Baby Packing List (Travel)
By the NanoPack team · Updated on · Checked against official sources
What to pack when traveling with a baby: recreate the routine, and keep the essentials where you can reach them. In your day bag keep more diapers, wipes and spare outfits than you think you need, plus feeding supplies, a comfort item and a change of top for you. Pack feeding gear (bottles and formula, or nursing supplies), a portable changing mat, a familiar sleep item, weather-appropriate layers, and a small health kit with infant acetaminophen and a thermometer. Bring the car seat, and for flights a carrier to keep your hands free.
Baby Packing List (Travel) essentials at a glance
- More diapers and wipes than you expect
- Two or three spare outfits, within reach
- Feeding gear: bottles and formula, or nursing kit
- A portable changing mat and diaper sacks
- A familiar comfort or sleep item
- Infant acetaminophen and a thermometer
- A car seat and a baby carrier
- Burp cloths for absolutely everything
Travelling with a baby is mostly an exercise in bringing their routine with you and keeping the essentials within arm's reach. Run out of diapers at 30,000 feet, or hit a blowout with no spare outfit, and you learn fast what needed to be in the day bag rather than the hold. Pack a little more than feels sensible for feeding, changing and outfit changes, keep a comfort item to hand, and carry a small health kit, because a pharmacy is not always around the corner.
Day bag (within reach)
- More diapers than you think · delays and blowouts happen
- Wipes
- Spare outfits for the baby ×2 to 3
- A change of top for you
- A portable changing mat and diaper sacks
- A comfort item
- A bottle or snack
- Burp cloths
Feeding
- Formula and pre-measured portions · or nursing supplies and a cover
- Bottles and a way to clean them
- Bibs and burp cloths
- A spill-proof cup and snacks for older babies
- A small cool bag
Changing
- A full pack of diapers
- Wipes and barrier cream
- A portable changing mat
- Nappy sacks
- Hand sanitizer
- A wet bag for dirty clothes
Sleep and comfort
- A familiar comforter or sleep item
- A sleep sack or blanket
- A travel crib if needed
- A white-noise app or toy
- Blackout blind or window covers
Clothing and weather
- Outfits ×2 per day
- A warm layer, socks and mitts
- A sun hat and sun-protective clothing
- A rain cover for the stroller
- Baby sunscreen for over-6-months only
Health and travel
- Infant acetaminophen and a thermometer
- Any prescriptions and teething relief
- A first-aid basics kit
- The baby's own passport for international trips · babies need their own; allow time to apply
- A car seat
- A baby carrier for hands-free travel
- A full-size or lightweight travel stroller
What not to pack
- Just enough diapers · delays and blowouts happen; pack extra and a spare outfit within reach
- Full-size everything · travel sizes and pre-measured formula portions save space and weight
- New, untested gear for the trip · a strange bottle or carrier mid-trip is a gamble; use what the baby knows
- Sunscreen for a newborn · sunscreen is generally for over-6-months; keep young babies in shade and clothing
Packing tips and mistakes to avoid
Keep the essentials in your day bag, not the hold
Diapers, wipes, spare outfits, feeding gear and a comfort item should never be in a checked bag that could go missing. If one bag stays with you, it is this one.
Pack more spares than feels sensible
A delay plus a single blowout can burn through outfits fast. Two or three spare outfits for the baby, a change of top for you, and extra diapers are the difference between a hiccup and a crisis.
Recreate the sleep routine
A familiar comforter, the usual sleep sack and some white noise help a baby settle in an unfamiliar room. Bring the sleep cues, not just the crib.
A carrier beats the stroller in transit
A baby carrier keeps your hands free through airports, stations and cobbled streets where a stroller is awkward, and it often soothes a baby who will not settle.
Baby milk and water skip the liquids limit
Formula, expressed breast milk and water for your baby are exempt from the usual 100ml carry-on limit, so you can take reasonable quantities through airport security in larger containers. Tell the officer at the start of screening, as they may check them separately.
The things people forget
- More diapers and a spare outfit in your carry-on
- A comfort item for the strange room
- Infant acetaminophen and a thermometer
- Burp cloths for absolutely everything
What people wish they had packed
- A baby carrier for hands-free airports
- A wet bag for dirty clothes
- A portable changing mat
- Extra spare outfits after a blowout
Frequently asked questions
What do you pack when traveling with a baby?
Feeding supplies, a full pack of diapers and wipes, two or three spare outfits, a portable changing mat, a familiar sleep item, weather-appropriate layers, and a small health kit with infant acetaminophen and a thermometer. Bring the car seat and a carrier, and keep the essentials in your day bag.
How many diapers should you pack for travel?
Plan on roughly one diaper for every two to three hours of travel, then add several extra for delays and blowouts. Keep a generous stash plus spare outfits in your carry-on, and restock from a full pack in the main luggage.
What do you need for a flight with a baby?
A well-stocked day bag with diapers, wipes and spare outfits, feeding supplies for take-off and landing (feeding helps their ears), a comfort item, a change of top for you, and a carrier to keep your hands free. Check your airline's rules for strollers and bassinets.
Can you use sunscreen on a baby?
Sunscreen is generally recommended only from six months old. For younger babies, keep them out of direct sun with shade, a sun hat and light protective clothing rather than sunscreen.