If you’re travelling with a baby you’ll be surprised at the extra gear even such a small person requires. And while some items, such as diapers, are a no-brainer to bring along, others may not come to mind so easily.
After three trips within Canada and ten weeks abroad in our baby’s first 13 months, I have started to get the hang of things. With that, here is my list of essential items for travel with a baby (you choose the level of adventure). In some cases I have recommended a specific product. You’ll no doubt find the ones that work for you! While gear doesn’t make the world go around, having the right items with you will definitely make your trip easier.
Don’t miss my other post in this series, Adventure Travel with Baby: 40+ Helpful Tips and Insights.
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All Purpose
Blankets – For nursing, keeping baby warm, sun protection, playtime on the ground. Have one lightweight and one fleece blanket on hand. I love Aden+ Anais Bamboo Swaddles
Baby Wipes/Disinfecting Wipes – These come in handy for everything – for baby’s bum and body, parents’ hands, restaurant tables and high chairs, etc. I prefer natural wipes so that I can use them safely on baby’s face and hands, as well as for surfaces the baby will eat off of.
Face Cloths – You’ll be wiping baby’s face, arms, hands, as well as tables, high chairs, etc.
Clothing
You’ll have to figure out what you need to bring depending on the climate you’ll be in, but bring extras! Baby clothes don’t take up much space. You can’t always control how clean an environment is like you can at home and clothes get dirty quickly and frequently.
Diapering/Laundry
Washable Diaper Bag – We used a Bummis Organic Wet Bag
Washable Laundry Bag – A Large Bummis Organic Wet Bag
Eating
Travel High Chair – One we particularly liked was My Little Seat
Baby Food Containers
Reusable Squeeze Pouches
A Reliable Bottle – Our favourite is from Comotomo
A Plastic Plate or Bowl
A Knife – Find one that folds into the handle. Convenient for cutting up food for the baby.
Fun and Play
We kept toys to a minimum (mainly made toys out of objects around us!), but enjoyed having these two on hand:
Stacking Cups
Books: Indestructibles were our favourites. Baby can’t tear them, and water can’t ruin them either!
Medications/Remedies
Pack a Ziploc full of baby medications and homeopathic remedies (Tylenol, Camilia, Gripe Water, etc.) – The last thing you want to do is buy it when you actually need it. Save yourself some grief and have it on hand.
Packing
All Purpose Travel and Diaper Bag – I love, love, love the Lug Puddle Jumper
Reusable Shopping Bag – The kind that stuffs into its own bag. This came in handy for, well, shopping!
Skin
Coconut Oil – A fabulous natural moisturizer. We used it as cooking oil, too!
Baby Bug Spray – Try the Natural Newborn Bug Stopper Spray.
Sleep
Sleep Sheep
Baby monitor
Earplugs
Baby Bed – Unless your baby is a master co-sleeper anywhere you take him or her, bring along a baby bed. We brought a Pack and Play for our rambunctious sleeper
Homeopathic Sleep Drops – These may help your baby overcome jet lag and restlessness when adjusting to new environments.
Swimming/Boating
Infant Life Jacket – Bring your own if you’ll be near water. We’re glad we had one because some operators didn’t have jackets small enough.
Swim Diaper
Sun Protection
Hat – I highly recommend the Sunday Afternoon’s Playhat.
Baby Sunscreen – Thinkbaby Sunscreen
Sun Protective Suit – We liked the long-sleeved Nozone Baby Suit
Baby Sunglasses – look for ones with a strap so that they don’t come off or can’t be pulled off
Transit
Soft Structure Baby Carrier – Onya Baby Outback (also has a built-in chair harness) or Boba Carrier
Want this info in a handy-dandy, printable checklist? 
we are currently on our own adventure for months (6 in mexico and the rest traveling) while on parental leave with our 9 month old son and our 2.5 year old son. This is a great list! Although I would swap out one thing, instead of a baby monitor we use 2-way radios that can be used as a monitor. We put one in the baby’s room on voice activation and keep the other with us. And then you can use them as radios too. We have found them much more useful than a baby monitor and use them when we go traveling and camping.
Radios…what a genius idea! We didn’t use our monitor much because of the kinds of places we were travelling and the fact that they wouldn’t reach. Thanks for sharing!
Great post!! Very comprehensive, and includes some great links and resources. Hadn’t heard of that particular baby bug spray before – will be ordering some for sure!
Thanks Gemma! I’m a big fan of that bug spray. Knowing it’s designed for a newborn made me feel a lot better about using it on the baby. I often used it on myself, too!
I would add my stretch washing line with hooks at each end. It has two twisted strands so you don’t need pegs. Invaluable microlight travel item, cheap and useful with kids or without.
We also had a travel line for drying clothes. I did use it when we didn’t have one. A valuable item to bring along and it doesn’t take up any space!
We hope to take our little one to Disney world!
That’s a wonderful idea!
Love these ideas! What life jacket are you using in the picture? We are avid canoe campers but life jackets for little ones tend to ride up on our baby’s neck and make him not such a happy camper in the canoe. The one your little one is wearing looks much pretty comfy.
It’s called the Bijoux Baby Vest! It does come up around the neck a bit but not when they are just sitting around. Did the trick for us!
Hello! What about diapering? Do you bring diapers? Do cloth and wash on the go? Buy diapers when you are in less remote areas? I can’t pack 2 months worth for our travels and was wondering what other people do!
Thanks!
Hi Jill! I invite you the check out my insights under “Diapering” in this post: https://adventurousparents.com/2014/06/07/adventure-travel-with-baby-tips/. Let me know if you have any other questions!