Whether you’re planning a vacation with a newborn, baby, or toddler… or just taking a trip to visit family, there are several essential things to pack that you don’t want to forget!
I’m a type-A mom of three, and my motto is, “be prepared.” Haha. We’ve taken trips with our babies on a plane, in a car, to the beach, to Disney world, and all over the place.
So aside from the obvious diapers, portable bottle warmers, wipes, and clothes, what do you pack when traveling with a baby?
These are packing must-haves that are not-so-obvious that we always pack with us for a better night’s sleep AND to keep our family healthy while traveling.
They just make traveling with a baby easier all around!
Let’s dive right in!
If you’re in a hurry to pack, here’s a quick list of not-so-obvious things you’ll need when traveling with your baby:
| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Yogasleep Hushh Portable White Noise Machine | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | Oilogic Slumber and Sleep Essential Oil Vapor Bath | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
Top | Woombie Baby Swaddle Blanket | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
Top | Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Liquid Soap | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
Top | Ultra Soft Toothbrush | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
Top | Mommy's Bliss Gripe Water | Prime | Buy Now | |
Top | Disposable Changing Underpads | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
Top | Sesame Street Table Topper Disposable Stick-in-Place Placemats | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | Munchkin Brica GoShop Baby Shopping Cart Cover | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
Top | Organic Bamboo Baby Hooded Towel | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
Top | Baby K’tan Breeze Baby Wrap Carrier, Infant and Child Sling | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
Top | Huggies Disposable Swim Diapers | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
Top | Badger Baby Sunscreen Cream SPF 30 | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
Top | Progressive Collapsible Portable Wash Basin Dishpan | Prime | Buy Now | |
Top | Munchkin Sponge Bottle Brush | Prime | Buy Now | |
Top | Baby Bottle Drying Rack with Drainer | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
Top | Ziploc Bags, Easy Open Tabs | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
Top | Babyganics Toy, Table & Highchair Wipes | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
Traveling with Baby: Tips & Must-Have List
A sound machine
- EFFECTIVELY MASKS NOISE: Beloved by generations since 1962, Yogasleep by Marpac is the trusted leader in white noise machines, and created our signature sound – the soothing ambient sounds of rushing air. That sound that’s helped millions experience better sleep for generations is now available in this light and portable design for babies. The Hushh effectively cancels out noises that may disturb or distract for improved sleep and soothing.
- 3 SOOTHING SOUNDS & NIGHT LIGHT: Choose from bright white noise, deep white noise, or gentle surf, then set your volume - anywhere from whisper-quiet to impressively robust. Hushh lets you take control of the sound environment, excellently masking background noise and allowing for better sleep and effective soothing for kids and babies. A gentle amber LED Night light provides just enough light to see by without causing wakefulness for parent or baby.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
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If you’re staying in a hotel with your baby, (or really any place that’s new!) there will unfamiliar noises that may startle and wake your baby.
Creaks in the floor or people slamming doors… traveling with baby can disrupt their sleep.
Packing a sound machine will help drown out the noise and help your baby sleep better while on vacation!
A baby-safe essential oil blend
- Made with 100% PURE essential oils including: Lavender, Chamomile, Mandarin, Orange, Grapefruit, and Bergamot oils.
- Dermatologist AND Pediatrician tested to ensure safe dilution and safe use for children aged 6 months and up
- HOW TO USE: Pour a generous amount of Oilogics Slumber and Sleep Vapor Bath into a warm bath and allow your child to soak while breathing in the calming vapors. Use foaming liquid as a gentle cleanser to a soft washclo
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I love to pack this sleep oil blend for my kiddos to help them sleep better while traveling.
It’s even paraben and phthalate-free and safe for babies older than six months! (Smells so good, too!)
It’s small and doesn’t take up much space in your suitcase.
Swaddle
- Wearable baby blanket that encourages back sleeping and eases the transition from womb to world.
- Designed by an RN BSN and nursing team, this ergonomically shaped swaddle blanket is effective and easy to use.
- The 95% cotton 5% spandex fabric promotes gentle airflow.
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If your baby sleeps well with a swaddle, don’t forget to pack it!
(Seriously, don’t forget. Our baby was addicted to hers and wouldn’t sleep at all without it!)
Baby soap/shampoo
- Completely biodegradable and vegetable-based for a gentle and effective soap
- Ideal for washing body, face or hair
- No Added Fragrance, Vegan, Non-GMO
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I can’t tell you how many times I’ve forgotten the baby shampoo. I love Dr. Bonner’s baby soap as a non-toxic option.
Pro tip: Target sells it in a travel size!
Baby toothbrush
- Designed for delicate teeth and gums
- Completely BPA and synthetic dye-free
- Safe and sensitive brush head
- Special bristles made just for baby
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Why is it so easy to forget your toothbrush when packing for a trip?!
Haha! Well, now that you have a baby, you gotta pack one for him, too!
I just love this brand, which is very soft for baby’s gums.
Gripe Water
- Safe and effective liquid formula is made with organic fennel and ginger; no refrigeration required after opening
- NO artificial colors/flavors, gluten, dairy or soy; NO alcohol, parabens or harsh chemicals; NO petroleum; 100% vegetarian and vegan
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All that bumpy traveling with baby can be hard on her tummy. We always pack this gripe water to take with us just in case of gas, colic, or tummy troubles.
Disposable changing mats
- Light absorbency and plastic backing protects beds, changing stations, or any other surface from moisture
- Convenient prefolded size fits easily into diaper bags
- Latex Free
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I’m a total germaphobe, so I always pack disposable changing mats to protect my baby from germy surfaces and keep them healthy.
I love these because they’re bigger (and cheaper!) than your typical baby changing pad.
Restaurant table covers
- Extra sticky four sided strips
- BPA & PVC free
- Fun & engaging designs
- Easy application & removal
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Speaking of disposable mats, I always pack a few of these disposable restaurant table covers for when we eat out.
(Have you ever used a Clorox wipe on a restaurant table? If so, you KNOW how nasty those tables are!)
These Sesame Street ones have bright colors and fun pictures to keep baby occupied.
High chair / shopping cart cover
- Stretch-to-fit fabric for cushioned support, complete cart coverage and protection from germs
- Secure, universal locking system easily attaches cover to cart for safety (no snaps or ties)
- Compact, easy to carry and equipped with smartphone pouch and toy loops
- Fits most restaurant highchairs
- Machine washa
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I also be sure to pack a high chair/shopping cart cover to protect baby from germs if they’re old enough to sit up.
Baby towel and washcloth
- Adorable, lamb-face design
- 100% hypoallergenic baby bath towel made from silky soft bamboo
- Extra thick design (500gsm)
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We just returned from a short getaway where we stayed at a posh hotel.
And even though it was a super-nice place, the towels were SO scratchy.
Save your baby’s skin by packing his own ultra-soft towel and wash cloth.
(And confession: I told ya’ll I’m a germaphobe and the thought of rubbing a towel on my baby that has been used by 100’s of other people kinda freaks me out. Haha!)
If you’re planning to take baby to the beach or the pool, or if you’re going to be gone for longer than a couple of days, you probably want to pack more than one towel.
Baby carrier
- Hold your newborn baby, preemie or infant close for snuggles.
- The womb-like baby wrap also supports easy breastfeeding on the go.
- No rings, belts, buckles or excess fabric, just slip the sling over your head like a t-shirt.
- 100 % cotton
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Most babies LOVE to be carried. (And let’s face it. A wrap takes up so much less room than a stroller!)
Swim diapers
- Disposable Swim Diapers
- Pink/Blue
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Speaking of the beach and pool, you’ll want to be sure to pack swim diapers if you’re headed there. (Why do I always forget these?!)
Baby safe sunscreen
- Gentle and effective broad-spectrum protection with just 6 ingredients! No oxybenzone, octinoxate, or other chemical active sun screening agents.
- WATER RESISTANT - Certified organic base of Sunflower Oil, Beeswax & Vitamin E is ultra-moisturizing and soothing.
- HYPOALLERGENIC - Pediatrician tested and approved safe for babies and kids.
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Unfortunately, a lot of mainstream sunscreens are loaded with toxins and harmful chemicals that shouldn’t go anywhere near a baby. 🙁
I trust the Badger brand as a good non-toxic sunscreen option.
Hand soap
Have you ever noticed that hotels never provide hand soap for their guests? It blows my mind! They just give you those tiny little bars.
I dunno about you, but I’m not sure that washing your hands with bar soap gets them very clean. I mean, if you think about it, you’re putting your dirty hands on that bar of soap, and then later washing your hands again with the same germs lingering on the bar. (Am I over-thinking this? lol!)
But for real, since you’ll be changing diapers, I feel like it’s important to pack liquid soap.
We always pack hand soap when we travel to keep us healthy.
Collapsible dish pan
- The Collapsible Dish Tub collapses to 1/3 its original height for compact storage.
- Dishwasher safe
- Many uses
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(Or, if you’re a pumping mom, you’ll also need to wash your breast pump parts!)
This dish pan is perfect for washing baby stuff, plus it’s collapsible so it won’t take up too much space in your luggage!
Bottle brush
- BPA free bottle brush stands upright, away from household germs
- Soft rubber nipple brush is gentle on small parts
- Ideal for cleaning most standard glass and plastic baby bottles - replace brush every 30-45 days
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And of course, you’ll also want to pack dish soap and a bottle brush to wash said bottles, sippy cups, pump parts, and pacifiers!
Bottle drying rack
- The baby bottle rack made of quality materials, nontoxic and BPA free
- Perfect for drying bottles and accessaries of all shapes and sizes
- Space saving bottle dryer ideal for both home and travel
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At this point, I kinda feel like this post is similar to “If you give a mouse a cookie.”
If you have dish soap and a bottle brush, you’re going to need somewhere clean to dry your baby bottles. Sooo… you’ll also need to pack a bottle drying rack.
This is what we bring along. It doesn’t take up tooooo much space.
Zipper bags
- Perfect for freezing meat, chicken, fish, and vegetables
- Helps preserve the original flavor of food
- Features our Smart Zip Plus Seal and Easy Open Tabs
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You’ll find a million uses for these things when traveling with a baby.
I like to put my baby’s outfit, a diaper, and a pair of socks in a ziplock bag so that everything is ready to go and easily organized.
I also keep all of baby’s pacifiers in a baggie so they don’t get dirty or lost.
If you prefer a reusable zipper bag, these are super-cute.
Bonus item: Disinfectant wipes! Whenever we get to a hotel, I always wipe down the remote, light switches, and all major surfaces.
- Fragrance Free
- Plant-based Cleaning Powder Durable & Non-abrasive
- Quick & Convenient
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Alright, that’s it, friends!
With these must-have items for baby travel you’re all set to go on that Disneyworld trip you’ve been planning for ages, or maybe you’re taking your toddler to the beach.
Whatever it is, make the best of it and enjoy with your little bundle of joy!
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Jena
Saturday 30th of March 2019
I also pack a bath mat too! Hotel tubs creep me out! Thanks for the list!
Marianna
Sunday 14th of April 2019
Glad to know I'm not the only one! :)