Top Infant Travel Packing List + Free Download

If you’re planning to travel with a baby, you NEED this infant travel packing list. Our infant started her travel life at 6 weeks old and has been on over 35 flights since then. She’s only 2 years old now. Traveling with a baby is not always easy, so I fine-tuned my packing list to make sure I never forgot an item. I hope this list helps you travel confidently with your infant!

This list is for babies under 1 year old. I have a Toddler Packing List for kiddos aged 1-3. They’re similar but I recommend following whichever list correlates with your little one’s age.

Free Infant Travel Packing List download included at the bottom of the post.

And for just a list of Infant Travel Essentials that have helped us out, head here.

** There are some affiliate links in this post. I have only linked to items we have personally used. We tend to travel cheaply, so don’t expect the “best” item in each category… just what quality items worked for us. Thanks for supporting my blog :)**

Advice for your Infant Travel Packing List

Make a reminder list on your phone and include everything you need to pack. Keep the original and then copy it to a new list for each trip. You can modify what you need depending on where you’re going/the weather. Check the things off as you pack them and double check it before you walk out the door.
Try to bring only what you need. Stuff adds up and the more you bring the harder it will be to juggle it all while carrying/tending to your baby.
You can try out BabyQuip to rent some of the big items if you think that will make things easier.
Yes there are super expensive versions of every item on this list. I don’t think you need the “best” travel item to have a great time traveling with an infant. We didn’t make any extravagant purchases for travel and used a lot of the items we already used at home.
Buy secondhand or used if you do want more expensive/better items. Sell them when you’re done.

Clothing – Infant Travel Packing List

I usually pack 1 outfit per day + a few extra. If I’m going on a 5 day trip, I’ll pack 2-3 extra outfits. If you have access to laundry during your trip, pack less! And if you know your infant blows out their diaper once a day, pack more pants 🙂 Don’t pack unnecessary outfits; I know infant clothing is small, but it adds up. A lot of what you pack in this section will depend on the weather where you’re going.

Tops: Long sleeve, short sleeve, tank tops.

Bottoms: Shorts and/or pants.

Pajamas: Babies can wear pajamas more than one night in a row if they don’t soak through their diapers, so only pack what is necessary.

Socks: These are super tiny, so you can bring a lot of extra. I don’t know how, but socks just disappear. Bring wool ones if you’re going somewhere cold.

Jacket and/or Sweatshirts: Jacket, hooded sweatshirt, etc.

Shoes: If you want? Before our little one walked, we didn’t use shoes. They were just an extra thing that didn’t really make sense to pack. You might want to bring warm booties if it will be cold, though.

Sun Hat: We have bought so many of these sun hats as our kiddo has grown. They’re the only ones she’ll wear, so we’ve stuck with them. The brim is super wide, and they’re comfy.

Bathing Suit: Bring 2 if you’ll be swimming a lot.

Rain Gear: This rain suit is AMAZING. We always get compliments when Jovie wears it, it keeps her SO dry (we tested it with Iceland waterfalls too!), and it’s big – they can wear it for a while, and you can fit warm layers underneath.

Snow Clothes: Warm hats/beanies, snow suit, etc.

Swim Diaper: If you’re going somewhere with pools, the beach, etc.

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4 months old on her first trip to the ocean/Florida

Sleep – Infant Travel Packing List

Pack n Play: They sell different travel cribs, but pack n plays seem to be the most popular. Our little one is 2, and we still bring/use a pack n play when we travel. They are big and heavy, so if you can find accommodations that offer portable cribs avoid having to bring one if possible.

Pack n Play Sheets: I always bring 2, just in case. I also bring sheets even if the accommodations have a portable crib – you never know how clean their sheet/pack n play will be.

White Noise Machine: If you use one at home all the time, bring one with you.

Monitor (optional): Our little one always had trouble sleeping, so it was nice for us to be able to see if she was laying or standing down when she was screaming. Ideally, bring one that doesn’t require wifi if you don’t know how your internet will be when you travel.

Slumber Pod: Honestly, this has been our best travel item for our kiddo. It’s a little expensive but SO worth it. It’s basically a breathable tent that goes over your pack n play. It’s helpful to keep your kiddo’s sleep area dark, and it keeps them from being able to see you in a hotel room if they wake. If you’re infant is still in the I-can-sleep-anywhere phase, you don’t need this yet.

Swaddles: Definitely bring swaddles if you use them at home. Sleep is so important when you travel!

Stuffed Animal/Blanket: If you’re little one is at the age that you’ve started putting a blanket or stuffed animal in with them when they sleep, be sure to bring it on your trip to offer comfort.

Toiletries/Diapering – Infant Travel Packing List

Diapers: Bring more than you think you’ll need or plan to buy a box when you arrive at your destination. If you’re traveling internationally, it might be more expensive to buy them there.

Baby Wipes: However many packs you think you’ll need. I always pack at least 1 new pack in my carry-on and 1 new pack in my suitcase.

Dirty Diaper Baggies: Yes, they’re like dog poop bags, but they do come in handy if you have to change a diaper and aren’t near a garbage.

Diaper Cream: They sell travel size Aquaphor.

Baby Soap: You don’t know what soap will be supplied at your accommodations, so bring your own.

Baby Detergent: If you use unscented laundry detergent at home, bring some with you. I use unscented powder detergent, so it’s easy to bring in a ziploc.

Washcloths: For bathing, spit up, etc.

Travel Bath: We never used one, but they do sell travel baths. I always just got in the tub and held our infant.

Eating/Bottles/Breastfeeding – Infant Travel Packing List

FYI: You are allowed to bring bottles/food for your baby through TSA, but they will likely inspect your carry-on. One TSA agent told me to always make sure my ice pack was frozen or they might pull it. Plan for extra time to get through security when they check your milk/formula.

Baby Food: If you have started trying purees or cereal with your little one, bring some along.

Travel Spoon

Bibs: If you use them at home, throw a few in your bag.

Burp Cloths or Washcloths

Baby Friendly Dish Soap: Just bring a little container to wash out your bottles.

Sanitizing Bags: They sell bags that you put your pump parts/bottles in, add water, then pop them in the microwave. You can use them quite a few times and are super helpful when traveling.

For breastfeeding mamas:

If you don’t plan on pumping at all, this is the easiest way to travel with an infant. All you need are your boobs. Bring a nursing cover if that makes you feel more comfortable.

If you do plan on pumping, bring:

Travel Bottle Cooler: I used a Medela cooler, but just find one that fits the bottles you pump into.

Ice Pack: My little cooler came with an ice pack that fit nestled in next to the bottles.

Breastmilk Bags: These take up less space and can store your milk.

Regular Breast Pump or Travel Pump: I traveled with my regular breast pump whenever I thought I’d pump on a trip, and it’s pretty heavy. I went backpacking and pumped, though, and learned that a manual pump is pretty convenient too. Totally up to you on this one.

Bottles: If you plan on your infant using bottles, bring the ones you use at home.

Cleaning Wipes: These take the place of washing your pump parts and are really convenient if you aren’t near a sink to wash your parts.

For those who use formula:

Formula: Bring whatever you use at home.

Bottles: Whichever ones you use at home.

Bottle Warmer or Thermos for Hot Water

Here’s Jovie waving at other passengers on one of our flights

Infant Specific Items

Car Seat: We always just brought our one that we used all the time. They do sell travel ones, though, if you think it would be worth it to buy a lighter weight one. But if you bought one for its safety ratings, you might want to bring that same one with you.

Car Seat Bag: If your infant is traveling as a lap child, you will likely have to check your car seat. We always gate checked our car seat because I read that there’s less of a chance of it getting thrown around. We put the car seat in one of these semi-padded bags.

Carrier: I used a baby carrier for forever (still do! and my little one is almost 3 haha). It was super convenient to carry our little one through the airport and came in handy while we were traveling as well. If your baby falls asleep in it, some flight attendants may tell you they have to come out of the carrier for take-off/landing, but we never had that issue. I honestly don’t understand how a carrier would be LESS safe than me just holding a tiny baby in my arms but whatever.

Stroller: If you think you’ll use it enough on your trip, bring one. If you’re really just going to use it in the airport, use a carrier instead and save yourself the hassle of gate-checking a stroller.

Play Mat: A padded play mat is helpful if where you’re staying has hard floors. You’ll want somewhere to set down your little one.

Pacifiers

Favorite Little Toys

Miscellaneous – Infant Travel Packing List

Any medications you might need: You won’t want to make a 2am run for infant Tylenol in a foreign country. Bring any meds you may need or ones that you use on a regular basis.

Sunscreen

First Aid Things: Bandaids, nail clippers, thermometer, saline nose spray/nose Frida if you use one, etc.

Birth Certificate or Passport: If you’re traveling internationally, you do need a passport for your baby. Some domestic airlines will ask to see a birth certificate.

Things for your Diaper Bag for the Plane

Diapers

Wipes

Extra Outfit

Pouches/Snacks if you’re doing Purees

Bottles/Whatever you need to feed your little one. Nursing Cover if you need it.

Little Toys to entertain them.

Hand Sanitizer and a little pack of sanitizing wipes to wipe down your plane area.

Pacifiers if you’re little one uses one.

Blanket. It gets cold on the plane sometimes!

Ziplocs. These just come in handy.

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Baby Packing List