Looking for baby travel essentials? Wondering what you need when traveling with a baby? Heading on your first trip with your baby and feeling unsure about it? Need the ultimate baby packing list?
Well, I hope to help with all of that!
I’m a travel blogger with a baby who comes with me on all of my trips (mainly because he doesn’t take a bottle!). And on all of our trips, I’ve learned a thing or two (or 50) about what you need when traveling with a baby. As I write this article, we actually just flew back from a trip yesterday, so traveling with a baby is super fresh on my mind.
Baby gear can be a tough nut to crack, especially when there are so many options out there. Well, based on personal experience, here is my full list of baby travel essentials after going on several trips and flights with my little guy! We’ve averaged a trip every two months, so these items take all baby stages into consideration.
Baby Travel Essentials for Diapering & Changing
Let’s start by listing the baby travel gear you’ll need for diaper changes, outfit changes, and bathtime.
You’ll notice that an inflatable tub is not listed here- that’s simply because you’ll probably have access to a tub. If you’re going somewhere that does not, you may want to consider one if your baby is too big for a sink bath! (We did sink baths on both our trip to Rosemary Beach and our trip to Santa Fe, and both were great! I’ve found that the key to making a sink bath comfortable is layering a towel down for cushioning.)
That said, let’s get into the baby travel essentials you’ll want to bring for diapering and changing!
1. Diapers
First things first… diapers!!! I usually buy diapers once I get to my destination since they can take up quite a bit of room. But it’s crucial to have at least 5 or so in your diaper bag! I forgot to restock my diaper bag once and completely regretted it. You don’t want to be in my shoes here!
2. Spare Outfit
Did you know that babies often poop more on airplanes? This was definitely the case with James before he started eating solids! One time he had a blowout during take-off and when I took him to the bathroom to change him… I had forgotten a spare outfit! Don’t make the same mistake I did!
And on that note- when you get on the plane, ask the flight attendant which bathroom has a changing table in it. (I was surprised to learn that it’s not always the same one on Southwest Airlines planes- usually, it’s the forward bathroom but sometimes it’s in the back!)
I’ve linked the outfit he’s wearing in this photo; it runs true to size.
3. Changing Pad
In case your diaper bag doesn’t come with a changing pad, it’s really useful to bring one with you! We actually bring one in addition to the one in our diaper bag so that the one in the diaper bag can stay in the bag while we set up a separate changing station at our lodging.
I love these bamboo changing pad liners because they are pretty large, are waterproof, and no matter how dirty they get, they always manage to wash clean with some stain remover!
4. Wet Wipes
You’ll always find me with some Water Wipes on hand! These are super versatile- I mainly use them for changing diapers but they’re also gentle enough for messy hands or a messy face (especially once they start eating solids!). For airplane travel or road trips, it’s crucial to have wet wipes instead of dry wipes that you add water to. That way you don’t need to locate a water source to clean up any messes!
5. Diaper Rash Cream
Good news- these (and any baby liquids/gels) can go through airport security, even if they’re over 3oz! In the TSA-precheck line, they don’t ask me to take them out of my bag. But if you’re traveling through general security, you should pack them in a clear bag that’s easily removable, and take it out when you’re going through.
Boudreaux’s Butt Paste is the only diaper rash cream that has consistently worked for us, which is why it’s the one I recommend! James used to get diaper rashes all the time, and it only stopped once we regularly smeared this stuff on his cute little tush!
6. Baby Lotion
Plane travel can be pretty harsh on the skin. I like to keep a tube of baby lotion and/or Aquaphor on me. James has been going through an extra drooly phase as he’s teething, which dries his skin out even more. I like to have baby moisturizer handy so I can dab some on his chin as needed. This is the 8oz tube that I’ll bring (that the whole family uses) and we also bring a travel-sized Aquaphor as well.
7. Bag for Dirties
It’s nice to have an extra bag for dirty clothes, whether that’s a Ziploc bag, plastic bag, or dedicated zipper wet/dry bag. I use this as my emergency bag for blowout clothes, that way they don’t touch anything.
Tip: If you need a bag specifically for a stinky poopy diaper on an airplane, you can keep a disposal plastic bag handy (doggy poop bags are great!) or ask the flight attendants for a trash bag so that you don’t stink up the whole plane!
8. Baby Washcloth
These baby washcloths are so much softer than regular washcloths, so they’re pretty much all I use for James. As for baby soap, if you’re staying somewhere long enough, you might just want to buy some baby soap when you reach your destination. However, I like to bring the little sample soaps like this one that I got throughout my pregnancy.
Baby Travel Gear for Getting Around
Now that we’ve gone over what you’ll need for diapering, let’s discuss the bigger items you’ll need! In this section, I’ll cover the baby travel essentials you’ll need when getting around while traveling.
9. Doona Car Seat Stroller
While you can use your preferred car seat and travel stroller system, the Doona is the ultimate travel system to me. It converts from car seat into a stroller with one button! It’s genius! We use it at home as our infant car seat and errand stroller, and it’s the only thing we use when we travel.
We wheel it through the airport, put it through security (you fold it up and flip it upside down), then check it at the gate. Once we land, we pick it up at the gate. It’s our car seat when we need it, and our stroller when we’re out and about. Super easy and convenient!
I’m especially thankful that we’ll have the Doona when we head on a cruise with James this year. I can’t imagine a bigger stroller taking up space in our already small cabin!
10. Diaper Backpack
A good diaper backpack makes a big difference! First off, wearing a backpack makes traveling much easier than carrying a shoulder bag/tote. Next, if you find one that has a luggage pass-through, that’s another win. But best of all, if you find a gender-neutral diaper backpack, your partner won’t mind wearing it, too!
All of these are reasons why I chose the Dagne Dover large Indie diaper backpack! (I got it in heather gray, but if I had a do-over, I’d choose black! Much easier to conceal stains if they happen. However, if you get a lighter color, you can use Shout to clean it and it works- it’s a nuisance, though!)
And, of course, you don’t have to get a designated diaper bag, you can use any large backpack if you need to!
11. Baby Carrier
It might be a bit overkill, but I actually bring two baby carriers with me when I travel. However, I think it’s worth putting both of these on this post because that way I can describe what I like about each of them, then you can decide which is better for you!
I love the BabyBjorn Baby Carrier One Air because it’s great for long walks and provides great support. It allows you to wear your baby front facing as well (James loves it since he gets to see everything!). Best of all, it’s versatile when it comes to wearer, Harrison can wear it too!
12. Cloth Baby Wrap
I also have the Boba baby wrap and the Baby K’Tan Breeze. I prefer cloth wraps when it comes to littler babies because I feel like they’re more comfortable and snuggly for my lil newborn. The Baby K’Tan is not one size fits all; that’s its only downfall in my eyes. It’s super easy to put on and get my baby into. The Boba baby wrap is a lot harder to put on, but I like the aesthetics more for photos (I am a travel blogger and photographer, after all!). However, between the two, the K’Tan is more practical (no cloth dragging on nasty public floors).
13. Sun and/or Rain Shade
Check the forecast before you go on your trip to see if there are sunny skies or rainy days in the forecast. If so, a sunshade extender or rain shade cover will come in handy!
14. Stroller Hooks
Stroller hooks come in handy if your diaper bag doesn’t come with hooks to attach to your stroller. These allow you to clip on your diaper bag so you can go hands-free. I actually don’t have these because my diaper bag comes with hooks and the Doona stroller is a bit too light to attach my diaper bag onto! But even though I don’t personally use these, you should know that they exist if you need them! And if you aren’t attaching your diaper bag onto your stroller, then a stroller organizer/cup holder/caddy is also useful (though not essential). This is the one we use (you’ll see it in a photo later on in this post! Keep an eye out!).
Baby Travel Essentials to Entertain Your Baby
The longer the flight, the more nervous I get! How in the world do you entertain your baby for hours? I mean… hopefully, they take a nap. But sometimes, you don’t get that lucky! Here are some things to have with you to stave off fussiness!
15. Plane Window Spinners
These things are lifesavers! These baby travel essentials attach to the airplane window with suction cups and their suction is great. James plays with these for a surprising amount of time. I will say that even though this package comes with three, you really only need one, which saves some space.
16. Special, Packable Toys
One great way to entertain your baby on a plane is by packing small toys that they only get when traveling. If they don’t usually get to play with them, they become new and exciting each time they’re re-introduced. My favorite toy to pack is Sophie the Giraffe!
17. A Favorite Book
It’s important for babies to have some semblance of routine, and reading them their favorite book can do just that. Especially if you’ve incorporated story time into their bedtime routine! Pack a small book so that it doesn’t take up too much space. It’s not part of our bedtime routine, but I mainly love bringing a book because if James is fussy, reading to him instantly calms him down! I bring one on the plane so that I can bring it out to entertain him!
18. Teething Ring
If your baby is teething, don’t forget their teething ring! It provides entertainment and helps soothe their sore gums.
Baby Travel Essentials for Sleeping
Sleeping is one of the hardest challenges when it comes to traveling with a baby. Weird naptime rhythms, an unfamiliar bed setup, and time zone changes are some things you just need to accept. But there are several baby travel essentials that can help set you up for success as best as they can.
19. Guava Lotus Travel Crib
Many hotels provide cribs or Pack n Plays if you reserve them in time, but if there are none available or if you’re staying in an Airbnb or VRBO, then a good travel crib is a great investment. The Guava Lotus is pretty pricey, but for good reason. Out of all of the research I did on which travel crib to get, this one stood out far above the rest. It folds up the smallest, has backpack straps, and can fit into a checked bag! It’s also small enough to qualify as a carry on for most airlines- just be sure to check airline requirements to verify. Pro tip: the week before a trip, we actually put James down to nap in the Guava Lotus to get him adjusted to sleeping in it.
20. Sound Machine
A white noise machine is one of the best tricks for getting your baby to sleep. James has used it his whole life, so he knows that it signals naptime or bedtime. We bring both our sound machine from home and a portable sound machine for getting him to nap on the go. However, if you are trying to save room, having just a portable sound machine works just fine if you plug it into a charger overnight! I also love that it has a hook so you can attach it wherever you need to.
21. Sleep Sack/Swaddle
If your baby is small enough to need a swaddle, make sure you bring one! We love our HALO swaddle, which also transitions into a sleep sack when it’s time. James is big enough to only use a sleep sack, and this is the one I bring on trips (it’s insanely cheap!). If we’re heading somewhere cold, we bring his extra warm sleep sack, pictured above.
22. Baby Monitor
We love the Wyze video monitor (especially for its price!), but its only downside to me is that it doesn’t connect to public WiFi networks that have a portal page (aka landing or login page)! That means that while it should do great if you’re staying in an Airbnb or VRBO, it might only work in some hotels. (However, here is a workaround where you connect your Wyze Cam to this type of network by using an inexpensive travel router such as GL.iNet. We haven’t tried this yet, but I’ll update this if we do!)
23. Crib Sheet that Smells like Home
Something that can help your baby sleep better at night is the familiar scent of home! I use this travel crib sheet with the Guava Lotus to make the mattress more comfortable for James. If your hotel is providing a crib in your hotel room, you’ll want to bring the appropriate-sized crib sheet, so call and ask ahead of time!
24. Lightweight Baby Blanket
A lightweight baby blanket is perfect for a cold airplane or cool weather. This one folds up tiny but provides warmth just the same.
25. Black Out Tent or Curtains
A black-out travel crib cover or tent is great if you plan to share a room with your baby. That way, you can keep the lights on while your baby snoozes next to you. This is the one we have, but we haven’t had to actually use it yet! One important thing to note… it only fits over travel cribs and pack-n-plays, so it won’t work if you have a full-size crib in your room. We brought it to the Inn of the Anasazi in Santa Fe only to realize that they provide a full-size crib! We spent a lot of time out on our balcony on that trip!
Also, if your baby is in their own space, suction-cup black-out curtains can help them sleep better in an unfamiliar environment.
26. Pacifier
James actually doesn’t take a pacifier, but I’ve heard that forgetting this item could be devastating for those with babies who do!
27. Baby Toothbrush
If your baby is old enough to have a toothbrush incorporated into their nightly routine, then don’t forget one! James uses this banana toothbrush and loves it! It’s the cutest thing!
28. Stroller Cover
You can use your travel blanket as a makeshift cover to get your baby to sleep in their stroller. Alternatively, a nursing cover can do the job as well- I love this cover because of how soft it is! I used it to cover my baby’s stroller when we flew when he was just 5 weeks old. I’m not sure if this is scientifically accurate at all, but it gave me some peace of mind knowing there was a barrier between him and the germs in the airport.
29. Lovey
Like a pacifier, James also doesn’t have a Lovey. But if your baby has one, make sure you don’t forget it!
Baby Travel Essentials for Mealtime
30. Nursing Cover
Nursing your baby is a great thing to do at takeoff and landing since the sucking motion helps them pop their ears to relieve the pressure. (A bottle works the same way!). I have two different kinds but I love this nursing cover because it’s lightweight, super breathable, and has a built-in wire so that you can look down and see your baby nursing. It’s especially great in the summer when it’s really hot out!
31. Muslin Burp Cloths
Muslin burp cloths are great for cleaning up spit-up or food and can even be used as a makeshift changing pad when you need it. I love these from Amazon because they’re really soft and gentle on baby skin!
32. Bottle Necessities
James never took a bottle, but we bought all of the bottle gear before we learned this fact (*facepalm*). Our friends recommended this travel bottle brush for cleaning bottles. If your baby takes a bottle, don’t forget the necessities like the bottles themselves, a breast pump if you need it, formula, etc.
33. Food
If you’ve started introducing food, then even on short flights, food can be a great distraction and source of entertainment! But, of course, there are practical reasons to bring food… baby’s gotta eat! We like bringing squeezable baby puree packets.
34. Full Bib
Silicon bib, step aside! There’s an even better bib in town! Now that James is eating baby food, he makes a huge mess if he doesn’t have this full bib on. Even though he’s in the phase where he’s just being spoon-fed, once his hand rubs his food-covered mouth, it’s game over for whatever he’s wearing. This bib is the biggest game-changer! It’s wipeable, easy to put on (it Velcros in the back), has a food-catching pouch, and keeps his outfit pristine! It comes in a pack of two, so we keep one in our diaper bag at all times and one at home.
35. Food Accessories
Don’t forget other food accessories and containers like a sippy cup, a spill-proof snack cup, a spoon, etc.!
36. Disposable Table Mats
If you plan to eat out with baby in tow, a table mat can come in handy! And though they’re not very good for the environment, if your baby is a messy eater, these one-time-use mats are super helpful because you can just collect all of the messy stuff and throw it out. They come in three patterns for additional entertainment when eating out.
37. Travel High Chair
We aren’t at the stage where we need this travel high chair yet, but when we are, this is the one we’ll get! Sure, restaurants have high chairs, but this is helpful at a park, at a hotel, etc.
Other Baby Travel Items
Here are some other baby travel essentials you’ll want to add to your baby packing list!
38. Sick Kit
I always pack our sick kit when traveling! I opened up this Baby Frida Sick Day kit and put all of its contents into a little pouch, and I keep extra tissues and boogie wipes in there, too. If your baby is taking any probiotic supplements or vitamins (like Vitamin D), don’t forget to pack those too! Baby Tylenol is something else you may want to add!
39. Portable Charger
I’ve had multiple power banks in my life but this one is my absolute favorite! It comes with all of the cords you need and charges by plugging directly into an outlet! It’s great for charging portable sound machines on the go (in addition to anything else that needs to be charged)!
40. Birth Certificate
This is one of the most crucial travel essentials for your baby if your airline requires it! I haven’t tried with other airlines, but when flying Southwest, I’ve learned that if I add a lap child using the kiosk at the airport, I don’t need to show a birth certificate. However, if you try to add your child at the counter, they ask to see one. Kind of silly if you ask me!
41. Painters Tape
This is a genius baby travel hack if your baby is mobile! Bring a roll of painter’s tape to tape up outlets, tape down wires, keep cabinets closed, etc!
42. Sanitizing Wipes
The first thing I do when I get to my seat on the plane is to sanitize the heck out of it! Having sanitizing wipes in an easy-to-reach pocket is key.
43. Dreft To-Go
I’ve poured my stain remover into a TSA-approved spray bottle so that I can tackle blowout stains right away, but here’s a little to-go Dreft if you need it!
44. Hat & Sunglasses
Don’t forget some sun protection for your baby! We love this little baseball cap for James- it’s so freaking cute on him (that might be my biased mom-self speaking). We’ve gotten him sunglasses too, but he seems to prefer the ball cap.
45. Nail Trimmer
Forget nail clippers… electric nail filers are where it’s at! My sister recently clipped her 1-year-old’s nails, then I held her and she swiped her hand in the air, giving me a little paper-cut-like slice across my cheek. It just confirmed what I already knew… the electric nail filer is way better. There’s no risk of clipping your baby’s precious skin and it can give you a better trim anyway! So if you’re traveling somewhere for more than a week, don’t forget to pack a nail trimmer!
46. Nursing pillow
One other thing that may be a necessity for you is a nursing pillow. The caveat: a nursing pillow takes up a lot of room in your checked bag! But I didn’t mind… I actually brought my My Brest Friend nursing pillow with me on my first three trips with James. Breastfeeding was still so new to me, and I felt like I couldn’t part with it. It took up a LOT of room, but feeding him was way more comfortable than it would’ve been without it. However, now I leave it at home since both he and I have become breastfeeding pros (because, again, he doesn’t take a bottle. LOL.).
Hot Weather Baby Travel Items
This last section of baby travel gear is for sunny, warm vacations. If you’re expecting lots of outdoor time, sunshine, or hot temperatures, bring these baby travel essentials!
47. Sunscreen and Swimsuit
If you’re heading somewhere sunny and your baby is at least 6 months old, be sure to bring some gentle zinc baby sunscreen. You don’t want that fragile skin burning! In a similar vein, a long-sleeve swimsuit is great because there’s less skin exposed to the sun’s powerful UV rays. This is the one that we have. I love the cute pattern and how it covers him up!
48. Beach Tent
Beach vacations are much easier with a beach tent in tow. We used this one and it worked great- no sand made it past the mesh. However, we found that you have to be really careful when folding it back up, or you risk misshaping the tent!
49. Stroller Fan
If you want to go out and about in the heat, a portable stroller fan will help keep your baby cool. I also got some stroller ice packs to put underneath him (with a blanket in between) but he didn’t seem to like them… I think they were too cold for him. We plan on using them this summer when he’s older, though!
What to Pack in Your Diaper Bag to Have on the Plane
I like to make a note of what I’ll need on the plane when thinking about my baby packing list! Out of all of those baby travel essentials, here’s what you’re going to want to have on hand when you get on a plane:
- diapers
- spare outfit
- changing pad
- wet wipes
- baby carrier
- travel diaper bag
- plane window toys
- special toys
- lovey
- burp cloths
- food/food accessories
- full bib
- nursing cover
- teething ring
- portable charger
- birth certificate
- sanitizing wipes
- baby blanket
- baby lotion
- book
- pacifier
- bag for dirties
- stroller hook
- baby seat extender if needed
Baby Packing Checklist
Here’s a simple baby packing list checklist so that you can mark off the items you’ve packed!
In conclusion…
I hope this helps you make your trip with baby in tow a success! These baby travel essentials have been lifesavers for me!
And of course, don’t forget clothes, socks, pajamas, jackets, and anything else you plan for your baby to wear! Baby clothes are so tiny that at least they don’t take up too much room (unlike all of the other travel gear you’ve got to bring!) But if needed, packing cubes can help compress (and organize!) your baby clothes even more.
Lastly, here are a few other posts you might find useful:
- Best US Babymoon Destinations
- Our Favorite Southwest Airlines Destinations
- What to Know When Flying While Pregnant
- How to Create a Gender Reveal on a Budget
Safe travels!
Jasmine
