.

We’ll also be discussing some helpful mindsets about traveling with a baby that can transform how you think about it. 

Whether you’re an experienced parent or you’re dreaming of someday traveling with a baby, we’ve got tips and advice that will help you feel confident to plan the family trip of your dreams!

As full-time travel bloggers , traveling is one of our biggest passions, and it’s also both of our jobs. So when we found out we were expecting, we knew that travel wouldn’t just stop for us once the baby arrived (like many people warned). 

We’ve known for a long time that we’d want to start a family, eventually . So over the years, we (almost subconsciously) took note of all the people we saw traveling with their kids.

• On our 4-day Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu , there was a family with 4 kids, the youngest of whom was 8 years old.
• In Thailand , we saw countless families living nomadically or traveling with kids of all ages.
• We met a family on the west coast USA, living out of their campervan with two little boys (before it was common!).

We stored up all these acquaintances as “evidence” that traveling with a baby is not only possible, but it can still be adventurous .

We saw it as inspiration and started to dream of all the adventures we could take our little one on. Together, we dreamed about how we could open their eyes to the endless beauty and kindness around the world. And we talked about how traveling with a child would create core memories and forge a bond between us that we just couldn’t replicate at home.

We were excited about this new chapter, and confident we could forge our own path despite what anyone said.

That mindset came in handy because soon after announcing we were expecting a baby, we got a mixed bag of responses:

• “Can’t wait to hear all your advice for traveling with kids!”
• “You’re definitely going to be slowing down and traveling less now.”
• “Travel while your baby is young, because as soon as they can walk, traveling will be over!”

The good, the bad, the well-meaning… we got it all.

We expected people to say how difficult it would be . And if I’m completely honest, those “you won’t be able to travel anymore” comments encouraged us to prove to ourselves that we could in fact travel with a baby. And thrive while doing it.

The truth is, we were prepared for people to tell us we couldn’t travel with a baby. Remember, we had stored up all that “proof” that we weren’t the only ones with these dreams. 

Thinking about taking an adventure with your little one?

Be sure to download our  complete packing list for traveling with a baby !  It’s packed with good suggestions and advice for what has personally worked for us on our travels with a baby.

Whether you’re getting ready for your first ever trip with a baby, or you’re a parenting pro just looking for a few extra tips, we hope this baby travel packing list will serve you well!

Why trust our advice about traveling with a baby?

For years, whenever we saw people traveling with kids, we’d look at each other and say, “Wow, that’s badass. Someday I want that to be us.”

And now we’re doing it which feels both surreal and like we’ve been training for this for years. Because we kind of have.

Prior to having a baby, we traveled to more than 50 countries together and built a business around the travel industry. So travel is something we are not only passionate about, but it’s something we feel very comfortable with.

We made it a point to bring our daughter on some epic trips during her first year of life. And we have so many more family trips planned for the future!

In Juniper’s first year of life, she:

• took 19 flights
• traveled to 9 countries 
• visited 14 US states
• explored 4 US National Parks
• went on 2 overnight backcountry camping trips
• lived in a campervan for 4 months

Juniper went on countless hikes, slept in many different places around the world, and made more friends than any other other 1-year-old we know!

She is growing into a very adaptable little human, and we feel so lucky for all of the memories we have already created together.

If you, too, want to travel with a little one, we’re here to share all of the things that have worked for us along the way. 

We hope you take the advice that resonates with you and feel empowered to plan and execute your dream family trips!

Why are you here?

I imagine you’re here because you want to know more about traveling with a baby. Ding, ding, ding!!!

Okay, that was obvious. But the rest is a little harder to determine…

• Perhaps you are already a parent , and you want to start adventuring more with your little one but you don’t know where to start.
• Maybe you already travel with your baby a lot , but you’re constantly seeking new tips and advice. Everything helps, right?! 
• If you are expecting, be sure to check out our list of the best babymoon destinations !
• Or perhaps you aren’t even sure you want to be a parent , and you’re trying to figure out how much, exactly, having a baby would impact your lifestyle and dreams.

You might be feeling excited about the prospect of traveling with a baby. Or confused about how to even get started. 

Maybe you’re skeptical about the whole idea of traveling with a little one. Or you’re feeling defeated after being told many times that traveling with a baby is hard, and you’re just looking for some encouragement.

Feel all the feels. They are all valid.

Wherever you’re coming from and whatever you’re feeling, my hope is that you’ll be able to find some nuggets in this article that will speak to you .

Everyone’s journey is different 

In this article, we’re sharing tips for traveling with a baby that have worked for us. 

That last part of the sentence is important: These are the things that have worked for us , personally. 

I will say that we have been privileged that we haven’t had to deal with any major health issues. Our daughter is (for the most part) very easygoing and adaptable. Some of this we can attribute to things we have practiced and experiences that we have exposed her to. But I also know that some of this is pure luck.

Everyone’s parenting journey is different. And every child is different. 

You know your child and your comfort level better than anyone. Plus, we all have different priorities and goals and dreams and lifestyles. (Remember, traveling is a big part of our job, so things may look different for you.)

Pick and choose the tips that will work for you. Ignore the ones that won’t.

Psst! After reading through all our tips for traveling with a little one, be sure to read my personal note at the bottom of this article.

Our best tips for traveling with a baby

Let’s dive into the things that have worked for us.

Scroll through them all (there are 40!), or jump to the sections that are most important to you:

• BUILD CONFIDENCE: Feel confident about traveling with a baby
• PLANNING: Planning your trip
• TRAVEL TIPS: Tips for while you’re on your trip

Good to know: Most of these tips are geared toward babies and toddlers (aka under 2 years old). As our daughter grows and our experiences change, we will continue creating resources based on our personal experiences.

1. Start small with “mini adventures”

One of my biggest pieces of advice is to start small. And start early.

In my last weeks of pregnancy, we got out a calendar and made “mini goals” for each week after the baby was born.

They went something like this:

• 1 week old: Go to your favorite coffee shop
• 2 weeks old: Go on a long(ish) walk (we went snowshoeing because it was winter!)
• 3 weeks old: Go to a brewery or event in town 
• 4 weeks old: Spend the night away (we booked a cabin in the woods)

More ideas:

• Mini road trip
• Go to a friend’s house for dinner
• Book a staycation in your own town or a nearby city
• Find a nearby soaking pool (with water temperatures safe for a baby)
• Picnic in a nearby park

Everyone will have different comfort levels, but do what feels good to you.

Having these “mini adventures” on our calendar brought some much-needed structure to our weeks after having a baby. And obviously we knew we could cancel if it didn’t feel right at that time. 

These little adventures gave us the confidence to slowly make the excursions bigger , so that we weren’t completely overwhelmed when it came time to board our first international flight.

Note: Even if your little one isn’t a newborn anymore, it’s never too late to schedule some “mini adventures” on your calendar. Base the excursions on the skills you want to practice and the type of trips you want to take.

2. Practice “baby skills” on the go

This kind of ties in with the “mini adventures” above, but make sure that you’re practicing some skills on the go:

• changing diapers in new environments
• napping on the go
• feeding (whether nursing or bottle feeding)

Trust me when I say you won’t want the first time you change your baby’s diaper outside of your house to be at the start of a trip. 

Make a point to breastfeed or bottle feed on a walk near your house.

Change a diaper in the coffee shop bathroom instead of waiting until you get home.

It will feel uncomfortable at first. But since you’re close to home, you can always go back and start fresh another day if things don’t go as planned.

Doing this time and time again will make you feel more confident and know what to expect. Plus, it will help your little one get used to environments other than your house.

3. Master the art of napping on the go

Black out curtains, a humidifier, and a bassinet that rocks babe to sleep are great, but we personally knew that we’d be in lots of situations where these wouldn’t be available.

So we were proactive about practicing napping in different situations from the time Juniper was very young . 

At home, we had an ideal sleep environment in her room, but we also practiced napping in the living room, in a travel sleeper, and while wearing her in a carrier so she could be adaptable.

Once we felt comfy with it, we practiced napping around town, and eventually on mini trips.

She quickly mastered sleeping just about anywhere:

• her stroller
• in a baby carrier
• in our arms
• in quiet places
• and noisy ones too

Being able to have her sleep in different environments has been a game-changer for us (especially in the earlier months!). It allowed us to get out of the house and not worry about being home at an exact time.

It also made the prospect of traveling with a baby seem so much more attainable when we were newbie parents.

One item that has been helpful for napping on the go:

• Travel sound machine (if you forget this, there are apps and Spotify channels with white noise)

4. Refine your diaper bag

These “mini adventures” I keep talking about will help you realize what you need in many different situations, and what items never get used. 

Take note of these things and keep repacking your diaper bag until you have it down.

AKA you have all the essentials (and remember to restock the items that get used up, like diapers and wipes!) and none of the bulk .

5. Put the essentials in a fanny pack diaper bag

Your full-sized diaper bag will come in handy for bringing all the necessities on your trip, so don’t leave it at home. But there will be many times where you won’t want to lug a big backpack around all day .

Wandering historic cobblestone streets of European cities or walking beach trails on a humid island or a hike in the mountains will all be so much more enjoyable without your full-sized diaper bag.

Pack the essentials – diapers, wipes, diaper cream, a binky, medications, small snacks, etc. – into a fanny pack. You can also include any of your personal necessities for the day (chapstick, credit cards and cash, keys, etc.)

I have this fanny pack that is actually made for this purpose (there’s a wet wipes pocket), but you could use any medium to large size fanny pack ( like this one ). Usually, I just string it over the handle of our stroller so I don’t have to actually wear it. This way, we’re prepared but aren’t bringing the bulk!

Psst! This diaper bag fanny is much cuter than mine, but it’s 3 times the price.

6. Don’t buy all the things

As soon as you get pregnant, it’ll feel like you are constantly being bombarded with ads for all this “essential baby travel gear”. 

Plus, there are all these bloggers and influencers who share all the gear that they use (myself included).

And holy cow, it’s overwhelming.

There is just so much stuff out there and it can feel like you need it all. 

Spoiler alert: You DON’T.

It’s hard to know what will really make your life easier and what isn’t worth the money or space. 

Here’s the best way to really get a feel for what baby gear you need:

• Take those “mini adventures”! I sound like a broken record at this point, but they are truly a low-risk way to find out what items you really need.
• Find a handful of voices you resonate with and trust (a friend, a family member, a blogger/influencer). See what items they recommend and see if it sounds like something you definitely need.

Psst! One way to save money is to search for items on Facebook Marketplace or your local Buy Nothing group. Many first-time parents end up with duplicate items or are keen to sell baby gear after it’s lightly used (since many things won’t be necessary as they grow older). We got so many baby items and nursery furniture this way (and we’ve sold/given a bunch of things away on these platforms too!).

7. Create routines that can be recreated anywhere

While you’re at home, try to create routines that you can recreate anywhere. 

Maybe there’s a certain book you read to signify bed time. Or a song before naps. Or the routine of brushing hair and teeth.

These routines are simple and don’t require much, so you can give your little one the cues they look for even when you’re far from home.

8. Pick and choose the advice you follow

As a new parent, it can be really scary even thinking about traveling with a baby for the first time. And it’s even scarier when people you know (and trust) tell you how hard it will be, or how that part of your life is over.

First things first: Tune those people out.

Take the advice that resonates with you, and ignore the rest. 

Our personal experience:

I remember when I was pregnant I kept hearing how hard parenting was. The advice came from people who meant well – and who were probably right in many ways – but it made me feel nervous and unequipped. 

In the midst of all the warnings, one of Ben’s cousins talked about how much fun being a parent was. She went on and on about how, “ yes, it’s work, but it is also the best thing ever!”

In that moment, I remember finally feeling excited rather than scared.

So I decided I would focus on the advice that lifted me up rather than the words that brought anxiety.

Now as Juniper is getting older, we get similar well-meaning advice from people who say things like, “Traveling when they’re this age is easy. Just wait until she is walking. Then, your work is cut out for you!”

The “just wait until ” advice doesn’t sit well with me. So now I just ignore it.

Take the advice that makes you feel encouraged, and leave the rest. 

Yes, that applies to this list . 

The tips we’re sharing are things that worked for us . If something doesn’t sit well with you, ignore it and listen to the pieces of advice that feel right.

Everyone’s parenting journey is different. You’re in charge of yours. Nobody else.

9. Work on your mindset

Read the sentence below and internalize it: 

People have kids in every country of the world. 

Unless you’re going to a really remote region or an active war zone, bringing your child on a trip isn’t anything unheard of. Other people have brought their children to the destination you’re dreaming about, so why can’t you?

If traveling with your child is important to you, you can make it happen.

10. Adjust your expectations

Traveling with our baby has been one of the most empowering and rewarding things we’ve ever done. 

But it has also included moments of exhaustion and frustration .

Like many people, we probably don’t share enough of those moments publicly on social media . (Although I’m trying to work on that!)

I truly think that for most people, traveling with a baby will be a wonderful experience as long as you have realistic expectations…

Think about what travel looked like before kids and what it will look like now. Consider what will be the biggest changes. 

This will help ensure your expectations are realistic and set you up for having amazing experiences with less frustration.

These are some of the differences for us:

• Don’t worry too much though, the flight is just a small part of the journey and we have some tips for flying with a baby that will help a ton!
• Traveling with a baby means we usually need to move more slowly , and we are able to do less each day than we would without a baby. 
• Sometimes we need to cancel plans or turn around from a hike early because our daughter just isn’t having a great day. We’ve found we need to be a lot more flexible and be prepared for some plans to just not work out.
• Good news: We’ve got practical tips for choosing accommodation with a baby ! 
• We can’t just pop into a bar for a late-night drink if we feel like it. And there are plenty of cool bucket list activities that just don’t allow children . (Aka no more scuba diving together for a while!) Still working through my FOMO with this, but there are still plenty of epic things we can do, so I’m trying to focus on that.

11. Think about your why

Between logistics and packing, traveling with a baby requires a whole different level of planning. And it can get overwhelming. Especially when you have family or friends who aren’t all that encouraging. 

When you start to get frustrated or overwhelmed, think about why you want to travel with your baby.

Is it to feel like yourself again and pursue a hobby you love?

Is it to create memories as a family? 

Is it to show your child the world and see it through their eyes?

All of the above?

Focusing on the why will make the process – frustrations and all! – much more bearable. 

Here are some examples of why you might want to travel with a baby:

• It fills your cup.
• It shows your child to prioritize things that make them happy.
• It shows them the world is so much bigger than your community.
• It gives them the opportunity to meet and interact with people different from themselves.
• It teaches them flexibility.
• It creates lifelong memories.
• It may introduce them to a forever hobby or skill.
• It teaches them to cherish experiences over things.
• You can grow and bond as a family.
• You can push your comfort levels together.

And here’s one more that I’ll add to the list:

• It’s easier than you think. (Hopefully this article helps make it feel more doable!)

Write your “whys” on post-it notes and stick them around your house. Journal about it. Set your phone screen to be a picture that motivates you.

Do whatever it takes to remind yourself of why you want to make traveling with a baby a priority.

12 Talk about what makes you nervous with your travel partner

Still have some nerves?

That’s totally normal. In fact, I’d be a little worried if you didn’t have anything that you were nervous about.

It can really help to talk out these feelings with your partner. 

Maybe you just need them to listen to you and validate your concerns. Or perhaps walking through the scenarios that you’re most uncomfortable with together and discussing what you’d do in each situation will make you feel more prepared.

Whatever the case, getting your worries out in the open will help ensure you’re both on the same page and there for each other.

13. Don’t stress too much about the flight

The flight is just one (tiny) fraction of your trip. And in many cases, it will not be nearly as bad as you’re making it out to be in your head. 

Think of it this way: Most people on flights have headphones in (watching movies or listening to music) and won’t even notice if your baby is being fussy. 

That realization made me feel a lot better before taking our first flight with a baby! (Hopefully it helps you, too.)

We took 19 flights (legs) with our daughter before she turned one, and we gathered all our top advice and created an entire guide full of tips for flying with a baby that should help ease your nerves and make you feel confident about boarding that plane!

In short: Don’t let your nerves about the flight prevent you from going!

14. Start with a trip that’s within your comfort zone

Just like we recommend starting with “mini adventures” near home so you can build your confidence, make your first trip with a baby one that is within your comfort zone.

Maybe this means you return to a place you’ve already been to.

Or maybe this means you travel to a country where English is the native language (or widely spoken), so you don’t have to worry about language barriers.

Make the actual trip one that doesn’t stress you out or push your boundaries too much. This way, you can focus on getting the hang of this whole t raveling with a baby thang so that you can plan bigger, bolder trips for the future.

15. Pack as light as possible

This is honestly a tough one because I truly think it comes down to finding a balance between packing light and making sure you have all the essentials (many of which are really freaking bulky).

We’ve got lots of advice on the best gear for traveling with a baby , but in general, less is more.  Make sure the items you’re bringing are going to be used and won’t just be dead weight.

And truly, bring as few toys as possible. You will thank me when you’re traveling around with ease because you ditched half the toys you thought you needed.

Psst! Want to know what baby gear we personally recommend? We’ve gotcha covered with our favorite baby travel gear.

16. Remember: you can get diapers everywhere in the world

Personally, I don’t stress too much about diapers because you can buy them everywhere in the world. 

Bring plenty of diapers for the plane and to get you through the first several days of your trip. But if you’re going to be gone for a couple weeks (or more!), don’t stress too much about packing the perfect amount. 

Just about every grocery store or convenience store should have diapers and wipes available.

If you’re having trouble finding them in your destination, ask the hotel staff to point you in the right direction.

17. Choose your accommodation wisely

Something I’ve learned is that the type of accommodation we book with a kid is much more specific than when it was just the two of us .

There are a lot of other factors to consider, and what might have been a perfectly good hotel for you will be a disaster with a babe.

Lemme tell ya, we’ve learned the hard way what doesn’t work well anymore now that we travel with a baby.

There have been a few very uncomfortable stays and even an Airbnb that we left (already paid for) because it just didn’t work with a baby.

Psst! Read our tips for choosing a hotel with baby so you don’t make the same mistakes!

18. Book places with pack ‘n plays when possible

If it’s an option, try to book hotels and Airbnbs that have a travel crib for your baby. 

Many hotels and many Airbnbs offer this, so keeping it in mind when you’re making your reservations is key. This means you won’t have to travel with your own, which is a huge space saver.

Their booking details will usually disclose if they have a crib available. If you don’t see anything about a crib, it doesn’t hurt to ask. We once asked an Airbnb host if she had a crib available, and she decided to buy one so that she could offer it to future guests.

If you’re not finding any good accommodations with cribs available don’t stress too much. It’s definitely possible to bring your own.

The Guava Lotus pack ‘n play is undoubtedly the best travel one on the market. Trust me, I spent a lot of time comparing, and it’s the smallest, most durable, and made without toxic materials. So if you’re looking at buying one for travel, the Guava Lotus is what you want. (This is the one we personally have.)

Even though it is compact, it is still bulky and another item to lug around. So if you can get away with not having to pack it, that’s a big win.

Our personal experience

During our 3-week European Christmas Market Trip, we stayed at 8 different hotels/Airbnbs, and all but one had a crib available, so we decided not to bring our own. We are comfortable with co-sleeping, so we did this on the nights that we did not have a crib available. 

However, there are some destinations where finding accommodation with cribs is much more difficult. For example, we’re currently planning a trip where we’re mostly staying at Airbnbs and none offer pack ‘n play, so we will be bringing our own.

19. You can rent things on vacation… (but you might not want to)

Lately I’ve seen a lot of articles and social media posts about renting baby items on vacation through platforms like BabyQuip .

In theory, it’s a great idea, and can be really useful in some situations . There’s a lot to be said for not having to lug around bulky gear, after all. 

Examples of items you can rent: 

• high chair if you plan on eating lots of meals at the accommodation
• bassinet or pack-and-play when your hotel does not offer this option
• car seat when it is significantly cheaper than going with one through the rental car company
• hiking baby carrier (if you have a big hike planned for on your trip)
• beach toys if you are doing an ocean vacation but don’t have or want to pack the gear
• so much more!

But here’s my word of caution…

These rentals can add up quickly , and before you know it, you might be spending hundreds of dollars. (Especially if you’re on a longer trip.)

The prices vary depending on what products you’re looking for and where you’ll be traveling, so calculate the total cost to help you determine whether this would be worthwhile service for you or not.

20. Invest in a compact stroller

One of our most-loved travel items is our compact stroller. It is one of the things we’d strongly suggest buying specifically for travel.

On our first international trip with Juniper, we lugged our normal stroller. This stroller was a hand-me-down from a friend and we love it for at home. But we quickly learned that it was an absolute beast to transport.

It was very heavy and still took up quite a bit of space even when it was collapsed.

After that trip, we bought a stroller that was made for travel . It folds up small to be able to easily fit in the overhead compartment on planes, making it a breeze for travel. 

We personally love our Colugo stroller (and have brought it all over the US and the world!) and would highly recommend it as a durable and affordable travel stroller.

21. …and a solid baby carrier

Having a solid travel stroller is great, but there are places and activities where a carrier is far superior.

Here are just a couple of things to consider:

Stroller is better when:

• it’s hot out and you don’t want to baby wear
• the sidewalks are well-maintained and the streets are flat

Carrier is better when:

• you’re in a crowded place
• the sidewalks are not well-maintained (or the streets are cobblestone)
• you’ll be getting in and out of public transportation

We’ve had a lot of baby carriers, and we both agree that the Ergobaby Omni 360 is the best all-around baby carrier. It’s pricy, but lasts for a long time and is good in a variety of situations. Plus, it works for both of us to carry her, even though we have very different bodies!

22. Consider traveling in a campervan

We’re biased and this certainly won’t be for everyone, but we’ve found campervan travel to be wonderful with a baby , especially when Juniper was really young.

We had everything we needed with us at all times, and we could pull over at any minute to cook a meal, change a diaper in the comfort of our own van, or just hang out in our own private space.

In Juniper’s first year we:

• spent 4 months living and traveling in our own campervan that we built from scratch
• we rented a campervan in Scotland for a 2-week road trip (spoiler alert: it was amazing!)
• plus, we rented a campervan in Ireland for 1 week too!

If you’re renting, you’ll really want to look at the space to figure out if it will work for your family. Most campervan rental companies will be happy to help you choose. We also have a whole list of USA Campervan Rental Companies you can choose from that we personally recommend.

Traveling in a campervan with a little one certainly requires a different mindset, and I wouldn’t recommend it as your first trip with a baby if you’ve never experienced vanlife before . But I think camping can be very special with a little one and a unique way to see a destination.

And don’t leave home without our VanLife Baby Gear Checklist . These are the things we always pack in our van that make our lives so much easier and keep our baby happy.

23. Get a baby passport ASAP

If you plan on traveling internationally with your little one in their first year, we’d recommend getting the process rolling shortly after they are born so you are sure it’ll arrive in time. We applied for Juniper’s passport when she was just 3 weeks old, so it really isn’t ever too early.

This is actually very easy to obtain and we have a whole guide to getting a baby passport . 

Good to know: If you have Global Entry and want to continue using it, you will also need to apply for this for your baby. We learned the hard way when we were turned away at Global Entry. “Interview” time slots fill up very quickly, so schedule this as soon as you get the passport.

24. Get travel insurance 

Hopefully I don’t have to explain why here, but we get travel insurance for every trip we take.

Now that we have a baby, it feels even more important to be properly covered.

Need advice on how to go about getting the best policy for your situation? We’ve gotcha covered in this guide to choosing travel insurance .

25. Get an eSIM on international trips

If you are traveling internationally, it’s super helpful to be able to connect to cell service immediately upon landing.

This can be essential if you need to contact your transport or hotel. 

We love eSIMs because you don’t have to search for a physical SIM card (a hassle) and you don’t have to pay crazy international coverage fees from your home phone service.

Our favorite eSIM is Airalo .

Psst! We have an entire guide to how to get an eSIM here . 

26. Renting a car is usually a great idea

We love using public transportation on our travels, but having a rental car is a lot more convenient when you’re traveling with a baby.

You won’t need to carry around your car seat or luggage, and you can go at your own pace, making stops as frequently as you need. Plus, you won’t have to run so you don’t miss that train! (We’ve all been there.)

When in doubt, make it a road trip. And be sure to check out our tried and true 5-step plan for making your road trip a success !

Want some road trip ideas?

Here are our favorite road trips in the world:

• Iceland Road Trip
• Scotland Road Trip
• New Zealand Road Trip
• Australia Road Trip
• Yucatan Peninsula Road Trip
• Costa Rica Road Trip
• Banff to Jasper Road Trip
• European Christmas Market Road Trip
• Oregon Road Trip
• Oregon Coast Road Trip
• Utah Road Trip
• Idaho Road Trip
• Washington Road Trip
• Colorado Road Trip
• New England (fall foliage!) Road Trip

27. Include family in your trips

Again, this is a tip that may not apply to everyone, but you may want to consider including family in your travel planning.

This could be an opportunity for them to create special memories with your little one, and who knows – maybe they’ll give you the gift of a “date night” while they watch baby !

You could either plan a trip together (hint: book a big Airbnb for the most comfortable stay!), or plan a trip to visit friends or family who live somewhere you’d like to explore.

We’ve been lucky enough to take trips with both Ben’s family and mine, and we’re excited to plan more extended family vacations in the future.

28. Move around less

If you’re used to moving around from place to place rather quickly on your trips, you may want to slow it down a bit (or a lot!) when you add a baby into the mix. 

You’ll be able to cover much less in one day, and you’ll need to consider what you’ll do during nap times and when babe needs to go to sleep at night.

You certainly don’t need to stay in one place the entire time (though that’s not a bad idea); but trust me when I say you don’t want to move to a new place every single night .

Our rule of thumb is we aim to stay in places at least 2 nights on trips, but 3-4 nights per place is ideal , in our opinion. 

(An exception to this is when we’re staying at an airport hotel the night before a flight, we only book one night.)

Psst! Read our tips for how to choose the best accommodation for traveling with a baby !

29. Get to major attractions early

Take advantage of your little one’s early wake up call (sleeping in on vacation is something I dearly miss!) and when possible, get to those popular sights before the crowds get there .

Not only will you have a better experience without all the people around, but there will be less commotion and sensory overload for babe. Plus, without all sorts of people around you may feel less self-conscious if your kiddo starts to get fussy.

30. Plan on early dinners (sometimes)

Not gonna lie, I’m a huge fan of late dinners. I like the buzzy atmosphere and I don’t usually get hungry until later in the evening.

But alas, there are many cases where it makes a lot of sense to do an earlier dinner when you’re traveling with a baby.

Popular restaurants tend to be a lot more family-friendly before the dinner rush really begins. That might mean making a 5:00 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. reservation . If you’re like me, you might be rolling your eyes, but getting there earlier means you won’t have to worry about disturbing the late-night dinner crowd with a baby that is overwhelmed by all the sights and sounds.

We don’t always stick to early dinners, but when we know a place is popular or on the fancier side (or if it’s a weekend night), we do like to go before the real dinner rush (aka sensory overload!) begins .

31. Take advantage of room service (or takeout & delivery!)

Pre-baby, this was never something I’d do, but having dinner in your hotel or Airbnb can be really convenient (especially after a long day of exploring!).

We’ve gotten takeout/delivery a handful of times on trips and either have dinner as a family, or eat once our daughter has gone to sleep. It’s can be such a treat.

Money-saving tip: If you book accommodation with a kitchen, plan on cooking at least a couple of nights during your trip.

32. Cook some of your baby’s favorite meals

When possible, I like booking accommodation with a kitchen or kitchenette so I have more control over what our daughter is eating.

We love having her try new foods on our travels, and overall she is a pretty great eater. But we’re not always able to get to a restaurant when she starts getting hungry. It’s nice to be able to whip up some easy and wholesome meals we know she likes at our Airbnb so we can carry them with us throughout the day.

Below are a few meals and snacks that have worked well for us. I specifically chose dishes that use few ingredients that are easy to find in most places around the world, as well as dishes that don’t require complex cooking equipment.

If your baby is eating solids, use these ideas or create your own list of their favorite foods that you can easily replicate on your travels. Use this list to determine what items you’ll need to pack from home.

Insider Tip: Bring reusable baggies ( like these or these ) to store food to easy eating on the go. You could even bring a small cooler so you can carry it with you during a day on the road.

Banana & egg pancakes 

Mash one ripe banana then add one egg. Mix until combined into a batter. Pour this in a skillet with oil (I prefer coconut oil), and cook on both sides, like a pancake.

I like to add a little nut butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon if I have access.

Insider Tip: Pack nut butter packets like these to be able to easily add it to different meals.

Smashed avocado

Super simple! You can add tomatoes too if you want. Serve as is or with rice crackers.

Oatmeal 

I prefer to bring my own premade mix from home in a large silicone baggie . Then I can cook small amounts at a time on the road. All you need is hot water.

You can make it however you’d like, but this is a combo I like:

Quick-cooking oats + hemp + flax + powdered coconut milk + chia + cinnamon + freeze dried berries.

Once it’s prepared, you can add nut butter as well as fresh berries if you’d like.

Chia pudding

This is a nutritious meal that is good to make if you’ll be staying in one spot for a while.

A simple Google search will show you plenty of recipes, but I like chia + milk (almond, coconut, or oat are my preferred milks) + a little maple syrup. I usually add a bit of cinnamon if I have it.

I sometimes pack chia seeds from home if I think they’ll be hard to find.

Scrambled eggs 

This is another go-to as eggs are easy to find just about everywhere. 

Bulk it up by adding other veggies, a sweet potato or avocado.

Rice + beans + corn

This is another easy one using ingredients you can easily find in most places. I’d recommend this one if you’re staying in a place for a longer period of time, as you’ll definitely have a few days worth of leftovers.

Alternatively, order rice and beans as a side at a Mexican restaurant and keep it in a takeaway container to store.

Pasta, peas, & pesto

Whole grain noodles combined with frozen peas and pesto is a quick and easy meal and it saves well for leftovers. You can add cherry tomatoes too!

Roasted veggies

If your accommodation has an oven, simply bake some veggies. Sweet potato is a favorite of ours!

Insider Tip: When you’re in a pinch, look in the prepared food section of the grocery store. We’ve found premade guacamole, what bulgar and veggie salad, fruit medleys, and lots more that has worked for us no matter where in the world we are. Check the frozen aisle too. We’ve found frozen falafel (or veggie burgers) and frozen veggies with hummus is an easy meal.

33. Find out where you stand on sleep schedules

One of the most common questions people ask us is, “How do you stick to a sleep schedule while traveling with a baby.”

Our completely honest answer is: We don’t.

This may be somewhat controversial, but we realized early on that we didn’t want to be super rigid about bedtime while traveling. And we didn’t want to always need to go back to our accommodation for naptime.

This is something that has been gradually changing and adapting a bit as our daughter gets older and her needs change. But during her first year, we had a somewhat flexible bedtime and we did a lot of napping on the go. 

This doesn’t mean we were hitting the town until the wee hours, but we often gave ourselves a 1-2 hour window for getting back to the hotel and getting ready for bed. We got to know her cues pretty well and used them to inform our decisions. 

We also had worked on napping on the go so much that if she fell asleep while we were at dinner, we didn’t stress out. We’d enjoy our meal, head back to the hotel and transfer her into her sleeping space.

Important Note: Sleep schedules are one of the more personal topics when it comes to parenting. And we’re not saying our way is right for you. We’re simply sharing what has worked for us so you have somewhere to start.

34. Do your own research about co-sleeping

Personally, once we felt our daughter was old enough, we practiced co-sleeping every once in a while so that we could use it as a tool if needed. This has come in handy several times on trips.

Ideally, Juniper has her own sleeping space in a hotel. However, in the case that she is having a rough night, isn’t feeling well, or we’re staying in a tiny room, we can co-sleep comfortably and with peace of mind.

We’ve also used this as a tool in our campervan on occasion. She has her own crib in our van, but if she wakes up in the middle of the night, we feel comfortable bringing her into bed with us so she is comforted.

Important note: Co-sleeping is another controversial topic. Do your own research and see how you feel so you can make an informed decision for your family.

35. Help your babe adjust to different time zones

If you’ll be crossing time zones, here are 5 tips for helping your little one adjust easier:

Start shifting time zones at home

Before you leave for your trip, start to shift bedtime 1-2 hours to get closer to your destination’s time zone.

Start slow. A few weeks before the trip, make their bedtime 15 minutes later. Then 30. And so forth until you’ve shifted as much as you’d like.

This can help cut the adjustment time down once you get to your destination. 

Good to know: If you’re going to be changing time zones more than 2 hours, you likely won’t be able to fully adjust at home. But every little bit will help!

Maybe you don’t need to adjust at all

If it’s just 1-3 hours different from your home time zone, you may not even need to adjust at all. 

Let’s say you are traveling from Seattle to NYC. This means you will be 3 hours later than at home. 

Perhaps instead of a 7 p.m. bedtime, you allow your little one to stay on their normal schedule and go to bed at 10 p.m. (which will allow you to have extra time to explore the city in the evening). This will also mean later wake-ups which is always nice on vacation.

If this is just a short trip, this can work really well and will also cut down on the adjustment when you go back home.

While you’ll want to aim for the same amount of sleep they typically get at home, there’s no rule that says you have to abide by their normal bedtime hour.

Use daylight to your advantage

When trying to adjust to a new time zone, use outdoor activity and daylight to your advantage.

Your baby will realize this is daytime, and their body will start to adjust accordingly.

Expect jet lag to last one day per hour time change

There’s kind of a general rule that you should anticipate it takes 1 day per hour that you change time zones. 

So that means if you are going to be changing time zones by 5 hours, it will take roughly 5 days for you to feel “normal” and get over jet lag.

This rule is for both adults and babies, so use it as a gauge for your own travels.

Don’t plan anything big on the first day

If you will be shifting several time zones, we’d recommend keeping your first day (or two) relatively free. 

This will alleviate any pressure and will allow you and your little one to rest up after a long travel day.

Insider Tip: We like these homeopathic “No Jet Lag” pills when we’re traveling through many time zones. These are for parents (not babies), but being adjusted yourself definitely helps deal with helping your little one shift as well!

36. Book a family photo shoot

This is a fun one I wanted to throw in there just because!

Instead of booking a photoshoot at home (like many people do), connect with a local photographer on a trip for a photo session. 

On our European Christmas Market Trip, we booked this photo walk last minute, and were so happy we did. With a baby, it has become more difficult to get good pictures of ourselves. (If you know, you know!)

The pictures turned out amazing, and it was such a special souvenir from our trip. You will never regret having photos taken , after all!

We’re definitely going to continue this tradition in our future travels.

Want to do it yourself? Look on Airbnb Experiences . This is where we’ve found a lot of local photographers around the world. Some cities have more options than others, but it is becoming more and more common. Alternatively, you can try to find local photographers in the city you’re visiting on Instagram . Reach out to them in a DM or via their website to book a session during your trip.

37. Plan on some personal time

This might not be advice you take on your first trip with a baby or even on your fifth. But eventually, it might be something you and your partner want to consider.

What would it look like for each of you to be able to do one experience on your own while the other spent quality one-on-one time with your child ?

Maybe this would be something you used to do on trips in your pre-baby days, like going scuba diving or another adrenaline-fueled adventure. Or perhaps it would be a massage appointment to unwind.

I once did a hot air balloon flight next to Mount Rainier (babies aren’t allowed) while Ben and Juniper hung out in the campervan.

This might not appeal to everyone, but if you find yourself missing your old travel days, this might be just the thing you need!

38. You don’t need to limit yourself to only baby-centered activities

If you’re not keen on the typical baby-friendly trips or activities, like kiddie pools or zoos or chain restaurants, I’d like to pop in for a minute to remind you that travel with a baby can look however you’d like .

There’s no rule that says all your trips from here on out have to be at Disney or on kiddie-friendly cruises if that’s not your style. I know we didn’t like the idea of being relegated to only taking trips that were focused on babies from here on out.

We’ve found that while there are certainly some activities you just can’t do with a baby on vacation (scuba diving being the biggest thing we miss!), there’s a lot that you can do, even if it’s not marketed toward families.

Sometimes this means you’ll need to do more planning in advance, but in our experience it has been worth it to be able to continue traveling the way that feels best to us.

We usually research activities in our destination to determine which ones we personally really want to do. Then, unless it explicitly says children are not allowed, we think about what we’d need to do to make it work for us.

Here are some examples of what I mean:

• Some cocktail bars only allow minors until a certain time, so we will plan to go earlier .
• We pack lots of snacks and a good napping-on-the-go set up for walking tours or food tours (we’ve been on a bunch with her!).
• Sometimes we might have to take turns at an activity , like snorkeling or snowboarding, while the other watches Juniper.
• We might alter a hiking route to make it more doable with a little one.
• Often, we’ll go somewhere with the mindset that we’ll leave if Juniper isn’t doing well . More often than not, she surprises us with doing great.
• We still take public transport, but we’ll give ourselves plenty of time to get from Point A to Point B.

It kind of becomes a puzzle of: how can we still do this activity?

Don’t get me wrong – there are times we turn things down because it’s not worth it to us to make it work. But for the most part, we’ve still been able to do most of the things we really want to experience.

And we’ve been able to take some pretty epic trips that are focused on our interests (even though we have a baby):

• road trip around Scotland
• backcountry camping at Cracker Lake in Glacier National Park
• lived in our self-built campervan for 4 months
• Christmas Market hopping in Europe

As our daughter gets older and has her own interests, the way we plan trips will likely change, but up until this point, this is what has been working for us.

Overall, I’m honestly surprised by how much our trips now are similar to the things we’d be doing before having a baby.

39. Get ready for some really special interactions

Something I wasn’t prepared for before having a child is the sweet interactions it would bring to our travels.

We’ve had so many different types of encounters – from servers at restaurants falling in love with Juniper (see pictures below) to people offering to help out when she’s crabby (this has happened multiple times!).

The last photo in the set above was taken at a Venezuelan bakery in Mexico where I was eating by myself with Juniper while Ben had dental surgery. She was just the slightest bit fussy, and the two sweet women behind the counter insisted that they would cheer her up while I eat my food.

Juniper is quite the conversation starter (she loves waving at strangers!), and has brought a whole new level of sweetness to our travels.

I’m so excited to watch Juniper grow up and experience kindness from different people all over the world.

*Excuse me while I go wipe my tears.*

40. Go ahead and book those damn flights! 

Here’s my last piece of advice (for now!):

Just book it!

Don’t let the voices in your head (or your well-meaning neighbor!) scare you away. 

If traveling with a baby is something that’s important to you, I know you can do it. And I’ll be your cheerleader rooting you on!

The first big trip with a baby can be daunting, but I have a feeling you’ll realize it’s not as scary as you’re building it up in your head to be. 

And you’ll feel like such a badass for turning your dream into reality. 

You might even find yourself daydreaming about your next big family vacation, which will feel a lot more doable since you’ve already got one trip under your belt.

Personal note from Katie

I truly hope this article has been helpful to you and leaves you feeling encouraged about traveling with a baby and motivates you to start planning that dream trip. I also hope you’re able to take away some helpful nuggets that you can put into practice! 

I do just want to say that if you want more content on traveling with a baby, please let us know. 

I have been avoiding writing this article for a number of reasons (which I’ll go into below), but it was readers like you who encouraged me to ignore these thoughts and just write it anyway.

So why did I avoid writing this article?

Lemme spill the tea… 

1. Giving parenting advice always attracts negative comments. 

Anytime I share things we do as parents, there’s always someone to point out why they would do something differently. Or why traveling with kids in general is just selfish.

I’m only human, and negative messages and comments are not fun to deal with. So avoiding the whole “traveling with kids tips” felt like an easy way to avoid the negativity. 

2. Traveling with a baby is very different for every single person. 

Everyone parents differently and there’s no way I could create an article that would resonate with everyone. 

This was kind of keeping me frozen in place, asking myself, “How do I give all parents advice about traveling with kids?”

And then I realized I didn’t need to. I just needed to share what has worked for us. I hope you’ve read this article with that lens. 

Some of these suggestions may not work for you or your child. You know your situation best, so pick and choose the ideas and advice that feels good for you.

3. This isn’t a family travel blog.

We decided very early on that we didn’t want Two Wandering Soles to become only about traveling with kids as soon as we had a baby.

At its core, TWS will always be about responsible and adventurous travel . And we aim to share the best things to do in locations around the world, regardless of whether or not they’re family-friendly. 

That said, we’ve realized that we can create family travel content without that being the only thing we write about.

4. Honestly, I don’t feel like an expert at parenting.

We traveled to more than 50 countries before getting pregnant. 

We lived out of a backpack for years on end, and called many different countries “home” for an extended period of time.

We have years and years of experience, and very much consider ourselves experts in all things travel-related.

But the whole parenting thing is new to us. We have one daughter. And at the time of writing this article, she is just over a year old.

So there’s a part of me who kept delaying sharing our “baby travel tips” until I felt like more of an “expert” as a parent. 

But I’ve come to realize that parenting is something that we’re likely never going to feel like experts at . It is a continuous learning process, and as soon as we feel like we’re getting the hang of it, things change. 

I finally became okay with the idea of creating content about traveling with kids without feeling like an expert. Because with the exception of people whose profession is related to parenting, we’re all just doing what we feel is best for our children.

And that might be as “expert level” as you can get.

Want more advice for traveling with a baby?

• Our top tips for staying at a hotel or Airbnb with a baby
• Feel confident on your flight with these tips for flying with a baby !

Save these tips so you don’t lose them!

Pin this article so you can easily come back to it…

We want to hear from you!

We hope these tips for traveling with a baby are helpful!

What advice would you add? Any travel hacks that have helped you? What questions or concerns do you still have?

Note: Please be respectful with your comments. Remember, we are sharing tips that have personally worked for us .

Comments (10) on “ 40 Practical & Encouraging Tips for Traveling with a Baby ”

Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experiences in such an engaging and relatable way. You’ve truly inspired me to create unforgettable memories with my baby. Keep the amazing content coming! Greetings!

Insightful travel tips with baby! I loved how you addressed the importance of booster car seats and how they ensure safety while on the road. Your practical advice on traveling with little ones is invaluable, especially for parents like us. As we plan our family adventures, we’ll be sure to consider the booster seat recommendations you shared. Thanks for helping us make our trips safer and more enjoyable for our baby!

Traveling with a baby can be a challenge, but having a reliable travel cot is a game-changer. It provides comfort and security for your little one, ensuring they have a familiar place to sleep and play. Investing in a lightweight and safe travel cot is a must for any parent on the go. Thanks for highlighting its importance in your informative article! -Baby Train-

I feel like I could tear up after reading this – what an invaluable resource! Thank you!

I have been following you both for quite a while & have been trying to implement the tips you’ve shared over the last few months. My baby is 4.5 months old & she is so chill. Maybe it’s her personality, but I also think it’s the way we’ve done things..which has a lot to do with the tips you’ve shared! She can sleep wherever. I’ve practiced changing her & feeding her in different places & she’s been to our local museums & coffee shops more times than I can count. Though I still get nervous about things (like her getting fussy in public, etc), she really makes it pretty dang easy. We’re hoping to spend a couple of months in Europe this summer, so I’ll probably be re-reading it & studying it so I can prepare us as best as possible.

Thank you again. <3

My children are older and I am still terrified of travel, I am so inspired by seeing you travel with Juniper! I am going to start being more brave!

So happy to hear this resonates. I totally get being scared – I am too hehe! Starting with small adventures near home has been so good at building our confidence and hopefully it helps you too. Wishing your family lots of memories and adventures in the years ahead!

As always, you nailed it with your advice and tips…and your honesty. I love what my father-in-law says that parenting is flying by the seat of your pants. So true! And I am a big believer that when you become a parent, you go with your gut because no one knows your kid like you do!

Juniper will grow up with a worldly perspective…what a gift you and Ben are giving her. Travel makes me joyful, too. I like what you wrote about being a better mom when you are happy…so true!

Last year my 21-yr-old daughter was so inspired by my travel blogging that she asked to take some trips with me. So we did and it was special! There is nothing better in this world than when your adult kids want to spend time with you…and in the form of travel!

What a wonderful foundation of love, adventure and joy you are building for your sweet girl.

I know this article will help a lot of traveling parents…and any negative comments you get…tune those right out! YOU are doing it right! Happy travels with your cutie pie baby girl!

Thank you so much for your kind words, Rachel. It means a lot! I bet seeing your kids grow into adults is unlike anything you can describe. And how cool that you get to share a passion with her! Thank you again!

This is amazing and such timely advice! My husband and I are due to have our first baby in May and we have been going back-and-forth about what kind of travel we want to do when he comes. This article has given me so much more confidence about the things that we can do with him and has really helped me see what is possible with a baby. Thank you so much for this! Keep the baby content coming! Your style of travel is so similar to ours and I love to see what you have done with Juniper so far!

Thank you so much, Stef, for the kind words. Truly just brought a smile to my face. So happy to know it resonates with you. And CONGRATULATIONS on this new and beautiful chapter. Wishing your family all the best!

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36 Baby Essentials for Travel You NEED for a Great Trip

Looking for a list of the top baby essentials for travel? Here’s my tried and tested list of what you need to take for baby when you travel abroad. I’ll be using it in the future too!

Knowing which travel essentials for baby to bring on holiday is quite the art. You don’t want to be weighed down by too much stuff, yet, at the same time, you don’t want to be in some remote town with no access to the baby travel essentials you forgot.

This list of baby travel essentials has been finely honed for my future use, and for you to make sure you have everything you need for baby abroad.

Number one rule is that as long as you have your feeding paraphernalia sorted, the rest of the stuff is a lot easier to pick up and find in supermarkets abroad. As parents we all know NOT to let your baby go hungry – that’s when the tears and the cries start.

Also, take your changing bag or ‘diaper bag’ and pack it as if that’s all you have. That way, if your main luggage is lost, then you can be safe in the knowledge that your baby will be ok with the contents of that at least for 24 hours. It also means you have a choice of clothes, toys and distractions for on the flight.

36 Travel Essentials with Baby

Baby travel essentials for sleeping, bedsheets .

We take Reggie’s bedsheets with us when we travel, ones that he’s already slept on a few nights. Used bedsheets carry the smell of home and are an absolute essential for babies in helping them to get to sleep in a different bed. Ours are just from Asda.

Blackout blind 

Blackout blinds are amazing for emulating the sleeping space of home. You might not need these if you’re travelling in Europe, as a lot of hotels will already have blackout curtains for siestas, but they’re definitely useful for travelling around England . You can just use the hooks and the velcro to stick it up. We use this Tommee Tippee blackout blind at home too.

White noise machine

This is the white noise machine we have . It’s small but mighty and is easy to use. It goes really loud so if you want to block out plane noise, and especially a noisy trolley service, it works well. Definitely one of the most important baby essentials for travel.

Sleeping bag

We’ve gone through quite a few different baby sleeping bags from different shops, but it’s this one from Amazon that we like best. It fits well under his arms and is easy to put on. He wears a 0.5 tog at home, and so we take the same one abroad. Obviously if you’re travelling to a cooler destination , or like to use the air con, then you might want to adjust the tog of the sleeping bag you use. I’d recommend taking at least two in case your baby is ill on one.

After the success of Reggie sleeping in Sardinia on his first adventure abroad, we bought a Red Kite travel cot to put up in our room. Travel cots are just so spacious!

We love this Red Kite travel cot – it’s so easy to put up and down. Remember you’re allowed to take this on most flights as one of your two free items. Do check with your hotel if they offer one though, and then make a decision as to whether you really need to lug your own about. They can be pretty heavy!

Reggie isn’t really that interested in dummies any more but over the last 5 months they’ve been great at buying a few minutes silence, or just for calming him down. I’d still travel with at least two, just as back up. He likes the Tommee Tippee ones best.

This Snooze Shade is an absolute essential for travelling with a baby. I use it almost every day in England so I’d definitely take it abroad, for the next few years. It’s light weight and breathable and protects that precious skin from the UV rays. It can also be an emergency blanket if you want to put your baby on the ground. This was absolutely essential for the recent mum and baby retreat I did.

Baby travel essentials for transport

You can take your car seat on the flight as one of the two items you’re allowed for free when babies are under two. Do make sure it’s wrapped up and covered though, as there are so many germs in the hold on a plane. You can buy special bags to cover them , or, do as I did and just use the covers for our suitcases wrapped in bin bags. This was fine. I think it depends how much you think you’re going to travel.

You can either check your car seat in when you drop your luggage off, or when you get to the gate. It’s up to you. When we went to Sardinia I dropped it into the oversize baggage where we checked the luggage in, and then picked it up at baggage reclaim in Italy.

You might want to take it on the flight with you if you’ve bought a seat for it, or you think you can blag one on a half full flight. I’ve never tried it!

I just wanted to get rid of it ASAP.

READ MORE: Top Tips for Travelling Solo With a Baby

Same with the pram – you can either drop it at the luggage drop or use it in the airport and pass it over at the gate, or just before you climb the stairs to the flight.

I like to use it in the airport and when queuing for the plane so I handed it over at the doors to the plane. Again, make sure you cover the bassinet or seat with a bag or it’ll pick up all kinds of germs on the flight.

Definitely one of the most important baby essentials for travel!

If you want to walk on beaches, go hiking or just have a bit more freedom with the terrain you walk on, it’s best to travel with a sling .

You might also find this useful on the flight as you can’t pick up your pram or car seat until luggage reclaim, which could be a long wait with a heavy, wriggly baby. I’ve got the Ergo newborn sling, although I need to update very soon!

Car sun visors 

Car sun visors are an absolute baby travel essential. If you’re going to Europe in summer you need something to keep that sun off your little one in the car. You can buy car sun visors that fold up so they don’t take up much space – we got some free with our pram but they’re a good idea to travel with.

First aid kit

I just feel better knowing I’ve got a first aid kit with me!

Baby travel essentials for eating

Cartons of sma milk.

These SMA cartons are an absolute necessity when travelling with a baby. They offer so much freedom in getting out and about and are so easy to use. When you travel with these though, they will need to be scanned for… explosives(?!) which can massively delay you at the airport. A better approach can be to order some from the Boots airside to pick up as you travel through.

SMA milk powder back up

The cartons are an expensive way of feeding your baby though, you might prefer to use the milk powder if you have a kettle at your accommodation. Take a tin of this as back up.

Milton steriliser

This steriliser was brilliant in Sardinia for keeping Reggie’s bottles and toys sterile. You simply use the Milton sterilising tablets  with 5 litres of water and leave them for 15 minutes. Then, everything you’ve submerged is sterile. The only problem with this is if you’re visiting a country where you can’t drink the water – you’d need to get a good amount of bottled water to suffice. In Italy you can drink the water, FYI!

Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep machine

We took our Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep machine on holiday with us. I was hesitant at first, but it ended up being the best idea for all of us and just made things so much easier. I wouldn’t bother if it was just a few days, but with a week’s holiday it can really make things easier, and cheaper too.

Tommee Tippee bottles

And of course you need your bottles! We like these anti colic ones.

Muslins / bibs

Take plenty of muslins and bibs for your trip, I can guaranteed you’ll get through them!

Baby travel essentials for cleanliness

There are many baths for babies on the market, from inflatable ones to collapsible to buckets. One of the best ones we’ve found is this collapsible bath from Stokke. Stokke® Flexi Bath® is a foldable baby bath suitable from birth to four years. It’s great for road trips and camping as it’s easy to store and just folds down.

It has non-slip legs, double-action locks and orange safety heat indicators, so you can relax in the knowledge that baby is safe and secure while you focus on enjoying the moment. You can get an optional insert for babies too.

Wipes 

You’ll have to decide yourself how many packets of wipes to take. We took three for a week – one in each bag – just in case the bags got lost. We use these Water Wipes to protect the planet, and Reggie’s bum.

I’ve decided that baby towels are rubbish. They’re too small and not absorbent enough. I have an old lightweight beach towel from Matalan which is perfect for Reggie.

Nappies and nappy bags

Again, another difficult decision in how many nappies to take. Just remember the fact that if you’re going to somewhere with a town, or near a town, there’ll be somewhere to get more nappies from. People abroad have babies too!

Just make sure to pack enough for the plane, plus a few.

Nail kit 

Before I had a baby I never imagined how difficult it would be to keep up with their nail growth! And if you’re going to a warm country, it’ll be even worse. Take a nail kit to keep up with their dangerous nail growth to avoid gauged faces and scratched bodies.

One of the most important baby essentials for travel you might not have thought of.

Massage cream

Ooo Reggie loves a massage before he goes to bed, and I like to keep up the routine while we’re away. This Child’s Farm massage cream is the only one I use, and I have the 2 in 1 shower gel and the bathtime bubbles too.

Child’s Farm sun cream

Sun cream for babies is very important, especially if you’re coming from England and going to a hot country in the summer months. Their precious skin just can’t cope with it. Make sure to lather on the sun cream before you leave in the morning, and keep them as shaded as possible. It’ll make the evening bath routine all the more enjoyable.

Calpol  and Bonjela  

Pack both Calpol  and Bonjela , just in case!

Sanitising wipes

Oh sanitising wipes are an absolute travel essential for babies. You can use them for surfaces in the airport, on the plane and as you travel. I like these Milton ones for Reggie, just because I’m so used to the brand.

Baby travel essentials for fun

Take some toys for your baby to play with on the plane, and in the destination. The Lamaze range is a winner for Reggie, especially the banana .

Here are his top 5 other toys that would be great for a flight:

• Banana teething toy
• Sophie giraffe teething toy
• Ruby Art star

Baby clothing travel essentials

Onesies, shorts, tshirts, vests.

Knowing how much to pack for your baby’s holiday can be quite the skill – it also depends on the weather. I’d recommend packing more than you think as with all the sun cream, the swimming and the general muckiness of being on holiday, you can get through the clothes. An alternative would be to see if there’s a washing machine and dryer where you are.

Make sure to pack sleepsuits for air conditioning, long clothes to protect from the sun, and some fun clothes too.

Sun safe swimsuits

Whatever swimsuit or swim onesie you get, make sure it has the sunsafe logo. The best one we found was from Asda. Get two so your baby doesn’t have to wear a damp suit the day after.

Swim nappies 

Make sure to take some swim nappies with you but remember they only catch poo, not wee. I learned that the hard way with the car seat.

Towel 

Already covered this but I’ll add it in here too.

Take a range of hats to protect from the sun, including one of those with sides and a back to protect the neck.

Other stuff to take

Powerbank .

If, like me, you often forget to charge your phone, then some sort of a powerbank is essential. This way, if your phone runs out you have back up. We use our phone for so much these days it’s actually kinda dangerous to not have one, especially when you have a baby, so buy a powerbank to stay in control and in touch.

Plug adaptor

Make sure you take a plug adaptor with you when you travel with baby, and maybe even a four-bar plug too. You need so much stuff, and you want it all to be charged at once. Charging can also be problematic when you have those room keys that need to be plugged in for all the electricity to work. Take a four- bar plug to help with this.

We picked up a sun tent from Asda and it’s great as it pops up and down in seconds. This is really great when there’s no trees or posts to create a shady den from. Just pop this up and you have a windshield and sun shield in one. Definitely take a sun tent.

Pushchair fan

This pushchair fan is exactly what you need for a hot country and a little baby. You can simply attach it onto the handle of the pram and your baby can basque in the cool air. The bendy legs also go straight meaning you can have it blasting at you from the side too. So good you’ll want one for yourself, I guarantee.

Thermometer 

These room thermometers are a great idea and one of the most important baby essentials for travel you need. Simply put them where your baby is sleeping and you’ll get to see the exact temperature they’re in. This will help you set the air con and decide on which tog sleeping bag to use too. They’re really useful.

It’s a good idea to have a baby cam when you’re travelling abroad, just so you don’t have to be by your baby’s side every single second of the day. This way you can sit on the balcony and watch the cam knowing your baby is ok. We have the Nanit camera at home so it’s good to have a cheaper one like this to take with the baby when travelling.

Packing your baby’s travel essentials

I recommend using packing cubes to organise all your baby travel essentials, it’ll just make things easier when you get there. I’ve got these packing cubes from Amazon and have used them for years.

Once your baby is sorted, what about YOU? Check out my list of the most important travel necessities for women here. Featuring everything you could need to take (bar your clothes that is).

Baby essentials for travel

There you have it, my top baby essentials for travel. I’ll be using this list again when I head off to Valencia in a week’s time. I hope you find it as useful as I do!

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Hi, I'm Vicky! I wrote this. You can find me on all the social media @VickyFlipFlop. I love a bit of adventure, will try anything once, and have a strong passion for the local food and drink, whatever it may be. I'm here to help inspire you to travel to places a little out of your comfort zone, or at least to explore the usual destinations in a different way. Stay, have a look around, and if you have any questions – let me know below.

Hello, Please can you let me know if you packed your prep machine as hand luggage or in the suitcase? Thank you so much!

Hi Cliona, I packed it in the suitcase! Vicky

I’ve been reading your blog on and off for years after discovering a post about what to pack for Glasto just before I was due to head there for the first time (SEO clearly on point!). I’ve become a mum this year so I have rediscovered your blog and am loving your baby-related posts. Thanks for the great content and travel advice.

Oh fab, that’s so lovely to hear Kate. I’m off to Spain with Reggie on Friday so there’ll be a lot more baby content to come! Hope everything is going well with your little one.

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The Ultimate Packing List for Baby Travel (+printable checklist!)

Over the years, i’ve written a lot about how to travel with a baby..

Between leaping head first into baby travel when Evelyn was 5 weeks old, to taking our special needs baby Sophie on several trips around the country, we’ve become pretty well-acquainted with the world of travel with a baby by now.

Truthfully, traveling with a baby is not all that bad. But it does require a ton of preparation for  all the things  that you might possibly need.

We’ve covered  what to pack in your carry on  before, along with  everything you need to know before flying with a baby . I’ve even shared our favorite baby travel gear and travel-friendly toys .

But one thing I haven’t covered? A comprehensive, everything-you-must-pack guide to make the whole trip with baby go extra smoothly!

We were reminded of just how much stuff one little human can require as we prepared for our month-long adventure around Southern California . Our packing list felt endless . And I can say pretty confidently that we left nothing behind.

So let me spare you the stress of wondering “what am I forgetting” ?

Read on for our ultimate baby packing list of EVERYTHING you might ever need when traveling with a baby!  (+a free printable checklist at the bottom of this post!)

Pin it for later:.

BabyBjorn Travel Crib | Brica Travel Bassinet | BabyZen Yoyo Stroller | BabyZen Bassinet | MiaMily Carrier | MiaMily Infant Insert | Babyzen Yoyo Adapter Clips | Doona Car Seat Stroller | MaxiCosi Car Sea t | Car Seat Travel Bag

Baby Packing List | Travel Gear

First things first, the big stuff !

You may not need all of these items for every trip, but for the most part, we bring this same travel-friendly baby gear just about everywhere we go:

• Baby Carrier | A baby carrier is a must, even if it’s nothing more than an efficient way to move through the airport. I know not all kiddos love the carrier, but we find that having both a carrier and stroller available when we travel with Sophie is essential. You just never know when you’ll run into a place with lots of stairs or uneven sidwalks, so it’s good to have a back up that will keep you moving freely. We started out with the  ErgoBaby , but made the switch to the more lightweight and compact  MiaMily toddler carrier with Infant Insert and absolutely love it. Still on the fence? Read up and compare  all of our favorite carriers for babies and toddlers here .
• Stroller  | Even though our carrier is indispensable, we like to have options. For newborns, I adore the Doona Car Seat & Stroller 2-in-1 . I only wish this had been around when our girls were babies because it takes so much hassle out of traveling with a baby! For us personally, we love and recommend the lightweight and carry-on compliant  Babyzen YOYO+ , which is great for older babies who can sit up on their own (don’t forget the puchase a compatible backpack carry bag – so worth it)! For newborns you can add on the bassinet pack onto the YOYO+, just keep in mind you will have to gate check the stroller with this add-on.
• Car Seat  | Depending on where you’re going, you may or may not want to bring the car seat. If you will need one, the Maxi Cosi and  Nuna Pipa  are two that can adapt to a YOYO+ without the bassinet add-on (just get some  adapters like these , and you’re good to go!). For older babies, a popular choice is the  Cosco Scenera Next , which is super lightweight at just 10 pounds. I recommend getting a car seat bag to keep it clean while flying, and if you’re worried about it getting banged up by luggage handlers, you can upgrade to a padded car seat bag .
• Travel Crib | We’ve always brought our own travel crib, mostly because I want our kids to feel the comfort of a familiar sleeping environment, no matter where we are. We’ve been especially happy with our  Baby Bjorn Travel Crib , which has held up with our travels all over the country these past 6 years. For infants, you can get away with a more compact option, like this Travel Pod Bassinet . And if you’re in a pinch, most family-friendly hotels will offer cribs for free, or you can rent one from a baby gear rental company, like BabyQuip . Read up on all  our favorite baby travel cribs here .

Pro Tip: Don’t want the stress of traveling with all your gear? Use BabyQuip and get bulky items like cribs, strollers, high chairs, car seats and so much more delivered straight to your hotel or rental!

Packing Cubes | Sun Hat | Baby Socks | Moccasins | Pajamas | Boys Swimsuit | Girls Swimsuit

Baby Packing List | Clothes

Sure, babies require a lot of stuff to pack, but the one area where they don’t take up much space in the suitcase: clothes!

I use these packing cubes for everyone in the family and almost everything for baby can fit into just one:

• Pants & Leggings  | Usually 2-3 pairs. In colder months I’ll skip the rompers and dresses, and add more leggings, pants and sweaters.
• Shirts & Onesies | Usually 2-3 tops, adding 2-3 more in winter months.
• Dresses or Rompers | Usually 2-3 for warmer destinations, because they’re so easy to pack and don’t require mixing and matching tops and bottoms.
• Socks | 2-3 pairs , even in the summer months in case we end up somewhere chilly.
• Booties or Shoes | I’ve recently become obsessed with little baby shoes, but I try to stick to one simple pair of baby moccasins that match everything for travel, like these from BirdRock Baby .
• Hat | A must, no matter where you’re traveling, whether a sun hat for the spring and winter, or a fuzzy hat for the fall and winter.
• Swimsuit | Only if necessary, of course. These boy and girl options from Rufflebutts are our favorites.
• Pajamas | I stick to just 2 pairs of footie pajamas  (plus a 3rd pair worn on our travel day).

This might not seem like a lot of clothes, but if we’re traveling for more than 5 days, we’ll wash and rewear items to keep our packing light. This means making sure we have access to laundry facilities while we travel (whether it be an Airbnb with a washing machine, hotel with a laundry room, or a wash and fold laundry service nearby).

Tommee Tippee Bottles | Formula Dispenser | Travel Mug | Slim Ice Packs | Pumping Backpack | Breast Pump Battery Pack | Bottle Cooler | Nursing/Car Seat Cover | Muslin Swaddle Blankets | Dr. Brown’s Bottle Wipes | Travel Dish Soap | Travel Bottle Drying Rac k ( similar one here ) | Stackable Snack Container | Silicone Snack Cup | Wipe-Clean Bibs | Spoon with Case | Folding Spoons | Squeeze Pouch Baby Food | Sippy Cup with Weighted Straw | Travel High Chair

Baby Packing List | Nursing & Feeding

Things change quickly with a baby, and depending on their age and feeding habits, you may need any of the following:

• Bottles | We’ve always traveled with just two bottles and been fine. Tommee Tippee and Dr. Brown’s are our favorites.
• Drying Rack | I love our OXO travel drying rack ( similar option here ); it’s come in handy more times than I can count! We also have a larger version of this Boon travel drying rack at home, and would highly recommend either. It’s truly one of the items you don’t think you need until you’re balancing wet bottles around a hotel sink.
• Dish Soap | Never fails, I always forget dish soap! If you’re staying in an Airbnb, there’s no need to bring your own (unless you’re particular about what you use). But if you’re staying in a hotel, for sure pack this little travel-size one  for washing bottles!
• Nursing Cover | There’s a good chance you’ll have little privacy for nursing during travels, and at the very least a nursing cover can help with getting little ones to fall asleep in busy places. Or for a lighter solution, a muslin swaddle is great and doubles as a blankie.
• Breast Pump & Supplies  | It’s a pain to lug around for sure, but if you’re going to need it, consider investing in a few pieces to make pumping on-the-go easier: a special  backpack and battery pack . (and good news, the airline won’t count this against your carry on luggage allowance)
• Cooler Bag | We love a little cooler bag with ultra-thin ice packs , or if you need room for more bottles, this Medela cooler bag is a great option too.
• Formula Dispenser | For babies on a formula-fed diet, this little guy makes mixing bottles on the go so much easier .
• Tall Insulated Mug  | This simple, yet useful item is a must for an on-the-go bottle warmer. Just ask your airport coffee shop to fill it with piping hot water after you get through security, and then dip your bottle in to warm milk up in no time!
• Wipe-Clean Bib | Once baby is into solids, a wipe-and-reuse bib is awesome for on-the-go feedings.
• Travel Spoon | Our favorite is still this one that comes with a little case for easy storage, or try these squeeze pouch food adapter spoons .
• Snack Catcher | This travel container is perfect for little cereals you don’t want spilled all over.
• Squeeze Pouch Baby Food | If you’re feeding while traveling, skip the mess and squeeze it from  pouch form onto the spoon!
• Sippy Cup | We’ve tried many of the years, and these classic sippy cups from Munchkin or these sippy cups with weighted straws are both at the top of our list of favorites.
• Bottles Wipes | It’s tough to clean bottles, pacifiers, and spoons on-the-go, but  these bottle wipes are a safe and easy way to do it when you don’t have a sink handy.
• Travel High Chair | If you have the space for it, I can’t recommend this travel high chair enough, which folds down flat for packing. You could also opt for a cloth seat harness for an even lighter, more compact option.

Refillable Wipes Case | Dirty Diaper Baggies | Hand Sanitizer | Hand Sanitizing Wipes | Natural Bug Spray | Sunscreen Stick | Brush & Comb Set | GoToob+ Container | 2-in-1 Shampoo and Body Wash | First Aid Kit | Inflatable Bath Tub | Travel Size Pain Reliever | Travel Size Diaper Rash Cream | Travel Size Lotion | Travel Thermometer | Nail Clipper

Baby Packing List | Health & Bath

• Diapers | My rule of thumb is to pack a maximum of 8 diapers in the baby backpack and then buy more as soon as we arrive.
• Travel Wipes Case | These no-frills travel wipes cases have become my favorite over the years. Like diapers, I load one up with as many as I can fit and then buy more once we’ve arrived in our destination.
• Dirty Diaper Baggies | These dirty diaper baggies have also come in handy more times than I can count.
• Baby First Aid Kit | We keep a super simple kit that includes only the basics, like travel-size diaper rash cream , infant pain reliever , a few bandages , a small  thermometer , nail clipper , skin cream , etc. For all those other ‘what if’s’, we’ll buy it at our destination if needed.
• Prescription Medicines | Keep liquids in their original containers to avoid any issues with TSA, and for anything needing kept cold, we use our bottle cooler bag with ultra-thin ice packs .
• Sunscreen | These pocket sunscreen sticks are my absolute favorite because they’re easy to apply and take up so much less space.
• Mosquito Repellent | This natural one is our favorite. No chemicals or stink!
• Sanitizing Wipes | Especially good for wiping down a dirty airplane seat. I always keep a small travel-size pack in the diaper backpack.
• Hand Sanitizer | For obvious reasons, I always keep a travel-size hand sanitize r clipped to the backpack.
• Baby Shampoo & Body Wash | This 2-in-1 combo is our favorite, filled in a small GoToob+ travel container .
• Brush or Comb | Of course.
• Inflatable Travel Tub | Finally, this handy inflatable bath tub is an absolute favorite of ours and has gotten way more use than I ever thought it would. It’s definitely worth the purchase if you don’t have access to a tub or your baby is not sitting up on their own yet.

Read Next: Everything You Need to Know Before Traveling with a Baby

Portable Baby Gym (similar travel-friendly option here ) | Muslin Swaddle Blankets | Minkie Blanket | Baby Shusher | Clip-On Sound Machine | Pacifier Clips | Pacifiers | Peek-A-Boo Book | Stacking Cups | Musical Toy | Travel Crib Sheet

Baby Packing List | Play & Sleep

• Play Mat | We’ve stayed in lots of Airbnbs with hardwood floors and little comfortable space for baby to play. I so wish this fold-and-go baby gym was around when my kids were little (or this similar travel-friendly option ).
• Small Toys | I try to keep toys to a minimum, mostly because when you’re traveling, you’re out and about a lot anyway. Sassy brand makes a ton of my favorite simple baby toys, and I keep a little collection in one of these  mesh storage bags for easy packing.
• Pacifiers & Pacifier Clips | We find these pacifiers with these clips  to work great!
• Swaddle Blankets | Another must-pack item, Aden & Anais makes our favorite muslin swaddle blankets that double as a nursing cover or burp rag too.
• Crib Sheet | Whether you bring your own travel crib or use the hotels, we like to have our own crib sheet. This crib sheet that’s designed specifically for portable cribs has traveled with us again and again.
• White Noise Machine | We love our  Shusher and I swear it has made all the difference in helping our babies fall asleep in new places. This portable sound machine is another favorite among traveling moms.
• Favorite Blankie | Even though it can be a bit of a pain to travel with, having a soft baby blanket sure is nice for wrapping baby up on a cold airplane or having a familiar comfort from home.

FreshlyPicked Diaper Backpack | Passport Cover | Reusable Storage Bags | Dropper Stopper Tether (similar options here and here )

Baby Packing List |  Miscellaneous Must-Haves

• Diaper Backpack | A good diaper bag is essential, and I can’t recommend going with a backpack style enough! Having your hands free, especially in airports, is a necessity, and this FreshlyPicked diaper backpack has travelled with us all over the world!
• Birth Certificate or Passport | Did you know some airlines require you to show a birth certificate for your lap baby? To be safe, I always carry a copy in my wallet. And if you’re planning on traveling internationally, be sure to start the process for your baby’s passport as soon as possible.
• Dropper Stopper Baby Tether | From toys, to bottles, to snack cups, this is our favorite item for keeping all of our baby essentials from hitting the dirty airplane floor (similar options here and here )
• Plastic Storage Bags | Whether one-time use, or an  eco-friendly reusable , we’re always finding a need for the modest plastic storage bag. Whether for dirty clothes from a blow out incident, saving leftover snacks, keeping trinkets and keepsakes together, we’re always finding a new use for these.

Free Printable Checklist: Baby Travel Packing List!

It doesn’t matter how many times we’ve traveled with a baby, I’m always bound to forget something!

After many missed essentials, I finally created our own baby travel packing list ! We use it for every trip, and now you can use for yourself!

get it here!

Thanks for being a subscriber!

PS. You can also find this and all of our  printable family travel planning tools exclusively for subscribers in our free resource library .

What are your must-have packing list items when traveling with baby?

Wife and mom to two sassy little girls, Laura has been sharing her family's travels here on Our Next Adventure since 2016! Though lots has changed in both our family and the world of travel over the years, one thing remains: we love exploring new places together!

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21 Must-Have Baby Long-Haul Flight Essentials (Make It Easier!)

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED LINKS. FIND MORE INFO IN MY DISCLAIMER.

Home » 21 Must-Have Baby Long-Haul Flight Essentials (Make It Easier!)

Parents sometimes deserve a gold medal for flying with a baby. Traveling with a baby can be challenging, especially over long haul flights. It requires extensive preparation to ensure you and your baby have a comfortable and safe trip.

Trying to puzzle out what to pack and which baby gear to take with when traveling can be overwhelming, especially for a first family vacation abroad. Here are some essentials on what to pack and what you need to fly with a baby for a peaceful flight.

Top 21 Long Haul Flight Baby Travel Checklist Essentials

For those who like to be organized and prepared (don’t we all?), here’s a handy list of everything you should take with you on any trip.

Tip : When creating your baby travel packing list, be sure to add extra supplies in case of any unexpected event. 

For Comfort

Your baby’s comfort is the main objective, whether you’re on a short or long haul flight. There are certain essentials to add to your baby travel checklist to ensure a pleasant flight for all.

1) Swaddle Blanket

Small blankets are ideal for wrapping your baby up and keeping those little toes warm. Swaddle sheets are a great choice and perfect for keeping warm and wiping up any messes as well.

They also save space compared to regular blankets because they are so light.

Check out the price for this blanket on Amazon here .

2) Dropper Stopper

Another must-have, unless you enjoy doing your stretches every two seconds to retrieve an item, is a stopper. Any item your baby plays with on the plane is attached to one of your or your partner’s wrists so that it’s never more than 2 feet away.

Check out the price for this dropper stopper on Amazon here .

3) A Few Small Toys

Young children can get somewhat cranky while traveling for long periods. A collection of airplane toys is usually the last thing we cram into the bag. So they’re easy to grab when needed.

Stuffed animals, music toys, teether blankie, teething keys; take whatever is compact and is loved deeply by your little one. It is best to take a few different options to keep the little one occupied.

4) A Sky Mattress

A fantastic new product from SkyBaby is the travel mattress. It enables young babies to sleep snug on your lap during a flight. There’s a loop underneath the bed that attaches to the lap belt to keep your baby secured.

This means a peaceful sleep for the baby and minimal discomfort for mom or dad.

Check out the price for this baby mattress on Amazon here .

5) Pacifier and Clip

If your baby uses a pacifier, it may come in really handy while on a long-haul flight. A clip attached to your baby’s jammies will ensure the pacifier is not spat out onto the dirty airplane floor, and then lost forever.

Check the price for this pacifier with a clip on Amazon here .

6) Extra pair of jammies

We usually always pack in an extra pair of pajamas for the plane.

Check out the price for these pyjamas on Amazon now .

Firstly, they’re comfortable. The best ones come with attached booties to keep their feet warm. Plus, it’s much easier to change a diaper in an airplane bathroom if all you have to undo is a few buttons. Rather than need to pull pants off and back on.

Taking an extra pair is crucial, as well. If there’s a messy accident on the plane (most likely to happen), you will definitely want a backup.

7) An airplane travel bassinet

Not even the most doting parents want to hold their baby for an 8-hour trip. For a long haul flight, parents can request a free bassinet (cot) for the baby to sleep in.

Note: It’s best to request a bassinet early as most planes usually only offer one per plane. Also, there is a limited number of seats to accommodate this space.

For Diapering

On any flight, diapering is a challenging task. To get the job done quickly and cleanly, ensure you have the right tools. To make life even more convenient, find yourself the best diaper bag possible.

Check out our favorite diaper bag here!

When you’re getting ready for a long flight, you should pack a diaper in for each hour you’ll be in transit – and some extras. A rule of thumb when packing is to add one and a half times more than what you think you’ll need for the trip.

Check out the price for these diapers on Amazon here .

9) Diaper rash cream

Diaper rash cream comes in small travel-sized versions and should be a staple in your carry-on.

Check out the price for this diaper rash cream on Amazon now .

10) Dirty diaper bags

These dirty diaper bags are fantastic for bagging up smelly diapers on the plane. They are also great to have on hand for any additional trash. Take a couple of these with you at a time instead of taking the whole dispenser – this will save you room.

Check out the price for these diaper disposal bags on Amazon now .

Tip : Use a waterproof-lined diaper bag with a shoulder strap.

11) Travel case wipes

Wipes are great to carry with you, especially during the awkward diaper changes on a long flight. A travel case is great to use. It allows you to refill the wipes to last you a full 8-hour day.

Check out these travel diaper wipes case on Amazon now!

Personal Health & Hygiene

Keeping your baby healthy is of the utmost importance. Here are some baby bag must-haves to ensure your infant is hearty and happy.

12) Nail clipper

The nail clipper is a baby bag foremost that should be carried with you at all times. You would never want your little one cutting themselves with long nails.

Check out the price for these baby nail clippers on Amazon here .

13) Infant Tylenol and Ibuprofen

Infant Tylenol should be packed just in case of emergencies. Keep this in small measures with your other travel-sized liquids.

Ibuprofen sachets come in handy in 5ml sizes and are available from most supermarkets and chemists.

Check out the price for this Infant Tylenol Medicine on Amazon now .

14) Comb or brush

Yet another baby bag staple, though not so exciting. Keep the whole family looking presentable for that ‘just landed’ photo. A soft brush for baby is convenient and always comes in handy.

Check out the price for this baby hairbrush on Amazon here .

15) Antibacterial wipes

Keep antibacterial wipes on you to wash down any grimy tray tables, sticky hands, etc. Wet Ones are perfect for sensitive skin and they’re safe to use on infants.

Check out the price for these wet wipes on Amazon here .

16) Nose Frida – the snot sucker

You can never tell when your child will need a good old nose suck. It’s not the most important, or exciting item, but it is another baby bag essential.

Check out the price for this Nose Frida on Amazon here .

Feeding Time Must-Haves

With any human being on the planet, traveling with comfort food is essential, especially with your infant – through with a baby, it can be a messy job!

Comfort food can make a fussy baby a very happy one in a few seconds. Pack in these handy items to keep feeding time simple and stress-free.

17) Extra bibs

A bib is a great device when you’re trying to feed your baby. The bumkins SuperBib is terrific to use. It’s waterproof, making it easy to wipe off any spills. It folds into a small pouch for storing and is big enough to keep an extra spoon there when feeding.

Check out the price for this baby bib on Amazon here .

18) An extra bottle

For those formula feeding , an extra bottle is a lifesaver. Fill it up with the exact amount of water and then just keep it handy at airport security.

Check out the price for this baby bottle on Amazon here .

This will help if one is dirty and you need an emergency comfort feed. 

19) Spoon with a travel case

Take a soft baby spoon with a travel case. There’s a great one from Oxo that comes with both the travel spoon and case. During a flight, you would certainly want a place to put the dirty spoon, and that’s where a case comes in.

Check out the price for this infant feeding spoon on Amazon here .

20) Formula dispenser

The formula dispenser is yet another staple on your baby packing list. It’s an absolute lifesaver, especially when you’re trying to balance a baby and mixing up a bottle while flying 35,000 feet in the air. 

Check out the price for this baby formula dispenser on Amazon here .

21) Baby milk and food

You are allowed to take baby food and milk onboard. If it is for the duration of the flight, it may be over 100ml. This includes; breastfeeding or formula milk , baby food in packaging, and sterilized water.

Check out the price for this infant formula on Amazon here .

A food squeeze pouch makes feeding solids during a flight much more manageable. Instead of buying plastic jars of food, taking up much-needed room in your travel bag, the pouch is easy to tuck into a side pocket and is a lot more compact.

Besides the vital foods, bring your baby’s favorite snacks, such as crackers, fruit, puffs, or cereal, to keep them happy.

Final Thoughts about Your Baby Travel Essentials

When traveling with a baby, keep in mind that most major international airlines have a limited supply of baby items such as formula milk, nappies, baby food, etc. Also, be prepared for unexpected stopovers or flight delays.

Traveling with and packing for a baby can be tricky. Fitting the stroller, the right FAA-approved infant car seat , toys, teddies, and clothes can seem impossible. But exploring the world with your little one makes it all worth it. And, it gets easier as they grow.

One thing you can have some sort of control over is your carry on. Take advantage of that, and get ready for a fun, exciting flight with your little nugget.

Andrzej Ejmont

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13 Top Baby Travel Essentials We Can’t Live Without

Table of Contents

So you’ve decided to take the plunge and take your baby abroad for the first time. As a mum who has travelled extensively with her two boys, I know how daunting a prospect it can be – especially when you have to leave the security of home and all that it encompasses. But taking some baby travel essentials will make all the difference to your trip – I promise!

What baby holiday essentials do you need?

Travelling abroad with a baby or a toddler often throws up a cacophony of items that get left at the bottom of the suitcase. I used to think that packing everything but the kitchen sink, would mean that I was prepared for every eventuality or outcome, but actually, in reality, it meant that I was stressed out even before we’d left for the airport.

And inevitably, most of the carefully selected products or items would be untouched, adding to the burden of having to lug it all back home again. Does this sound like something you can relate to? What is important then is to make sure you take only essential travel items.

Baby Travel Essentials We Love…

Travelling with Monkey over the last five years has made me realise there are certain items that we can not live without, which has helped make our last two trips with the baby so much simpler, less stressful and more relaxing. Honest!

So here are my absolute baby travel essentials if you want to take your little one on holiday. And, even better – here is also a free downloadable baby packing list for all the other items you will need to take, too.

For more on travelling with baby…

Click here…

Travel essentials for baby abroad

Maclaren xt techno best traveling stroller.

If you’re travelling abroad with a baby, then this is a must-have item. We don’t use our Maclaren Techno XT on a daily basis at home, but we always take it with us when we go travelling. It’s a brilliant stroller for so many reasons, but mainly because it’s easy to fold, lightweight and fully reclines – plus it’s suitable for newborns. It has been used so much, that I’m not sure if we could have gone away without it. The fully reclining position and extendable leg rest mean that when you need your baby/child to sleep, they’re flat on their back. This has been a saviour for us when we’ve wanted to go out of an evening and put the baby to sleep in the pushchair. Plus it’s easy to navigate (even on the hills of Lisbon ) and has a large expandable hood and sunshade.

First Aid Kit

When I first went travelling on a trip around the world, my first aid kit contained everything from clean syringes to water purification tablets. Having it with me throughout my journey had a soothing effect – it’s always good to be prepared. Now, we always take one with us, whether we holiday at home or abroad because you never know when you might need something there and then.

Snooze Shade

Our snooze shade pretty much goes hand in hand with our XT stroller – and is one of our top essential baby travel items . If you haven’t heard of a snooze shade it’s a fantastic invention, it’s a sunshade baby stroller cover and its universal fit means it works on all different brands of pushchairs and buggies. It not only keeps the sun off your little one, as well as flying critters, but it’s also a great solution when you have a napping baby or toddler, as it maintains a dark environment and blocks out any distractions. We always use it when the baby sleeps , even a night as it forms a snug, dark cocoon.

More baby travel tips

Sheepskin liner.

A baby sheepskin liner makes a noticeable difference in terms of comfort and padding out a pushchair. Lambskin liners have a soft, fluffy texture that means it keeps baby snuggly and warms in winter, and in hot weather, it has the opposite effect, keeping baby cool. Before we brought one, Peanut wasn’t so enamoured sitting in his pram for long periods, but now he settles well in it, even sleeping in the pram during the night if we’re out and about. As far as best baby essentials go, that’s priceless!

Dr Beckman Travel Wash

As all parents will testify, babies and children can get grubby very quickly and, while I don’t really want to do any washing while I am on holiday, it sometimes is unavoidable. Especially on clothing, you would like to keep… rather than slinging it in the bin. We always use Dr Beckman – a little goes a long way and I love the smell of it.

Car seat protector

Taking your own car seat when you have a baby is the best way to ensure your child is safe while travelling in a vehicle but what can you do to protect it during transit? After some searching, I found a car seat protector which not only comes in a handy fold away pouch but is bright red and easily identifiable on the luggage carousel. We’ve used it twice now, and our car seat, and the bag has been left unscathed after the stresses of both journeys.

A baby carrier

I’ve tried many different brands of carriers over the years and I keep going back to my good old faithful Baby Bjorn . Not only do I find it comfortable to wear, but it also fits nicely under the pushchair. Then, once you board the plane, it’s fantastic for being able to calm baby during the flight. Whenever the boys have got cranky, I’ve walked up and down the plane with them strapped to me – much easier than holding a restless child. And, when you disembark, more often than not, the pram isn’t there, so you have to walk some distance through the airport to passport control. It’s also useful when you can’t take the buggy somewhere.

For More Baby Travel Tips

Peanut absolutely adores his bath time, much like his brother did at his age. So we were determined to get him in the water on our trip to Sardinia. A baby float is a pool essential on holidays – helping your baby get used to the water and giving parents peace of mind that they are fully supported. Ours is over five years old and still going strong!

UV protection swimsuits

I just love sun protection swimsuits . Not only do babies and kids look adorable in them, but they are so brilliant at shielding their delicate skin. They protect children from UV Rays up to UPF 50+, and keep them cool while playing in the sun. Not only that, but anything to minimise rubbing sun cream onto squirmy babies can only be a good thing!

There’s nothing worse than being on a beautiful beach with no sunshade – especially when you have children. We bought a sun tent some time ago to use in our garden, and since then, have always packed it with us when we go away. At first, we were unsure if it would fit in our luggage, but this one folds down flat and is simple to put up, too. It literally just pops open. It’s also huge – and can fit 2-3 people underneath. It’s great for napping children, too, or just like a shady base for babies to lie in.

Sterilising bags

If you bottle-feed your baby, the amount of equipment you have to bring can bring on a small headache. I use self-sterilising MAM bottles, which are fantastic if you have a microwave to hand, but if you don’t, what to do then? In order to use sterilising tablets, you need a container that will hold up to a litre of water for a 24 hour period. Hotel room sinks are an option but only if you have more than one. I found these strong sterilising bags which can be hung up on a sturdy hook. They’re roomy enough to fit several bottles and other items such as dummies. I have always taken them with me, just in case.

A blackout blind

My boys have always preferred sleeping in a dark room – but when you go away, there is no guarantee that your accommodation will have blackout curtains, blinds, or shutters. This Gro Company Anywhere Blackout Blind has come in useful over the years. It folds up neatly so doesn’t take up much room, but this handy piece of kit does really make a difference. Another top product that makes it to my list of essential travel items for baby.

A portable high chair

Most establishments these days do offer up high chairs, but there are some occasions abroad, where you can be caught out, so it’s better to have one, than not. We love this high chair which folds up neatly and is not only lightweight but wipes clean. It’s great because it turns any seat into a secure high chair, and can easily be stored under a pram if you’re out and about.

What are your baby travel essentials when you go away?  Are there any items that you just can’t do without? Love to hear your thoughts.

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Packing Lists , Travel Advice

20+ toddler travel essentials for 2024 – with packing list.

Items that helped us through the challenging toddler travel years

We’ve never denied that one of the most difficult phases we went through with our children was the toddler years. At home and travelling. The memories are still very fresh!

It never stopped us from travelling, but it certainly added to the amount of gear we needed to lug around the world with us (it’s kind of the same as babies, only it feels bigger and heavier, AND you’re chasing a little one around too!)

Essential Gear for Moving Around With Toddlers

Sleeping away from home, toddler meals on the move  , toddler essentials for flying, toddler entertainment on the move, other essential toddler items not to forget, this post is part of our best toddler travel advice series.

I bet if you’ve picked up this article, you already know toddlers have a mind of their own!  Not all tactics for keeping toddlers nearby when you’re in busy places will work the same. 

We’re going to suggest a few travel accessories for toddlers here that have variously worked with our three children – but we know they won’t suit all!

Toddler harness / reins

Some will love ’em, some will despise them!  Having a cute little character will definitely help your kids grow an attachment to this essential piece of toddler kit for a family trip. Perfect for crowded places, we haven’t left home without one of these for years.

Accmor Toddler Harness Leash

3 in 1 Toddler Harness Leash

Accmor Toddler Backpack Leash

You can see our complete guide to buying toddler reins and harnesses here

Collapsible Stroller

Once you have outgrown a full-sized baby buggy that carries basically your whole life in, it’s time to downgrade to something more sensible, practical, and lightweight for your family vacation.

We love the brands that collapse small enough we can take them right up the plane door and onto the plane with us, fitting into the overhead bin with your carry-on bag.

The Babyzen Yoyo was the first brand to achieve this and is still a great option, but there are many brands that have now followed suit.

We have used our trusty Mountian Buggy Nano for years, but you can also try brands such as the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 or the immensely popular microsized GB Pockit that comes in several variations.

Evenflo GOLD Otto Self-Folding Stroller

Mountain Buggy Nano V3 Stroller

gb Pockit+ All-Terrain

You can see our full guide on how to select the best plane stroller here.

Just be conscious of your child’s height and weight;  hopefully, this investment can last you all the way through to the preschool years. Try not to compromise too much when it comes to your tot still being able to comfortably recline and having a decent-sized shade covering and storage basket, features we would still look for even in a travel stroller. 

We also review the best lightweight double strollers for twins and baby/toddler combinations here.

TIP : If you are still looking to travel with a larger stroller, we suggest you protect your gear when flying or stowing on transport by placing it inside a stroller gate check bag – our full review of your different stroller travel bag options here . 

Toddler Carrier

By now, I am guessing most of you freuent travelers have discovered the joys that a baby carrier brings.  Many brands now see a child all the way through to their toddler years. 

We have used our Ergo across the continents for many years – but with our youngest now 4 (and, to be fair, a happy walker/runner – unlike the first two!!) we are finally ready to say goodbye – one of our best pricier bits of toddler kit we’ve never regretted investing in.

Ergobaby Omni 360 All-Position Baby Carrier

Beco Toddler Carrier with Extra Wide Seat

Infantino Carry On Multi-Pocket Carrier

You can find our comprehensive toddler carrier comparison guide here. 

Hiking Toddler Carrier

For those who do more heavy-duty walking and hiking, you can’t look past the Deuter Kid Comfort Pro . It is one of the most expensive on the market, so you could also look at the Deuter Kid Comfort II which is slightly lighter, but doesn’t include the built-in sunshade.

Deuter Kid Comfort Pro Child Carrier

ClevrPlus Deluxe Adjustable Baby Carrier Outdoor

Luvdbaby Premium Baby Backpack Carrier

See our complete comparison of hiking carrier backpacks here

Car Seats for Toddlers

Outgrown their baby capsule that conveniently fits with their travel system but not ready yet for a simple collapsible booster ?  Yep, this is one phase of travelling with kids that I’m afraid will be with you for a long time, even well beyond the toddler years!

Depending on your child’s age and stage, there are a few options, but inevitably, accept it’s a continual upgrade process (and one of the bulkiest and most inconvenient parts of toddler travel – sorry!)

Where possible, we try to arrange for pick-up services that include a seat or hire cars at a destination – but we know all too well, that travelling home to Australia (where car seat laws are IMMENSELY STRICT) hiring is not financially viable after more than a few days x 3 children, so for years, we’ve kept a complete set of extra toddler seats at the grandparents.  

Safety 1st Grand 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat

Evenflo Chase Harnessed Booster

Britax Emblem 3 Stage Convertible Car Seat

Tip: If you have any intention of travelling with your car seat on the plane, too (you need to buy a separate seat for the infant) then the car seat must be compliant for whichever airline you are flying with. FAA rules are a pretty good for international guidance – but note they apply specifically to US-based carriers, you need to check the rules for the country your carrier falls under.

Find our complete guide on how to travel with car seats on planes here

Don’t forget if you are checking your car seats rather than using them on the plane, you will need to make sure they are adequately protected to prevent handling damage in the hold.

This is our detailed review of the best car seat travel bags .

Toddler Neck Pillow

Another thing we noticed once our kids were out of their snug little capsules and into proper car seats is how much their heads seemed to wobble around when they were drowsy! We’ve researched and tried many a brand of head cushion to get the right fit:

Unicorn Toddler Neck Pillow for Kids

BCOZZY Kids Travel Neck Pillows for Toddlers

INFANZIA Kids Chin Supporting Travel Neck Pillow

You can see our extensive head toddler cushion review here .

Do note, if you want to use them in their car seat, as supposed to say on a train or plane, many of the cute toddler brand ones are too bulky. Microbead products like the BCozzyKids Travel Pillow we have found to be the most adaptable to different positions and modes of transport, even if they look thinner they still do the job well.

Just when you thought you had your nice little routine – then you up sticks and change time zone….. I won’t deny that some of the worst jet lag we have experienced actually happened during the toddler years. 

We have a full guide to jet lag survival with kids you can read here , but the primary things I would worry about packing to conquer this are:

This has been my go-to bedtime tool for years (still IS!). OK, it works a charm for 2/3 kids at least!  No matter where we are in the world, once you have a strict bedtime routine happening, the clock is a great first indicator to them whether they should be getting out of bed or not

Just be conscious of wattage if you are taking any electronic devices with you.  We have lugged many an item halfway around the world to discover it doesn’t work at our destination.  Particularly if you are flying US to a lot of other countries and vice versa, you will need to take not only international plugs but a wattage adaptor, like one of these:

Tommee Tippee Groclock Sleep Trainer Clock

Kids Ok to Wake Clock for Kids  

Hatch Rest Baby Sound Machine

Black Out Curtains

Another thing that helps with sleep patterns and time zone adjustment is having a dark room.  If there’s no guarantee the hotel room at your destination will have blackouts, so this is a great BYO solution if you can afford the space in your luggage, as they are a little bit bulky.

Most portable blackouts stick up with suction cups.

Gro Company Gro-Anywhere Blind

RUseeN Portable Blackout Shades 

Amazon Basics Portable Travel Window Blackout Curtain

Portable Toddler Cot

There’s also no guarantee your destination will have the best sleeping arrangements for your child either.  During these toddler years, we did intentionally look for hotels or apartments that COULD provide us with a cot, but many times especially staying with friends and family this wasn’t an option. We invested early on in a good, lightweight, portable cot (don’t get confused into thinking a bulky pack-n-play pen is the same thing!). 

Phil & Teds Traveller Travel Crib

Milliard Folding Floor Sleeper Cot

Regalo My Cot Pals Portable Toddler Bed

You can see our full range of toddler bed options reviewed here.

We tested the Phil & Teds Traveller a while ago and haven’t looked back since. We still think its one of the lightest and best-priced models on the market, but does take little construction skills.

Portable high chair

You can’t always rely upon every restaurant or hotel having a high chair, so it’s great if you can BYO an easily portable option.  They come in all sorts of designs, from clamp-ons to boosters or cloth wraparounds for restaurant chairs – each with its pros and cons.

Summer Pop ‘n Dine SE Highchair

Baby Delight Go with Me Uplift Deluxe Portable High Chair

Regalo My Chair 2-in-1 Portable Travel Booster Seat

You can see our full review of travelling high chairs (and whether we think they’re worth the luggage space) here.

Spill-proof sippy

You’ve no doubt moved on from purely boob and bottle to a sippy by the toddler stage.  It’s perhaps not until you’re on the move you realise that these things leak so darn much! Or that your toddler terror will do anything to deliberately make them spill! 

We have been through many different brands of leaf-proof sippy cups – just accept no matter which you try, they’re not fail-proof!

Contigo Kids Spill-Proof 14oz Tumbler

First Years Dinosaur Kids Insulated Sippy Cups

Elk and Friends Kids & Toddler Cups

(Note if you are taking any sort of water bottle on a plane, they can pressurise. We have had many a bottle explode water everywhere over the plane when opened… you have been warned!)

Easy clean bibs

Neoprene-style bibs were by far one of our greatest baby-to toddler year discoveries! (Sorry to all our family and friends who received these as gifts from us!) But we truly love them!

They dry so quickly and can be strapped high on your toddler’s neck without choking them so there’s no seep through.  We normally get several wears before they need to go in the wash, and they don’t take up much space, both of which are a good idea for travel.

PandaEar Set of 3 Cute Silicone Baby Bibs for Babies & Toddlers

Nuby 2 Pack Adjustable Easy Clean Soft Silicone Bibs

Snap and Go Easy-wear Bibs for Baby & Toddler

No-spill snack cups

These spill-proof cups might seem like one of the easiest to pack, logical items, but seriously took us years to discover! Do yourself a favour and get one of these for your diaper bag as soon as your kids are onto finger foods. 

They don’t necessarily stop all the crumbs but prevent major spillages and should come everywhere with you, ready to tackle those hangry moments.

Silicone Toddler Snack Cups No Spill

Ubbi Tweat No Spill Snack Container for Kids

Collapsible Silicone Snack Container

Reusable food clips

For when they’re claiming they’re dying of hunger, take two mouthfuls then leave the rest.  Yep, a handful of these cheap but essential clips are a lifesaver in your backpack diaper bag too.

Silicone Food Storage Bags

Otylzto 4 Size Assorted 40 PCS Food Bag Clips

8 Pack Stainless Steel Chip Clips

Snacks, snacks, and more snacks

This is my overriding toddler years memory! OK, there were some classic meltdowns too… But the constant, I’m hungry, minutes after they just declared they were to full for lunch. 

Keeping a good supply of things like rice cakes, carrot sticks, sultanas, cereal bars, and food pouches kept us going on countless day outings and long-haul flights – we have a great list of healthy toddler snack suggestions here.   

Quaker Chewy Granola Bars

Unsweetened Fruit Snacks for Kids

Quaker Large Rice Cakes

Got a little one on the fussy end of the spectrum (aren’t they all?) You’ll want to check out our tips for travelling with picky eaters

Before you read any further, make sure you’ve checked out flying with a toddler section!

Leg cushions for the plane

Guessing you’ve heard these are the latest craze, right? But are they even allowed on planes?  Are they worth the investment? Will my kids actually sleep better on a long flight? What age are they designed for? 

We have tested many of these products on behalf of the manufacturers and have a detailed review, including which airlines allow them here.

BleuWhisk Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed

Inflatable Travel Pillow Airplane Footrest Flight Pillow Toddler

Portable Foot Pillow for Toddler Kids & Adults

So, are these really toddler flight essentials?

My verdict : With one child, set up in the correct position, on a plane that will allow them, yes, they make for a more comfortable flight. But I recommend you read the above article with all the factors to consider before deciding if it’s the right thing for you.  There might be other ways you can get your toddler comfortable without the need for yet more gear (I can see your eyes boggling already how much you have to pack!)

CARES Restraint

As an alternative to taking a full car seat on a plane, but once your tot is simply too big and heavy to take as a lap child, try the FAA-approved CARES Harness.  Ideal for 22-44lbs children – note you do need to have booked the seat to use this.

Cares Airplane Harness for Kids

Airplane Kid Travel Accessories Cares Safety Restraint System

Child Airplane Safety Travel Harness, Safety Restraint

Toddler Plane Bags

You can also see what items we are packing in our toddlers plane bag  here, and read below about toddler entertainment throughout your travels.

Just remember, don’t go over the top when it comes to packing toys for young kids – here are 5 things we definitely recommend do NOT make it into your toddlers plane bag ! 

Wildkin Kids Insulated Lunch Bag

Solar System Planets Kids Backpack Toddler

YUPING Toddler kids Dinosaur Backpack

Tip: Until they are old enough to carry their own bag for the entire journey, do your self a favour and skip the cute novelty rolling bag until they are really ready or you are simply making additional luggage for yourself.  Fine with one kid, but when you have multiple children to consider ….  

Small tablet

We recommend these only for your older toddlers verging on preschool age.  I don’t recommend them for younger toddlers because I know how frustrated mine got when they couldn’t raise the sound, and I’m a strict headphones-only mamma when it comes to electronic devices being used in public places. 

And you reckon you can make a small toddler keep headphones on?

We have snapped our way through too many pairs (yes, even those claiming to be best ‘unbreakable’ on the market) through to your cheapest Walmart ones. NOTHING works on a wiggly toddler, so tablets are a no-go until they can sit still or survive on mute. 

When your toddler is ready to try, here are the best toddler headphone brands we recommend you start with.

For years we gave our kids our hand-me-down ipads but as they are starting to get outdated, we have discovered Amazon Kindle Fire , with its super sturdy case and ability to connect via Google Play and the Android system, as well as subscribe to FreeTime Unlimited for kids. 

Amazon Fire 7 tablet

IWEGGO Tablet 8 inch Tablet with Case

Tibuta Android Tablet

We talk more about Amazon Prime and why it can be a traveller’s best friend here.

Other favourite portable toddler toys:

• WaterWow books by Melissa & Doug
• Quiet Books
• Gel Stickers
• Triangle crayons

Jungle Animals Thick Gel Clings Winter Safari Window Gel

Triangular Crayons

My Busy Book Baby Soft Toy

For more travel toy ideas, pop on over to these detailed buying guides:

• Best travel toys for one-year-olds
• Best travel toys for two-year-olds
• Terrific toys to pack for a 3-year-old
• More toddler plane bag ideas
• Engaging road trip toys for toddlers
• Is it worth getting a travel tray for your toddler to play?
• A spare change of clothes
• Beach and water safety wear
• Wet bags for spares or dirty items
• Hand sanitiser
• Small detergent bottle for washing bottles and cups at your accommodation – don’t forget to check out our complete guide to travelling with bottles & sterilising here.
• A good first aid kit/medicine bag – you can see our complete family first aid packing guide here.

Germ-X Original Hand Sanitizer

ALVABABY 2pcs Cloth Diaper Wet Dry Bags Waterproof

First Aid Only 298 Piece All-Purpose First Aid Emergency Kit

Potty training stage?

We talk about potty training on the move in a lot more detail here , but for anything around toileting don’t forget:

• Wet Wipes! Not just for clean bums, you’ll want these little gems with you for YEARS! 
• Pull-ups, even if they are relatively newly trained, you will want to consider this fall back for long journeys
• Piddle pads for the seat , a great back up to prevent leakage

Wet Ones Travel Wipes

Toddler Pull Ups

Piddle Pad Car Seat Protector

Never forget a thing next time you’re packing by downloading our Family Travel Checklist   

Now we never said travelling with toddlers was light, right?  But it is still rewarding. With the right gear and right frame of mind, it really is a magical age to start opening children up to the world around them and creating wonderful happy memories.  

Further reading on the toddler years:

• That time we took 3 under 5 on a 16-hour flight
• Taking your toddler hiking; how to make it fun!
• Surviving a road trip with a toddler
• 5 travelling lessons my 3-year-old has taught me
• Our Best Toddler Travel Advice Home Page

Bookmark this page, share it with your friends or save it to Pinterest for later

Are your kids a little older?  See what gadgets we recommended for older families on the go , or pop back here if you’re still at the baby age and need our Ultimate Baby Travel Checklist

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links.  Purchasing any items listed on this page through an affiliate link will not affect how much you pay for the item but may earn us a small commission. Our  full disclosure policy  can be found here.

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2 thoughts on “ 20+ Toddler Travel Essentials for 2024 – With Packing List ”

Based on this guide, I need to carry the entire house with me on the plane or train. We travel a lot and each of us has only one backpack. Our toddler’s backpack goes in the stroller and has a bag of nappies, wipes, baby food, baby water, a toy or two, his clothes, home shoes, and essential meds and swimming gear if we plan to. That’s all and never had any trouble. Most taxis and car hires have toddler seats. Sometimes we take baby carrier. That said, our kid is a bit of adventurer. He wont use anything special if we don’t use it

That’s great you’ve learnt to travel light with your tot. It really depends on your style of travel and destination. Certainly, our needs have changed between kidsand we hope that by presenting a number of options, we can prepare first-time travelling parents with the information they need for different travel scenarios with toddlers – all these items we’ve needed at some point in our travels. Thanks for taking the time to stop by the blog and comment, happy travels 🙂

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Baby and toddler travel: what you need to know before going ahead

Read time 6 minutes

While pre-baby journey prep involved chucking some things in a bag and a drink at the airport, travelling with a child can feel daunting. Here are some tips…

Travelling with a baby or toddler: the basics

If you want to stay put for a while when you have a newborn, that’s understandable and totally normal. But when you are ready to head off, you will have all kinds of fun and adventures. Here are some tips to help things go as smoothly as possible.

Baby and toddler travel essentials

Think about what you’ll need, particularly if the journey takes longer than planned. Stuff to tick off includes:

• drinks and snacks
• nappies, wipes and changing mat
• change of clothes.

(Which? 2018a, b)

Keep it all easily accessible and prep a few bags with one or two nappies, a small packet of wipes and some cream for easy dashes to the loo (Which? 2018a, b) .

Baby and toddler holiday essentials

Things you’ll probably need include:

• a lightweight buggy
• a baby carrier/ sling
• a travel cot
• a first-aid kit, medicines and sun protection
• travel blackout blinds.

If you're formula feeding, you'll also need to think about:

• a travel steriliser
• bottles and teats
• formula milk

(Which? 2018b)

See our guide  to sun safety for more tips. 

Travelling with a baby or toddler: top tips

• Try to organise your baby's passport in plenty of time (GOV.UK, 2018a) . NB: this will involve the most hilarious photoshoot of your life.
• If you are travelling to countries where you need a visa, you’ll need to sort that out too (GOV.UK, 2012) .
• Make sure you sort travel and health insurance before you go (annual family policies are often the best value) (GOV.UK, 2012) .
• Find out about required travel vaccinations (GOV.UK, 2012; Fit for travel, 2018)
• Try not to rush – this will make journeys way more stressful.
• It might be easier to go when your baby is young. Small babies are portable and often a lot more flexible than their toddler buddies. Usually infants must be at least two weeks old before they can travel although some airlines allow seven-day old infants on board. The booking policy differs from one airline to another, so it is important to check directly with the airlines (Which? c) . But three to seven months is a great window (The Guardian, 2005) .
• Book outside the school holidays if you can – way cheaper and less crowded. 
• You can make full use of the facilities: lots of airports have dedicated areas for entertaining children and have buggies you can use. Some airlines also let you keep your own pushchair with you right up to the boarding gate.
• Try to keep stuff you need for your baby or toddler in your hand luggage.
• It’s always good to check the weight limit for your airline before you travel.
• Children under two years old usually sit on your lap, so taking a cushion or blanket can help.
• On long-haul flights, you can request a bassinet for them to sleep in. Travelling at night can help them stick to their usual routines too.
• A baby carrier or sling  for very young children and a back/hip carrier for toddlers is great for walking babies up and down the aisles. It also keeps your hands free.
• It’s good to find out from the airport and your airline about the rules for fluids allowed through security and in cabin baggage.
• If you need transfers from the airport, check with your airline about taking your baby car seat, or arrange to hire one when you get there.
• If possible, sit in an easily accessible seat on the plane.
• Changing cabin pressure during take-off and landing can be uncomfortable for your children, you can ease the discomfort by feeding babies, giving toddlers a dummy and older children a sweet to suck on.
• You could attach a luggage label to your child’s clothing with their name and flight number on it.

(Baby Can Travel, 2018b; Which? 2018a, b)

By train or bus

• Try to avoid rush hour. This means the carriages and buses are less crowded and there will be extra seats.
• You’ll thank yourself for checking which train stations have lifts for pushchairs.
• Perhaps try to avoid quiet zones on trains – other passengers may not be sympathetic to a chatty toddler or crying baby.
• Try to use a sling or baby carrier rather than a buggy. It can be overwhelming arriving at a train station with a buggy, whereas using a sling will keep your hands free to find things like tickets.
• Sit near the toilets on trains as there’s often more space and flip-up seats for pushchair space. When you get off the train, watch gaps and get off backwards as it’s often safer.
• Plan the most direct route to avoid awkward train changes.
• Reserve a seat, choosing a window seat for older babies and toddlers to look out of.
• Pack a light bag with nappies, snacks and toys so you can stow other luggage in the rack. 
• Plan how you get from the train station to your final destination, e.g. whether you need to book a taxi with a baby seat. 

(My Train Ticket, 2018; TFL, 2018).

• Try to time your journey around nap times and stop for breaks if you need.
• If you need to, dispatch one parent to the back seat to keep your child company.
• Take window blinds for bright sunshine and music for bored children. Warning: be prepared for long stints of Twinkle Twinkle.
• Make sure you keep toys handy.
• Stock up on essentials like snacks, water, formula, extra bottles, extra soothers.
• Make sure your car seat meets all the safety criteria for your baby or toddler. Read our guidelines here  and how to fit it here.

(Baby Can Travel, 2018c)

This page was last reviewed in March 2019

Further information

Our support line offers practical and emotional support with feeding your baby and general enquiries for parents, members and volunteers: 0300 330 0700.

We also offer  antenatal courses   which are a great way to find out more about labour and life with a new baby. 

Baby Can Travel. (2018a) Airline perks for families with babies. Available at: https://www.babycantravel.com/2015/11/11/airline-perks-for-families-with-babies/ [Accessed 15th October 2018]

Baby Can Travel. (2018b) Inflight entertainment for babies and toddlers. Available at: https://www.babycantravel.com/2017/04/27/inflight-entertainment-for-babies-and-toddlers/ [Accessed 15th October 2018]

Baby Can Travel. (2018c) Road trip with a baby: 7 essential tips. Available at: https://www.babycantravel.com/2015/09/14/road-trip-with-a-baby-7-essential-tips/ [Accessed 15th October 2018]

Fit for travel. (2018) Travel health advice. Available at: https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home Accessed 15th October 2018]

GOV.UK. (2012) Checklist for travelling abroad. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/checklist-for-travellers--2 [Accessed 15th October 2018]

GOV.UK. (2018a) HM Passport Office. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-passport-office [Accessed 15th October 2018]

GOV.UK. (2018b) Apply for a European Health Insurance Card. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/european-health-insurance-card [Accessed 15th October 2018]

My Train Ticket. (2018) Travelling by train with children. Available at: http://www.mytrainticket.co.uk/travelling-with-children [Accessed 15th October 2018]

TFL. (2018) Getting around with your buggy. Available at: https://tfl.gov.uk/transport-accessibility/getting-around-with-your-buggy [Accessed 15th October 2018]

The Guardian. (2005) Have baby, won’t travel? Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2005/oct/22/familyholidays.family.guardiansaturdaytravelsection [Accessed 15th October 2018]

Which? (2018a) Top 10 baby and child travel tips. Available at: https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/travelling-with-children/article/travelling-with-children/top-10-baby-and-child-travel-tips [Accessed 15th October 2018]

Which? (2018b) Baby products to take on holiday. Available at: https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/travelling-with-children/article/travelling-with-children/baby-products-to-take-on-holiday [Accessed 15th October 2018]

Which? (2018c) What are my rights when flying with a baby? Available at: https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/what-are-my-rights-when-flying-with-a-baby [Accessed 15th October 2018]

Information you can trust from NCT

When it comes to content, our aim is simple: every parent should have access to information they can trust.

All of our articles have been thoroughly researched and are based on the latest evidence from reputable and robust sources. We create our articles with NCT antenatal teachers, postnatal leaders and breastfeeding counsellors, as well as academics and representatives from relevant organisations and charities.

Read more about our editorial review process .

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