When you have a baby, you hear plenty of positive things like, “Babies are such a blessing” and “Get ready for an adventure!” And an adventure, it is for sure! However, we’re also told plenty of negative things when we have a baby, like “Say goodbye to sleep” and “Say goodbye to travel!” That first one may be accurate, but the second one doesn’t have to be true at all!
In fact, many people find traveling with newborns a great way to bond with their new baby, embrace their new life, and practice some much-needed post-baby self-care! Though a little taboo, bringing a baby on your trips is possible and even enjoyable with the right planning! So, today, we’re sharing our list of the most important baby travel essentials for a smooth trip with a newborn! Here’s what you need:
15+ Newborn Travel Essentials
1. Zipper Pouches
Traveling with a baby means lots of little stuff. They’re little, and all their items are little! To keep yourself from going crazy while driving or flying to your destination, organize everything into these reusable zipper pouches! It makes everything easy to use and access the minute you need it.
2. Travel Diaper Bag
Your everyday diaper bag may not be the best for travel. This travel diaper bag is a favorite because it folds up easily and fits right into your checked bag, ready to go when you reach your destination. It has a zipper closure, an insulated pocket, plenty of internal organization, and more! It’s just a handy diaper bag that works for any type of trip!
3. Manual Breast Pump
If you nurse your newborn, you’re probably pretty dependent on your pump of choice! However, we can become a little too dependent on those pumps, and we’ve heard lots of horror stories about pumps breaking while families are traveling. Because of that, we always recommend you bring a manual breast pump as a backup!
4. Portable Bottle Drying Rack
Washing bottles and pump parts while traveling with a newborn is essential. However, you need a place to dry everything when you’re done washing it up. This portable drying rack is perfect for creating a compact and functional solution! We also recommend these breast pump wipes for cleaning on the go!
5. Stain Remover
Whether you’re dealing with spit-ups or blowouts, you don’t want to be stressing about stained clothes on your vacation. Bring stain remover spray to treat those stains right away so you can take care of the mess when you get home (or at least later in the day.)
6. Baby Carrier or Wrap
One of the best ways to travel freely with your newborn is with a high-quality baby carrier or baby wrap! Your hands can stay free, and you can easily maneuver around any venue without a bulky stroller. However, we wouldn’t recommend going stroller OR baby carrier for the whole trip. Definitely bring both, so you can have options based on the day’s activities and what baby likes best.
7. Extra Large Changing Pad
A large changing pad is obviously great for diaper changes, but it’s also useful any time you need to set the baby down! Whether having a picnic in wine country or lounging on the beach, having a wipeable mat that’s safe and clean for baby to lay on is a great idea! This changing pad literally does double duty!
8. Pacifier Clips
Pacifier clips aren’t just for pacifiers; they’re useful for keeping any baby items closer to your newborns. Attaching your baby’s blanket, pacifier, or bottle to their clothes prevents it from falling or getting lost.
9. Wet Bags
With a newborn baby, there are going to be soiled clothes and blankets. It’s just the way it goes! Wet bags are great for keeping the soiled items contained, so they don’t dirty other items. Wet bags are perfect for keeping dirty baby clothes separate from clean ones, ensuring they don’t end up in a heap on the hotel floor. The key to a stress-free trip with kids is staying organized!
10. Sound Machine
No matter what your accommodations are on vacation, you’re probably going to be in tight quarters with your baby, maybe even in the same room. To ensure the baby sleeps soundly while you and your partner continue to enjoy your evening, bring a sound machine! It’ll also help the baby sleep in the stroller while out in public! (If your newborn is sleeping in their stroller, make sure you know this about safe sleep and car seats).
11. Portable Baby Monitor
For peace of mind while you’re in another room or enjoying time on the patio, make sure you bring a portable baby monitor! We love this one because it has a lot of the features of your monitor at home plus a long range! It has 2-way audio, it’s wi-fi free, gives you a temperature read-out, and has a video display!
12. Inflatable Bathtub
Your accommodations probably don’t have any solutions for newborn bathing except if you want to do a good old-fashioned sink bath. This collapsible infant bathtub is free-standing, has a drain, and includes a built-in thermometer. Even with just a shower and sink at your hotel or rental, you can still bathe your newborn.
13. Portable Bassinet
This lightweight travel cot is a great size for newborns! It has a bassinet mode that’s perfect for the infant stage. Even though it’s very compact, it can fit children up to 35 lbs. That means it can be used well into toddlerhood, so it’s a wise investment if you’re a frequent traveler! The play yard comes with a carrying bag and a thick mattress, so the only other thing you’ll need is some waterproof sheets. (Bring extra!)
14. UPF Clothes
It’s not recommended that infants younger than 6 months wear sunscreen. That means your newborn’s only protection from the sun will be protective clothing like UPF rash guards and hats. Ensure that you plan out how you’ll protect your baby from sunburn at each of your destinations.
15. Travel Car Seat and Stroller
If you’re traveling by plane, we strongly recommend you keep your baby safe by flying with their car seat. That means you’ll purchase a seat for your newborn and install their infant carrier on the plane. You can use an FAA-approved car seat to do this, but if you’re a frequent flier, consider a car seat specifically for travel.
Our recommended infant car seats for travel are either lightweight seats that can easily be installed without a base (that’s good for taxis and rental cars) like the Clek Liingo or the Nuna PIPA urbn or we recommend a stroller/car seat combo like the Evenflo DualRide or the Doona. The latter are heavier, but they eliminate the need for you to bring a stroller AND car seat, which is a plus!
If you plan to get one of the lightweight options, you’ll still need a stroller. Here are the travel strollers and travel systems we recommend! Remember, baby will be too young to sit in traditional stroller mode, so you need something that is compatible with their car seat or has a bassinet mode like the BABYZEN YOYO2 with this bassinet attachment.
16. Slumberpod
The SlumberPod is a must-have for parents on the go, creating a dark, cozy sleep space for babies and toddlers. It fits over a crib or bed, blocking out light for better sleep at home or while traveling. Easy to set up and breathable, it helps your little one rest soundly anywhere. Plus, use Promo Code: 10SAFESEATPC for 10% off your purchase!
Be confident traveling with your newborn with these essentials!
Are you ready to travel with your newborn? We hope so! Traveling with your little ones can be such a special experience for everyone involved, so if you love to see the world, do it! Don’t let a new baby stop you!
If you need more help, here’s our full infant packing list and don’t forget to browse the blog for all the essential car seat safety information! No matter where you go, we want your whole family to be safe in their seats.
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