After taking our newborn daughter to three continents on all sorts of adventures from beach vacations to city breaks to hiking trips, we’ve really put our baby travel gear to the test.
So when suitcase space is at a premium, what’s actually worth bringing?
From easy-fold strollers to sanitizing setups to must-haves for sleep, here are the essentials for travelling with a baby that we never leave home without.
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SlumberPod and SlumberTot
Getting a good night’s sleep is crucial for enjoying your vacation, which isn’t easy with a newborn–especially when everyone’s sharing the same hotel room. The secret to sleep success? A SlumberPod, which is one of my most recommended products for family travel.
This portable tent slides right over a crib, pack ‘n play or toddler mattress, creating a safe, blackout environment even when the lights are on the room which is perfect for those midday naps.
It easily fits in a suitcase (about a quarter of the space in a rolling carry-on bag), and takes about five minutes to set up once you’ve got the hang of it. The stretchable, breathable fabric has fan pouches on the top and bottom, as well as ventilation panels for increased airflow.
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We grabbed one at West Coast Kids before our trip to New Zealand, and it was so helpful to have since a lot of the rooms we booked had big, bright windows. With the SlumberPod, we could still enjoy the view in the evening while she peacefully slept a few feet away.
Parents with toddlers may also want to bring a SlumberTot, a bed which inflates in less than two minutes thanks to the included electric pump. The bed has built-in bumpers, and folds down to a similar size as the SlumberPod for easy packing.
Do-it-all diaper and duffel bags
Before I even got pregnant I’d heard about No Reception Club bags and trust me, they absolutely live up to the hype. Designed by a couple of travelling parents who understand the need for efficiency and staying organized when packing for little ones, these duffel and diaper bags are a total game changer.
Let’s start with The Getaway Bag, a backpack/diaper bag that will quickly become your best friend on the airplane.
It meets the ‘personal item’ size requirements for airlines and fits under the seat, has detachable stroller clips, multiple zippers for easy access and includes an insulated lunch bag.
The interior features removable dividers to easily store things like clothing, toys and food and find them when you need them, and there’s a separate ’emergency compartment’ on the bottom for soiled or wet items.
The back has built-in pockets to store valuables, a laptop sleeve and a slip-through pocket to slide it over a suitcase handle
My favourite feature is the Sidekick Bag (available by purchasing the Getaway Bag Travel Bundle) which is like a fanny pack, and designed to perfectly fit in one of the compartments. It includes a changing pad and holds everything you need for diaper changes, so there’s no need to bring the whole backpack into the tiny airplane bathroom with you.
I actually use it at home too, and the built-in wipe dispenser with a magnetic closure is such a smart feature!
We were so happy with the Getaway Bag that we made sure to get the Hideaway Carry-On Duffel too, and it’s so brilliant I’m toying with the idea of using one myself.
The main compartment (called ‘The Cubby’) is a removable packing organizer with adjustable dividers to create up to five different compartments. I’m a huge fan of packing cubes, but believe me when I say this is actually an even better set-up since you can see and access everything with a quick glance but it’s still hyper organized.
Since the Cubby comes out you can transfer everything straight into a drawer without having to unpack, and there are also straps to hang it in a closet. The bag comes with a separate bag for dirty clothes, which can be stored in the separate laundry compartment.
Another section is sized for the Sidekick Bag, and there’s also an insulated pocket and some small interior zippered ones to help wrangle small items.
The Hideaway Carry-On Duffel meets airline carry-on size requirements, and can be used as either a backpack or duffel bag thanks to all the different strap options. There’s also an option to buy the adventure bundle, which includes two hanging straps and a Dopp Kit for toiletries.
I’m honestly so impressed with everything that No Reception Club makes, which is why I consider their bags one of the top baby travel essentials for every family.
Click here for $25 off your No Reception Club purchase!
Compact wash and dry rack
Unless you’re exclusively nursing, the bottle situation can get out of control pretty fast, IYKYK.
This travel size drying rack and bottle brush comes in a compact case, and its raised ridges keep items away from any water that pools at the bottom of the tray while items dry.
The rack includes a built-in stand, while the bottle brush has a nifty handle that doubles as a detail cleaner for getting into tight spaces like pump parts.
Egg-shaped night light
This baby night light was one of the first things I put on my registry, and I love it so much that we use it both at home and on the road.
It’s made of plastic and quite small (about the size of my hand) so it’s a cinch to throw into a bag and not worry about it getting damaged. The nightlight has an easy ‘double tap’ feature to turn it on or off, and the brightness level is changed by pressing down on it with your fingers.
I love how it emits a soothing, warm tone that doesn’t feel like it’s blinding you and baby during middle of the night diaper changes, and there are also multiple colour options and a one hour timer.
Best of all, a single charge seems to last forever (up to 100 hours!), and it only costs about $25.
Tiny white noise machine
This white noise machine is another staple that we use everyday, and its itsy-bitsy size makes it one of the top essentials for traveling with a baby.
It’s teeny enough to slip in your pocket, has 15 different sound options like rainfall, waves, birds, brown and white noise, and runs continuously or on a timer. Even if you don’t have a baby, I’d recommend getting one (it comes in all sorts of luxe finishes) to help drown out the hotel noise.
Inflatable nursing pillow
If you’re lap-holding your infant on the plane instead of booking them a separate seat, you’ll absolutely need something to help hold them comfrotably. This inflatable nursing pillow does the trick, keeping baby supported so you’re not awkwardly holding them for hours on end.
It inflates in just a few seconds by blowing into it, and rolls up small enough to tuck into your diaper bag. It also has a small pocket which is handy for holding things like soothers or bottles, and the strap secures it around the parent’s waist.
Carry-on friendly travel stroller
A lightweight, easy-to-use stroller is an absolute must to include on your baby travel essentials list.
While airlines allow strollers to be checked or gate-checked for free, I recommend getting one you can actually fold up and store right in the airplane’s overhead bin so you’re not stuck waiting around for it after landing. A compact size also makes it easier when taking taxis and Ubers, where space is often at a premium.
We love our Joolz Aer+ which is light, has smooth-gliding wheels, and can be used with a regular stroller seat, bassinet/cot or car seat. It folds down with just one hand, and is small enough to bring onboard which means we never have to worry it will get lost or damaged in transit.
Other popular options for carry-on friendly travel strollers include the Bugaboo Butterfly which is another top contender thanks to its luxe styling and one-second fold, and the insanely compact Munchkin Sparrow travel stroller (hello, budget-friendly price tag).
I recommend heading into a baby store like West Coast Kids to test different strollers in person, to see which model is the best fit for your family.
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Plant-based disposable wipes
If your kiddo likes practicing their pitching skills with toys, spoons and soothers, then you’ll want to grab a pack of these pacifier and bottle wipes.
The plant-based, plastic-free wipes easily clean baby items, which is perfect when something accidentally falls on the floor when you’re on the go without an alternate way to sanitize them.
Travel fan
If you’re heading to a hot climate, bringing a fan is crucial to help keep baby a comfortable temperature.
This portable stroller fan from Momcozy does it all: there are four speed settings in multiple directions including one that mimics a light breeze, built-in LED night lights, and a long-lasting battery life. I love the detachable legs which act like a tripod and grip around things like a stroller, car seat and crib.
Inflatable bathtub
This inflatable bathtub is definitely a nice-to-have when your child is old enough that bath time is a regular occurrence. And, once they’re big enough to sit in a regular bathtub themselves, this will save the day when you inevitably find yourself in a hotel room outfitted with a zero-entry shower!
The tub only takes up about as much space as a sweater in a suitcase when folded, and once inflated it’s large enough to hold a toddler. Cushioning and an inflatable pillar in the middle helps keep infants supported–although you still might need to prop them up a bit– and an exterior pocket corrals toys.
You can purchase versions both with or without a pump: if you’re already bringing along an electric one like the kind that comes with the SlumberTot, I recommend using that one instead as it will be much quicker to inflate.
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