Traveling with an infant means extra gear and more items packed in your luggage. Whether you travel by car or plane, you need easy access to the essentials such as diapers and bottles. Long trips also present the challenge of keeping your baby entertained. Plan out your trip and necessities before your departure day to reduce inconveniences along the way.
Essentials
Baby essentials keep your infant's basic needs met during travel. Diapers, wipes and diaper rash ointment fulfill the diapering needs for your baby. Add a travel diaper changing pad or small blanket to use under your baby for diaper changes on-the-go. If you bottle feed your baby, you'll need plenty of bottles, nipples, formula and water. If you're bringing pumped breast milk, add a cooler to your list of essentials to keep the milk safe. The breast milk, formula and baby food are allowed through the airport security checkpoint if you are flying. Paper towels or tissues come in handy for cleanups while traveling. Blankets keep your baby warm and double as a sun blocker. Depending on where you stay, you may need a portable crib.
Packing Tips
Place any items that could leak into plastic bags with zip-top closures. Include a few extra bags to hold wet clothing or dirty diapers if a trashcan isn't nearby. Pack a small separate bag with the baby essentials to keep them handy throughout the trip. Include enough of everything in this bag to cover the day's travel plus a few extras.
Safety
While traveling with an infant, you may find it tempting to take shortcuts or break safety rules to keep your baby quiet or content. Avoid giving into these temptations to prevent serious injury to your infant. Always keep your baby strapped into his car seat. If you need to take him out of the seat to change a diaper, feed him or handle another care task, pull over your vehicle first. Secure your baby into his stroller when walking around with him. In the hotel, place your baby in a separate crib instead of in the bed with you.
Entertainment
Entertainment options keep your baby content or help distract her if she becomes fussy during travel. Choose items that are portable without a lot of pieces. Books with cardboard pages, baby chew toys, rattles and large blocks are examples of items to pack. Your infant also needs breaks from travel when possible to keep her content. When traveling by car, stop frequently and get your baby out of her car seat. Let her crawl or walk around if you are in a safe location.
