Traveling with baby - what do you really need?

Do you have upcoming travel plans that include taking your baby along for the ride? What do you actually need to make your trip as smooth as possible? Check out my list for traveling with baby!

I've partnered with BABYBJORN for this post about tips for traveling with baby. 

I've traveled quite a bit since my son was born 3.5 years ago. In that time I've also reviewed a lot of baby products, so I feel pretty confident giving advice on what you should pack and what you should skip when traveling with a baby in tow. Recently, we'd been traveling light with our toddler since he'd finally outgrown the need for lots of cumbersome baby gear and toys. We were quickly snapped back to the reality of parenting a baby when our daughter was born 6 months ago. I'd almost (ALMOST!) forgotten how much stuff you need to take care of a little one. I've finally perfected my list of baby must-haves for traveling with an infant for any overnight trip (or beyond), so I thought I'd share it with you to make your travels a little easier.

Traveling with Baby

Car / Air Travel

Infant Car Seat + Stroller: If you're going to need a stroller, I really like the Britax B-Agile Travel System (includes B-Safe infant car seat + B-Agile stroller) due to the super quick and compact fold of the stroller. This is our go-to stroller for travel with our baby or 3-year-old. See our full Britax B-Agile review for more details.

Alternative to Infant Car Seat - Convertible Car Seat: I prefer the Diono Radian RXT or Diono Rainier for their ability to fold. We just used our Diono Rainier for air travel and it worked perfectly. The best part about these seats is that they'll be the only car seats you'll ever need since they're convertible + booster seats in one and they accommodate children up to 120 pounds! You can check out our full Diono Radian RXT review and why we like the Diono Rainer for air travel too. 

Baby carrier: My carrier of choice is the BABYBJORN Baby Carrier One Air. It's ergonomic, lightweight, easy to use for newborn - 3 years old (with no additional insert needed), and it folds into a compact bundle. Check out my full review of the Baby Carrier One and read about the Benefits of Babywearing for more details. Using a carrier when going through a busy airport with a child makes it so much easier, plus you still have both of your hands-free for luggage.

Packing

Diaper Bag: For any trip that lasts longer than 6 hours, you'll need a good-sized diaper bag for traveling with a baby. A small diaper clutch or bag just isn't going to do. I'd really recommend a bag that has either a cross-body strap, backpack straps or both. At some point, you'll have a baby in your arms or in your baby carrier and you'll want your hands to be free. I really like the Ju-Ju-Be BFF and the Ju-Ju-Be Be Classy.

Feeding 

0-6 months (breastfed babies): Breast pads, a nursing cover (if you prefer) and possibly a pump (+ bottles/storage bags/cooler) if needed.

0-6 months (bottle-fed babies): Bottles (I like the simplicity of the Joovy Boob bottles and how easy they are to clean), nursery water, formula, bottle brush, dish soap. Also recommended, travel-friendly drying rack if you're bringing bottles or sippy cups.

6-12 months: items mentioned above + baby food or snacks, bibs, burp cloths, possibly a travel-friendly high chair or booster seat.

Sleeping / Playtime / Rest

Travel Crib: BABYBJORN Travel Crib Light - Trust me on this one - this is the best travel crib on the market. It's ridiculously easy to setup (it takes less than 20 seconds!) and it's so much more comfortable for baby than a run-of-the-mill pack and play that your hotel might (or might not!) have available.

The Travel Crib Light is super lightweight at only 13 pounds and you can even machine wash the safe and tested fabric that's Oeko-Tex Standard 100, Class 1 approved. It folds compactly into its own carrying case and you'll be amazed at how portable it truly is. It's easy to pack into your car or bring along on a flight.

Travel Crib Light and Bouncer Balance Soft folded. 

The mesh fabric is breathable and allows you a full view of your little one.

Crib sheet: BabyBjörn Fitted Sheet for Travel Crib Light. This soft and cozy sheet is tailored to fit the insulated mattress of the Travel Crib Light and is designed to stay in place. Made of organic cotton, it's also guaranteed to be free of hazardous substances and it's hypoallergenic.

Pajamas and/or Sleep Sacks.

Bouncer: BABYBJORN Bouncer Balance Soft. I didn't realize this with my first baby and often regretted not planning ahead, but I often found myself wishing I had somewhere to sit the baby when I trying to get other things done. I did rely on our Travel Crib Light to double as a playpen of sorts, but after using the Bouncer Balance Soft, I only wish I'd had one sooner. The BABYBJORN Bouncer Balance Soft has round forms and a supportive design that create an extra cozy feeling for your little baby. It accommodates newborns to children up to age 2, and keeps your child safe so they can play, rest or even sleep. You can choose from a variety of fabrics and color combinations. I chose Silver Mesh since we live in Florida and it gets rather warm here. What I love about this bouncer is that there is no need for batteries since the baby's own movements make the bouncer rock, and there are no annoying electronic toys attached to it.

The Bouncer Balance Soft has a simple, clean design that easily adjusts to three different positions depending on your baby's development.Unlike other bouncers that outgrow their usefulness after a few months, the BABYBJORN Bouncer Balance Soft can transition into a chair for your toddler. It actually turns into a child’s rocking chair with a little bit of reconfiguration so you can use it for children up to two years of age. Another thing I love is the washable fabric. My daughter had one major blowout while seated in her Bouncer Balance Soft and I was terrified until I learned how easy it is to slip the cover over the seat to wash it.

The reason I recommend this chair for travel is that it's extremely lightweight and it folds flat for travel and/or storage. It's really a genius little seat!

If you're going to invest in the BABYBJORN Bouncer Balance Soft, you should definitely get the BABYBJORN Toy for the Bouncer to encourage play and keep your little one busy. My daughter adores this toy! We have the wooden "Googly Eyes" which is not only cute but stimulates the baby’s senses. She can grab at it or chew on it, and it’s made of completely safe materials. There are three different versions – Googly eyes, Smiles, and Flying Friends. The toys fit all of the BABYBJORN bouncers, no matter which material you choose. Also, check out my co-blogger Camille's thoughts on this seat in her Baby Bjorn bouncer review.

Clothing

This will be very dependent upon your destination, but don't forget to bring clothing for all types of weather, including jackets for cooler climates. Also, don't forget car seat safety if you're traveling to a cold climate - bulky coats and car seats don't mix! Pack lots of layers, including onesies, long sleeve shirts, pants, socks, coats, and PJs.

Diapering

Depending on your destination, you might need to pack enough diapers for your entire trip. Otherwise, consider making a trip to the store once you're there, or order some diapers and wipes online and have them shipped to your destination ahead of time.

First Aid

You do not want to be in the middle of nowhere (or without a car) and need medication or other first aid supplies for your baby. I learned this lesson the hard way on a cruise with our then 18-month-old baby. Now, I always have a large zippered bag with a thermometer, baby ibuprofen and Tylenol, teething tablets, anti-itch cream, and rash cream.

Will you be traveling with baby soon?
What's on your must-have list?

Disclosure: Thanks to BABYBJORN for providing samples for this post. All opinions are my own. Amazon links are affiliate links. Stock images courtesy of Amazon, all others copyrighted by Viva Veltoro.