10 Must Pack Baby Travel Essentials (and full printable packing list)
With over 100 long and short haul flights under our belts with the various stages of baby and toddler, on many different airlines to many different holiday and vacation destinations, I’ve learnt what is worth bringing along for every trip, and what is just a hassle to bring.
We’ve included our top 10 Must pack baby travel essentials first and a printable packing list for your trip which covers more scenarios.
I’ve not only included things that were useful for us personally, but asked other friends, groups and more to make sure we have covered everything so you don’t need to spend any more time searching. I mean us parents are busy enough, right?
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Our TOP 10 Must Pack Essentials for Every Trip
- Ziploc bags – these have so many uses from storing a quick changes of clothes, to a quick grab and go nappy/diaper wipes, to storing dirty clothes, loose items, sterilizing a dummy/pacifier with a Milton water tablet, to storing snacks and so much more. They will ALWAYS get used.
- Tethers or dummy/pacifier clips– the same that you would use to clip on your baby or to their car seat or stroller. It keeps toys and other items from falling on plane floor and also you will be less likely to lose smaller items wherever you are.
- Baby medicine – Bring Calpol 5ml sachets or Tylenol/ Acetaminophen ‘Dr Kids’ single dose vials in your carry on just in case your child feels poorly or is teething and some in your changing bag when out and about. ( If flying you can pop the larger bottles in your suitcase.)
- A large muslin or light weight blanket – for feeding, warmth, sleeping in a bassinet or cosy on your lap, or even to provide some darkness if having a nap, these always come in so useful for us.
- A travel stroller – whether you have a short or long haul flight with or without a transit stop, a good compact travel stroller is incredibly useful for any trip, especially if you are short on space. Our fav are YOYO2, Bugaboo Butterfly, Joolz Aer
- For airplane journeys, we found our eldest would ALWAYS fall asleep again just as we landed and managing a sleepy baby, luggage and a walk through to customs or baggage reclaim could take a while.
- For airport transit stops they are invaluable as it is rare to be given your stroller back again until final destination. Borrow one, buy one secondhand or use one for your everyday stroller – you won’t regret it!
- At destinations where you have to navigate public transport, or steps, you need a stroller you can easily pick up and carry.
- Extra Diapers/Nappies and Milk if bottle feeding – Delays, poonami’s and bags going missing can all happen so I always pack extra in our carry on so that we hare covered for any eventuality.
- Extra clothes for your baby /toddler AND you! in your carry on My husband learnt this the hard way after our daughter was suffering from bad nappy rash on a 24 hour flight to Australia and then proceeded to throw up all her milk. There was not a lot of clothing wear options open at our transit stop either.
- A baby carrier – So useful to keep your hands free at the airport or on the plane, especially if flying solo and you need to take your little one with you to the restroom.
- If nursing, then a pillow for you both to be more comfortable.
- Window spinners are a genius travel toy which our babies love and other friends also swear by. You can use them on the plane window, a car window or stick on a cupboard at your destination.
Baby Travel Essentials For Holiday/ Vacation
The items are all listed below along with some tips on why they were useful. A free printable version of this baby holiday essentials packing list can be found underneath too – just click on the image.
Baby Holiday Essentials and Packing List
Essentials for Hand luggage / Carry On or nappy/diaper bag
- Diapers/nappies
- Wipes
- Changing mat
- Pacifier/dummy if used
- Portable Pacifier/ dummy steriliser– this one is brill and can hold two at a time. It works with UV light and is rechargeable by USB cable.
- Hand sanitiser
- Bibs
- Muslins
- change of clothes for you and baby + 2 babygrow/onesies, sleep sack, socks, shoes
- Toys – Window spinners
- Tethers or dummy/pacifier clips
- Formula milk / pureed food/ finger snacks.
- Spoon or spork
- A sectioned formula dispenser with little compartments (our one contained enough with a pre-measured amount of powder for about 3 feeds)
- Sterilised bottles
- Bottle warmer – I used a Tommee Tippee warmer which we refill at the Starbucks or airport cafe once past security with boiling water.
- Any medication needed for journey and for any delays: plasters/bandaids, saline drops, Calpol 5ml sachets or Tylenol/ Acetaminophen ‘Dr Kids’ single dose vials
- Wallet/purse
- Credit/debit/ pre- paid money travel card
- Passports – check if a visa is required/Driving License
- Travel insurance documents
- Plastic bag eg a Ziploc bag
- Essential money and cash in correct currency.
- Breastfeeding cover if you like using
Food and snacks
- Formula milk if using
- Fingers food snacks, rice cakes, puffs, cucumber sticks etc
- Distilled water if you need to make bottles
- Food pouches eg Ella’s Kitchen
- Sippee Cup with lid
- Spoon or Spork
Technology
- Universal plug adaptor
- Phone/tablet/laptop/kindle etc
- Chargers for all devices
- Batteries
- Noise Cancelling Headphones
- Portable charger
- iPad/Charger
- Noise Cancelling Headphones
- Power packs
- Portable Pacifier/ dummy steriliser
Suitcase/ Checked luggage items for you and baby
- Breast pump
- Portable highchair. we like this sling style fabric high chair by Liuliuby as it has decent support and straps.
- Pool flotation devices & toys
- Beach towel (if hotel doesn’t provide)
- UVA pop up tent – a baby beach essential which can fold up very compactly
- Re-usable plastic bags for dirty laundry, wet clothes etc
- Cot linen (for some self catering properties)
- Toiletries & sponge, baby shampoo, make-up
- Universal bath plug for turning a sink into a bath
- Scissors
- Selection of bags, changing bag, beach bag, handbag
- Suntan lotion & aftersun
- Calpol/Tylenol
- Prescription medicine
- Piriton/Benedryl
- Rehydration sachets
- Non-Alcohol wipes
- Bandaids/plasters, burn gel sachets, insect repellent
- Tweezers & nail clippers
- Travel size bottle brush and drying rack.
- Plug in night light
- Baby monitor or download app on tablet and phone.
- Black out blind or aluminium foil to do the same job!
- Diapers/nappies/barrier cream, wipes
- Swim diapers/nappies
- Deodorant
- Talcum powder (great to get sand off wet feet at the beach)
- Clothes, including UV swimwear and underwear (pack spares for baby) onesies, sleep suits,
- Baby shampoo/wash, baby lotion, crib sheet.
- Baby laundry detergent
- Milton sterlizing tablets
Other items:
- Airline approved Car Seat if purchasing a seat for your baby/child (don’t forget adaptors if using on your stroller)
- Padded car seat travel bag with wheels – if checking in you car seat. we like this one as it also has carry straps to lug it on your back, plus it’s padded and on wheels so you can also drag it along.
Sun Vacation/ Holiday Essentials
- Sun hat
- Mosquito Net
- Swim Diapers/Nappies
- UV Beach Tent
- Small pool – handy for the beach or doubles up as a bath in a hotel shower!
- Cozigo or other stroller UV cover.
- Stroller fan
- Water shoes
- Pool toys
Travel Toy Essentials for Babies and Toddlers
To keep them all together use a hanging make up or toiletry bag like this which has lots of different compartments and can be hung up.
Baby Travel Essentials Tips
Although travelling with children may think you need to pack the kitchen sink, this is not always necessarily as, depending on your location, many items are available for you to buy overseas including: diapers/nappies, wipes and suntan lotion (although it may be easier to understand UVA/UVB ratings on English labels.
Swim diapers/nappies are a must to buy prior to travelling as these can be more difficult to obtain in some places but you can easily re use them if just used for a wee. We hung them out to dry and reused the same one several times!
If you are bottle feeding, it can be easier to order your formula to be picked up at your airport before departure ensuring it doesn’t take up valuable space in your packing. (In the UK, Boots offer this service.)
Many basic medicines are also available to buy at most pharmacies abroad but if you know you would like to use a specific brand then these can be easily packed in your hand luggage if under 100ml or a doctor’s note can mean you can take larger medicines on board.
Prevent leaks by packing medicines and toiletries in resealable plastic bags.
In many countries, you can hire a car seat which adheres to the safety compliances for that country but the quality and cost of this can be variable. It is important to check this prior to travelling as your countries car seat safety can differ to that abroad and you may feel more confident using your own which you know how to install safely – if you are legally allowed to use at your destination.
Even if your little one is older, a stroller or pushchair can be a lifesaver when abroad to help with naps and later nights so we suggest taking ones. Some airlines will allow strollers to be placed in the overheard compartment of planes dependant on size and amount of luggage being taken onto the plane. This pushchair doesn’t need to be fancy but useful – consider a pushchair with a large hood if you are travelling somewhere hot!
Additional items which may be of use to pop in your hand luggage would be: a baby sling or baby carrier for the long stint of wandering at the airport and a sleeping bag to keep your little one warm on the plane and keep the familiarity of home if you regularly use one.
Consider what you would usually pack in your changing bag and add surplus if you will be between accommodation for a longer period of time or to plan for any airport delays.
Download your free printable baby packing list HERE
Before you pack have you thought about packing cubes?
Seriously, where have packing cubes been all my life? I had heard about them and then my husband bought some for himself. Needless to say, we have since bought more. It makes organising suitcase so much easier. We always split our clothes between 2 or 3 cases, in case one goes missing, so this helps keep us all organised. You can check and compare latest prices here.
Here are our tips on how to pack when traveling with babies and toddlers
- Pack in advance; Last minute packing risks forgetting important items.
- Have all your clothes washed and ironed.
- Plan out outfits in advance with a couple of spare options.
- Check whether you can wash clothes at your hotel? If so pack less
- Know your baggage weight limits
- Try rolling clothes in packing cubes.
- Use clothing items to pad out empty suitcase space and to pad out breakable items
- Pack shoes in a plastic bag or shower cap to keep clothes clean
- Pack a mixture of everyones clothes in different suitcases in case one goes missing
- Also pack a change of clothes and underwear in your carry on in case all luggage is lost
- Keep essential medicine in your carry-on.
Is there anything else you would add to the checklist for travel with a baby?
