Baby travel essentials + baby travel gear to make travels with baby easier

travel essentials for baby buying guide cover photo

Must-have items for traveling with baby and baby travel essentials worth buying. What do you really need for traveling with a baby? Expert guide to baby travel gear by a mom of two who to loves to travel

Traveling with a baby doesn’t necessarily require a lot of gear.

Or at least, not necessarily a lot more than what you normally pack when leaving your house!

I know this may sound like an outrageous claim but in my experience, unless you are going to a seriously under served destination, you only need a handful of essentials, a few crucial things that will be crucial for safety and comfort, while all the rest falls in the large ‘nice to have’ bucket!

We have traveled extensively with our babies.

We have taken out first international trip from Ireland to Sperlonga Italy when my first son was about 5 weeks old and we have been traveling with two small children in and outside of the EU since then.

Sometimes we have traveled as a family and sometimes I have be traveled alone with a baby and a toddlers, so I feel I have the experience to recommend travel great for baby that is actually worth getting.

On this page, I share my travel with baby must-have and also a list of potentially useful items you may want to consider, should you be traveling to an underserved area or you need portable items to set up a home aways from home for a longer period of time.

In all cases, I favour items you can also use while not traveling, to minimize clutter and expense needed.

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Travelling with baby essentials: 10 things you actually need when traveling with a baby

My list of baby travel essentials is really short because I am going to be honest: you don’t NEED an awful lot to travel with a baby.

In the vast majority of cases, the gear you need for travelling with a baby is the same baby gear you have at home, just a little more of it!

That said, a lot of items are nice to have and can make you trip with baby easier.

This is why in this article I am going to share my top 10 must have items for baby’s first vacation and general baby travel gear you may want to get.

What you actually need for travelling with baby is:

1. A baby carrier for travel

This is a bay travel essential even if you are not usually babywearing.

A baby carrier comes in handy on a plane, after gate checking your stroller for instance, anytime you want to visit an attraction that doesn’t allow strollers (museums etc) or if you need your hands free.

We have used several over the years and we found the most comfortable to be:

  • BabyBjorn for newborns / small babies
  • ErgoBaby carrier for taller babies and small toddlers
  • Deuter hiking backpack for older babies / toddlers (In the photo below, with my daughter in it!)

toddler carrier
Little Ms E in her baby carrier

2. A stroller for travel

This is another must have, even in destinations that may be deemed ‘stroller unfriendly’.

A stroller is simply your best friend when you want a moment of freedom from holding your baby and you don’t need to break the bank to get a travel one.

Choosing a stroller for travel is no easy task as there is no one stroller that ticks all the boxes (lightweight, from newborn, good on cobbles, all terrain, good on the beach…).

The number of stroller buying guides gives it away!

Have a look at our list of best strollers for Europe, best strollers for the beach and best double buggy lightweight for travel – you will see they come at different price points and you may even spot the stroller you already have at home.

If we had to pick one, we would probably go with the Mountain Buggy Nano, which is lightweight, easy to fold and suitable for newborns as it lies flat (plus, it comes at a reasonable price point).

If budget is not an issue, then you can also look at the Baby Zen Yoyo 2 which is an excellent piece of baby gear for airplane travel especially (it packs tiny and it super light) and can be combined with a cool newborn insert (newborn pack)

My child climbing on its upside down lightweight stroller
Good travel strollers are sturdy!

3. A backpack as bag for baby essentials

Your changing bag will be with you all the time so you want to it to be practical and beutiful.

Depending on the type of bag you have at home, you can probably use the one you already own however, I find in many cases backpacks are even better than a standard baby bag.

As well as leaving your hands free, backpacks tend to be easier to carry in terms of weigh distribution and they are super versatile if you also want to use them for your own things.

4. A car seat

A car seat is a baby travel essential on all trips, even the very first one from the hospital home!

Need to know! Car seat rules vary by country and the car seat you have at home may not match regulation at your destination. If traveling internationally, ensure you familiarise yourself with that your destination country may require, how you can secure your seat in a foreign car or, should budget allow, consider getting a travel seat on arrival and then donate at the end of the trip.

5. All your feeding essentials

Depending on your feeding habits, the items you will need to feed baby on the go may vary so the best way to go though the motions and see what your baby and you actually need.

This can be as simple as breastfeeding pads to a full pumping gear (see below), baby cutlery, travel high chair and snacks if weaning.

Take into account that babies find solace nursing when flying and older babies may like to munch on things to relieve ear pressure – makes sure you are well equipped with food: travel snacks for kids are never enough!

6. A theether / soother

You don’t need anything special for travel, as long as the one you have is easy to wash.

Also, make sure you bring more than one as it will fall on the floor even more than usual!

7. Lots of changing of clothes

For baby and you, because travel does come with spillages and stains.

8. Baby medications and first aid kit

I always pack baby medications I know my children are used to so I don’t have to navigate a foreign medical system.

Usually, I have a basic supply of paracetamol, hydrating salts, sun cream etc and a basic first aid kit for peace of mind.

I use one that we got ready made and then supplemented / replenished with our won stuff. You can read what I have in my family travel first aid kit here.

9. Baby toys / blanky

To help baby stay entertained and feel reassured in unfamiliar surroundings

10. Wet wipes

I don’t remember what life was like without wet wipes – we already use them extensively at home but on the go, they truly are essentials!

Pack many and mix and match types so you have what you need in case you want to clean a surface (like the tray table on the plane) or remove a stain or quickly clean hands

More Baby travel gear you may like for travelling with a baby

Now that you have your essentials for traveling with baby, you want to have a look at other baby travel items that make your trip and vacation more comfortable.

For ease of use, you will find a summary chart, then things to look for when picking baby gear for travel and finally reviews and tops picks for each category.

We have selected gear for: moving, sleeping, feeding and feeding, so you know you are covered in all situations!

This chart has our favorite products for traveling with a baby a handy links to Amazon so you can check out price and exact specs.

In the rest of the article, you will find more info on why and how we chose each and additional resources how to pick the best items when packing for baby.

Baby itemSeasonShopping Link
Baby Carrier AllErgo 360 Baby carrier (newborn to toddler)
Baby carrier coverWinterBebamour winter carrier cover
Water baby carrierSummer/beachBoba Air Baby carrier
Compact travel strollerAllMountain Buggy Nano
Car seatAllMaxi Cosi Baby Capsule
Car seat footmuffWinterJJ Cole Urban Bundle me
Car shadeSummerEnovoe Car Window shade
Fully stocked travel diaper bagAllRuvalino backpack diaper bag
Portable high chair All Liuliuby portable baby harness high chair
Portable steriliserAllPortable wireless steriliser bag
Baby bassinet/bed/slumber podAllBrica Fold and Go
Black out blinds for hotelAllPortable baby blackout blinds
Portable baby bathAllInflatable baby bath
Portable breast pumpAllPhilip Avent Double Electric Pump for travel
Cooler bag for breast milkAllTiblue insulated bottle bag
Gate check bag for strollerAllJL Childress stroller gate check cover
Wet bagsAll
Portable mosquito net

Printable packing list for traveling with baby

If you are already in packing mode, I also prepared a full list of what you may need on travel: it’s a pdf and if you click on it, you should be able to print it out and tick items as you go.

Family Travel Essentials Printable Packing List

4 thoughts on “Baby travel essentials + baby travel gear to make travels with baby easier

  1. sierra dallas says:

    Really helpful blog. I also agree with this.Baby travel gear is important for Mom. She can easily carry it for traveling with the baby. Thanks for sharing this tips. It will make comfortable in travel time with the baby.

  2. Marria says:

    Traveling with a baby really taught. I think every mom agree with me especially for the new mom. Baby travel gear really essential for mom. I have to travel with my baby most of the times. I am searing best one for my baby. Thanks for sharing best baby travel gear. It’s really helped me a lot. I recommend every mom to use it to make traveling easy and comfortable with the baby.

  3. Marria says:

    To make travel time comfortable for mom, baby travel gear is essential for mom. Thanks for sharing best travel gear for babies.

  4. Rosa says:

    Travelling with a baby is really taught for parents specially for mom. Travel gear make travelling easy and comfortable for mom. I have a 1 years old boy. I face the problem when i am travelling with my little one. I am trying to buy stroller and carrier for my baby. Thanks for sharing best travel gear to choose best one for my baby. Really helpful guideline.

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