The Essential Packing Guide to Traveling with a Baby
We are a modern California family and road tripping and flying with babies all over the US is pretty much what we love to do. Just because we are parents, that doesn't mean we don't like to have adventures and explore! Being prepared and having the right gear will make or break your travel experience. Read on to see what we pack when getting ready to travel with our baby and toddler.
Top 10 Must-Haves for Traveling with a Baby
Bring Prepared Meals for Babies and Toddlers
Convenience is the name of the game. Having ready-to-eat healthy food options is vital to quickly calm a hungry and fussy baby.
For babies still drinking formula bottles, βReady to Feedβ bottles are the name of the game. These are pre-mixed liquid formula, so thereβs no need to deal with messy powder and water while on the go. During our travels, we packed individual 2-oz sized pre-mixed formula bottles. This makes it super easy to bust out a bottle quickly. The nipple screws right onto the top of the pre-mixed bottle, so you donβt even need to pour it into another bottle.
If you want a slightly cheaper on the go formula option, you can buy travel size powder formula packets or travel containers with a scoop. If you choose this option, you will also need to bring clean bottles and water.
For babies and toddlers eating solid foods, we pack organic purΓ©ed foods in pouches, baby puffs, raisins, crackers and all kinds of non-perishable snack foods to get you through between meals. They have been lifesavers!
Travel System with Carseat and Compact Stroller
When we began our hunt for a stroller, the number one criteria I had was to make sure it was lightweight and able to fold up compactly. We are always outside on-the-go and the thought of fumbling around with a heavy and bulky stroller sounded so stressful.
We ended up purchasing the Maxi-Cosi Zelia 5-in-1 Modular Travel System and we love it! The car seat can fit straight into the stroller for quick trips or you can put a bassinet in so baby can nap.
Sleeping Options When Traveling with a Baby
Pack-n-Plays are portable cribs that are easy to set-up anywhere and it will give you peace of mind that your baby has a safe place to sleep and hangout during travels. A portable bassinet works well too!
Another option is a co-sleeper which we use all the time too. Itβs a mini portable bed that lays on an adult bed and your baby sleeps next to you. This is great if you have limited space for packing.
Packing Baby and Toddler Outfits
When I'm packing up the kidsβ clothing I tend to put their clothing into two categories, the βcuteβ outfits for outings, dining out and any other photo ops, and secondly their more basics for chilling out.
Babies are notorious for having big spit-ups and overflowing blowout diapers at times. So I try to save my favorite outfits for special occasions and keep my fingers crossed that they donβt stain them immediately. I always carry a few extra onesies in my diaper bag just in case disaster strikes.
For all you folks taking lots of Instagram pics, I also highly recommend carrying an extra outfit for mommy and daddy. I cannot tell you how many times I've needed to change my outfit because I've got vomit (or worse!) on me from one of the kids. Always be prepared!
Diaper Bag Must-Haves
While traveling with the kids, we quickly learned how important it is to have a well-stocked diaper bag. It pretty much needs to be your magic bag of tricks to keep the calm in any situation.
These are our essentials for the travel version of our diaper bag:
Plush baby blankets - used to keep baby warm and to create shade from the sun while theyβre in their carseat and stroller.
At least one diaper per hour out of the house.
Changing pad (comes with most diaper bags).
Baby wipes.
Burb cloths.
Pacifiers (quick note - we had to try out multiple pacifiers before we found ones that Scout and Beau liked. She loved the Soothie pacifiers and he preferred the MAM).
Diaper rash cream to prevent diaper rash. Burtβs Bees and Honest Company are my favorites. Applying cream with every diaper change while traveling is important, because long hours in the car seat during road trips can make the frequency and severity of diaper rash worse.
2 extra onesies.
Travel sanitation wipes that are baby-friendly. You can also use the Munchkin Pacifier Wipes to wipe down a pacifier that falls to the floor.
Bottles and pure water if youβre bringing travel formula powder packs.
Baby Shusher Portable Sound Machine
During our newborn studio photo shoot the photographer was using this little sound machine to create calm and soothing "shushing sounds", aptly named The Shusher. As new parents we didn't even know such a thing existed and we were amazed at how effective it was to relax Scout and help her drift into sleep.
When traveling, sleeping in an unfamiliar environment can really disrupt your baby's sleep rhythm. This compact and portable little sound machine allows you to bring the comforts of home on the road. And as an added bonus, the shusher also helps adults sleep too!
Sun Protection for Baby
If youβre traveling to a warm and sunny destination, being outdoors is likely on the agenda. Protecting babyβs skin from sunburn is high on the priority list. We travel prepared with sunblock (Pipette is my favorite baby sunscreen), baby sun hats and lightweight clothing layers. Include some bug spray for good measure to avoid mosquito bites. Another great option is a baby beach tent (which can be used pretty much anywhere outdoors).
Travel Inflatable Bathtub for Babies
One of Scoutβs favorite time of the day is bath time and it really helps her to wind down and get ready for bed. We love the Munchkin Inflatable Duckie and Swan Baby Bathtubs. When you let the air out they fold-up really compact and are quick to blow-up. Easy and light!
Soft Books
When your baby starts getting fussy, it often helps for them to hear the sound of our voices. Reading to them is not only soothing but a fun way for us to interact with your little one. Our doctor even recommends reading out loud to help with brain development! Traditional books are hard and bulky⦠enter fabric books! Lightweight, fun for baby to play with and easy to pack in a suitcase.
Bring Your Camera
In the hectic world of parenting, we often worry about the essentials and then forget about the fun stuff. Taking photos to capture family moments is most certainly a hobby of mine (hence the blog!) and I strongly encourage you to do the same. Not only should you be sure to pack the camera but make sure to bust it out and start snapping away. Your future self will thank you for capturing baby's memorable moments.
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The Munchkin inflatable bathtubs can be used at home and for travel. They can quickly be deflated, packed into a suitcase, and then re-inflated at your vacation destination.
The mom famous Munchkin sippy cups are known as the miracle cups. They teach babies and toddlers how to drink from a cup, and somehow miraculously donβt spill liquid everywhere.
All experienced parents will tell you that babies and toddlers love flipping their bowl of food onto the floor. You can be one step ahead of the mess with these handy suction bowls that stick to the table. Especially inside a restaurant when traveling!
