I’ve written before about how it is, in fact, possible to be minimalist with a baby. When you’re preparing for a new baby, the world will tell you that you “need” hundreds of products, but as I’ve discussed before on this blog, most are not really essential. One of the benefits of embracing minimalism is traveling lighter. In the same vein, a minimalist approach can also make it much less daunting to travel with a baby.
Sure, you’ll definitely be packing more than you would as a solo traveler. You’ll probably be taking a stroller and car seat with you, for example. But there are ways to make sure that it’s not overwhelming.
Below, I’ll take you through some information you should know if you haven’t traveled with a baby yet – this will inform your packing strategy. Then we’ll cover some tips for packing lighter when you travel with a baby. And finally, I’ll provide a suggested packing list. (Although I always recommend adapting packing lists to fit your list and not trying to follow a premade list to a tee.)
What You Should Know Before You Travel with a Baby
Let’s start with some information you should know before you travel with a baby. If you’ve already made a trip, you can skip this part – although there may be some things you didn’t know!
- You can carry on formula or breastmilk, even though they’re liquids. Build in extra time for security to examine these. They’ll either open the containers or swab your hands to check for powder. Pack all the milk into one bag so security only needs to examine one.
- Many hotels provide cribs. Call ahead to ensure one is available and added to your reservation.
- You can carry on a car seat if your baby is going to sit in it in their own seat. However, since babies can travel free on your lap before age two, most people will end up checking the car seat. Remember the car seat needs to be checked with oversize luggage – separate from other luggage – and allow for extra time at the airport for both lines.
- Most airlines allow an extra diaper bag, in addition to the usual one carry on and one personal item per person.
- Strollers and car seats can be checked for free on most airlines.
- You can preboard on most airlines if you’re traveling with a child under two. Take advantage of this to make sure you get overhead space for your carry-on.
- It’s useful to feed a baby or give them a pacifier during takeoff and landing. Sucking helps prevent ears from popping. Make sure you pack milk or a pacifier so they’re easily accessible.
- Your baby needs a passport to travel internationally. Also, if you have global entry, your baby also needs global entry for you to go through the fast lane together. Luckily, it’s now free to apply for a child.
Tips for Packing Lighter When You Travel with a Baby
- Consider renting things like car seat, stroller, highchair, crib, bathtub, and even toys through a service like BabyQuip. That way, you don’t need to pack them. You can coordinate to pick up at the airport or where you’re staying. But remember that you’ll need a car seat to get from the airport to your hotel.
- Invest in a collapsible travel stroller. It folds up into a tiny square that can fit in an overhead compartment. Otherwise, you’ll need to check your stroller at the gate or plane door, and it will take extra time to retrieve it after you land.
- Doona has a car seat and stroller in one, which can be a great option for your baby’s first year. It’s too large to go on the plane with you, so you’ll need to check it with a pink tag when you enter the plane and wait for it when you get off. When my family traveled that first year, the Doona made it super easy for us to walk around the city with our son and quickly load him safely into a taxi when we needed it.
- If your accommodation can’t provide a crib, use a collapsible pack and play. If possible, do a trial night with your baby sleeping in it before you pack it. Our son turned out to hate certain pack-and-plays that hotels provided and wouldn’t sleep a wink.
- Remember that you can likely buy things at your destination. You don’t need to pack enough formula to last for two weeks, for example. Depending on where you’re going, it should be available there. Just bring enough for the travel day and an extra day (in case of travel SNAFUs). Then buy some at your destination. Similarly, diapers take up a lot of space. Consider packing enough for a few days then picking up more at your destination.
- Do a “postmortem” with your packing list after your trip. Your first time it will be hard to know what’s necessary. You may not be in the habit of counting exactly how many diapers you use in a day or how often your baby has an accident and needs a change of clothes, for example. After you return home, take a few minutes to note on your list what you used and didn’t use. And yes, definitely make a list.
- Pack all your baby stuff in a carry-on, then check your own things. Personally, I don’t trust airlines not to lose my luggage, and I like to know at least I have everything my baby needs with me. One caveat is that I’ve been asked to check my carry-on at the gate because the plane is too full. And airline employees will not have any sympathy for you just because you have an infant. So be prepared to put the absolute essentials – several diapers, wipes, some milk, pacifiers, and a swaddle – into a diaper bag that can go under a plane seat.
- If you’re traveling with a partner, consolidate your things into one suitcase to cut down on the overall load you’re carrying. While I mentioned above that you’re allowed to carry on an extra diaper bag, and your stroller and car seat don’t count against your checked luggage allowance, consider how much you really want to lug around the airport and pile into taxis. For example, my husband and I would normally each bring a backpack on a plane. But when traveling with our kid, we share a backpack so that we just have that and the diaper bag. We only have two backs, after all! We also share a checked suitcase, so we just have one in addition to the carry-on containing the baby things.
- You need more baby clothes than you think. This post is about traveling light, but I don’t recommend scrimping on this part. Babies have so many accidents, and I swear my son ratchets them up intentionally while we’re on vacation. If you don’t want to pack so many clothes, you can bring packets of laundry detergent for hand washing. That way you can wash clothes in the sink, hang them to dry, and use them again.
What to Pack When You Travel with a Baby
Clothes – Choose from the following based on weather and activities:
- Onesies
- Shirts
- Shorts or pants
- Sweaters
- Socks
- Shoes
- Pajamas
- Hats
- Coats
- Mittens
- Swimsuit & floaties
Food
- Milk
- Bottles or sippy cups – enough for one day. That way, you just sanitize them once per day.
- Optional: formula – for longer trips, bring powder and buy purified water to save space
- Optional: breast pump
- Optional: bottle sanitizer bags (Dr. Brown’s, for example – heat in a microwave to steam sanitize bottles and breast pump parts)
- For older babies: Snacks (my son loves Yogis, for example)
- For older babies: Squeeze tubes of baby food (enough for one day)
Hygiene
- Diapers
- Diaper disposal bags
- Bibs
- Wipes
- Burp cloths
- For longer trips: nail grinder or clipper
- Mini container of baby-safe soap
- Dish soap for bottles
- Optional: baby-safe sunscreen for sunny destinations
- For older babies: toothbrush & mini baby safe toothpaste
- For older babies: bibs for eating
- For older babies: fork and spoon
First Aid
- Thermometer
- Tylenol or Motrin & a dropper
- Nasal aspirator
- 1 packet of Pedialyte powder
Soothing and Sleep
- Swaddle and/or sleep sack + an extra in case of accidents
- Pacifiers
- Pacifier clip – this is a lifesaver to keep the pacifier from falling onto a dirty airport or plane floor
- Optional: collapsible pack and play
- Optional: Mini sound machine
Entertainment
- 2-3 small toys
- 2 of your smallest, lightest books
- Optional: tablet with games and shows downloaded
Documents
- Baby’s passport
- Any other documents you may need
Getting Around
- Stroller
- Car seat
- Diaper bag – carry this onto the plane
- Optional (depending on destination and planned activities): baby sling, Baby Bjorn, or hiking baby carrier
Travel with a Baby – Wrapping Up
You won’t need everything on the list above, but you can see that you will be traveling with a lot of extra stuff. Even if you’re keeping it to the basics! When my family of three travels, we typically take:
- 1 medium-sized checked bag with my husband’s and my stuff
- 1 roller carry-on containing all the baby stuff
- 1 backpack diaper bag
- 1 backpack for our personal items
- 1 car seat in a roller bag
- 1 collapsible stroller that folds up and can be placed in the overhead compartment
Not exactly “light,” but it is manageable with just four adult hands to push things through the airport. One bag and the car seat get checked, so we’re left to navigate the airport with a backpack each, the roller carry-on and the stroller.
That’s why I recommend following these tips for packing light when it comes to your own stuff. Your baby needs a lot, but if you pare down your own packing, you won’t be overwhelmed.