Infant Travel Packing List: Ultimate Guide To #1 Best Picks

Introduction

Traveling with an infant can be both an exciting and daunting experience. Proper preparation and organization are crucial to ensuring that your journey is smooth and stress-free. Babies require a lot of attention and care, and the last thing you want is to be stuck in an unfamiliar place without the essentials. By planning ahead and packing carefully, you can focus on making memories rather than dealing with avoidable challenges. This infant travel packing list will help you prepare for your trip by offering an extensive list of must-have items, organized into convenient sections.

Infant Travel Packing List:

Diapering Essentials

1. Diapers (enough for the trip and extra for emergencies) – We like, and used, Huggies Special Delivery. We found other brands, but for the first 6 months or so, they irritated our baby’s skin.
2. Changing pad (portable and foldable for easy use) – Invaluable! We still use ours for our older babies. It is an absolute MUST HAVE!! Imagine being in a place that doesn’t have a change station and one that is super dirty, like a truck stop bathroom in a remote area. Pop this little life savior out and know that you’re changing your baby on a clean surface. Plus, it has compartments… and we love compartments.
3. Wipes (travel-size packs for convenience) – We placed our baby wipes in one of the changing pad compartments.
4. Diaper disposal bags (for odor control and mess containment) – Honestly, we didn’t use these. I wish we did but we never had them when we needed them. Riding dirty (literally) for a few hundred miles with a loaded rear hatch area of our SUV was as terrible as you could imagine. Get the bags… don’t follow our lead on this one.
5. Diaper rash cream (to prevent and treat any irritation) – We first used Destin Diaper Rash Cream and it works like a charm. There is almost nothing worse than a fussy baby with a bad diaper rash.
6. Hand sanitizer (for cleaning hands after diaper changes) – I mean, it just makes good sense.
7. Baby powder (to keep your baby dry and comfortable) – We’ve tried many brands but never found one that beats Johnson and Johnson.

Feeding Essentials

8. Formula and bottles (pre-measured for easy preparation) – Believe us when we say it, there no greater pain than finding hot water while you’re on the go… save yourself and stop fighting with your spouse assuming they should know if places have warm water or not, get the warming bottle.
9. Breast pump and Storage bags (for breastfeeding moms on the go) – Watch out here… I linked the Breast Pump and the Storage Bags separately. So, if you’re like wth is going on I am only seeing storage bags, click the breast pump… and vice versa. It should go without saying though, these are must-haves.
10. Baby food jars/pouches (ready-to-eat, suitable for travel) – These are super convenient. I would load up on these if we were going to do the whole child thing over again… wait, we might.
11. Snacks (age-appropriate, easy to eat on the go) – Yep, these are just for the adults (or older children… like I said, us adults).
12. Bibs (disposable or washable for mealtime messes) – Don’t be fooled like we were. There are a lot of great colorful options that look really nice… they’re probably just for looks though. These types of bibs have been the only bibs that actually catch food, milk, etc. They are also really easy to clean. The other options, not so much and it seemed like the milk, food, etc. just ran right down over the lip and onto the clothes. Save yourself some time and energy, grab these.
13. Burp cloths (to keep clothes clean during feeding) – These are excellent. Not only will they save your clothes, but they’ll also prevent you from running through several outfits for your baby in a single day.
14. Sippy cups (spill-proof for easy hydration) – These are great for 6-months or possibly a bit older.

Clothing and Comfort

15. Onesies and outfits (pack extras for spills and accidents) – You honestly can never have enough. But, for real, pick up a few to carry in the diaper bag. You won’t regret it. #noregerts or no regrets rather.
16. Sleepwear (comfortable and suitable for the weather) – Just like the onesies, grab a few extras. You really won’t regret it.
17. Socks and Booties (to keep tiny feet warm) – Like I did previously, I linked the Socks and Booties separately. I swear, we lost more socks than I ever want to know. Grab more than you think you need so your little precious cargo isn’t cold.
18. Hats (sun protection or warmth, depending on destination) – Always a must. The link provided has many color options.
19. Swaddle blankets (for sleep and comfort on the go) – You’ll use these swaddles for a long time so grab several and you’ll likely not have to replace very many of them.
20. Jacket or Sweater (for cooler climates or chilly flights) – Both are obviously essential items. Just be sure when you click the link that one links you to a jacket option and the other links you to a sweater option.

Travel and Transportation

21. Car seat (FAA-approved for air travel or for use in rental cars) – I linked the car seat to the stroller down below so be sure to check it out as it’s a bundled option and one that we used for some time.
22. Stroller (lightweight and easy to fold) – As I mentioned above, we used the this bundled option. We later grabbed a larger car seat when we had our second baby so the older could have a little more room. I’ll do a product review for that so be sure to check it out. 
23. Baby carrier or sling (for hands-free carrying) – Just a couple of things besides the fact that we used this exact option… hmmm, at the time of the post, that carrier has over 71,000 reviews at around 4.6 stars and there were more than 8,000 purchases of this product on Amazon during the previous month. I would call that tried and true to say the least. But we used this, and it was great to navigate longer walks (shopping) than pushing the stroller where our baby got tired of being after long periods.
24. Travel crib or playpen (compact and easy to set up) – This is just something that we didn’t use at first. We were given this as a gift, and it sat until our second baby came along… and we didn’t know what we were missing. When traveling, it helped with having the baby in a safe place while we visited with family and our focus was slightly diverted.
25. Travel high chair (portable, attaches to tables for easy feeding) – I’ll be real with you all… there are more expensive items that seem good to go. But we like this one. Like the other items, its tired and true. It also has shorter slip resistant type legs (my verbiage, not theirs) and it can be placed on tables or counters instead of only on the floor.

Health and Safety

26. Baby first aid kit (with essentials like band-aids, thermometer, and infant pain reliever) – Personally, I like the red colored container to keep everything organized. There are a lot of options, this one stands out and will stand out when the stress level is raised during an incident when a first aid kit is needed.
27. Sunscreen (baby-friendly, high SPF) – Grab sunscreen, don’t forget it. We seem to always forget it. Grab this one, grab some from CVS or wherever just get it! Don’t be like us!!
28. Insect repellent (safe for infants) – We really like these insect repellent bracelets for our little ones.
29. Nasal aspirator (for clearing stuffy noses) – These are great… but keep batteries nearby. If you’re like us and don’t, just grab the no-battery needed ones.
30. Pacifiers and Clips (to prevent loss) – The pacifiers are age appropriate so just remember to match that to your little one. The Clips are a must have and I’m happy to provide a link to a 4-pack instead of just one clip.

Entertainment and Comfort

31. Favorite toys (familiar items for comfort) – There are soooo any toys for infants. This link will get you started. It is also a toy we were given from a family member. It was such a great time watching our youngest play with it.
32. Book (small and lightweight, ideal for travel) – This is a must have book and there are so many others. Please check out our other great reads, such as, Top 8 Books for New Dads on Fatherhood and Parenting or Best Baby Books For New Parents or Best Books To Read To Babies. We tried to cover the book section somewhat thoroughly… I sure hope we have. Don’t be afraid to let us know by leaving a comment down below.
33. Teething Toys (to soothe sore gums) – Absolutely a must have… you have to get them. Your life will be turned upside-down when your baby starts teething. Ohhh man, we didn’t know what was going on the first time. This will help immensely.
34. Blankie or stuffed animal (for added comfort and familiarity) – All babies and toddlers and probably adults just need something to snuggle.
35. White noise machine (portable, to help with sleep in new environments) – This helps us all… help your baby and help yourself relax and possibly sleep better.

Why Preparation and Organization Matter

Traveling with an infant requires meticulous preparation and organization to ensure you have everything you need at your fingertips. Infants are unpredictable, and the key to a smooth journey is being ready for anything. A well-thought-out packing list helps you avoid the stress of forgetting essential items, especially in a foreign or unfamiliar environment where finding replacements may be difficult or impossible. Organization also helps streamline your travel process, making it easier to locate items quickly when your baby needs them. Ultimately, proper preparation allows you to focus on enjoying your trip, creating lasting memories with your little one, and navigating the inevitable challenges with greater ease.

YouTube

Be sure to check out our YouTube Channel for great content:

Wrapping Things Up with Additional Resources

If you’re liking this type of content and searching for more, please be sure to visit the other must reads here within the new-parents blog. You’re also welcome to run over to one of my favorite topics, Essential Gear For New Parents: Must-Have Products For Your Newborn. Thanks a ton for stopping by. Please feel free to comment here and do not hesitate to ask any questions. If we haven’t covered the topic yet, we will.

Here’s a little transparency: Our website contains affiliate links. This means if you click and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission. Don’t worry, there’s no extra cost to you. It’s a simple way you can support our mission to bring you quality content.