19 Baby Travel Essentials You Need For Your Next Family Trip! (2024)

Remember those days when you could just toss a few belongings in your suitcase and take off for an adventure?Once you’ve added a baby to the equation, travel looks a little bit different… and the prospect of packing up all yourbaby travel essentials and caring for yourlittle far from home can suck the joy of anticipation out of a trip.

How do you stick to a nap and feeding schedule? How do you cart all the stuff your baby needs? And how do you keep your baby safe and comfortable when you’re far from home?

We’re here to tell you that trips to grandma’s house, weekend getaways, and yes, even a much-needed vacation, are entirely doable with a baby in tow. With a little advance planning, you can easily pull together all the necessary travel essentials for baby—and our baby travel checklist makes it a little easier.

Wondering What to Pack When Traveling with Baby? A Baby Travel Packing List

What are the absolute must-have baby travel essentials? The short answer is that it depends on where you’re going and how you’re getting there. Different types of travel require different gear and necessities. Many hotels and Airbnbs, for example, will provide a portable crib on request so it’s one less thing you have to haul with you, but if you’re staying with relatives, your baby will need a safe place to nap and play.

Whether you’re traveling by plane, train, or car, or spending a night with friends, family, or at a hotel, we’ve broken downall the travel essentials for a baby thatyou need to makeadventures with an infanta little bit easier and a lot less stressful.

The Ultimate Baby Packing List

Sleep and Comfort

  • Bassinet: A safe and comfortable sleeping space for your baby is an essentialon any baby travel checklist. OurBreeze® Plus Playard does more, offering a bassinet, changing table, and sleep/play space to make it a versatile all-in-one care station. Plus, it sets up with one push, one pull and has a convenient travel bag for easy set up!
  • Portable baby monitor: Keep an eye on your baby in new environments with a portable baby monitor.
  • Travel blackout curtains: It can be challenging to keep your baby on their sleep schedule when you’re away from home—but portable travel blackout curtains are baby travel essentials that help to create a dark, sleep-friendly space in any room.
  • White noise machine: If you’re staying in an unfamiliar home or a noisy hotel, a portable white noise machine can be a travel essential for baby to help drown out sounds and lullthem to sleep.
  • Cozy sleep sacks: Bundle your baby into a sleep sack to keep them warm and snug for longer, more restful sleep times.

    On-the-Move Gear

    • Lightweight travel stroller: Leave the big, bulky stroller at home. A lightweight stroller is a baby travel essential that makes it easier to navigate through crowded airports and train stations and folds compactly for easy storage when not in use.
    • Stroller organizer: Keeptravelnecessities for baby like pacifiers, hand sanitizer, and sippy cups at hand with a convenient organizer that clips right onto your stroller.
    • Baby carrier: A wearable baby carrier frees up your hands to carry bags and luggage while keeping your baby safe and comfortable.
    • Car seat: Whether you’re traveling in a car, train, or plane, your baby should be strapped into a car seat to keep them safe on the journey.

    Feeding Travel Essentials for Baby

    • Collapsible silicone bowl and spoon: Easy to pack and easy to clean, a compact silicone bowl and spoon makes feeding time more convenient wherever you are.
    • Insulated bottle bag: Keep milk and formula at the right temperature with an insulated bottle bag.
    • Disposable bibs: Who wants to carry a dirty bib on their travels? Disposable bibs are a convenient, mess-free solution to add to any baby packing list.
    • Portable high chair: Make meal times more comfortable with a portable high chair that folds up small so you can bring it wherever you go.

    Bathing and Hygiene

    • Travel-size baby wash and shampoo: Put travel-sized bottles of baby wash and shampoo onto your list of newborn travel essentials so you can keep up with your baby’s familiar bathtime routine when you’re away.
    • Compact hooded towels: A hooded towel keeps baby warm and snuggly after their bath. Choose a compact, quick-drying towel to save space in your bags.
    • Wet and dry bags: With a wet and dry bag, you’ll always have a way to keep soiled clothing and other baby messes separate from clean items in your travel bags.

    Entertainment and Comfort

    • Clip-on stroller toys: Keep baby entertained and engaged during travel delays with toys that clip on to your stroller. These baby travel essentialsmake sure you never have to worry abouttoys falling on a gross and dirty floor.
    • Portable playmat: Create an instant play area for your baby anywhere you go with a playmat that packs easily and unfolds to give your baby a soft and safe spot for tummy time and games.
    • Teething toys: You never know when teething pain will hit, soadd teething toys to your baby travel checklist for youlittle one to gnaw on to relieve gum pain.

    Happy travels!

    A little bit of advance planning goes a long way when you’re traveling with a baby, and having the rightbaby travel essentials on hand make being away from home more comfortable for you and your baby. Knowing what to pack when traveling with baby can help you confidently take off on family adventures and start creating memories you’ll always cherish.

    19 Baby Travel Essentials You Need For Your Next Family Trip! (2024)

    FAQs

    What to take when traveling with baby? ›

    Newborn traveling does require that you keep certain items close by:
    • Wipes.
    • Diapers (not a whole box, just enough to get you to your nightly stop)
    • Burp cloth.
    • Muslin blanket.
    • Prepared bottle.
    • 2-3 toys.
    Jul 18, 2023

    What is the best age to travel with a baby overseas? ›

    Consider avoiding travel with infants under six months old, who may be at higher risk of illness and are too young to be vaccinated. Infants under 2 months of age are especially vulnerable to getting sick, and most pediatricians don't recommend any travel before then.

    What essentials do you need for a baby on a plane? ›

    Bring all the necessary items for your baby, including nappies, wipes, formula or breast milk, bottles, baby food, extra clothing, blankets, and any comfort items your baby may need. Carry-on essentials: Pack a separate bag with baby essentials for easy access during the flight.

    What to bring when travelling with 1 year old? ›

    What to Pack When Traveling with a Toddler on a Plane
    • Extra change of clothes or two.
    • Diapers or pull-up diapers.
    • Baby wipes.
    • Child restraint system (more on this below)
    • Medicine for tummy aches and earaches.
    • First aid kit.
    • Hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes.
    • Snacks and water.

    What age is easiest to travel with a baby? ›

    What's the best age to travel with a baby? While experts recommend waiting until after the 2-month mark to fly with a newborn, you may find that after that your baby is a great traveler. For many families, the sweet spot is between months 3 and 8.

    What age do babies fly free internationally? ›

    Do babies fly free? Babies and toddlers under 2 years old aren't legally required to occupy an airplane seat and can instead travel as a "lap infant" on their parent's ticket. Lap infants are generally free of charge, although you may pay a percentage of the full fare if you're traveling internationally.

    What time of day is best to fly with a baby? ›

    Flying is much easier with a sleeping baby, so consider flying in the evening to increase the chance of your little one nodding off. If a daytime flight is your only option, you might consider trying to delay your baby's usual nap until after takeoff. 2. Allow plenty of time between connecting flights.

    What is allowed in baby bag on plane? ›

    You are allowed a diaper bag + breast pump bag in addition to your carry on and personal item on most airlines with an economy ticket. (2) Overnight diapers (especially as your babe gets bigger) : I change Greyson into an overnight diaper right before we board the flight.

    How do I bring my baby through TSA? ›

    Parents/guardians should remove infants and children from strollers and car seats and carry them in their arms through the walk-through metal detector. Infants may be carried in a sling/carrier through the walk-through metal detector. Children will not be separated from their parent/guardian.

    What do you need to travel with a baby domestic? ›

    What about domestic flights? A valid passport is usually the only identification your baby will need to fly on a domestic flight, unless you need to show proof of age for a discounted child fare. Check with your airline before you leave.

    How do you bring water on a plane for a baby? ›

    Water for babies is allowed in reasonable quantities in carry-on bags. Remove this item from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from the rest of your belongings.

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