Traveling Essentials for Baby

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Taking a baby on a trip can be stressful, but with the right supplies and travel gear, it can be a lot easier. This guide outlines baby travel essentials and some packing tips that will help make your adventures with your little one(s) go as smoothly as possible.

When traveling with a baby, it is important to bring along the essentials to make the trip as smooth as possible. This includes items like diapers, wipes, and formula. Depending on where and when you plan to travel, the list could/should include much more.

However, there’s a lot of items you may forget so it’s a good idea to have a baby travel checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything.

Clothing

The first thing I think when packing our baby’s clothes for our trips is “How many outfits should I pack?” When packing baby clothes, it is important to consider many different factors. First thing to consider is the weather. Depending on the time of year you plan to travel, or what the weather is calling for, can determine what type of clothing to pack. As we all know, weather is unpredictable, so it’s important to pack clothing for any occasion.

Warm/Hot Weather

For warmer climates, make sure you pack lighter clothing such as shorts, short-sleeve onesies, t-shirts, dresses, etc. You’ll still want to make sure you pack light jackets for the evenings or going inside of cold buildings.

When going to the beach, it’s important to keep your baby covered and protected from the sun. A sun hat is a must no matter how old the baby is, especially if they do not have a ton of hair. When choosing a swimsuit for your baby, it’s key to consider their age. Sunscreen is not recommended in infants under 6 months of age, therefore, a long-sleeve swimsuit would be beneficial for protecting your little one’s skin.

Cold Weather

For colder climates, you’ll want to make sure you pack heavier clothing and layers. This could include items such as long-sleeve onesies, long pants, sleepers, sweatshirts, etc. Make sure you pack some baby socks if you have a younger baby. Yes, baby shoes are super cute, but they don’t need them when you travel. If you have an older baby who may be walking or close to walking, you may want to pack shoes that are climate appropriate.

Accidents

As we all know, babies can be messy. Whether its spit up, blow outs, or spills, you may feel like their clothes are never clean. Therefore it is important to pack enough clothes for your baby in case of any accidents or spills that may occur during your travels. Personally, I always have two full outfits and an additional onesie in the diaper bag.

Diaper Bag Essentials

When traveling with a baby, diapers and wipes are one thing you can not have enough of. Whether you use disposable diapers or cloth diapers, you want to make sure you pack plenty of both diapers and wipes for your travels, especially if you will be traveling with your baby for an extended period of time. If necessary, you can also buy disposable diapers and wipes at your destination.

Changing Pad

When you travel, you can’t guarantee that there is going to be somewhere clean or safe for you to change your baby let alone somewhere to change the baby period. So you’ll also want to have a changing pad available so that you will always have a suitable spot for changing your baby’s diapers.

Diaper Cream

Diaper rash cream is also an important thing to have handy. You never know when your baby’s bottom may start to get irritated or sore. Personally, I find that diaper cream rich in zinc works best for my baby.

Poop Bags

So what do you do with the dirty diapers once you’re done changing your baby? You throw it out. Well what happens when their isn’t a trashcan available or the diaper is very soiled? I found that having mini disposable trash bags are super helpful. They’re basically like poop bags for dogs. They come on a roll in a dispenser you can attach to the outside of the diaper bag for easy access. They are also super helpful for containing soiled clothes until you are able to clean them properly or even just wet clothes so they don’t ruin anything else in your bag.

Spit-Up, Blow Outs, and Stains, Oh My!

Packing extra clothes in the diaper bag is a must! You never know when your baby is going to make a mess so having an extra outfit or two on hand could definitely be helpful. Having a spot cleaner for stains is also super helpful to ensure your baby’s clothes aren’t ruined during your travels. Personally, I LOVE Miss Mouth’s messy eater stain treater.

Noise

So what happens when you’re out and about with the baby and you end up somewhere with a lot of noise? The last thing you want to do is harm your baby’s ears. Having a pair of noise cancelling headphones in your diaper bag can help prevent that. Even if you’re somewhere that the music is playing too loudly or people are screaming, having these headphones handy can help keep your little one’s ears safe.

Feeding

Depending on how your baby is fed, will ultimately determine what you need in your diaper bag when it comes to feeding time. For a young baby, burp cloths are a necessity. When your baby is a little older and eating solids, you may find that bibs are an important item in your bag.

If you are exclusively breastfeeding, you may need to invest in a nursing cover. Having a nursing cover can ensure that you have full privacy for nursing your baby while also protecting them from the elements. To minimize the amount of items in your diaper bag, its useful to purchase a cover that has multiple purposes. These multi-use covers can be used as a carseat or high-chair cover, carseat canopy, blanket, changing mat, and more.

Food and Drink

It is essential to keep your baby fed and happy while on the road. Whether you exclusively breastfeed, pump and bottle feed, or strictly bottle feed, you want to make sure to pack enough to feed your baby for your entire trip.

Breastfeeding

If you’re exclusively breastfeeding, you won’t have to worry about warming up bottles while on your travels. You may want to bring a nursing cover for when you are somewhere where there aren’t private places for you to nurse your baby.

I’d highly recommend wearing nursing friendly clothing while on your travels. Wearing a nursing bra can make nursing out in public a lot easier for both you and your baby. If you don’t have any clothing that are made specifically for nursing, try wearing multiple layers. Wearing multiple layers can allow you to nurse your baby without exposing a lot of your own skin in the process.

Bottle Feeding

Bottle feeding your baby can either mean using formula, breast milk, or a combination of both. Regardless of what you choose, you are going to need to pack the proper supplies.

The first thing you’ll need is bottles. Personally, I’d recommend packing a few that way you always have a clean one ready and on hand incase you aren’t able to clean them right away. It’s important to pack a bottle brush and bottle/dish soap that way you can clean the bottles properly.

If you plan to bottle feed your breast milk, you are going to need to make sure you pack a breast pump, as well as pumping parts for your travels. Depending on your supply, you may need to be able to store your breast milk. Breast milk storage bags can be super useful and are very compact for traveling. Be sure to pack a sharpie to label them.

When storing the milk or formula in a bottle, it’s important to know what time the bottle was made or prepared to make sure that the bottle doesn’t go bad before it is used. I personally like to use small removable stickers to label my bottles.

Food

If your baby is 6 months of age or older, they may be eating solids while on your trip. So your packing list may be a little different. One thing you may need to pack are baby food pouches. These pouches are great to pack for easy snacks while out and about or even on the road. Another thing you are going to need is bibs. I would recommend packing silicone ones that are easy to clean. You may also need to pack baby utensils that way you can feed the baby while size appropriate utensils.

If your baby is eating solid foods, you’ll want to have a clean place for your baby to work on feeding themselves. If you’re like me, I’d prefer to use my own highchair when out and about to minimize the amount of germs my baby is exposed to. You can purchase a portable high chair that you can pack up and take along with you during your travels. These are not only good for minimizing germ exposure, but they also allow for you to provide a safe place for your baby to eat in places in which there might not be a highchair available.

Another thing that may be helpful is using a silicone placemat. These are great for providing a safe and clean place for your baby to eat from. They are even available with suction cups on the bottom to ensure that they don’t move while in use. Plus, these mats will roll up smaller than any portable highchair would.

Baby Bed

When traveling, one thing people think about when choosing when to stop or where to stop is sleeping arrangements. So what about your baby? Where is your baby going to sleep? Many parents will have their baby sleep with them in bed, called co-sleep, to keep their baby close to them. Personally, I like to have our baby sleep in her own bassinet or crib to keep the baby safe.

If you have a young baby, you may find that a travel bassinet would be best for your child. I love my Munchkin Brica Fold N’ Go Bassinet. It is easy to use and folds up small enough to fit inside of a normal sized suitcase, plus it fits my baby comfortably.

If you have an older baby, you may find it easier to invest in a travel crib or pack & play. Just keep in mind, the bigger the crib or pack & play, the more space it is going to take up in your car if you’re driving.

A baby monitor may be something you want to pack as well if the baby sleeps in a different room from you while on your travels.

Older babies, one year of age or older, may want a few extra items when it comes to sleeping such as blankets, pillows, and a stuffed animal.

If you are planning to stay in a hotel room, you can always check with the hotel prior to booking your trip to see if they have a crib or bassinet available to rent for the duration of your trip. Otherwise, they should be able to put you in contact with a rental company if you don’t want to pack your own travel crib.

Bath Time

When you and your family travel, you all need to bath at some point in time. Yes, younger babies don’t need to be bathed every single day unless they are physically dirty, but they will most likely still need a bath at some point during your travels.

A baby bath can tend to be pretty bulky, so if you’re trying to travel light, I definitely would not recommend packing one. You should be able to bathe your baby in either the sink, if your baby is young, or in a tub if your baby is a little older. If for some reason your hotel room does not have a tub, you could always try to shower with your baby if you feel comfortable. Otherwise, I would suggest calling the hotel prior to your arrival and request a room with a bathtub.

A few tips when packing for bath time with your baby. Your baby can use any towel that you can. Save the space in your bag and don’t pack baby specific wash cloths and towels. The only reason I would recommend packing your baby towels and wash cloths specifically for them is if your baby has super sensitive skin. Another thing you really don’t need to pack is baby lotion. If the baby really needs lotion, you can pack a fragrance free lotion that you can both use.

One thing I didn’t think about was how our baby’s nails may get long while we were on vacation. Even though I trimmed her nails right before leaving on our travels, her nails still managed to get long enough for her to scratch herself. Personally, I’m not a fan of baby nail clippers. I feel like I would cut her skin somehow. I invested in an electric nail trimmer for babies and it was the best choice I could’ve made. It makes trimming my baby’s nails so easy and I don’t have to worry about hurting her while doing so.

Car Essentials

When traveling with your baby, making sure that they are comfortable is key. Whether you drive, fly, or take a train, you want to make sure that your baby is as comfortable as possible. Long trips aren’t fun for anyone, just imagine being strapped in a car seat for it all.

Make sure your baby has things to keep them occupied in the car. One thing we always make sure we have ready is a sound machine. I recommend getting a rechargeable sound machine, this way you don’t have to worry about packing batteries. It is also important to keep a toy or two handy for your baby to play with. Our baby loves playing with her taggie. I would not recommend taking any new toys though incase they get lost in your travels.

Typically, other parents use a mirror to keep an eye on their baby when traveling in the car. Personally, I don’t like sitting in the passenger seat and not being able to see our baby in the mirror. We have a car camera we place on the center of the dashboard that allows us both to see our baby while we are driving.

I also find it super helpful to have a fully stocked diaper caddy in your car. This way, you always have a fully stocked diaper bag and you have easy access to any supplies or baby items you would need for changing your baby on the road. I would suggest keeping some wet bags handy as well in case of any explosive diapers that happen while on the road.

Babies and Airplanes

Traveling on an airplane with a baby may be one of the scariest things to do for some parents. The best advice I have for taking an infant on a flight is do your research!

Long haul flights aren’t easy on anyone, let alone your baby. One thing to help make the flight easier on your baby is feeding them during both take off and the landing. Feeding your baby during these times will help with the pressure changes that occur while the plane is taking off and descending.

Seating

One thing to consider when flying with a baby is whether or not they need their own seat on the plane. Seating for babies varies airline to airline. Therefore, I would recommend researching your airline to see what you are going to need for your little one.

Some airlines allow you to have the baby sit in your lap for the entire flight without their own plane ticket. Other airlines require the baby to have their own ticket, even if they are going to sit in your lap for the duration of the flight. Some will also allow for you to put your baby in their own seat if there are openings left on the flight. Therefore, you may want to have your carseat handy or get a travel car seat that you can attach to the seat in the plane. If you choose to use a travel car seat, make sure you look into renting a full sized car seat once you reach your destination to ensure your baby is safe as possible.

I would recommend using your diaper bag as a carry on bag for the plane. This way you have easy access to any of the supplies you’ll need to care for your baby while on the flight. Flying with a baby isn’t for everyone. So don’t feel bad if you don’t feel comfortable taking your baby on a plane.

If traveling light, you may want to use a baby carrier to wear the baby around the airport and then just rent a carseat and stroller once you reach your destination. If you do choose to bring your own car seat, make sure you have the right travel gear so that your car seat doesn’t get ruined in your travels. I highly recommend purchasing a waterproof cover for your car seat so that it is always protected no matter the weather.

If your baby is older, you may be able to get away with purchasing a cheap umbrella stroller at your destination to use specifically for your trip. This way, you don’t have to worry about taking it on the plane, or worry about it getting ruined along the way.

Other Baby Travel Essentials

Baby travel accessories may be some of the best things or worst things you can invest in for your trip. One thing we found super useful during our family travel was a portable fan for her stroller/car seat. This way we were always able to keep our little one cool and prevent her from overheating if out in the sun for extending periods of time. Plus it’s very stroller friendly and rechargeable.

Baby carriers are definitely a must have when traveling with a baby. I love my LILLEBaby carrier. It keeps the baby safe and comfortable in all seasons. You can put the baby in six different positions to make sure your baby is always comfortable. Or you can get a more compact baby carrier such as the Boba wrap. These baby carriers are easier to clean and can fold up small enough to fit inside your bag or carry on.

A first aid kit is also something I would recommend keeping handy. You never know when either you or your baby is going to need a bandaid or antibiotic ointment.

Packing cubes may be super helpful when trying to organize all of the stuff for your baby. You can use the packing cubes to separate baby clothes for various weather/climate or to even just keep clean clothes separated from the dirty clothes.

• If your baby uses a pacifier, you may want to invest in pacifier cleaning wipes. These are super handy to have packed in your bag incase your baby drops their pacifier or toy while you are out and you don’t have access to soap and water to clean it.

Traveling with a baby may seem like a chore, but with the right travel tips and baby packing list, your travels could be a breeze.

Related

You may also be interested in these travel guides.

• Road Trip Hacks To Make The Time Fly By will keep the peace, especially when you travel with small children.
• Traveling Essentials For Women Packing List is a great guide to ensure you don’t forget anything!
• Tips for Traveling with Kids includes five top ways to make sure your trip goes smoothly.