This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase. Read Disclosure.
Traveling with a baby requires quite a fair bit of planning. When your carry on drools, naps, and demands milk at 3 a.m, it’s not such a simple measure of picking up the diaper bag and be on your merry way.
Gone are the days of tossing a toothbrush in a bag and calling that packing; now your luggage becomes part nursery, part pharmacy, part mobile amusement park.
But fear not, intrepid parents, although your tiny explorers come with big needs, with the right essentials, you’ll be able to turn chaos in calmness. In fact, babies are one of the easiest ages to travel, especially if you are breastfeeding, because you don’t need too many products to travel with a baby.
We’ve been traveling with both our daughters since they were eight weeks old, and we’ve prepared this list of essential travel gear for babies to help you travel without a hitch.
Babies may not travel light, but with the right essentials, they do travel well.
When Kalyra was a baby, I had a baby sling. I loved the idea of it, but it was bulky and awkward, and I constantly feared that she would fall out or be smothered. Plus, it hurt my back.
The Baby Bjorn Miracle Carrier is everything that sling was not.
Most of all Savannah LOVED it. Like loves it so much that as we were touring around Rotorua for the day and she slept the entire time, only popping out for a feed.
The other guests on the tour could not believe how well she slept in it. In fact, later that night she protested all night when she had to sleep in her cot.
That had us worried that maybe the Baby Bjorn had ruined her sleeping for good. Thankfully, she sorted it all out by the next evening and was happily back in her travel crib.
I just wish they made Adult Bjorns so Craig could carry me around all day and I can sleep.
Also on a side note, when traveling abroad, it’s unlikely that taxis will have car seats and you probably don’t want to lug a huge car seat around with you, so the Baby Bjorn is the next safest way to keep your baby safe in a taxi.
When we traveled with Kalyra, we used to lug around a heavy and bulky port-a-cot; a cheap and very ugly one from Target.
The first time we opened it up to use it, it took Craig and I almost half an hour to put together; it was that tricky. Even more so when it came time to fold it back up.
I hated carrying it around with us and sometimes it just worked out better to throw Kalyra in the bed with us.
In a word – the Baby Bjorn Travel Cot is…LOVE, seriously, with capitals.
I opened the small square bag, that was as light as a feather, at only 5 kg.
It’s size and shape meant I was not going to wipe out the person beside me as I walked past, or worse tangle it up in my own legs and send myself sprawling over the tarmac.
No, it almost felt like I was carrying a laptop bag.
And then when I opened the cot to put it together, it sprang out from my hands, popping itself out into a port-a-cot.
Just like that. I did not have to do a thing. Literally just sprang out.
All I had to do was open out the thick, soft mattress and place it inside. The hardest part was then making the bed – too much effort!
The portable bassinet is small and compact, which Savannah loved.
She liked to feel like she was being embraced and didn’t like a lot of empty space around her. It’s the perfect size to fit in the smallest of rooms.
I love the breathable mesh around the outside, which also makes it easier to keep an eye on her when she is sleeping. The fabric is guaranteed harmless to infants and I love the soft grey colors.
I would never use anything but a Baby Bjorn Miracle Carrier and travel cot, ever again. And even though these products were complimentary, in exchange for our review, I guarantee you that I stand behind these products as being the BOMB.
I would purchase them myself and I would recommend these as a must travel product for traveling with a baby.
It will make your parenting life easier, even without the travel.
Everyone should travel with a first aid kit, no matter whether you’re traveling with a baby or not.
It’s the item you don’t want to use, but when you don’t have one, then you need it.
Make sure to pack up the essential items in your first aid kit, such as Infant acetaminophen, thermometer, bandages and plasters, gauze dressing, tweezers, hydrocortisone cream, antiseptic wipes, vaseline, and any other essential items your baby needs.
You may want to consult with your pediatrician before you go to see what items they think your baby needs.
It’s also a good idea to have your paediatricians’ number written down incase you need health advice while you’re away.
Along with the first aid kit, you’re going to need to pack some toiletries for the baby.
Chances are that you have rash cream for diaper rash, baby shampoo, lotion, body wash, and all the usual items that your baby needs at home.
In which case, you can pack those in your case, and then get some TSA approved 100ml bottles to fill up with their favorite products to take on the plane as carry-on luggage.
They may need some baby lotion and creams for diaper changes at the airport, but shampoo and body wash can go into hold luggage.
Chances are, you already have a diaper bag, but is it compact enough for travel? In which case, you may need to invest in a travel sized diaper bag.
Choose one that has a changing pad attached, it will get used a lot!
It should also have pouch or pocket organizers so you can store wipes, diapers, and everything else you need.
It should also be lightweight and not too bulky so it can fit in the overhead bin on the plane.
When it comes to packing up your baby’s outfits, packing cubes are a mom’s best friend.
They help to keep clothes organized, so you always know where everything is.
Having a more organized suitcase when traveling with a baby will save you a lot of stress trying to find things.
I don’t need to tell you that muslin blankets are essential when doing life with a baby.
Not only do they provide nursing cover, but they can be used for so many things, such as wiping up spills, for swaddling, and as sun shade in the pram.
They can also be used as a mat if you want to lie your baby down when you don’t have the changing mat to hand.
Don’t leave home without your baby’s favorite sippy cups, and if your baby is weaning, some safe weaning snacks.
Always pack as much formula or baby food as you need from home, as it’s not always possible you will find the same products abroad.
If you’re flying long-haul, or your baby is having trouble sleeping, then a mini white noise machine may help soothe them to sleep.
We personally love this one that’s so small it can fit in your pocket.
PHPTRAVELS v8
