travel baby gear

38 Best Baby Travel Gear Items for 2024 + What NOT To Bring

Hi All! My name is Lyric Fergusson. My husband, Asher, and I are the parents of two incredible babies named Kingsley and Aurora (pictured). Our little ones have been with us to France, Italy, Mexico, Belize, Honduras, South America, five Caribbean Islands & on a road trip to California and the Grand Canyon — and having them along has been amazing and mostly stress-free!

This said, as a mama, I fully understand how intimidating it can be to travel with a baby, especially for the first time.

We feel that having the right gear is key to making a family trip a truly enjoyable one, and we believe it is a large part of why we’ve had such wonderful travels with our babies. That’s why we created this guide for the must-haves and great accessories that will make traveling as a family way easier!

38 Essential Baby Travel Items

1. travel stroller.

Airport security rules state that any stroller that weighs over 20 lbs (9 kgs), is too bulky, or is non-collapsible must be checked at the ticket counter .

Mamas, this means if your stroller exceeds the weight limits, you will be schlepping your baby and ALL of your bags through the airport with no stroller. Suffice it to say, you’ll regret the decision to bring a heavy stroller.

This Summer Infant 3DLite is our top travel stroller pick. It’s inexpensive, durable, only 13 lbs, and has a multi-position recline that goes practically flat for an on-the-go nap. It fits in the smallest of trunks and we’ve even hauled it (pretty easily) up and down six flights of stairs in Paris. If the 3D Lite isn’t your bucket-list stroller, check out the Nova for luxury, the Summer Two-Seater , or a foldable wagon which is always a fun idea (especially if you’re hauling around more than one toddler or headed to a beach destination!)

View on Amazon.com ➜

2. Stroller + Car Seat Combo

You can compromise with the best of both worlds – opting for this 3-in-1 Trio system by Chicco . It is designed with travel in mind, helping you create a full-blown system that your kids can grow with. While in stroller mode, the canopy expands for UV protection, or you can push it down and click it into place to activate car-seat/booster mode. It quickly folds and unfolds to suit your needs and holds so much stuff like groceries, blankets, etc.

I will say, it’s slightly bulkier than some options, but that’s the trade-off of having an all-in-one piece, which means fewer items to carry around. Overall, it will make your baggage lighter and cut down on the amount of equipment you have to keep up with.

3. Convertible Travel Carseat

While the stroller + car seat combo is ideal for infants, this option is better for families needing more weight flexibility and a car seat for growing kids.

I would never put my baby in a car without a car seat. However, I cannot imagine lugging around our 35 lb one across the airport, let alone Europe! This one weighs only 12 lbs and works for children from 5-65 lbs (check the weight limits for each mode, forward or rear-facing).

Note: All airlines will check your car seat at the ticket counter free of charge.

4. Travel Crib (a.k.a. Travel Playpen)

In our experience, the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib is the best of the best when it comes to travel cribs. It’s only 12 lbs, really well-made, and you can put it together and take it down in less than 10 seconds (without reading any instructions!) The crib has an extremely cushy mattress pad that lays flat on the Earth, (unlike the Guava Lotus which we didn’t like ) and most other travel cribs where the mattresses hover above the ground and wobble whenever your baby shifts during the night (sounds comfy, right?)

It even comes with a chic, easy-to-carry case. Our little guy has slept beautifully through the night on every trip we have ever taken and I really think it is because of this crib. You can let them play and nap in it before you head out so they can become familiar with it. They will sleep so much better!

Note: All domestic airlines will check your crib at the ticket counter free of charge. I always check with international carriers about their policy prior to traveling.

5. Quick-Dry Travel Towels

Travel towels are one of the most versatile items you can pack. It can serve as a drool rag, seat cover, packing cushion, and much more. They’re also amazing for cleaning up spills! When we discovered these, we stopped bringing along bulky towels or trying to pack fluffy ones that the hotel provides when going on beach trips. This one dries 10x faster than cotton and weighs less than half a pound — perfect for in the diaper bag!

6. Travel Insurance for Your Trip

Since your domestic provider typically does not cover you outside of the country, the last thing you want to worry about is rushing a spouse or child to the hospital and having to pay out-of-pocket for a five-figure bill. Protect your vacation investment and your loved ones with travel insurance – it’s a small price compared to anything else you’re booking, yet will cover you for flight cancellations, delays, baggage loss, theft, and expensive medical emergencies.

We use Faye because they are revolutionizing the insurance game! While most providers make the process miserable with tons of paperwork and hoops to jump through – Faye reimburses you through their mobile app, making the claims process a cakewalk. Get a customized quote for each trip and traveler. It’s very affordable for young families since it goes up in cost with age and is worth it for the sheer peace of mind.

Get a quote in less than 60 seconds with Faye ➜

7. Diaper Changing Pad

My husband and I use the  Kopi Baby changing pad religiously during travel because it folds up easily into a small bag, keeping everything clean (wipes, diapers, etc.) even when we’re in seriously dirty places.

We have used it on the airport floor, in the Louvre, and in Caribbean bathrooms that had no changing tables. Yuck! It’s honestly the bomb and really worth the spend for travel.

8. Short-Sleeved Bib

These amazing bibs from Bumpkins are my favorites because they are wearable like a shirt. Simply latch the back and your kiddo’s outfit will have full coverage from even the goopiest of foods. It’s waterproof and therefore super easy to clean — even in small cruise ship sinks — while also drying quickly and saving you a lot of cleanup!

9. Hanging Toiletry Bag

Moms deal with more STUFF than basically anyone on the planet (wipes, tissues, first-aid, snacks, toys, oh my!) Use this hanging toiletry bag to organize all of your family’s toiletries in one bag instead of dealing with unhinged chaos all over the hotel room. This is a way easier system than piling tons of plastic sacks with liquid bottles that you’re trying to keep from leaking all over your suitcase.

We’re obsessed with this bag from Eco Sun, a sustainable company in Hawaii that is made by travelers, for travelers. It organizes all of our self-care routines (and thus, our sanity!) with a leakproof design and stain-resistant material. There are 4 pockets on the inside with elastic bands to hold your bottles and brushes in place, plus 3 external compartments for smaller items that you need easy access to. It’s an elegant and cohesive system for an area of my life that would otherwise be pretty stressful on the road.

10. Stroller Clips

Whether you are using a blanket to block out the sun or to keep your little one warm, stroller clips are awesome because they’ll secure the blanket just where it needs to be. That way, your baby can sleep peacefully — and you can push them easily (no more blankets getting tangled in the wheels, blown off by the wind, or dragged on the floor).

Stroller clips are also great for attaching the diaper bag, your purse, baby’s toys, or really anything else to the stroller.

11. Stroller Protector Bag

You will typically have to check your stroller at the gate between flights and this bag will save it from getting wet or damaged as the flight crew is literally throwing it on and off the belly of the plane. The Hap Tim Stroller Bag is extremely sturdy and streamlined, which is helpful when moving the stroller in and out of taxis, hotels, and rental cars, and it has a long set of straps that make carrying the stroller a piece of cake.

12. Wet/Dry Sacks

Poop can happen at any time. In case you don’t want to mess up your nicer diaper bags, having wet/dry bags on hand at all times is beyond useful. These are just as durable as your high-end bags but not so precious that you’ll worry about them getting ruined (about what you would spend on a week’s worth of ziplocks). It also is easier to clean in the washing machine and traps the stinky diaper smell so you’re not trapped in a stink bubble all day! Besides being leakproof, you’re helping Mother Earth by going reusable.

13. TSA-Approved Luggage Locks

After having items stolen out of our check luggage, we never forgo luggage locks. We bring a couple of sets for suitcases, city lockers, using backpacks in crowded areas, and more. Plus, these are TSA-approved so you won’t suffer through any hang-ups at security.

14. Insulated Food Jar

This jar has saved us so many times. If your baby is eating solids but is picky, likes warm snacks, or is just not into eating restaurant food yet (and you aren’t too keen on always giving them jars of pre-packaged food), I would bring along one of these. You can bake them a yam at grandma’s or order some steamed veggies at your hotel and throw the food in the Foogo Thermos , and it will stay warm for hours while you tour Rome or head to the beach.

15. Neck Wallet

When traveling with little ones, things can get hectic REAL QUICK while going through airports, taxis, and beyond. This neck wallet makes it super easy to keep track of where your family’s passports, phones, credit cards, cash, and plane tickets are while also preventing petty theft or sticky fingers. My hubby wears his with all four of our family’s passports and when we’re in crowded places, he conceals it under his shirt. This one also comes with RFID-blocking material to stop e-thieves from scanning your financial data.

16. Diaper Bag

For your full-blown Diaper bag, this bag is awesome for allowing you to have tons of storage in a waterproof case. This diaper bag from BabbleRoo is stylish, lightweight, and won’t break the bank. It also has 18 pockets to hold everything from diapers to a water bottle to your cell phone. And if you spill milk (or baby pukes on the bag), no problem! The wipe-clean material is super easy to clean. Bonus: It comes with a matching changing pad in case you forget your Kopi Baby !

17. Sleep Sack

We love the Woolino sleep sack! It is 100% natural, made from premium soft Australian merino wool, has an organic cotton outer shell, and is machine-washable. It also regulates the body temperature and is comfortable for baby from external temperatures as low as 60°F (16°C) to as high as 77°F (25°C).

It’s a great way to keep your honey cozy on an airplane, and so helpful for unpredictable temperatures in hotels or and even at grandma’s house. One extra bonus: we don’t have to travel with many blankets which keeps our luggage weight down.

18. Homeopathic First Aid Kit

Don’t leave home without these remedies – we certainly don’t. They are natural, safe, effective, and don’t cause harmful side effects.

They have saved us repeatedly during teething, tummy aches, or crabby spells. I can’t recommend them enough.

• Camilia Teething Relief  – These all-natural drops relieve painful gums and irritability from teething, as well as associated digestive distress. The single-use containers help prevent contamination.
• Natural Gas Relief  – Even with the grape flavor, these drops have NO artificial flavors or dyes. They provide natural relief for all the symptoms that come along with gas, like bloating, colic, constipation, and restlessness.
• Baby Calm – If your baby is fussy or won’t sleep, try these tablets. They’re quick-dissolving and provide immediate relief, so you can both get back to sleep.
• Earache Relief  – If your baby has an earache, these all-natural drops will help relieve symptoms like fever, pain, irritability, and sleeplessness. The dosing dropper makes it super easy to apply the drops.
• Echinacea Drops  – Our little guy has yet to get sick while we’ve traveled, and I really think It’s due to these drops. If Kingsley looks like he is possibly heading in the sick direction I give him this and it boosts his immune system immediately. He even likes the taste.
• Baby Vitamin C – Vitamin C is another awesome immune booster which I give our son a few days before we begin traveling. I give it to him again if I think he seems like he might be catching something.

19. Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Did you know that you risk your private data whenever you join a public network at cafes, Airbnbs, hotels, and the airport? And many people can monitor your online activity without your permission, including cyber thieves, your internet provider, government entities, and nosy neighbors! A virtual private network (VPN) keeps all of your digital information secure from hackers so you don’t have to worry about your credit cards, passwords, or other confidential info getting stolen.

You’re bound to connect to a random Wi-Fi network when traveling, so take the extra step to encrypt your network with a VPN like NordVPN . It’s super affordable and will also limit any local censorship you may face, which can block your favorite websites like Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, and more. We never travel without a VPN and even use it at home to ensure a safe connection! Give it a try, there’s even a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

View options at NordVPN ➜

20. Luggage Straps

Just as every outdoorsman should carry rope – every parent should have this adjustable strap! It’s a multi-purposeful item that can serve you in a variety of ways (depending on how creative you want to get). First and foremost, it secures your checked luggage and carry-on bags for rough handling and takes the pressure off of your zippers.

Beyond this, the brightly-colored straps will help your family’s bags stand out at the arrivals terminal (where everyone and their uncle has the same black bag), so it’s a massive timesaver.

More creatively, you can tether a bunch of bags together, create a makeshift strap if one breaks, compress items that are overpacked, and basically secure anything that is falling apart. I once used these to fix my friend’s suitcase that broke, which got us through to the next flight. And the built-in contact card is invaluable if your bags end up getting lost. It’s one of our favorite discoveries and a must for any traveler’s packing list!

21. Packing Cubes

If you have ever dug frantically into a suitcase looking for a single clean baby sock while your whole family is downstairs waiting for you, you will understand why packing cubes are a necessity! I usually put my son’s t-shirts and shorts in one cube, his long-sleeved sweaters and pants in another, and accessories in another. It seriously helps us stay organized!

Available on  HeroTravelSupply.com  with an exclusive 15% discount using the coupon code  “HERO” .

Or view on Amazon.com ➜

22. Mini White Noise Machine

You might think, “Why do I need a white noise machine when I have an App on my iPhone?” Well, let me tell you that if you use your phone for white noise, that means your phone is held hostage in the baby’s room while you are in the living room trying to make a dinner reservation or check work emails, etc.

This pocket-sized white noise machine was the best purchase we made before our Caribbean cruise adventure. Both at our hotel in Puerto Rico and on the cruise itself, we had to deal with some really rowdy people yelling at all hours of the night. We were kind of shocked – our little dude slept peacefully through the night when we had this white noise machine on. I won’t travel without it now. It takes up virtually no space and you never know who is going to be your neighbor!

23. Sanitizing Wipes

These are awesome! They are cheap and I’ve used them to wipe down airline trays, restaurant high chairs, bathroom changing tables (and of course, our hands) while exploring. The individual packets fit easily in your diaper bag or your coat pocket without being bulky. An absolute 5-star in our book.

24. Baby Carrier

Ok, I know most of you probably already have a baby carrier, but I have to mention this Baby Bjorn Carrier because it’s been amazing for us while traveling.

It’s really comfortable, not bulky, and can easily fold up and fit under the stroller. We even use it as a portable high chair! How? Well, when my little dude was too tiny to fit in a restaurant high chair but was eating solids, he could comfortably have his entire meal while strapped to my hubby. It made eating out really enjoyable and low-stress, plus the carrier is super easy to wipe down and wash.

25. Universal Power Adapter

There are 15 styles of outlets around the world, so it’s nice to avoid buying a brand new power adapter for each country. This universal option is compatible with outlets in 100+ popular destinations and has multiple USB outlets for efficient charging. Not to mention, it very well could be the last adapter you ever have to buy since it comes with a lifetime replacement guarantee.

26. Inflatable Travel Bed

This adorable inflatable toddler bed is a game-changer for kiddos who are too big for a crib but need their own space to sleep on a trip. I worry about my tots falling out of massive beds at hotels or Airbnbs, and this option is comfy, easy to blow up, and keeps them close while still giving them a sense of independence. We’ve traveled with two of these for years and our kiddos are big fans!

27. Neck Pillow for Toddlers

Speaking of difficulty in transit, a neck pillow for kids is smart to have on-hand in case your babes can’t sprawl out. For those of you familiar with the strange positions your children’s heads can get into on long car rides, this one will support your toddler’s neck and be useful in almost all traveling scenarios. Moms that are breastfeeding may consider an inflatable nursing pillow that is made for travel and lumbar support.

28. Windproof Travel Umbrella

An umbrella should always be in your travel artillery and this one weighs only 1-pound and fits in your diaper bag. It comes with a convenient carrying case and has sheltered us from some pretty vicious storms since it’s windproof and covers 2 people (plus baby if you all snuggle close!)

29. Portable High Chair

We love bringing our foldable high chair to make mealtime go much smoother whether you are at an AirBnB or at grandma’s. It works for babies up to toddlers and is a great solution for restaurants that don’t have booster seats or high chairs. It’s compact and has some sneaky pockets, plus a carrying case. The tray is free of harmful chemicals like BPA, and it’s dishwasher safe.

30. All-in-One Food Processor

A food processor is so useful for blending up fresh fruits and vegetables for your little one on-the-go. This set comes with silicon molds as a freezer tray and glass cases for storage. My babies loved easy concoctions like mangos with sweet potatoes, carrot with orange, and bananas with strawberries. Yum!

31. Cooling Towel

For any tropical escapes or warm destinations, this cooling towel is a godsend! It’s absolutely non-toxic and safe for baby to hold onto. By adding water and wringing it out, the towel magically drops to 20-30 degrees colder than the outside temp. Anytime you need more icey relief, simply add more water. It will save baby, dad and mom from heat-induced melt-downs. Try it out and you can thank us later!

32. Baby-Proofing Gear

Babyproofing is something you should consider doing anywhere you stay. Whether they’re crawling, scooting, or starting to walk, it’s a preventative measure worth taking, especially if you are traveling to a home or Bnb that you know is not baby-proofed

Of course, a gate should be kept anywhere you don’t want your little one to roam (like the stairs or outside). For your curious explorers, you may also need outlet covers , safety straps for cabinets, door knob covers , and corner protectors for tables or sharp edges.

33. Car Seat Protector Backpack

Many parents complain that their car seat has gotten dirty, cracked or damaged when they’ve traveled — especially if they check it at the ticket counter. Because of this bag, we’ve never had any trouble.

It’s padded, and although you might look a little ridiculous with it on your back, I can’t tell you how nice it is to have two free hands when you are trying to wrangle multiple children and luggage. I’m a pretty tiny woman, and I can very comfortably wear it while using my hands for other things.

34. Inflatable Baby Bathtub

Not only is this thing cute as can be, but it blows up easily to make a bathtub that’s fantastic for travel. The textured bottom means baby won’t slip around, but it’s small enough to keep them in place. It’s surprisingly scientific since it has hot-white technology that lets you know when the water is too hot, displaying a different color. It was awarded ‘top baby bath’ in 2016 and is easy to drain from the bottom without any heavy lifting.

35. Baby-Safe Dish Soap

Cleaning bottles, sippy cups, bibs, and pacifiers on the go can be a bit of a challenge, I know! And it’s really hard to get to a destination and realize you have no soap to wash your bubba’s stuff (story of my life in the Caribbean… whoops!) I now bring along baby-safe dish soap so that I can be sure that all of Kingsley and Aurora’s belongings stay clean even when I’m rushing to wash them in a tiny bathroom basin.

36. Travel Potty-Training Seat

This is excellent for traveling families with a toddler in toilet training! Not only is it adorable, but it comes in many different colors and latches onto most standard-sized toilets. The foldable design means you can store it in your diaper bag and then whip it out when necessary at hotels, malls, airports, on planes, or wherever. WAY easier than holding your kid in the air as they hover over a gross toilet seat! And super easy to clean.

37. Diaper Rash Cream

This is hands down the best diaper rash cream out there! We initially got it in a gift set with our first baby but have now bought countless tubes. It is the main diaper cream we use, especially if we are trying to treat a rash. We will sometimes use Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment if we are just preventing irritation on a clear butt. If we have a really bad rash, we will layer and use both. This cream is so thick, smells lovely, and works without the harsh chemicals.

38. Your Favorite Bedtime Story

Maintaining your routine while traveling will add a sense of normalcy to the experience. Your little one will find comfort in familiarity and it will help them sleep in a new place. So bring along your favorite book or try a new one to end the day with a sweet story. Reading aloud builds a network of words in their heads and can help them develop their language and speaking skills more quickly. Plus, your voice is so soothing to them and will help ease them into sleep.

Additional Baby Travel Gear to Consider

• Crib Sheets
• Travel Laundry Bag
• Baby Monitor
• Changing Pad
• Cheap Burp Cloths
• Cooling Towels
• Nursing Cover-up
• Breast-pump Backpack
• Travel Nursing Pillow
• Baby Dishes
• Baby Utensils
• Pacifier & Bottle Wipes
• Roadtrip Organizer
• Travel Towels
• Soft Washcloths
• Swim Diapers
• Stroller Fan
• Spillproof Snack Cup
• Luggage Locks
• Plane Window Toys
• Weleda Baby On the Go Kit
• Kid-Safe Bug Repellent
• Laundry Soap

What NOT to Bring when Traveling with Baby

1. don’t bring a bulky stroller (no jogging strollers.

They’re hard to get in and out of a small rental car, and almost impossible to lift when you’re juggling baby AND luggage at the same time (and don’t even think about trying to collapse it!).

2. DON’T TAKE a bulky car seat

A big, heavy car seat also makes it hard to hold baby and deal with luggage, and even harder to run through the airport to catch your flight! Plus car seats can get damaged when traveling, so you don’t want to be using an expensive one.

3. DON’T PACK cloth diapers

Cloth diapers are eco-friendly, but don’t feel bad if you don’t want to mess with them when traveling. They create a lot of extra work, and you’ll already be plenty busy traveling with a baby.

4. DON’T BRING heavy toys

There’s no need to lug around your baby’s heaviest toys when you’re traveling. Bring their lightweight ones instead, and you can always buy a few new toys at your destination for added fun!

5. DON’T PACK too many blankets

It’s tempting to think you should bring tons of extra blankets “just in case.” Just don’t. Go for a sleep sack instead – they’re easier and they stay put on their own. Bringing extra blankets is asking for weight, bulk, and extra laundry!

6. DON’T TAKE too many diapers

Disposable diapers are bulky, so think about how many you’ll need before you pack (do bring some extras – just not too many extras!). Better yet, have  Honest Company Diapers  ship a pack to your location, or if you’re going overseas, just buy them when you arrive.

7. DON’T BRING heavy baby books

Maybe you want to use your vacation time to catch up on some reading, but this is not the time to tackle that 500-page book on everything you’re doing wrong as a parent. You’re on vacation, treat yourself to some light beach reading instead, and make it even more convenient by using a Kindle .

8. DON’T PACK too few baby clothes

I know this sounds odd, but it’s a balance. Of course you don’t want your suitcase to be too heavy, but you don’t want to spend your whole trip washing either. And honestly, it’s not like baby clothes weigh much!

9. DON’T TAKE full-sized bottles

Traveling with a baby means packing lots of liquids (baby shampoo, baby lotion, dish soap, etc.), on top of your own toiletries. So many regular-sized bottles will be way too heavy, so pack all your liquids in travel-sized containers instead.

10. DON’T PACK too many disposable items

No matter where you’re traveling, you’ll probably be able to get things like wet wipes, tissues, and plastic bags pretty easily. So just bring as many as you’ll realistically use, and know that you can easily pick up more if you end up needing them.

FAQs about traveling with a baby

1. does my baby need a passport.

Yes. Regardless of their age, your baby needs a passport for international trips, including to Canada.

To get them a passport in the U.S., you will need a copy of the birth certificate and two 2″x2″ photos of the baby (from the shoulders up), and both parents need to come with the baby to a passport acceptance facility. Single parents must present a custody agreement, and if one parent is not able to come (such as if they’re stationed elsewhere), a signed and notarized Form DS-3053 will also have to be presented.

2. How should I choose a hotel when traveling with a baby?

• To minimize your time schlepping everything around, look for a hotel that’s near the attractions you plan to visit or at least near public transportation if you’ll be using it.
• Having quiet at nighttime is key, so try to avoid hotels on busy streets, as well as older buildings, which may not have good soundproofing.
• You’ll probably need to do laundry at some point, so check for either coin-op laundry in the hotel or a nearby laundromat.
• Try to find a hotel with large rooms, which will allow plenty of space to set up a crib or playpen.
• Make sure the bathroom has a tub, and not just a shower, which seems to be getting more common.
• Even if the room doesn’t have a full kitchen, it’s useful to at least have a refrigerator, as well as some counter space to make bottle-washing easier.
• If you’re not planning to bring a travel crib, call the hotel before you book to double-check that they’ll provide one.

3. What should I do to baby-proof our hotel room?

• Ask before you arrive if the hotel offers baby-proofing supplies (or even baby-proofed rooms)
• Check that all the furniture in the room (including the TV) is stable
• Check the floor (including under the bed) for anything a baby could put in their mouth: coins, rocks, pills, bottle caps, etc.
• Put blue painter’s tape over outlets.
• Tape foam squares over any sharp corners near the floor
• Tape the toilet lid down
• Tape any electrical cords to the furniture out of baby’s reach

4. Does my baby need a plane ticket?

Different airlines have varying policies on infant travel, but buying a ticket for children under two years old is usually optional. Without a ticket, the baby has to be held on your lap throughout the flight, and some airlines charge a “lap child fee,” especially for international flights.

If you’re planning to fly with a child in your lap, you should inform the airline in advance. But if you’d rather have a separate seat for your baby, you can book them one at a child’s fare.

5. Which airlines are the most baby-friendly?

The best airline for you depends on what’s most important to you when it comes to flying with your baby. These airlines are regularly rated as the most family- and child-friendly:

• Eithad: Their Flying Nannies are special flight attendants whose job is to help you fly with your baby, and they also offer a bottle-warming service on board.
• Emirates Airlines: The Dubai airport provides complimentary strollers, and the airline provides children on the plane with an entertainment kit that includes blankets and a fuzzy “We Fly With Me” stuffed animal.
• Air New Zealand: Their Economy Skycouch connects three seats and converts into a bed for comfort and easier sleeping, and the airline also provides bassinets on board.

6. How much baby food and milk/formula can I bring in my carry-on luggage?

Bring as much as you’ll need for the flight. Baby food, formula, and milk are exempted from the 3-ounce rule for liquids, but you do need to declare it at security so it can be inspected separately. They run a harmless test on excepted baby liquids, and once they’re done they will reseal it and give it back to you.

Even for parents traveling with children, water is still not allowed, so plan to buy it or bring a reusable filtered water bottle to fill up once you’ve passed through security.

7. How can I help my baby sleep on the plane?

Parents planning on using a bassinet, book a front-row seat if possible to make sure there’s plenty of space. Consider bringing a  sleep sack  to keep them more comfortable and a blanket or scarf to drape over the bassinet and block out light. And of course, bring their pacifier and any favorite toys. Feed your baby during take-off, which will help pop their ears, reduce discomfort, and calm them down.

8. How many diapers do I need to bring on a trip?

A good rule of thumb is to bring one diaper per hour of flight or car time, but it’s always a good idea to bring some extras beyond that, just in case.

9. Can I go camping with a baby?

If you’ve never been camping before, this might not be the best time to get into it.

Otherwise, it’s a good idea to get an okay from your pediatrician first, but many families absolutely go on camping trips with infants, and have plenty of fun! You’ll just want to be more aware of weather, drive time, cleanliness, baby-safe  insect repellent , and supplies, and it probably goes without saying that your baby likely won’t sleep through the night in a tent.

10. What are the best places to travel with a baby?

Depending on your travel preferences, beach destinations and national parks can make for great baby-friendly getaways. They tend to be mellow and allow for a lot of flexibility with your schedule and activities.

Alternatively, all-inclusive resorts make things easy and will usually provide all the amenities you need – plus they tend to be VERY fun!

Of course, a staycation or a visit to family or friends are good options, too, and will probably feel a little more familiar to you and baby.

11. What kinds of things are required when flying with a baby? Do I have to have a special seatbelt?

YES, you do need a special seatbelt for toddlers and up to a certain weight. Babies will likely need their own carseat, or you can typically hold them in your lap. If the airline doesn’t require you to purchase a ticket for a lap-child, this is a great way to save money as long as you’re comfortable holding your little one the whole time.

In instances like this it’s handy to have a  baby sling  which can be tightened to hold baby close, or loosened to act as a lap-cradle to relieve your back and arms while baby sleeps.

Verify the TSA requirements for traveling with small children  here .

Here are some links to the relevant car seat rules for the major US airlines so you can be prepared for your next flight:

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• Delta Airlines (and also here )
• Frontier Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Southwest Airlines
• Spirit Airlines
• United Airlines
• Virgin America (and also here )

Lyric Fergusson

• Baby & Toddler
• Baby Health & Wellness
• Toddler and Baby Gear

The Best Baby Travel Essentials for Your Next Family Trip

All parents know that bringing baby anywhere pretty much guarantees a bag (or two) brimming with gear —and when you’re packing for an extended trip, the prospect of carrying everything around (and remembering it all!) can be daunting. Thankfully, there are plenty of sanity-saving baby travel essentials out there, all designed to lighten your load. From on-the-go changing and feeding accessories to feather-light strollers and packable playards , these trusty products will make any trip more seamless. Below, browse our handy baby travel essentials checklist, then shop our favorites for an array of categories.

Baby Travel Essentials Checklist

Packing for yourself and your little one doesn’t have to be a headache. To make sure you don’t forget any baby travel essentials, keep this checklist handy as you prep:

Travel car seat

Travel stroller

Travel crib

Baby carrier

Portable high chair

Travel diaper bag (and diaper bag essentials , of course!)

Travel changing pad

Wet/dry bag

Portable wipes dispenser (and your favorite wipes )

Diapers (or training pants !)

Travel potty seat (for little ones who are potty training )

Travel white noise machine

Travel nursing pillow (if you’re breastfeeding )

Baby bottles

Insulated food jar

Formula and snack dispenser

Portable baby bathtub (for newborns and younger infants)

Pacifier clip

Travel toys

Baby Travel Essentials To Shop

Missing a few key items, or not sure where to start when it comes to picking out baby travel essentials? We’ve got you covered. Here, check out top-notch travel strollers, portable high chairs, diaper bags, car seat toys and everything else in between so you’re prepped for any and all travel plans.

Best travel car seat

Searching for a top-notch infant travel car seat? You can’t go wrong with this design from Nuna. It’s made from premium materials, has a secure five-point safety harness and can easily be installed with a seatbelt (no base needed!). This car seat is also Aircraft-certified and can be seamlessly connected to any Nuna stroller. Another feature you’ll love: It has a removable, full coverage canopy that’s UPF 50 to keep baby shaded in sunny weather.

Dimensions: 27.25” (L) x 17.5” (W) x 23” (H) | Weighs: 6.9 lbs. | Maximum capacity: 32 pounds

Best travel booster seat

Traveling with a tot or a kiddo? Don’t forget to bring along a travel booster seat . Our favorite is this design from Peg Perego . It can be adjusted in four different ways to ensure your little love is comfy and safe while en route to your destination. This booster can be installed using just a seatbelt and folds easily for added convenience. When inevitable messes occur, you’ll also love how the cover is machine-washable.

Dimensions: 26” (L) x 22” (W) x 17.25” (H) | Weighs: 14.8 lbs. | Maximum capacity: 120 lbs.

Best travel stroller

Talk about on-the-go: This lightweight travel stroller is just 16 lbs. and meets International Air Travel Association (IATA) requirements, meaning it can be stored in a plane’s overhead compartment. When on the ground, unfold it in seconds and enjoy features like the spacious underseat basket, the protective sun canopy and the advanced four-wheel suspension. Better yet, you don’t have to sacrifice sturdiness for the small size—the stroller can be used from 6 months up to around the four-year mark.

Dimensions: 36.42” (L) x 17.72” (W) x 40.31” (H) | Weighs: 16 lbs. | Maximum capacity: 48.50 pounds

Best travel crib

Wherever you’re headed, making sure baby has a safe place to sleep is a top priority. Thankfully, the Lotus solves that problem. This lightweight travel crib (13 lbs.) folds into a compact carrying case that fits in the overhead compartment and can be worn as a backpack. Once you’ve reached your destination, it sets up in 15 seconds and is super-sturdy for peace of mind. Plus, it doubles as a playard, with a side zip door so baby can crawl in and out.

Dimensions: 45.5” (L) x 31.5” (W) x 25.5” (H) | Weighs: 15 lbs. | Maximum capacity: No weight limit

Best toddler travel bed

Need something a bit more tot-friendly? Then this toddler travel bed will have your (and your kiddo’s) back. Highlights include the sleeping pad, the adjustable sunscreens and the secure anchor straps. This portable bed can be used by little ones between the ages of 6 months and 5 years old, so you can count on it for many outings to come. The best part? It easily folds into the included carry bag when not in use.

Dimensions: 19” (L) x 3.5” (W) x 19” (D) | Weighs: 3.65 lbs. | Maximum capacity: N/A

Best baby carrier

A carrier will let you walk around with baby without having to work hard—and still have the freedom to use both hands. Pro tip: Wearing baby through the airport will let you wheel along your luggage and sail through security without taking baby in and out. A longtime parent-loved brand, Ergobaby stands out for form and function, giving you the option to wear baby in multiple positions.

Dimensions: 6.2” (L) x 9.1” (W) x 10.4” (H) | Weighs: 2.2 lbs. | Maximum capacity: 45 pounds

Best portable high chair

Clip it on, clip it off; this portable high chair creates seating for little ones where there otherwise is none. Suitable for up to 37 pounds, it’s sturdy and durable enough to last through the toddler years. Best of all? It packs flat into the included travel bag. Now comes the hard part: Picking just one of the cute colorways available.

Dimensions: 14” (L) x 17” (W) x 11” (H) | Weighs: 4.96 lbs. | Maximum capacity: 37 lbs.

Best travel diaper bag

Road, train or plane trips with kiddos are what this weekender bag was made for. It weighs only 3 lbs., but don’t let that fool you—there’s plenty of room for your gear, thanks to the convenient mesh packing cubes included and the wipe-open compartment. Need to be hands-free? No problem. Just adjust the strap to turn it into a crossbody. Other highlights include a cushioned changing pad, an insulated bottle pocket and a handy luggage sleeve—score!

Dimensions: 17.5” (L) x 9” (W) x 14” (H) | Weighs: 3 lbs. | Maximum capacity: N/A

Best travel changing pad

Make on-the-go diaper changes a bit less messy with the help of this travel changing pad. No matter where you are, it will offer a hygienic, cushioned surface for baby to lay on while they get cleaned up. We love how this one can be opened with just one hand—plus, it features two storage pockets for diapers and wipes. When you’re all done, fold it flat and tote it in your diaper backpack , your carry-on bag or your suitcase.

Dimensions: 13.8” (L) x 8.4” (W) x 1.6” (H) | Weighs: 7.04 oz. | Maximum capacity: N/A

Best wet/dry bag

What do you do when you’re nowhere near home and you’ve got a handful of dirty cloth diapers and soiled clothes? Grab one of these totes, which separately store wet and dry items in the same bag. Sealed seams prevent wicking and leaking, and a snap handle makes it a breeze to carry.

Dimensions: 12” (L) x .05” (W) x 15” (H) | Weighs: 3.2 oz. | Maximum capacity: N/A

Best portable wipes dispenser

When it comes to on-the-go diaper changes and post-meal cleanups, you’ll likely have your hands full. This is why OXO designed a dispenser that, with a one-handed push of the button, reveals a large opening for easy access to wipes. The handy strap and slim shape mean you can hang it from your stroller or tuck it neatly into your bag. Dimensions: 1.5” (L) x 6.2” (W) x 11.3” (H) | Weighs: 4.9 oz. | Maximum capacity: N/A

Best travel potty seat

Thanks to this cool design, potty training doesn’t have to stop just because you’re out and about. When nature calls, unfold this travel potty seat and place it on any adult-sized toilet to create a smaller, more comfortable seat for your kiddo. Then, simply wipe it clean, fold it back up and place it in the included travel bag.

Dimensions: 13.75” (L) x 11” (W) x 0.75” (H) | Weighs: 12.8 oz. | Maximum capacity: 50 lbs.

Best travel white noise machine

If you’re traveling with a little one who’s still lulled by white noise, this is a must-have. It has all the features you’d want in a sound machine—a variety of white noise and sound options, volume control, long battery life and a lock—all in a compact, highly portable design. There’s even a clip to hang it from baby’s stroller or car seat.

Dimensions: 3.5” (L) x 3.75” (W) x 1.75” (H) | Weighs: 6.72 oz. | Maximum capacity: N/A

Best travel nursing pillow

Nursing pillows are the perfect companion to long breastfeeding sessions—and this one is ideal for on-the-go moms. The unique sling style offers you and baby support, with the distinct advantage of folding into a convenient travel bag, thanks to its slim, lightweight design.

Dimensions: 22” (L) x 3.5” (W) x 5” (H) | Weighs: 1 lb. | Maximum capacity: N/A

Best baby bottle

Bottles are essential baby travel gear for families with newborns or infants. Our favorites are these from Phillips Avent, which have natural response nipples that allow baby to control their feeding pace. They also have a no-drip design, making them perfect for taking out and about.

Dimensions: 2.8” (L) x 8.39” (W) x 6.54” (H) | Weighs: 11.04 oz. | Maximum capacity: 9 fl. oz.

Best insulated food jar

If your little one has moved onto solids , this insulated food jar is the perfect way to keep their food fresh while you’re not at home. The container keeps contents warm for seven hours and cold for five—plus, it even comes with built-in utensils for an on-the-move meal.

Dimensions: 3.5” (L) x 4.7” (W) x 3.5” (H) | Weighs: 8.2 oz. | Maximum capacity: 11 fl. oz.

Best formula and snack dispenser

Keep snacktime contained with this handy container. It seals shut for ultimate freshness and is complete with removable inner sections that let you pack different snacks all in one place. What’s more, its convenient spout makes formula storage and transfer a breeze.

Dimensions: 3.94” (L) x 3.94” (W) x 6.10” (H) | Weighs: 3.68 oz. | Maximum capacity: 27 fl. oz.

Best portable baby bath

Baby is practically guaranteed to make a mess wherever you go—but a portable tub will help you deal with the aftermath. This lightweight one by Stokke folds completely flat, so you can easily fit it in your luggage.

Dimensions: 33” (L) x 10” (W) x 20” (H) | Weighs: 9.5 lbs. | Maximum capacity: 46 pounds

Best pacifier clip

Trying to keep a pacifier in baby’s mouth and off the yucky sidewalk (and all other dirty surfaces) can be next to impossible—that is, without a pacifier clip. This one is a traveling parent’s best friend, thanks to its soft (and washable!) design and easy-to-use plastic clip. This pack of six will have you covered for many adventures with baby to come.

Dimensions: 6.3” (L) x 5.43” (W) x 0.71” (H) | Weighs: 1.58 oz. | Maximum capacity: N/A

Best baby travel toy

Last but certainly not least on our list of baby travel essentials is this best-selling car seat toy. Your little one will love how it’s super-soft and features plenty of engaging textures, patterns and activities to explore. On the other hand, you’ll love the convenient clip-on design that keeps it within baby’s reach—perfect for when you’re driving, or traveling in general. It’s easy to see why it has tens of thousands of glowing Amazon reviews !

Dimensions: 5.3” (L) x 2.8” (W) x 11.5” (H) | Weighs: 15.36 oz. | Maximum capacity: N/A

How We Chose the Best Baby Travel Essentials

We get it—parenting requires a lot of gear, and it can be hard to find the best fit for your family every time. To streamline your shopping (and packing) experience, we browsed baby travel essentials from an array of leading baby brands and trusted online retailers. We considered a list of criteria when sourcing products, such as ease of use, weight, size, portability, quality and durability, value, style and, of course, safety. We also read user reviews to understand how these products have worked for real families on the go, and didn’t consider anything with less than an average four-star rating. What’s more, we also looked for products that meet IATA requirements or have Aircraft Certification where applicable.

Interested in learning more about our editorial process? Read about how our team develops and reviews all articles here .

Plus, more from The Bump:

12 Awesome Car Seat Toys for Families on the Go

The 5 Best Infant Car Seats

30 Tips to Keep in Mind When Traveling With an Infant

Navigate forward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates.

Next on Your Reading List

Childproof your next trip with these must-have baby travel gear items

Editor's Note

As a new parent, traveling with your baby can seem like an insurmountable goal. You want your baby to feel safe and comfortable, but you can't pack up your entire nursery to do so. Here at TPG, we've spent a lot of time traveling with children, and we've tested a lot of baby gear along the way.

Related: 43 real-world family travel tips that actually work

We know every trip — and every baby — is different, but these items can keep you and your baby happy whether you travel by plane , train or automobile and, of course, once you reach your destination.

GB Pockit Travel Stroller

Weighing in at only 10.4 pounds and folding up small enough to fit in most airplane overhead compartments, the GB Pockit was named the world's most compact stroller by Guinness World Records. This travel-friendly stroller folds up in two easy steps, but don't let its small size fool you. It still has a weight capacity of up to 55 pounds and can handle a bumpy sidewalk as well as it handles the moving walkway at the airport.

Related: These are the 10 best travel strollers for your next trip

The GB Pockit doesn't come with all the accessories other strollers come with (which is why it folds up so easily). However, it has a mini sun canopy, an adjustable harness and a small storage space underneath the seat. It is also designed for babies 6 months and older, so parents of newborns will have to wait a bit to use this small but mighty stroller.

To buy : GB Pockit Travel Stroller on Amazon , $193.59

PAK Reve Wilder Bundle

Even before testing Pak Reve's line of travel bags, we knew they would stand up to anything parents could throw at them because they were designed by globe-trotting travel writer Jordi Lippe-McGraw . You can buy the full-size backpack, mini backpack, waterproof wristlet and insulated lunchbox separately. However, they all attach together to create one fully functional travel system, so we recommend purchasing the full bundle.

Dubbed The Wilder Bundle, this travel system connects and disconnects with ease. Having the full system on the plane or on a long road trip ensures you have every bottle, snack, change of clothes and toy close by. You can use just the pieces you need when you arrive at your destination. You may only want the mini backpack for a quick excursion, or you can bring along the waterproof wristlet, so you have somewhere to store dirty clothes in case of an accident.

The full-size backpack has tons of organizational features, including a front pocket that converts into a jacket sleeve, theft-proof pockets, a laptop sleeve, a keychain ring and exterior water bottle pockets.

To buy : PAK Reve The Wilder Bundle , $335

Snoozeshade Pack n' Play Cover

The Snoozeshade Pack n' Play Cover is life-changing when you have to share a hotel room with your baby. You no longer have to hide the crib away in a bathroom or closet. Now, you can give your baby the environment necessary to get some rest while keeping them close by.

Related: 21 best all-inclusive resorts for families

While your baby is snoozing away in their dark and cozy crib with a breathable mesh shade, you can (quietly) enjoy your vacation. This shade is machine-washable and comes with a convenient carry case.

To buy : Snoozeshade Pack n' Play Cover on Amazon , $59.99

Tula Free-to-Grow Baby Carrier

There are dozens of baby carriers out there, and which one works best for you will largely be based on personal preference, but we have found the Tula Free-to-Grow Baby Carrier to be a great go-to carrier.

This carrier can be used for babies from 7 to 45 pounds, making it a great choice for newborns and toddlers alike. The front mesh panel keeps you and your baby cool, and the adjustable straps and waistband ensure a comfortable fit for you and a secure fit for your baby. The padded shoulder straps provide additional comfort, and you can use the carrier in front-carry and back-carry positions.

To buy : Tula Free-to-Grow Baby Carrier on Amazon , $179

Enovoe Portable Diaper Changing Pad

The Enovoe portable changing pad is ideal for changing your baby on the go anywhere. It's not too bulky, which means you can easily slip it into a carry-on bag. It also has storage space for a few diapers, a small pack of wipes, an extra pair of pants and a onesie for good measure.

Even though it's fairly slim, the head area has additional padding for the baby's comfort, and there's an attachable strap to hang it from the stroller when you're on the move. The changer comes in handy when you're at the beach, on a long road trip, at the park or pretty much anywhere. As an added bonus, it's unisex and cute.

To buy : The Enovoe portable pad is available on Amazon for $19.99.

Nuby Lightweight High Chair Booster Seat

Finding vacation rentals with high chairs is ideal, but it's not always possible. This Nuby travel booster seat attaches to chairs and is fairly portable — and it can be tucked into a checked suitcase . The chair is soft yet sturdy, so little ones don't mind eating in it.

The straps are durable and fairly secure. Just remember, the chair is only for short periods while your baby is eating, and you should never leave your baby unattended in this seat.

To buy: The Nuby Easy Go Booster Seat is available on Amazon for $22.99.

Bumpkins Silicone Grip Dishes

Bumpkins silicone plates grip whatever surface you set them on so your baby can't throw the plate on the floor. They are ideal to tuck into your bag and bring to a restaurant, hotel or vacation rental when traveling. Easy to clean, dishwasher safe, BPA-free and oven safe, they come in a variety of colors and patterns to suit your taste.

To buy: Bumpkins silicone plates are available on Amazon, with prices as low as $10.99.

Bottom line

It can be hard to decide what to pack and what to leave at home when traveling with your baby. It can also be overwhelming to figure out which travel stroller to buy, which baby carrier to get and all the other essential items you will need on your journey.

While these choices are largely personal and depend greatly on your family and the nature of your trip, these products are favorites among the frequent-traveling families at TPG.

Related reading:

• Key travel tips you need to know — whether you're a beginner or expert traveler
• The best travel credit cards
• Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• 13 must-have items the TPG team can't travel without

The Best Baby Travel Gear To Pack For Your Next Holiday [2024 Guide]

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED LINKS. FIND MORE INFO IN MY DISCLAIMER.

Our youngest daughter Avie has been on more flights and trips than we can count.

When you travel with a baby as often as we do, you manage to weed through all the travel gear for baby to work out which travel gear for babies are truly worth the money.  

As a result, we have written many reviews & guides on our family travel blog to help you find the best baby travel gear for your situation.

In this article, I want to provide you with a comprehensive list of all, in our opinion, the best baby travel accessories that you will need to help make your trip a success.

Our Pick of Best Baby Travel Products in 2024

Find below a handy table to give you a quick overview of our top baby travel products. Keep reading further to read more about why we love each of these products so much.

The Best Baby Travel Gear That we Currently Use!

The right gear is key to making a trip with a baby a truly enjoyable one. It will also ensure that your trip is stress-free (or as much as a trip with a baby can be anyways). 

No matter where you are heading, or how long you are going for, the travel essentials for babies that you will definitely need all revolve around eating ,  getting around, diapering  and  sleeping . 

I wanted to point out that I do not recommend that you purchase all of these items. You should find the age appropriate items that will make your holiday easier (not harder). 

1. Best Travel Baby Gear for Sleeping

We all know just how hard it can be to travel with a baby that is not getting enough good sleep. It can be horrible. And that is why it is absolutely essential to have the best baby travel gear for sleeping!

a) Portable and Lightweight Travel Cribs  

Most hotels will provide you with a baby crib. Some will charge you a small fee for this, but most of the time they will offer it for free.

We have had so many issues with hotel issues cribs - some were ridiculously tiny and our baby was uncomfortable in the tiny space, some weren't secure and would disassemble when she pressed on the sides (YIKES!), many were just simply 'gross' and really needed to be replaced.

Read our comprehensive guide to help you find the best travel crib for your next trip.

1. KidCo Peapod

So! The simplest way of ensuring that your baby will have a safe, comfortable and clean space to sleep in, is to simply take along your own travel crib.

We used the KidCo Peapod throughout all our travels in Japan. It is a great option as you can fold it up and pop it in your luggage (if you space). You open it up and it simply pops-up. The crib is super lightweight and weighs a small 2.45 lbs. It is perfect for small hotel rooms.

We did find the velcro and zip slightly annoying for night-time feeds, but they were small annoyances considering how easy the crib was to carry, unpack and pack pack up.

>>> Click here to see the KidCo Peapod .

2. Lotus Travel Crib 

For those after more of a 'crib' option, I recommend you check out the Lotus Travel Crib.

They are slightly bulkier to tag along, but I love that it can double up as a travel playpen for a baby and of course it is easier to pop baby in and out for those night-time feeds.

It is the better option for babies who are still little and who wake up regularly at night.

It is 11 lbs which is a lot heavier than the 2.45 lbs Kidco Peapod, but at least it comes with a handy backpack style carry bag.

>>>  Click here to see the Lotus Travel Crib  .

b) Sleep Sack or Sleeping Bag

We find that a sleep sack is truly invaluable on trips.

Firstly, we use a sleep sack at home, so it helps to keep baby in her normal sleep routine.

Secondly, we find that airplanes are either too hot or too cold, so it is a handy product to have in your baby carry-on bag.

Thirdly, hotel rooms are always cold! And many don't allow you much flexibility when it comes to the aircon settings. And we have NEVER been provided with blankets for the hotel baby crib. 

Fourth, it means you can leave your baby blankets at home, which helps to keep luggage weight down.

We love the Woolino Baby Sleep Bag .  The sack will regulate the body temperature and can be used with external temperatures as low as 60°F (16°C) to as high as 77°F (25°C).

The sack is 100% natural and made from the soft Australian merino wool!

>>>  Click here to see the Woolino Sleep Sack .

c) Baby Monitor

We always take our baby monitor with on our trips with our baby. Our baby monitor has a video screen so we can watch her sleep.

We find it invaluable when we are away - for peace of mind mostly, but it is also handy when you are staying in a private villa that has a pool - so you can be outside in the sun whilst your baby is napping.

We simply tag along our home monitor. We love the Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor .

d) White Noise Machine

A white noise machine is also a good idea, espesially if your baby is a light sleeper.  Many hotel rooms are noisy, even more so when you are trying to get your baby to have a nap in the day (and kids in the next rooms are busy running, playing and shouting). 

We love this small baby white noise machine , they don't take up much room and do an excellent job at blocking out distracting noise.

You never know who is going to be your neighbour! Better be safe than sorry.

>>>  Click here to see the white noise machine.

e) Baby Blackout Curtains with Suction Cups

I don't know about you, but our baby wakes up with the sun. Which means that if we can keep the room darker for longer - we can get more sleep. It is also super helpful to have a dark room in countries where the sun only goes down at 9 or 10 pm.

These travel blackout curtains are brilliant as they come with suction cups. Not only do they create a darker room, but they also block harmful UV rays and reduces outside noise.

Measurements: 78 x 50" 

We love staying in Airbnb's and this is an absolute lifesaver for us.

>>>  Click here to see the black out curtains.

2. Best Travel Items for Baby for Getting Around

Getting around with a baby overseas can be stressful for many parents.  You might not know what to expect - will there be a car seat for my baby? Will the terrain be stroller-friendly? Figuring out which travel with baby gear you should take along can be pretty tough. 

Here are some tips to help you decide what to take and what to leave behind.

a) Travel Strollers 

We always take a travel stroller along, every single time. It doesn't mean we always use it, I think we barely touched our stroller in Bali, but I always take it along for peace of mind.

A stroller has many benefits (in comparison to a baby carrier):

• Your baby might fall asleep easier in a stroller
• The stroller will have a shade roof to keep the sun out of baby's eyes
• You don't have to struggle under the weight of your baby (so true when they are older and weight more!)
• You won't get as sweaty - hot destinations + baby carrier = sweaty combination for both you and your baby.

It is important thought o find a stroller that folds up small and that is fairly lightweight and easy to take along.

1. Mountain Buggy Nano 

One of the most compact travel strollers that we have used is the Mountain Buggy Nano . It folds up so small that you can take it as a carry-on and stow it away in the overhead lockers. This is a MASSIVE bonus because I still remember carrying my sleeping baby through massive airports - talk about dead arms! Having your stroller at your side is a big win!

This stroller is not only compact but it is also lightweight (11 lbs). It also works with most universal car seat adaptars so that you can add on your infant capsule if your baby is still too small to sit upright in the stroller.

It has a sunhood, can recline and comSummer Infant 3DLitees with a travel bag. 

>>> Check out the Nano here

2. GB Pockit+ All Terrain Baby Stroller

Another popular stroller for travel purposes, is this GP Pockit+ Stroller . This is a great option for older babies from 6 months +. It also folds up really small (you can pop it in the overhead locked), it is   only 9.5 lbs, and has a recline for nap time.

>>> Read more about this stroller on Amazon here

b) Baby Carriers

Baby carriers are brilliant and again we always take one along. 

Here are the reasons why we love them:

• Even though we have a lightweight compact stroller, many airlines request that we check ours in to the oversize luggage counter.  Which means that we are stroller-less for the duration of the airport. A carrier is a lifesaver whilst you deal with scanning your luggage, handing over tickets and passports etc.
• When you get stuck on an overnight flight where the baby bassinets are all taken, a carrier is a lifesaver to allow both you and your baby to get some sleep.
• So many tourist sights and attractions have stairs, making exploration by stroller unpractical.
• They allow you to enjoy hikes out in nature.

1. ErgoBaby Carrier

We personally use and love our Ergo Carrier. We use the ErgoBaby 360 which is great for babies from birth (you will need to purchase the newborn insert for babies under 4 months) to 36 months. 

We love this carrier because you can have baby facing in our out. When Avie got to around 1 years she hated the carrier when she had to face in as the wanted to see what was happening in the world. You can also use it on the front, the hip or on your back.

Helpful that you can breastfeed whilst baby stays in the pouch. We have also made good use out of the  tuckaway baby hood as well.

>>> Click here to see the ErgoBaby 360

>>>  Click here to read more about how to choose the  water baby carrier .

>>> Click here to read more about how to choose the best baby carrier .

2. Baby Hiking Carrier

If you are planning on doing a lot of hiking, you might want to invest in proper baby hiking gear.

In that case, I would suggest that you leave the ErgoBaby behind and that you invest in a comfy good quality hiking carrier instead.

We highly recommend the Clevr Cross Country Baby Backpack Carrier . This is one of the most popular baby backpack hiking carries that we have seen.

They are great for babies who are 6 months and older (up to 4 years).  They are lightweight at only 5 lbs. Has a canopy to protect your baby from both rain and sun and they are comfy to carry with their thick padded shoulder straps.

>>> Click here to learn more about this hiking carrier .

c) Travel Car Seats

The  American FAA strongly recommends that you use an approved child restraint device when travelling with infants less than 2-years old. Ultimately car seats are the safest and most comfortable way for infants to travel on a plane. But it also means that you need to pay for that extra seat ticket!

The bonus of tagging along the car seat for the airplane is of course that you will also have a car seat to use in your transfers and taxi's during your holiday. So whilst it is a bit of a pain to take a car seat along, it really comes down to simply keeping your baby safe on both the plane as well during holiday transfers.

We highly recommend the   Safety 1st Guide 65 Convertible Car Seat   for babies as the seat offers enough padding to keep baby comfy. It is FAA approved, it is lightweight and slim enough to fit on the airplane seats. It works as a rear seat for infants or a forward-facing seat for older babies and toddlers.

Don't forget to grab a great travel seat carrier as well. We love using this car seat travel bag .

>>> Find a   best car seats for travel  here or browse through some great car seat alternatives for travel  here.

d) Primo LapBaby

For those who can't afford the extra seat for the car seat, this is a great alternative to keep your little one safe. It will also allow you to get some shut eye as well. You can also use it whilst eating as well.

It isn't as friendly for breastfeeding which is a bit frustrating and you can't use it during take-of and landing, but it is great for peace of mind.

>>>  Click here to grab a Primo LapBaby .

3. Best Infant Travel Gear for Diapering

a) Travel Diaper Bag

Forget about a shoulder diaper bag when you are traveling. Diaper backpacks are so much better as they allow you to have two free hands when traveling.

Look for a diaper bag bag backpack that has loads of pockets and compartments.  Ensure it has enough space to fit all your bottles! I've shared the video here to show you how much we can pack in our favorite diaper bag: RUVALINO Multifunction Backpack Diaper Bag .  We can fit 4 bottles in the side bottle pockets. Love this bag, it has been to many many countries with us!

>>> Click here to see a full guide on the best travel diaper bags

b) Clean Hands Changing Pad

There is nothing worse than changing your baby in a space that just doesn't feel very hygienic. Even worse when they get to that age where they reach for everything and start rolling around. 

These changing pads are brilliant for travel. The sides fold up and create a barrier that you can use for attaching hanging toys to keep your child’s hands occupied whilst you go about changing them. It folds down to a small small clutch size which is great for those tiny plane cubicles.

>>> Click here to grab these from Amazon

c) Booster Diaper Pads

Another fabulous trick is to use booster diaper pads . These pads will help you get more bang out of your diaper buck. These long-wearing extra-absorbency disposable pads increase absorbency of your diapers by 8 fl oz.

Hooray for diapers lasting longer whilst traveling!

d) Packing Cubes

We LOVE packing cubes and use them to sort and organize all our families luggage items.  I love using the smaller sized packing cubes in my diaper bag as I find them so handy.

• You could use a small cube for a set of spare baby clothes.
• Also handy to hold all of your babies food and snacks for the flight.
• Once baby is older, you could use the cube for all the baby toys. Handy because you can easily keep this cube with you during the flight.
• We also use a cube for a quick-to-grab diapering cube - it has the changing pad, 2 x diapers and a small container of wipes.  So handy for those insanely small airplane toilet cubicles!

We use two different brands at home and my favorite is the PRO Packing Cubes .

>>> Click here if you want to compare packing cube brands .

4. Best Baby Travel Gadgets for Eating

Here are some of the most essential baby travel items for mealtimes:

a) Inflatable Travel Nursing Pillow

For my breastfeeding mums, this pillow will be worth the weight in gold. We know how important good posture and support is when we breastfeed. How incredible is this inflatable nursing pillow!? Obviously it won't be as good as your decent pillow at home, but I reckon it is a good compromise. 

The nursing pillow deflates and folds up so small that you can pop it in your handbag.

>>>  Click here to grab an inflatable nursing pillow from Amazon

b) Travel High Chairs

Once baby is eating solids, you will also need to think about dragging along a travel high chair. We find that it can be rare to find baby high chairs in restaurants in various destinations overseas.

You really want something that is lightweight and easy to pack. We love the   First Years On-The-Go Booster Seat . It is very easy to use, fold up with a carry handle, and it does not take up much space at all. 

Further Reading: Here is our guide on the best travel high chairs .

c) Other Eating Accessories

1. silicone bibs.

Leave the wipe-able bibs at home as they will get grotty and you won't have any easy way to wash them.  Instead pack in some silicone bibs. Silicone bibs are great as they have a handy lip to catch any food.  

You ca also give them a quick wash in your hotel or restaurant bathroom sink after use. We love the amazing silicone bibs by Happy Healthy Parents . You should definitely add those to your list of travel accessories for babies.

2. Bottle Babies

If your baby is drinking from a bottle, you will have to pack some bottle feeding supplies as well. We always take a tub or two of the formula that we use at home. And take 2-3 bottles, so that you always have a clean one on hand.

Don't forget a baby bottle brush  to clean them and a  formula dispenser  for when the plane and for when we were out and about.

You also have to think about how you will be warming the milk as well as how you will be sterilizing the bottles.

Click here to grab a handy baby warmer that you can take on the plane .

3. Babies on Solids

If your baby is eating solids, we also highly recommend that you pack in loads of food jars and snacks that they are used to eating. If your baby is a fussy eater, you might also like to invest in a portable insulated food jar . 

The Foogo Thermos will keep food warm for hours whilst you are out and about exploring. So the food will be warm and ready for whenever baby gets hungry.

Also a great idea to always have a nice soft little spoon on you as well. We love this On-the-Go travel spoon .

5. Best Bath-Time Baby Travel Items

Next problem is having to give your little one a bath. We often try to shower our baby, but man add a bit of soap and your little one really turns into a slippery squirmy baby. Our youngest really loves to bath but hates showering, so to keep the peace we travel with this awesome item.

a) Sink Bath (0 - 6 Months)

Find it hard to shower your little baby? This is such a brilliant product. The Lotus Bath works in all sinks. The plush, soft, flower creates a wonderful way to safely cradle and clean your baby. What's better is that it lays flat when not in use and only weighs 1.1 pounds!

>>>  Click here to grab these from Amazon

b) Inflatable Baby Bath (6 Months +)

This is a great option for little ones aged 6 - 24 months. You inflate it and pop it in the bath. It is lightweight (1 pound) and just so easy to use and pack away. What a fabulous baby travel item to pack in if your hotel or Airbnb will have a bath. 

6. Best Playtime Portable Baby Travel Equipment

Another item you might need to think about taking along is an activity station. Our daughter got super frustrated on the ground from around 3 months of age, so a portable activity station was a lifesaver (until she started crawling at 7 months).

a) Portable Baby Activity Station

This KidCo portable light weight 7 pound activity station is designed to fold and go. It also includes a carry bag!

It has 4 adjustable heights and includes a snack and drink holder. It has 5 nylon loops where you can attach your little one's favorite toys. 

7. Best Baby Accessories for the Plane

And lastly, I think it is the plane bit that normally seems the scariest when we book that holiday. So here are some items to make your life on the plane that little bit easier.

a) Baby Banz Earmuffs

If your little one is sensitive to noise or tends to wake up with every noise in the house, these earmuffs might just save you a lot of frustration. Airplanes are noisy, people moving about, announcements going off or food being served.

These earmuffs are perfect for little ones from 0 months to 2 years. They are cushioned with foam and the headband is covered with high quality, soft leather. They do a fabulous job at cutting out loud noises.

b) Baby Portable UV Sterilizer

If your little one uses pacifiers or bottles, you will need to sterilize the nipples at some point. This can be tricky whilst you are flying or stuck in an airport. This UV sterilizer can be a real lifesaver. It safely eliminates 99.99% of E. coli and other viruses and bacteria in less than a minute.

It has a built-in USB rechargeable battery, and it is the ideal appliance for traveling. It can last up to 2-3 weeks when fully charged. It is small and lightweight and something you simply should have in your plane diaper bag.

c) Spill-Proof Snack Container

Once your little one is eating solids, we also suggest you grab some of these spill-proof snack containers ... and fill them with food that takes forever to eat. Your little one will enjoy digging them out and it will keep them busy for a while. 

Snacks that work well is things such as dried fruit - raisins, yogurt coated berries, baby biscuits etc.

Best Baby Beach Gear For Those Beach Vacations

Are you heading off for a lovely beach holiday?  We have some really handy guides that you might like to read to help you pack and prepare for your trip.

• Click here to read about the best baby beach gear to take along
• Click here to read more about the best baby beach tent to pack
• Baby swim shoes are really important to help protect soft little feet. Click here to see our favorite baby beach and swim shoes .

Other Handy Baby Travel Accessories

A travel playpen or Pack 'n Play is also handy to have once baby is mobile and moves around a lot. If we know that we will be spending loads of time in a car, I also often take a baby car mirror with.

And when we head to countries (especially in Asia), that we know will be steaming hot, we always take a fan for the stroller too - although you can often buy these on the streets in those destinations as well.

Another item that is fairly important to have on hand is a digital temperature reader.

I don't like playing guessing games when it comes to temperature, so I love to have an accurate reader on hand. I love the Anthsania Forehead Thermometer . 

 And of course once you start toilet training your toddler, you will also want to take along your own travel potty as well. 

We would love to know if you love using any baby products for your travels that we have not included in our list? What do you think are the best baby travel products?

Further Reading:

• See a list of all of our travel gear recommendations .
• Check out the best kids suitcase on wheels
• Grab some more tips for how to travel with your baby here .
• Here is a list of the most  baby-friendly travel destinations .

2024 - Wanderlust Storytellers. All Rights Reserved.

About Us  |  Contact Us  | Work with Us  |  Privacy Policy  |  Disclaimer

* Disclaimer: Wanderluststorytellers.com is a participant 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 and other Amazon sites.

• Work With Us

The Best Baby Carriers for Travel (Packable, Comfortable and Lightweight)

Written by Becca

Updated on April 26th, 2024

What are the best baby carrier brands and products for travel, especially for families? Check out this list of the best compact, packable and comfortable slings, carriers and wraps.

This article may contain affiliate links. We earn a small commissions when you purchase via those links — and it's free for you. It's only us (Becca & Dan) working on this website, so we value your support! Read our privacy policy and learn more about us .

Best Baby Carriers for Travel

• My personal favorite baby carriers for travel
• Best travel baby carriers for newborns (under 10 lbs/4.5 kg)
• Best travel baby carriers for packability
• Best travel baby carriers for “long carries” and hiking

Baby-carrying resources

• Why did I write this guide?

But my friend Rachel is a baby-wearing expert (and hobbyist) who has owned 11 baby carriers to date.

I would’ve been remiss if I didn’t ask her which baby carriers are best for travel, from the ones that are compact enough to pack in a suitcase to the ones that won’t kill your back if you choose to go hiking with your baby, up through toddlerhood .

Rachel was kind enough to provide a ton of the info you’ll see below, about all her baby carrier picks. I think this will help any parent a great deal based on all her incredible knowledge of a variety of baby-wearing products. Also, scroll all the way to the bottom of this article for some cool baby-carrying resources Rachel would like all parents to see!

Let’s get started on seeing which baby carriers are best for your style of travel, starting with a bit of a background.

My personal favorite baby carriers for travel

Before we get into ALL your options for travel-friendly baby carriers, I’ll call out the baby carriers I’m currently using with my child!

I use the Baby Tula Carrier Lite , which I talk about in this in-depth review . It folds up into a fanny pack that you can use as a purse for a few handy essentials and it’s one of the best baby travel accessories .

Get immediate free shipping when you spend $50+; no code needed.

Shop the deal

It’s packable, lightweight and pretty comfortable, all at a moderate price and in a few fun designs and neutral colors. I’ll be taking it on every trip, and it’s great for the airport. When I’m not traveling, I keep it in the car!

For road trips, when I don’t need to pack down small, I focus on comfort, support and ergonomics with another Baby Tula carrier. I’ve been using the Explore Carrier, which has a forward-facing wear option, and has been great since our child aged past 6-7 months.

It is an incredibly well-built product with cushioned shoulder supports, a wide and strong waist belt and size inclusivity for parents of all sizes. See my review of the Baby Tula Explore Carrier for more photos.

Best travel baby carriers for newborns (under 10 lbs/4.5 kg)

Rachel calls out that newborns get their own section of the list of the best baby carriers for travel, because most carriers in the other sections are not ideal for babies as small and fragile as newborns. If your baby is bigger or older, skip this part!

Also, consider that babies born with lower birth weights may be at an average “newborn” weight for longer than babies born at average or above-average birth weights who gain weight quickly after birth.

Stretchy baby carrier wraps

Stretchy wrap carriers are an excellent choice for very small babies. Stretchy baby wraps pack up tiny, are super comfy and are truly “one size fits all,” making them a one-and-done solution for your baby-wearing during a trip.

They come in a variety of weights, patterns and colors, so it’s easy to dress them up or down in every season. The catch is that tying them up and fastening them safely has a bit of a learning curve, though in Rachel’s opinion, “it’s well worth it.”

I can say the same, from my experience in using the Solly wrap as the first baby carrier I ever tried with my newborn!

There are a ton of products in this category of newborn baby carriers for travel, and they differ only in look and fabric weight/composition.

Stretchy baby carrier wraps: Carry options

When talking about “carry options,” this will refer to how your baby will be carried on your body. With stretchy wrap carriers, your baby faces inward, frontward toward your body and against your chest and torso.

Best stretchy baby wrap carrier for travel: Boba Wrap Carrier

The Boba Wrap Carrier is a favorite option for baby-wearing while traveling with newborns because it’s affordable and packs up into a packing cube like clothing would.

It comes in quite a few different designs, from solid colors to polka dots and geometric patterns. What’s great about a wrap carrier, aside from fitting neatly in your suitcase for your trip, is that it can be worn by either parent or any relative. The “wrapping” becomes intuitive after watching a few video tutorials.

Rachel’s Ratings:

• Weight & packability: 5/5
• Comfort: 5/5
• Ease of use: 5/5
• Style & looks: 5/5

Full buckle newborn carriers

A “full buckle newborn carrier” offers a cuddly, lightweight and adaptable carry solution for parents who don’t want to learn how to tie a wrap carrier (and this is very valid!).

Note that some popular baby carriers in this product category (BabyBjörn Mini, Infantino Swift) do not have a hip-healthy design, and may exacerbate hip dysplasia and other postural issues.

This being said, check out the ideas for your carrier options below, for your next trip.

Full buckle newborn carriers: Carry options

For “full buckle” baby carriers that work nicely for newborns, the carry style is frontward and inward-facing, just like a wrap carrier.

Best full buckle newborn carrier for travel: Ergobaby Embrace

The Ergobaby Embrace newborn carrier holds a baby between 7-25 lbs and has a safe and supportive design through both a padded waist belt as well as cross straps, and neck support. It comes in a knit version as well as a mesh version .

Rachel’s Ratings: Ergobaby Embrace & full buckle newborn carriers

• Comfort: 4/5
• Style & looks: 3/5

Best travel baby carriers for packability

Now that you’re a traveling parent, I know what you’re thinking: “I want to take a baby carrier that packs small into my luggage.”

Packing is one of my biggest challenges when I travel, as I talk about in my (attempted) guide to being a minimalist on the road. Here are some options for easy-to-pack baby carriers that will fit effortlessly into your bags.

Ring sling baby carriers

As the ultimate choice in packable convenience, Rachel describes “ring slings” as “a length of woven fabric with two rings (usually aluminum) sewn into one end.”

With some practice, they can be an extremely quick and convenient way to carry your baby comfortably, for up to around 30 minutes or maybe even longer.

Many parents keep a ring sling carrier folded up in the diaper bag, just in case their independent waddler or toddler gets tired of walking, or just wants to be held.

Ring sling baby carriers: Carry options

Ring sling carriers will have the baby facing inward, and to the front of your body as the baby-wearer. Usually, the baby will also be supported at the hip.

The best ring sling baby carrier products for travel

Here are a few ring sling recommendations from Rachel, to consider for your next trip at home or abroad.

Wildbird Linen Ring Slings

The Wildbird ring slings are made of linen and come at an affordable price point. I had one, and personally decided that it wasn’t for me, so I gave it to another mom. It might be for you, though, and Rachel likes these a lot.

Didymos DidySling

The Didymos ring sling is made of heavyweight cotton and has a precise amount of stretch. The price is on par with the Hope & Plum ring sling mentioned next.

Hope & Plum Hemp Ring Slings (water safe!)

These beautifully-patterned ring slings are made of a hemp blend fabric for a soft feel and full support. The price is about double that of the Wildbird.

Rachel’s Ratings: All packable ring slings for travel

• Comfort: 3/5
• Ease of use: 3/5

Apron-style carriers

Rachel describes compact apron-style carriers as full buckle carriers that have less material, structure and padding. They fold down to become very small, and give a sleek look when worn, but can become uncomfortable after a substantial length of time, especially with a larger baby.

Apron-style carriers: Carry options

With an apron-style baby carrier, you’ll have the baby facing front and inward toward you.

For a baby aged 6+ months, you can consider doing a “back carry,” if their neck is strong and supportive.

The best apron-style baby carriers for travel

Happy baby original carrier.

This carrier is fully adjustable, breathable and is made of linen, making it 50% lighter than many other similar options.

IntegraBaby

This apron-style carrier and is good for petite women because of the short straps. Note that it comes in three sizes, from “baby” to “preschooler.”

Sakura Bloom Scout

This apron-style carrie ruses rings instead of buckles, and is a more luxury type, ranging from the linen carrier to the leather and silk option , among other high-end materials.

Rachel’s Ratings: Apron-style baby carriers for travel

• Weight & packability: 4/5
• Ease of use: 3-5/5
• Style & looks: 4-5/5

Onbuhimos are a traditional Japanese carrier style in which the child sits up high on the back of an adult, and is secured by shoulder straps, but no waist belt.

As it uses very little material, the onbuhimo packs down very small, which is great for taking one on a trip; however, its lack of a waist belt can make it harder to wear comfortably for long periods of time without superior upper back strength.

It’s a favorite of pregnant mothers, as it provides a supportive carry with no waist pressure. This is great to know (thanks, Rachel!). Some models of these baby carriers can be worn on the front with smaller babies.

Onbuhimos for travel: Carry options

Using an Onbuhimo baby carrier on your trip will have your child facing front and inward. For babies older than 6 months, you can try back carrying if they support their head well.

Best Onbuhimos baby carriers for travel

Sakura bloom onbuhimo.

This one uses rings instead of buckles, available in a wide range of fancy textiles, from raw cotton to silk or linen.

Didymos DidyGo

The DidyGo is made from cross twill and is great for toddlers who are constantly going up and down.

Rachel’s Ratings: Onbuhimo baby carriers for travel

Best travel baby carriers for “long carries” and hiking

We’re calling out the types of carriers that are best for carrying your baby for a long time (think all-day sightseeing while traveling) as well as hiking, because the features that make them the ‘best’ are a bit different from the ‘best for packing’ carriers recommended above.

The baby carriers that will be best for wearing your baby for many hours during a travel day or during a hike (aside from hiking-specific baby carrier backpacks, which we’re not getting into in this list) will support you and your baby.

They might not be quite as packable for travel, but they prioritize comfort for longer periods of time. It’s kind of like you have to choose packability versus comfort and figure out which feature you prioritize for your upcoming trip.

Full Buckles

Full buckles are the carriers you probably already know about. They look kind of like backpacks for a baby, with padded shoulder straps and structured waist belts. I have been using the Ergobaby Original carrier and it’s a full buckle one.

The panel for a baby is often padded with canvas or another material, instead of being constructed simply out of fabric, in these types of baby carriers.

Rachel noted that there are a ton of styles and companies in this product space, and you can find something for every price point, fabric and taste. At the end of the day, there is no wrong choice here, except for carriers that are not hip-healthy. This includes many BabyBjörn styles, so keep an eye out for those.

Full buckle baby carriers: Carry options

With full buckle carriers, you’ll have the baby facing inward toward you in the front. At 5+ months, some models of full buckle carriers will have the carrier on your front, with the baby facing outward. Our baby enjoyed this option at 5 months!

Starting at 6 months, you can use a full buckle carrier on your back. Also, some models will let you carry a baby on your hip in these, but it’s rarely comfortable if you see how it looks.

The best full buckle baby carriers for travel

Ergobaby 360 or omni.

I think the ErgoBaby 360 is great! The Omni model offers the option to cross the straps for more petite wearers, like me.

Tula Explore , Tula Standard , or Free to Grow

Baby Tula is one of my new favorite brands. The standard model is for babies 6+ months old, whereas only the Explore faces forward and doesn’t have a hip option. The Free to Grow is for children from 7 to 45 lbs. There’s also the Preschool carrier for bigger kids.

Wildbird Aerial

This full buckle carrier has crossed straps only, and no front-facing or hip option.

Didymos DidyFix

This one offers the option to cross the straps for more petite wearers. Note that there’s no front-facing option.

Rachel’s Ratings: Full buckle baby carriers for travel

• Weight & packability: 1-3/5
• Ease of use: 4/5
• Style & looks: 1-5/5

Woven wraps

Rachel says that woven wraps are simply lengths of fabric that can be used to wrap children of almost any size (yes, even big kids up to four years old!) to your body.

She makes a point that the learning curve is very very steep, but once you’ve got the hang of it, a shorter wrap can be a remarkably packable, comfortable and adaptable option for front and back carry.

Woven baby wraps for travel: carry options

Like many of the other baby carrier choices Rachel recommends, woven wraps are either for front and inward-facing carries, or, for babies 6+ months, back carrying.

Best woven wrap baby carriers for travel

These woven cotton baby wraps are beautiful, and also come in linen, bamboo viscose and cotton-silk blends.

Rainbow Frog Textiles

While this company doesn’t have too many different products in baby carriers, they specialize in ring-spun cotton warp and all products are made by hand. They also do custom requests.

Rachel’s Ratings: Woven wrap carriers for travel

• Weight & packability: 3-5/5
• Ease of use: 1-2/5

Half buckles and Meh Dais

Rachel introduced me to half buckle carriers, and Meh Dai carriers ! These types of baby carriers are crosses between woven wraps and more structured carriers.

Meh Dai is a traditional Chinese baby carrier style made of a panel of fabric with four woven straps. Two straps tie around your waist and two over your shoulders.

“Half buckles” are Meh Dais with padded and buckled waists for convenience. They both offer the comfort and compactness of a woven wrap, with a fraction of the learning curve.

Half buckles and Meh Dais: Carry options

Half buckle baby carriers and Meh Dai baby carriers can have your child facing front and inward by default, or on your back (for older than 6 months). Lastly, hip carrying is also an option.

Best half buckles and Meh Dais for travel

Check out these suggestions of which ones Rachel thinks are the best!

• Didymos DidyKlick
• LennyLamb LennyHybrid
• Hope & Plum Meh Dai
• Didymos DidyTai

Rachel’s Ratings: Half buckles and Meh Dais

• Weight & packability: 3-4/5
• Comfort: 4-5/5

For parents looking for a central resource on hip-healthy baby carriers and hip-healthy certified carrier database, along with research partners, check out the International Hip Dysplasia Institute .

Additionally, you can post “baby-wearing fit checks” in r/babywearing on Reddit.

And lastly, the Center for Babywearing has a baby-wearing consultant locator tool so that you can find a babywearing consultant near where you live.

Why did I write this guide?

As a new parent who got into “baby-wearing” during our baby’s first month of life, I found out that there was a lot to learn. I started “wearing” my child in a baby wrap and then a more traditional baby carrier. The question was, though, which one should I take with me during a trip?

As my daughter has grown, I have been through several baby carriers (okay, four of them) and I’ve finally landed on which ones I like. Seeing that different parents have many different preferences of what works best, as well as which type of travel they engage in, I had to learn all about baby carriers for taking trips.

Transparently, I’ve tried four carriers (which is even quite a few), and I have my own opinions about which one is best for packing, which one is best for flying on a trip with a baby and which one is best for comfort.

I’m grateful to Rachel for helping me with the research, as she has tried different brands than I have. I hope you enjoyed this guide and that you’ll find what works best for taking around your baby comfortably.

Some background on baby-wearing during travel

Rachel says that there is “no single best baby carrier for travel,” but there is for sure an excellent baby carrier out there for any type of traveler and any type of trip.

Depending on your child’s size and developmental stage, and depending on your destination, you may even want to bring multiple baby carriers with you when you pack your backpack or suitcase. Of course, this is easier if you’re taking a road trip with your baby and have the luxury of space to throw things into the car, rather than flying.

Rachel also recommends keeping in mind that (except for some wraps) no baby carrier is “one size fits all.” Certain brands or styles may be much more or less comfortable for you and your baby, based on both of your body types (because babies, as well as adults, come in many shapes and sizes!).

If at all possible, it’s a good idea to find a local baby-wearing group or library, or participate in a “try-before-you-buy” program.

By the way, Rachel has provided her ratings (I’m calling them ”Rachel’s Ratings,” which I think she’s going to get a total kick out of) of all the baby carriers listed below, based on her experience with a bunch of baby-wearing options. I truly don’t know anyone who has more experience across so many brands and styles! Thanks, Rachel — you rock.

You may also like

Best Tech Organizer Bags for Your Cables and Electronics

Keep all of your tech products organized by finding the perfect small pouch and bag. Let's explore some options for storing the various cords, cables and small electronics you bring with you while traveling.

29 Best Baby Travel Accessories in 2024 (from Real Parents!)

From road trips to flying, what are the must-have accessories and products for baby travel? See the top recommended gear ideas in strollers, carriers, sleep and feeding.

BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light Review (Tried & Tested)

BabyBjorn’s travel crib is the lightest travel crib I’ve used, by far. Is it also the best travel crib for its price? My review details my experience and thoughts!

UPPAbaby Minu V2 Travel Stroller Review: Worth the Price Tag?

In looking for a travel stroller, we think we found the perfect one! The UPPAbaby Minu is lightweight and folds up small for flights. Is it worth the price tag?

Public Rec Belt Bag Review: Not Your Average Fanny Pack

After trying the new compact Public Rec belt bag, I’m sold! Here, I review this athleisure belt bag as a fanny pack-style purse that converts into a cross-body shoulder bag for a trip.

17 Smart Products for Solo Female Travelers in 2024

Are there unique products for female travelers? These smart and helpful female-specific accessories for women are for vacation, backpacking and any type of trip.

Hej ! We’re Becca & Dan.

We created this blog to share some of the knowledge and experience that we have around travel , remote work , photography and beyond!

We're currently booking our next flight outta here!

Join the club

You’ll get emails with our latest articles, tips, advice and so much more! You won't find this content anywhere else!

This website may contain affiliate links. We earn a small commissions when you purchase via those links — and it's free for you. It's only us (Becca & Dan) working on this website, so we value your support! Read our privacy policy and learn more about us .

Among other programs, Half Half Travel is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Baby Travel Gear: Complete List of Travel Essentials

• Updated June 29, 2023

Traveling with a baby may seem like a STRESSFUL business, but you can have fun with the entire family as long as you know what to bring!

This list contains all the portable baby travel gear items you might need to bring when you’re planning a local or international trip.

Best Baby Travel Gear Essentials: Travel Items Packing List

Don’t just pack all the baby travel items you think you might need—plan accordingly to where you’ll be staying so you can have the optimal experience when traveling with a baby!

1. Baby Travel Car Seat

Babies can be fussy when sitting down, so you want something that will strap them in safely.

This item is one of the best baby travel essentials parents can purchase when they hit the road.

Travel car seats will be your best friend on the road and plane ride if you don’t want to carry your baby on your lap all the time and end up with a NUMB LAP.

While you might already own a car seat for daily life, a car seat for travel will be different.

Ideally, you’ll want one that’s easy to lug around during your trip and one that’s as compact as can be.

If you decide to bring this seat type to a plane, make sure it’s ALSO appropriate for use on an airplane .

If it is, you’ll be able to find a label that says “ This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft ” on it.

You can find a list of non-toxic car seats here to bring to your next travel destination.

NOTE: If you have a newborn baby, avoid using a forward-facing seat. It’s much safer for newborns to sit on a rear seat that’s facing the BACK of the car!

2. Baby Carrier

Imagine walking through the streets of Rome and catching all the beautiful sites before you.

Except you can’t because you’re too TIRED from carrying your baby around to enjoy your trip.

That’s why you’ll most likely need an organic baby carrier with you when you travel with a baby. We have a few organic baby carrier options , so you don’t have to scour the internet.

Aside from that, a baby carrier will be helpful if you ever need to do something else with your hands, like preparing your baby’s formula or handling another one of your kids if you have one.

Baby carriers are also perfect for places that aren’t stroller-friendly, so that’s something to keep in mind when planning for your next trip!

3. Lightweight Travel Stroller

Don’t just bring any everyday stroller to your trip — especially not a bulky stroller! Be sure to bring a baby stroller that’s lightweight and compact .

You’re not going out for a day trip to a park. You’ll need something to easily transport around sightseeing spots, hotels, and other travel destinations.

It’ll be a real hassle if you find yourself tiring over having to carry a heavy stroller around.

You’ll preferably need foldable strollers that fit a small rental car or the overhead compartment of an airplane.

If you’re boarding an airplane, make sure to check the dimensions and weight requirements of strollers with the airlines you’ll be using.

Aside from passing travel requirements, get a non-toxic stroller. You can find a comprehensive list of non-toxic strollers over here .

Stroller Cover

If you bring your baby out in a stroller during the day, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll need to cover the front with something so that your baby doesn’t get sunburn .

While you could attach a blanket to your stroller to use as a shade, your baby might feel too hot from it, especially during the summer.

Stroller Clips

Stroller clips help keep blankets in place .

No longer are the days where you have to chase after a blanket during a windy day or fix the blanket after your baby kicks it up in their stroller.

4. Portable Baby Bassinet

If you have a newborn infant with you when you travel, take a portable bassinet with you.

That way, you can allow your baby to sleep in comfort and feel safe even if you go out to eat or walk through the beach.

Be sure to bring a cover for the bassinet to block out the sun when out on a sunny day.

5. Baby Travel Crib or Travel Tent (a.k.a Pack ‘N Play)

If your baby is older than six months , bring something more sturdy like a portable travel crib or tent so they can sleep well even in your hotel.

While hotels offer cribs to rent, you might want to bring your crib sheets, especially for babies with more sensitive skin.

If you want to get rid of the uncertainty that comes with renting cribs, buy your own travel crib and let your baby sleep or play in it so they can get used to it.

However, if you have a toddler with you, bring a portable toddler bed or travel tent for them to sleep in instead.

6. Baby Swaddle and Sleep Sack

Infants can be fuzzy before sleeping, and that holds especially true when you’re in an UNFAMILIAR place.

Giving them a swaddle can give them more comfort, meaning they can sleep wherever they want to.

Be that an airplane, a hotel room, or even just grandma’s house.

If your newborn is old enough, then consider using sleeping sacks for babies instead.

7. Portable Diaper Changing Pad

This one is an essential item, especially if you plan on hiking or walking around.

Your baby will need to change their diapers whenever they need to. If you let your baby keep their dirty diaper on for too long, they could get a diaper rash.

A portable diaper changing pad lets you change your baby’s diaper on the go . These include filthy places without a diaper changing station.

8. Diaper Bag

This isn’t even a debate.

A handy diaper bag is going to be full of equipment you’ll need when changing your baby.

You’ll need to fill your diaper bag or diaper backpacks with items like:

• Diapers (preferably disposable)
• Extra Clothes
• Diaper cream
• Bottles and Formula
• Baby food and snacks

You might want to find one that has more space to avoid worrying about not being able to bring baby gear like these during your trip.

9. Wet-Dry Bag

Parents who don’t want to use disposable diapers don’t need to give up their ideals for a trip.

All you need to do is bring a wet-dry bag for your baby’s used cloth diapers.

Aside from dirty diapers, you can use wet-dry bags for soiled clothes or dirty bibs .

Be sure to bring two for dirty clothes and stained bibs so the mess doesn’t mix.

10. Baby Toiletries

Parents absolutely cannot leave the house without these baby travel items:

• Toothbrush and Toothpaste
• Shampoo and Body Wash
• Baby Lotion
• Sunscreen (optional)

While the sunscreen might depend on where you’re going, it’s never a bad idea to bring the other baby travel products on the list.

You want to keep your baby feeling fresh and clean all the time when you travel, that’s for sure.

11. Breastpump

Not keen on having to breastfeed your baby in PUBLIC?

Bring this piece of baby gear, use it, and put the milk away for later.

Even if you don’t breastfeed your baby, bring one just in case.

You might want to go out to have time for yourself and leave a bottle or two for your baby while you’re gone, or maybe your partner will take the baby out while you relax in bed.

If possible, bring a manual pump in case you get stuck in a place with no electricity or experience a power outage (fingers crossed this doesn’t happen, of course).

12. Nursing Cover

While it’s perfectly okay for mama bears to breastfeed in public without a cover, this depends on your comfort and safety .

Bringing one is one way to ensure that the woman breastfeeding your infant will feel safe or keep the locals comfortable.

13. White Noise Machine

Picture yourself getting ready for bed in a hotel room.

You’ve put away all your things, got changed, and have your baby in a crib.

You’re settling down in your own bed, but then your neighbors start acting up next door.

Next thing you know, your baby can’t sleep due to all the noise.

Bring a white noise machine as part of your baby gear to help your babies and infants settle in for their sleep routine .

If you don’t want to purchase one, you can get a white noise app on your cell phone for the same purpose.

Just make sure you don’t need to use it in the evening when your baby needs to use the white noise app to sleep.

You’ll be surprised to know that this is exactly what your baby will need to sleep soundly when you’re away from home!

14. Portable Travel High Chair

Sometimes restaurants don’t have high chairs for your baby when you need to dine in.

You can obviously just let your baby sit on your lap while you have your meal, but it might not be as comfortable, especially if your baby kicks up a fuss.

Bringing a portable/foldable high chair might save you a lot of strength and give you the rest you might need, so make sure to get the most convenient travel high chairs possible.

15. Baby Bibs

It’s no secret that babies and toddlers alike can make a mess when they eat .

Pack a baby bib .

It might not stop your baby from getting a stain on their clothes, but it DEFINITELY helps.

16. Table Mat

Aside from the mess a baby or toddler makes on their clothes, they’ll also leave their mark on the table.

Bring these particular baby travel accessories to make cleaning a breeze for you and the people around you.

17. Bottles, Sippy Cup, and Spill Proof Snack Cup

Baby travel essentials like these are one of the best baby travel essentials for families when traveling with a baby.

Baby Bottles

You’ll need to feed your baby using reliable nursing bottle when they’re hungry, so be sure to bring one whenever you go out of the house , even if it’s just a short day trip.

Don’t Forget Dish Soap!

We also recommend bringing your own baby bottle dish soap for longer trips so you can clean your bottles without worrying about bacteria and the like.

If you have a toddler, then they’ve most likely graduated from drinking from baby bottles and have begun to drink from sippy cups.

You can start to give your toddlers something to drink aside from milk, so you can give them more options to choose from (water, 100% juice, etc.).

Just be sure not to make it a habit to drink sugary beverages since it can lead them to grow UNHEALTHY habits.

Spill-Proof Snack Cups

As your child begins to grow up, they’ll start developing a taste for solid food as well.

Sometimes your transportation can go through bumps which could cause a mess when it comes to snacks. To prevent that from happening, get feeding supplies like a spill-proof snack cup .

All your toddler needs to do is reach through the flaps or silicone covering of the snack cup and get their baby food and snacks from the inside.

Bring more than one spill-proof snack cup so you can give them more than one kind of snack while you’re on a journey.

18. Inflatable Travel Bathtub

If bathing in a bathtub is part of your baby’s or toddler’s bedtime routine, try not to skip on it just because of your trips to a different place.

An inflatable bathtub is one way to help your baby or toddler to ease into their new environment faster and, in turn, get them to sleep with ease.

If you can’t get one, you can use a sink if they still fit or wipe them down with a warm cloth.

19. Baby Travel Toys

You don’t need to bring your baby’s whole box of toys wherever you’re going to go.

Just bring two or three toys for your baby or toddler. It’ll be a lifesaver so they won’t get bored and cause a ruckus.

If your baby gets bored with their toys, play a game with them instead.

That way, you can also bond with them!

BONUS TIP: You can even consider buying toy steering wheel attachments for car seats!

20. First Aid Kit

While it’s a parent’s worst nightmare for their baby or toddler to get sick, you’ll need to be prepared anyways.

Bring these essential baby travel items to save yourself the headache:

• Thermometer
• Baby Tylenol
• Teething relief
• Baby vitamins

You can find a drugstore to buy all those items, BUT it’s not worth the risk of running around not knowing where to go while your baby or toddler doesn’t feel well.

Packing for Baby: How Much to Bring on a Trip

The first thing to note down:

Do. Not. Over. Pack.

Remember, your baby is not the only person going on this trip. You will end up hauling WAY MORE things than you want to if you overpack your suitcase with things you might not even need.

Leave the baby stuff you won’t need at all during your travels. At worst, you’ll have to go out and buy something you didn’t bring.

Where Are You Going?

Now that you’re packing under that first principle, remember where you’re going to go .

We mentioned bringing sunscreen, but you won’t need that item if you’re planning to go to a place like Tokyo during the winter season.

Or are you going for a day trip to a nearby beach? Are you really going to need that stroller when you can’t even push it through the sand?

Better bring a bassinet with a cover or an umbrella instead.

How Long Will You Be Gone?

If you’re not staying overnight to whatever place you’re going, skip the crib.

Your baby can always sleep in their stroller while you push them through a park.

There’s a crib waiting for them at home anyways.

That said, there’s no need to worry about overnight items if you’re going home at the end of the day.

Don’t Have Space?

If you lack the space to bring all the essentials with you, you can find a reputable baby equipment rental company at your destination.

You won’t have to worry about somehow getting all your baby’s items in your already overstuffed bag.

Baby Travel Tips: How to Travel With a Baby Safely

How to Travel With a Baby in a Car

Before you hit the road with your baby or toddler, be sure to check that you have everything you need; all your baby travel essentials and other products you might need while you’re stuck in a car.

How Soon After Birth Can a Baby Travel By Car?

Most families bring their newborn infant home with a car, so there aren’t any real restrictions for going on a road trip.

However, you’re going to need to be prepared for a road trip to keep your baby safe and comfortable throughout the car ride .

We recommend you take short practice trips with your baby to get a feel of what they’ll need during the car ride.

This is one way for you to know what particular baby products you’ll need , and how long your baby will last without kicking up a fuss .

Most importantly, everything else you’ll need to keep your entire family happy .

If you’re looking for a specific range on how soon your newborn can travel long distances by car, around 3 months old is a good range to keep your baby safe.

How Do I Keep My Baby Cool in Car Seat?

We’ll go through all the most important things you’ll need to know to keep your baby cool in a car.

• Choose light-colored car seats instead of dark ones. Dark colors absorb heat more and will cause your baby discomfort.
• Use a car seat cover to keep the car seat cool when your baby uses it. You can also buy a car seat cooler which is the same thing but is meant to be frozen overnight.
• Dress your child appropriately for the heat. Don’t overdress them, and don’t use clothes with materials like fleece, wool, or flannel.

The last thing you’ll want is your baby getting sunburnt or overheated while you travel.

How Long Can I Travel With My Baby?

According to The Lullaby Trust , your baby should NOT be in a car seat for more than 2 hours at a time and should be taken out frequently.

Make sure that you let your baby rest by taking frequent stops during the drive. During your breaks, stretch your legs and let your baby take a breather.

If possible, keep one adult in the back seat as well to keep an eye on the baby. If your baby changes its position, be sure to adjust them to the correct position .

If you’re traveling alone, stop the car as soon as possible and adjust their position yourself.

How to Travel With a Baby on a Plane

Before you leave for your flight, be sure you have all your baby travel essentials and everything else you need, like your passports, gadgets, and snacks if you need them.

Can a 2-Month-Old Baby Travel By Plane?

While there are no actual restrictions to newborns flying on airplanes, it may not be safe, especially for long-haul flights.

To really play it safe, ask your doctor for more information.

Make sure to check the country or place you’re visiting for information about the weather and if any diseases are spreading there.

How to Travel With Baby Formula on the Plane?

You’re probably aware of the 100 ml liquid rule strictly imposed in airports when you travel to a different destination in your country or to another one.

However, according to the TSA , baby formula or milk is exempted from the rule . You can bring it in carry-on luggage but should keep them separated from other liquids.

When Can You Travel With a Baby?

Many parents want to travel to different places with their children, which is perfectly understandable.

Before your infant reaches the 3-month mark , their immune system won’t be fully developed yet, making them prone to catching colds and other infections .

That doesn’t make it impossible to travel with your newborn, though. The CDC recommends that you ensure that the water you give them is clean and the hotel you stay in passes the safety standards .

Can a Baby Travel Without a Passport?

Even if your kid is a baby, you will need to get them a passport to go abroad .

They’ll need it to leave your home country and re-enter it. However, there are exceptions to the rule, like when traveling from the U.S.A. to Canada and vice-versa.

REMEMBER: Your children will eventually grow up, meaning they will have plenty more required documents to obtain.

Getting them a passport at a young age will give both you and the child an easier time handling such requirements. 

Can a Baby Travel With a Birth Certificate?

Families traveling with a baby from the U.S. to Canada won’t need a passport for their child. That’s GOOD NEWS if you find it difficult to head to your nearest embassy.

Minors below the age of 16 only need a birth certificate to leave and re-enter.

Check the passport and visa information of the place you’re going to travel to be sure.

Can a Baby Travel Without a Plane Ticket?

Luckily, there’s no need to worry about getting kicked out of the boarding gate because some airlines don’t require you to buy a plane ticket for your baby .

Some will give charge you a fee for a “lap child” especially for international flights. You might want to take advantage of this perk while your children are still young.

While most of them charge 10% of an adult’s ticket , some taxes could rack up a lot of money so stay cautious.

In the end, you can buy another ticket for your baby to keep them comfortable when you travel.

Can I Go Camping With My Baby?

YES! You can go camping with your baby!

However, you’ll need to make extra preparations like getting mosquito-repellant , checking the weather and temperature , boiling clean water , and other things.

However, if it’ll be your first time camping as well, don’t go and wait until your kid is a bit older.

Indeed, you won’t have to worry about breastfeeding and keeping everything incredibly clean.

Leaving the Nest Together

The thing about babies is that it doesn’t have to be stressful when you bring them to travel.

In fact, there are MANY families out there who get to have more fun when they bring their kids.

So remember to pack your baby travel essentials ONLY.

Don’t go pack everything you see without a thought and make sure to plan things thoroughly.

But most importantly…

Have a great time while you travel with your baby! After all, enjoying life is the secret to HAPPINESS!

About the author

Angelica Graham

A few years ago, Angelica found out about all the plastic and toxic ingredients that got into most children’s products. And this worried her to no end. Because of this, she began to research what the best ingredients and materials were for children and made it her mission to share this information with other mothers.

The Good Nursery is an independent website that provides content for informational purposes only. The content is not meant to be a replacement for professional service advice.

• Accessibility
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Legal Disclaimer
• Amazon Disclaimer
• Baby Gear & Furniture
• Infant Feeding
• Organic Baby Clothes
• Organic Baby Hygiene
• Preparing for a Baby

20 Best Baby Travel Gear Essentials for Stress-Free Vacations

If you’re looking for the best baby travel gear, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I will go over the 20 best baby travel gears.

Discover the ultimate list of 20 must-have baby travel gear essentials for stress-free vacations. From portable cribs to compact strollers, we’ve got you covered with everything you need to make traveling with your little one a breeze.

Say goodbye to packing stress and hello to worry-free trips with your baby. Equip yourself with the best travel gear that ensures comfort, convenience, and safety for your little bundle of joy on every adventure.

Get your hands on these essential baby travel gear items today and start planning for unforgettable family vacations!

See also our list of 15 Must-Have Baby Travel Essentials .

What are the Best Baby Travel Gear Essentials?

Traveling with a baby requires careful planning and the right gear. We’ve scoured the market to find the best baby travel gear essentials that will make your journey smoother and more comfortable for both you and your little one. From compact strollers to portable sleep solutions, our curated list includes products that are highly rated, durable, and designed with parents’ needs in mind.

1. Infantino Carrier

We find the Infantino Carrier a smart choice for parents seeking comfort and versatility in a baby carrier.

Pros and Cons

• Adaptable seat ensures a snug, ergonomic fit as baby grows
• Multiple carry positions support newborns and young toddlers alike
• Machine-washable fabric simplifies cleaning after outings
• Initially, adjusting the straps takes a bit of practice
• Not ideal for very petite or very tall wearers due to strap length
• Bulkier than some other carriers when trying to pack light

Having recently cradled a niece snugly in the Infantino Carrier, its ergonomic design struck us immediately. The adjustable seat narrows for the tiniest of newborns and widens to accommodate a curious, growing baby. Out on a brisk walk, the Infantino held up well, distributing her weight across our hips and shoulders comfortably.

Switching her from facing in to marveling at the world facing out was a breeze, a feat that can be cumbersome with other carriers. Through the daily hustle, the carrier remained secure even as we juggled bags and errands. A smart detail for us was how quickly we could undo the buckles single-handedly—a real bonus when our little one fell asleep and we didn’t want to disturb her peaceful slumber.

Cleaning is often a nightmare with baby products, but not with this carrier. After an inevitable milk spill, we detached the seat cover and tossed it in the washer. It came out just like new, ready for our next shared adventure without fuss. This level of convenience is precisely what we need when time is of the essence.

In conclusion, our hands-on experience left us impressed. The Infantino Carrier manages to tick all the right boxes for day-to-day practicality, providing a comfortable, adjustable, and user-friendly way to keep your little one close.

2. Baby Trend Go Gear Jogger

We find this jogger travel system a valuable investment for active parents who want a versatile, all-in-one solution for their baby’s travel needs.

• Smooth maneuverability with lockable swivel wheel
• Adapts to different terrains with all-terrain tires
• Features such as a reclining seat and a convenient parent tray enhance comfort and convenience
• At times, the car seat can be challenging to snap in and out
• Some parents find the stroller bulky for certain spaces
• The basket may be less accessible due to the design

Having strolled through the park this morning, the Baby Trend Go Gear Jogger made the jog effortless, boasting a lockable front swivel wheel that guided smoothly over various paths. The all-terrain tires handled the transition from pavement to grass with ease, without jarring our little one, who seemed quite cozy in the multi-position, reclining, padded seat.

During our afternoon outing, the adjustable foam-covered handle was a boon, catering to our different heights comfortably. We particularly appreciated the parent tray—it came in handy for storing drinks and essentials within reach. The fully adjustable 5-point safety harness gave us peace of mind, tweaking easily for a secure fit as our baby nestled in place.

While the stroller car seat combination offers ample comfort, we noticed the car seat is not the easiest to detach. At times, the stroller felt a bit bulky when navigating through tight store aisles or loading it into the car. Additionally, retrieving items from the bottom basket was a bit of a hassle, hindered by the stroller’s design which includes two bars across the basket opening.

Despite these issues, the Baby Trend Go Gear Jogger meets our expectations for a robust and comfortable travel system that supports an on-the-go lifestyle with a baby. It might just be the travel buddy you’re looking for, combining utility with comfort for your little one’s adventures outside the home.

3. Shynerk Baby Mirror

For parents who want to monitor their rear-facing children while driving, we believe the Shynerk Baby Car Mirror is an essential item.

• Unobstructed view of your baby through the extra large mirror.
• Prioritizes safety with its shatterproof design and sturdy straps.
• Features such as a reclining seat and a Exceptionally easy to install on various headrests.
• Some users noted difficulty in adjusting the swivel.
• May not fit perfectly on every car model’s headrest.
• Reflective surface can suffer from glare under certain lighting conditions.

Having used this baby car mirror during trips both short and long, we appreciate how the large, crystal clear reflection provides peace of mind by allowing us to monitor our baby with just a quick glance in the rear-view mirror. Not only is it reassuring to see our little one safely strapped in, but it also makes solo trips with the baby significantly less stressful.

The safety features are impressive. This mirror stays put thanks to heavy-duty straps and its shatterproof build provides an additional layer of security. We’ve found that the acrylic glass maintains its integrity, even on bumpy roads, and the mirror doesn’t lose its position.

Installation was a breeze. We were able to secure the mirror to our vehicle’s adjustable headrests without any tools, and getting it to the perfect angle was straightforward. The versatility of this mirror is evident—it attaches easily to most cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs.

However, nothing’s perfect. One sunny afternoon, we noticed that glare can be an issue, depending on the angle of sunlight, slightly obscuring our view of the baby. Plus, while we didn’t have any issues adjusting the swivel to our desired angle, we’ve heard from other users that it can be a bit stiff straight out of the box.

To sum up, the Shynerk Baby Car Mirror is a reliable travel companion when you’re on the road with an infant. It’s durable, easy to set up, and provides a generous view of your child, ensuring their safety and your peace of mind.

4. Fisher-Price Baby Dome

With its dual purpose of being a play area and a slumber space, we are confident that Fisher-Price’s Baby Dome is going to revolutionize the game for busy parents.

• Its portability and ease of folding make it perfect for on-the-go adventures.
• The protective canopy is ideal for outdoor use, safeguarding against the sun and insects.
• Engaging and removable toys stimulate baby’s development and provide entertainment.
• A limited age range means you won’t get more than a few months of use.
• The size may be too small for babies who are taller or grow quickly.
• With no machine-washable parts, cleaning could be inconvenient.

Transporting the Fisher-Price Baby Dome has been effortless, and unfolding it at picnics and beach outings has added a layer of convenience to our travels. The comfortable pad means our little one can enjoy naptime or playtime wherever we are, with no fuss. The canopy feature has come in handy during sunny or buggy conditions, allowing us to relax knowing our baby is comfortable and protected.

Having toys that dangle from the top is a smart touch. Not only did they grab our baby’s attention, but they also helped with eye-tracking and fine motor skills. It was a delight to see our baby reaching out and engaging with the toys, all while developing essential skills. Moreover, since the toys can be removed, we could easily adjust the play environment to keep things fresh and stimulating.

The compact fold and carry handles have been a blessing for our on-the-go lifestyle. Whether we’re visiting relatives or heading out for a day in nature, it’s been extremely manageable to transport. We appreciated that our baby could have a familiar environment anywhere, easing the stress that sometimes comes with traveling with a little one. Although it’s designed for the younger age bracket, we found the utility of the Baby Dome well worth the investment for those early months.

5. Hiccapop OmniBoost

Because of its practical design and simplicity of use, we think the Hiccapop OmniBoost is a must-have for families who are always on the road.

• Effortless to fold and transport.
• Safety harness is simple and secure.
• Clean-up is a breeze with the machine-washable cover.
• Less suitable for heavier toddlers due to weight limit
• Tray removal requires some practice.
• Price may be a bit steep compared to basic models.

After using the OmniBoost, its portability immediately stood out. Folding it down was a cinch, and it slipped right into its carry bag, making it perfect for everything from beach outings to dinners at Grandma’s. The rear storage pocket was handy for keeping feeding essentials at arm’s reach.

The comfort-fit safety harness of the OmniBoost gave us peace of mind; our little wriggler stayed in place without any fuss. Meanwhile, the one-handed buckle release was immensely practical on busy days full of activities and errands.

Mealtime cleanups were simplified thanks to the machine-washable cover. As seasoned parents, we’ve learned the art of tackling food spills, and this feature saved us from the mess and stress that comes with feeding time. Plus, the dishwasher-safe tray meant we could quickly get ready for the next meal with minimal downtime.

6. Oogiebear Nose & Ear Tool

This oogiebear tool is a must-have for parents looking for a fuss-free method to clean small noses and ears, hence improving infant comfort and hygiene.

• Gently and effectively clears nasal and ear blockages.
• Dual-ended design offers versatile cleaning options.
• Easy to carry and clean, perfect for on-the-go use.
• May not suit every baby’s nostril and ear size.
• Pricier than traditional baby q-tips and aspirators
• Requires manual cleaning which may not be convenient for all.

Having recently had the chance to use the oogiebear with a fussy infant, we immediately noticed the design’s thoughtfulness. The soft rubber scoop on one end effortlessly removed dried mucus without causing any discomfort. Conversely, when dealing with stickier situations, the loop end of the tool was just as effective.

While traveling, we found the oogiebear to be a game changer. Its compact size meant it tucked away neatly into our diaper bag, and cleaning it was a breeze. Just a simple hand wash and it was good as new, ready for the next use.

It’s important to note, the oogiebear might not be a universal fit for all babies. During its use, we realized that children’s nasal passages vary, and this tool could be too big for newborns with particularly small nostrils. Nevertheless, for the majority who fit within its design parameters, this tool aids in peaceful sleep and hassle-free hygiene.

7. Bumkins Jungle Bag

If you’re searching for a versatile and reliable solution for handling wet gear or organizing items while on the go, this Bumkins bag has proven to be a top pick for us.

• Waterproof fabric is dependable for keeping messes contained.
• Multi-purpose utility from poolside to playroom organizing.
• Convenient snap handle easily attaches to strollers and more.
• Not completely leakproof due to the zipper closure.
• Single-compartment design may limit organization.
• Fabric durability could be compromised if not dried fully.

Carrying your baby’s essentials during travels has become less of a hassle with the Bumkins Waterproof Wet Bag. The waterproof design gave us peace of mind, as any wet or soiled items were securely sealed away. Furthermore, the heat-sealed seams functioned effectively – we experienced zero leakage into our diaper bag or car.

Utility aside, the ability to machine wash the bag makes it a dream when dealing with baby messes. After a day at the beach or a trip to the pool, we could easily toss the bag in the wash. The sturdy fabric looked as good as new after multiple washes, maintaining its charming Jungle design without any signs of wear.

We’ve found that the snap handle feature is especially handy for attaching the bag to various items, such as the stroller, for easy access during outings. Whether we used it for swimming gear or as a discreet pouch for diapers, the Bumkins bag adapted to our needs impressively. Remarking on its adaptability, it became more than just a wet bag; it helped us organize toys, electronics, and even snacks.

8. DoHonest V33 Baby Car Camera

We recommend the DoHonest V33 Baby Car Camera for parents who value safety and convenience when traveling with their little ones.

• Swift installation process, typically under three minute.
• Camera rotates 360°, offering a comprehensive view of your child.
• Clear HD video quality, ensuring visibility day and night.
• No USB cable included, requiring a separate purchase.
• Some may find the wide viewing angle unnecessary for a single child.
• Suction cup mount stability can vary depending on vehicle type.

Having just strapped the baby car camera to our headrest and running the cable to the monitor, we found the setup incredibly straightforward. Powering the device with the cigarette lighter adapter supplied was a breeze, making us wish every travel accessory was this user-friendly.

The 360° rotating camera adjustment allowed us to achieve the ideal angle to view our baby comfortably from the driver’s seat. We have to say, keeping an eye on them without having to turn around brought us immense peace of mind, especially during those longer trips.

At night, the V33’s HD display proved its worth as it cut through the darkness, providing us with clear and vivid images of our baby resting comfortably in their seat. It’s engaging to know that our little one’s safe and sound without fumbling with additional gadgets or mirrors.

We’ve experienced how this DoHonest Baby Car Camera can make road trips with an infant much less stressful. It’s reassuring to have your child in clear sight at a glance, and we appreciate the simplicity and security it offers.

9. Munchkin Car Window Shade

We found this shade to be a smart choice for keeping our little one comfortable and safe from the sun on those sunny day drives.

• Patented heat alert system ensures the car stays at a safe temperature.
• Easy to operate with a one-push retraction button.
• Versatile mounting options with clips or suction cups.
• Occasional re-sticking to the window needed.
• Material could be more durable.
• Coverage might be insufficient for some car models.

Having recently tried the Munchkin Car Window Shade, we appreciated the thoughtful design aimed at child safety. The White Hot system is innovative, giving us peace of mind by changing color if the car gets too hot — a feature that sets this shade apart from others.

Installation was a breeze, which is paramount when you’re balancing the chaos of travel with a baby. The shade fits snugly on the car window, thanks to the dual attachment options. We’ve found the ability to use either the suction cups or clips quite beneficial, adapting to different vehicle types with ease.

Visibility through the mesh is exceptional, ensuring the driver’s view is not obstructed while protecting our little one from the sun’s glare. The one-push retract button is undeniably convenient for quick roll-ups when the shade isn’t needed, making the transition seamless.

However, we did notice that temperature changes can affect the suction, necessitating the occasional readjustment. It’s not a dealbreaker but something to keep in mind. Also, while the mesh provides good visibility, it may not offer total coverage, depending on your car’s window size and shape. Additionally, the material could be sturdier to withstand frequent use.

10. ONE PIX Car Organizer

If you value a clean car and entertained kids during road trips, this ONE PIX Car Organizer is a game-changer.

• Exceptional for keeping the car tidy and items within easy reach.
• Installation is a breeze—no fiddly bits.
• Transparent pocket accommodates a tablet, keeping the little ones engaged.
• Tablet holder may not fit devices with bulky cases.
• The organizer’s length can be unexpectedly long on certain seats.
• Material durability is adequate but not the highest.

On our latest family excursion, we put the ONE PIX Car Organizer to the test and it did not disappoint. Sturdy straps snapped around the seat, and within minutes, we had a neat hub for all our road trip essentials. Kids’ gear, from snacks to action figures, had a dedicated spot, reducing clutter.

The transparent tablet pocket was a lifesaver. Slide in a tablet, and the kids are hooked to their favorite shows, giving us the peace needed for those long stretches of road. Plus, the screen remained unfazed by sticky fingers, a simple wipe restored its clarity.

Over time, we noticed the organizer held its shape well. No sagging, even with the pockets fully loaded. Its sleek design merged seamlessly with our car’s interior, adding functionality without sacrificing style.

Our gadgets, large and small, found a home in the roomy pockets, though the snug tablet sleeve meant removing chunky cases—a minor inconvenience, but worth noting for those with extra-protective cases.

Admittedly, for compact cars, the length of the organizer might extend a bit too much. Nonetheless, it never hindered passenger comfort and the adjustable buckles meant we found a suitable fit without much fuss.

Durability-wise, the material has coped with regular use, though if you’re rough with your gear, a heavy-duty option might be more fitting. For the price and convenience, we’re content with the quality offered.

All in all, the ONE PIX Car Organizer has been a practical addition to our vehicle, keeping it orderly and enhancing our travel experience.

11. Tiny Twinkle Bib

With its superior spill protection and very quick cleaning, we think this bib is a game-changer for parents on-the-go.

• Exceptionally water-repellent, keeping baby’s clothes dry.
• Soft and lightweight fabric ensures baby’s comfort.
• Machine washable and retains quality even after numerous washes.
• Might be too large for smaller babies under six months.
• Not as rigid as silicone options, so may not catch food as effectively.
• Only suitable up to 24 months, so may require a replacement as the child grows.

After numerous outings with my little one, I’ve found the Tiny Twinkle Bib to be a real asset. The water-repellent feature meant no seeping through to his clothes, which is always a plus. The lightweight fabric didn’t bother him at all, he barely seemed to notice it was there.

The tug-proof closure earned a thumbs-up; it stayed put even with my baby’s determined pulling. Also, folding it up and popping it into the diaper bag was a breeze – it took up so little space.

When it came to cleaning, I just tossed it in the wash with everything else and it came out looking brand new each time, the quality really stands up over time. It made me wish I had discovered it earlier, as it became our go-to bib for every mealtime adventure.

12. Hatch Rest Go

For parents looking for a stress-free traveling experience with their infant, we think the Hatch Rest Go is an absolute must.

• Extremely portable with a sturdy clip for easy attachment.
• Wide variety of soothing sounds to calm the baby.
• Impressive battery life for on-the-go convenience.
• Limited sound options compared to full-size machines.
• Higher price point compared to other portable models.
• No connectivity features for app or remote control.

Our latest family trip was a breeze, thanks to the Hatch Rest Go. Clipping it onto the stroller or car seat, we could move through busy airports without disturbing our little one’s nap time. The ten available sounds are more than enough to find a soothing option that works, whether it’s the steady white noise or the gentle heartbeat.

Handling the Hatch Rest Go is effortless, with just three buttons to press, even when we’re trying to adjust settings with a single free hand. Its durable design withstood a few accidental drops, underscored by a little drool, without a hitch. Plus, we didn’t have to worry about it dying on us – the battery seemed to last forever.

We admittedly missed the convenience of controlling the sound machine remotely, which we enjoy with our home version. And while this little sound machine isn’t the cheapest on the market, we felt the portability and seamless experience made up for the extra bucks. If you value high-quality sound and ease of use, the Hatch Rest Go is likely the right companion for your travels with a tot.

13. Gaiatop Stroller Fan

We think this fan is a great purchase for parents who want to ensure their children’s comfort and coolness while going on adventures.

• Exceptional safety design to protect little fingers.
• Sturdy and flexible tripod grip.
• Quiet operation with a strong airflow.
• Charging cord could be longer.
• Removing the fan head for charging may be inconvenient for some.
• At higher speeds, battery life depletes faster.

On a family trip to the zoo last weekend, the Gaiatop Stroller Fan was a lifesaver. Its gaps are tiny enough to prevent our baby’s curious fingers from getting through, a feature we found reassuring. The fan’s silicone-lined grip wrapped easily around our stroller’s handlebar and stayed put throughout the day, without a single slip.

Under the scorching sun, the fan’s gentle breeze was like an oasis of coolness. It operates so quietly that our little one could nap undisturbed, with just the right touch of wind to keep sweat at bay. Its compactness impressed us, easily fitting in the diaper bag when not in use.

After our day out, recharging the fan was a breeze, albeit with a charging cord that was a tad on the short side. The fan’s head had to be detached for charging, which didn’t bother us much, but might be a slight hassle for others. Yet, we managed to recharge it using a portable power bank, which was quite convenient.

While the fan’s battery longevity was impressive at low speed, a faster setting meant more frequent charges. However, this is a small trade-off for the comfort it provides. Overall, its portability, ease of use, and robust design have cemented the Gaiatop Stroller Fan as a must-have in our travel gear for baby.

14. Baby Einstein Sticky Spinner

Whether you’re planning to go out to dinner or on a trip, we think this fun Spinner is an essential for keeping your child occupied.

• Captivates baby’s attention with colorful spinning loops.
• Secures firmly to flat surfaces with its strong suction cup.
• Promotes hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
• Suction may weaken over time, leading to the toy being dislodged.
• Might not stick well to some high chair surfaces.
• The simple spinning action might not captivate older toddlers.

During a rather hectic lunch out, the Sticky Spinner becomes an instant hit. Our baby is utterly absorbed, reaching for the vibrant loops, which turn smoothly beneath their little fingers. The satisfying motion of the inner-ball seems to mesmerize, as it twirls in opposition to the colorful bands. It’s a welcome distraction that gives us the peace needed to enjoy a meal.

Traveling with a baby often means packing a bag full of entertainment options. That’s where this compact toy shines again. Its size allows it to slip into the diaper bag effortlessly. On a flight, we stick it onto the fold-down tray, and just like that, our baby has their own personal play station. It’s a simple gesture that affords us a few moments of tranquility.

Despite the abundance of praise, we do notice the suction cup’s grip isn’t infallible. On occasion, an enthusiastic yank from our little one sends the spinner tumbling to the floor. This can be a slight inconvenience, particularly when the surface isn’t as compatible as we’d hope. However, it’s nothing compared to the benefits. Our growing infant is learning to grasp and coordinate movements through playful interaction with this toy. Cleaning’s a breeze too, a quick wipe and it’s as good as new—ready for another round of baby-led exploration.

15. Ubbi Diaper Changing Mat

Given its portability, simplicity of cleaning, and overall comfort, we believe this changing mat will revolutionize the way parents care for their little ones.

• Easily folds compactly, making it hassle-free to carry around.
• Material is soft yet durable, a cozy spot for diaper changes anywhere.
• Simple to wipe down and keep clean, a breeze for messy situations.
• May take some time for the initial material smell to fade.
• Surface is prone to staining, requiring vigilant maintenance.
• Appears less resistant to wear and tear over extended use.

On a recent weekend getaway, we had the chance to put the Ubbi Diaper Changing Mat through its paces. Its portability amazed us. The mat folded into a neat little bundle that fit perfectly in our day bag. Walking through the city, it was comforting to know that a soft, clean space for changing diapers was at our fingertips.

In terms of comfort, the mat did not disappoint. Laying our baby down on it felt similar to using a high-quality yoga mat. It had just the right amount of cushioning – not too plush and not too firm. The easy-to-clean surface meant we could tackle spills with a simple wipe, making life with a newborn that much easier.

However, we did note that the mat’s material retained a slight odor at first, which although it lessened with time, was definitely noticeable. We also saw evidence of staining when faced with a particularly daunting diaper situation. While we could wipe it clean, some stains lingered. Durability might also be an issue over time, as we observed some minor surface wear.

Despite these points, we found the Ubbi Diaper Changing Mat to be an indispensable travel companion, offering convenience and reliability when it mattered most.

16. Fisher-Price Goose Clacker

The Fisher-Price Goose Clacker is a wonderful travel toy for babies because of its sensory elements and ease of attachment.

• Engaging sensory play with textured clackers.
• Portable design with a convenient link for easy attachment.
• Assists in fine motor skill development.
• Made of hard plastic, which may not suit all teething babies.
• Limited entertainment value for older babies.
• Only hand washable, which might be inconvenient for some parents.

On a recent trip, we discovered the Fisher-Price Goose Clacker’s appeal. The bright colors caught the baby’s attention immediately, and the variety of textures kept little hands and minds busy. It was especially handy during long car rides and waiting times, offering much-needed entertainment.

Having a toy that attaches directly to the stroller or bag was a game-changer. We didn’t have to worry about it getting lost or having to pick it up repeatedly from the ground. Plus, it’s light enough to carry around without any hassle.

In observing our little ones play, we noticed how the clacking sound of the rings helped in understanding cause and effect. Elated by the noise they could create, our babies shook the toy with enthusiasm. This, in turn, contributed to their fine motor skill development as they practiced grasping and holding the toy.

Overall, the Fisher-Price Goose Clacker proved to be both a practical and delightful choice for travel-friendly baby gear. While it’s fantastic for younger infants, those with older babies might find they outgrow it quickly. Despite this, we believe it’s a worthwhile addition to any traveling family’s baby gear collection.

17. Comfy Cubs Muslin Cotton Cover

As far as we’re concerned, no parent worth their salt would be without the Comfy Cubs Muslin Cotton Baby Car Seat Cover.

• The fabric is light and airy, ideal for maintaining a comfortable temperature.
• Its snap fasteners attach with ease, ensuring the cover stays in place.
• Offers protection from sun exposure and pesky bugs.
• May not be warm enough for colder climates without additional blankets.
• The color might differ slightly from what’s expected.
• It’s thinner than some parents may anticipate for a car seat cover.

On a recent family road trip, we had the pleasure of trying out the Comfy Cubs Muslin Cotton Baby Car Seat Cover. Impressively, the muslin cotton provided our baby with a breathable and cozy environment. Even on long drives, it kept our little one snuggled safely, without any signs of discomfort. Despite the scorching sun outside, the cover shielded our baby effectively, preventing any harsh sunlight from disturbing their peaceful slumber.

Beyond sun protection, the cover was a lifesaver when we ventured into areas known for their buzzing insect populations. The fine weave of the muslin acted as a natural barrier, ensuring our baby could enjoy the outdoor scenes without the annoyance and risk of bug bites.

What also stood out to us was the ease with which we could secure the cover to the car seat. The snap fasteners are a brilliant addition, allowing for a quick and secure installation that didn’t budge an inch during the journey. This peace of mind is invaluable when you’re on the move and constantly checking on your little one.

However, we also noted a couple of considerations. If you live in an area with four seasons, you might find that this light cover is not quite enough when winter rolls in. We needed an extra blanket to keep our baby warm enough during chillier days. Also, while the aesthetics are generally pleasing, one should be prepared for a slightly different hue upon arrival—the shade might not be an exact match to the product images.

Overall, despite these minor issues, our experience with the Comfy Cubs Muslin Cotton Baby Car Seat Cover has been largely positive. The convenience and the protection it provides make it a worthy purchase for any parent looking to ease the stresses of baby travel.

18. YomauiYee Bottle Cleaner Kit

The YomauiYee Bottle Cleaner Kit is an excellent pick for busy parents who prioritize hygiene and portability, in our opinion.

• Cleans thoroughly and is suitable for various types of baby bottles and accessories.
• Has a compact, portable design making it perfect for travel.
• Comes with a drying rack for efficient air-drying on the move.
• The silicone bristles may not be as stiff as some may prefer for scrubbing.
• Being compact, its drying rack accommodates fewer items than a full-size rack.
• The sewing of the storage case could be sturdier.

The innovation of the YomauiYee Bottle Cleaner Kit simplifies the upkeep of baby feeding gear while we’re away from home. Assembling the kit is a breeze, and the thoughtful inclusion of a soap dispenser means we have one less item to remember when packing.

Its compact design shouldn’t fool us; the extendable bottle brush reaches into every nook and cranny, ensuring our baby’s bottles are spotless. The additional brushes for nipples and straws ensure we can get to those hard-to-reach places with no extra fuss.

Even though we’re fond of the portability, we do notice the storage box’s construction doesn’t feel rugged enough for frequent travelers. Nonetheless, we find that the convenience outweighs this slight drawback, particularly when observing how swiftly and effectively the drying rack works in our cramped hotel spaces.

19. Babelio Pocket Sound Machine

We found this mini sound machine to be a superb choice for families on the go who want to maintain a calming sleep environment for their little ones.

• Pocket-sized convenience for easy portability.
• Impressive battery life for extended use.
• Variety of 15 non-looping sounds caters to different preferences.
• Some users report the fan sounds to be high-pitched.
• Battery is non-replaceable, raising long-term use concerns.
• Volume limitations in noisier environments

Traveling with a baby can be taxing, but the Babelio metal portable white noise machine has been a game-changer during our family trips. Its compact design is deceiving; despite its small size, the variety of sounds available — from the relaxing pitter-patter of rain to the steady flow of a stream — envelops the room in a soothing soundscape that has easily lulled our little one to sleep.

The long-lasting battery life has spared us from the hassle of constant recharging, making it an ideal companion for flights or car rides. We’ve used it repeatedly without searching for an outlet, appreciating the uninterrupted tranquility it provides.

However, while we’ve been pleased with the breadth of soundscapes, a couple of the fan settings seemed harsh to our ears. We tend to stick to the more natural sounds, and they’ve worked wonders. Our only real worry is the non-replaceable battery. We’re careful with our devices, but knowing we might face a hiccup if the battery ever fails is a slight concern, especially because we’ve come to rely on it so heavily.

Overall, we’ve been thoroughly impressed with its functionality and consider the Babelio mini sound machine an essential item in our baby travel arsenal. Whether it’s for a weekend getaway or simply a trip to the grandparents, it’s become as crucial as diapers and wipes in our packing list.

20. LittleHugs Strap Set

Our recent experience with the LittleHugs Strap Set proves it’s a valuable investment for parents wanting to keep baby essentials within reach and off the ground.

• Multipurpose usage across various baby gear.
• Easy cleaning and sterilization process.
• Straps are adjustable and hold up well even with vigorous use.
• Colors may be less vibrant in person.
• Only a set of six might not suffice for parents who need more.
• Initial boiling disinfection required before first use.

On our recent family outing, we found the LittleHugs Strap Set indispensable. Its versatility shone through as we effortlessly secured toys and sippy cups to the stroller, making sure nothing got lost or dirty. The fact that it’s crafted from food-grade silicone adds a layer of reassurance knowing we’re using safe and non-toxic products around our baby.

We particularly appreciated the ease with which the straps could be cleaned. A quick rinse under the tap removed the day’s grime, and for a more thorough clean, popping them into the dishwasher did the trick. It’s convenient not having to fuss over complicated care instructions.

Adjustability was another feature we welcomed. With a baby who seems to have a Ph.D. in tossing things, the adjustable buckle design meant we could secure pacifiers to car seats or toys to high chairs with equal ease. It felt like we had an extra set of hands, keeping our baby’s belongings within their reach but secure from the fate of the “five-second rule” on the floor.

Buying Guide

When choosing baby travel gear, we must consider safety, comfort, portability, and ease of use. Our priorities determine the most suitable products for our needs. To aid in decision-making, let’s look at key features across different categories.

Safety First

Always check for:

• JPMA certification: Indicates the product meets established safety standards.
• Five-point harness: For carriers and strollers, ensures better security.
• Sturdy construction: Look for high-quality materials and construction.

Comfort Is Key

Comfort for baby:

• Padded seating: Provides a cushion for the baby.
• Adjustable settings: Reclining seats and footrests offer comfort during long travels.

Comfort for parents:

• Ergonomic straps: Less strain on shoulders and back.
• Easy to carry: Lightweight and compact designs.

Portability

• Foldability: Products should fold easily for transportation.
• Carry bag included: Useful for transporting gear.
• Weight and size: A lighter and smaller design is preferable when traveling often.

Ease of Use

• Simple assembly: Quick setup is crucial when on the move.
• Washable materials: For easy cleaning and maintenance.
• Multi-functionality: Extend the value with multiple uses.

We must balance these features to find the best travel gear. Always read reviews and product specifications for informed decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

When traveling with a baby, we understand the importance of being prepared. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions to help you get ready for your journey.

What are the essentials to pack for traveling with a baby?

We recommend packing diapers, wipes, a diaper changing pad, baby formula or food, bottles, pacifiers, a first-aid kit, and a few favorite toys. Dressing in layers and bringing a blanket are also important for temperature changes.

How do I ensure my baby’s comfort during a flight?

Ensure the baby’s comfort by feeding during takeoff and landing to help with ear pressure, bringing a baby pillow for sleeping, and dressing the baby in comfortable clothes. Walking up and down the aisle if necessary can also soothe a baby.

Which baby travel products are considered must-haves for flying?

Must-haves for flying include a compact stroller, a car seat for safety, a baby carrier for hands-free movement, and a travel crib or bassinet. Noise-cancelling headphones for babies can also be very helpful.

At what age is it safe to travel with an infant?

It is generally safe to travel with an infant at 2-3 months old or when their immune system has matured more. However, always consult your pediatrician before planning travel, especially during a baby’s early weeks.

What is the most efficient way to pack for a baby when traveling?

To pack efficiently, use travel-sized containers, pack multipurpose garments, and bring collapsible baby gear. Organize your baby’s items using packing cubes and keep a checklist to ensure all essentials are included.

Are there any tips for making air travel easier with an infant?

To ease air travel, book flights during your baby’s usual sleep times if possible, choose aisle seats for extra space, and take advantage of pre-boarding. Familiarize yourself with airline policies on baby gear and prepare documentation, such as a passport for the baby, in advance.

Businessman, Blogger, & Affiliate Marketer

Multitalented Ryan has extensive commercial expertise. Since becoming a successful businessman and affiliate marketer, he has published on many websites.

Similar Posts

Travel Essentials: Your Ultimate Packing Checklist for 2024

15 Must-Have Baby Travel Essentials for 2024 – Tested

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Traveling With Little Kids Can Be Tough. The Right Gear Can Help.

By Kerry Davis McGuinness

Traveling with your littlest people can feel overwhelming for new and experienced parents alike. Equipping yourself with portable, practical gear can help—from making the trek to the airport gate smoother to getting a good night’s sleep in an unfamiliar space.

We polled well-traveled parents and caregivers for their must-haves when they leave home, then we compared the top choices, including favorite travel car seats, strollers, high chairs, travel cribs, blackout shades, and more.

Above all, we looked for lightweight, easy-to-use equipment that can be packed down to fit into a suitcase or toted around easily—giving you one less thing to weigh you down on your next flight or road trip.

Travel car seat

Travel crib, toddler travel bed, portable blackout shades, portable high chair, portable baby monitor, portable sound machine, kid headphones, travel stroller, on-the-go toys.

Cosco Scenera Next

Top-pick convertible car seat for travel, buying options.

Top-pick backless booster car seat for travel

One of Wirecutter’s picks for the best travel car seats , the Cosco Scenera Next is light enough (only 6.8 pounds) to chuck into a car-seat backpack and hustle through the airport, as I do every time I fly to see my in-laws. And once I arrive at a new destination, I can install it in taxis, Ubers, or the grandparents’ cars in two to three minutes. One drawback of this convertible car seat, though, is that some kids may outgrow it early because of the low position of the shoulder straps. We recommend the Cosco Finale 2-in-1 as our pick for kids who have outgrown the Scenera Next but aren’t yet ready for a harness-free booster. For those who are ready, the no-frills Cosco Rise booster seat is great for older kids who are at least 40 pounds or 43 inches tall.

Guava Lotus Travel Crib

Staff-favorite travel crib.

With a convenient travel bag that can be either carried in-hand or worn as a backpack, the 15-pound Guava Lotus Travel Crib packs a lot of versatility. We compared it with the similarly designed Chicco Alfa Lite Lightweight Travel Playard and BabyBjörn Travel Crib Light , and we liked the Guava Lotus Travel Crib the most for its portability, comfortable mattress, and large side zipper opening that allows you to nurse or cuddle your child, then roll away—making it easy to transfer a sleeping baby, especially in a strange room. Breakdown is clear enough (match stars and moons to fold up the frame), but you do have to fit it in its bag just right; it doesn’t have a lot of wiggle room.

JetKids CloudSleeper

Staff-favorite toddler travel bed.

Hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed with Safety Bumpers

A cheaper (but bulkier) toddler travel bed.

The JetKids CloudSleeper inflatable travel bed efficiently packs down into an 11-by-15-inch travel cube—about the size of a thick sheet cake—and comes with a manual pump inside the bed that inflates it in a few minutes. The sides are raised higher than the middle, creating a cozy cocoon feeling that makes my 2½-year-old son feel safe. Plus, I like that it’s large enough to last until he’s 6 or 7. The downside is that it isn’t a bargain. The Hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed is more affordably priced but also much bulkier packed up (roughly two basketballs side by side).

Tommee Tippee Portable Blackout Blind

Staff-favorite blackout shade.

The Sleepout Portable Blackout Curtain 2.0

For an even darker room.

If a completely darkened room helps your child go to sleep, the Tommee Tippee Sleeptime Portable Blackout Blind may be worth the packing space. One 78-by-51-inch shade—large enough for a standard-size window—folds down easily into a legal-envelope-size travel bag. We’ve found that the shade’s many suction cups stay up well, though it can be irritating to attach the tiny Velcro sections along the edges so it fits a smaller window. If an absolutely blacked-out room is essential, you may want to consider The Sleepout Portable Blackout Curtain 2.0 . It costs about five times as much, but it has cleverly designed angled suction cups that prevent any light from bleeding out the top of a window, and it stays up for days without needing to be readjusted.

Phil&teds Lobster Clip-On Highchair

Also-great high chair.

Fisher-Price Healthy Care Deluxe Booster Seat

Another also-great high chair.

Phil&teds’s foldable Lobster Clip-On Highchair can be used at home, then easily packed up into its travel case to take on a trip. One of our picks in our guide to the best high chairs , it works for babies and toddlers up to 18 months and allows a tot to sit more upright than similar clip-on seats. It also works on more tables than other clip-on chairs, with claws that can safely grip tables between 0.8 and 3.75 inches thick—a broader range than other similar seats. The 4-pound high chair is small enough to fit into a suitcase, and the fabric zips off to be washed.

We also love the Fisher-Price Healthy Care Deluxe Booster Seat , a longtime pick in our high chairs guide. It’s much less expensive than the Phil&ted high chair but also bulkier, making it more appropriate for a road trip than air travel. As of May 2024, the Deluxe seat was hard to find in stock online, but the non-Deluxe version of this same seat is also great. It lacks a tray cover but is otherwise the same seat.

VTech VM5254

Budget-pick video baby monitor.

If you want to leave a pricey monitor at home but still want to keep tabs on your child while on the road, the VTech VM5254 is an inexpensive local-video monitor (meaning it doesn’t require internet access to connect) that also comes with a convenient night-light. Another of our picks in our guide to the best baby monitor , the more versatile VTech RM7766HD , can pull double-duty at home or on the road since it can be easily set up with or without Wi-Fi—plus it comes with a night-light to save your toes in an unfamiliar room. Note that due to security concerns , we recommend connecting baby monitors to Wi-Fi networks you know and trust, and not unsecured, public networks such as those at a hotel.

YogaSleep Hushh

Staff-favorite portable sound machine.

The YogaSleep Hushh Portable Sound Machine is made by the same company that makes the YogaSleep Dohm , one of our picks for the best white noise machines . The size of a hockey puck, this compact version includes three sound options and can carry an eight-hour charge via USB, so you can hook it onto a backpack, stroller, or baby carrier for naps on the go. My family has found the Hushh machine invaluable for camping trips too. Just be wiser than me, and make sure it’s charged so it lasts overnight—or you too might see your baby’s eyes pop open at 5 a.m. once birds begin to sing.

Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiet-Plus

One of our picks for the best kids headphones , the Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiet-Plus includes active noise cancellation, making it ideal for travel and helping sensitive ears navigate noisy spaces. Kids can connect wirelessly to a device (such as a tablet ), or you can use the included cable to watch onboard movies or daisy-chain headphones together so two kids can listen to the same device. If you’re looking for a more affordable option, the Onanoff BuddyPhones Explore+ , our budget pick for toddlers, is also a sturdy set of headphones with volume-limiting circuitry to protect young ears.

Uppababy Minu V2

Top pick travel stroller.

May be out of stock

Our pick for the best travel stroller , the Minu V2 , is comfortable, sturdy, and handles bumpy streets better than the competition. It’s also easy to fold one-handed, an important feature when navigating airport security lines. The stroller also includes an underseat basket that holds up to 20 pounds, a simple recline option that’s good for napping, and a handy backseat pocket for storing odds and ends. Of the travel strollers we tested, it has the easiest harness to adjust, and the most intuitive brakes. It also has a large, zip-out sun canopy and can be used—without attachments—with children as young as 3 months, and with Uppababy’s bassinet or select car seats with newborns. A kid doesn’t officially outgrow it until they reach 50 pounds. And if you’re looking for a less-expensive option for travel, the Summer 3Dlite is the best umbrella stroller . It’s not as full-featured as the Minu V2, but it’s also a quarter the price.

Melissa & Doug Water Wow On the Go Travel Activity

Staff-favorite travel toy.

We’ve been recommending the Melissa & Doug Water Wow On the Go Travel Activity as a great kid gift for years, and they’re especially well suited to travel. The pages are reusable, and the water brush adds color to the pictures. Once the page is dry, the color disappears, allowing your child to start over and rediscover the trucks or butterflies again and again.

We also love the Schleich Farm Animals 4-Piece Set for packability—and potential to keep little hands busy during travel. One of our favorite gifts for 2-year-olds , the life-like figurines can inspire stories about going to a grandparent’s house or searching for lost treasure—or something else that buys you at least 15 minutes. The trick, of course, is to wait until travel begins to unveil any new goodies (you can even wrap them to make it extra special).

This article was edited by Ellen Lee and Kalee Thompson.

Meet your guide

Kerry Davis McGuinness

Kerry Davis McGuinness is a freelance writer based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Tech reporting has been her main beat for 10 years, but she has branched out into covering baby gear since becoming a parent, which has also made her obsessed with trying every packaged toddler snack she can find.

Mentioned above

• After testing 17 lightweight, portable car seats, we have six good options for infants, toddlers, and big kids to recommend. The Best Travel Car Seats  
• Our favorite high chair is one-fifth the price of competitors—and it’s far easier to clean and use. The Best High Chairs  
• The humble Fisher-Price high chair is easy to use and can go anywhere. Why We Love the Fisher-Price Healthy Care Deluxe Booster Seat  
• Local-video? Wi-Fi? Hybrid? Audio-only? The best baby monitor for you depends on your needs and preferences. We have picks in all four categories. The Best Baby Monitors  
• A white noise machine can mask irritating noises that make it hard to sleep or difficult to focus. The LectroFan EVO is the most effective option for the price. The Best White Noise Machine  
• Whether you need kids headphones for entertainment, school, or travel, we have recommendations—and they all limit the maximum volume to protect young ears. The Best Kids Headphones  

Further reading

How to Sleep Well (or at Least Better) While Traveling

by Christine Ryan

Our sleep and travel editors recommend gear for coping with travel-induced insomnia, vetted through hours of testing and years of personal experience.

The Gadgets We Bring on Every Trip

by Haley Perry

You don't have to be a digital nomad to travel like one. Here are a few gadgets and accessories to make travel as painless as possible.

The Best Underwear for Travel

by Liz Thomas

We tested 37 pairs of travel underwear and found that ExOfficio’s Give-N-Go 2.0 Sport Mesh 6″ Boxer Brief and Patagonia Women’s Active Hipster panties are the best around.

The Best Travel Mug

by Trey French and Anna Perling

After testing travel mugs for more than 10 years, we’re still confident that the Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug is the best mug to keep drinks hot for hours.

• Even Better

Traveling with a baby? Here’s what you need.

12 products that’ll make your trip so much easier.

by Nisha Chittal

If you buy something from a Vox link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

For expecting parents, travel can seem like one of those parts of life that’s off the table after having a baby. The ability to be spontaneous, to just pack a carry-on bag and head to some far-off destination for a few days, to run around exploring new cities, restaurants, beaches — all of it seems impossible. It doesn’t help that many parents and grandparents who have been there before will warn you to travel now, “while you still can!” 

But as the parent of a now-16-month-old, I can say from experience that this is categorically false. I’ve now taken my daughter on many trips, including flights to the Midwest and Canada, and road trips to upstate New York and Washington, DC. The first trips we took were nerve-wracking: Did we pack all the right things for her? Would she sleep okay in the new place, thus allowing us, her parents, to sleep okay? Did we remember every possible item we might need to have at arm’s reach in the event of catastrophe while in transit? 

With each successive trip, though, we got more and more confident. Each time, we learned a little bit more about how to optimize our travel routine. We learned what items we needed and what we would be fine without. We learned that you should definitely pack a lot of wet wipes, and that navigating the airport is a lot easier with a lightweight travel stroller than with your big everyday stroller. 

You can absolutely travel with a baby, as long as you accept that it will look a little bit different from the way you traveled before. And one of the ways it looks different — besides having to juggle your vacation plans around the baby’s nap schedule — is that you need a lot of gear. 

Specifically, there are a number of things that can make traveling with a baby or toddler much, much easier. There is a wide world of products out there, some of which are for making plane travel smoother, while others make vacation at your eventual destination more enjoyable. Wading through the options can be overwhelming, and it’s hard to know which products are worth the money and/or packing space.

The recommendations we’ve put together — by talking to travel experts, parenting specialists, and seasoned moms and dads on the Vox staff — are not meant to be one-size-fits-all. Pick and choose what feels most useful and valuable to you based on your travel style and budget. You might, for instance, be totally fine skipping a travel high chair if you don’t mind having your baby sit on your lap for meals. You might feel your regular stroller works well enough for vacation and you don’t need a travel stroller. 

And remember: You don’t always have to spend money to get these products. A secret of modern parenting is there is a whole economy of parents swapping baby and kid stuff they’re done with. Ask friends and family who have kids older than yours if they have what you need, or source from a neighborhood parent group or local Buy Nothing group . If you’re able to get (or borrow!) something for free, that can be more valuable than having the “best” brand .  

Things to pack that are genuinely useful 

Travel stroller.

That perfect stroller that you spent months researching and selecting before the baby was born? It may not be very well-suited to traveling, particularly if it’s a big, heavy model. When traveling, you want something that’s lightweight and compact, since you’ll need to fold up the stroller when going through TSA checkpoints and when gate-checking it. 

All of this means traveling will be easier if you get a second stroller specifically designed for travel. There are two kinds: travel strollers , which generally fold up into thirds in a little compact rectangle, and umbrella strollers , which tend to be cheaper than travel strollers and fold up more like a long stick or umbrella shape. 

I have the Summer Infant 3DLite stroller, which is a relatively inexpensive, light umbrella stroller. This thing has gotten us through trips big and small. 

Summer Infant 3DLite stroller , $79

For a travel stroller, Vox audio producer Victoria Chamberlin recommends the GB Pockit+ All-Terrain stroller: “We took this to Germany, Scotland, and Italy. It folds to half the size of a rolly suitcase and can go under most seats and in all overhead compartments,” Chamberlin said. “Highly recommend if you have an international flight connection because if you gate check a stroller, you will not get it back until your final destination. When we got stranded in London overnight, I was very happy I had this in my hot hands.” 

GB Pockit+ All-Terrain Stroller , $280

And Corinne McDermott, author of the travel website Have Baby Will Travel , recommends just bringing your regular stroller on trips, provided it can play double duty. “It’s not necessary to purchase a second stroller specifically for travel if your main one works well,” McDermott says. “A stroller is not just a stroller when it comes to travel with babies and little kids. It is a bed, a high chair, a buggy for all of your stuff, and a baby jail for when you need to know your baby is in a secure spot while your hands are full and attention is elsewhere. Our beloved stroller was the UPPAbaby Vista, which was our everyday stroller that worked great for travel. It is easy to maneuver, the basket holds a lot, it’s high enough to push up to a table for mealtimes, and the deep recline was great for naps.”

UppaBaby Vista V2 Stroller , $969

Travel car seat

One of the most annoying things about traveling with a baby is that you need to lug your car seat around everywhere if you plan to take a taxi or ride in any car at all. You could try bringing your regular car seat if it’s small, like an infant car seat — but otherwise, most parents I know recommend leaving the heavy convertible car seat in your car and getting a much lighter travel version. 

Vox video managing producer Val Lapinski recommends the Cosco Scenera Next, a travel car seat that weighs just 10 pounds. Says Val: “It’s ubiquitous for a reason — it weighs nothing.” 

After having a miserable time dragging our bulky convertible car seat through Newark Airport and around our destination of Toronto, my husband and I bought the Cosco car seat upon Val’s recommendation to use for our future travels. Just a month later, we took it on a trip to Chicago and immediately knew it had been worth it. It was much lighter and easier to carry around; my husband’s shoulders were grateful. 

Cosco Scenera Next car seat , $60

Travel bags for both the car seat and stroller

If you’re flying, most airlines allow you to gate-check a stroller and a car seat for free. But items can be damaged during the gate-check process, so it’s a good idea to invest in travel bags to protect them from scratches and other wear and tear. I have these simple red bags from J.L. Childress. 

J.L. Childress Car Seat Gate Check Bag , $20

J.L. Childress Stroller Gate Check Bag , $23

A lightweight baby carrier

If your baby is still small enough for babywearing , bring a carrier — it’s nice for carrying the baby around the airport once you check or gate-check your stroller, and it’ll be helpful when you want to do short outings where a stroller might feel cumbersome, like going to a restaurant. 

Emily Oster, an economist and author of the parenting books Expecting Better , Cribsheet , and The Family Firm , recommends the BityBean carrier: “It’s a very lightweight baby carrier that goes front or back and can range from a very small baby up through a 2-year-old. I spent many an hour in the back of an airplane flight bouncing a kid in this thing. Generally, in my view, the less gear the better, so this was a big win when we discovered it.” 

BityBean Ultra Compact Baby Carrier , $70

Travel crib 

Unless you’re staying somewhere that offers a crib, you will need a travel crib that folds up compactly and is easy to carry around to provide a safe sleep space for your baby. 

The Graco Pack ’n Play is beloved by many parents (including myself). It’s easy to assemble, fold up, carry, and store, and comes with a bassinet attachment for younger babies. 

Graco Pack ’n Play Playard , $80

Chamberlin recommends the Guava Lotus travel crib: “This is way lighter and easier to put together than a pack and play, and takes up less space as a backpack than similar models. Also, it has a bassinet insert you can get if your baby is that little.” 

Guava Lotus Travel Crib , $249

Travel high chair

You most likely already have a high chair at home, but when traveling, you might want one that’s easy to collapse and carry. 

Says Chamberlin: “This is our go-to travel high chair. It is good for the floor, and also attaches to a dining chair. And if you take the tray off, it’s a camp chair. We have used it for travel to visit family, camping, and hotels.” 

Summer Infant Portable Booster Chair , $30 

Baby headphones, if you’re into screen time

Screen time can be a godsend on vacation when you want to have a nice dinner at a restaurant and need your toddler to sit still and be quiet for a little while. Bring your iPad with preloaded shows, but don’t forget baby headphones so the rest of the restaurant’s patrons don’t have to listen to Ms. Rachel. I use these. 

BuddyPhones Explore+ Headphones , $30 

Portable white noise machine

One of the most important keys to a successful vacation with your baby is sleep. Maintaining a baby’s sleep schedule and making sure they get adequate naps and good sleep at night, even in a new setting, is crucial. If you use a white noise machine at home as many parents do, then you likely want a small portable one to pack on vacation. I use this one, which is chargeable and has a little hook that makes it easy to strap onto your stroller or car seat for naps on the go, too. 

Yogasleep Hushh Portable White Noise Machine , $27 

Portable blackout curtains

Many kids need total darkness to be able to sleep, and the varying light situation in hotels and Airbnbs can wreak havoc on daytime naps. Many Vox parents recommend portable blackout curtains to create that perfect darkness — everyone will be happier if the baby has had a solid nap. 

Catherine Spangler, a supervising producer on Vox’s video team, says: “These blackout curtains with suction cups have been lifesavers across three continents for us.” The suction cups make them easy to attach to any window, and they’re lightweight and easy to fold up and throw into your carry-on bag. 

Tommee Tippee Portable Blackout Curtains , $19

A diaper bag that holds everything you need for the flight

A diaper bag that holds and organizes all the essentials you might need in flight — from diapers and wipes to snacks and bottles and the iPad and headphones and an extra change of clothes — is important to a less stressful flight. 

Your everyday bag might work, but Jessica Darrington, who runs the baby travel website and Instagram Where Is Briggs, also recommends the ultra-structured travel diaper bag from No Reception Club. Says Darrington: “This diaper bag has been a game changer when traveling with a baby because it has kept all of our gear organized. I’m amazed at everything I can fit inside and love that this bag counts as a personal item and can go under the seat in front of me on the airplane.” 

No Reception Club “The Getaway” Bag , $235

Things you can probably skip bringing

Tons of diapers.

Save your suitcase space and bring only enough diapers to get you through the trip — you can always buy more diapers when you arrive at your destination. 

The SlumberPod

As far as I can tell, this is basically a tent for babies to sleep in , but the entire $180 tent is made of blackout shades. Some parents I know love it, but we’ve never invested in one — portable blackout shades have worked just fine for us and are much cheaper. 

Travel baby monitor

Travel baby monitors are things that exist, but there are also a million baby monitor apps that turn devices like iPads, with cameras and microphones, into monitors that stream to your phone. Save your money and skip buying a travel-specific device. 

• How to travel now
• Respectful Tourism
• Solo Travel
• Flight Advice
• The “Perfect” Vacation

More in How to travel now

How cruise ships got so big

The weirdly common, very expensive travel scam you should avoid

Stop trying to have the perfect vacation. You’re ruining everyone else’s.

Most popular, 10 big things we think will happen in the next 10 years, israel is not fighting for its survival, trump wants the supreme court to toss out his conviction. will they, take a mental break with the newest vox crossword, why north korea dumped trash on south korea, today, explained.

Understand the world with a daily explainer plus the most compelling stories of the day.

More in Even Better

You can help reverse the overdose epidemic

How the self-care industry made us so lonely

How to care for people in your life with intellectual disabilities

You really should say something if you hate your friend's partner

Dopamine, explained

How screens actually affect your sleep

What we know about the police killing of Black Air Force member Roger Fortson

Backgrid paparazzi photos are everywhere. Is that such a big deal?

The secret to modern friendship, according to real friends

This is the world’s best investment

Republicans want to put pigs back in tiny cages. Again.

Baby Travel Gear Guide: Sleeping

Do We Really Need Baby Travel Sleeping Gear?

For now, the days of traveling light are long gone…  As a new mom, I wondered how such a tiny person could fill and clutter our small city house. I also wondered how, all of a sudden, we had the same amount of luggage as J.Lo. Except, of course, our luggage is not Louis Vuitton and we have to schlep it ourselves. Come to think of it, J.Lo had twins. Can you imagine what her luggage cart looked like? Did her babies sleep well on the road? Baby travel sleeping is an every parent issue.

Related Articles:

• How to Help a Baby or Toddler Sleep on a Plane
• Everything You Need to Know About Airplane Bassinets
• Coping with Time Changes & Baby Jet Lag
• Re-establishing Baby’s Sleep Routine Post-Travel
• Baby Travel Sleeping Tips

Can’t You Just Co-Sleep?

Co-sleeping or bed sharing never really worked for us. It was more like co-thrashing-around-bed-hogging. So a safe travel sleep solution was important.

Our first experience with a hotel crib was not a good one. From then on, we always brought something with us.

Travel Bassinets and Portable Cribs and Inflatable Toddler Beds, Oh My!

Beyond the actual portable baby bed , there are other baby travel sleeping accessories that can make bedtime easier in a strange hotel room.

My absolute number one tip is to bring your crib sheets and bedding from home. So even if your little one does not sleep well outside of their own crib, the familiar feel and scent of their bedding will help relax them. Trying to stick to your usual routine and bedtime rituals will help, too.

If you’re staying at a vacation rental or with family, see if they can provide an approved crib or bassinet and you won’t have to worry about any of this. Another option is to put a call out via family and friends who live near where you’re visiting to see if anyone has something kicking around that you can borrow.

We are constantly revising and updating our lists of travel sleeping gear. Please let us know if you have a favourite travel crib or must-have!

Baby Travel Sleeping Solutions for Infants, Toddlers & Every Stage in Between:

This list is a collection of all of our recommendations for travel cribs, cots, toddler travel beds, and other gear and accessories that help encourage sleep while you’re traveling…

Next to a travel stroller , a portable baby bed is an essential piece of baby travel gear. Knowing that your baby or toddler has a safe and comfortable place to sleep is important, especially if you have a sleep routine you want to maintain.

And since one of the biggest fears about traveling with a baby is that travel will mess up baby's sleep , if your baby or toddler has a travel bed they are famiiar with, chances are they'll sleep better. And then, chances are, you will too!

Below, please find our recommendations for the best portable baby bed, toddler travel bed, and safe travel crib options and sleep accessories...

Best Travel Bassinet & Portable Baby Bed Options

If your baby is older with an established sleep routine, a  travel crib  that can be set up elsewhere as a second bed might be the right choice. And, if your baby is older and more active, you might be better off with a more sturdy  portable toddler bed  instead.

But if you’re planning to  travel with a newborn  or young baby and/or co-sleep, a travel bassinet or portable baby bed might make the most sense and get you greater value for your money.

The Best Baby Travel Bed Options & Sleep Gear

Unless you are absolutely certain that your hosts or hotel will supply a safe crib or cot, a baby travel bed should be on your list of things to bring.

There’s no shortage of available travel cribs and sleep accessories, so we’re here to help you wade through the best baby travel bed options when  planning a trip with baby .

What Is the Best Portable Toddler Bed for Travel?

Sleep usually is easier to figure out once your baby becomes a toddler. EXCEPT when you’re traveling.

Chances are they will outgrow their  travel crib  or portable cot much sooner than their crib at home. If you’re shopping for a portable toddler bed for travel, you will want it to be big enough and last long enough to justify the expense.

BABYBJORN Travel Crib Light - Black

Of all the travel cribs available, this is our favourite. It is by no means the lightest or the most compact; However, the BABYBJORN Travel Crib is sturdy, super easy to set up, and is the only baby travel bed that comes with its own travel cot mattress. It wipes clean easily, but I prefer the darker colour so as not to show stains.

Lotus Travel Crib - Backpack Portable, Lightweight, Easy to Pack Play-Yard

The Lotus Travel Crib is one of the highest-rated baby travel beds out there. This latest model folds into a carrier with convertible backpack straps. Once assembled it's only 13lbs, it comes complete with its own travel cot mattress, and the cover is removable and machine-washable.

phil&teds Traveller Crib, Black

This is the lightest and most portable travel crib out there. The Phil & Teds Traveller is only 6 pounds; as they say, it's lighter than the baby! Once folded, this baby travel bed can easily fit in a suitcase, making this a good choice if traveling super light is important to you.

Check out all of our Baby Travel Gear Guides for Eating , Sleeping , Playing & Getting Around when you’re traveling with a baby or toddler…

Have Baby Will Travel  is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates/Influencer Program. If you make a purchase through this site, we may receive a small commission. Click here to check out our Amazon Store .

• The Complete Guide to Baby Travel Gear
• Baby Travel Gear Essentials
• The Ultimate Baby Travel Tip List: Sleeping
• Our Complete List of Tips & Resources for Flying with a Baby or Toddler
• Information & Tips for Traveling with Babies & Toddlers
• How to Help a Toddler Sleep on a Plane

sleep , travel crib

3 Responses to Baby Travel Gear Guide: Sleeping

We’ve found the Safe-T-Sleep great – it wraps around the mattress and has velcro straps to keep baby on her back / side. (so no standing up or trying to escape the cot either!) We’ve used it since DD was 6m, as she would keep rolling over onto her tummy in her cot and be unable to get back over. You can buy ones that fit everything from bassinets to king size beds – although, they can’t be used with the typical portacot mattress, they say the mattress should be 10cm+ thick. Can be used until they’re 3 – or until they work out how to undo the straps and escape! She is now 15months and still loves using it – we’ve used it in numerous locations on cots, single beds or even a thick couch cushion! Looking forward to using it on our next overseas trip.

Forgot to mention that it folds up to a very small size – imagine single bed flat sheet all folded up, perhaps even smaller.

Thanks for the tip! Will be updating the gear guides soon and will definitely check it out!

Leave a Reply Click here to cancel reply.

Name (required)

Email (will not be published) (required)

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Travel Partners

Additional Sponsors

Site Map   •  Privacy Policy   •  About   •  Consulting

Have Baby Will Travel® is a registered Trade Mark ©2007-2024 All Rights Reserved

7 Best Portable Car Seats for Babies, Toddlers and Big Kids

We prioritized lightweight car seats for travel by plane, rental car and rideshare.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Best Overall Portable Infant Car Seat

Doona car seat stroller.

Best Value Portable Booster Seat

Graco turbobooster 2.0.

Best Portable Convertible Car Seat

Cosco scenera next.

Best Portable Foldable Booster Seat

Peg perego viaggio flex 120.

Best Portable All-in-One Car Seat

Graco 4ever dlx.

Best Lightweight Portable Car Seat

Wayb pico travel car seat.

Best Portable Travel System for Babies

Nuna pipa urbn + trvl stroller.

Aside from requiring a lot more gear, traveling with kids can be quite stressful, and in between packing your luggage and investing in a travel stroller , there's little mental energy for anything else. Fortunately, our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute Parenting Lab have been testing car seats for decades, including the best convertible car seats , rotating car seats and the best booster seats . We test based on safety features, functionality, ease of use and value. Our picks are based on tests done in-Lab by our experts, evaluations from our consumer testers and extensive research.

Head to the end of this guide to find more information on how we test, whether or not you should use a car seat on a plane, what to look for when shopping for the best portable car seats and more. Looking for more to make traveling with kids as easy as possible? Check out our favorite outdoor-ready stroller wagons , the best lightweight strollers and top-rated double strollers .

The Doona car seat is our pick for the best overall car seat and stroller combo and it's one of our past Parenting Award winners. A dedicated fan following backs it up; see its more than 13,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. The Doona makes it easy to switch between car seat and stroller mode in seconds even with your baby strapped inside. In short, you don't need a separate infant car seat and a stroller, because this is both.

"It's the easiest stroller to maneuver through airport security and around an airport terminal," says one tester who's a mom of two young kids. It goes into a rideshare vehicle using the seat belt (no stroller to put in the trunk!). It's also FAA-approved for use in an airplane cabin and fits on most economy airplane seats, which are often about 17 inches wide.

Rachel Rothman , the Good Housekeeping Institute's former Chief Technologist and a mom of three, is a fan of this for travel. But it's important to note that, as well as being pricey, the Doona is only for rear-facing use and for toddlers up to 35 pounds. Toddlers outgrow it typically at age 2. But if you'll travel a lot in those first two years — even if it's just catching Ubers around town — you'll be grateful for the Doona.

Big kids need a bit of help ensuring that the seatbelt is hitting their body just right, so this backless booster gives them that extra height. It's also exceptionally small, lightweight and easy to travel with; you might even keep several in your car's trunk for when you're carpooling other kids.

Because it's backless, it doesn't offer as much support as a highback booster (for that, see the Peg Perego on this list). It is okayed for ages 4 and up as long as they weigh at least 40 pounds and could be great for a quick trip when you don't want to lug something large. This fits into a tote bag!

With its two hideaway cupholders, machine-washable seat cushions and padded armrests, this tucks a lot of features into a (really!) affordable seat. It's no surprise that it has more than 20,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. While it isn't airline approved — all booster seats require a shoulder belt, which you won't find on an airplane — its compact size makes it incredibly simple to slide into your overhead bin to later use in taxis, Ubers or other vehicles once you get to your destination.

For a little more money there's a TurboBooster LX version that works with LATCH; nice if you'll be keeping this in one car for a length of time.

Got enough to carry already? At 10 pounds, this is the best lightweight convertible car seat for traveling and it won't break the bank. Five harness heights and three buckle locations help customize the seat to your baby or toddler's size, though it's the kind of harness you have to rethread each time you need to change it.

The Scenera can be installed rear-facing for babies and toddlers and forward-facing for preschoolers up to 40 pounds but lacks the cushioning and other comforts, like a recline mechanism, we've come to enjoy in an everyday toddler car seat . Still, with its deep bucket seat, this will keep your tiny passenger comfy enough and car seat compliant when you're traveling and in and out of other people's vehicles. It's especially great as a rear-facing travel option for 2- and 3-year-olds who have outgrown an infant car seat.

You can remove both the cupholder and seat pad for washing. The seat pad can even go in the dryer. The brand claims that three of these seats fit across a back seat and our tests were able to validate that in certain vehicles. It can be installed with the LATCH system or a seatbelt. It's approved for airplane seats and like our best overall pick it fits on most economy seats.

Kids who are at least age 4 and who weigh 40 pounds or more will appreciate the comfort of this belt-positioning booster seat just as much as parents will appreciate its ability to fold down to a fraction of its size.

The Flex 120 has an exceptionally large weight range, functioning for kids up to — you guessed it — 120 pounds. While it's a bit pricier than some other booster options, its ability to compact down makes it perfect for folding up and storing in a bag that you can then gate-check, or even fit into the overhead bin while in-flight. Note that no belt-positioning booster is certified for use in an airplane cabin because they're meant to be used with a car's shoulder belt, not an airplane lap belt. The big kids who fit this are good to use the airplane belt anyway! This is perfect for use in a rideshare, taxi or a far-off relative's vehicle when you land.

Customize this booster to your child by adjusting the headrest, upper backrest, side wings and seat. In addition to being an easy portable car seat, this is another great choice for grandparents or other caregivers who only occasionally drive big kids around because it so easily fits into a car's trunk when not in use.

This is larger and heavier than any of our other choices. However, this is the most portable all-in-one car seat that grows with your little one from a rear-facing infant car seat to a backless booster, from 4 to 120 pounds .

Its versatility means that it may be the only car seat you ever have to buy, and if you travel infrequently, you could manage to tote this on a few trips and avoid buying something separate just for travel. It is certified to work on an airplane seat with the harness (so, up to 65 pounds), but it's about 3 inches wider than many economy airplane seats so the fit isn't great; one Reddit user said they put it in the window seat and then just accepted squeezing themselves into the middle-seat position.

While testing, we appreciated how easy this car seat was to install and use, making it pretty difficult to mess up due to user error. We also love how highly adjustable it is, with a six-position recline and a no-rethread harness with 10 possible heights. The easy-to-remove washable seat pads make it simple to clean up after your little one. If you're taking it with you into a rideshare and can't use the LATCH installation system, there's an integrated belt lock off on the back of the seat that helps make seat belt installation as simple as possible.

This is a pricey option that has a fan following with frequent travelers who travel with a preschooler. It folds down into its own carrying case, which can be worn as a backpack, so you can easily get it through the airport and store it in a hotel. It's got a five-point harness and is meant for kids up to 50 pounds. The brand says it's for kids as young as 2 but because rear-facing is safest and this only faces forward, we would not recommend using it for a child until they are at least age 3, preferably 4.

The Pico does not have side-impact protection and other safety features we want on an everyday car seat, but for travel we agree that this has portability appeal. It also gets knocked in reviews for not being comfortable for long car rides if your child likes to nap, but again, we're putting it on this list for on-the-go families who are in "something is better than nothing" mode, even for short train, bus or van rides.

Our experts appreciate how lightweight this seat is (8 pounds), and that it easily fits even on the smallest economy airplane seat (it's FAA-approved). The seat can either be installed using the LATCH system or the seatbelt in a car or airplane.

If you're a city family that doesn't even own a car, there's a big reason to love the PIPA portable infant car seat: It's built to be installed without a base and is exceptionally easy to move between vehicles, including rideshares like Uber.

It's got a built-in rigid LATCH system or alternatively you can use the back seat seatbelt. Plus, the PIPA urbn only weighs 7 pounds, making it one of the lightest infant car seats we know of and an easy one to carry from place to place. The stroller, too, is lightweight at just under 14 pounds and can be folded down using just one hand. The car seat is built to ride on top of the stroller, to get them both through an airport, and we named it our favorite lightweight travel system .

The infant car seat does not have a high weight limit, however. Your baby will outgrow it when they hit 22 pounds or are 29 inches tall, whichever comes first. For some that can mean by their first birthday. But the stroller will stay useful through the preschool years since it has a weight limit of 50 pounds. The car seat is airline-approved and will fit on most economy cabin seats.

How we test the best portable car seats

The Good Housekeeping Institute's engineering and parenting pros have reviewed dozens of car seats over the past five years, including portable car seats . Our Lab experts work with parents to test these car seats on a variety of vehicles of different brands and sizes to ensure that you can find the right car seat for your family.

Each car seat we consider has passed Federal Safety Standards. We perform tests both in the Lab and at home to evaluate each product's safety, ease of installation, stability, ease of adjustments, stroller compatibility and portability. To accomplish this, we set up each car seat in a variety of vehicles and strollers. We evaluate how easy it is to secure the harness as well as how difficult it is to install the car seats. For portable car seats we pay special attention to whether they can be installed without a LATCH system and if they are approved for use in an airplane cabin.

What to look for when shopping for a portable car seat

Whether you're going on a trip or often take your child places in a rideshare vehicle, if you need a portable car seat you should consider these things:

✔️ Height and weight limits : All car seats come with minimum and maximum height and weight specifications. To ensure proper seatbelt placement and optimal security, make sure your child fits within those ranges. Once they meet the maximum in either height or weight, it's time to switch. If you have an adjustable car seat that transitions to a booster look at the labels on the car seat, check the user manual or contact the manufacturer so you know when it's time to switch modes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) can help you determine the right kind of car seat for your child based on their age, weight and height. That will help you figure out if you can use an infant car seat or if you need a convertible car seat and if you're ready to move on to a booster car seat for travel.

✔️ Weight : The lightest car seats are often the most portable. We get especially excited when we find any that are less than 15 pounds, though a few on our list are heavier than that.

✔️ Easy cleaning : Regardless of age, spills happen. Luckily, like many other car seats, most portable seats offer removable machine-washable seat covers and padding.

✔️ Design : Traditional car seats have a ton of padding, robust side-impact protection and extra features that are important for every day but might be overkill for short trips. The best design for a portable car seat is a slim, streamlined one.

✔️ Ease of installation : Since you will be re-installing the car seat each time you put it in a new car or aircraft, it's important to find a car seat that is so easy to install it won't take more than a few minutes. The easiest car seats for traveling can be installed without a car seat base.

✔️ State laws : Before you bring your car seat across state lines, check state laws to be sure you'll be compliant. Often children through age 7 must be in a child-restraint seat. But if you're heading to Florida for Disney World, the laws there only apply to children through age 5.

Should you bring a car seat on the plane?

While it is not mandatory to strap your little one into a car seat on an airplane, many parents opt to do so since it can be both a safer and more comfortable for everyone . It's recommended to do so for children under age 2 by the FAA and AAP. Note: For your child to ride in a car seat, you'll need to buy them their own plane ticket so they're guaranteed to have the space. If your baby under age 2 is flying as a free "lap baby" you are not guaranteed space for your car seat.

Before you bring a car seat onboard, check that it has an FAA-approved sticker. It's also a good idea to bring along your car seat manual to help ensure that you're properly installing the seat on the aircraft. There are helpful videos on YouTube, too, that show how to buckle a car seat in with a lap belt. (This one from the FAA shows how to install a forward-facing car seat on a plane .) Watch some before your trip!

The average airline seat is about 17 inches wide and measures 30 inches from the back of the seat to the seat in front of you — but size can vary depending on which airline you are flying. Because of this, it's best to pick a narrow, compact car seat. Infant car seats fit better than most convertible car seats, though we find that the Cosco choice on our list generally fits well.

For those who are traveling with a car seat who don't plan to use it while on the plane, many airlines will check the car seat or booster seat for free at the check-in desk or at the gate. It might be a good idea to purchase a travel bag to fit it in, to help avoid damage.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Lab pros and journalists at the Good Housekeeping Institute provide expert reviews and advice on everything a parent needs, including portable car seats.

This article was overseen by Rachel Rothman , former Chief Technologist & Director of Engineering at the Institute, who was trained in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics. As a mom to three kids, she personally used many of our recommended products.

In her former role as Parenting & Pets Reviews Analyst, Jamie Spain brought years of experience to the Institute and wrote the first iteration of this story. It has since been updated by contributing writer Jessica Hartshorn who has followed the car-seat market for 25 years, previously for Parents magazine and American Baby magazine. She's also a mom of two.

Jamie (she/her) is a parenting and pets reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute , where she spends her time testing, researching and writing about pet and family products. Prior to starting at GH in 2021, she worked at BuzzFeed and People , covering a combination of product reviews and lifestyle content. She's a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and psychology and a master’s degree in journalism.

Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. A mom of two teens and two cats, her previous work can be seen in American Baby and Parents .

@media(max-width: 64rem){.css-o9j0dn:before{margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-right:0.625rem;color:#ffffff;width:1.25rem;bottom:-0.2rem;height:1.25rem;content:'_';display:inline-block;position:relative;line-height:1;background-repeat:no-repeat;}.loaded .css-o9j0dn:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.loaded .css-o9j0dn:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}} Product Reviews

The Best Grill Cleaners

The Best Luggage on Amazon

Best Hard Shell Luggage in 2024

The Best Baby Foods

The Best Protein Bars

Why I Love the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro

The Best Mattresses Under $500

The Best Tinted Moisturizers

The Most Comfortable Shoes

The Best Toys and Gifts for 10-Year-Old Boys

The Best Refrigerators

Reservation Details

Select all of the time frames that will work for your trip. Your Quality Provider will reach out to you prior to your reservation to coordinate a more specific delivery time.

When selecting a specific delivery time, your Quality Provider will need to confirm availability.

Clean. Safe. Insured.

Baby Gear Rentals

Make travel with little ones a breeze and create a home-like experience while you're away.

Cleanliness and safety are top priorities at BabyQuip. Upon passing thorough background checks, Quality Providers are thoroughly trained on product safety and cleaning protocols. Our proprietary software allows us to remove any recalled items immediately from the site to make sure we are only offering safe gear. Insurance is also included with every rental which is an important differentiator between BabyQuip and other baby gear rental companies.

Over 50,000 5-star reviews

Trusted with over 200,000 reservations

Clean, safe & insured. Learn more.

Your vacation lifesaver.

Baby Gear Delivered, Anywhere You Go.

Cribs & Sleep

Strollers & Wagons

High Chairs

Toys, Books, & Games

Outdoor & Seasonal

Bouncers & Swings

BabyQuip Awarded First Ever Family Travel Award by Good Housekeeping

We’re excited to announce that BabyQuip is a Good Housekeeping 2023 Family Travel award winner. We are honored to be recognized in this brand new category that brings you the best in travel essentials!

Clean, Safe & Insured

Cleanliness and safety are top priorities at BabyQuip. Upon passing thorough background checks, Quality Providers are thoroughly trained on product safety and cleaning protocols. Our proprietary software allows us to remove any recalled items immediately from the site to make sure we are only offering safe gear. Insurance is also included with every rental which is an important differentiator between BabyQuip and other baby gear rental companies. Learn more. -->

Enjoy the Journey

Renting baby gear allows you to enjoy the adventure of getting to your vacation destination. Whether flying or driving, renting baby gear eliminates the need to pack and haul bulky baby equipment through the airport or take up valuable trunk space. Welcome to the world of stress-free family travel!

More Rest = More Adventure

There’s a reason full-size cribs are our #1 most rented item. When a baby doesn’t sleep well on vacation, no one does! Recreating the comforts of home is the key to having a fun and restful getaway. Since babies and toddlers don’t adapt well to sudden changes in routine or surroundings, a crib is an imperative part of travel planning.

Support Local Families

By choosing to rent baby gear instead of dealing with the hassle of transporting your own, you are supporting local Quality Providers who are building their own independent businesses on the BabyQuip platform. They are moms, dads, grandparents and best friend teams on a mission to make family vacations easy and stress-free.

“BabyQuip was an absolute game-changer. Everything was so clean and new. I’ll never travel without them again!”

‘Quip Your Trip

Traveling with a Baby Made Easy

Enter your destination and travel dates. Provide a specific address for more detailed and accurate results.

Search for specific gear and choose a Quality Provider. You can rent individual items or choose from convenient packages.

Enjoy Your Trip!

Add items to cart and checkout! Your Quality Provider will contact you to review everything and answer any questions.

Whether you need baby gear delivered to the airport or want it set up ahead of time at your travel destination, your Quality Provider will work with you to coordinate delivery details that work for your schedule. Learn more.

Down to Earth

We believe families and our planet come first and we’re always working toward more consciously sustainability.

BabyQuip Quality Providers have donated over 20,000 diapers donated to families in need.

Each baby gear rental reduces an estimated 6 pounds of plastic from the environment.

of our cleaning products are baby-safe, green, organic, or eco-friendly.

Over 50,000 5-Star Reviews

Real reviews from real customers. 99% of our customers reported they felt the equipment they rented was safe.

“They saved our Disney experience when our stroller got a flat otw. Wonderful and friendly service. Stroller was clean and worked perfectly. Would definitely use them in the future again.”

“Drop-off and pickup were super easy and convenient! Both car seats were very clean. Would definitely recommend and rent again!”

“Great customer service! They were able to deliver and pick up at the stated times at our hotel. Made our trip to Disneyland even more magical! We will definitely be renting from this team again!”

“Rented a full size crib & it was in brand new condition. Communication was excellent, they were very easy to get in touch with and were proactive about the drop off and pick up. Would recommend to anyone traveling in Chicago with little ones.”

“We rented a crib and a stroller, and everything was in great condition! Kids are messy, but both items looked like new. Both drop-off and pick-up from our hotel were a breeze. This was our first time renting, and the experience was great!”

“Renting a crib and booster seat made the trip so easy! The delivery and pick up were seamless, our host was so nice! Even brought extra sheets for the crib just in case. Highly recommend!”

“We had a Disney trip and I booked the morning of (next time I'll def book ahead of time) but it was very fast, easy, and stress free. The Bob Dualie double stroller was perfect and our kids were very comfortable. Thank you so much BabyQuip!”

“Delivery and pickup went smoothly. Such a relief to have a full size crib for our difficult-sleeper daughter.”

“The stroller and fan were in excellent condition and the timing of delivery and pickup were flexible but also precise in timing so we didn't waste any precious vacation time waiting! Would highly recommend!”

Earn Money by Renting & Delivering Baby Gear

Join our diverse community of Quality Providers and help traveling families make lasting memories by renting and delivering baby equipment. BabyQuip is one of the highest side gig income opportunities — second only to Airbnb hosts! Make extra cash by delivering baby gear to traveling families.

Committed to Trust and Safety

From our A-rated insurance to our thorough cleaning processes, you can rest assured that the gear you rent from BabyQuip will be clean and safe. Learn more.

All Quality Providers have passed background checks

Each Provider completes extensive training on enhanced cleaning protocols

We have A-Rated Insurance to provide customers and Providers peace of mind

All baby equipment listed on our site is monitored for safety recalls and expirations with our proprietary back-end software, making it easy to remove any item or product deemed unsafe.

Address Validation

See suggested address corrections below:

Welcome to BabyQuip

Create an account

Log in as a guest, sign in as guest.

Enter the email address used to place the order and your reservation number. The reservation number can be found in your confirmation email.

Reset Password

Please enter your email address below to reset your password.

Sign into your account

Your password must include at least 1 from each of the following categories: Password min length: 6 characters. Uppercase letter: A-Z. Lowercase letters: a-z. Number: 0-9. Symbol: ~`! @#$%^&*()_-+={[}]|\:;"' .?/

Quality Provider sign in

Sign into your affiliate account

The top baby travel must-haves for your registry (and beyond!)

This post contains affiliate links, for which I may earn a commission if you make a qualifying purchase.

Sharing is caring!

Traveling with kids is amazing in so many ways. But kids – especially tiny, just-hatched ones – come with gear that is laughably larger than they are. If you’ve spent the last decade living out of your backpack as you explore the world, what are you supposed to do? Stop???

Having kids doesn’t mean you should stop getting out and exploring. Not even close. But to have the most successful travels with a baby you’ll need to be thoughtful about what you bring. We’ve put together this guide to choosing the perfect travel baby gear – whether you treat yourself to it or not-so-subtly let your loved ones know what you’d like .

We’ve tested many of these items ourselves and have found them to be great for traveling with our babies and little kids, while others came out too recently for us so we’ve gotten heaps of recommendations from awesome parents in our Tiny Globetrotters community and family and friends with younger babies. Keep reading to find the best baby gear for travel, carefully curated to get you out seeing the world faster and easier – you can also shop the whole list of baby travel must haves to quickly build up your registry with amazing baby and toddler travel gear.

Where should you set up your travel baby gear registry? If you’re looking for baby registry ideas, we whole-heartedly recommend that you check out Amazon’s baby registry program . We used it when I was pregnant with both of our kids and it was perfect for us for so many reasons: -Access to Amazon’s huge inventory of baby gear… and Universal Registry button to add items from other stores -Extended return window -10% completion discount -Easy to track who sent what when you’re in a post-partum fog and lose your list -Free welcome gift Take a look for yourself!

One more thing to keep in mind: if you’re planning to travel internationally when your baby is very young, you’ll need to get a passport quickly. Before you’re completely consumed with diapers and feeding schedules, figure out your state’s requirements and timeline for getting a birth certificate. Once they baby is born, read up on how to take your baby’s passport photo .

Travel car seat

One of the few baby travel items you actually need is a car seat. It tops our family’s list of baby travel must haves. In fact, many hospitals in the US won’t let you take your baby home without one (even if you don’t plan to drive). While you’re shopping for a car seat, might as well go with one that’s travel-worthy, right?

Most families start with an infant car seat. They’re specifically designed to fit tiny babies and are extra-portable thanks to carrying handles and stroller attachments. What are the best infant car seats for travel? Many of them will work just fine but here are a few that offer extra features you’ll love if you plan on jetsetting with your new bundle.

The most revolutionary infant car seat for travel by far is the Doona car seat stroller . It’s an infant car seat that transforms into a stroller in just five seconds! This is perfect if you plan on city living or city traveling since you can safely hop in and out of taxis on a whim. It’s not cheap, but you won’t have to get a separate stroller that’s compatible with your car seat. The Doona is rated up to 35lbs and 32″ (whichever comes first ) so it’ll last most babies to a year or more. It is on the heavy side at 15lbs, so don’t plan to carry this one by the handle. If you plan to travel somewhere with lots of sunshine, make sure you pick up the sunshade extender – perfect for naps too.

If you don’t need the features offered by the Doona and want a more traditional infant car seat for travel, we can’t say enough great things about the Chicco Keyfit 30 . We used it both at home and abroad without issue. The latest version offers a zip-off cover and ventilated padding, which both would have been game-changers with our messy, sweaty babies!

What makes the Keyfit 30 so great compared to other infant car seats out there? Simply put, it’s one of the easiest car seats to use whether you’re installing with the base or without it. It’s almost 5lbs lighter than the Doona, but it’s also compatible with this awesome travel stroller if you grab the car seat adapter. For a few trips (and often around town) we pushed it around on this and loved the easy fold and huge basket.

When you’re traveling by plane, you’ll probably want to leave the infant car seat base at home. That sucker is heavy! And you can’t install it on the plane anyway, so it would take up overhead bin space. Instead practice installing your car seat without the base by locking the seatbelt. If you’re traveling outside of the US you may encounter seatbelts that you can’t lock, so pick up a cheap, tiny locking clip and learn how to use it in advance.

If your family wants to minimize new baby’s exposure to chemical fire retardants (which are prevalent in baby gear), Uppababy has a fantastic offering to get your through your travels: the Uppababy Mesa infant car seat . The merino wool “ Jordan ” and “ Henry ” fabrics make it the only infant car seat on the market that passes federal fire safety testing without chemicals , and it’s all thanks to the wool’s natural fire-retardant properties. The Mesa is one of the best infant car seats for preemies, with a solid fit down to 4lbs; on the other end, it’ll last longer than many less expensive car seats with upper limits of 35lbs and 32″.

What makes the Mesa a great pick for traveling with a baby? Straight out of the box, you can pop it right into the ready-for-anything Uppababy Vista or its mid-size sibling, the Uppababy Cruz . WOOHOO! These are two of the most feature-packed strollers on the market and if you plan to travel to cities where you’ll be doing lots of exploration on foot while your little on naps in the stroller, they’re perfect . We’d probably recommend the Cruz over the Vista for frequent travelers since it’ll save you plenty of weight – 20lbs vs almost 28lbs! You’ll also save a few hundred dollars compared with the ultra-premium Vista. But the Cruz offers so much comfort and flexibility for families that it could be your one-and-only stroller for years to come.

The Cruz has three accessories that are worth a serious look depending on your lifestyle: a cushy bassinet , a Piggyback board for older siblings and a nifty travel bag .

The Uppababy bassinet is one of those items I lusted after when my daughter was a baby – it’s extremely comfortable for kids up to around 6-8 months, offers great sun protection, and it’s even approved for overnight sleep! You can fold the bassinet to take it with you on the road and never have to worry about whether an Airbnb or hotel can provide a crib for your baby. At home, you can prop it on the bassinet stand for the newborn phase and use it like a Moses basket (unlike us – we had a massive pack n play in our small bedroom for months!).

Once you’re up to two kids, you can easily hook on the Piggyback board and let the older one stand while the younger one rides. We’ve had the opportunity to test out the Piggyback board for our niece and nephew and it works great! It’s miles and miles ahead of this one that we bought (and promptly regretted). This would be an ideal solution for travel because many businesses and restaurants give you the cold shoulder if you show up with a massive double stroller, but a fairly compact single that folds easily isn’t a big deal.

The final accessory worth considering is the Uppababy Cruz travel bag . We had the Uppababy travel bag for our umbrella stroller and it was extremely well-made! Why should you pay up for Uppababy’s bag instead of a cheapie? There are three important reasons. First, it’s seriously padded. You’ll minimize the risk of damage to your pricey stroller by letting the bag absorb any impacts from careless baggage handling. Second, it has wheels! You can pack up the stroller while you wait at your gate and then effortlessly wheel it down the jetway. Third, and most importantly, Uppababy stands behind their products. If your stroller is damaged while it’s in the bag, they’ll repair or replace your stroller for free . It’ll even fit the Piggyback board or other small accessories. The only downside is that you have to remove the stroller wheels to put it in the bag. If that’s a dealbreaker for you, we had a good experience with this much cheaper bag (though it looked like Swiss cheese after 5 years of heavy use).

If you love the Mesa car seat but don’t want such a huge stroller, Uppa has you covered too. Their new Minu ultra-portable stroller weighs just 15 lbs and folds up small enough to fit in the overhead bin of an airplane! Our friends picked one up recently for their third child and declared it one of the best travel baby items they’ve owned! Compared to other tiny strollers (more on those below), the Minu offers a bigger basket and a smoother push. Most importantly for Mesa owners, you can pick up this car seat adapter that allows you to snap your Mesa into the Minu! It makes for a great travel system and you can go straight onto the plane. There’s even a soft kit that converts the Minu seat into a bassinet for the littlest riders!

Another option is start with a travel convertible car seat and skip the infant seat entirely. This choice has pros and cons. The biggest advantage is that you won’t spend money on an infant seat (and your home won’t look like a car seat graveyard in a few years). The disadvantage is that you have to take your baby out if she falls asleep. It’s better not to have them sleep in the car seat for a long time anyway, but it sure is convenient (especially in bad weather) to pop the whole car seat out of the car. Convertible car seats are also often bigger than infant car seats, and only some will correctly fit a newborn from birth.

But if you’re traveling all over the world with your little one, there’s one huge reason you might prefer a convertible car seat. It starts with “L” and ends with “ATCH”. While infant car seats only offer LATCH attachments (those little clips that attach the car seat directly to the car and then have a strap to tighten) on their bases, convertible car seats have LATCH built in and some of them don’t weigh any more than an infant car seat without the base. While you can install any car seat with a seatbelt using a locking clip if necessary, LATCH makes the whole process so much faster and easier.

If you decide to go straight for a convertible car seat, you need to make sure it fits newborns – many of them don’t! Lucky for you, our favorite convertible car seat for travel happens to be perfect for newborns too. The Combi Coccoro is super light, easy to install with both LATCH and seatbelt and extremely comfy and cozy for newborns through toddlers. This isn’t a cheap seat you’ll put in the closet between vacations, it’s the seat you’ll want to use every day because it’s so lovely. I’ll admit, I cried a little on the inside when our younger one outgrew it. You can see more details here , or read our thoughts on other convertible car seats for travel to see if you want to consider a different one for your baby. Also check out these great travel car seats for a 1 year old if you’re looking for something with a little more longevity.

Read more: Everything you need to know about travel with car seats

Way back in the day, Combi even made a Snap-n-Go style stroller frame for the Coccoro called the Combi Coccoro Flash ; as you can see from the photo, it looks similar to other stroller frames. Don’t try to find it, it’s a unicorn. But now you have an even better solution: the Mountain Buggy Nano ! The Nano can actually accept any infant seat… or the Coccoro (YMMV on larger car seats), which is shaped like an overgrown infant car seat. Like our top lightweight stroller pick below, the Nano folds up into a tiny backpack that you can take on-board a plane rather than gate checking it. You can see photos here from customers who have used the Nano with a car seat.

Lightweight stroller for travel

I’ll come right out and say it: I’m jealous of all you new parents out there. No, I’m not real eager to be back in the realm of night feedings and exploding diapers. But as an unabashed lover of all types of gadgets and gizmos, especially ones made for little people, I’m majorly envious of the great travel stroller choices at your fingertips!

Way back in the old days, we could mostly choose between an umbrella stroller or a hard-to-push travel system stroller. There were a few other options gaining steam like the one we picked as our main stroller, but today’s popular choices like Uppababy just weren’t household names.

And there was certainly nothing for travelers like you’ll find today. Today you guys have so many amazing options when you’re choosing a lightweight stroller for travel! But we’ve gotten tons of feedback on this topic in our Tiny Globetrotters Facebook group and I have a great solution to suggest for you: the Zoe XL1 stroller .

What’s so special about the Zoe XL1 ? Like some of the original umbrella strollers, it weighs just 11lbs; however, instead of a long narrow fold (which can be difficult to fit into even some car trunks) the Zoe folds down to a square that’s small enough to fit in the overhead bin of an airplane . That means there’s no chance of the airline losing or breaking it, and you won’t have to wait for an hour on the jetway for your stroller to be brought up – or worse, find out after waiting that the stroller has been sent to baggage claim and you have to lug a sleeping toddler through the airport along with all your bags! #parentingisglamorous

Once you’re on the ground, parents report that the Zoe XL1 has a pretty good push for city travels. The deep recline is perfect once your baby is at least 3 months old and the 50lbs weight capacity should last until the end of your strolling days. A generous canopy will keep the sun off for those inevitable stroller naps on the go.

If you want to use it earlier, you can pick up the car seat adapter to attach one of our favorite infant car seats . You’ll definitely want to buy either the backpack or a set of backpack straps to carry around your Zoe XL1

Ready for one of the coolest features? If you decide to add another baby down the line, you can purchase a tandem seat that hooks on the front and has two of its own wheels to make an ultra-light double stroller! It’ll look like this (if you’re buying gear for your second kid, you can just jump straight to the tandem configuration). When the older one doesn’t need a ride any more, just take the extra seat off and you’re back to a single. Talk about innovation and thinking with parents in mind!

If you only ever want to own one stroller (good luck!) and you want it to be a jack-of-all-trades, you can’t do better than the Baby Jogger City Mini . It’s a little heavier at 17lbs, but it has a roomier seat and pushes easily over any surface.

It lays flat for diaper changes, sits up to use as a high chair and offers the biggest sunshade around. Most importantly, it offers a one-handed, single step folding mechanism – just pull the handle in the seat and the stroller immediately folds itself in half.

We’ve gotten the side eye from many European restauranteurs when we show up with a big American stroller, but they immediately warm up when they see how small the City Mini can fold .

If you’re looking for more traditional options, check out this helpful comparison of travel system strollers

The best baby carrier for travel

An awesome baby carrier is one of our most important pieces of travel gear, and they make a perfect registry item! It’s one of our must-have items for traveling with a baby, because there are plenty of times when a stroller just won’t cut it – whether you’re tackling a big hike or cobbled streets.

What makes for the best baby carrier for travel? In my book, the most important features are comfort and ease of use. The last thing you want is to have an aching back or to struggle with long woven wrap tails dragging around airport security! It’s also best to avoid any metal parts so that you can keep baby strapped in while you go through airport security in the US (sadly in some other countries I was forced to remove a sleeping baby!).

As you get more experienced with baby wearing, you’ll probably realize that different carriers are best for different ages and situations. I’ve owned more than a dozen over the years and here are my top picks for the best baby carrier for travel.

Best baby carrier for travel with a newborn

My absolute favorite for carrier for travel with a newborn is the Baby k’tan . It’s a cross between a stretchy wrap (like this one that I also had and loved) and a shirt. All of the parts are soft fabric, so it’s comfortable to keep your newborn snuggled close all the time (as they often demand), even when you’re sitting at a restaurant.

The Baby ktan has two big advantages over a ring sling for travel. First, there’s no metal so you can keep it on through security. Second, the weight is evenly distributed across your shoulders so that you can wear it comfortably for longer. The only disadvantage of the k’tan is that it’s not ideal for babies over 15lbs. Still, it’s fairly inexpensive and serves an important roll!

The k’tan comes in two pieces and they’re both required . It’s best to hop on Youtube to see how it’s used, but the sash it comes with needs to be tied around – and it also has an integrated pocket to store your carrier when it’s not in use!

When you order your k’tan, don’t size up. It should fit snug! If you’re between shirt sizes, go smaller. If it seems stretched out after a few wears, throw it in the washer and dryer to get it back to its original size. The only people I know who haven’t liked the Baby k’tan are those who have ordered a size too big.

And be sure to pick a color or pattern that you like and that matches most of the pants you plan to wear when you have a newborn, as the k’tan will pretty much cover any shirt you want to wear!

Once your baby reaches 15lbs, the Baby k’tan isn’t the right solution. The fabric has enough stretch that it won’t be supportive enough for big babies and will lose its shape quickly. The next step in the best baby carrier for travel is a soft structured carrier, which has a supportive waist band to carry most of your baby’s weight and padded shoulder straps for extra comfort.

I’ll be honest: the ones that are comfortable enough for all-day wear aren’t exactly tiny and compact. But they are quick and easy to use as you roam the globe with your new bundle!

After trying out lots of brands, we’ve become huge fans of Tula baby carriers. They’re well-made, extremely comfortable and gorgeous! We’ve had their original baby carriers and toddler carriers (several of each), but now there are some even better options from our favorite brand.

If I was on the market today, I’d be buying (or registering for! ) the new Baby Tula Coast Explore carrier . All of the Coast carriers offer a mesh back panel to keep baby and parent both cooler ( trust me, you want this ). The Explore series offers a huge range of carrying positions: on the front facing in for little babies (with two different seat widths depending on size); on the front facing out for curious older babies (but with their legs and hips still supported properly, unlike some other carriers); and finally on your back once they’re a year old. The back panel can even extend to offer more support as your baby grows!

The only thing missing from the Tula line is a little more lower back support. As someone with a cranky lower back, it’s rarely been an issue for me. But if that’s at the top of your priority list, Lillebaby has a great option for you! Their new Pursuit All-Seasons carrier is designed for active wearers, with a zip down cover that reveals a breathable mesh back, tons of pockets and high tech fabric. As with all Lillebaby carriers, it offers lots of carrying positions and a massive lumbar support pad on the waist band.

So why isn’t this my top recommendation for a travel baby carrier? That lumbar support pad definitely takes away from the travel worthiness! The Lillebaby just won’t pack down the same way as other carriers, but it could be worth the trade-off if you’re leaving the stroller at home and planning to use the carrier full-time. Another option is to temporarily remove the lumbar pad and leave it at home or stow it in the diaper bag until you need it. I gifted this one to my sister and have had the opportunity to try it out – it’s a great pick!

I did find that as someone with a petite frame, it took a little extra adjusting to get the waist of the Lillebaby tight enough when the lumbar pad was attached. Fortunately Amazon offers free returns on baby carriers (and extra time if it’s a registry gift ) so it’s worth ordering to see if the Lillebaby Pursuit All-Seasons could work for you.

If you plan to do a lot of baby wearing in places where it gets chilly, one of the best accessories you can get for yourself and your baby is a babywearing hoodie! This one is amazing because it can function three ways: as a regular fleece jacket, as a maternity jacket (with the extra panel zipped in) or as a babywearing jacket (with the babywearing panel zipped in). The price is a real bargain for the amount of versatility!

Best travel high chair and dining accessories

We’ve had really mixed experiences finding high chairs in restaurants around the world, and they’re rare to come by in many hotels and Airbnbs. So what’s a family to do? There are a few options.

The old standby is letting your baby sit on your lap for meals… which is a sure-fire way to both need a new outfit. If you have a stroller that sits fully upright, you can put a towel (or one of these , even better) under your kid and use the snack tray to feed them. Another option is to buckle your baby carrier around the chair and have your baby sit in that, though YMMV if you have a wiggly one! This one even has a dedicated setting for it.

If you’d rather have a more stable place for your baby to sit for meals, this model is one of the best travel high chair options around. It folds down tiny, especially if you leave the tray at home.

One of our favorite baby travel gear items is this suction placemat . It pairs perfectly with a travel high chair to let your baby eat mess-free. The crumb catcher saved so many outfits for us! It wipes down easily and rolls up nice and small to fit in your diaper bag.

Speaking of messy mealtimes, we’re big bib fans. When you’re traveling light and you don’t have room for three outfits per day, you have to do what you can to preserve the baby clothes for another day! These bibs have always been our favorites since they offer great coverage, clean up easily and pack down teeny tiny. The patterns are also adorable!

Best travel crib

Depending on where you travel, you may have to bring your baby’s bed with you. As you decide on arrangements it’s important to keep these guidelines for safe sleep in mind. Fortunately most hotels are able to provide a pack n play or portable crib for babies. Sometimes Airbnb hosts have one or are willing to buy it (since they can then advertise it to future guests) – if you’re new to Airbnb you can save $40 on your first booking .

What should you do if you’ll be staying at a property that can’t provide a safe place for your baby to sleep? Bring one for yourself! While a regular pack n play is heavy enough to sink the ship , there are some great ultra-light travel cribs that’ll make your life easier when you’re lugging all the other baby travel gear. Most US airlines (and many international ones) will check your travel crib for free as a baby item.

The best travel crib you can buy today is the Guava Family Lotus travel crib . It clocks in at just 13lbs (less than half the weight of some “portable baby beds”) and packs into its own backpack for easy carrying. We had the previous version of the Guava Family portable crib and it served us well for years as one of our favorite baby travel items!

One frequent parent concern with traditional play yards is that curious young toddlers often figure out how to climb out sooner than their parents are ready. With the Lotus travel crib, you can just open the side zipper (or teach your kids how to do it if you want them to know) to avoid this serious safety concern.

The included inflatable mattress was plenty cushy for our kids, but for kids over 1yo you can add the plush sheet from Guava to give an even more padded surface. We did use a waterproof mattress protector under the fitted sheets to give a little extra cushion and protect the mattress from accidents.

If you’re starting from birth with the Guava Lotus , you can even purchase a kit to switch it from crib mode to bassinet mode! That bassinet is perfect for use both at home and on the road and will take care of all your baby’s sleep needs until he hits 18lbs or is able to get up on hands and knees. Not only is it one of the best travel items for baby, but it’s versatile enough for everyday use.

Portable baby bath tub

As I’ve written about before, we struggled to come up with the right solution for giving our babies a bath when we traveled . If we were starting over, I’d go straight to the easiest option: a portable baby bath tub.

The Puj Flyte folds down almost flat, weighs almost nothing and works in most sinks to help you bathe a baby that’s too young to sit up well on her own. What more could you want? You can even use it at home and save yourself the hassle of a huge plastic tub that will take up your entire bathroom when you aren’t using it.

Best diaper bag for travel

Our favorite style of diaper bag for travel is a backpack. It keeps your hands free for wrangling kids and avoids the shoulder strain of a heavy bag hanging from one shoulder. But who wants to travel the world with a backpack covered in unicorns or Winnie the Pooh? Nah, these days you can find plenty of portable baby gear that fits your style, not your baby’s.

The best diaper bag for travel needs to have plenty of pockets to keep you organized. You’ll probably want one area for “baby needs” and another for adults items like guidebooks, water bottles and packable rain jackets. This one does a great job of blending form and function without breaking the bank! Thankfully there are so many more diaper bag options today than there were even a few years ago.

Check out these other great travel diaper bag options

While we’re on the subject of diapering… I recommend that you pick up a “diaper clutch” with a built in changing pad . This is your best friend on an airplane. No matter how awesome your diaper bag is, you won’t want to lug the whole thing into the lav and then try to find what you need while your baby tries to roll off the teeny tiny changing table suspended over one of the most disgusting places in the world.

Instead, have your diaper clutch pre-loaded with a few diapers, a pack of wipes and whatever else you need for a quick change on the go. Grab only that and your baby as your head to the back of the plane. These clutches have their own changing pad, which you’ll definitely want to use since you never know what the status is of those changing tables. We always brought an all-in-one diaper kit like this when we traveled and left the basic changing pad at home.

The last diapering item I recommend is a wet bag . Cloth diapering families will know these well, but the basic idea is to keep wet and smelly items away from… everything else. Even if you use disposable diapers there’s a very high likelihood that, at some point in your travels (or every day perhaps), you’ll have a diaper leak, a spit up covered onesie or other joys of parenting. Do yourself a favor and keep everything else clean, ok?

Nursing cover

To cover or not to cover is a source for heated debate in some circles. I won’t tell you what you should or shouldn’t do. I nursed for a total of four years and during that time did every possible combination of whipping it out in public, nursing under a cover, and even nursing in the carrier while hiking. Every circumstance calls for a unique decision.

That said, while traveling the world there were often situations in which I felt that nursing under a cover was the right choice for me any my baby. I always traveled with a nursing cover when my kids were babies because I could never be sure where would would be when I hungry child demanded to be fed, and I didn’t want to feel like I couldn’t take care of my kids because of outside pressures. So there you have it.

My other reason for always having a nursing cover is that it’s sort of a Swiss Army knife of traveling baby gear! Sure, you can drape the ring around your neck while baby has a snack (and I promise it stays better than a blanket). But you can also use the neck loop to hang it from the peek-a-boo shade of a stroller like the one we traveled with. Did the temperature drop unexpectedly? Use it as a blanket! And my favorite nursing cover has an absorbent terry cloth patch down at the corner in case there’s some impromptu spit up.

See, there are plenty of good reasons to travel with a nursing cover (and it makes a great registry addition since it’s not as expensive as lots of other travel baby gear). (Pssst… if you tend to run hot, they make a muslin version now too.)

Portable blackout curtains

This final item goes on my “never tried it but wish I had” list. Whoever thought of portable blackout curtains is a genius. I can’t tell you how often – even now – we get to a new Airbnb and put the kids to bed, then hear them up at the crack of down because sunlight is streaming into their bedroom. If your baby needs complete darkness to fall asleep or stay asleep in the morning you’ll want these, I promise.

What do you think are the best travel baby gear items to buy for yourself (or put on your registry )?

What to read next

1 thought on “the top baby travel must-haves for your registry (and beyond)”.

Great list! Our son recently turned 6 months old and we are planning our first trip outside the state. It’s very exciting when you do it for the first time with a small child. Be sure to follow all your tips!

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

The Best Diaper Bags to Make Summer Travel with Kids Easier This Year

If you're hopping on a plane this summer, these trendy diaper bags will ensure that you feel supported and stylish.

When it comes to new parent must-haves — diaper bags are truly essential, especially when traveling with your child. Whether you're a parent-to-be, a mom to a newborn or a father with a growing toddler, the diaper bag is arguably one of the most important pieces of baby gear that you need every day.

While it's important for diaper bags to be practical — ideally with enough pocket space and inside compartments to secure all of your baby's essentials — it's even better when they meet your style needs as well. Perhaps the best diaper bags out there are the ones that don't resemble a diaper bag at all. Sound too good to be true? Well, evidently, the available options keep getting better. 

A more toned-down diaper bag ensures that you can confidently step into any environment or situation, without feeling like you're being restricted by a clunky, outdated bag. Some even have room for a working parent's laptop and insulated water bottle sleeves. From Dagne Dover's fan-favorite diaper bag backpack to Alex Mill totes, we've gathered the best diaper bags to buy yourself or purchase as excellent gifts for new moms and dads.

With the summer travel season in full-effect, check out ET Shop's top picks for the best diaper bags that are as practical as they are stylish.

The Best Diaper Bags for Summer Travel in 2024

Lululemon new parent tote bag 20l.

This lululemon tote features compartments for snacks, wipes, diapers and other essentials, along with a removable pouch with a changing mat for added convenience.

Béis The Diaper Bag

Dubbed the "anti-diaper bag," this style from Béis comes complete with four sets of interchangeable stroller straps, a changing pad with a wipe- and diaper-friendly pocket, adjustable straps and much more.

Skip Hop Diaper Bag Backpack Set

A highly-rated 6-in-1 travel bag featuring a changing pad, stroller straps, bottle bag, pacifier pocket and more. 

Ruvalino Diaper Bag Backpack

Offered in a neutral color that looks good on a Mom or Dad, this is a great daily diaper bag backpack that includes a padded laptop pocket and mesh pocket organizers.

with coupon

Herschel Strand Duffle Diaper Bag

Keep all the essential elements and products close by with this Herschel Strand Duffle Diaper Bag that boasts a packable changing mat.

Calpak Convertible Mini Diaper Backpack

With removable and adjustable straps, wear this as a backpack, a shoulder bag or on your luggage.

Dagner Dover Wade Neoprene Diaper Tote

Carry all of your baby essentials while still looking stylish with this Dagner Dover Wade diaper tote on your arm. This diaper tote features a luggage sleeve, clips to your stroller and includes a mini changing mat, extra pouches and a zipper opening for easy access to your wipes. It also can also fit your laptop.

Dagne Dover Indi Diaper Backpack

The diaper backpack trend is alive and well with this Dagne Dover best-seller — complete with a large main compartment that's perfect for holding all of your baby bag essentials.

HAPP Brand Levy Backpack

This top-rated Levy Backpack from HAPP Brand boasts the coolest boho aesthetic — all while having wide comfy straps and nine different compartments for storage.

Fawn Design Mini Diaper Bag

Faux leather is getting a lot of love this year and it's spreading into baby gear with The Mini Convertible Water Resistant Faux Leather Diaper Bag from Fawn Design. 

Alex Mill Perfect Weekend Tote

The tote baby bag style is a trend we never knew we needed.

Freshly Picked Classic Baby Diaper Bag Backpack

Designed with padded adjustable straps and twelve versatile pockets, this stylish diaper bag backpack offers both comfort and convenience.

$199   $169

Caraa Large Baby Bag

Practicality and style go hand-in-hand with this glossy Large Baby Bag from Caraa — which features stroller hooks and a luggage sleeve for added travel convenience.

Parker Baby Co. Birch Bag Diaper Backpack

Made with durable waterproof canvas and vegan leather accents, the birch bag diaper backpack seamlessly blends durability and style — making it a popular choice among parents.

Freshly Picked Minimal Diaper Backpack

The classic shoulder bag style meets a diaper bag practicality in this vegan leather-wrapped Minimal Diaper Backpack.

Petunia Pickle Bottom Boxy Backpack

Add this polished diaper backpack to your baby registry ASAP — it's a top-rated style for a reason.

Sign Up for More Shopping News!

RELATED CONTENT:

lululemon Dropped Its Best-Selling Belt Bag in a New Butter Yellow Color for Summer

The 12 Best Diaper Bags for Dads: Shop Practical and Stylish Bags for Fathers On the Go

What to Pack in Your Carry-On Luggage for Summer Travel

Sales & Deals

10 Best Luggage Deals at Samsonite’s Summer Sale — Save 30% on Carry-Ons, Backpacks and More

The Best Portable Fans at Amazon to Carry Everywhere This Summer

Best Smart Luggage of 2024 to Make Travel Easier: Shop Smart Suitcases

lululemon Released a Clear Belt Bag That's Perfect for Festival Season

The Best Carry-On Luggage and Weekender Bags for Summer Travel: Away, Samsonite, Calpak and More

The Best Designer Tote Bags You'll Carry Everywhere From Work to Vacay

Updates on celebrity news, tv, fashion and more.

JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website.

Recently added item(s) ×

You have no items in your shopping cart.

Reliable Baby Equipment Rental

Clean, safe & high quality baby gear delivered to your doorstep, reserving your baby equipment is easy.

Clean, Safe & Delivered!

Baby Gear Rentals

All the Comforts of home for your little ones while traveling.

Serving Traveling Families Since 2004

Trusted in Over 45 Cities

Brand Name Items Delivered!

Reserving Your Equipment Is Easy

Enter your city location or zip code

Choose your equipment

Check out and receive your confirmation email then you’re done. (we work with Airports as well).

All you need for your baby delivered straight to your door.

The Traveling Baby Company Promise

As one of the pioneers in the industry, Traveling Baby Company has been helping families across the country gain access to clean, safe and reliable baby equipment for their little ones since 2004. All equipment is cleaned and inspected prior to every delivery with the highest standards of safety possible. Communication is key when traveling and whether you're staying in a hotel, Airbnb, Grandma's house or just visiting a friend we will make sure that everything arrives promptly for your visit based on your itinerary.

Read The Reviews

Check out what some of our customers have said about their experience.

Even though they don't service my area they gave me good insight into finding what I need.

Wrote to them and received a quick response. Even though they do not service the area where I live, they found a recommendation on another website and also had some other suggestions as well. Thank you! Much appreciated!

Highly recommend and will use again when traveling.

This is the most amazing, helpful and affordable service for families. I rented a pack n play, high chair, bin of toys and play table in Seattle, Washington. We also had to add on a car seat when we arrived in Seattle because the rental car company's car seat was not safe. Picking up and dropping off everything was really simple. It made traveling so much easier. Thank you so much. I'm going to tell all of my mom friend's about your company!

We rented a double stroller for the week while visiting Disneyland, and loved it. Great customer service, timely delivery, and nice stroller (we used the city mini GT double with a 5 yr old and 3 yr old).

Convenient, friendly and made things easy.... That’s Traveling Baby Company!

Great quality of goods and kind delivery person!

Rented a double stroller for our Disneyland visit, 4 days. They were pleasant and informative when I called, had the stroller I wanted, and for a great rate. It was dropped off and picked up from my hotel timely, and was clean and in great condition. We are glad we chose this Company, and even more glad we went with our gut to rent a double for our 4&5 year old. We would have been so lost without the mobility to get them around the parks quickly. Thanks!!!

Adventure without the baggage. Baby gear, delivered.

Don't Lug it! Rent it!

Most Common Gear Rented in the U.S

Everyone knows traveling with little ones can be completely exhausting. To top it off, having to carry extra equipment like car seats or high chairs can be a daunting task. The most common thing we rent are full size cribs as this is generally the best way to ensure that your child gets the best sleep and in turn so will you and everybody else you're staying with. Being able to have your items for you waiting on your arrival completely takes the stress out of traveling with children. Anything that you can think of that you might need can be found to rent even toys to keep your little ones occupied. All these little details when traveling are what make your trip seamless and more memorable.

Last-Minute Orders

Delivered To Your Door

Airport Deliveries

Clean And Safe

Long Term Rentals

Trusted Brand Names

Self Pick Up/ Drop Off

Hassle- Free

Exploring the city? Strollers, carriers, and toys on the go!

Traveling Baby Company is the premier one-stop-shop in the U.S for all your baby rental gear. Our network is committed to providing quality baby equipment rental that is clean, safe and easy to use with outstanding customer service.

• Affiliate Marketing
• How it works
• Privacy Policy
• Terms and Conditions

Some popular locations to rent gear in the U.S

• Anaheim/ Disneyland, CA
• Houston, TX
• Lake Tahoe, CA
• Los Angeles, CA
• Albuquerque, NM
• Orange County, CA
• Long Island - Hamptons
• New York, NY
• Puerto Rico
• Palm Springs, CA
• San Diego, CA
• Santa Barbara, CA
• Kona Hawaii
• Charleston, SC
• Las Vegas, NV
• Orlando, FL
• View All locations

Get all the latest information on Events, Sales and Offers. Sign up for newsletter today.

Every product is independently selected by (obsessive) editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.

My Hunt for a Nice-Looking (and Shallow) Kitchen Cabinet

I am a renter, but if I owned my apartment I would tear everything out of the narrow galley kitchen and start from scratch. Instead, every once in a while I make some tiny change in an effort to maximize space and minimize the ick. When I moved in, my husband had been living in the apartment for several years and had set up two wooden Ikea carts on the wall opposite the sink, oven, and refrigerator to use as storage and counter space. The carts are functional and fit the space perfectly, but are not toddler-friendly and the open shelves always look cluttered and messy to me. So around the time my son turned 1, I started searching for an alternative. My criteria: something that was counter-height and comfortable for chopping, shallow, baby-proof-able (with doors to hide dangerous items, all of our clutter, and keep dust out), easy to keep clean, under $300 dollars, and attractive enough to make the whole space look better.

In the beginning I really struggled with what to call this type of product. When I searched for kitchen cabinets, I mostly found the sort of things geared towards contractors renovating a kitchen. This made me briefly consider ordering custom cabinets from Ikea with butcher-block-style counters on top. But if I was going to go that far, I figured my money would be better spent renovating the whole kitchen.

Then I started searching online for kitchen islands. They were freestanding and had convenient features like silverware drawers and paper towel roll holders. But all of them — including this very nice one from Crate and Barrel — ended up being too big for my space. The height is good, but it wasn’t shallow enough to fit in my kitchen and was a little too expensive for my budget. Plus it’s a little too modern farmhouse for my taste, but I loved the half moon stainless-steel drawer pulls, that it looks sturdy, and that it has a leaf you can pull up for extra counter space. When I went looking for something similar more in line with my budget, they all looked kind of cheap and leaned too cold and industrial-looking or like something from the set of a hokey cooking show.

After that, I played around with other search terms, trying “kitchen sideboard” and “counter height storage unit” and “bar cart with doors.” At this point I started to realize that there just aren’t that many freestanding counter-height kitchen cabinets, especially not ones slim enough for my kitchen. But there are a lot of slim metal storage cabinets with doors. These are often designed for use outdoors, because they are weatherproof, or to be used in kids’ rooms, offices, workshops, or garages, because they are durable and easy to wipe clean.

They also tend to come in more than just white, black, and brown. Mustard makes its metal lockers in three heights and 12 stylish colors. But the Midi locker, which is closest to what I was looking for, is too tall (43 inches) to make sense as a kitchen counter and the Lowdown is too low (28 inches).

I really like this outdoor storage cabinet from Ikea, and thought about buying two of them since they are so affordable. Fellow Strategist writer Emma Wartzman has one with the upper shelving unit on top in her apartment and loves it. But they’re also too short and I would have had to spend extra money on butcher blocks to add on top.

Discouraged, I had put my hunt on hold. But not too long after, the Wayfair “Way Days” sale reawakened my curiosity. That’s where I discovered that using the term “accent cabinet” would lead me to my prize. Unfortunately the decorative cut-outs on this cabinet got it vetoed by my husband.

This is the one I finally bought. It’s nearly identical to the above cabinet, but minus the cut-outs. And I have been smiling at it since assembling it (the whole process took around 45 minutes) and setting it up in our kitchen. I love how much stuff I can fit inside and how much more streamlined and airy the space looks now. It’s a bit higher than the Ikea carts, so not the perfect cutting and chopping height but I have used it (cutting board on top) to cut bread, fruit, cheese with no problems. It was incredibly easy to babyproof and came with anti-tip straps, so I am not worried about it falling on my son if he pulls too hard on the handles. Best of all, because it’s metal I can use it as an activity space for my son to play with letter and animal magnets while I cook or do dishes.

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments , rolling luggage , pillows for side sleepers , natural anxiety remedies , and bath towels . We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

• the strategist

Every product is independently selected by (obsessive) editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.

Deal of the Day

Micro sales, greatest hits, most viewed stories.

• The Best Father’s Day Gifts for Dads Who Don’t Want Anything
• 25 Things on Sale That Would Also Make Great Father’s Day Gifts
• The 16 Very Best Protein Powders
• I Eat Broccoli Sprouts Daily Thanks to This Easy Kit
• All of the Best Father’s Day Gift Ideas
• The Best Father’s Day Gifts for Every Type of Dad
• Do LED Skin-Care Devices Even Work?

Today’s Top Clicked

Baby and Kids Home Goods

Shop for Baby

Shop for Kids

Shop by Price

Shop more kids and baby categories.