I can remember the uneasy feeling of not knowing what to pack for my first trip with my baby. It’s a daunting question for new parents – the selection of baby travel gear is nearly endless. I’ve learned a lot through trial and error in my years of traveling with babies and I’m happy to share my first-hand knowledge with you. In this post, I share with you the baby travel essentials I used most in my family travels.
While I understand the temptation to pack every single baby travel product just in case, chances are that you won’t use half of it, and you’ll just feel regret for having to carry so much. It might take some trial and error before you figure out exactly what you need for travel with your baby, but my list of the best travel items for baby should get you well on your way!
My list of the best baby travel gear comes from my real-life experience traveling with our babies and toddlers. Whether it was a short-haul flight to visit San Diego with a baby, a long haul flight to Paris with a baby or a very long flight to Tokyo with a toddler, I’ve been in your shoes before and am here to help.
I’ve structured this list to highlight those items that I consider to be essentials for traveling with a baby. I also offer recommendations for alternative or lighter weight baby travel products, where applicable.
Note, that this list doesn’t include everything you need to pack for travel with a baby. All those items (like diapers, pacifiers, etc.) that are part of every baby travel list can be found in my baby travel packing list.
What You’ll Find in this Article on the Best Baby Travel Essentials:
This post contains compensated links.
The 22 Must Have Baby Travel Gear Items
1. Baby Carrier for Travel
When it comes to getting around while traveling with a baby, I highly recommend a baby carrier. Under the category of infant travel essentials, I absolutely loved my Baby K’tan Wrap and would recommend it to anyone.
The wonderful things about this wrap are how easy it is to use and how many different ways you can wear your baby in it. I love that the fabric gives it that cozy feeling keeping your baby close, while it also gives support with the band you use. It’s like using a wrap or ring sling without the learning curve!
I used our Baby K’tan extensively until the kids were about 9 months old, and I certainly got my money’s worth! The one downside is that you order it depending on your size. Unfortunately, that means that it didn’t work for both my husband and I.
After our kids outgrew the Baby K’tan, I moved to the Ergobaby Carrier. The Ergobaby Carrier is size adjustable, which means either my husband or I can carry the baby. The Ergo was my favorite baby carrier for travel and sightseeing with a baby.
The newest Ergobaby Carriers enable you to carry your baby on your front (front or forward facing), back or hip which gives you plenty of ways to keep your baby (and your back) happy.
I had an original Ergobaby carrier, so I also had an infant insert which also allowed me to use this baby carrier with my second child as a newborn.
2. Lightweight Baby Blankets for Travel
Though this might seem like an odd item to have under must-have baby travel gear, but in my experience, swaddle blankets are one of the best traveling essentials for baby. They are just so versatile!
I highly recommend the Aden & Anais Muslin Swaddle Blankets. The reason I love them so much is for their large size and how lightweight they are.
Swaddle blankets are so versatile for traveling with a baby. They are perfect for giving your baby a place to play on the floor in that airport (if you don’t have one of these baby travel play mats), obviously they work well to swaddle or keep your baby warm, and they even work as a nursing cover in a pinch. They are one of those wonderful multi-tasking baby travel essentials!
I love Aden & Anais Muslin swaddle blankets so much, I even wrote an entire blog post on how useful these swaddle blankets are for travel with a baby!
The best part is that you’ll keep using these blankets even when you are traveling with a toddler! They are a bit expensive, but they are so versatile to traveling with small kids, they are worth every penny!
3. SlumberPod Privacy Pod
In my experience traveling with babies, having a well-rested child makes a huge difference in the quality of your trip. A tired baby will be cranky and less willing to put up with the rigors of travel. Conversely, I consistently find that a well-rested baby is more willing to go with the flow and enjoy all the new experiences that travel provides.
In my early days of traveling with a baby, we stayed predominantly in hotels, which meant that we were in the same room as our daughter. One item that I wished had been available at the time is the SlumberPod.
The SlumberPod creates a private, dark environment for your baby, which would be so useful when sharing a hotel room with a baby. Even for daytime naps at the hotel or in an Airbnb without blackout blinds, this is one of the most useful baby travel products.
The SlumberPod is one of those amazing new baby travel products and I consider it to be one of the travel must haves for baby! If the SlumberPod isn’t within your budget, here is my list of recommended SlumberPod alternatives.
If you prefer to get portable blackout curtains for the windows, one option I really like are Sleepout Curtains which have industrial-strength suction cups. In addition, they come with extra Sleepout pads to help stop any light from coming through on the edges! Use code “babycantravel” for a 10% discount! For more information, read my full review of the Sleepout Blackout Curtains.
Use BABYCANTRAVEL$20 to get $10 off the SlumberPod when you buy direct from SlumberPod!
Still not sure if you need one for traveling with a baby? Read my full review of the SlumberPod here.
4. Baby Travel Crib or Travel Tent
While plenty of hotels and Airbnb rentals have pack n’ plays available for you to use, owning a portable baby travel crib is the best way to give your baby a familiar sleep environment. It’s also one less thing to worry about if you plan to move around a lot during your trip.
For older babies (older than 6 months old), the KidCo PeaPod Plus Travel Bed is great baby travel bed option which we used extensively on our family trips.
On a trip to Japan with a baby, a friend recommended the KidCo Peapod Plus travel bed to us and was kind enough to lend us hers. The KidCo Peapod Plus travel tent is a lightweight, sturdy travel bed which collapses to easily fit in a typical suitcase. What’s not to love?!?
Our little guy slept great while using the Peapod Plus and it allowed us to sleep easy knowing he was safe and well contained. I was hooked! We quickly got one for ourselves and used it on all our family trips until he was too big for his toddler travel bed.
For infants and babies, the best baby travel cribs that I recommend are the Guava Lotus travel crib or the more budget friendly Chicco Alfa Lite.
I have written a full Lotus travel crib review and a review of the KidCo Peapod Plus toddler travel bed where I also share all my tips for getting your baby or toddler to sleep in it.
5. CoziGo Bassinet and Stroller Cover
As mentioned, I love the versatility of a large swaddle blanket for baby travel. One of the mistakes I’ve made traveling with a baby was using the blanket over the stroller at nap time – it just didn’t work well. It was still too bright inside the stroller, our baby was too hot and the wind kept blowing it off!
The CoziGo stroller cover solves this problem and is one of those baby travel necessities that should be on everyone’s packing list for travel with baby! The CoziGo Bassinet & Stroller Cover works as both a cover for airline bassinets and a sun shade for strollers. It’s so versatile that it could easily go under the category of baby travel products for sleep, flying or getting around.
The CoziGo is now one of my top recommended baby travel products to get your baby to sleep on vacation.
If you are wondering why I like this stroller cover so much for naps on the-go while traveling with a baby, check out my review of the CoziGo Stroller Cover.
6. Portable Travel High Chair
Another baby travel essential I’ve used extensively on our family travels is a fabric travel high chair. Eating can be a challenge while traveling with a baby and I’ve learned that having a travel high chair is very convenient for feeding a baby in a wide variety of settings. You’ll be happy to have one if restaurants, hotel rooms or your Airbnb.
Once our baby was eating solid foods, I always traveled with a fabric high chair. A fabric travel high chair is one of the best baby travel products to pack when traveling to countries where restaurants don’t typically have high chairs.
I love that it has a 5-point harness, it attaches to the back of most chairs and if attached properly, will keep your baby securely in the chair (still never leave your baby unattended).
As a bonus, I love that travel high chairs pack down really small, which makes it easy to bring out with you while sightseeing with your baby!
While there are some downsides to a simple fabric travel high chair, I cover them in this post which compares all the best travel high chairs. You’ll also find all my recommendations for clip-on travel high chairs (like the Inglesina high chair) and other options that might suit your family better.
Keep in mind that if you are traveling to a country where most restaurants will have high chairs, like these best places to travel in the USA with a baby, then you may not need a portable travel high chair.
7. Diaper Change Pad
Another very simple, yet super important item I would definitely include in my list of essentials for travelling with a baby is a diaper change pad. You won’t need to worry about finding places to change your baby if you have one.
I used my portable diaper change pad so frequently that it definitely falls under the category of best baby travel gear! Find the best diaper change mat for your family from my curated list.
Don’t miss my best tips to turn a baby traveler into a child who loves to travel.
8. Thermometer and Baby Tylenol
Not all baby travel gear has to be flashy or exciting – the fundamentals are important too. While I hope you’ll never have to deal with your baby being sick when you travel, packing a few essentials and a baby first aid kit will be well worth it.
I always included a baby thermometer and baby Tylenol in my carry-on luggage. The last thing I wanted was to try and find these items in a country where I didn’t speak the local language!
9. Spill Proof Snack Cup
A spill proof snack cup could very well be the baby travel gear I have used most on my family travels, especially with my son. A good travel snack cup is indispensable for traveling with a baby who eats solids.
Spill-proof snack cups are excellent activities for a baby on an airplane – just fill it with Cheerios and they will spend a wonderful amount of time pulling them out one-by-one. They are equally useful for snack on the go while sightseeing. Your baby can snack away in the stroller while you walk to the next attraction!
The Munchkin Snack Catcher is my favorite snack cup – it seems like every travel picture we have of our son, he’s holding one!
You can find even more spill proof snack cups for travel and the best travel sippy cups here.
10. Backpack Diaper Bag
What about your diaper bag? You could bring your everyday diaper bag from home, but my experience taught me to have something that helps keep your hands hands free, like this backpack diaper bag!
I’ve even used my regular hiking backpack as a diaper bag / carry-on for traveling with a baby, but one of these backpack diaper bags for travel will be much better for keeping your baby travel essentials organized.
See my full review of The Getaway Bag by No Reception Club. It has all the features parents need in a diaper bag for traveling with a baby.
11. White Noise Machine
You never can predict whether your hotel room will be loud or if the street noise will wake your baby. Using a white noise machine enables you to replicate your baby’s sleep environment and block out extra noise that might wake your baby.
I especially liked having a portable white noise machine for sharing a hotel room with our baby and we’ve even used it on the airplane. In both situations, having a white noise machine gives your baby something to focus on besides all the distracting, new & exciting ambient noise around them.
If you like to travel light, you can always get an app for white noise, but the big downside to this is that you won’t have your phone with you in the evening when your baby sleeps. Perhaps use an old phone?
12. Lightweight Travel Stroller
Although I listed a baby carrier as my #1 baby travel essential, that doesn’t mean I don’t like travel strollers. I’ve traveled with a baby travel stroller on many occasions, especially on trips to the US. Your travel stroller options range from simple umbrella strollers to lightweight travel strollers that have a canopy and fold up small enough to fit in the overhead bin on the airplane.
If you aren’t in the market to buy a separate infant travel stroller and your everyday stroller is too large to travel with, you can always rent a stroller at your destination. I’ve rented strollers for our family travels on many occasions – it’s a nice treat not having to bring it onto the airplane.
Many parents think they need a stroller to lug all their baby travel gear through the airport, but I think it’s easier to use a baby carrier to get through the airport. Besides, not having a stroller forces you to pack lightly, leaving your non-essential baby travel gear at home.
If you are thinking of traveling with a stroller, be sure to read my post on baby carrier or stroller for travel before making your final decision.
Again, whether renting or bringing your own travel system, the CoziGo is a must have travel item! Not only for getting your baby to nap on the go, but not having to worry about them being in the sun for too long!
13. Baby Travel Toys
While you’ll be hoping to get your baby to sleep on the airplane, you should pack a few toys to keep your baby entertained on the flight. I have written extensively on this topic, including posts on the best baby travel toys to entertain your baby on the plane and even more in this list of travel toys for babies.
Two of my favorite baby travel toys include this multi-sensory activity toy or this tactile baby book.
These baby travel mobiles also make excellent baby travel toys for on-the-go!
14. Baby Travel Car Seat
If you plan to bring a car seat on the airplane or need one for a rental car, then you will need to plan ahead for traveling with this essential baby gear.
The Cosco Scenera Next is the lightweight travel car seat that you’ll see recommended for travel time and time again. This one is another well reviewed lightweight baby travel car seat.
If you plan to fly with a car seat and not bring it with you to your seats, make sure to keep it safe in a car seat travel bag. You can get a protective bag for strollers too, though you’ll probably be gate checking your stroller, which makes the protective bag unnecessary.
See all the best car seat travel bags here, plus more ingenious ways on carrying your car seat through the airport.
Do you need a car seat for travel with a baby? Here are things to consider before traveling with car seats on airplanes, which might help your decision on purchasing a travel car seat.
15. HALO Swaddle SleepSack
I used the HALO Swaddle SleepSack for both our babies at home, so to help maintain a consistent sleeping experience, I would also bring it every time we traveled with our babies. This comfy sleepsack was a major component of my baby’s sleep routine and I found it helped our baby get a good night’s sleep while on the road.
I even used a swaddle sleepsack to help my daughter sleep in the airplane bassinet on her very first flight.
I used the Swaddle SleepSack until about my kids were about 6 months old, then switched to the HALO SleepSack without the swaddle.
16. Baby Monitor App
Once you’ve gotten your baby to sleep, you’ll want to keep an eye on them. I love the Baby Monitor 3G app for when we stay somewhere where our baby is in a separate room (family, friends or an apartment rental).
The great thing about this baby monitor app is it lets you leave your bulky baby monitor equipment at home. Note that you need to have two Apple or Android devices (i.e. one with baby and one with you) and Wi-Fi for it to work. Over 1,000,000 parents use this handy baby travel app and for good reason.
17. Travel Baby Monitor
While I love the simplicity of using a baby monitor app for traveling, it’s not always the best solution. The potential downsides using a baby monitor app are that you need a strong consistent signal for it to work (not always guaranteed while traveling) and you give up the use of two phones.
One alternative is to pack a travel baby monitor. Then you’ll rest easy knowing you can still keep an eye on your baby. This is especially important if you are renting an Airbnb where your baby will be sleeping in a separate room.
See all my recommended baby travel monitors here.
18. Nursing Cover
While I don’t believe a woman needs to cover up while breastfeeding, depending on your comfort level or the cultural sensitivities of where you travel with your baby, a nursing cover might be a necessary item to add to your baby travel must haves.
For breastfeeding and pumping moms, read my post on breastfeeding on a plane.
19. Baby Bibs
Babies are very messy eaters, which can present challenges if you don’t have access to laundry facilities. When I travel with a baby who is eating solid food, I always pack bibs that are easy to clean. Having a good bib which catches most of the dropped/spilled food makes life so much easier from a laundry perspective.
You can also pack a portable baby food masher if you want to prepare your own baby food while you travel.
20. Silicone Table Mat
Feeding a baby finger food can get messy, especially when your baby is in the plate flinging stage. Using a silicone table mat, lets you put their food in front of them and let them practice feeding themselves.
I brought a silicone table mat with me on many family trips, including going to an all-inclusive resort with a baby (where all we did was eat!). These flexible and easily washable mats are especially useful in restaurants where you don’t want to risk your baby breaking their glass plates.
See my complete guide to visiting an all-inclusive with a baby.
21. Diapers and Extra Baby Clothes
Travel days don’t always go according to plan – I’ve had many family travel days which were much longer than anticipated. Take my advice and pack more diapers than you think you’ll need and a few extra outfits for your baby. Blowouts happen and you’ll want to be prepared.
On that note, pack an extra shirt for yourself!
22. Inflatable Travel Bathtub
Some babies thrive on routine and getting your baby to sleep on vacation often means replicating your bedtime routine while you travel.
If a bath is part of your baby’s bedtime routine, you can purchase an inflatable bathtub for travel. Other alternatives are to use the hotel sink or give your baby a wipe down with a warm cloth.
I share all the best baby bathtubs for travel here.
Travel Essentials for Baby – Special Trip Types
We’ve done it all from flying long haul flights with an infant, to traveling with a baby and a toddler. Trust us when I say that for flying with a baby, you won’t want the added stress of extra bags and baby travel items to lug around the airport and to find room for in your rental car.
My list of essential baby travel gear above is geared for a typical family trip, but you may be interested in a few of my other posts for these special types of trip:
Baby Plane Travel Essentials
Flying with a baby can be intimidating, especially for the first time. If there’s one place that packing lightly is important, then this is it. You’ll have enough to deal with on the plane, let alone worrying about a bunch of bags filled with unnecessary baby travel gear.
The number one item I recommend for flying with a baby is a good baby carrier. If you plan to fly with a stroller frequently, consider one of these best strollers for airplane travel with a stroller travel bag for extra protection.
Alternatives to Packing Baby Gear
If you aren’t looking to purchase one of these essentials for traveling with baby, here are the options you that may allow you to avoid purchasing or packing one of these essential travel items for baby:
- For the bigger traveling accessories for babies, like a portable crib or a high chair, first check with your hotel or Airbnb host. Even if the high chair or pack n’ play isn’t listed in the description, your host may be able to make one available for you. It never hurts to ask!
- If neither of those options work out, you can still avoid bringing all that baby gear and rent your must have items for traveling with baby at your destination. In larger centers, you can often find a reputable baby equipment rental company that can deliver baby travel essentials directly to your rental car, hotel or Airbnb apartment.
- For other baby travel items, you may be able to use an alternative item – like many parents did in my post about the best travel hacks for babies and toddlers.
If you plan to travel frequently with your kids, then I recommend buying the must have baby travel items. It’s much more convenient if you have your own, plus it will be something that your baby is familiar with.
Checklist for What to Bring When Traveling with a Baby
It can seem overwhelming when you start thinking about everything you need to bring when traveling with a baby. Do yourself a favor and download this handy baby packing list so you don’t forget anything!
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This post was written & edited by:
Celine Brewer is the owner of Baby Can Travel. Not only does she have years of experience traveling with babies & toddlers, but she's helped millions of new parents travel with their babies and toddlers for over a decade. In addition to writing on her baby travel blog, she has shared her expertise on traveling with a baby or toddler by contributing to articles about traveling with a baby with the Washington Post, USA Today, the Lonely Planet magazine and Pregnancy & Newborn magazine.
Celine also writes about family travel on the site FamilyCanTravel.com, which she co-owns with her husband. Being from the Canadian Rockies, she shares her passion about her home and travel to Banff National Park and area on their site TravelBanffCanada.com.