An Essential Packing List for Travelling with a Baby

Looking for the ultimate packing list for travelling with a baby?  Well you have come to the right place! Travelling with a baby might seem like a daunting prospect, but it definitely doesn’t have to be.  Sure, there are a few extra challenges, but with the right equipment and a calm mind, you can expose your little one to all the amazing wonders of the world.  We are big believers of travelling with kids – evidenced by our daughter travelling to 10 countries in the first 12 months of her life. So I would safely consider ourselves somewhat of experts when it comes to travelling with a baby.

Detailed below is my suggested packing list for travelling with a baby, including insider tips and links to our favorite products.

TRAVEL SYSTEMS

• Pram
  • Rain Cover
  • Winter Foot Muff / Summer Parasol or SnoozeShade
  • Cover / Bag for Airline Check-in
  • Blanket / Muslin
  • Pram Pegs
  • Clip-on Toy
• Car Seat
  • Cover / Bag for Airline Check-in
  • If it’s a driving holiday, you may like to pack a shade for the car window and a mirror, so you can see and interact with your baby
• Sling / Carrier

There are also some amazing travel prams available which fold down to a size which are compatible for carry on cabin baggage. This saves the hassle of having to check oversize luggage at the airport.  Check out my favorite products listed further down.

Finally, many countries allow children to be held on a parent’s lap whilst in a taxi / transfer vehicle. Whilst this may still not be considered the safest mode of transport, if you are comfortable in doing so then it negates the need for travelling with the car seat. It may also be possible to hire the car seat at your destination country.

SLEEPING

• Travel Cot
  • Sheets
  • Mattress Protector
• Sleeping Bag
• Pajamas
• White Noise Machine
• Bed Time Story
• Baby Monitor

We recommend confirming with your accommodation provider prior to booking whether they have a travel cot available for use. Again, this eliminates the need for you to take one with you.

A money saving option is to purchase a light weight travel cot which can be used as the pseudo bassinet at home until the baby is 6 months old.

You can then take the same bed to provide some consistency when travelling with a baby. You can even bring along a co-sleeper and share your bed with your baby.

DAILY REQUIREMENTS

• Nappies
• Wipes
• Nappy Disposal Bags
• Nappy Rash Cream
• Body Wash / Shampoo
• Changing Mat
• Destination Outfits
• Shoes / Socks
• Several small toys or books which are easy to take in your carry on / day bag
• Plane Outfits
• Antibacterial Hand Gel
• Medicines
• Thermometer
• Day Bag

Provided you are travelling to a well-established destination with shops, supermarkets and the like, you can purchase many of the items you require daily for the baby should you forget anything or simply run out. However, some of these items can be incredibly expensive if the shops know you will have no other option.

The number of outfits you take is dependent on whether you will have access / time to wash your baby’s outfits and whether they tend to go through a lot of outfit changes in any given day. It’s a personal decision and you know your baby best! However, do ALWAYS make sure that you pack at least one change of outfit in your carry on luggage / day bag.

TEETHING BABIES (OR POTENTIAL OF TEETHING)

• Ibuprofen / Paracetamol
• Bonjela / Teething Gel
• Teething Granules
• Dribble Bib
• Teething Toy

There is quite possibly nothing worse than a teething baby, and if they are in pain when you are travelling you will want a quick solution. We highly recommend packing these items when travelling with a baby over 3 months – its better to be safe than sorry.  And if you are travelling a long way, then make sure they are in your bag of essentials.

DESTINATION SPECIFIC

Summer

• Bathers
• Swim Nappies
• Sun Cream
• Hat
• Sunglasses

Winter

• Snow Suit
• Beanie
• Mittens

FEEDING

When it comes to feeding your little person whilst you’re on vacay, it depends on their age and whether they are being breastfed, bottle fed, or combination fed as to what you will require.  If you intend to be travelling with a baby, I would highly recommend continuing to breastfeed if you are able to do so.  Not only will it reduce the amount of things you need to take with you, but breastfeeding is also a quick and easy option to comfort and hydrate your baby whilst travelling.

Breastfeeding and < 6 months

• Nothing in addition to the above unless you require muslins for spit up.

Breastfeeding and > 6 months

• Sufficient food to get you through the journey. I like to take pouches and wafers (easily transportable and quickly accessible when required).
• Breakfast foods – I take porridge and bottles of infant milk formula, so I can prepare food for the baby as soon as we wake up.
• Bibs
• Spoon
• Some form of cup for water

Formula / Combination Feeding

• Formula
• Bottles
• Sterilisation tablets / bags
• Insulated bag to transport milk during day trips
• Breast pump (if using one)

LUGGAGE

The million-dollar question – what luggage should you take when travelling with a baby? It really is a personal choice as to how much you are comfortable carrying.

“Our best tip is to travel as light as possible as it will make the entire process easier.”

Its not just the plane or train journey you need to think about, its getting to and from the airport or station and getting all of your things to the final destination. Plus, who wants their hotel room cluttered with too many bags and suitcases.

If it’s a short trip, then we tend to pack an overnight bag which is permitted as cabin luggage. If it is a week or more then I would pack a large suitcase, but only 1 for the family unless we are travelling for more than a couple of weeks.

MY FAVORITE PRODUCTS AND BRANDS

To compliment the travel packing list for a baby, below are some of our favorite brands and products for travelling with a baby.  We have tried and tested each of these items and have only recommended things that we absolutely loved.

BabyBjorn Baby Carrier One Air

In some cities and at some events, it is far more convenient to take the baby in a sling or structured carrier as opposed to a pram. We purchased the BabyBjorn and have been very happy with the structure and support it provides. It is easy to put on and strap the baby in as well as being fuss free to transfer between the parents. Note that it is only suitable for babies above 3.5kgs, so depending on the size of your baby, it may not be usable for the first few weeks.

Silver Cross Jet Stroller

This pram is suitable from birth to 15kgs, lies fully flat and is lightweight, meaning it is comfortable for your baby and practical for parents. But the best bit – it conforms to cabin baggage regulations for all key airlines.  I have absolutely loved being able to take this pram on board with me – it has made travelling with a baby sooooooo easy. It comes with a rain cover and a protective nylon bag which slips over the top when compacted.

Of course, there is lots of competition when it comes to strollers – for example, this lightweight stroller operates with a view to ensuring optimum comfort and convenience for you and your baby, all with a clean, modern design. It all depends on what your priorities are when it comes to a stroller, so you should make sure to do your research in order to find the stroller that works best for you!

SnoozeShade Plus

I purchased this for a trip to Australia after our daughter turned 1 and I totally regret not having bought it sooner.  It creates a distraction free and safe environment for your little one to sleep whilst you are out and about.  It has been an absolute life saver and we have managed to get a restless toddler to nod off in the most unlikely of situations.  This item is a must have in my books!

Inovi Cocoon Travel Crib

The Inovi Cocoon travel crib was brilliant! We used this crib in our room at home for the baby for the first 6 months and it was really easy to transport when travelling. It is lightweight and compact (less than 4kgs) and only takes a few minutes to put together. There are no sheets or mattress protector available from the brand, but the Snuz range fits perfectly.

• • Compatible Sheets – Snuz Moses Basket / Pram Fitted Sheets
  • Compatible Mattress Protector – SnuzPod² Waterproof Mattress Protector

Bonds Wondersuits

The Wondersuits from Australian brand, Bonds, are quite possibly the best clothing option available as pajamas and travel outfits. The zip works from the top or bottom, making it easy for nappy changes, and the feet and hands can fold over meaning no need for socks or mittens (which easily fall off!). They also come in a range of beautiful prints making them super fun for your little ones.  I cannot tell you how many compliments we have received on these outfits.

GroBag Sleeping Bag

These sleeping bags came highly recommended to me by many Mum friends. For some reason I resisted them for the first couple of months and I have no idea why! The babies seem to settle in these GroBags with little fuss and they are a very safe sleeping option. When we traveled long haul with the baby at 3 months, we put her in the newborn GroSnug and put her in the airline bassinet – she slept like a little angel for most of the flight! Note – check the TOG rating and whether it is a travel one (it allows baby to be fastened into a car seat / pram) before purchasing.

Packing Cubes

We have found it very easy to pack all of the baby’s things in mesh packing cubes. It keeps everything tidy and easy to locate among your things when required. It is also a good idea to pack a bag for dirty laundry for ease of sorting, and to avoid soiling the clean clothes!

Ella’s Kitchen

The Ella’s Kitchen Pouches make travelling with a baby a breeze. A wide range of foods are available, meaning you should be able to find one which is appealing to the fussiest of babies. They are easily transportable and save the hassle of food spillage in your bag or keeping foods warm / cold. The Melty Puffs from the same brand are also a HUGE hit with babies. I always had a few on hand as they can prevent a mini melt down when you are out and about. They also help teach babies the hand / mouth coordination skills required for developing their eating skills.

Finally to make life as simple as possible for you, I have included a downloadable Travel Packing List for a Baby.  Simply print it out and tick and flick as you pack.

I hope I have inspired and encouraged your family wanderlust with this packing list for travelling with a baby.  My goal is to fill you with excitement to plan and book your first trip with your baby.  If you found this blog post useful then I know you will love my posts about ‘6 Reasons you should fly Business Class with your Baby‘ and ‘How to take a Flight Solo with your Baby‘