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The Ultimate Packing List for Baby Travel (+printable checklist!)

Over the years, i’ve written a lot about how to travel with a baby..

Between leaping head first into baby travel when Evelyn was 5 weeks old, to taking our special needs baby Sophie on several trips around the country, we’ve become pretty well-acquainted with the world of travel with a baby by now.

Truthfully, traveling with a baby is not all that bad. But it does require a ton of preparation for  all the things  that you might possibly need.

We’ve covered  what to pack in your carry on  before, along with  everything you need to know before flying with a baby . I’ve even shared our favorite baby travel gear and travel-friendly toys .

But one thing I haven’t covered? A comprehensive, everything-you-must-pack guide to make the whole trip with baby go extra smoothly!

We were reminded of just how much stuff one little human can require as we prepared for our month-long adventure around Southern California . Our packing list felt endless . And I can say pretty confidently that we left nothing behind.

So let me spare you the stress of wondering “what am I forgetting” ?

Read on for our ultimate baby packing list of EVERYTHING you might ever need when traveling with a baby!  (+a free printable checklist at the bottom of this post!)

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which may reward us with a small commission (at no cost to you) if you click them. Thanks for supporting the blog in this way!

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plane travel checklist for baby

BabyZen Yoyo Stroller | BabyZen Bassinet | MiaMily Carrier | MiaMily Infant Insert | Babyzen Yoyo Adapter Clips | BabyBjorn Travel Crib | Brica Travel Bassinet | MaxiCosi Car Seat | Car Seat Travel Bag

Baby Packing List | Travel Gear

First things first, the big stuff !

You may not need all of these items for every trip, but for the most part, we bring this same travel-friendly baby gear just about everywhere we go:

  • Baby Carrier | A baby carrier is a must, even if it’s nothing more than an efficient way to move through the airport. I know not all kiddos love the carrier, but we find that having both a carrier and stroller available when we travel with Sophie is essential. You just never know when you’ll run into a place with lots of stairs or uneven sidwalks, so it’s good to have a back up that will keep you moving freely. We started out with the  ErgoBaby , but made the switch to the more lightweight and compact  MiaMily toddler carrier with Infant Insert and absolutely love it. Still on the fence? Read up and compare  all of our favorite carriers for babies and toddlers here .
  • Stroller  | Even though our carrier is indispensable, we like to have options. After using and abusing our Graco Aire,  we switched to the UppaBaby G-Lite umbrella stroller. We liked both, but eventually splurged on the even more lightweight and carry-on compliant  Babyzen YOYO+.  (add the bassinet pack for newborns). (PS. Don’t forget a good  stroller travel bag too.) Best decision we ever made! Honestly, it’s an investment I only wish we’d made sooner! Another popular choice for baby travel is the  BabyJogger City Mini .
  • Car Seat  | Depending on where you’re going, you may or may not want to bring the car seat. If you will need one, the Maxi Cosi and  Nuna Pipa  are two that can adapt to the YOYO+ (just get some  adapters like these , and you’re good to go!). For older babies, a popular choice is the  Cosco Scenera Next , which is super lightweight at just 10 pounds. I recommend getting a car seat bag to keep it clean while flying, and if you’re worried about it getting banged up by luggage handlers, you can upgrade to a padded car seat bag .
  • Travel Crib | We’ve always brought our own travel crib, mostly because I want our kids to feel the comfort of a familiar sleeping environment, no matter where we are. We’ve been especially happy with our  Baby Bjorn Travel Crib , which has held up with our travels all over the country these past 6 years. For infants, you can get away with a more compact option, like this Fold N’ Go Travel Bassinet . And if you’re in a pinch, most family-friendly hotels will offer cribs for free, or you can rent one from a baby gear rental company, like BabyQuip . Read up on all  our favorite baby travel cribs here .

Pro Tip: Don’t want the stress of traveling with all your gear? Use BabyQuip and get bulky items like cribs, strollers, high chairs, car seats and so much more delivered straight to your hotel or rental!

plane travel checklist for baby

Packing Cubes | Sun Hat | Baby Socks | Moccasins | Pajamas | Boys Swimsuit | Girls Swimsuit

Baby Packing List | Clothes

Sure, babies require a lot of stuff to pack, but the one area where they don’t take up much space in the suitcase: clothes!

I use these packing cubes for everyone in the family and almost everything for baby can fit into just one:

  • Pants & Leggings  | Usually 2-3 pairs. In colder months I’ll skip the rompers and dresses, and add more leggings, pants and sweaters.
  • Shirts & Onesies | Usually 2-3 tops, adding 2-3 more in winter months.
  • Dresses or Rompers | Usually 2-3 for warmer destinations, because they’re so easy to pack and don’t require mixing and matching tops and bottoms.
  • Socks | 2-3 pairs , even in the summer months in case we end up somewhere chilly.
  • Booties or Shoes | I’ve recently become obsessed with little baby shoes, but I try to stick to one simple pair of baby moccasins that match everything for travel, like these from BirdRock Baby .
  • Hat | A must, no matter where you’re traveling, whether a sun hat for the spring and winter, or a fuzzy hat for the fall and winter.
  • Swimsuit | Only if necessary, of course. These boy and girl options from Rufflebutts are our favorites.
  • Pajamas | I stick to just 2 pairs of footie pajamas  (plus a 3rd pair worn on our travel day).

This might not seem like a lot of clothes, but if we’re traveling for more than 5 days, we’ll wash and rewear items to keep our packing light. This means making sure we have access to laundry facilities while we travel (whether it be an Airbnb with a washing machine, hotel with a laundry room, or a wash and fold laundry service nearby).

plane travel checklist for baby

Tommee Tippee Bottles | Formula Dispenser | Travel Mug | Slim Ice Packs | Pumping Backpack | Breast Pump Battery Pack | Bottle Cooler | Nursing/Car Seat Cover | Muslin Swaddle Blankets | Dr. Brown’s Bottle Wipes | Travel Dish Soap | Travel Bottle Drying Rack | Stackable Snack Container | Silicone Snack Cup | Wipe-Clean Bibs | Spoon with Case | Folding Spoons | Squeeze Pouch Baby Food | Sippy Cup with Weighted Straw | Travel High Chair

Baby Packing List | Nursing & Feeding

Things change quickly with a baby, and depending on their age and feeding habits, you may need any of the following:

  • Bottles | We’ve always traveled with just two bottles and been fine. Tommee Tippee and Dr. Brown’s are our favorites.
  • Drying Rack | I love our OXO travel drying rack ; it’s come in handy more times than I can count! We also have a larger version of this Boon travel drying rack at home, and would highly recommend either. It’s truly one of the items you don’t think you need until you’re balancing wet bottles around a hotel sink.
  • Dish Soap | Never fails, I always forget dish soap! If you’re staying in an Airbnb, there’s no need to bring your own (unless you’re particular about what you use). But if you’re staying in a hotel, for sure pack this little travel-size one  for washing bottles!
  • Nursing Cover | There’s a good chance you’ll have little privacy for nursing during travels, and at the very least a nursing cover can help with getting little ones to fall asleep in busy places. Or for a lighter solution, a muslin swaddle is great and doubles as a blankie.
  • Breast Pump & Supplies  | It’s a pain to lug around for sure, but if you’re going to need it, consider investing in a few pieces to make pumping on-the-go easier: a special  backpack and battery pack . (and good news, the airline won’t count this against your carry on luggage allowance)
  • Cooler Bag | We love a little cooler bag with ultra-thin ice packs , or if you need room for more bottles, this Medela cooler bag is a great option too.
  • Formula Dispenser | For babies on a formula-fed diet, this little guy makes mixing bottles on the go so much easier .
  • Tall Insulated Mug  | This simple, yet useful item is a must for an on-the-go bottle warmer. Just ask your airport coffee shop to fill it with piping hot water after you get through security, and then dip your bottle in to warm milk up in no time!
  • Wipe-Clean Bib | Once baby is into solids, a wipe-and-reuse bib is awesome for on-the-go feedings.
  • Travel Spoon | Our favorite is still this one that comes with a little case for easy storage!
  • Snack Catcher | This travel container is perfect for little cereals you don’t want spilled all over.
  • Squeeze Pouch Baby Food | If you’re feeding while traveling, skip the mess and squeeze it from  pouch form onto the spoon!
  • Sippy Cup | We’ve tried many of the years, and these classic sippy cups from Munchkin or these sippy cups with weighted straws are both at the top of our list of favorites.
  • Bottles Wipes | It’s tough to clean bottles, pacifiers, and spoons on-the-go, but  these bottle wipes are a safe and easy way to do it when you don’t have a sink handy.
  • Travel High Chair | If you have the space for it, I can’t recommend this travel high chair enough, which folds down flat for packing. You could also opt for a cloth seat harness for an even lighter, more compact option.

plane travel checklist for baby

Refillable Wipes Case | Dirty Diaper Baggies | Hand Sanitizer | Hand Sanitizing Wipes | Natural Bug Spray | Sunscreen Stick | Brush & Comb Set | GoToob+ Container | 2-in-1 Shampoo and Body Wash | First Aid Kit | Inflatable Bath Tub | Travel Size Pain Reliever | Travel Size Diaper Rash Cream | Travel Size Lotion | Travel Thermometer | Nail Clipper

Baby Packing List | Health & Bath

  • Diapers | My rule of thumb is to pack a maximum of 8 diapers in the baby backpack and then buy more as soon as we arrive.
  • Travel Wipes Case | These no-frills travel wipes cases have become my favorite over the years. Like diapers, I load one up with as many as I can fit and then buy more once we’ve arrived in our destination.
  • Dirty Diaper Baggies | These dirty diaper baggies have also come in handy more times than I can count.
  • Baby First Aid Kit | We keep a super simple kit that includes only the basics, like travel-size diaper rash cream , infant pain reliever , a few bandages , a small  thermometer , nail clipper , skin cream , etc. For all those other ‘what if’s’, we’ll buy it at our destination if needed.
  • Prescription Medicines | Keep liquids in their original containers to avoid any issues with TSA, and for anything needing kept cold, we use our bottle cooler bag with ultra-thin ice packs .
  • Sunscreen | These pocket sunscreen sticks are my absolute favorite because they’re easy to apply and take up so much less space.
  • Mosquito Repellent | This natural one is our favorite. No chemicals or stink!
  • Sanitizing Wipes | Especially good for wiping down a dirty airplane seat. I always keep a small travel-size pack in the diaper backpack.
  • Hand Sanitizer | For obvious reasons, I always keep a travel-size hand sanitize r clipped to the backpack.
  • Baby Shampoo & Body Wash | This 2-in-1 combo is our favorite, filled in a small GoToob+ travel container .
  • Brush or Comb | Of course.
  • Inflatable Travel Tub | Finally, this handy inflatable bath tub is an absolute favorite of ours and has gotten way more use than I ever thought it would. It’s definitely worth the purchase if you don’t have access to a tub or your baby is not sitting up on their own yet.

Read Next: Everything You Need to Know Before Traveling with a Baby

plane travel checklist for baby

Portable Baby Gym | Muslin Swaddle Blankets | Minkie Blanket | Baby Shusher | Clip-On Sound Machine | Pacifier Clips | Pacifiers | Peek-A-Boo Book | Stacking Cups | Musical Toy | Travel Crib Sheet

Baby Packing List | Play & Sleep

  • Play Mat | We’ve stayed in lots of Airbnbs with hardwood floors and little comfortable space for baby to play. I so wish this fold-and-go baby gym was around when my kids were little!
  • Small Toys | I try to keep toys to a minimum, mostly because when you’re traveling, you’re out and about a lot anyway. Sassy brand makes a ton of my favorite simple baby toys, and I keep a little collection in one of these  mesh storage bags for easy packing.
  • Pacifiers & Pacifier Clips | We find these pacifiers with these clips  to work great!
  • Swaddle Blankets | Another must-pack item, Aden & Anais makes our favorite muslin swaddle blankets that double as a nursing cover or burp rag too.
  • Crib Sheet | Whether you bring your own travel crib or use the hotels, we like to have our own crib sheet. This crib sheet that’s designed specifically for portable cribs has traveled with us again and again.
  • White Noise Machine | We love our  Shusher and I swear it has made all the difference in helping our babies fall asleep in new places. This portable sound machine is another favorite among traveling moms.
  • Favorite Blankie | Even though it can be a bit of a pain to travel with, having a soft baby blanket sure is nice for wrapping baby up on a cold airplane or having a familiar comfort from home.

plane travel checklist for baby

FreshlyPicked Diaper Backpack | Passport Cover | Reusable Storage Bags | Dropper Stopper Tether

Baby Packing List |  Miscellaneous Must-Haves

  • Diaper Backpack | A good diaper bag is essential, and I can’t recommend going with a backpack style enough! Having your hands free, especially in airports, is a necessity, and this FreshlyPicked diaper backpack has travelled with us all over the world!
  • Birth Certificate or Passport | Did you know some airlines require you to show a birth certificate for your lap baby? To be safe, I always carry a copy in my wallet. And if you’re planning on traveling internationally, be sure to start the process for your baby’s passport as soon as possible.
  • Dropper Stopper Baby Tether | From toys, to bottles, to snack cups, this is our favorite item for keeping all of our baby essentials from hitting the dirty airplane floor.
  • Plastic Storage Bags | Whether one-time use, or an  eco-friendly reusable , we’re always finding a need for the modest plastic storage bag. Whether for dirty clothes from a blow out incident, saving leftover snacks, keeping trinkets and keepsakes together, we’re always finding a new use for these.

Free Printable Checklist: Baby Travel Packing List!

It doesn’t matter how many times we’ve traveled with a baby, I’m always bound to forget something!

After many missed essentials, I finally created our own baby travel packing list ! We use it for every trip, and now you can use for yourself!

get it here!

plane travel checklist for baby

Thanks for being a subscriber!

PS. You can also find this and all of our  printable family travel planning tools exclusively for subscribers in our free resource library .

What are your must-have packing list items when traveling with baby?

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The ultimate packing list for traveling with a baby

Be prepared for just about everything with this tried and tested list. 

Caroline Picard

What to pack when traveling with a baby 

What to pack for your baby in a carry-on, free printable baby packing list.

Pre-kids, my husband and I were the people who'd show up at the airport 40 minutes before a flight, breeze through TSA pre-check, refill our water bottles, and walk right onto the plane with our carry-ons. 

After I had two children, this strategy pretty much went out the window. It didn't matter if we were going away for one night or two weeks: when we started traveling with a baby , we packed nearly everything we owned. It took four years and countless trips, but I've since perfected the art of flying with a baby . 

 Ahead, find out exactly what you'll need to pack for a baby.

To make the packing process easier on yourself, start with the BabyCenter-approved list below. You can print it out and make any changes as needed – such as eliminating items your baby has outgrown, adding new things they need, and making adjustments based on the length of your trip and the climate. 

It's helpful to start gathering supplies about a week in advance, laundering anything that needs to be cleaned (such as a pack 'n' play sheet), and shopping for used-up supplies (such as travel-sized toiletries). 

If you're looking for more guidance, get extra-detailed tips below.

Travel gear

To get your baby from point A to point B, you'll need a few basics. 

Travel stroller

If you're running late to catch a flight, it's much easier to push your baby in a lightweight umbrella stroller   than to carry them through a long terminal. Some travel strollers are Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-approved and fold to fit in the carry-on bins on board, but most get gate-checked. Remember to bring the travel bag that came with it to protect the stroller from damage. 

Add bag hooks and a stroller caddy (the Colugo Opens a new window one even doubles as a fanny pack), and utilize the under-basket storage. Some travel systems allow you to hook the car seat on top of the stroller, meaning you have one less item to lug around.

While you can rent car seats at your destination, experts highly recommend bringing one with you. "Renting one often comes with challenges, including risking it not being appropriate for age, weight, or height," says Chandani Patel DeZure, M.D. , a pediatrician and BabyCenter Medical Advisor . "In addition, it is safest to fly on an airplane with a baby in a car seat – just make sure the car seat is FAA-approved."

You can also use it for car rides to and from the airport.

Car seat bag

One of the best perks of traveling with a car seat is using a car seat bag, a giant lightweight backpack that fits a car seat. Usually, you can stuff extras – such as a package of diapers, swim floaties, or other odd-shaped items – that won't neatly fit in a suitcase. 

Baby carrier

Parents swear by baby carriers for airport travel. I find them most effective for babies under 6 months . (After that, they get heavy!) Just don't baby wear on the plane during take-off or landing, per the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). 

The same sleep safety rules apply when you travel: Your baby should sleep alone in a crib or bassinet with nothing in it. Borrow a crib, bassinet, or pack 'n' play from your hotel, or try a reputable rental company (such as BabyQuip Opens a new window ). 

Consider bringing a SlumberPod Opens a new window , which is a blackout tent that goes over the pack 'n' play. If your baby sleeps best in dark spaces, you can also pack travel blackout curtains or tape black garbage bags over the windows.

Don't leave home without the sleep accessories your baby is familiar with, such as a white noise machine, sleep sack or swaddle, and pacifier.

Breastfeeding, pumping, formula bottles, and solids feeding supplies

Depending on how you're feeding your child, you'll need certain gear. (And if you have a newborn, you'll also want a burp cloth on hand.)

Breastfeeding

Pack a daytime nursing bra, sleeping bra or tank, travel breastfeeding pillow (Boppy makes an excellent one Opens a new window I used on a plane with my then 4-month-old), and any nipple skincare products you use (creams, butters, pads, and the like). 

You may also want to bring some sort of shawl to drape over the baby for in-public feeds. (This doubles as a way to keep both of you warm on chilly flights). 

I've also traveled with breast pumps – both the Spectra (an electric pump ) and the original Elvie (a wearable pump). If the latter works for you, I highly recommend it as I was able to use it during the flight . You'll also need pump cleaning supplies (such as a brush, soap, drying rack, and on-the-go cleaning wipes), a pumping bra , milk storage bags , and bottles to feed the baby. And don't forget to bring a charger for the pump!

If you plan to freeze any extra milk, bring a freezer bag and ice packs. Frozen breast milk is easier to get through security than fresh milk, which may require testing. Read more about breast milk travel regulations .

Formula feeding

Ensure you're packing enough formula for the trip by measuring what your baby eats in a day and then bringing extra. You'll want more than enough in case of travel delays or spills. For in-flight travel, you can pre-measure formula , and store it in a Ziploc bag or bottle. Bring filtered water, or buy it at the airport to make a bottle in a snap.

You'll also need to bring bottles (I typically bring two), nipples, and bottle washing supplies (like a brush, soap, and drying rack). If your baby prefers warmed milk, you can pack a thermos. For your travel day, fill it with hot water and use that to warm up a bottle on the go. There are also travel bottle warmers .

First and foremost, you'll need to bring enough food for the travel day. (Squeeze pouches are always a great idea.) Additionally, pack kids' silverware ( spoon and fork), grippy plates and bowls, a sippy cup for water, spill-proof snack cups, and food storage containers. We always travel with an easy-to-wipe silicone bib (which also can save an outfit if your baby is a messy eater).

Unless your baby is going to sit on your lap for every meal (which might be miserable for you), you'll need to rent a high chair or bring a fold-up one (like the Bombol pack-up booster Opens a new window , which packs flat).

The easiest way to get a high volume of diapers to your destination is to send a package to the hotel in advance. Otherwise, throw a sleeve or two in the stroller bag or car seat bag (as diapers take up precious space in suitcases) and buy more when you get there. 

If you are bringing diapers with you, count how many diapers your baby typically uses in a day. Then add enough for at least one extra day, since you never know how a trip will pan out. Here are some quick calculations, but note that every child is different:

Newborns: eight to 12 diapers per day

2-3 months: eight to 10 diapers per day

3-6 months: seven to nine diapers per day

6-12 months: five to seven diapers per day

You'll also need wipes (throw extra packs in the car seat bag!), a travel changing mat (or disposable changing pads), diaper disposal bags, and diaper creams (Aquaphor, butt paste, etc.). Remember to bring swim diapers if you're going somewhere with a pool or beach.

Clothing, outerwear, and shoes

Little ones, especially newborns, go through multiple outfit changes a day thanks to spit-up, blowouts, and other unexpected events. Pack about two outfits per day and extra pajamas (as the same principles apply overnight). Don't forget socks, shoes if you have a walker, and layers. (Babies get cold and hot quickly.)

If you're headed somewhere tropical, toss in a swimsuit, hat, and UPF clothing. For cooler climates, make sure your baby has cozy sweaters, booties, and a warm hat.

Some hotel rooms only have showers, and if your baby typically washes in a tub, you'll need to get creative. We've used an oversized kitchen sink as a makeshift bathtub, and we've also rented  baby tubs or brought an inflatable one. Plan this in advance.

You'll also want to bring travel baby shampoo , body wash, and lotion – especially if your little one is sensitive to fragrance. We've also brought a baby towel and familiar bath toys to help our kids adjust to a new setting.

Health and safety

You won't regret traveling with a baby first aid kit. It can include band-aids, infant pain reliever, any other medicine or prescription ointments your baby uses, a thermometer, insect repellent, and baby-safe sunscreen. Pro tip: Throw in a few vomit bags for potential motion sickness incidents.

Consult with your child's pediatrician with any questions for this packing category.

Entertainment

What you pack comes down to parental and baby preferences. A tablet, preloaded with shows and movies, can be helpful to get through a flight or long car ride. If screentime is not on your agenda, try books, activity pads, coloring books (specifically the "magic marker" ones Opens a new window for less mess), and reusable stickers (great for sticking on plane or car windows).

Once you're there, you might want to have tummy time mats , sand toys , or baby dolls on hand. You can have toys delivered to your hotel from services like BabyQuip Opens a new window , or pack a selection of "surprise" playthings yourself. And don't forget your baby's favorite stuffie or lovey!

You'll never be prepared for all situations, so level-set expectations, but you can still be very prepared for most! 

To start, your baby will need a passport if you're traveling internationally . 

Also, grab extra diapers (at least a day's worth), a pack of wipes, a travel diaper pad, and diaper creams for mid-flight diaper changes . Pack an extra change of clothes for both you and the baby, because if they're sitting on your lap, any mishaps (spit-up, throw-up, or massive poop) may end up on you, too. Plastic bags – to catch vomit or store stained clothes – also come in handy. 

Bring a full day's worth of food and some extra, as well as anything you need for breastfeeding and pumping. If your flight is delayed, you'll be so grateful to have a pump, milk bags, and a cooler on hand. (It's happened to me.) 

Add in the first aid kit and meds. Then stuff as many toys as you can in the extra space left.

Print or download our BabyCenter-approved checklist for easier packing when traveling with a baby.

baby travel packing list

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American Academy of Pediatrics. 2023. Tips for Traveling with Young Ones this Holiday Season. https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/health--safety-tips/american-academy-of-pediatrics-tips-for-traveling-with-young-ones-this-holiday-season Opens a new window [Accessed February 2024]

American Academy of Pediatrics. 2023. Safe Sleep. https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/safe-sleep/ Opens a new window [Accessed February 2024]

Transportation Security Administration. Undated. Is Breast Milk, Formula and Juice exempt from the 3-1-1 liquids rule? https://www.tsa.gov/travel/frequently-asked-questions/breast-milk-formula-and-juice-exempt-3-1-1-liquids-rule Opens a new window [Accessed February 2024]

Lauren Levinson

Lauren is a New York-based content director, writer, and brand consultant. She is a #girlmom to a school-age daughter and a toddler.

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Flying With A Baby - Family Travel

Baby Travel Essentials & Baby Travel Packing List

There are two types of packers for those traveling with an infant: those who overpack including the entire contents of their house and the kitchen sink for a weekend away, and those who pack so lightly that you wonder if they have a ‘Mary Poppins’ style suitcase which conveniently hides all of the extras. There is no right or wrong way but there are a few baby travel essentials you will need with little ones.

Before you check out the baby packing list, here are our tips on how to pack when traveling with babies and toddlers

  • Pack in advance; Last minute packing risks forgetting important items.
  • Have all your clothes washed and ironed.
  • Plan out outfits in advance with a couple of spare options.
  • Check whether you can wash clothes at your hotel? If so pack less
  • Know your baggage weight limits
  • Try rolling clothes in packing cubes.
  • Use clothing items to pad out empty suitcase space and to pad out breakable items
  • Pack shoes in a plastic bag or shower cap to keep clothes clean
  • Pack a mixture of everyones clothes in different suitcases in case one goes missing
  • Also pack a change of clothes and underwear in your carry on in case all luggage is lost
  • Keep essential medicine in your carry-on.

mum with her baby by the suitcase packing their baby travel essentials

The Ultimate Baby Travel Essentials & Printable Baby Travel Packing List

Table of Contents - Click to jump to a section

The items are all listed below along with some tips on why they were useful. A free printable version of this baby holiday essentials packing list can be found underneath too – just click on the image.

Hello Jolie packing cubes

Before you pack have you thought about packing cubes?

Packing Cubes

Seriously, where have packing cubes been all my life? I had heard about them and then my husband bought some for himself. Needless to say, we have since bought more. It makes organising suitcase so much easier. We always split our clothes between 2 or 3 cases, in case one goes missing, so this helps keep us all organised. You can check and compare latest prices  here. I really like these ones from Hello Jolie as they have labels which makes sorting SO much easier!

Hello Jolie packing cubes

Baby Holiday Essentials and Packing List

Hand luggage 

  • Diapers/nappies
  • Changing mat
  • Pacifier/dummy if used
  • Hand sanitiser
  • Formula / pureed food/ finger snacks
  • Sterilised bottles
  • Any medication needed for journey and for any delays
  • Wallet/purse
  • Credit/debit/ pre- paid money travel card
  • Passports – check if a visa is required/Driving License
  • Travel insurance documents
  • Plastic bag eg a Ziploc bag
  • Essential money and cash in correct currency.
  • Breastfeeding cover if you like using
  • Universal plug adaptor
  • Phone/tablet/laptop/kindle etc
  • Chargers for all devices
  • Sat Nav & charger (or use Google maps app)
  • Portable charger

Suitcase items for you and baby

  • Breast pump
  • Portable highchair
  • Pool flotation devices & toys
  • Beach towel (if hotel doesn’t provide)
  • UVA pop up tent – a baby beach essential which can fold up very compactly
  • Re- usable plastic bags
  • Cot linen (for some self catering properties)
  • Toiletries &  sponge, baby shampoo, make-up
  • Universal bath plug for turning a sink into a bath
  • Selection of bags, changing bag, beach bag, handbag
  • Suntan lotion & aftersun
  • Calpol/Tylenol
  • Prescription medicine
  • Piriton/Benedryl 
  • Rehydration sachets
  • Non-Alcohol wipes
  • Bandaids/plasters, burn gel sachets, insect repellent
  • Tweezers & nail clippers
  • Plug in night light
  • Baby monitor or download app on tablet and phone.
  • Black out blind or aluminium foil to do the same job!
  • Diapers/nappies/barrier cream, wipes
  • Swim diapers/nappies
  • Deodorant 
  • Talcum powder (great to get sand off wet feet at the beach)
  • Clothes, including swimwear and underwear (pack spares for baby)

Download your FREE PRINTABLE BABY TRAVEL PACKING LIST by clicking on the image below these extra tips!

Baby Travel Essentials Tips

Whether you’ve been counting down the days until the schools break up or are taking your little one away for the first time; travelling with a baby is a time to make precious memories as a family and allow you to leave the worries of home behind.

However, we all know that this is easier said than done so hopefully this list can help you to prepare in advance and properly relax (as much as you can as a parent with a little one in tow!)

Although travelling with children may give you the desire to pack everything, this is not always necessarily as, depending on your location, many items are available for you to buy overseas including: diapers/nappies, wipes and suntan lotion (although it may be easier to understand UVA/UVB ratings on English labels.

Swim diapers/nappies are a must to buy prior to travelling as these can be more difficult to obtain in some places.

If you are bottle feeding, it can be easier to order your formula to be picked up at your airport before departure ensuring it doesn’t take up valuable space in your packing. (In the UK, Boots offer this service.)

Many basic medicines are also available to buy at most pharmacies abroad but if you know you would like to use a specific brand then these can be easily packed in your hand luggage if under 100ml or a doctor’s note can mean you can take larger medicines on board.

Prevent leaks by packing medicines and toiletries in resealable plastic bags.

In many countries, you can hire a car seat which adheres to the safety compliances for that country but the quality and cost of this can be variable. It is important to check this prior to travelling as your countries car seat safety can differ to that abroad and you may feel more confident using your own which you know how to install safely – if you are legally allowed to use at your destination.

Even if your little one is older, a stroller or pushchair can be a lifesaver when abroad to help with naps and later nights so we suggest taking ones. Some airlines will allow strollers to be placed in the overheard compartment of planes dependant on size and amount of luggage being taken onto the plane. This pushchair doesn’t need to be fancy but useful – consider a pushchair with a large hood if you are travelling somewhere hot!

Additional items which may be of use to pop in your hand luggage would be: a baby sling or baby carrier for the long stint of wandering at the airport and a sleeping bag to keep your little one warm on the plane and keep the familiarity of home if you regularly use one.

Consider what you would usually pack in your changing bag and add surplus if you will be between accommodation for a longer period of time or to plan for any airport delays.

Travel essentials for baby and you!

Importantly, don’t forget a spare change of top for you as well as spare clothes for baby. My husband learnt this the hard way!

Download your free printable baby packing list HERE or by clicking on the image below

plane travel checklist for baby

Is there anything else you would add to the checklist for travel with a baby?

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21 Must-Have Baby Long-Haul Flight Essentials (Make It Easier!)

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Home » 21 Must-Have Baby Long-Haul Flight Essentials (Make It Easier!)

Parents sometimes deserve a gold medal for flying with a baby. Traveling with a baby can be challenging, especially over long haul flights. It requires extensive preparation to ensure you and your baby have a comfortable and safe trip.

Trying to puzzle out what to pack and which baby gear to take with when traveling can be overwhelming, especially for a first family vacation abroad. Here are some essentials on what to pack and what you need to fly with a baby for a peaceful flight.

Top 21 Long Haul Flight Baby Travel Checklist Essentials

For those who like to be organized and prepared (don’t we all?), here’s a handy list of everything you should take with you on any trip.

Flying with a Newborn Baby

Tip : When creating your baby travel packing list, be sure to add extra supplies in case of any unexpected event. 

For Comfort

Your baby’s comfort is the main objective, whether you’re on a short or long haul flight. There are certain essentials to add to your baby travel checklist to ensure a pleasant flight for all.

1) Swaddle Blanket

Small blankets are ideal for wrapping your baby up and keeping those little toes warm. Swaddle sheets are a great choice and perfect for keeping warm and wiping up any messes as well.

Swaddle Blanket

They also save space compared to regular blankets because they are so light.

Check out the price for this blanket on Amazon here .

2) Dropper Stopper

Another must-have, unless you enjoy doing your stretches every two seconds to retrieve an item, is a stopper. Any item your baby plays with on the plane is attached to one of your or your partner’s wrists so that it’s never more than 2 feet away.

Dropper Stopper

Check out the price for this dropper stopper on Amazon here .

3) A Few Small Toys

Young children can get somewhat cranky while traveling for long periods. A collection of airplane toys is usually the last thing we cram into the bag. So they’re easy to grab when needed.

best travel toys for toddlers

Stuffed animals, music toys, teether blankie, teething keys; take whatever is compact and is loved deeply by your little one. It is best to take a few different options to keep the little one occupied.

4) A Sky Mattress

A fantastic new product from SkyBaby is the travel mattress. It enables young babies to sleep snug on your lap during a flight. There’s a loop underneath the bed that attaches to the lap belt to keep your baby secured.

Sky Baby Mattress

This means a peaceful sleep for the baby and minimal discomfort for mom or dad.

Check out the price for this baby mattress on Amazon here .

5) Pacifier and Clip

If your baby uses a pacifier, it may come in really handy while on a long-haul flight. A clip attached to your baby’s jammies will ensure the pacifier is not spat out onto the dirty airplane floor, and then lost forever.

Pacifier and cllip

Check the price for this pacifier with a clip on Amazon here .

6) Extra pair of jammies

We usually always pack in an extra pair of pajamas for the plane.

Baby Pajamas

Check out the price for these pyjamas on Amazon now .

Firstly, they’re comfortable. The best ones come with attached booties to keep their feet warm. Plus, it’s much easier to change a diaper in an airplane bathroom if all you have to undo is a few buttons. Rather than need to pull pants off and back on.

Taking an extra pair is crucial, as well. If there’s a messy accident on the plane (most likely to happen), you will definitely want a backup.

7) An airplane travel bassinet

Not even the most doting parents want to hold their baby for an 8-hour trip. For a long haul flight, parents can request a free bassinet (cot) for the baby to sleep in.

Note: It’s best to request a bassinet early as most planes usually only offer one per plane. Also, there is a limited number of seats to accommodate this space.

For Diapering

On any flight, diapering is a challenging task. To get the job done quickly and cleanly, ensure you have the right tools. To make life even more convenient, find yourself the best diaper bag possible.

Check out our favorite diaper bag here!

When you’re getting ready for a long flight, you should pack a diaper in for each hour you’ll be in transit – and some extras. A rule of thumb when packing is to add one and a half times more than what you think you’ll need for the trip.

Baby Diapers

Check out the price for these diapers on Amazon here .

9) Diaper rash cream

Diaper rash cream comes in small travel-sized versions and should be a staple in your carry-on.

Weleda Baby Diaper Rash Cream

Check out the price for this diaper rash cream on Amazon now .

10) Dirty diaper bags

These dirty diaper bags are fantastic for bagging up smelly diapers on the plane. They are also great to have on hand for any additional trash. Take a couple of these with you at a time instead of taking the whole dispenser – this will save you room.

Diaper Sacks

Check out the price for these diaper disposal bags on Amazon now .

Tip : Use a waterproof-lined diaper bag with a shoulder strap.

11) Travel case wipes

Wipes are great to carry with you, especially during the awkward diaper changes on a long flight. A travel case is great to use. It allows you to refill the wipes to last you a full 8-hour day.

Travel Wet Wipe Case

Check out these travel diaper wipes case on Amazon now!

Personal Health & Hygiene

Keeping your baby healthy is of the utmost importance. Here are some baby bag must-haves to ensure your infant is hearty and happy.

12) Nail clipper

The nail clipper is a baby bag foremost that should be carried with you at all times. You would never want your little one cutting themselves with long nails.

Baby Nail Clippers

Check out the price for these baby nail clippers on Amazon here .

13) Infant Tylenol and Ibuprofen

Infant Tylenol should be packed just in case of emergencies. Keep this in small measures with your other travel-sized liquids.

Ibuprofen sachets come in handy in 5ml sizes and are available from most supermarkets and chemists.

Tylenol

Check out the price for this Infant Tylenol Medicine on Amazon now .

14) Comb or brush

Yet another baby bag staple, though not so exciting. Keep the whole family looking presentable for that ‘just landed’ photo. A soft brush for baby is convenient and always comes in handy.

Baby Hair Brush

Check out the price for this baby hairbrush on Amazon here .

15) Antibacterial wipes

Keep antibacterial wipes on you to wash down any grimy tray tables, sticky hands, etc. Wet Ones are perfect for sensitive skin and they’re safe to use on infants.

Antibacterial Wet Wipes

Check out the price for these wet wipes on Amazon here .

16) Nose Frida – the snot sucker

You can never tell when your child will need a good old nose suck. It’s not the most important, or exciting item, but it is another baby bag essential.

NoseFrida Nose Sucker

Check out the price for this Nose Frida on Amazon here .

Feeding Time Must-Haves

With any human being on the planet, traveling with comfort food is essential, especially with your infant – through with a baby, it can be a messy job!

Comfort food can make a fussy baby a very happy one in a few seconds. Pack in these handy items to keep feeding time simple and stress-free.

17) Extra bibs

A bib is a great device when you’re trying to feed your baby. The bumkins SuperBib is terrific to use. It’s waterproof, making it easy to wipe off any spills. It folds into a small pouch for storing and is big enough to keep an extra spoon there when feeding.

Baby Bib

Check out the price for this baby bib on Amazon here .

18) An extra bottle

For those formula feeding , an extra bottle is a lifesaver. Fill it up with the exact amount of water and then just keep it handy at airport security.

Baby Bottle

Check out the price for this baby bottle on Amazon here .

This will help if one is dirty and you need an emergency comfort feed. 

19) Spoon with a travel case

Take a soft baby spoon with a travel case. There’s a great one from Oxo that comes with both the travel spoon and case. During a flight, you would certainly want a place to put the dirty spoon, and that’s where a case comes in.

Infant Spoon

Check out the price for this infant feeding spoon on Amazon here .

20) Formula dispenser

The formula dispenser is yet another staple on your baby packing list. It’s an absolute lifesaver, especially when you’re trying to balance a baby and mixing up a bottle while flying 35,000 feet in the air. 

Munchkin Formula Dispenser

Check out the price for this baby formula dispenser on Amazon here .

21) Baby milk and food

You are allowed to take baby food and milk onboard. If it is for the duration of the flight, it may be over 100ml. This includes; breastfeeding or formula milk , baby food in packaging, and sterilized water.

Infant Formula

Check out the price for this infant formula on Amazon here .

A food squeeze pouch makes feeding solids during a flight much more manageable. Instead of buying plastic jars of food, taking up much-needed room in your travel bag, the pouch is easy to tuck into a side pocket and is a lot more compact.

Besides the vital foods, bring your baby’s favorite snacks, such as crackers, fruit, puffs, or cereal, to keep them happy.

Final Thoughts about Your Baby Travel Essentials

When traveling with a baby, keep in mind that most major international airlines have a limited supply of baby items such as formula milk, nappies, baby food, etc. Also, be prepared for unexpected stopovers or flight delays.

Traveling with and packing for a baby can be tricky. Fitting the stroller, the right FAA-approved infant car seat , toys, teddies, and clothes can seem impossible. But exploring the world with your little one makes it all worth it. And, it gets easier as they grow.

One thing you can have some sort of control over is your carry on. Take advantage of that, and get ready for a fun, exciting flight with your little nugget.

Photo of author

Andrzej Ejmont

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Flying With a Baby: The Ultimate Checklist + Tips (Updated for 2023)

Baby airplane essentials

8 Tips When Flying With a Baby

Let's start with a few tips to get you pumped about your first flight with your kid! These tips will help you pack like a super mom so both you and your baby can survive that long haul flight.

⚠️  COVID-19 Update The CDC recommends avoiding nonessential travel to high-risk destinations, especially when traveling with babies and children. However, if traveling cannot be avoided, you must know and follow the essential airplane rules when flying with a baby . Read more on how to protect yourself and others when you travel during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Tip #1 -  Know the current airline rules for flying with a baby.  We summarized it for you below. Be sure to check each airline's website for the full details.

• American Airlines - You will be required to present a birth certificate for children under the age of 18. If you're traveling with children under 2 years old, you can board early at the gate. Also, only 1 carry-on diaper bag per child is allowed. • Delta - Families traveling with infants and children under 2 years old can travel on the lap of an adult for free (domestic flights only) or buy a ticket and use their own FAA-approved child safety seat on the plane. • Frontier - Infants seven days old to 2 years old can travel for free on an adult's lap. You will be required to show a birth certificate for age verification. • Hawaiian Airlines - Children under 2 years old are allowed to travel as lap children or purchase a rear-facing car seat in-flight. • JetBlue - A child 3 days old to 2 years old can travel as a lap infant. Make sure to bring proof of age such as a birth certificate, passport or immunization record. • Southwest Airlines - Infants who are 14 days old to 2 years old can travel for free as a lap infant, provided with a boarding verification document to confirm the child's age. You can also purchase a ticket for an FAA-approved car seat. • Spirit - Child aged 7 days old to 2 years old is considered a lap child and will be able to travel for free, but you can purchase an FAA-approved car seat according to your preference. • United - Children under the age of 2 can travel on an adult's lap free of charge. If there are two children under the age of 2, only 1 children may travel as a lap child. The other child must have his own ticket.

Lilac Starter Set clear packing cubes

Tip #2 - Start "packing" a few days before travel. Keep a running list of things to take, or put items out on a table or dresser as you think of them during the week.

Tip #3 - Use a backpack as a diaper bag. It's way more convenient than a regular diaper bag and you can use your hands for other important things (AKA holding your baby, pushing the stroller, all mommy stuff).

Tip #4 - Be prepared for leaky diapers and baby spit-up on the airplane: pack an extra outfit or two for your baby (and an extra shirt for you) into your carry-on bag.

Tip #5 - Use clear packing cubes to prevent leaks from medicines and toiletries. 

Tip #6 - Pack each of your baby's outfits in its own Extra Small Cube so you don't have to hunt around for tiny socks, shirts, and so on.

Tip #7 - Take a clip-on reading light so you can read without disturbing your baby.

Tip #8 - Take the phone number for your baby's healthcare provider in case you have questions while you're on the road.

Baby's First Flight Essentials + Checklist

Baby's first flight essentials in packing cubes

A super mom like you will need your trusty 'ol checklist to help you complete your packing mission. Don't worry, we've got all the essentials you need right here. We made sure you know what to bring for you carry-on and checked luggage so check out the complete list below. Enjoy!

What to Pack in Your Carry-on (When Flying With a Baby)

Important Documents

✔️ Travel Documents - Bring proof of your baby's age like their birth certificate, passport (important when traveling abroad) or immunization record.

Travel documents for flying with a baby

✔️  Consent Form  - Important if only one parent is traveling with the kid.

✔️ Booking / Reservation Info  - Keep digital or printed copies of your hotel booking, flights, transportation info, etc.

✔️ Travel Insurance Documents - Some insurance plans cover children aged 17 and under for free when they're traveling with a parent or grandparent. Don't forget to read the fine print!

✔️ Other IDs (For Moms / Dads)  - Note that TSA has moved the implementation of REAL ID to October 1st, 2021. Read more about it here .

✔️ Plane Tickets / Boarding Pass - For adults. Some airlines allow babies up to 2 years old to travel for free as lap infant.

Baby's Travel Gear

✔️ Baby Carrier  - Allows you to move freely especially when you have to go up and down staircases or walk on uneven sidewalks.

✔️   Bassinet / Travel Cot (for long flights) - I mportant to call the airline ahead (maybe multiple times) to ensure you are the one receiving the cot. There are usually only 2-3 available on board, so act quickly!

✔️ Collapsible Stroller - Can be gate-checked or stored in the overhead bin (if it fits) of an airplane.

✔️ Car Seat - Most airlines will let you gate check this for free. You can also arrange to rent one at your destination. if you've bought a seat for your baby, it's best to bring the car seat on board.

✔️ Portable Changing Pad - Makes it convenient to change a baby's diaper anytime, anywhere!

Baby's Clothes

✔️ 2 Long-Sleeved Footed Pajamas - Pack the most comfortable and lightweight ones to keep your baby cozy during the flight. ✔️ 2 Onesies - Comfy change of clothes when your baby makes a mess when eating, also easier to wash and dry.

✔️ A Few Muslin Burp Cloths - Lots of uses! For burping a small baby, wiping drool, etc. ✔️ 1-2 Pairs of Socks - Paired with the onesies to keep baby's feet warm. ✔️ 1-2 Pairs of Shoes - Pack those cute ones that match with their outfits.

Pro Tip: Don't forget to pack a change of clothes for you and your hubby! You're an easy target for vomit, poop and other not-so-fun baby accidents.

Nursing and Feeding

✔️ Feeding  Bottles  - Pack 2 to 3 bottles from your trusted brands and you'll be just fine.

Pro Tip: Bring a separate, prepared bottle at home before your flight. Makes the security process a little bit easier for your little one.

✔️ Breast Milk or Formula  - Both of these are exempt from the TSA’s 3-ounce limit. Just be prepared and separate them for some additional TSA screening.

Pro Tip: It's easier to bring dry, powder formula than liquid formula. Assemble each bottle with the right amount of powder formula (pre-portioned) so that all you have to do is add water. You can purchase bottled water once you're at the airport.

✔️ Baby Food (Canned / Jarred / Squeeze Pouch)  - These items may be subject to additional TSA screening.

✔️  Treats - For when you need to bribe them into finishing their milk or taking their vitamins, bring some sweet treats  like lollipops, Oreos, etc. as a reward.

✔️  Snacks  - Have your little one munch on some dried fruits, cheese, Cheerios, and other snack goodies during the flight to keep them from being hangry.  Pack them in their own clear cube for easy access.

Baby snacks for flight in a medium cube

✔️ Nursing Cover  - For a little privacy when you're nursing your little one especially in public spaces.

✔️ Insulated  Cooler Bag with Ice Packs  - If you're bringing liquid formula. Opt for a travel size one to keep baby bottles warm or cold. Make sure that the ice packs are completely frozen or else the will not be permitted by TSA. Read more about it here.

✔️ Travel Size  Formula Dispenser  - So you won't have to bring the entire pack.

✔️ Insulated Travel Bottle   - Great for warming bottles or for having warm water ready for mixing formula.

Pro Tip: You can also bring a plastic container and ask the flight attendant to fill it with hot water on the flight. Then dip the baby's bottle (with its cap sealed on) in the container with hot water to warm it.

Shop clear packing cubes for flying with baby on Amazon

✔️ Washable Bib  - Waterproof ones are easier to clean, wipe and use over and over again. Plus, takes the trouble out of washing and waiting for it to dry.

✔️ Travel Feeding Spoon and Dishes  - Opt for those soft, food-grade silicone-coated ones so baby can enjoy every meal.

✔️ Pacifier & Bottle Wipes   - For cleaning bottles, pacifiers, teethers, cups, and toys on the go.

Pro Tip: Feeding / nursing during take off and landing is a MUST! It will help your baby cope with the pressure changes and makes for a more peaceful flight for you, your baby and your fellow passengers.

✔️ Feeding Pillow - Not necessary but nice to have especially for breastfeeding mamas

✔️ Disposable Bottle Liners & Extra Teats - Very convenient when you don't have the time or products to wash your baby's bottles.

Other Diaper Bag Essentials

✔️ Diapers   - Bring at least 1 for every hour of the flight.

✔️ Hygiene Kit - Very important! Pack travel size alcohol (make sure it's not more than 3.4 ounces) and antibacterial wipes for sanitizing handles and surfaces before touching them. The TSA currently allows 12 ounce of hand sanitizer container on your carry-on luggage (for now) so you better take advantage of that to keep you and your baby safe. Keep your Hygiene Kit in your personal bag so you can easily pull it out whenever needed.

✔️ Sanitizing Wipes   - For wiping down everything you and your baby gets in contact with.

✔️ Diaper Trash Bag  - For keeping dirty diapers when there's no trash cans around.

✔️ Sunscreen  - A must! Pack a travel size one.

✔️ Baby Shampoo & Body Wash  - Kept in travel size containers if they're liquid. Make sure they follow TSA's 3-1-1 Liquids Rule.

✔️ Brush or Comb  - With soft bristles!

Baby's First Aid Kit

✔️ Fever / Pain Reliever - Acetaminophen is safe and effective as a fever reducer for babies under 6 months old. ✔️ Antihistamine - Don't give your baby Benadryl or another antihistamine unless your pediatrician recommends it. ✔️ Cold / Cough Meds - When your little one gets sneezy during the flight ✔️ Digital Thermometer - To check the baby's temperature ✔️ Teething Gel - To soothe baby's teething pains

Play & Sleep

Kids' Toys for travel in Clear Cubes

✔️ 'Quiet' Toys  - Pack the smaller ones inside an extra small cube to keep them entertained during the trip. Guard this with your life!

✔️ Pacifiers - Pack a few extras just in case

✔️ Favorite Blankie  - To have that "at home" feel so your baby can sleep comfortably. Make sure not to leave this behind!

Must Haves when flying with a baby

✔️ A Bribe Bag (for your fellow passengers) - O ptional, but a cute idea to make yourself (and the poor people trying to sleep) a little happier.   

✔️  Diaper Storage Bag  - You can use this clear cube to keep your diapers organized for the trip.

✔️ Pacifier Clip  - Secures baby's pacifier in place.

✔️ Nasal Aspirator and Saline Solution - To clear baby's stuffy nose.

What to Pack in Your Checked Luggage

Baby's Stroller with a large cube

✔️ Travel Crib - Provides comfort and makes sleeping relaxing for your baby even in an unfamiliar environment. ✔️ Inflatable Baby Bathtub - Or just use the hotel sink (super easy and you save some space in your suitcase). 

✔️  Portable High Chair   - This one's made of fabric so it's super lightweight and convenient for on the go.

✔️ White Noise Machine  - These magical thing can help your baby fall asleep fast and longer by producing calming sounds or white noise like a buzz or hum.

✔️ Travel Potty  - Best for babies when they gotta go while you're on-the-go.

Baby clothes for flying in an airplane

✔️ 4-7 Pairs of Pants & Leggings  - Perfect when traveling during the colder months.

✔️ 4-7 Shirts / Onesies  - Add extra pairs when traveling in winter.

✔️ 2-3 Dresses or Rompers  - An outfit in itself so you won't have trouble mixing and matching attires.

✔️ 4-7 Pairs of Socks  - Must have, 'nuff said!

✔️ 2-3 Pairs of  Boots or Shoes  - Pack a few pairs that match with all their baby outfits.

✔️ Hat  - Throw in a sun hat or a fuzzy hat depending on the season.

✔️ Swimsuit  - Optional but best to pack a swimsuit or two just in case.

✔️ 3-5 Sets of Pajamas  - Make sure they look cute enough to be worn for breakfast. 

Nursing & Feeding

✔️ Drying Rack - A traveling rack is very handy; you'll thank us when you need it. ✔️ Dish Soap - Pack a travel size one for washing bottles. ✔️ Breast Pump & Supplies - Pack in a few pieces and extra parts, including cleaning solutions to make pumping and storing milk easier on-the-go. ✔️ Spill-Proof Snack Cups - You'll need a spill-proof snack container for your little one to make it easier to access food and snacks when they get hungry. ✔️ Sippy Cup - Opt for those leak-proof ones to avoid spills while traveling.

Toiletries & Hygiene

Diapers and other essentials for baby when flying on a plane

✔️ Diapers - Bring diapers that will last you for your first few days in your destination. Then buy the rest when you get there. ✔️ Diaper Cream - To avoid rashes on baby's bum ✔️ Mosquito Repellent   - For when you're traveling to warmer or tropical places. ✔️ Antibacterial Wipes - Wipe down everything before letting the baby touch it. ✔️ Hand Sanitizer - Mostly for mom, but sanitize baby's hands from time to time. They tend to put their hands on their mouth so make sure they're clean. ✔️ Lotion - To keep skin moisturized

✔️ Baby Liquid Bath or Soap - Pack one that's gentle on baby's skin, preferably a brand recommended by your pediatrician. ✔️ Baby Shampoo - One with tear-free formula is always best for keeping your little one's eyes safe ✔️ Soft Baby Brush / Comb - Great for detangling baby's wet hair

Baby's First Aid Kit in an extra small cube

✔️  Prescription Medicines  - For personal baby health needs.

✔️ Diaper Rash Cream  - To protect baby's skin from redness and irritation.

✔️ Infant Pain Reliever  - To reduce fever and minor aches.

✔️ Bandages   / Band Aids   - Say goodbye to that boo-boo in a fun way with ones that have cartoon designs on them.

✔️ Small Digital Thermometer  - To keep baby's temperature in check.

✔️ Nail Clipper  - So you can trim pesky hang nails from those little fingers

✔️ Oral Rehydration Powder  - Helps replenish lost fluids to prevent dehydration.

✔️ Play Mat - Pack on top of your things before zipping the suitcase close. Best when staying in hotels or Airbnbs with hardwood floors. ✔️ Portable Crib Sheet - For additional comfort when baby's sleeping in the crib. ✔️ Baby Shusher - It's a machine that hums or lulls your baby to sleep with a calming shush so you can focus on other mom things. It's a bit pricey but definitely a worthy investment! ✔️ Blankets - 1 small one for wrapping baby & 1 big one to place on the airport floor so baby can play.

Other Must Haves (Depending on Your Trip)

✔️ Pacifier / Dummy

Baby's essentials in an Extra small cube

✔️ Small Clear Packing Cubes - For baby's clothes, shoes, toys, etc. ✔️ Snacks / Baby Food - In squeeze pouches ✔️ Rain and Cold-Weather Gear - If applicable ✔️ Sunscreen and Sunhat - To protect your little ones from too much sun exposure ✔️ Baby Sunglasses - To shield your baby's eyes from strong UV rays

✔️ Travel Laundry Bag   - Perfect for keeping dirty clothes away from the clean ones.

✔️ Safety Devices - Like outdoor plugs, door knob covers, toilet locks, etc. F or keeping crawling babies or young toddlers safe.

✔️ Tablet & Headphones  - Download your baby's favorite nursery rhymes or cartoons to keep them entertained.

✔️ Life Vest  - To keep baby safe for swimming time!

✔️ Floaties  - To keep your baby safe and floating while having fun in the water.

The Secret for a Smooth Flight With Your Little One

If it’s your first time using packing cubes, you may wonder why these bags are such a hit! Firstly, they provide an easy organizing system you don’t need to think twice about. Secondly, they are clear! You can see what's inside and know exactly which cube you are reaching for. 

✔  Use an Extra Small Cube to organize essentials like pacifiers, bibs, or mittens. Plus, it's TSA Approved! So it's perfect for packing travel size toiletries, hygiene kit, and other fun size items.

✔   Use a Small Cube to carry flight essentials including your passport, plane tickets, or valid IDs. Also a perfect size for the baby's clothes, shoes and toys.

✔  U se a Medium Cube to keep your outfits for the trip. 

✔  Use a  Large Cube for towels / sweaters / bulkier items. 

You’ll never know how amazing these cubes are until you use them, especially when you’re carrying one suitcase for two people. Use different colored cubes to sort items for each person and voila! Works like magic.

Flying with baby checklist

Although these tips will surely save you time and sanity, it’s always best to add your own personality to the packing list. Find an organizing system that works best for you and use it whenever you travel. Pretty soon, traveling with the little ones will be a piece of cake! Okay, maybe not that easy. But you still got this!

P.S. Need more flying tips? Click here for the best tricks and hacks for airplane travel.

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Flying With a Baby? Here’s What to Know Before You Go

Medical review policy, latest update:, how old should a baby be to fly, read this next, what do children need to fly, tips for flying with an infant.

What to Expect the First Year , 3rd edition, Heidi Murkoff.  WhatToExpect.com, Do Babies Need Passports? , May 2019.  WhatToExpect.com, Should You Bring Your Child’s Car Seat on an Airplane? , August 2021. WhatToExpect.com, Your Ultimate Guide to Traveling While Breastfeeding , August 2020. American Academy of Pediatrics, Family Friendly Flying , November 2015.  American Academy of Pediatrics, Flying With Baby: Parent FAQs , November 2019.   American Airlines, Traveling With Children .  Delta Air Lines, Infant Air Travel , 2021.  Federal Aviation Administration, Flying With Children , March 2021.  Transportation Security Administration, Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQ .  Transportation Security Administration, Identification .  Transportation Security Administration, Will Minors Need to Have a State ID to Fly Domestically? United Airlines, Traveling With Children , 2021.  U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Children – Child Traveling With One Parent or Someone Who Is Not a Parent or Legal Guardian or a Group , December 2019.

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How to pack — and prepare — for travel with a baby

Lori Zaino

About to take your first trip with a new baby ? Or maybe this isn't your first time traveling with your little one , but you'd like to pack more efficiently this time around.

It can be hard to know how to prepare and pack when you have a baby in tow. Babies often change so quickly that anticipating their needs can be complicated — especially if you're planning a longer trip.

In addition to typical packing concerns, such as the weather in your destination or luggage size restrictions, it's not always clear what you can carry on or must check when it comes to your infant. Here's our advice to help you prepare, pack and travel better with your baby.

Sign up to receive the daily TPG newsletter for more travel advice .

Choose accommodations wisely (and pack accordingly)

If you're traveling by car, you can easily pack a travel crib and other larger baby items.

However, if you're flying, choosing the right accommodation is the key to packing lighter, which is the goal. Toting around an infant is strain enough — staying somewhere that provides baby items means you can leave the extras at home.

Check with your hotel to see if it offers cribs or other baby items, as well as if it provides laundry services or facilities where you can do your own. Some hotels will even provide an extra fridge for milk storage upon request.

Often, a home rental might be a better choice than a hotel, assuming you pick the right one. Airbnb allows you to filter properties by items such as "crib" and "high chair." You can also message hosts to see if they have any other baby-friendly items available.

For example, I recently filtered an Airbnb search in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic to show only rentals that included a crib, high chair, washer and dryer. I ended up picking a rental that included not only the aforementioned items, but also a bottle sterilizer, bottle warmer and a few other infant-friendly items, which allowed me to pack less.

Some rentals I've stayed in even provided baby toys, books and cutlery. The key is communication. Don't hesitate to message and confirm the equipment again with hosts as you pack. You can also request or confirm that everything will be set up and ready for the baby upon your arrival.

Access to a washer and dryer is important since babies tend to have accidents or leaky diapers. Being able to do laundry also lets you pack fewer clothes. Also, if your rental is not a stand-alone house or a unit on the first floor, check that there is an elevator. A five-floor walk-up in a multi-unit building can be difficult with a stroller, shopping bags and baby in your arms.

Call your airline to understand the regulations

Depending on your airline, fare class and destination, you may have to adhere to different rules when it comes to traveling with an infant.

Those regulations can also vary depending on whether you've purchased a lap ticket versus a separate seat for your baby. In almost all cases, airlines allow travelers with an infant to gate-check a stroller or buggy, and some may also allow a car seat. Check with your airline ahead of time to understand baggage rules for your little one to avoid getting caught off guard at the airport or paying extra, especially when flying low-cost carriers like Ryanair or Spirit .

Flying with an infant in a car seat and hoping to bring it on the plane? Make sure it's approved for air travel. You may also want to request a bassinet for your baby, if the aircraft you're flying offers one (check the weight limits, however). Ask for an aisle seat, as it makes standing up with your baby much easier.

Invest in travel-friendly baby items

plane travel checklist for baby

Having a dedicated (foldable) travel stroller will be useful beyond air travel. It's the perfect item to have when exploring a new city. Other key travel baby items to consider taking along are:

  • Travel diaper backpack.
  • Portable changing pad.
  • Travel car seat.
  • A bag for a car seat or stroller so these items aren't damaged if checked.
  • Portable baby monitor.
  • Baby carrier or wrap.
  • Swaddle or baby blankets.
  • Inflatable bathtub .
  • Pack 'n Play or travel crib.
  • Travel neck pillow (use it while feeding your baby).
  • Baby chair strap.
  • Disposable bottle liners.
  • Disposable bibs.
  • Portable blackout shades for travel cribs or strollers.

Purchase (or preorder) diapers, formula and more at your destination

Depending on how long your trip is and where you're headed, calculate (and it's always best to over-calculate) how many diapers you'll need for the trip.

If your baby uses a specific formula or baby food, make sure you know where to buy it at your destination. Amazon and other delivery services can be useful for ordering these items -- and remember, these services are available internationally, too. You can also compare ingredients to see if you can get a similar formula or food at your destination, so you won't have to load up your suitcase with diapers or formula.

Don't worry if you forget baby socks or another basic item. Babies live all over the world, so you'll likely find many basic items available for purchase wherever you are. If your baby requires something specific, though, pack it just in case.

There are also companies that rent baby gear in many destinations around the world. Research ahead of time to find out exactly where and how to obtain these necessary items, especially when traveling abroad .

Carry on the essentials (and extras)

Always pack your baby's key essentials in your carry-on . This includes comfort items like their favorite toy or pacifier, and extra clothes for both your baby and you (in case their wardrobe disaster becomes yours, as well). You should also pack enough food, diapers and other key items to last you through the trip, plus more for any possible delays and/or cancelations.

Here's a list of items you may want to keep in your carry-on bag :

  • Extra clothing for you and your baby.
  • Layers of clothing or blankets (plane temperatures are often extreme).
  • Pacifier and clip (and backup).
  • Comfort toy(s) or blanket.
  • Extra diapers.
  • Breast pump.
  • Snacks (for you and your baby).
  • Baby wipes.
  • Sanitizing wipes.
  • Extra bibs.
  • Ziploc bags for stowing soiled clothing (or a reusable, waterproof bag).
  • Baby Tylenol or any infant medications.
  • A basic first aid kit.
  • Small toy(s).

The rest of your baby's items, like additional clothing, blankets and more, can go in your checked bag. If you're checking more than one bag, split your baby's items among different checked suitcases. That way you'll be covered if the airline loses one of your suitcases.

Know the security regulations and have a backup plan

On a recent call to Iberia Airlines , I was told I could bring "reasonable quantities" of formula and breast milk through security. However, the representative also told me that in some cases during security checks, certain agents might not allow me to pass these items through security at the Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) . What?

Not all security checks, Transportation Security Administration agents or customs agents are alike, and each country, airport or airline may have specific regulations. Call ahead of time and prepare for things to not go as planned. If you do use formula, take your bottles already mixed, but also bring extra powder in case you need to prepare new bottles on board.

If you're pumping, it might also be a good idea to bring both a hand pump and an electric pump in case you have limited access to electricity or encounter issues with electrical outlets or voltage when traveling internationally.

Arriving at the airport early is always a good idea, because you may not breeze through security as you might have in your pre-baby days. Everything takes longer with an infant, so having that extra time can ensure a low stress travel experience. Take advantage and board the airplane first to give you extra time to get settled. If your airport has a family security line, use it.

Make sure you understand any remaining COVID-19 regulations

As mask rules and COVID-19 testing, entry and vaccine regulations continue to evolve in countries around the world, stay on top of exactly what you need to know and bring for your baby to get to your destination (and back home again). It's important to understand whether you'll need masks for your 2-year-old or need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 tests upon arrival at your destination or re-entry into the U.S. when traveling abroad.

Remember that airline staff members also struggle to keep track of ever-changing rules, so if you know something has recently changed or a rule seems specific, make sure to bring along proof of this information and whatever documentation you need in case you have trouble when boarding.

Photocopy important documents and always have extras. I loathe having to take paper documents along when traveling. However, having them may mean the difference between getting through customs, being able to board or being stranded at the airport. This is especially true if your phone battery dies or you're left without service for any reason. While being denied boarding is always dramatic, it's even worse with a baby in tow.

Download the right apps

Mobile phone apps can help you anticipate what you need, as well as keep your baby (and yourself) comfortable during travel.

A white noise app is key for better sleep for your baby — and therefore better sleep for parents — and allows you to leave a white noise machine home. Nightlight apps are also helpful during travel.

You can also connect most modern baby monitors to your phone and use an app to access the video of your baby so you won't need a separate viewing device.

Parents may find an app to track sleeping and feeding especially helpful during travel, particularly when switching time zones. A general packing app could help you keep track of what you need to bring for your infant, as well as the entire family. Make sure these apps are accessible offline if you need them while flying.

Don't forget their passport

plane travel checklist for baby

This one is obvious, but you'd be surprised. Don't forget your baby's passport when traveling.

Look into identity and consent documents, as each country has its own requirements, especially if your partner isn't with you. If you have any older children, make sure to check that their passports are valid, as children's U.S. passports expire in just five years.

Traveling with a baby might seem like a lot. However, once you get the hang of it, packing, prepping and traveling with your infant becomes second nature. Ask for help when you need it and accept help when offered.

And when things don't go quite right, stay relaxed (remember, baby can feel your moods) — you'll figure it out. While it may seem tragic in the moment (like that major diaper blowout on board a plane), it will be an epic story to share one day.

Bottom line

When in doubt, bring enough baby supplies for a few extra days or a flight delay, but don't overpack. Make sure to be clear on any and all regulations that will cover your travel, from having the right documents to understanding what baby items you can bring through airport security . With these tips, packing and traveling will be a more enjoyable experience for the entire family .

A young Muslim mother walks through an airport with her infant daughter in her arms on her hip.  The...

The Ultimate Baby Travel Checklist Because The Holidays Are Coming Up

Make a list, check it twice.

Traveling with a baby is unlike any kind of travel you’ve done before. By comparison it makes everything from paragliding in Peru to scaling El Capitan look easy. Why? Because babies are unpredictable. One minute they could be snuggling you on a flight and the next they could have an explosive diaper threatening while you’re trying to take a selfie at the top of the Empire State Building. So yeah, you probably need this ultimate baby travel checklist.

Included are all the must-have items and accessories necessary to enjoy a smooth and peaceful adventure with your baby. Sure, there are the standard items you’d find in any diaper bag — extra bottles, wipes, dipes. But here you’ll also find some things you might not have thought about. For instance, do you really want to bring your giant jogging stroller across the country for your trip to see the grandparents? If your child can hold their head up, might we suggest opting for an inexpensive and lightweight umbrella stroller instead?

And what about car or inflight entertainment? Even babies get bored. Here we include some products that just might spare you hours of wailing on your next road trip.

So print this list out, grab a pen, and check off these travel go-tos. Your baby will thank you for them.

Must-Have Baby Feeding Travel Items

The key to keeping a baby happy while en route to your final destination is frequent and filling snacks. Trust us, it’s science. An empty tummy does not a happy traveler make. So stock up snacks before you go and be sure you have plenty of bottles, formula and everything you need to nurse as well to complete the ultimate baby travel checklist.

  • Snacks for yourself!
  • String cheese
  • Squeezable apple sauce
  • Frozen yogurt tubes
  • Dried bread sticks
  • Portable high chair

Important Breastfeeding/Pumping Items Not To Forget

Breastfeeding or pumping isn’t just critically important to keeping your baby fed inflight, it can also mean the difference between your tiny tot getting plugged ears. Sucking helps minimize air pressure so they can enjoy the flight pain-free. All the more reason to make sure you have your liquid gold, be it formula or breastmilk, carefully stored before take-off.

  • Breast pump
  • Chilled bag to hold expressed milk
  • Nursing pads
  • Nipple cream
  • Milk catchers
  • Change of nursing bra
  • Milk storage containers

Baby Travel Sleep Items You Must Pack

Sleep can be a deal breaker on a vacation with a baby. If they’re not sleeping, you’re not sleeping, and no one is having any fun. So it’s well worth your time to make sure you have many of these items packed for your trip. Think of what makes your baby comfortable when it comes to sleep. Do they have a favorite snuggle buddy they can’t sleep without? Do loud noises keep them up? Mitigate any chance of sleep loss by putting these items in your trunk.

  • Favorite blanket
  • Favorite stuffed animal
  • Travel crib
  • White noise machine
  • Portable baby monitor
  • Inflatable travel bed
  • Favorite books

Baby Clothes & Accessories

Just as you do when packing your own bag for a trip, take five minutes to look at the 10-day forecast of your final destination. Sure, you might think the weather where you’re going will be nice since you see clear skies ahead. But what about the evenings? Does it dip down after the sunsets? A light cotton onesie might not do the trick, in that case. The ultimate baby travel checklist is about being prepared for any event. So don’t forget to consider the temperature within your means of transportation. Planes are historically chilly, and babies get cold easy. So pack layers to ensure you and your kiddo stay comfortable.

  • Two changes of clothes just for the car or plane
  • Multiple layers for the actual trip: onesies, leggings, sweaters, or hoodies
  • Sleep sacks
  • Mittens if it’s a tiny baby
  • Jacket if necessary
  • Babiator sunglasses

Baby Transportation Gear to Pack

Just when you thought you have everything covered, there’s more! That’s right, babies practically need their own vehicle to carry all the gear necessary to make even the shortest weekend getaway a success. If you’re having a hard time deciding if one of the following is essential, just think: what will make this vacation easier? If the answer is: an inflatable travel tub, well then, pop it in the bag. Depending on where you’re going and whom you’re staying with, some of these items by be optional, but just in case, this list is worth your review.

  • Lightweight stroller
  • Baby backpack carrier
  • Travel bassinet
  • Baby car mirror
  • Baby window visor/shade

Travel Diaper Bag Can’t Live Without Items

Oh the diaper bag, moms know it well. It’s a repository for all the can’t operate without items. But this list naturally changes from circumstance to circumstance. For a regular day in your hometown, you might not need to carry so much beyond diapers, wipes, and a few other things. Not on a trip. While traveling, you’ll want this ultimate baby travel checklist arsenal at your disposal.

  • Changing pad
  • Pacifier clip
  • Travel nursing pillow
  • Diaper rash cream
  • Plastic bags for dirty diapers/wipes
  • Burp clothes
  • Extra clothes
  • Baby sunscreen
  • Portable carrier/sling
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Frida Nasal Aspirator
  • Thermometer

Essential Baby Travel Electronics

Electronics are often looked down upon when it comes to babies, so be sure to check the research on things like screens before you commit. But tech isn’t limited to phones and tablets. There are things to consider like thermometers for the tub, something you might want to check in a hotel bath or while staying at an Airbnb. Not to mention entertainment devices, like music makers. Those can be indispensable on a long car ride.

  • Baby headphones/noise cancelling headphones
  • Baby Einstein Take-Along Tunes
  • Rubber Duck bath thermometer

Great Travel Toys for Babies

Toys! Don’t forget toys. Whoa to the parent who takes off for a trip without packing toys. You’ll find yourself shelling out wads of cash at the hotel or airport gift store otherwise. Grab a few favorites from home or pick up some of these toys that make traveling more fun for babies like a suction cup teether. Genius, right?

  • Sensory Quiet book
  • Stacking cups
  • Melissa and Doug Take-Along Shape Sorter
  • Teeth and Twirl Suction toy
  • Favorite story books

Welp, think that’ll do it. Oh, wait. Now don’t forget the baby.

This article was originally published on Oct. 8, 2021

plane travel checklist for baby

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Bridges and Balloons | Travel for creative people and their families

Baby packing list (+ printable baby checklist for travelling)

Last updated on August 8, 2023

plane travel checklist for baby

Fellow parents often tell me that one of the things that puts them off traveling with a baby the most is all the stuff they’ll have to bring and organise – and the daunting task of working it all out.

So, to make it a little easier, I’ve put together this baby checklist for travelling , made from years of experience travelling with little ones.

It’s true, you will be travelling with more than you did as a solo traveller, but you don’t need to go completely overboard. Remember that, so long as there are kids living in the place you’re going, you’ll be able to buy essentials and anything you forget once there.  

Probably the most important part is the hand luggage as that’s the only thing you can’t add to once on the plane. Make sure you have everything you need in there, allowing for potential delays too.

So here are my baby packing list essentials. It’ll of course vary depending on the destination and climate, but here’s a guide to get you started.

Also see our guide to travelling with a baby , and survival guide for flying with a baby .

Free printable baby checklist for traveling

plane travel checklist for baby

What to consider when packing for a baby

Baggage when fling with a baby

What bags to bring for a baby?

The number of bags you bring will depend on how far and how long you’re travelling for. And also on your airline’s baggage restrictions if you’re flying.

We’ve done trips where we pack all our stuff into one big suitcase, separating our stuff into individual packing cubes to keep it organised. This is a good option if you’re travelling with an airline that has small hand luggage restrictions, so the cheapest option is normally to add one big suitcase, rather than 2 or 3 smaller ones.

But my favourite configuration is a big bag for me and Steve, plus a smaller bag for the baby (or a shared big bag if you’re travelling with more than one kid).

On top of that, we bring our own hand luggage backpack and a backpack changing bag. Most of the hand luggage baby stuff can go into the changing bag, but some might need to overspill into your separate land luggage.

What bags do we use?

Inside the Storksak

For our big bag, we use the 75cm Samsonite Flux hard shell case, which holds 85L, expanding to 95L if you need it. It’s super easy to wheel around, but obviously gets very heavy if you overfill it, so be mindful of that if you’re going to be climbing lots of stairs or travelling over uneven ground.

My favourite baby travel bag is the Storksak carry-on , which comes with a handy insert that allows you to organise everything into sections, a bit like packing cubes. You can even take out the insert and hang it directly in a wardrobe wherever you’re staying.

And for a nappy changing bag, I love the Babymel Robyn backpack . It looks pretty stylish (somewhat similar to a Hershel bag) and I find it far more comfortable and convenient to carry than a shoulder bag. It comes with a portable baby changing mat too.

Don’t forget to use packing cubes

The secret to successful packing for everyone is using packing cubes. They’re an absolute game changer when it comes to keeping things organised and also fitting more stuff into your suitcase. We’ve had these Eagle Creek ones for years, and added these Amazon ones recently. The Eagle Creek ones feel more robust, but the Amazon ones are cheaper.

What baggage allowance do babies get on a flight?

The baggage allowance for babies and infants varies depending on the airline. As a rule of thumb, you’re normally allowed the following for infants under two who are travelling without their own booked seat:

  • 2 pieces of checked baby equipment (e.g travel cot, car seat or stroller)
  • 1 carry-on changing bag

Baby packing list

plane travel checklist for baby

These are the essentials you need to travel with a baby.

  • Travel insurance
  • Letter from second guardian if not travelling together

Babies need a passport to travel internationally. Make sure you order one in plenty of time as there are often long wait times, at least in the UK.

Babies and kids need travel insurance too, so make sure they’re included on your policy. We get ours with True Traveller who offer good service and the ability to buy the insurance once you’re already travelling.

If you need a visa to travel where you’re going, for example an ESTA for the USA, your baby will too. Make sure you apply for one in plenty of time.

This isn’t always necessary, but good to have, just in case. If a child is travelling without both parents/guardians, make sure you have a signed letter from the absent parent saying they give permission for the child to travel. It should ideally be signed by a witness too. Although not a legal requirement, some immigration officials will ask to see this.

Getting around

Travel to Barcelona with a baby

What you’ll need to get around with a baby when travelling will depend heavily on the destination. Are you going to be doing lots of car journeys and will need a car seat? And is the destination stroller-friendly? Here’s what we’d recommend…

  • Stroller (+ stroller bag)
  • Car seat (+car seat dolley)

Baby carrier (sturdy and soft)

Some people opt to only bring a baby carrier, but we’ve always brought a stroller with us when travelling with a baby. We find it’s easier for naps, navigating the airport, and generally saving our backs! There are some destinations that are less stroller-friendly than others, but we’ve generally found it useful to have one wherever we go.

When it comes to strollers, you can simply bring the one you use at home or get a specifically lightweight travel stroller (or make sure your usual one is lightweight to begin with). A lightweight, small option is easier for destinations like cities where you have to navigate smaller, crowded spaces. Or if you’re going somewhere with lots of steps. But we’ve also travelled with a bulky travel system (the now discontinued Nuna Mixx) and it wasn’t really a problem as we rarely needed to carry it.

If you have the choice, I’d recommend getting one of the strollers that you can bring as carry-on luggage – for example the Babyzen Yoyo or the GB Pockit+ All-Terrain . Then you’ll have the option to keep it with you at all times, and won’t have to wait for it at the baggage carousel. Just bear in mind that it will probably count as one of your carry-on bags, so you’ll need to bring one less (the free baby equipment normally only applies to checked baggage rather than carry-on).

Stroller bag

To protect your stroller on the plane, you can use a stroller bag. We did this when we were travelling with the big Nuna Mixx, but don’t always bother with the smaller one. One handy thing about using these is that you can stuff some extra stuff in there outside of your baggage allowance. We often put our coats in there. We have the Phil and Ted bag , which is super sturdy and protective. When not using it, you can roll it up and put it in the stroller basket.

Car seat (+car seat travel cart)

If you’re going to be hiring a car, it’s a good idea to bring your own car seat from home. You can hire one from the rental company, but we’ve had situations where the company has failed to reserve one for us, or we’ve been unhappy with the seat’s quality. That said, you can only bring two pieces of baby equipment, so we often use that for the cot and stroller, and then hope for the best with the car seat hire. More often than not, it’s fine.

For children who are a bit older, you can get one of these little portable car seats , which are pretty useful if you’re just doing a few journeys here and there.

If you like you could get a car seat dolly , which makes the car seat double as a stroller in the airport. But I’d only do this if you’re not travelling with a stroller too. We’ve never had cause to use one.

For us, a baby carrier is an essential piece of kit. They’re useful for navigating places that aren’t stroller friendly, plus we’ve also found them useful on airplanes. Our kids rarely slept in the bassinet on the plane, but they were happy to sleep on us in the carrier.

We love the Ergobaby 360 . But I also like to travel with a soft carrier too as I find these more comfortable when sitting down (for example while the baby sleeps on me in a restaurant). My favourite is this one by Studio Romeo because it’s stylish and super easy to use.

New York with a baby - Hoxton Hotel

Travel cot and sheets

Baby sleeping bag, dummy/pacifier.

  • Favourite soft toy/comforter

The holy grail of happy parents and babies is sleep (and one we never truly mastered). I think a fair amount of successful sleep is down to luck, but there are some definite things you’ll need when travelling with a baby.

You might not need a travel cot if you know that all the places you’ll be staying can provide one. But many people prefer to bring their own one anyway. It kind of depends on how fussy your baby is. At the least, you might like to bring your own sheets (or you can use a big muslin/swaddle)

We use the Baby Bjorn travel cot , which is pretty lightweight and really easy to set up and take down.

If your baby is used to sleeping in a sleeping bag, be sure to bring one or two of these, and bear in mind the temperature of the place you’re going. You might need to get a different tog level if you’re going somewhere significantly hotter or cooler.

This isn’t an essential, but you we found having a Groegg or other room thermometer reassuring when our kids were little. I worried a lot about them overheating, so liked to know the temperature of the room so we could dress them accordingly. They’re very lightweight and don’t take up too much space.

If your child uses a dummy/pacifier then be sure to pack one or two of these. Even though our kids didn’t use them, we still brought one with us for the flight as we’d heard they could help with the ear pressure adjustment. Alas, they still wouldn’t suck on it.

One of our kids is totally attached to his cuddly racoon so we bought a second one specifically for travelling. When he was a baby, he had no idea there were two, and now he’s older he understands it’s best to leave the original safely at home.

So make sure to either bring your kids favourite cuddly/comforter – or even better, buy a second one to bring with you.

A blanket is useful for keeping babies warm on the plane or in the stroller. In warmer climates, a large muslin might be fine instead, but we have always brought at least a lightweight blanket for cool nights and on the plane.

plane travel checklist for baby

  • Nappy sacks
  • Nappy cream

Portable nappy changing mat

Change of baby clothes for travel days, change of clothing for parents on travel days.

Nappies/diapers are one of the things people always tend to overpack. It’ll depend on the age of the baby, but for your hand luggage, we recommend bringing at least one for every hour of travel, plus a few extra for emergencies. And then also pack some in your main luggage for when you get there (enough for a day or two). You can then buy the rest at your destination.

Our babies were both prone to nappy rash and many nappies/diapers irritated them, but we never failed to find a brand that suited them when travelling. Huggies/Pampers tend to be available in most places.

As with nappies, bring enough wipes for your journey (normally one or two packs) plus an extra pack in your main luggage. And then buy the rest while there.

Nappy sacks aren’t the norm in all countries, but we do find them useful for journeys where we want to keep smelly nappies contained. Bring a pack for your journey and then buy more in your destination if necessary. If you really want some and they aren’t available in the country you’re travelling to, you could buy doggy sacks instead.

Bring a tube of your preferred nappy cream/s. We love Welleda’s Calendula for everyday, and Metanium for nappy rash.

You’ll likely be doing some nappy changes on the go, so bring a portable nappy change mat. We use the one that came with our Babymel Robyn backpack. You could just use a muslin, but a wipe-clean option is preferable so you don’t have to wash it so often.

For the day you’re travelling, bring at least one change of clothes for the baby. As you’ll know, nappy explosions, spills, vomit etc can quickly ruin outfits. And you don’t want the baby to be uncomfortable when travelling. Bring more changes if your journey is really long.

I also recommend bringing a change of clothes for yourself (perhaps something lightweight like some leggings and a t-shirt) as those nappy explosions, spills and vomit might also affect you!

Pack a travel size version of your preferred baby wash/shampoo. You’ll be able to buy more there if you run out.

plane travel checklist for baby

If your baby hasn’t started weaning yet, you’ll just need to focus on the milk side of things for this list. It gets a bit more complicated as they get older and you need to take into account food etc. Here’s what we recommend.

  • Breast pump
  • Milk storage bags
  • Breast pads

Formula and bottles

  • Baby food and snacks

Portable high chair

The number one item on every baby list is muslins, those little pieces of fabric that fulfil endless tasks from mopping up sick to acting as a makeshift change mat. Bring about seven if you’re travelling for a week as you’ll likely get through at least one a day. Luckily, they’re pretty easy to handwash, so you could get away with bringing less.

Swaddles/large muslins

As well as small muslins, we recommend bringing a couple of huge ones too. These can be used as a lightweight blanket, a swaddle, breastfeeding cover-up, cot sheets and more. We love these ones by Aden & Anais .

If you’re breastfeeding and pumping, bring your usual pump. I only ever used a silicone one every now and then because both of my kids wouldn’t take a bottle. But other parents have recommended the Elvie .

If you’re pumping, bring enough milk storage bags to get you through the journey and the first few days, You can buy more there.

If breastfeeding and using pads, bring enough for the journey and the first few days. Most places should have these available. Or perhaps buy some reusable ones that you can handwash or put in with the laundry.

Bring enough formula and bottles for the flight, and check ahead to make sure the formula you need is available where you’re travelling. Even if you’re exclusively breastfeeding, it might be a good idea to bring some formula and a bottle for emergencies. We always brought some of the ready made formula bottles on the plane, just in case.

For babies who have moved onto water, remember to bring a sippy cup.

If your baby is weaning, you’ll need to bring enough food and snacks for the journey., Remember to pack enough to allow for delays. This is one of the only areas where I freely overpack as I can’t bear the idea of running out of food! We relied heavily on pouches for journeys.

Once at your destination, you’ll be able to prepare your own baby food, or buy it at supermarkets. When we were in the USA doing a month-long road trip, we used to bulk order Ella’s Pouches from Amazon and have them delivered to lockboxes along the way.

Another one for babies who are weaning – you’ll need to bring spoons or any other utensils they’re used to.

Bring a bib for every day, up to about seven days. Any more days than that and you can do a wash.

This isn’t essential for all trips. For example, if you’re going to a family-friendly hotel and staying there the whole time, high chairs should be provided (check ahead to make sure). But if you’re moving around a lot and don’t know what facilities will be provided, a portable high chair is super useful.

You can get fabric ones that you attach to chairs, but I personally love the Summer Infant pop ‘n sit as it’s more sturdy and can also sit on the floor.

Tips for doing a package holiday in style

These are all things you hopefully won’t need on your travels, but are essential to have just in case. When it comes to health, we think it’s better to be prepared.

Calpol and Neurofen

  • Teething gel

Cooling gel sachets

Nail clippers or scissors.

  • Thermometer
  • Medical documentation (e.g Red Book)

We always take a bottle of baby paracetamol (calpol) and ibuprofen (neurofen) with us when travelling, just in case the baby comes down with something or starts teething. Just a bottle of each will do as you’ll be able to buy more once there.

Our oldest child started teething on one of our trips, so we were pleased to be prepared with some teething gel and paracetamol.

Every parent/guardian needs to make plasters a staple of their bag!

Our doctor friend made us a mini baby first aid kit and included these cooling burn sachets, which are recommended for minor burns. We have made them a staple of our kit ever since.

I can’t believe how quickly kids nails grow. Bring a pair of clippers or scissors to keep on top of them while you’re away.

Bring any vitamins that you use at home. We gave vitamin D drops from birth and then moved onto Abidec.

It’s good to have a thermometer for peace of mind, so you can quickly know if your child has a fever. We use an in-ear thermometer from Braun, but you could get a smaller, simpler one for travel if space is an issue.

  • Medical documentation (E.g Red Book)

In the UK, it’s recommended that you travel with your baby’s red book/health record. I think this is particularly important if there are any illnesses/conditions that it would be good for medical professionals to know about quickly.

If your baby is on any medication, make sure to bring enough for your entire stay.

Bring some handwash for yourself for when doing nappy changes on the go. And also bring some baby friendly wash, especially if your child is weaning and using their hands to eat.

Entertainment

Arlo playing with busy board

The older your baby is, the more entertainment they’ll likely need. We’d recommend the following, scaling up as the baby gets older.

Clip-on toys and lace for makeshift play gym

  • Teething toy

A few baby books are useful if they’re part of your bedtime routine. Plus they’re useful for keeping babies entertained on long journeys. If they’re very young, go for high contrast options, so they can be entertained by the patterns.

Clip-on toys, like this Lamaze toy , are really useful as you can attach them to the stroller or car seat. Plus we used to bring along a shoelace and string them up as a makeshift baby gym in hotel rooms or on the beach.

Even if your baby hasn’t started teething yet, bring a teething toy in case they start while you’re away. There’s nothing to lose as it’ll double as a normal toy too.

California trip with Otis

Clothing can be a tricky one to judge, especially if your destination has a variable temperature. The key to success, as with adults, is to pack layers. I tend to never pack for longer than a week, and instead do a wash on day 6 and then use the same clothes again. Just make sure to check there’s somewhere you can do as wash while there. Bear in mind, hotels often charge a premium for this, so it’s often better to seek out a laundrette/independent provider.

Here’s what I recommend packing for a week:

  • 7 x everyday outfits
  • 1 or 2 dressy outfits (depends on the style of your trip)
  • 7 x PJs/sleepsuits
  • 1 x coat/pram suit (if cold weather)
  • 2 x hat (summer hat or beanie depending on weather)

7 everyday outfits

These will depend on the weather – go for layers if you’re unsure. For example, a vest, plus leggings and a cardigan.

1 or 2 dressy outfits

You might not need any ‘dressy’ outfits, but depending on your own style, and the style of the trip, you might want to bring a couple of smart outfits.

7 PJs/sleepsuits

We found that baby PJs and sleepsuits always got grubby quickly, so I’d recommend bringing enough for 7 days.

1 coat/pram suit

If it’s going to be cold where you’re travelling, be sure to bring a coat or pram suit to keep your baby snug.

Depending on the weather, bring one or two summer hats or beanies.

If you’re heading somewhere with a pool or you’re going to the beach, bring a baby swimsuit. We normally bring tight fitting swim pants to keep any nappy contents contained and then add a swimming onesie over the top. For colder destinations, we bring a little wetsuit like this.

Swim nappies

You’ll need swim nappies to avoid any messy accidents in the water. Normally you can buy them at your destinations, but we found it impossible to buy them in Thailand. So do check ahead to make sure they’re available locally.

For hot weather vacations

plane travel checklist for baby

Here are some extra bits and bobs you might want to bring for a summer vacation somewhere warm.

Beach tent/parasol

If you’re on a beach holiday and have the space, it could be worth bringing a pop-up tent for the beach. These are great for creating shade for the baby, and also a cosy place for them to sleep on beach days out.

Suntan lotion

Pack some baby-friendly suntan lotion. You might want to do a patch test before you go. One of our sons is allergic to some suntan lotion ingredients, so we have a narrow range of possibilities.

Your baby might not tolerate these, but sunglasses are handy (and look super cute) if they’ll wear them. We like the brand Babiators by Natural Baby Shower.

What to pack in a baby’s hand luggage?

Getting ready to board plane

If you’re flying with a baby, we recommend travelling with these items in your hand luggage. They’re all included in the big list above, so you don’t need to repeat them. This is just for quick reference if you’re wondering how to separate them out.  

  • Blanket or baby sleeping bag

Nappy and Toileting

  • Nappies (the amount will depend on the baby’s age, but we recommend at least one for every hour of travel, plus a few extra for emergencies)
  • Change of clothes (2 if travelling long haul)
  • Nappy changing mat
  • Change of clothing for parents
  • Formula and bottle
  • First aid kit
  • Nail clippers
  • Vitamins (Abidec and Vitamin D drops)
  • Baby books and toys
  • Airplane toys for toddlers

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Your Checklist for Baby Travel: Packing List + Spreadsheet Download!

Last Updated: May 16, 2023

Traveling with a baby is more doable than you might think. Especially in the early months it can be much easier in a lot of ways, than traveling with a toddler. Traveling with a baby that’s not on the move yet, not eating solids (even easier packing, if you’re breastfeeding!), and they always seem to have a nap coming up. And since babies fly free (excluding taxes and fees) until they’re two years old, now is the time to book up those trips! So here’s a checklist for traveling with a baby, what to bring, check, carry-on, and my overall baby travel packing list.

Our first international trip was to New Zealand when our baby was 5 months old. And then most of our trips were smaller flights out to Hawaii and Florida to visit family. So here’s what I’ve learned about packing for a baby. While having a baby travel checklist helps you not forget anything important, it can also help you realize what items you can do without to travel more minimally!

Baby's first big trip - to Hawaii and then New Zealand!

Baby Travel Packing List

You can download my spreadsheet or just check out the full checklist below. Remember you’re going to have roughly the same needs as at home, just hopefully able to pack less and use things for multiple purposes! So jump ahead to the Baby Travel Packing List Spreadsheet or read more:

  • Baby Hygiene – Diapering, Bathing, & Health

Feeding on the Go

  • Travel Gear
  • Play & Misc

baby travel checklist spreadsheet

Baby Sleep:

  • Travel crib – Check with where you’re staying. Many Airbnbs offer Pack’n Plays, which can save you some effort. If your sleep and sanity is gonna hinge on this sleep, just bring your own. In the first 6 months we brought our own travel crib, and then later a travel tent. We loved the 12 pound Guava Lotus Crib / Bassinet (also on our minimalist baby registry checklist !
  • Crib sheets – Especially if you’re using a provided Pack n Play, bring a crib sheet from home. This helps with smells and feeling of sameness.
  • Baby audio monitor – Great for being able to hear your baby, especially in a new to you space.
  • White noise – We always use an old cell phone with a white noise app on it. Great for travel since it’s small. Dual purpose, add a few baby apps for flight distraction.
  • Blackout room supplies – we travel with a little case of tacks and  binder clips  (in a few different sizes). This way you can make do with insufficient curtains by improvising with blankets, sheets or towels already in the room we’re staying.
  • Night time pacifier – if your baby uses a pacifier.

Travel Hygiene – Diapering, Bathing, Health

  • Bamboo waterproof changing pad liner:  We use these liners on our changing mat at home. For travel, we would bring one for when we arrived, along with a fold-up travel changing mat for our diaper bag. (It was part of a zip-off changing pad from a SkipHop Changing clutch – the rest of which we found too bulky for travel).
  • OXO Tot On-the-Go Wipes Dispenser w/Diaper Pouch  – This wipes case has been one of our baby air travel  diapering essentials  from the start! It’s great for every day use and amazing for flights. It holds 4-5 diapers and a huge stack of wipes. We would even slide in a washable small toy when he was in that grabby stage. This helped to keep him from grabbing things in the airplane bathroom.
  • Diaper cream (smallest size), hand sanitizer, travel tissue packs, antibacterial wipes, and a few rags (we like the IKEA cloths ).
  • Diapers – calculate how many you’ll need. For example 9 per day x 14 days = 126 diapers. If you’re traveling domestically you should be able to find the same diapers and buy there. But take enough that you have some wiggle room of when to go to the store. Ie. bring 26, buy 100 there etc. If you’re traveling internationally, do a little bit of recon, as yes you can buy diapers anywhere. Babies do afterall populate the globe, but it might not be the diapers you want or they might be expensive. They also might be way cheaper, like we found in Norway! For New Zealand, we packed all the diapers we needed and just added them into our car seat bag. And thankfully the bag got progressively lighter as the trip went on, lol.
  • Wipe packs – same as diapers. Plan what you’ll need. We typically estimated one wipe pack per week. And since our baby was pretty sensitive, we brought Water Wipes with us. Then as he got older and we could use any wipes, we would buy on arrival.
  • Swim diapers – bring a couple swim diapers. It really helps to not have to buy an entire pack of swim diapers while on your trip, which you then have to pack home.
  • Baby wash cloths
  • baby shampoo/soap – IKEA makes a nice travel size toiletries containers.
  • nail clippers
  • travel laundry soap
  • baby travel lotion
  • baby Tylenol
  • thermometer
  • travel clothesline (optional but we liked our small backpacking one)

While everyone has slightly different needs when it comes to feeding, consider what you do at home and then adapt for on the go. Our baby breastfed and refused bottles so this was pretty handy for travel as we didn’t have to pack much extra feeding stuff. And not handy in the aspect that mama was the only one who could feed the baby. Ha!

  • Water bottle for breastfeeding mom – flying and travel is already dehydrating and we often forget to drink enough water. This is super important especially if you’re breastfeeding – from a supply issue. Get an easy travel water bottle and even ask your partner to remind you or set a reminder on your phone etc.
  • muslin blanket – I just used a muslin blanket as a burp clothes, and it also worked as a nice privacy shield for breastfeeding baby mid-flight so they actually fall asleep.
  • Boppy breastfeeding pillow – While it sounds a little silly to take on a flight. This was the biggest helper! Especially on an a long-haul flight, when baby is in your arms or feeding, this pillow helped take the pressure off your arms and back.
  • Boob nursing pads – don’t forget your nursing pads! Definitely helpful to not need an extra outfit change mid-flight.
  • fleece baby blanket – we also brought our small fleece baby blanket to put over baby on the flight when the chilly ac came on, and doubled as a stroller wrap after we arrived if it was chilly.
  • any other baby feeding items – as they get older this might include baby food pouches, baby spoon, bib, teething snacks etc.

Baby Clothing

Plan for how often you will have the chance to do laundry. And the weather where you will be. We usually planned for 2 outfits per day (laundering every 5-7 days) and re-using non-dirty pants. So a week might look like this, depending on the season:

  • Onesies 14 – 11 in suitcase, 3 in diaper bag: 8 longsleeve, 4 short sleeve
  • Pants 10 – 7 in suitcase, 3 in diaper bag: 8 thin, 1 thick, 1 shorts
  • Jammies – 2
  • Sleep sack – 1 fleece
  • Socks – 10 – 8 in suitcase, 2 in diaper bag
  • Drool bib bandanas
  • Baby swimsuit / rashguard
  • Fleece hat and booties
  • Baby jacket or sweater
  • Baby sun hat
  • Packing divider bags – We have the older version these IKEA ones
  • Dirty clothes laundry bag – IKEA often has a great drawstring laundry bag.

The biggest tip I have for outfits and flying with a baby is to make 2 or 3 “outfit packs”. This is just a onesie, pants, and socks – stacked together and put in a large ziploc bag. Which you’ll then have 2 or 3 of these in your diaper bag. Mid-flight blow out? Grab an outfit pack and diapering kit and head to the bathroom. Then you have a ziploc bag to put the dirty stuff in. And it’s just so much easier than digging through all your diaper bag looking for a change of clothes for baby. Especially if you’re flying solo with a baby!

Travel Gear:

I’ve already covered all the best baby travel gear , which overlaps with this packing list. These items really depend on what you use, what you’ll need when you get there (eg. renting a car vs taking public transit), if you’re visiting family vs solo etc. Here are all the items we’ve needed depending on the trip.

  • Car seat – the only time we didn’t need a carseat was when visiting family who had an extra, and then we had a friend drop us off at the airport (in our car). And again going to Scandinavia just before age 2 we went without a carseat, since we weren’t renting a car.
  • Car seat bag – if you’re taking a car seat, definitely get a car seat bag to keep it in nice shape. You can also stuff in a few things like diapers if needed. (note: some airlines might hassle you about this. I’ve never had this issue).
  • Stroller – a travel stroller is great, but in the first year, we actually flew all over with our BOB jogging stroller. Depending on the trip and how much your baby likes to be in your stroller in everyday life, it might be worth the hassle of flying with it. For us it was, since that meant we could guarantee that we would get on-the-go naps out of it! Which allowed us a lot more freedom while traveling as the baby could be napping “hands free!” in the stroller. By around one, he would nap in our travel stroller the same way.
  • Babywearing carrier – if you babywear at home, you’ll want to bring your carrier. This was especially nice on the flight for baby to chill out and nap and be close in when he wasn’t on the boppy pillow. And also gave my partner the ability to carry him around and snuggle easier.
  • Large suitcase – In the first year, we found taking one medium checked suitcase ( 25″ hardside roller ) to be the easiest route. We packed all our stuff in one which was also easier for getting to and from the airport with all the other gear vs having more smaller luggage. As we approached two years old, and needed fewer baby items, it became easier to just take two carry-on bags again.
  • Grown-up backpack – our other carry-on backpack was for stuff for us – snacks, book, electronics etc. Much easier to not be sorting through baby stuff.
  • Diaper bag backpack – All the stuff for on the go diaper, feeding and baby entertainment. Plus outfit changes.
  • Packable tote bag – We also brought one canvas or packable shopping tote to put the babycarrier, boppy pillow or anything else that needed containing after we got on the flight. Sometimes it seems like a clown car like where did all this stuff come from.
  • Thicker blanket or play mat – we brought an Aiden and Anais Dream blanket so baby could have a place to roll around.
  • Toy pouch – whatever baby is currently loving plus a surprise or two For example: spinning wheel toy , paci lovy , taggy blanket , rattle, teether , “mirror” from a baby book, mini indestructible book etc.
  • Extra muslin blanket for laying down on dirty floors like at airport or on the go (so you don’t get your nicer blanket filthy.)

plane travel checklist for baby

Baby Travel Packing List Spreadsheet

You can also download the spreadsheet here .

One of the things I found challenging when packing for our first big trip with baby was that I had a huge pile of stuff, plus a few reminder notes about things I also needed, but I quickly realized that I needed to know where I was packing things. Especially for a long haul flight, I couldn’t have half of our essentials in a checked bag. So I created this spreadsheet to track not only what to pack (by category), but where it would be packed (carry-on diaper bag vs checked luggage etc).

I’ve also added in a basic worksheet to list out your baby routine – what time your baby is generally doing things on a typical day at home (napping, feeding etc) and then how that would line up with your flight. Everyone will tell you “oh baby will sleep on the flight!” Maybe, maybe not! And probably not if baby doesn’t generally sleep at that time of day! But the good news is for young babies, the next nap or feeding is usually just around the next corner.

What I love about using a spreadsheet as my checklist for baby travel, is that by the time your second trip comes around, you have a useful list to jog your memory. And just like my family camping checklist , it makes packing way easier. Which ultimately, makes it easier to say “yes!” to travel.

airport stroller

I hope you enjoy your first trip with baby and have found this baby travel packing list helpful!

baby travel checklist

Further Reading...

Baby Sleep Essentials

Baby Sleep Essentials: The 12 Best Baby Sleep Items in 2024

Choosing a Preschool: How to find the best preschool for your family + template download

Choosing a Preschool: How to Find a School + Childcare Cost Calculator Spreadsheet

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Kiwico vs Lovevery: Which Baby Subscription Box is Better?

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Packing Checklist for Flying With an Infant

Flying With an Infant

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The Ultimate Packing List for Flying With Kids

From activity books to wipes galore, everything you need for your next flight with kids.

Alesandra Dubin is an LA-based lifestyle writer and editor. As a veteran digital journalist, she's covered travel, food, parenting, and more for over 15 years. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, TripSavvy, and countless other online and print outlets. An avid traveler, she often trots the globe with her husband and their twins. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @alicedubin. Alesandra holds a master's degree in journalism with an emphasis on cultural reporting and criticism from NYU, and a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley.

plane travel checklist for baby

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Travel + Leisure / Reese Herrington

The trick to flying with young kids? Careful preparation. Our writer has traveled the world with twins, and she knows that flying with children can be miserable if you don't bring the right items on board with you. But with the right tools, a flight with your youngsters is not just feasible but can even be fun. We've rounded up all the supplies you’ll need for feeding, cleaning, soothing, and entertaining little ones — plus transporting all that cargo. So use this guide to prepare properly for your next family flight .

Packing Checklist for Flying With Kids

We've broken down all categories of things you’ll need to pack when flying with children and included the exact items we’d recommend.

Read more about our specific recommendations below and start your own checklist, too.

Entertainment 

  • Best Tablet: Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Tablet
  • Best Headphones: Puro Sound Labs BT2200s Kids’ Bluetooth Headphones
  • Best Tech Stand: Airglo Cell Phone and Tablet Holder
  • Best Coloring Book: Unicorn Imagine Ink Magic Ink Book
  • Best Book: "Where’s Waldo? The Fantastic Journey"
  • Best Activity Book: On the Plane Activity Book
  • Best Craft: Purple Ladybug Wax Craft Sticks
  • Best Game: Magnetic Travel Games
  • Best Set: Mini Voyager 4-7 Jetsetter Travel Kit
  • Best Sound Machine: Frida Baby Portable 2-in-1 Sound Machine
  • Best Pillow and Blanket: Roamwild Kids Travel Pillow and Travel Blanket Set
  • Best Portable Bed: Flyaway Kids Bed

Food and Drink

  • Best Reusable Water Bottle: Yeti 12-ounce Kids Water Bottle
  • Best Lollipops: Ring Pops (20 Count)
  • Best Snacks: Healthy Snacks Variety Pack
  • Best Snack Activity: Fred Match Up Memory Snack Tray
  • Best Changing Pad: SkipHop Portable Baby Changing Pad
  • Best Multi-purpose Wipes: Hello Bello Unscented Baby Wipes
  • Best Face Wipes: Baby Wipes by Boogie Wipes
  • Best Surface Wipes: Lysol Disinfecting Surface Wipes
  • Best Hand Sanitizer: Kinia 8-pack Hand Sanitizer Holders
  • Best Diaper Bag: Dagne Dover Indi Diaper Backpack
  • Best Crossbody Bag: Kibou Vegan Leather Fanny Pack Diaper Bag
  • Best Kids Backpack: Herschel Backpack Kids 9L
  • Best Wheeled Backpack: Jansport Driver 8 Backpack
  • Best Carry-on Suitcase: Rockland London Hardside 20-inch Spinner
  • Best Ride-on Suitcase: Jetkids by Stokke Bedbox 19-inch Ride-on Carry-on

Accessories

  • Best Luggage Trackers: Apple AirTags
  • Best First Aid Kit: PreparaKit Take Along First-aid Kit
  • Best Storage Bags: Hefty Slider Storage Bags

T+L's Top Picks and Tips

Entertaining kids is absolutely critical to keeping the peace on any flight. For babies and younger kids, one rule of thumb is to think of entertainment in 15-minute increments; bring enough options to rotate activities often. For older or generally tech-minded kids? Well, the magic power of screens sure comes in handy.

Best Tablet

Amazon fire hd 10 kids edition.

Why We Love It: This tablet has plenty of storage space and comes in a virtually indestructible case.

What to Consider: This isn’t as full-featured as, say, an iPad, so kids will outgrow it eventually.

Tablets are great for long-stretch occupation — just be sure to download your child's favorite shows and movies ahead of time rather than relying on airplane wifi to stream. Amazon’s Fire for kids simpler and less expensive than standard adult versions, and it comes with an indestructible, kid-friendly case with a stand. The Fire HD 10 also includes a two-year guarantee and a yearlong subscription to Amazon Kids+. We find this to be a great investment to keep children from ages 3 to 5 occupied.

Best Headphones

Puro sound labs bt2200s volume limited kids headphones.

Why We Love It: These Bluetooth headphones have a safe maximum volume for kids.

What to Consider: They are pricier than some alternative kids' headphones.

In the same way that you’ll likely lean hard on that tablet to keep kids occupied, you'll depend on quality kids' headphones to go with it. This compact but powerful pair is made to protect early hearing damage by following the World Health Organization’s recommendation of an 85dB-limited volume range. The Bluetooth capability has a 30-foot range of movement so the child can feel free to move about the cabin, too.The lightweight, durable headphones come in nine fun colors.

Best Tech Stand

Airglo airplane travel essentials.

Why We Love It: This universal tech holder is a great hands-free solution for use in planes, cars, and more.

What to Consider: It might not be the most secure stand for larger phones or tablets.

This nifty gadget is the brainchild of a flight attendant who saw a need for a phone stand that would allow passengers to watch movies and TV shows on long flights. Now kids can also watch on your devices hands-free with this tool that fits any brand’s gadgets. It folds fairly flat when not in use, and this lightweight stand could also be repurposed to hang a bag on a chair or tray table.

Best Coloring Book

Bendon unicorn imagine ink magic ink book.

Why We Love It: This compact book is small, self-contained, and mess-free.

What to Consider: The cover is slightly misleading: This book isn’t actually full of unicorn themes.

These invisible ink activity books are self-contained — no crayon collection to roll under plane seats — and guaranteed mess-free. Kids just use the Imagine Ink marker to stay busy with 16 pages of games, all in a portable-size book just right for tossing in a travel bag. We've found invisible ink books particularly effective for children aged 3 to 6.

Where's Waldo? The Fantastic Journey Paperback

Why We Love It: This book is challenging for kids of all ages (including pre-readers) and delivers on a healthy dose of nostalgia for parents as well.

What to Consider: A book will never be as tempting as a tablet for tech-addled kids.

Books that challenge little ones keep them entertained. And Where’s Waldo does just that — even for kids who aren’t reading yet. The paperback book is not only small and lightweight for travel, but its journey motif fits in nicely with vacation adventures, too.

Best Activity Book

On the plane activity book.

Why We Love It: This lightweight book gets kids excited about their flight, with plane-themed games and activities.

What to Consider: You’ll need to bring and keep track of your own coloring implements.

Engage kids in the excitement of travel with this activity book that has an airplane journey theme. Think: spot the identical pilots on their way through the airport, true-or-false airplane and flying facts, and more. Just pack a pencil (or probably two).

Purple Ladybug Wax Craft Sticks for Kids

Why We Love It: This generously stocked wax stick kit has plenty of sticks to share between or among siblings.

What to Consider: You'll probably leave some sticks on the floor and in the seats.

This set of wax craft sticks will be a novelty for most kids, and waxy sticks won’t roll away as easily as crayons or markers. This kit comes with 300 sticks in 15 colors and two different lengths, plenty for multiple siblings to have a go. Kids can endlessly shape and reshape them with no noise and no mess.

The Purple Cow Magnetic Animal Homes Matching Puzzle

Why We Love It: Magnetic pieces keep this tin game set together for play on the go.

What to Consider: Pieces are only magnetic on one side.

Nothing’s more frustrating than trying to travel with a game that’s rendered immediately useless after some essential piece slides irretrievably under an airplane or car seat. This compact game set provides a frustration-free alternative with magnets that keep everything together. We recommend it for children over 2.

Mini Voyager 4-7y Jetsetter Travel Kit

Mini Voyage

Why We Love It: This kit combines a customized array of kids entertainment items into one grab-and-go bundle.

What to Consider: You may save money by finding and buying all of these items separately (if you have the time and inclination).

If creating a DIY bag of entertainment ideas for every flight seems like a lot of work, buy this kit, which compiles it all for you in one convenient bundle. Choose from multiple items to build your own customized pack based on your kid’s interests and ages, including stickers, books, toys, and games.

When kids don’t get adequate rest, the whole thing goes off the rails in a hurry — for everyone. In addition to comfy clothes and layers, these packable items help keep children warm, soothed, and rested on the plane.

Best Sound Machine

Fridababy 2-in-1 portable sound machine.

Why We Love It: This portable sound machine also has a nightlight, and it hooks onto a tray table hinge or arm rest.

What to Consider: It can be hard to differentiate the buttons in the dark.

This little machine produces five soothing sounds for kids, including shushing and a heartbeat. It has an adjustable strap, so you can hook it onto an arm rest or or tray table hinge, or a car seat or stroller once off the plane. During your flight, just but be mindful of using anything beyond pink noise in flight out of respect to your fellow passengers. Conveniently, it also has a nightlight with three glow levels which could help you locate items in a dimmed cabin, too.

Best Pillow and Blanket

Roamwild kids travel pillow.

Why We Love It: This cute and cuddly set is a pillow, blanket, and toy all in one.

What to Consider: While the sleeve-style cover adds comfort to an armrest, it’s still an armrest — so it may be too firm for some kids’ tastes.

A travel pillow and blanket are always useful tools in keeping children cozy for long flights. This one has a niche feature: After you remove the blanket, the sleeve-style toy slides over any armrest to transform it into a kids’ pillow. So, it’s a penguin toy, a comfy pillow, and a warm blanket, all in one cute and compact package.

Best Portable Bed

Flyaway kids bed.

Why We Love It: Not just a place to sleep, this comfy surface also keeps toys and accessories from rolling onto the floor.

What to Consider: You’ll be happy to have it on the plane, but then you’ll be committed to traveling with it for the duration of your trip.

When kids are overtired, everyone loses. And a tool like this can be just the ticket for helping them sleep on long flights. The bed for babies, toddlers, and little kids inflates in 90 seconds and deflates quickly, too. It comes in a carry bag with a pump included, and it can be wiped clean.

When it comes to traveling with kids, you’ll always need more snacks than you think. Think you’ve packed enough? Great, now double it. And don’t forget a refillable water bottle to kep your kiddo hydrated.

Best Reusable Water Bottle

Yeti rambler jr. kids bottle.

Why We Love It: This water bottle is impressively leakproof and made to withstand a beating.

What to Consider: The bottle itself is heavy, especially compared to its relatively small 12-ounce payload.

Staying hydrated with kids while traveling is a must, and this water bottle means business. The Yeti is durable, spill proof, and double-wall insulated to keep drinks cold (or warm) for hours. Plus, a straw cap makes it easy for kids to sip on the go.

Best Lollipops

Ring pop individually wrapped bulk lollipop variety party pack.

Why We Love It: It acts as both a snack and a bribe — er, reward , that is — and can help reduce ear discomfort on planes.

What to Consider: Nope, there’s no nutritional value here!

Lollipops and their ilk are a multifunction tool for traveling with kids: It’s a snack! It’s a reward! It keeps them busy! And the act of swallowing while sucking on them can also ease ear pressure on takeoff and landing. Even better, Ring Pops are a smart, toy-like alternative to stick lollies for hands-free holding.

Best Snacks

Stuff your sack healthy snacks variety pack organic care package.

Why We Love It: This variety pack includes 18 different flavors to keep kids interested.

What to Consider: The packaged snacks may be organic, but they are still processed food.

Having kids means having snacks handy at all times; traveling makes it all the more necessary to keep kids fed and comfortable to combat whining. This variety pack includes 25 organic packaged snacks from 19 different brands; 18 different flavors keep them intrigued as little surprises unfold throughout a long journey.

Best Snack Activity

Fred match up memory snack tray.

Why We Love It: Dispensing snacks this way keeps the experience fun for kids — and prolongs the process to keep them busy, too.

What to Consider: Make sure your child is able to push buttons.

Snacks serve two important functions: nutrition and amusement. For that reason, try to prolong these food breaks as a way to keep kids busy and amused. Try putting different snacks into this fun tray with compartments; it’s fun for littles to discover treats behind each door, and it adds time to the whole process. For slightly older toddlers and children, you can make a memory game out of it.

Keeping kids clean — and cleaning up after them — has long been a top concern among traveling parents. A global pandemic only underscored the importance of traveling with wipes and sanitizer.

Best Changing Pad

Skip hop pronto changing station.

Why We Love It: When you travel with your own changing pad, you’re guaranteed a non-public surface no matter where you are.

What to Consider: A separate changing pad may not be necessary if you have a diaper bag that comes with one.

Change a diaper on the go without fear of exposing baby to gross, public surfaces. This changing pad takes the form of a clutch, with a large mesh pocket that holds four diapers and accessories, plus a translucent wipes case. A front zipper pocket holds essentials like keys and cash. Drop it in any bag, or clip it on a travel stroller or luggage handle instead.

Best Multi-purpose Wipes

Hello bello unscented baby wipes.

Why We Love It: You can use these extra-soft baby wipes on just about everything.

What to Consider: These full-size packs aren’t tiny.

Is there nothing a baby wipe can't do? From diaper changes to on-the-go hand cleaning to wiping up half-eaten miscellany, traveling with baby wipes is a must. These are super soft with aloe and chamomile extract — and no alcohol, synthetic fragrances, phthalates, or parabens.

Best Face Wipes

Boogie wipes.

Why We Love It: These hypoallergenic, ultra-soft saline wipes are great for cleaning snotty faces and even clearing airways.

What to Consider: If you don’t want to pack a bag full of different wipe options, this specialty product might be the first to go.

With kids, runny noses are just about guaranteed for chunks of the year, and they're even more likely when you add in the fatigue and exposure from traveling. These hypoallergenic and alcohol-free cloths are designed expressly for nose-wiping, with gentle saline, vitamin E, aloe, and chamomile to soothe sensitive skin.

Best Surface Wipes

Lysol disinfecting wipes to-go pack.

Why We Love It: You’ll find tons of uses for this travel-sized package of wipes when traveling through public spaces with (or without) kids.

What to Consider: These are ideal for surfaces, but they are not for use on kids’ faces.

These germ-busting wipes are ideal for cleaning nonporous surfaces like a tray tables or seatback entertainment screens, and they're a must for both safety and peace of mind when traveling with littles known to touch everything.

Best Hand Sanitizer

Kinia 8 pack empty mixed kids hand sanitizer.

Why We Love It: These cute and colorful hand sanitizer holders keep gel easy to access for frequent cleanups.

What to Consider: Be advised these containers come empty, so you’ll need to fill with your favorite brand.

In addition to wipes, hand sanitizer is a must for quick cleaning on the go. Keep your gel handy by filling these colorful jelly wrap silicone carriers. The 1-ounce, flip-top-cap bottles attach with adjustable silicone cords to backpacks, diaper bags, and just about anywhere else.

Depending on kids’ ages and sizes, they may be candidates to tote their own cargo. Backpacks, rolling bags, and even ride-on options help keep the process moving smoothly. Adults, on the other hand, can benefit from bags that keep hands free in case they need to carry tired children or hold little hands along the way.

Best Diaper Bag

Dagne dover indi diaper backpack.

Why We Love It: This bag is sleek, chic, and unisex, and it delivers on functionality with tons of specialized compartments.

What to Consider: It's spacious and deep, so smaller items can be hard to spot in a hurry (and when are you not in a hurry when traveling with kids?).

Traveling with kids means prioritizing performance in a diaper bag ; we're huge fans of Dagne Dover because the brand fuses functionality with style so well. Done in chic, 100-percent vegan neoprene, this backpack-style diaper bag also clips to a stroller upon arrival. It includes a mini changing mat and extra pouches, with an extra zipper opening for easy access to wipes.

Best Crossbody Bag

Kibou diaper bag.

Why We Love It: This crossbody doubles as a compact diaper bag for hands-free convenience.

What to Consider: A diaper bag this small obviously isn’t a feasible option for longer outings or multiple babies, so consider your usage.

This vegan-leather waist pack, which extends into a crossbody, is a great choice for traveling through airports and wearing on the plane. The ultra-compact diaper bag has tons of features so you can travel hands free: A built-in waterproof pocket holds 20 wipes wet for up to a week, a detachable changing pad unfolds from the back flap, a hook holds a pacifier or key, slots secure credit cards or cash, and the nylon lining is wipeable and stain resistant. It's even possible to use this as a regular bag once your little ones are out of diapers, too.

Best Kids Backpack

Herschel heritage backpack | kids.

Why We Love It: Encouraging kids to carry their own backpack builds independence while keeping the family’s cargo moving.

What to Consider: This kid-size version is best for ages 3 to 7; move up to youth size for older kids.

Herschel has just the right size backpack for children preschool age and up to carry their own gear — both to help out the family and to develop a bit of self reliance. This kid-proportioned version is just 13 inches high and has a removable sternum support strap. The next size up is right for youths ages 8 to 12 and, at 15 inches high, it also features a 13-inch laptop or tablet sleeve.

Best Wheeled Backpack

Jansport driver 8 core series wheeled backpack.

Why We Love It: A rolling backpack keeps the weight off kids’ backs and holds a solid amount of cargo.

What to Consider: This well-equipped pack is substantially sized and a better bet for grade school ages and up.

This 21-inch rolling backpack is packed with features for bigger kids. It has two spacious main compartments plus skate wheels and a telescoping handle for a smooth ride. An exterior mesh bottle pocket stretches to fit large bottles, and a 15-inch laptop sleeve has a buckle to keep technology extra secure. It comes in an array of solid colors and appealing prints, and you can easily tuck away the shoulder straps when not in use.

Best Kids' Carry-on Suitcase

Rockland london hardside spinner wheel luggage carry-on.

Why We Love It: Kids can grow with this 20-inch spinner, small enough to manage but large enough to hold proper cargo.

What to Consider: A 20-inch spinner will be too large for preschoolers to easily maneuver.

When it comes to kids’ roller bags, we advocate for choosing a piece small enough for them to manage but large enough to hold a meaningful amount of cargo. To be worthwhile, it must be an efficient use of hands and bin space, not just a character-shaped gimmick that holds very little. Our writer's twins have these durable hardside cases, which they’ve carried independently since age 6 (going on three years and many miles and still going!).

Best Ride-on Suitcase

​​stokke jetkids bedbox.

Why We Love It: This wheeled ride-on suitcase transforms into a leg rest or bed in flight.

What to Consider: Not all carriers permit the use of items like these as leg rests while in the air.

This ride-on rolling suitcase has hidden talents beyond scooting through the airport: It transforms into a leg rest, or an in-plane bed, to help keep kids comfy and rested during the flight, too. Bonus: It even includes two sheets of stickers for kids to personalize their own luggage.

It may seem overwhelming to keep track of all the things you need to bring, especially after you've left home. GPS trackers can be lifesavers for locating your items during the journey, and a small first aid kit and plastic slider bags prepare for just-in-case moments and help clean up mid-flight messes, too.

Best Luggage Tracker

Apple airtag 4-pack.

Why We Love It: Track your kids’ stuff — or even your kids themselves — amid hectic environments like airports.

What to Consider: These tiny trackers are made to interface with Apple devices only.

In crowded, chaotic environments — especially when the dependability of baggage handling could use improvement — a small GPS tracking device tucked into a bag can make all the difference in reuniting with it after, say, a kid blithely walks away from their belongings after being distracted by a candy display. You can also use these tags on children themselves, with an array of specialty wristbands, keychains, and necklaces designed to incorporate the tags for wearability.

Best First Aid Kit

Preparakit small compact first aid kit for kids.

Why We Love It: This well-stocked first aid kit covers the basics in a compact, highly portable package.

What to Consider: You can save money if you choose to compile your own kit with customized supplies.

This TSA-approved mini first aid kit contains all the essentials for babies and toddlers in a package just about the size of a wallet. The curated array of 50 items includes bandages, gauze, tape, scissors, thermometer strips, and more. There’s also additional room to add your own prescription or over-the-counter medication.

Best Storage Bags

Hefty slider storage bags.

Why We Love It: They have a stand-up bottom for convenience.

What to Consider: They're less durable than sturdier bags made for freezer storage,

There are so many uses for slider storage bags while flying with kids: Use them within backpacks to organize cables, toys, and snacks. Or, use them to separate wet or soiled items, and to collect trash tidily. Plus, they’re super lightweight and waterproof.

Prioritize new or special items

When it comes to keeping kids entertained during a long flight, they’re most likely to stay engaged when playing with something that is new to them. Now’s the time to choose new or rarely used games, books, toys, and technology to pack in your kit for maximum novelty value.

Consider portability

You may be accustomed to your full arsenal of supplies at home, but carefully consider how portable and necessary each of these items is before committing to travel with it. Luggage fees add up, arms and hands quickly fill, and only the truly portable items are usually worthwhile to bring along on travels with kids.

Children over the age of two must have their own ticket, and therefore are entitled to the same baggage privileges of other ticketed passengers in the category. Check your airline and ticket class for the specific baggage allowances.

Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby or toddler food (including purée pouches) in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces are allowed in carry-on baggage, according to the TSA regulations ; these are considered medically necessary liquids. Just make sure to take these items out of your carry-on bag to be screened separately.

The same permission applies to breast milk and formula cooling accessories, like ice packs and freezer packs.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Alesandra Dubin is a career travel and lifestyle writer and a frequent traveler. She’s also a twin mom with plenty of hard-earned experience from world travels with kids.

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Ultimate Baby Travel Checklist {+ printable packing guide}

baby playing on bed while mother is packing a suitcase

Essential items not to forget traveling with a baby

Ready for your first big family adventure with your baby? Undoubtedly some wonderful memories to be made but the packing alone can be a daunting prospect before you’ve even left the house. Babies really do come with a lot of STUFF!

We talked about the most essentials items for baby travel in some detail before , but in this bumper guide, we’re going to dig into the nitty-gritty details of every item you need to think about packing with a baby, along with the WHY – or WHY NOT!

For some more specific travel checklists make sure you also check out:

  • Essential gear you will need camping with a baby
  • Hiking with a baby essentials
  • Baby at the beach – essential gear and safety tips
  • Essentials you’ll need for a road trip with a baby
  • Taking off on your first flight with a baby

There’s no one right solution – your ‘nice to have item’ could be another tots absolute essential so base it on your families needs and adapt our suggested packing checklist to make it your own; but most importantly try and avoid the overpack!!

This post is part of our packing list series & also our best baby travel advice series – packed full of useful tips for first time family travellers

plane travel checklist for baby

What to include in your baby travel checklist

  • Documents and Paperwork Before You Go
  • Feeding Gear
  • On the Move
  • Bath and Bedtime
  • Pool & Beach
  • Baby Travel Toys
  • Camping, Hiking & Outdoors

Before you go… More baby travel advice

NB – Many baby items are called all different things around the world! We know most of our readers are from the US so try and use the American name but we will slip in some of our Aussie and British expressions for baby gear too!! We’ve included some handy links to Amazon and some of our preferred baby gear suppliers, if you make a purchase we may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

We suggest you work slowly through our printable checklist, cross out anything you definitely won’t need and use the spare lines to add anything vital to you.

It looks like a dauntingly long list but once you cross out anything unnecessary for the type of travel you’ll be undertaking it’s not too bad – but try to avoid too many unnecessary or ‘just in case’ extras. Remember people have babies all over the world!! You will almost certainly be covered if anything vital is forgotten.

We’ll ask you to subscribe to our newsletter too, but don’t worry we won’t bombard you. You can unsubscribe at any time if you just want the checklist 

Baby Travel Checklist: Documents and Paperwork Before You Go

Crossing any international borders with your baby there are plenty of considerations:

  • Passport – Yes, even those adorably squidgy faces need a photo passport to travel overseas. Make sure you organise this well in advance of your proposed travel date. Consider whether you need a family passport holder to keep all your docs together now you’ve got several of you travelling in a group.
  • Permission to fly letter – Crucial if one parent is flying without the other parent – married or not – you will want something that documents you are allowed JUST IN CASE.
  • Insurance – Never leave home without it! Covering delays and cancellations, accidental breakages, theft, baggage loss, and so much more, travel insurance is more critical than ever for family travellers. We use and recommend World Nomads for international travel .
  • Visa – Some countries will require a Visa for your to visit for every person, even infants. Check if you can apply in advance or is it a visa on arrival. We always take a few spare passport photos in case they’re needed for these sorts of things.
  • Airline tickets – Even if your infant will be travelling as a lap baby and sharing your seat, they still need to be ticketed for every flight. If you booked the flight before your child was born you’ll need to update the airline with your babies full details (including passport number if you’re flying internationally).

How soon can you fly with a baby? We cover flying with your baby in much more detail in this guide .

Packing List Sign Up - First Aid

  • Emergency Contact Details – Always have the important numbers you might need on your journey and at your destination near to hand. This includes hospitals/nearest doctor, insurance hotline, ambulance number. Over in our subscriber’s area , you can get your hands on our first aid travel checklist which includes a cutout card for placing all your emergency contact details, super handy to keep in your travel wallet alongside your passports, and a spare elsewhere in case passports are stolen.

Baby Travel Checklist – Feeding Gear

Feeding your baby away from home can be one of the more challenging areas of travelling with a baby, especially if you’ve hit the weaning stage and finding yourself in a juggling act between boobs, bottles and bringing along your own pureed food.

For more advice on feeding your infant on the move, you may also want to check out our detailed guides to breastfeeding on the move and bottle feeding away from home .

This feeding checklist list is pretty extensive – but oh so important! Make it less intimidating by crossing out any items not relevant to your baby’s age or feeding stage. Feeding items to consider packing for a baby:

Nursing Cover – Possibly one of our all-time favourite pieces of travel kit! Useful not only to give you and your baby some privacy while you feed, but a nursing cover can also be a super-versatile blackout or stroller cover, picnic blanket. We take a detailed look at the best types of nursing covers for travel here .

Portable Breast Pump – Whether you’re a regular pumper at home or not, there can be some great benefits to pumping while you travel, be it occasions you’ll find it difficult to feed on the move (just picture an epic hangry meltdown in the middle of a busy arrivals hall), or to keep up your milk supply while your baby is adjusting time zones. Find our guide to the best portable breast pumps for different types of travel here .

Bottle Warmer – Got a little one that only likes their milk when it’s at a certain temperature? A portable bottle warmer is great not only for bottle feeds but quickly heating baby meals too that you may have refrigerated for your journey. We take a much more in-depth look at what portable bottle warmers can do over here .

Muslin Burp Cloths – Oh so many uses! A bit like our nursing covers, these simple cloths have come EVERYWHERE with us for years, helpful for feeding times and sleeping or providing additional shade. A good pack of small and large muslin clothes is a travel baby essential.

Bottles – If your baby is bottle-fed in any way you will need a reasonable number of bottles with you with their favourite nibs. “Reasonable” is really down to circumstances and how often you’ll be able to wash and sterilise between feeds – we discuss it more in our travelling with a bottle-fed baby guide .

Bottle Cooler – Travelling with pre-pumped baby milk or cows milk? Then an insulated bottle chiller bag is essential for keeping your precious cargo chilled at the right temperature and ready for use. We talk in a lot more detail over here on how to transport breastmilk and the best milk cooler . Make sure this is easy to access and open for inspection if you pass through airport customs control.

Formula & Dispenser – Although we say you can get baby supplies anywhere in the world, we do know babies can be fussy and formula is one we always take with us if we can fit enough in our case for the duration of a trip. We find having a small formula dispenser in our travel bag already divided into portions one of our handiest pieces of baby travel gear.

Sterilising solution – For keeping your bottles clean on the move, consider these portable cold water bottle sterilising tablets or if space permits and you have the facilities at your destination, a portable microwave steriliser is one bulky item you won’t regret packing.

Portable High Chair – Weigh up whether it’s necessary or will you have adequate access to a high chair for mealtimes? This really depends on the type of travel you’ll be undertaking and the available facilities at your destination. Portable high chairs can be something that clamps onto the table, additions you add to a chair or a portable seat that sits on the ground. We take a much more detailed look at the right sort of high chair for your baby over here .

Washable Bibs – Either easy sponge clean or quick drying neoprene are ideal for traveling with a weaning baby.

Finger Food – Once your baby is upright and weaning, having a selection of quick grab snacks to stave off any munchies is essential (and this will be essential for many travelling years to come!). For the under 1’s, try yoghurt drops , cereal puffs , teether rusks .

We have a detailed guide here to our suggested healthy travel snacks .

Food pouches – We have found these pre-made pouches of pureed baby food are one of the easiest meal solutions when we are away from home without our baby food blender. For younger babies, we still spooned it into a bowl (or use one of these handy dispensing spoons ) while older infants can hold the packet on their own.

Platic bowl and spoon – This can be location dependent, but we always found it helpful to throw in our own bowl and spoon set for our infants. Even if they were joining in with a family meal out, you can give them their own portion in a bowl, you’ll just need to be sure you have the facilities to clean.

Sippy cup – Extra water on top of their milk feed is especially important in the heat ( you can see more of our tops for taking babies to hot climates here ).

Wet wipes/water wipes – Cleaning little fingers before mealtimes, wiping surfaces, faces, you name it we all know that these are one of the number one items in any parents arsenal, near or far from home!! Have an easy to grab purse pack of wipes with you always, as well as supplies you might keep in your diaper bag .

Washing brush and liquid – Think bottles, plastic containers, feeding spoons. No matter what stage you’re at this is probably one of those overlooked items you’ll be super thankful for us suggesting! Just pour a small amount of dishwashing liquid into a carry bottle to last the number of days you’re away and something to actually clean with – we love these travel kits including a drying rack .

Baby Travel Checklist – Baby Gear On the Move

So how do you get about with your baby away from home? You may find many of your everyday pieces of baby transportation gear will perfectly suffice for the most part or depending on your type of travel you may find yourself needing to invest in some specific travel items.

We’ll talk through all the different items we’ve found useful, and where investing in something specifically for travel may pay off:

Baby Carrier – 100% this has to come in at number 1. Whether you’re a regular baby wearer or not, this is the most useful thing a travelling parent can bring with them. Being hands-free at times is a must and this keeps baby with you close and secure.

We’ll continue to harp on about this and insist you keep using one well into the toddler years and they no longer fit! Go with something like a Boba Baby Wrap when they’re a newborn (practice the technique for wraps though before you leave home and can still follow YouTube instructions !), graduating into a structured baby carrier that can be forward or rear-facing as your infant grows.

Collapsible Stroller – You may or may not need a separate travel stroller depending on what you use day-to-day. We have owned an obscene number of strollers over the years, trying to find ‘ the right one ‘ categorically, there is no one! Your needs change from newborns to multiple children to different location needs which differ from what you want near home – I know at home your stroller can be like your mini moving home! On the move, you’ve gotta get sleek.

We’d suggest if you use a larger pram or bassinet style stroller at home, you’ll want something lighter that comes in one piece (after 6 months or once sitting upright) for travel. The best types of lightweight collapsible strollers fold up so small you can even take them all the way onto an airplane with you. We compare all the leading brands of ultra-compact travel strollers here .

If you have twins or children close in age, a lightweight and portable double stroller is a must. We compare all our favourite double strollers for travel over here , or if you’re heading on camping and outdoor adventures you may be better off with a larger but more robust double jogging stroller .

Stroller organiser – Even when we’re travelling we love keeping organised! These stroller organisers are super handy for keeping everything from sippy cups to maps in an easy to grab spot. We also take a Mummy Hook everywhere we go – ideal for hanging bags and shopping (Just be mindful if you are using a lighter travel stroller, it may not be capable of holding the same capacity off the handlebar as your everyday stroller).

Car Seat – whatever mode of transport you’re taking, almost certainly you’ll need a seat for transporting your baby safely. If you’ll need your car seat for both the car and on a plane, we recommend you check out our comprehensive guide to car seats and which brands are actually allowed on board, along with their conditions of use.

Travel system – A great all-in-one solution when your baby is still very young and in an infant car seat/capsule, you can easily switch from car to stroller to plane if using an all-in-one system. We’ve had varied success with these over the years; they don’t last your baby for long, especially if you’d prefer a collapsible stroller once they’re out of their capsule.

The market leader in a convertible car seat-cum-stroller all in one is Doona , but it is a little pricey. In other models, you can mix and match any car seat with a stroller base (two pieces) and as they grow out of their car seat, it converts to a proper stroller seat you can insert instead. Not our preference for baby travel, we prefer the lighter weight collapsible stroller, but many swear by buying complete travel systems.

Car seat/infant capsule cover – Will you be travelling somewhere ultra sunny or somewhere very cold? To keep baby’s temperature regulated when you’re travelling with an infant in their seat, you may need additional sun protection or a cosy toe cover. We look at both hot and cold weather capsule covers for infants over here .

Car Seat Travel Bag – If you’re taking any sort of car seat with you and won’t be using it on the plane, then it will need checking into the hold. We highly recommend preventing damage to your car seat (nothing like sorting that out at 3am with a screaming baby when we first moved to the UAE) then protect it with a proper car seat travel bag . We love the Hello Jolie – reviewed in detail here – for a sturdy wheeled option making getting around the airport with your bulky gear a cinch.

Stroller Cover – Ditto if you’re checking your stroller in the hold of a plane it’s imperative to keep it protected – some of these devices cost more than my first car! If your stroller doesn’t come with its own travel bag then invest in one of these generic brands – the more you pay the longer they’ll last.

Suitcase with Seat – A fairly new invention for travelling parents, if you are checking your infant’s car seat and stroller but still need to get from A to B, consider these super handy suitcase seats from Mountian Buggy , suitable for larger infants.

Car Seat Trolley – The alternative if you will be taking your car seat onto the plane, consider getting a small trolley to tow your car seat , they are surprisingly heavy and difficult to manoeuvre without some help! This is where you can see you need your baby in a carrier rather than a stroller when getting about with all this baby gear!

Baby Travel Checklist – Changing, Bath and Bedtime

We have a much more detailed guide over here to helping kids sleep on planes , plus that all-important guidance on how to conquer jet lag which will expand on many of the suggested items below.

Keeping as close as you can to your babies normal schedule of nap times, bathing and sleep will help all of you to adjust when you are on vacation – but go easy on yourselves, too; if bedtime is an hour or two late, does it really matter?

You can adjust to your new normal but there are aspects of your routine you may want to keep the same as we know babies thrive on routine and knowing what comes next. Not every item in this section is essential but may help your baby with those routine parts of their day around getting changed, bathing and sleeping away from home.

Diapers – Although we’ve not mentioned it anywhere else so far, should go without saying that diapers or nappies are a baby travel essential! Cloth of disposable up to you, but if you’re using cloth just think about what facilities you’ll have on your journey for watching.

Diaper Bag – Should go without saying, you’ll need something to carry everything on this list! Although backpack baby diaper bags are pretty much the norm these days, we highly recommend when travelling with all this kit you have something you can carry hands-free. If your everyday diaper bag doesn’t meet this criterion, consider a separate travel bag. We run you through all our favourite travel diaper bag designs over here .

Changing Kit – We like to have a small easy-to-grab kit that can be separated from the main diaper bag. We keep this in the pocket in front of us on the plane, or under our stroller on days out, so much easier than dragging your whole bag to a bathroom. Keep your small kit well-stocked before every outing with hand sanitiser , disposable diaper bags , wipes and diaper paste for running repairs!

Portable Bath Tub – Maybe not essential for every type of trip. Always check what’s available at your destination before packing a portable tub as even the smallest of portable tubs can still be quite bulky. We look at different ways to wash bubs on the go and portable bathtub styles over here.

Baby toiletries – You’ll likely prefer your own sensitive skin baby soaps and shampoos over using hotel supplied freebies. Bring with you small containers of everything you need. We also throw in some basics like cotton wool, nail clippers, extra diaper paste/Sudocrem and baby panadol.

Swaddle – We double up using the large muslin clothes for our travels for feeding and sleeping times, they can be used for pretty much anything you want! If your baby is swaddled at home, definitely don’t be afraid to continue swaddling away from home too, even in hot climates we’ve always continued to use breathable cotton swaddles.

Sleeping Bag – Likewise if your baby sleeps best in their sleeping bag, this is one of those bulkier items to make space for in your case. If you are travelling to a different climate from home, check the tog rating, you may want an 0.5 tog sleeping bag in a hotter climate, or something thicker and quilted like this in a cold climate.

Portable Cot – A super bulky but essential item. Again, we always check whether this is something we can get at our destination rather than bringing our own. Only when we’re making multi-stop trips and sleeping in many locations do we bring our own for surety. The type of portable baby cot you use depends on how small your tot is. Under 6 months there are some cute sleeping tents , older infants you’ll want a complete baby travel cot that will stay with them through their toddler years; avoid the bulky pack ‘n play style cots unless it’s their play space too.

Cot sheets – If these won’t be provided at your destination or you’re using your own portable cot, best to BYO crib sheets .

Favourite cuddly – Maybe not your most prized teddy from home but a toy that they’re familiar with that will assist them in feeling familiar at bedtime and getting to sleep.

Pacifier – And if your baby needs a pacifier or dummy to soothe themselves off to sleep, of course, this is essential to bring their favourite! Plus spares! There’s no guarantee on finding their favourite brand at your destination if things go horribly wrong!!

Blackout curtain – Research before you go what the sleeping arrangements are. However, bringing a portable blackout curtain can be one of those bulky extras you simply won’t regret! Some babies simply won’t nod off and get the sleep cues unless it’s dark – and jet lag is simply no help to this!

Portable Monitor – We’re not suggesting being miles away from your bub; But you may want baby resting in another room while you finish out your day and to give you that extra peace of mind when noises and location are different for you all. If you’re not using a device through your mobile phone, try one of these portable baby monitor units .

Baby Travel Checklist – Clothing

If there’s one area you may well want to overpack it’s baby clothes! No matter how many outfits you think you’ll go through on a trip you can be sure your infant will go through more.

Consider how long you will be away for and whether you will need to use washing facilities or laundry services while you’re away, or will you try and pack everything you need for your entire trip? It’s hard to suggest exactly what you’ll need as it vastly varies by climate so work through our list considering:

  • Short sleeve babygros/onesies
  • Long babygros/onesies
  • Socks/booties
  • Cardigan/jumper

We have more handy hints over here on keeping organised with laundry needs while you travel.

Baby Travel Checklist – Pool & Beach

Heading to the pool or beach on your family vacation there are several more baby items you’ll want to consider packing:

Swim Diapers – Designed to keep your infant from having number 2 accidents, these come in disposable swim diapers or re-usable swim diapers. Reusable swim diapers are much easier to re-use and keep clean on the go than their everyday diapers.

Bathing suit – Are you going for something cute or is sun protection paramount? As we mention in our baby sun protection article , babies should be kept completely shaded and no sunscreen until 6 months, so a cute swim diaper is likely all they need as you keep them shaded and protected. As they grow – babies should really use a rashguard, not a cute bathing suit, if they’re in the direct sun.

Rashguard – So rashguards are long-sleeved swim tops that babies and toddlers should really be wearing when out in the direct sun at the pool or beach for the first few years. They can, of course, still be cute and colourful but will provide your baby with SPF50+ protection all over their shoulders, arms and bodies. You can optionally add longer shorts and swim pants for boys and girls, or go for an all-over bodysuit.

Floaties/Swim vest – When your little ones are ready to start taking to the water on their own they will still need help with keeping afloat in the waves. As well as any novelty floating device they might be using (with adult supervision, of course), it’s best your infant has a wearable floatation device. We look at the different types of infant swim vest over here .

Sunscreen – Once you’re baby’s skin can handle it, SPF50+ sun cream is essential out in the sun. Babies can still have very sensitive skin so look for the organic sunscreens made especially for babies, not always cheap but definitely worth it – reef-safe a bonus.

Sun Hat – Clearly an essential for keeping heads protected, you can find our favourite infant sunhats that work well in water here .

Sunglasses – Love ’em or hate ’em? Your baby will soon let you know! Out in the bright sunlight do try a pair of baby sunglasses with head strap on your infant to protect their eyes but many babies totally reject the idea of wearing something on their face! Give it a go!

Beach Shade – If you’ll be out in the sun with your baby for any period of time during the middle of the day then a pop-up baby sunshade can be an excellent idea for protection against UV rays, especially if their skin is still too sensitive for sunscreen. This added layer of protection will give your bubs a protected area to play in the sane. We compare leading brands of baby pop up tents over here .

Water Carrier – Taking baby into the water, especially if your hands are full with other kids, you’ll want an easy way to keep bubs close. These can be wraps, ring slings or more structured carriers in waterproof material. Find our complete comparison guide for water carriers over here .

Beach Toys – Go light! You don’t need to invest in every plastic contraption under the sun when they’re only a baby. Some simple shape moulds and a bucket and a spade are really all a baby needs for some fun in the sand, possible some stacking cups they can use in the bath too. Bring a mesh bag to keep them in and keep sand away from everything else in your family beach bag . As they grow, we have more toddler beach toy ideas over here.

Paddle pool – It might feel counterintuitive to go to the beach and take a pool but this can be a great way to keep little one cool whilst safe away from larger waves. A great combination to help your baby beat the heat but join in with the family at the beach is to pop them with their toys in a small inflatable paddle pool under your pop-up tent = baby beach day sorted!

Hooded towel – Cute hooded towels for drying off and keeping warm by the pool or beach are a must for babies. Remember they are not nearly as well-equipped for regulating their body temperature so you want to change them as soon as they’re done in the water and out of soggy clothing.

We have more detailed guidance on taking your baby to the beach over here, plus a detailed family packing list for the beach .

Baby Travel Checklist – Baby Travel Toys

Babies, on the whole, need very few toys when you’re travelling – shock, I know!! It’s the area I’ve seen most first-time parents chronically overpack. Trust me, the stimulation of new environments and your company alone is normally enough for most babies.

Understandably on really long flights or car journeys, you’ll want a few tricks up your sleeve so make sure you check out our best baby toys for flying . We also have several guides for travel toys by age group, check out our favourites for:

  • Best travel toys for 1-year-olds
  • Best travel toys for 2-year olds
  • Engaging toddler toys for the car

The common theme you’ll find amongst our baby travel toy recommendations is small, portable, limited sound, no small parts and no electronics. We’ve included a selection of idea here but do go check out the detailed list for each age group – we’ve been specialising in baby toys for years!!

Baby Travel Checklist – camping, hiking & outdoors

If you’re planning a hiking or camping adventure with your baby (yes, it can be done!) then you’ll need to think about some more specialised kit including:

A Structured Baby Carrier – more than just your everyday soft infant carrier, for a hiking adventure with an infant you’ll want a structured carrier specially designed to cover long distances and wearing over an extended period of time.

A toy teether – keep your tot from dropping items to the ground when in their carrier or camp chair, a small but super-handy piece of kit to add to your outdoor arsenal.

Bug repellent – Choose something kind to little babies skin and DEET Free to keep those nasty bugs, mosquitoes and gnats away, or opt for mosquito repellent patches .

Camp chair – great for feeding on the go, picnics to camping we always took a portable chair with us. We’re currently loving the Summer Pop ‘n Sit for something easy, or if you’d like an outdoorsy portable highchair to last into the toddler years, try the Baby Delight Go With Me , a superb longer-term investment. We compare more outdoor baby chair options here .

Chair for Feeding – an optional extra if you’re a feeding mama out on a hike, it can be much easier for both of you to have a comfortable chair to sit on , though weigh this up of course with all the other gear you’ll be carrying

Rain cover for baby carrier – A little rain should never stop you from continuing to enjoy the great outdoors with your baby, just come weather prepared. If you don’t have a fitted rain cover on your carrier then get your baby a good weather-proof cover .

Shoes – Even pre-walkers will benefit from coverings on their feet for outdoor adventures. Most proper toddler hiking shoes don’t fit until at least a size 4, so go with a soft booty .

We have much more detailed guidance for hiking with your baby over here, plus a super-detailed gear guide for baby camping .

Thanks for sticking with us this far! A monster guide but we hope you’ve picked up lots of handy hints. You may also want to check out:

  • Our complete guide to travelling with a baby – All our best baby travel advice in one spot
  • Perfect gifts for the travel-loving parents-to-be – Give new parents a gift they can really use with this handy gift ideas list (+ how to set up a baby registry to get all the useful stuff you actually NEED!)
  • Family guide to stress-free packing – How exactly we set up ready for a big overseas trip with little kids.
  • Preparing your home before you travel – Don’t forget these important things that need taking care of around your home before a big vacation

Helpful? Bookmark this page or save it to Pinterest for later

Printable Baby Packing List

Disclosures: We are participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. You can read our full disclosure policy here.

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We asked, you answered: Parent-approved tips on traveling with kids under 2

Becky Harlan headshot

Becky Harlan

Photograph of a baby sitting next to an open carryon suitcase filled with clothing and other travel items, all against a light pink backdrop.

Last month, Life Kit asked parents to share their go-to advice for traveling with babies and toddlers under age 2 as part of an episode we did on the subject. Over 200 folks responded with tips they wish they'd known before taking a big trip with a little one.

Reading through these responses, it became clear there's no magic hack that works for every kid. Some parents swore by sticking to their kid's sleep schedule on a trip, others said their vacation was smoother when they let the usual routine go. Some sang the praises of the overnight flight (so their child would sleep on the plane), others said their child has never slept more than 10 minutes on a plane no matter the timing.

I flew to Japan with my baby. Here's the travel advice that helped me survive the trip

I flew to Japan with my baby. Here's the travel advice that helped me survive the trip

A few pieces of advice held true throughout. A hungry kid is an unpleasant kid, and children are messy. So packing lots of snacks, extra diapers and a change of clothes ranked high on the list of must-dos. Almost 40 of over 200 responses suggested packing extra outfits in your carry-on for your kid and for you. (If your charge spits up, throws up, blows out or spills it will also get on you!)

So here's a non-exhaustive, impossible-to-be-comprehensive, but-hopefully-still-helpful round-up of your top advice for traveling with little kids. These responses have been edited for length and clarity.

What to pack

A stroller that can be stored in the overhead bin. It's a game changer to not have to check clunky strollers at the gate or check-in counters. —Amy P.

A change of clothes for yourself. If the baby spits up or has a blowout, there's a high likelihood that the mess will end up on you too, especially if you're holding them. Also, be sure to bring a bag to put messy clothes in. Reusable waterproof bags are great and they keep the smell in! —Jenna Yount

Extra diapers. You think you will be fine but if something comes up it's not a good situation to be in. —Jeanna Limtiaco

Overnight diapers. Fewer diaper changes in transit makes everyone happier. —Samantha Warren

Snacks. Remember, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration allows for any size baby food [and baby or toddler beverage], so pack those pouches! —Clara W.

Meds you and your kids might need in flight. That includes chewable Tylenol, Imodium, Dramamine, Zofran, ginger chews, Band-Aids and alcohol wipes. —Paige Ellis

A dark-colored bath towel. It's a blanket, it's for tidying up, it's a tablecloth, it's a sun cover, it shields bottoms from hot slides, it dries off swings. It's a multi-tasking powerhouse. —Judith Heise

Consider what may make sense to buy, rent or borrow upon arrival. You don't need to stuff everything into your suitcase. Buy some of your diapers and snacks at your destination. See if you can borrow or rent large, bulky items like car seats or travel cribs from Facebook Marketplace or your hotel or Airbnb. —Jocelyn Newman

How to get through the flight

Get to your gate an hour before boarding. It gives you time to feed your child, change their diapers, have a cup of coffee and fill your water bottle. It can also help your kid let out their energy before they have to sit on the plane. —Shelly C.

Check the airport for family friendly spaces. Use nursing spaces or pods and family restrooms to reset as needed. Check lounges for nursing and play rooms. —Sara Conger

Take an early morning flight. Those are least likely to get delayed, which is important when traveling with kids. —Carina Ochoa

Parenthood Is A Shock To The System. These Tips Can Help You With The Transition

Parenthood Is A Shock To The System. These Tips Can Help You With The Transition

Board with your partner separately. If you're traveling with two caregivers, have one go on the plane first with all the stuff and do the gate-checking of the stroller while the other hangs back with the kids until the last minute. It gives kids more time to run around! —Andrea De Francesca

Get a plane seat for your kid. Even though many airlines allow kids under 2 to fly for free as a lap baby, if you can afford to get them their own seat, it is worth it. It is recommended for safety to have them in a car seat, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, and the extra space for them to move around is nice. —Nicole Shelledy

Be ready for motion sickness. We were not prepared for how easily some little ones get motion sickness on an airplane. Have throw-up bags handy at all times. —Tiff Bankhurst

Prevent ear discomfort. Sucking during take off and landing may help relieve ear discomfort. My babies have flown with me from 4 weeks onward and never had a problem as long as they had a bottle or sippy cup or straw to suck on. —Shelly Ransom

Don't plan on them sleeping on the plane. It's great if they do, but if it doesn't happen, you'll be frustrated. —Colleen Mayerhoff

Don't worry too much about your kid "bothering" other people. The vast majority of people don't care, and many have been in the same situation you've been in and feel nothing but empathy for you. As for those who do care, they are not guaranteed a child-free existence in public. Kids are part of society too, and they are also allowed to take up space. —Jenna Yount

Make friends with the flight crew. They're going to help, they've got more experience than you, and they also want the flight to be pleasant. —April Graham

Save the screens for the flight. If you're using a screen, wait until you're on the plane. While you're waiting in the terminal, let them move as much as possible. Find an empty gate and play Simon Says, see who can jump in one place the longest, do animal charades. Let them go wild. —Paige Ellis

Download age-appropriate shows for your child on an iPad. (But know that if your kid is under age 2 they'll mostly just want to push the buttons.) —Chantel Dockstader

Travel hacks

Find a lodging close to a grocery store and a park. It makes it easy to buy last-minute things and burn off their energy easily at a park. —Gillian Molina

Dress your young kids in bright, matching shirts. I once traveled alone when my kids were 2, 4 and 6. We all wore matching yellow shirts so people could see we were together. —Emily Hernandez

If you want to let your little one crawl around , bring a pair of socks that you can put over their hands. Then you don't have to worry about dirty hands afterward. —Shannon Geraghty

Hire a photographer. You'll have photos with everyone in them, maybe get to see some scenic parts of the city you hadn't seen before. Dress up, wear matching outfits, be extra! They're only little once. —Tina Doyle

Helpful mindsets

It's not a vacation. It's a trip. You're just parenting in a new place. Set your expectations accordingly. —Laura Henriquez

The airport/train/bus/car is not the time to enforce the normal at-home rules. Do you want Doritos at 7 a.m. at the airport? OK. Do you want to watch 20 episodes of Blippi on the plane? No problem. There are no rules when traveling. This also makes traveling fun for kids because they get to do something different. —Meg Houston

Build in extra time to do things. It will decrease the chances of you and your child getting into stressful situations. —Cori DeLano

You're not going to get as much done as you think with a kiddo in tow. Think about things like nap schedule, traveling with a stroller, meltdowns, diaper changes. On my most "successful" trip with my kiddo, we planned one big activity a day and left the rest of the day open with some general ideas and left room for flexibility. —Whitney Winters

They might not remember, but you will. —Nina Hartman

The digital story was edited by Malaka Gharib. The visual editor is Beck Harlan. We'd love to hear from you. Leave us a voicemail at 202-216-9823, or email us at [email protected].

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International Travel Packing List: What To Bring When Going Abroad

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Unlike a domestic trip, an international travel packing list requires a longer checklist of must-haves. This is the time to invest in reliable gear that will prepare you for any kind of climate, as well as versatile accessories that you can use for sightseeing, going out and the journey to your destination.

Going abroad requires a longer checklist of must-haves when you’re packing for international travel.

Depending on where you’re traveling to, you should be able to find anything you’ve forgotten in your destination, but there are some essentials you’ll need on the way there, like a good multi-use power adaptor and TSA-approved toiletry bottles no bigger than 3.4 ounces.

The international travel packing list below will prepare you for any travel mishap, whether it be a backseat entertainment system malfunction or an unexpected downpour at the beach. For even more options, read our guide to the best travel accessories to bring with you on every trip.

The Best Hair Wavers Of 2024, According To Beauty Experts

The best shoes for wide feet, from from sneakers to flats, reviewed by our team, international travel packing list, at a glance:.

What To Pack In Your Carry-On: Fjällräven Kånken Totepack , Redagod Universal Travel Adapter , Anker Powercore III Wireless Portable Charger , Boacay Travel Document Organizer , Nintendo Switch Lite , Infurture Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones , Cadence Travel Containers , Arc’teryx Men’s Delta Jacket , Arc’teryx Women’s Delta Jacket , BlueMaple 6-Pack Copper Compression Socks

What To Pack In Your Checked Bag: Forge Cable Lock , Act+Acre Fulvic Acid Volumizing Shampoo , Cocunat Curl Moisturizer , Venture Large Body Wipes , EcoGoTravel Bamboo Foldable Toothbrush , Tropicfeel All-Terrain , The North Face Men’s Mountain Sweatshirt , The North Face Women’s Chabot Hoodie Women , Helly Hansen Men’s Loke Shell Jacket , Helly Hansen Women’s Loke Shell Jacket , Vuori Energy Top For Women , Vuori Strato Tech Tee For Men , Tropicfeel ProTravel Women’s Zip-Off Pants , Tropicfeel ProTravel Men’s Zip-Off Pants

What To Pack In Your Carry-On

Your carry-on bag isn’t just extra storage for items that couldn’t fit in your checked bag. It’s your repository for everything you might need in transit and, on the off chance that your checked luggage gets lost, it might be your only luggage for a few days. That means it should contain everything you need to keep you comfortable and fresh, while any essentials you may need on hand—like medication or documents—should go in your personal item. If you’re looking to secure a solid carry-on for years of future trips, check out our guides to the best carry-on luggage and the best carry-on backpacks .

A Versatile And Spacious Personal Item

Fjällräven kånken totepack.

Available in more than a dozen colors, this stylish unisex bag can be worn as a backpack or converted to sling over the shoulder like a tote bag. The soft-sided water-resistant material will protect your belongings from spills and the compact size means it will easily fit into that narrow space below the seat in front of you. With a sleeve for 13-inch laptop, plus an extra 14 liters of volume, there’s plenty of room to store your extra snacks, reading materials and even a sweater, if the plane gets cold.

A Solid International Power Adapter

Redagod universal travel adapter.

You can rely on this top-rated international adapter wherever you go. It features four outlet types that will work in the UK, the U.S., Australia and across Europe, and has four USB ports and one USB C port, so you can charge up to five devices at the same time. As long as you’ve got this in your carry-on, you’ll have every kind of plug you’ll need at your fingertips, so all of your devices can be charged in the same place.

An External Power Bank With Wireless Charging

Anker powercore iii wireless portable charger.

In case you’re ever on a long bus or train ride when you can’t plug in, or if you know you’re going to burn out your phone’s battery taking photos and videos on a full day of sightseeing, an external power bank can save the day. This model can charge up to three devices at a time with 4.5 hours of battery time, but the key feature is its wireless charging. If you’re doing a lot of water-based activities, moisture can get into your phone’s charging port which will prevent you from charging the traditional way. With this portable charger, you’ll always have a backup if something goes awry.

A Zippered Passport Wallet

Boacay travel document organizer.

There are a lot of stylish passport wallets on the market, but this is the most functional choice. It’s the one place where you can keep all your important travel documents, with a zipper that gives you the extra security to know that nothing will slip out when you’re not paying attention. It can hold up to four passports in multiple slots, and I love the internal pockets for storing my loose SIM cards. When I’m at the terminal, my favorite feature is the external pocket which I use to hold my boarding pass in a place I can quickly access. 

A Game Console You Like

Nintendo switch lite.

Gaming preferences aside, the Nintendo Switch Lite is a perfect console for travel. It doesn’t have the multiplayer features of the traditional Switch, but the price reflects that, and it matters less if you’re mainly playing to pass the time on long flights. It comes in multiple colors, which is great for personalization but there is only 32GB of storage so you will have to load up the games you like before you fly.

A Pair Of Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Infurture active noise-cancelling headphones.

I recently just replaced these headphones for the exact same model after nearly four years of use—that’s how much I stand by them. Comfortable, affordable and very effective at drowning out the hum of the plane or any chatty neighbors, I rarely leave the house without them, let alone the country. The key feature for international travel is the aux cord, which allows me to plug into the in-flight entertainment system directly so that I don’t have to use the flimsy wired headsets the airlines provide.

The Last Toiletry Containers You Will Ever Buy

Cadence travel containers.

Refillable containers are the best way to make sure you’re always complying with TSA regulations, but I’ve been through a few sets that are prone to leaks and feel impossible to clean. That’s why I love these innovative (and incredibly chic-looking) magnetic pods. Not only are they sturdy and leak-proof, but the magnetic labels can easily switched and the bottle sizes can be adjusted. Plus, they really elevate the look of any bathroom counter.

A Lightweight Layer For Men

Arc’teryx men's delta jacket.

Airplane cabins are usually cold, but they tend to feel colder when you’re traveling in the summer and aren’t wearing and packing your usual winter layers. This incredibly lightweight jacket from Arc’teryx is a smart solution because it can be folded down into such a small package, it barely takes up any room at all in your bag.

A Lightweight Layer For Women

Arc’teryx women’s delta jacket.

I also highly recommend this jacket in its women’s style. Designed for alpine environments, its breathable and moisture-wicking fleece ensures you’ll stay comfortable all through the long travel day and it’s a great layer to have if you’re planning outdoor adventures.

Compression Socks For Healthy Circulation

Bluemaple 6-pack copper compression socks.

If your feet are prone to swelling on long flights, a pair of compression socks can help relieve pain and discomfort by improving blood flow when you’re sedentary or supporting your muscles when you’re walking or standing for long hours. These BlueMaple sets come in a variety of styles so you can express your personality through fun patterns or match your outfit with a neutral color.

What To Pack In Your Checked Bag

A well-balanced checked bag should be 50 percent dedicated to your personal style—i.e., cute outfits for photos and stylish shoes for any night out—and 50 percent dedicated to function. Remember that international travel takes you to places you don’t normally go (like waterfall trails or windy archeological sites), so you should have a few key pieces that will keep you warm, will dry fast if you do get wet, and can be worn multiple times without needing a wash. If you’re looking to secure a checked bag for your next trip, check out our guide to the best checked luggage .

A TSA-Approved Luggage Lock

Forge cable lock.

Even if your checked luggage already has a TSA-approved lock built in, it never hurts to have a spare. Cable locks are preferable because they’re easier to get on and off than traditional metal U-lock. Forge’s cable locks, which we named one of the best TSA-approved luggage locks on the market, comes in packs of four, so you’ll have a lock for your whole family or just extra to spare. Approval is assured when you see the red Travel Sentry logo on a lock like this one. This model also stands apart from the rest due to its side window, which makes it easier to read the combination.

Dry Shampoo

Act+acre fulvic acid volumizing shampoo.

On your roughest travel days, you might not always have time for a shower—but that’s why dry shampoo exists. Most dry shampoos come in aerosol cans, but those can be tricky when traveling internationally. I suggest opting for something like Act+Acre’s Fulvic Acid Volumizing Dry Shampoo, which is a plant-based powder product (with a pump design) that absorbs excess oil.

Leave-In Conditioner

Cocunat curl moisturizer.

If you have curly hair like I do, a leave-in conditioner like Cocunat’s Curl Moisturizer can reset your locks in a pinch.

Venture Large Body Wipes

Wet wipes are another thing you’ll be grateful to have in case you find yourself in between showers for longer than you’d like. You can make do with a travel-sized pack or go all-in with these full-body wipes made of biodegradable material.

A Biodegradable Folding Travel Toothbrush

Ecogotravel bamboo foldable toothbrush.

Investing in a pack of these is a wise choice—its ingenious design cuts the size of this toothbrush in half while protecting the bristles from getting mixed up with your other toiletries. There are plastic versions with a similar idea, but the bamboo material is the more sustainable and guilt-free choice.

Versatile Quick-Drying Travel Shoes

Tropicfeel all-terrain.

When it first launched, travel brand Tropicfeel went viral on Kickstarter for its lightweight design. While this model rethinks the travel shoe for the rugged outdoors—thicker soles and a better grip—they still feel incredibly lightweight both on and off your feet. The waterproof features lead the way with a quick-drying design that prioritizes drainage and breathability. It’s an excellent hiking shoe that can handle any day of long walking in any environment.

A Comfortable Sweatshirt

The north face men’s mountain sweatshirt.

If you’re in the market for a new favorite hoodie or sweatshirt, prioritize something lightweight, warm and stylish. The men’s sweatshirt has a water-repellant finish and the insulation technology ensures warmth without adding too much bulk.

A Waffle-Knit Women's Hoodie

The north face women’s chabot hoodie.

The Chabot Hoodie, also from The North Face, can add an interesting texture to your look with a waffle-knit pattern and bold color options that are easy to style.

A Packable Rain Jacket For Men

Helly Hansen

Helly Hansen Men’s Loke Shell Jacket

You should never rule out the chance of rain on an international trip, but you don’t have to dedicate too much checked-bag space to your rain jacket either. This jacket can be folded down into its pocket and zips closed to form one tight little parcel that stays out of the way when you don’t need it. When you do need it, the waterproof material effectively locks out moisture, but there are vent zippers if you feel you’re starting to overheat.

A Packable Rain Jacket For Women

Helly hansen women’s loke shell jacket.

The women’s style is made from the same waterproof material and offers a flattering, slimmer cut.

A Moisture-Wicking T-Shirt For Women

Vuori Clothing

Vuori Energy Top For Women

A solid travel t-shirt that you can wear over and over again is worth investing in, and the Vuori Energy Top has been a staple of my suitcase for years. The tank-style cut adds a bit of style to any basic pair of jeans or leggings and the ultra soft moisture-wicking material has yet to lose its silky feel after years of wear.

A Moisture Wicking T-Shirt For Men

Vuori strato tech tee for men.

The men’s style has a more traditional cut but offers the same soft and quick-drying fabric, as well as a large variety of color choices.

Khaki 2-In-1 Outdoor Pants And Shorts

Tropicfeel protravel women’s zip-off pants.

Versatility, flatterability, and pockets? Say no more. International travel is all about adaptability, especially if you’ll be spending time outdoors. Zip-off pants have been around for a while and often get a reputation for being dorky, but the automatically adjusting waist belt makes this pair quite flattering. The breathable waterproof material also packs down incredibly small and takes up minimal suitcase space, while the pant legs are very easy to zip back on while you’re still wearing the shorts. As a bonus, the line where the zippers are is not as noticeable as you’d expect.

How We Chose Items For An International Travel Packing List

To select the essentials for a trip abroad, we tapped the expertise of freelance travel writer Jamie Ditaranto . Along with contributing to Forbes Vetted, Ditaranto has spent the last eight years writing travel content for Condé Nast Traveler , Travel + Leisure , National Geographic and more. She has lived in Mexico, Spain, Portugal and Brazil and has visited all seven continents.

As a writer who has taken more international than domestic flights in her life, Ditaranto put her first-hand expertise to the test for this story. When selecting the items for this packing list, she tested multiple products and considered the weight, size and durability of each. As an adventure lover, she especially noted the durability of each product she tested, as she is always looking for multi-use items that can be taken from a day on the trails to an elegant night out.

Why Trust Forbes Vetted

From meticulously testing and reviewing the best luggage to bring with you to the airport to the best packing cubes to keep you organized, we at Forbes Vetted have dedicated ourselves to helping make travel easy. When it came time to put together an international travel packing list, we applied the same unyielding commitment to ensure that our readers have everything they need on hand to see the world stress-free.

We examined each contender on this list, closely examining materials and construction and testing them out on multiple trips. To make the cut for our international travel packing list, products were required to be useful, versatile and easy to carry, so that you can toss them in your carry-on or checked bag without adding any extra weight or bulk.

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Jamie Ditaranto

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Meet an 'airline nepo baby' — he's flown for free since birth, gets upgraded to business class, and books last-minute trips to Tokyo and Sydney

  • Joshua Crawford, who calls himself an "airline nepo baby," has flown for free his entire life. 
  • He gets access to travel perks because his father has worked for United Airlines for 30 years. 
  • Crawford, 23, books spur-of-the-moment international trips and often gets free cabin upgrades.

Insider Today

Step aside, Hollywood, there's a new nepo baby in town.

Joshua Crawford, a 23-year-old who works at a grocery store in LA and recently graduated from college with a degree in marketing, calls himself an "airline nepo baby." The son of an employee who has worked for United Airlines for over 30 years, Crawford can fly for free, get upgraded to business class, and book last-minute vacations to destinations like Tokyo.

Crawford shared a glimpse of the travel perks he enjoys in a February 28 TikTok that has over 4.8 million views.

Rules for relatives of employees vary from airline to airline. At United Airlines, children of airline employees usually lose their privileges when they turn 26. But that won't apply to Crawford, as he's listed as his father's primary companion.

"I'm very grateful for that," he said.

Flying on standby isn't as risky as you'd think

In 2016, Crawford started to realize how lucky he was when planning a trip to Coachella, the music festival held in the California desert.

According to Google Flights, flights to Los Angeles or Palm Springs from New Jersey, where Crawford grew up, can run as much as $450 roundtrip — a price he and his sister didn't have to consider.

"We have an aunt that lives in California, so we just stayed at her house," he said. "We were like, 'Wow, all we have to do is pay for the wristband, and we're going to Coachella.'"

Crawford flies for free domestically because he travels on standby, meaning he doesn't have a seat assigned until close to the flight's departure time.

Crawford said he doesn't always get on the flights he wants. There are times he's had to wait at a gate for a later, emptier flight when previous ones were fully booked.

But Crawford maintains that those situations rarely arise because he's learned to avoid certain routes and major airports during high-peak travel seasons.

Instead of flying direct from LA to New York during the December holidays, Crawford usually does a layover in Denver to ensure he gets a seat.

"If you learn your route, essentially, you will realize you have a lot of other options," he said.

It also doesn't hurt that Crawford's dad is privy to handy behind-the-scenes information like how many seats are left open on flights months before departure.

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"I'm usually not enlisting on a flight where I have a high chance of being booted off to the next one," he said. "It also really depends on your seniority with the company. My dad's been with United for quite some time now, so I'm definitely a higher priority — and very grateful for my father."

Last-minute jet-setting to destinations like Sydney, Tokyo, and Paris

These days, Crawford takes longer-haul trips — often without much pre-planning. He can book anytime, though he said he isn't given an "official" reservation until around a month before travel.

Over the past year, Crawford said he's booked last-minute trips to destinations including Japan, Australia, and Europe.

"I went to Australia a couple of months ago by myself," he said. "I did like a little solo trip, and I probably planned that about two weeks before I went."

More recently, Crawford said, he celebrated his birthday with a quick trip to Paris booked just a week before takeoff.

Crawford does have to pay taxes when he books flights out of the country. However, they're normally a fraction of the cost of the ticket.

"It depends on the country," he said. "For example, I was leaving Japan, and it was like $70 to get back home."

Perks extend to business-class upgrades

Paying almost nothing to fly isn't the only benefit Crawford gets as an airline nepo baby.

Given how long his father has worked for United, Crawford said he's also a high priority when free upgrades to business class are available.

Known as Polaris , the premium cabins feature spacious pods with seats that can be turned into lie-flat beds and amenities like eye serums, facial sprays, and hand creams.

According to Crawford, the upgrades help alleviate his jet lag.

"I flew to Sydney from LA, and that was about a 16-hour flight. There and back, I was in Polaris," he said. "There's such a big difference when you're in that economy middle seat versus when you've got upgraded on your flight."

As a recent college grad, he said he couldn't afford to fly business class otherwise.

"Round-trip prices for business-class tickets for a long-haul flight can range upwards of $15,000," Crawford said. "Coming out of college — as someone who has student debt and is trying to find a job — it's crazy to me. $15,000 — I could do so much with that."

In his TikTok, Crawford also said he breezes past security and immigration when he leaves and reenters the US.

Speaking to BI, he said these benefits — Global Entry and TSA PreCheck — weren't "completely free," but he got a discount on the application fee (normally $100) because of his dad's job.

Watch: We Did The Math: What Airline Is The Cheapest?

plane travel checklist for baby

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plane travel checklist for baby

Air Canada diverts plane as baby born on Toronto-bound flight

I n an eventful Air Canada flight last week, a baby was born mid-air as the plane was forced to divert after a passenger went into early labour.

Flight AC Rouge 1879 was flying from St. Lucia headed to Toronto on March 6 when a customer began experiencing a “medical issue,” Air Canada told Global News in an emailed statement Monday afternoon.

The airline’s flight attendants responded to the customer and sought the assistance of any medical professionals on board.

“Two doctors generously volunteered to assist the customer, who was prematurely in labour,” Air Canada said.

The flight was diverted to Bermuda, but the baby was delivered before landing.

Both the baby and customer, who were in “stable health,” were received by local medics and taken to a local hospital.

“We understand the mother and child are in healthy condition,” the airline said.

As per Air Canada regulations , customers who have a normal pregnancy and no previous history of premature labour may travel by air up to and including the 36th week.

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"Air travel before 36 weeks of pregnancy is considered safe for people who aren't dealing with any pregnancy problems," according to the Mayo Clinic.

This is not the first time a baby had to be delivered during a flight.

On an American Airlines flight in September 2022 , a Connecticut woman who was seven months pregnant gave birth to her baby son weeks before her date.

In December 2021, a Toronto travel doctor delivered a baby on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha, Qatar to Entebbe, Uganda.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says that a child who was born outside of Canada is “likely” a Canadian citizen if at least one parent – legal or biological –  was born in Canada or became a naturalized citizen before the baby’s birth.

"Someone is Canadian if they are born inside Canada, or born outside Canada to a Canadian citizen parent," said Sonia Akilov, an immigration lawyer in Toronto.

"In this situation if one of the parents is a Canadian citizen, the child will receive his or her Canadian citizenship."

-- with files from Global News' Sarah Do Couto and Tracy Tong

An Air Canada Airbus A330 jetliner (C-GKUG) airborne on departure from Vancouver International Airport, Richmond, B.C., on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023.

Boeing’s woes continue as 50 injured on Australia-New Zealand flight

A dozen were hospitalised after the LATAM Airlines plane experienced ‘strong movement’.

A LATAM Airlines Boeing 787 approaches for landing in Lisbon at sunrise, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Dozens of people have been injured by what officials described as a “strong movement” on a Chilean flight from Australia to New Zealand.

In a statement on Monday, Chilean LATAM Airlines blamed the injuries on “a technical event during the flight which caused a strong movement”. It is just the latest in a series of safety-related incidents to feature a Boeing plane.

Keep reading

Us opens criminal probe into boeing 737 max mid-flight blowout, boeing replaces head of 737 max programme amid safety issues at planemaker, despite lawsuits, monopoly may keep boeing’s business intact, boeing woes spark painful memories for families of indonesian crash victims.

Passengers were met by paramedics when the LATAM Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner touched down in Auckland. It was not immediately clear what caused the incident.

About 50 people were treated at the scene, mostly for mild injuries. Twelve were taken to hospital, an ambulance spokesperson said, with one believed to be in serious condition.

It is been a turbulent week for Boeing, with the US plane maker suffering a series of safety-related issues .

On March 4, an engine fire forced a Boeing 737 to make an emergency landing in Houston, Texas shortly after takeoff. United Airlines said the engine ingested some plastic bubble wrap that was on the airfield prior to departure.

Two days later, fumes in the cabin of a Boeing 737-800 forced an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon.

On Thursday, a tyre fell off a Boeing 777-200 after takeoff i n San Francisco, destroying a car. The plane was bound for Japan but diverted to Los Angeles where it landed safely.

A day later, a Boeing 737 MAX rolled off the runway in Houston and got stuck in grass.

The events this week come as the US plane maker is still reeling from a near catastrophic incident in January  when a fuselage panel on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 Alaska Airlines jet blew off mid-flight.

In the incident on Monday, passengers arriving in Aukland told local media that the plane quickly lost altitude, flinging those unsecured towards the ceiling.

A passenger told radio network RNZ that “people flew through the air because they weren’t wearing their seatbelts”.

“Some people got pretty injured. People were really scared as well” the man said, his voice shaking.

Flight LA800 landed at Auckland Airport as scheduled and was set to continue to Santiago, Chile.

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Boeing ‘unable to find’ records, video for work on alaska airlines plane that suffered door plug blowout: ntsb.

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Security footage that could identify who worked on the Alaska Airlines Boeing jet that lost a door plug mid-flight has been overwritten, complicating the investigation into the near-disaster, the head of the National Transportation Safety Board revealed Wednesday.

The Boeing 737 MAX 9 was forced to make an emergency landing on Jan. 5 — the same day the plane was scheduled to undergo maintenance — and an investigation later showed that there had been no bolts on the door plug that flew off mid-air.

The aircraft had also undergone rivet repairs several months earlier, but Boeing has been unable to supply any information on who worked on the failed door plug, NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homendy wrote Wednesday in a shocking letter to the Senate Commerce Committee.

Boeing also lost video footage that would have tracked down the worker, Homendy said in the letter.

This image taken Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, and released by the National Transportation Safety Board, shows a section of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 that is missing panel on a Boeing 737-9 MAX in Portland, Ore.

“To date, we still do not know who performed the work to open, reinstall, and close the door plug on the accident aircraft. Boeing has informed us that they are unable to find the records documenting this work,” Homendy wrote.

“A verbal request was made by our investigators for security camera footage to help obtain this information; however, they were informed the footage was overwritten.

“The absence of those records will complicate the NTSB’s investigation moving forward.”

The NTSB had been seeking such vital documents since Jan. 9, just four days after the door blew off the 177-passenger plane and landed in an Oregon yard.

The four bolts might not have been put back on the plane during a September repair that required the door plug to be opened, removed and reattached.

Jennifer Homendy, Chair of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), testifies before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee at the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 06, 2024 in Washington, DC.

Last week, the Senate Committee asked Homendy whether Boeing had ever provided the NTSB with such information so the agency could determine why the four missing bolts were never re-installed during its repair work in September.

Boeing gave NTSB investigators the names of individuals who may have insight into the work — but “did not identify which personnel conducted the door plug work,” the letter states.

The door crew manager also refused via his attorneys to talk with investigators, stating he could not partake in interviews because he was on medical leave from Boeing.

This handout image released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) shows agents inspecting the door plug from Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 on January 8, 2024 after being found in Portland, Oregon.

When pressed for names, Boeing Chief Executive Officer David Calhoun allegedly told Homendy there were no records of the work being performed.

“I have become increasingly concerned that the focus on the names of individual front-line workers will negatively impact our investigation and discourage such Boeing employees from providing NTSB with information relevant to this investigation,” Homendy wrote, adding that the NTSB is not seeking names for punitive purposes.

Boeing pushed back against Homendy’s letter, claiming it has been cooperating with investigators throughout the process.

The surveillance footage was not deleted out of any malfeasance, but because it is the company’s standard practice to only maintain video recordings on a rolling 30-day basis.

“We will continue supporting this investigation in the transparent and proactive fashion we have supported all regulatory inquiries into this accident. We have worked hard to honor the rules about the release of investigative information in an environment of intense interest from our employees, customers, and other stakeholders, and we will continue our efforts to do so,” Boeing said in a statement.

This image taken Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, and released by the National Transportation Safety Board, shows a section of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 that is missing panel on a Boeing 737-9 MAX in Portland, Ore.

The 737 MAX 9 at the center of the investigation was forced to make an emergency landing after the Jan. 5 incident.

The plane had been slated for maintenance later in the evening after the light indicating problems with the pressurization system had come on twice in the previous 10 days, according to a Wednesday New York Times report.

The warning lights did not demand immediate action and may not have been related to the eventual blowout.

The Justice Department last week launched a criminal investigation to determine whether Boeing complied  with a $2.5 billion settlement in 2021  following a federal investigation into fatal flights involving Boeing Max 737 planes in 2018 and 2019 that claimed 346 souls.

If the DOJ finds Boeing violated the terms of its 2021 settlement, the aircraft manufacturing giant could be prosecuted for defrauding the US, the outlet reported.

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This image taken Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, and released by the National Transportation Safety Board, shows a section of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 that is missing panel on a Boeing 737-9 MAX in Portland, Ore.

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This Mexican airline was just named the most punctual worldwide

Corrections & Clarifications: A previous version of this article contained incorrect information. Aeromexico does not fly out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Its website does offer connecting flights from other airlines flying out of Phoenix to several Mexican cities where Aeromexico does operate.

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Aeromexico, one of Mexico's largest commercial airlines, was named the most punctual airline in the world in February, according to a report by CIRIUM , outranking Delta Airlines and United Airlines.

The Mexican airline completed more than 15,200 operations, representing 99% of their scheduled flights for the month — 90.66% arrived on time and 91.69% departed at their scheduled time.

Additionally, the airline had a notable improvement in punctuality with an increase of 12.5% compared to what it scored in January, 78.13%.

“Occupying first place in the world is truly inspiring, and it is possible thanks to the fact that behind each takeoff and landing is the enormous effort of the best talent in the industry, who with their tireless efforts manage to elevate the journey to the extraordinary,” said Andrés Conesa, CEO of Aeromexico, in a statement shared on Linkedin.

Top 5 most punctual airlines in the world

  • Aeromexico (Mexico) – 90.66%
  • Delta Airlines (USA) – 89.27%
  • Iberia (Spain) – 88.08%
  • United Airlines (USA) – 84.91%
  • Blue (Brazil) – 84.83%

Top 5 most punctual airlines in the US

  • Delta Airlines – 89.27%
  • United Airlines – 84.91%
  • American Airlines – 84.43%
  • Alaska – 81.91%
  • Southwest Airlines – 81.88%

Aeromexico flights from Phoenix Sky Harbor

While the airline does not fly out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, its website offers connecting flights from other airlines flying out of Phoenix to several Mexican cities where Aeromexico does operate.

Find them listed here.

Reach La Voz reporter Paula Soria at [email protected] .

IMAGES

  1. Travel part 6: Plane pack list for toddler & baby

    plane travel checklist for baby

  2. The Best Baby Travel Packing List (+ Downloadable PDF)

    plane travel checklist for baby

  3. The Ultimate Carry On Checklist for Long Flights with Kids

    plane travel checklist for baby

  4. [FREEBIE] International Travel Checklist // for young families with

    plane travel checklist for baby

  5. Get your Printable Baby Packing Checklist here in 2020

    plane travel checklist for baby

  6. What to Pack in a Carry On for a 1 Year Old

    plane travel checklist for baby

COMMENTS

  1. The Complete Baby Packing List for Travel

    And forgetting anything from your baby packing list could lead to what feels like a vacation disaster. The Essential Baby Packing List. Before you panic about forgetting something important for the plane, beach, or hotel, take a deep breath and relax. Our complete baby travel packing list outlines all the must-have items for traveling with a baby.

  2. Baby Travel Checklist: Essential baby packing list for Flying With Baby

    For Baby (Checked Luggage): Clothing: Enough outfits for your entire trip, considering weather conditions. Sleepwear: Pajamas or a sleep sack. Feeding supplies (if applicable): Formula, powdered milk, baby food containers, bottle sterilizer (optional) Bath supplies: Baby wash, shampoo (travel-sized), washcloths. Swimwear, swim floats.

  3. Baby Travel Checklist: What to Pack When Traveling With Children

    Wipes, lots of them. A changing pad. Diaper cream (no more than 3.4 ounces if you're flying by plane) Two bibs. Three baby blankets that you can use as burp cloths or to cover yourself up with while breastfeeding. Two bottles (if you use them) Change of clothes for your baby.

  4. The ONLY Baby Packing List YOU NEED (+ FREE printable)

    In the baby travel checklist portion of our download, you'll see a timeline for booking your flights and whether you should be inquiring about a airplane bassinet for your baby. This will also get you thinking about whether you need to travel with a car seat or not. Our daughter in an airplane bassinet at 3 months old.

  5. Flying With a Baby Checklist

    Generally speaking, the major airlines require a baby be at least 2 to 8days old before hitting the skies. Those who do permit babies under 7 days old to fly, generally ask for a medical release or physician's note stating that the baby is cleared to fly. While not an exhaustive list, here are some current airline rules for flying with a baby.

  6. 15 tips for flying with a baby

    Be ready for flight delays and cancellations. 8. Plan ahead to bring formula, breast milk, and bottles. 9. Pack formula safely …. Ready-to-feed formula: Bring an unopened container and clean, empty bottles on board. When your baby is ready for feeding, pour the formula into the bottle and serve it right away.

  7. The Ultimate Packing List for Baby Travel (+printable checklist!)

    Shirts & Onesies | Usually 2-3 tops, adding 2-3 more in winter months. Dresses or Rompers | Usually 2-3 for warmer destinations, because they're so easy to pack and don't require mixing and matching tops and bottoms. Socks | 2-3 pairs, even in the summer months in case we end up somewhere chilly.

  8. The ultimate packing list for traveling with a baby

    Travel gear. To get your baby from point A to point B, you'll need a few basics. Travel stroller. If you're running late to catch a flight, it's much easier to push your baby in a lightweight umbrella stroller than to carry them through a long terminal. Some travel strollers are Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-approved and fold to fit in the carry-on bins on board, but most get gate-checked.

  9. Baby Travel Essentials & Baby Travel Packing List

    Pool flotation devices & toys. Beach towel (if hotel doesn't provide) UVA pop up tent - a baby beach essential which can fold up very compactly. Re- usable plastic bags. Cot linen (for some self catering properties) Toiletries & sponge, baby shampoo, make-up. Universal bath plug for turning a sink into a bath.

  10. 21 Must-Have Baby Long-Haul Flight Essentials (Make It Easier!)

    4) A Sky Mattress. A fantastic new product from SkyBaby is the travel mattress. It enables young babies to sleep snug on your lap during a flight. There's a loop underneath the bed that attaches to the lap belt to keep your baby secured. This means a peaceful sleep for the baby and minimal discomfort for mom or dad.

  11. Flying With a Baby: The Ultimate Checklist

    Important Documents. ️ Travel Documents - Bring proof of your baby's age like their birth certificate, passport (important when traveling abroad) or immunization record.. ️ Consent Form - Important if only one parent is traveling with the kid. ️ Booking / Reservation Info - Keep digital or printed copies of your hotel booking, flights, transportation info, etc.

  12. Flying With a Baby

    A passport for international flights. All U.S. citizens, including newborns, need their own passports to fly internationally. To obtain one for your baby, you'll need to use the DS-11 form and apply together in person, so plan ahead. For domestic flights, babies and children under 18 don't need a passport or an ID. Her birth certificate.

  13. Baby Travel Packing List

    Most airlines let you bring a large carry-on bag (usually at least 55cm x 36cm x 20cm - even for budget airlines). Your carry on will probably need to be under 7 - 10kg depending on the airline. When you are flying with an infant you should be allowed to bring an additional smaller carry on bag for your baby.

  14. How to pack

    Here's a list of items you may want to keep in your carry-on bag: Extra clothing for you and your baby. Layers of clothing or blankets (plane temperatures are often extreme). Pacifier and clip (and backup). Comfort toy (s) or blanket. Extra diapers. Formula. Breast pump. Snacks (for you and your baby).

  15. PDF The Essential Packing Checklist for Flying With An Infant

    1. A baby passport. 2. An airplane bassinet/travel cot for long flights. 3. A bribe bag for your fellow passengers. What to pack in your carry-on when flying with baby Diapers: In your carry-on, you'll need one for each hour of transit, plus extras,BabyCenter recommends. Don't risk getting stranded without diapers during a travel delay.

  16. Ultimate Baby Travel Checklist: What To Pack When Traveling By Plane Or Car

    So pack layers to ensure you and your kiddo stay comfortable. Two changes of clothes just for the car or plane. Multiple layers for the actual trip: onesies, leggings, sweaters, or hoodies. Sleep ...

  17. Baby Travel Checklist

    Warm layers (airplanes and airports can actually be quite cold due to the air conditioning) Plenty of nappies (flights can be delayed so bring more than you need for the flight time) Plenty of wet wipes and hand sanitizer. A travel baby changing mat. Small toys, games or books. Muslins or small sheets.

  18. Baby packing list (+ printable baby checklist for travelling)

    The baggage allowance for babies and infants varies depending on the airline. As a rule of thumb, you're normally allowed the following for infants under two who are travelling without their own booked seat: 2 pieces of checked baby equipment (e.g travel cot, car seat or stroller) 1 carry-on changing bag.

  19. Your Checklist for Baby Travel: Packing List + Spreadsheet Download!

    And since babies fly free (excluding taxes and fees) until they're two years old, now is the time to book up those trips! So here's a checklist for traveling with a baby, what to bring, check, carry-on, and my overall baby travel packing list. Our first international trip was to New Zealand when our baby was 5 months old.

  20. Packing Checklist for Flying With an Infant

    The Essential Packing Checklist for Flying with an Infant. Diapers: In your carry-on, you'll need one for each hour of transit, plus extras. Don't risk getting stranded without diapers during a travel delay. Diaper cream. Changing pad. Baby wipes for diaper changes and messes.

  21. 10 Baby Travel Essentials For Every Journey + Baby Packing Checklist

    Baby Travel Essential #3: Infant Capsule / Infant Car Seat. So seeing as we've talked about travel systems, the infant capsule is essential to this. Our favorite for years has been the Maxi Cosi Infant Car Seat. We love that it's such a well-known brand that all infant travel systems we know can adapt to fit the Maxi Cosi.

  22. What to Pack for a Flight With Kids: A Complete Checklist

    Airglo Airplane Travel Essentials. Amazon. View On Amazon $12. ... From diaper changes to on-the-go hand cleaning to wiping up half-eaten miscellany, traveling with baby wipes is a must. These are ...

  23. Ultimate Baby Travel Checklist {+ printable packing guide}

    Baby Travel Checklist - Pool & Beach. Heading to the pool or beach on your family vacation there are several more baby items you'll want to consider packing: Swim Diapers - Designed to keep your infant from having number 2 accidents, these come in disposable swim diapers or re-usable swim diapers.

  24. 29 parent-approved tips on traveling with babies and toddlers : NPR

    Check the airport for family friendly spaces. Use nursing spaces or pods and family restrooms to reset as needed. Check lounges for nursing and play rooms. —Sara Conger. Take an early morning ...

  25. International Travel Packing List 2024

    Redagod Universal Travel Adapter. $19. Buy From Amazon. You can rely on this top-rated international adapter wherever you go. It features four outlet types that will work in the UK, the U.S ...

  26. Meet an 'Airline Nepo Baby' Who Flies for Free, Gets Upgraded Often

    Joshua Crawford, who calls himself an "airline nepo baby," has flown for free his entire life. He gets access to travel perks because his father has worked for United Airlines for 30 years.

  27. Air Canada diverts plane as baby born on Toronto-bound flight

    In an eventful Air Canada flight last week, a baby was born mid-air as the plane was forced to divert after a passenger went into early labour. Flight AC Rouge 1879 was flying from St. Lucia ...

  28. Boeing's woes continue as 50 injured on Australia-New Zealand flight

    The events this week come as the US plane maker is still reeling from a near catastrophic incident in January when a fuselage panel on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 Alaska Airlines jet blew off mid-flight.

  29. Boeing 'unable to find' records, video in Alaska Airlines probe: NTSB

    Boeing has informed us that they are unable to find the records documenting this work," Homendy wrote. "A verbal request was made by our investigators for security camera footage to help ...

  30. What airline is the most punctual? This Mexican airline tops the list

    The Mexican airline completed more than 15,200 operations, representing 99% of their scheduled flights for the month — 90.66% arrived on time and 91.69% departed at their scheduled time.