Don't know what to pack when traveling with a baby??
This packing list for traveling with babies is the ultimate list of everything you need together to make your trip a success.
As my first trips with a little baby got nearer, the more nervous I got about what to pack! I didn’t want to forget stuff I needed, but I didn’t want to have to carry a lot of bags. Use this ultimate baby travel packing list for the just right amount and types of things.
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Quicklist
- Baby Carrier
- Maybe car seat
- Travel stroller/stroller that attaches to car seat if bringing
- EarPlanes
- Things to suck/swallow on plane
- Baby Benadryl
- iPad or tablet – loaded with baby shows and games
- Easy to carry snacks
- Small games, books or toys
- Blanket
- Small sound machine
- Baby sleep sack
- Hand breast pump
- Nursing Pads
- Nursing Cover Scarf
- Sterilizing Bag
- Ice packs/foldable cooler
- Bottles
- Diapers, wipes, changing pad, diaper cream
- Lotion/baby soap/wash cloth
- Disposable plastic bags
- Baby clothes
- Weather appropriate clothes
- Baby food
- Pediatrician’s phone number
- Baby Tylenol
Big Items
Baby Carrier
A baby carrier is the most important item on my baby travel packing list!
So many other things you can go without or buy there but this is an essential.
It helps keep your hands free to maneuver the airport. It allows you to adventure places all day without being limited by a stroller or getting tired arms. Wear it on the plane to comfort baby and help them sleep. And babies LOVE it because they are cuddling with you!
Don’t also be afraid to go without a stroller on very short trips or leave it behind some days.
I’m even considering not bringing ANY stroller on our next trip to see how it goes!! (But Link is a bit more mobile now…)
Some places and crowds can be awkward to maneuver with even the smallest of strollers. Or there are a million stairs you have to climb. In these cases, you will love a baby carrier.
I think it’s even more important than a stroller!
THe all-time best baby carrier is the LÍLLÉbaby Complete All Seasons 6 position.
This is us in Amsterdam biking around the city, Lincoln loved being in the carrier on the bikes!
- You can use it from newborn to 45 pounds! You will only have to buy one carrier ever. (As an aspiring minimalist, a frugal gal and a person that doesn’t like to shop, this makes me SO excited)
- You can adjust the venting so that it is warmer or cooler depending on the weather.
- You can wear it a million ways to carry the baby the best way for each situation. Legs in, legs out, front, back, side, head support, etc.
- It is ergonomically designed to keep babies’ hips in good alignment. Other carriers can cause hip pain and cut off circulation to their tiny legs!
- It looks less girly to wear than other baby carriers and so my husband will wear it too.
- It comes in LOTS of adorable colors and designs.
Car seat??
It seems like it would be one of the most of the obvious items on a baby travel packing list. (Other than the baby!)
Maybe, maybe not. This entirely depends on where you are going and how you will travel around once you are there. Car seats are big, bulky and awkward to carry around.
When packing up my baby for traveling, I try to not pack them whenever possible.
This means you have to plan your transportation around not taking cars. We love taking the public transit in new cities anyways and most major cities have great and cheap public transit.
Rental car companies also rent car seats very cheaply which is a great option if you don’t want to carry yours through the airport.
If you do choose to take this with you, it’s helpful to also bring a stroller attachment so you don’t have to carry the car seat around. I like to use my BOB stroller I already own (see below about how this fits together), or you can use a car seat carrier. (This one works for both infant and front facing car seats!)
Some airlines require a car seat cover so be sure to check if yours does. (They are nice as you can usually stuff more items in the car seat inside the cover.)
Travel Stroller
This is your other big item when
If you are going on a trip for more than just a day or two, you are going to want a stroller on your baby travel packing list. It gets too tiring to carry baby and all of your things all day!
When you’re looking for a travel stroller, you want these four things:
- Lightweight and easily maneuverable
- Folds up small and is easy to carry
- Has a basket under the seat for storage and a sun visor
- The seat can recline for naps
The travel stroller I have and love is the Summer Infant 3D Lite.
It folds up so small and thin that you can carry it with one hand!
It is also narrow enough to fit thru just about any metro gate in any city we have been. If it doesn’t, it’s so lightweight you can easily pick it up with baby inside! (I’ve even done that up flights of stairs when I couldn’t find an elevator!!)
If the plane isn’t too full, it’s small enough to store overhead.
It’s also a cheaper than most everyday ones, so if it does get damaged it is not as expensive to replace!
Car Seat and Stroller Travel System
This is the biggest difference between what I pack for my baby when traveling for a US trip versus International trip. I usually only have this on my US baby travel packing list.
Most cities in the US (except the mega cities like New York and DC) have driving as the main way of getting around, making car seats necessary almost anywhere you go.
Combine the need for a car seat with the bigger sidewalks in the US, and you will love to have a car seat-stroller travel system.
I use a B.O.B stroller but many other strollers have ways to attach main stream car seats to them. You may just need to buy a separate attachment.
I LOVE my B.O.B stroller. It is quality that lasts forever (mine was a hand-me-down from a friend who had it through 2 other kids).
It’s amazingly easy to maneuver and use, and has a lockout front wheel for running mode. It also has great attachments available like snack trays, cup holders for you, and car seat attachments! It turns your car seat and stroller into one piece that you can easily maneuver and carry everything.
This is an absolute lifesaver when I am traveling by myself. I can clip the car seat into the stroller, put a few bags on it, and walk through the airport pushing with one hand.
Just heads up that airlines aren’t exactly gentle with strollers that are gate checked. If you don’t want to bring your expensive stroller with you, I would recommend a cheaper travel system that works with your car seat.
For the Airplane
Pack the things for your baby’s flight carefully. Having the right stuff makes a huge difference in an overseas and very long flight with a baby.
Each age seems to need different things to keep them comfortable and occupied for the many hours in a small shared space.
Check out this post about How to Fly with a Baby (from buying tickets all the way to landing!).
For every age:
Babies’ ear canals are shaped differently than adults and they have a hard time allowing pressure changes in their ears.
When the plane changes pressure during ascent/descent, their ears can become suddenly painful! It’s why many babies cry on flights.
Poor Link even woke from a dead sleep screaming once because it hurt so bad. These ear plugs have a little hole down the center that open up their ears and allow pressure to flow in and out.
Once we got them, we have never had an issue since. We distract Link to put them in right as we are taking off and again when we start descending.
The one thing I don’t like is they are so easy to lose! I highly recommend gluing a bit of string connecting them because we have lost so many.
Something to suck on
(Binky, bottle, water bottle, food pouch, sucker, etc).
Whatever will keep your baby sucking during ascent and descent will work.
This also helps to regulate the pressure in their ears and prevent the pain and crying.
Be careful not to overfed! I have done that, and I ended up getting barfed up on as we hit turbulence on the landing. 🙁
Baby Benadryl
(Usually only for longer international trips)
I would recommend asking your pediatrician about this one, especially the right dosage for your baby’s age.
A rested baby means a rested parent, and that means everyone is happier and more emotionally stable.
Be sure to give this a trial run at home because it can have an opposite effect on some kids and makes them ultra-hyper. (Think giving a baby a Rockstar on a 10 hour flight… not really anyone’s kind of fun.)
For older babies and toddlers:
Distraction!
iPad
I’m a pretty frugal mom, especially when it comes to baby things, but this has been 100% worth it.
I especially recommend it if you have other Apple devices that can link to it. (Get an older model, mini, or refurb to make it cheaper.)
It can fit a variety of age needs because you can constantly be changing what is on it based on what works best for your baby.
Lincoln also loves to use it to FaceTime family members.
Be sure to get a child-proof case to protect it from both travel and your baby. This is what we use and it’s been great considering Link often likes to stand on the iPad for some reason.
Another great and cheaper option is the Amazon Fire Kid Edition tablets.
They have a 2 year Worry-Free Guarantee where they will replace it even if your kids break it!
Only these items are eligible for the warranty:
- Fire HD Kids Edition Tablet with Kid-Proof Case
- Fire Kids Edition with Kid-Proof Case
- Fire HD 10 Kids Edition Tablet
- Fire HD 8 Kids Edition Tablet
- Fire 7 Kids Edition Tablet
- Kindle for Kids Bundle
- Echo Dot Kids Edition
Don’t forget to load up your baby’s tablet with movies and interesting pictures they like to look at.
What they are interested changes A LOT by age so we are always adjusting. Some suggestions include:
- Baby Einstein videos, for literally any baby any age. My husband calls these baby crack!
- Baby Shark videos (why do they love this so much!!) and other cartoons
- drawing games
- family photos
- pictures or videos of other babies and animals
Snacks
Things like pouches, goldfish, crackers, freeze-dried fruit, etc. Finger foods, non-perishables, and things that take them a while to eat are all good distractions.
Games, books, etc.
Whatever works and bring variety.
The same book gets old after 10 times, so anything that takes them time and gets you through the flight is great.
Another reason I love the iPad is that, depending on baby’s age, you can download many of these things instead of having to bring physical items to carry around and chase it rolling down the aisle.
For Baby’s Sleep
Read this ultra-helpful post about how to help your baby sleep when traveling.
It explains more about helping them sleep in unfamiliar places and nap when jet lagged!
Blankets
For cold places bring a thick blanket and warmer places a light one.
They are great for a million things! Covering the stroller to limit distractions during nap time, creating a place on the floor baby can lay or play, a swaddle or nap time blanket, etc.
But I have used my nursing scarf in a pinch!
Small Sound Machine
Before we left on our first trip I had Lincoln sleep with a sound machine at home, and then it helped him whenever he has a hard time falling asleep when not in his own bed.
You can also download apps on your phone but I love this so I can have my phone free to take pictures!
Look for one that can stay on all night and doesn’t have to be plugged in.
Baby sleep sack
Sleep sacks are a great thing to pack when traveling and to use at home for everyday night use. That way you are incorporating part of your home routine on your trip which helps baby feel comfortable!
They keep baby warm and help prevent SIDS (blankets in the crib are dangerous for babies).
As a nurse, I am passionate about child safety and l love how this company stays up to date with current safety regulations and is safe even when baby starts rolling over.
For the Nursing Mamas
Hand Breast Pump
There is no way I was going to get a battery pack and lug my electric breast pump around when I am nursing and traveling.
And with the often-unpredictable schedules of travel I would get pretty fully and uncomfortable if I didn’t have a pump!!
In comes the beautiful simplicity of a manual hand pump. Ta-da!
Not only is it cheap and easy to use, it is so easy to clean and effective that I used it often at home as well!!
It even can convert into a bottle, so you don’t need to pack a bottle also. One of my friends even recently borrowed it and she liked it so much, she bought one too!
Reusable Nursing Pads
Easy to clean, super soft and more comfortable and unnoticeable than disposable ones. These are the ones I have.
Nursing Cover Scarf
I am all about many uses out of one item. When you’re packing traveling with a baby you need all the extra space possible! Get a great nursing scarf.
This can be a scarf, nursing cover (that completely covers you), car seat cover and in a pinch, I’ve used it as a swaddle too! It comes in lots of great colors too.
See his little hands peeking out as he nurses on the train through Brussels?!
(Ignore our expressions, this was after nearly 24 hours of straight travel…)
Sterilizing bag
Along with the baby carrier, this is one of the most important items on this baby travel packing list!
A sterilizing bag is indispensable to keep all the pump equipment, fallen binkies, and bottles clean. It is lightweight, thin and all you need is a microwave.
Foldable cooler and ice packs - (if you need to store milk)
Bottles
Less is more. You can always clean them in a sink and use the sterilizing bag.
Clothes and Diapers
Diapers
How many should you bring?
Bring enough for 3 per day getting to your destination, plus a handful.
Then buy more at your destination. It will save you tons of space and it has never been an issue finding them no matter where in the world we are.
Wipes
Bring a medium sized package, buy more there if you need. You’ll use them for everything (bums, faces, everyone’s hands, etc.)
Changing pad
You never know where you will have to put baby down to clean them up.
Diaper cream
Lotion, baby soap, and a wash cloth
Disposable plastic bags
You want a bunch of these in cases of stinky diapers in public or blowouts!
You can toss the diaper in one, seal it and toss it in the trash without it getting smelly.
Then I use one for all of Lincoln’s (and sometimes my) dirty clothes until I am able to wash them.
Baby Clothes
For the little babies that still blowout frequently, you have two routes to go.
- Pack two outfits per day and keep a onesie under each outfit to contain the blowout
- Pack only a handful of extra dark colored onesies and a small bottle of laundry detergent. That way when a blowout happens, simply throw it in a plastic bag and wash it when you get the chance. I have been doing this recently because they have to get washed anyways and it saves room in packing.
Pack baby clothes by category (onesie, pants, shirts, etc.) or in outfit sets in packing cubes (I am totally converted to these because of how much room and organization they give me!) because little clothes tend to get lost in luggage.
Baby stuff just takes up a lot of room! Read more about how to make the most of your space 16 Tips to Fit Everything into a Carry-on.
Weather appropriate clothes
Baby snowsuit, boots, beanies, sun hats, swimsuit (with swim diapers), etc.
Baby food
We usually don’t use baby food, we like to just give Link bits of our own food.
But for travel, the fruit pouches are wonderful! Food on the go so Link can have a snack when a bottle/nursing isn’t available.
TSA allows baby food and breast milk “reasonable quantity in carry-ons”.
I’m not sure exactly what that means, but I have brought a whole grocery bag full before and (while they do have to check it) never had an issue.
Miscellaneous Items
Your Pediatrician’s number in your phone
Baby and your passports
Baby Tylenol
It’s better to have it and never use it. You don’t want to have to track this one down when your baby is already crying with teething pain or fevering.
Things I do NOT pack
Whew!
I told you that was going to be the ULTIMATE list for packing with a baby.
You might feel like I just told you to take everything!!
Babies do need lots of stuff but there are lots of things on many baby travel packing lists that you do NOT need.
- A pack’nplay. Most airlines will make you pay for it as a carry-on (Except Frontier, they have the best family travel policies and include all baby items for free! Read more at Flying with a Baby) Even folded up, it is huge and hard to carry. Nearly every place we have ever been has had one, just call ahead to check, and if not we have always figured out a makeshift bed.
- Avoid unnecessary “travel” baby items. Travel bathtubs, a baby monitor (we use our cellphones when traveling), travel high chairs, travel baby gates, etc.
- Avoid bulky or heavy items. Big toys, big books, full sized bottles, cloth diapers, too many diapers, heavy blankets, etc.
It is also worth to note that there are many companies that you can rent baby equipment from, usually at a good price, at your destination.
This may help limit what you have to pack around and make the travel easier for you as they usually deliver and pick up for you.
Unfortunately, I have yet to find a company for international travel!
I hope ultimate baby travel packing list helps you feel more confident in your trip with your little one and you can focus on all the fun memories you’ll make!
Did I miss anything? Let me know!
