The Prepared Parent – 5 Things You Should Always Pack When Traveling With A Baby

 

Photo: Hassan Nizam/Unsplash

For such tiny humans, babies require a lot of packing space. The unavoidable fact is, they need a large amount of equipment and supplies to care for them properly. When traveling with your little one, whether in the air or over the road, you’ll want to be sure you have everything you need to make the trip as easy as possible for you, your baby, and anyone else traveling with you. There’s nothing as unsettling as an unhappy baby when you’re a long way from home, so be sure to pack the things below. 

Note: We’re going to assume you never leave home without a diaper bag packed with extra diapers, wipes, pacifiers, rash cream, toys, infant pain reliever, and other staples, so the list below contains extra supplies and equipment you should pack when traveling with a baby. 

  1. Baby Bottle Sterilizer

If your baby is less than three months old, is premature, or has an immunodeficiency disorder, you should take a travel bottle sterilizer with you on any long trip. There are all kinds of nasties in the world, and you want to do what you can to protect your baby from them. It takes as few as two minutes to sterilize a bottle in most travel sterilizers, so don’t forgo this important piece of equipment. 

  1. Baby Food/Formula

If your child is eating baby food, be sure to take along as much as necessary for the number of meals needed while traveling. Be sure to pack an extra meal in case you get delayed. Choose foods that don’t need to be refrigerated, and don’t forget to pack any utensils or equipment you may need. 

Whether you’re traveling by car or plane, your little one will need plenty of baby formula to get through the trip. Most airlines allow you to carry on formula and water to mix bottles, but you’ll want to pack it in a way that makes it easy to take out for inspection. Again, pack extra in case you get delayed. 

  1. Hand Sanitizer

You probably won’t be able to wash your hands as often as you’d like while traveling, so it’s a good idea to carry hand sanitizer with you. If you’re flying, you’ll want to allow a few extra minutes for the screening process because the sanitizer will need to be inspected. Most airlines allow up to a 12-ounce container of hand sanitizer in a carry-on bag. 

  1. Pacifiers and Toys

Traveling with a baby can be frustrating, especially if they’re fussy or unhappy. To help occupy your child during the trip, bring along a few favorite toys and books to play with. If your baby uses them, pack extra pacifiers as they are easily dropped or misplaced in the chaos and confusion of travel. 

  1. Wipes

You probably already carry a package of wipes in the diaper bag, but it never hurts to have an extra pack in your carry-on. Check the ones in the diaper bag to make sure they are still moist. 

Wipes come in handy for more than cleaning your baby’s bum during a diaper change. In a pinch, they’ll work to clean your hands after changing your baby’s diaper, cleaning your baby’s face after eating, and even wiping down surfaces before and after your little one has touched them. 

If you are planning a trip with your baby, be sure to pack everything they will need to be happy and healthy along the way. Aside from the usual diaper bag contents, make sure to pack the items listed above.

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