Pack for Baby: The CarryOn and Suitcase

by: Esther Lee



You've got your carry-on and suitcase open and ready to be filled up with items for your precious baby. What should you pack for baby and what needs to go where. I first pull everything that baby will need for the trip and lay it out on the bed. I then separate it into carry-on and suitcase before zipping everything up.

 

Here's what you'll need to pack for baby:

 

Baby's First Aid Kit
The health and safety of your little guy or gal is number 1. Many babies catch a variety of germs while traveling, so make sure that your first aid kit is easily accessible and packed with all the basic items. Here's a list of the 15 Essential Items for Baby's First Aid Kit.

 

Clothes

  • 4 daytime outfits and 4 pajama/loungewear outfits - Since babies go through clothing like it’s going out of style (I guess they have to since they outgrow them in 3 months), I pack 2 outfits per day for 4 days. Usually one daytime outfit and one pj/loungewear type getup. Be sure to pack layers since you never want a cold or overheating baby. I never pack for more than 5 days because if the trip is longer, we’ll plan to find a nearby washer/dryer to freshen everything up.  (Pack 6 outfits in the suitcase. Pack one in the carry-on and leave the other one for baby to wear)

  • 4 days worth of bibs and burp clothes. Depending on the drooling capacity of your baby, you'll need more or none of these. My son's been teething for about 24 months straight, so we never leave home without these.

  • 4 pairs of socks. Less if you’re headed for the beach and baby will be barefoot most of the time.

  • A hat or beanie if you’re headed somewhere cold. A wide brimmed sunhat if you’re going somewhere sunny.

  • 0-2 pairs of shoes depending on if you want to dress those little toes up and what he/she wears on the plane

 

Hygiene and more

  • Baby toothbrush and toothpaste (not a biggie if you forget it since your baby probably only has a couple of pearly whites right now.

  • Baby bath soap and lotion. Since you’ll want a "no tears" baby in the bath, be sure to pack a little bottle of baby body wash and shampoo. The sample sizes typically last 2-3 weeks.

  • Laundry detergent – This is optional unless your baby has sensitive skin and prefers brands like Dreft or Baby Ivory. You don't need much, so just pack what you need.

 

Mealtime: Bottles, formula, food and more

  • Bring our own bottles and sippy cups since cleanliness is often key to keeping baby’s tummy happy. Depending on what your baby's using, you’ll bring about 4-5 bottles and/or sippy cups. I typically pack a bottle cleaning brush for those narrow neck bottles and a small sample of dish detergent if we’re headed to a hotel versus a vacation rental.

  • Food is tough. If you have a picky eater, you’ll probably have to pack more in order to guarantee brands and quantities. We order most things ahead of time through a baby supply company or buy it at the destination. Just pack enough fruit, vegetables, protein and carbs for about 2-3 days and buy the rest upon arrival. Gerber is available almost everywhere in the world although not always in your usual flavors if you're out of the country. It's a great way to expand your little one's gourmet palate. If you don’t have an adventurous eater, you might want to pack more in your suitcase.

    Formula is also easy to find domestically, so we never packed that. If you're headed international, you might want to pack your own formula since it's often to find the brand your trust in foreign countries. You'll also want to make sure that you’re not packing anything that won’t pass through customs.

  • When I was breastfeeding, I typically took a cover-up and a hand pump in case I needed it. If you're planning on pumping a lot, then bring your own breast pump.

 

To monitor or not to monitor?
We always bring the monitor because babies sleep a lot more than adults.  Baby monitor technology is absolutely amazing these days and can give you the freedom to play cards with friends in a hotel room down the hall while watching and listening to your sleeping baby on the video monitor.

 

Diapers and wipes

  • Why can’t we have children who are potty trained by the time they are 1? Depending on where you go, diapers are a dime a dozen or completely unavailable. For example, in Asia, babies are potty trained a lot earlier so you’ll be hard pressed to find diapers size 4 and up. Everywhere that we’ve gone, diapers can be easily purchased or shipped in advance, so we rarely pack diapers in our suitcase. (Click here for a list of baby supply companies who deliver things like diapers and wipes to your destination)
  • If you're shipping diapers, throw in a pack of wipes and lighten your load further. If you’re gone for more than 3 weeks, you’ll probably want to buy two packs.


Toys

We will often pack a couple of toys just in case for entertaining purposes. We typically bring an inflatable or collapsible ball, a couple of books and a lovie. Here's a full list of travel toy recommendations for babies and toddlers.


Baby proofing stuff
Depending on where we’re going, we typically bring some a small bag of baby proofing gear. This handy plastic bag will have about 10 electrical socket covers and 2 sliding locks for the kitchen and bathroom cabinets.

 

Now that everything's ready, we load up our carry-ons. We basically pack everything that we'll need to survive if baby's suitcase gets lost or we're stuck traveling with baby for the entire day. Toys are critical for the carry-on in case baby doesn't sleep on the plane and needs to be entertained.

 

Click here for a quick checklist of what to put in your carry-on versus the suitcase.

 

 

 

Once the carry-ons are packed with baby's stuff along with an extra shirt for mom/dad in case of an accident, we pack up the suitcase and zip them both up. The last thing to take care of are the big bulky items. You're almost set to head off to bed!

 

Go to Pack for Baby: The Big Stuff.

 

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updated: December 03 2009 by thelees3

Comments
at 12/02/2009 03:09AM jaybra wrote:
Lesson I share frequently with parents traveling with infants - be prepared for anything, check weather reports, and if in doubt, carry it on (sorry, I know that is contrary to your article - but it royally saved us).

So, here is my story. My daughter was 10 months old and we were traveling from Hawaii to Colorado. We had been checking the airline's website all day because we had heard DIA was expected to be shut down because of an inbound blizzard. At 9pm when we boarded the plane, DIA was still open and we were on our way. While we were in flight, DIA was shut down. We landed in San Fransisco and got in line to re-book our flight once DIA opened. I immediately called the airline and was actually able to get us into Denver 2 days early then what the counter at the airport could offer. So, this is where our unexpected 5 day layover in San Francisco began.

I knew the storm was expected and there was a great possibility of delay so I packed 4 days of baby food, I just dropped in a brand new, big can of formula in the bottom of the bag (a good weeks worth, and was so glad to have it sealed and in the original container - made security much easier), 3 days worth of bottles and bowls (pre-measured with cereal, and an extra box of cereal in the check bag - worst case, they can always eat plain cereal or you can mash in a banana), and about 6 days of diapers and wipes. I also packed about 3 days worth of clothes (as well as extra clothes for the grownups - which is something every parent needs to put in carry-on if traveling with infants or toddlers). I do not travel, and at this point couldn't travel with baby soap but rather pack a box of pre-soaped dry disposable washclothes (these are the best for travel!) We were at the height of TSA locking down on liquids in carry-on and check bags so I was not able to take any liquids in carry on aside from jarred baby foods (no diaper cream, no baby Tylenol, no dishsoap - the 3oz and ziplock policy was not in place yet). Did I also mention we didn't get our checked bags until the third day we were in San Fransisco? So much for the extra stock! So, I knew at day 5 we were going to run out of baby food, but that gave me 4 days to find a place to buy some as well as pick up some dishsoap. Our hotel had a washing machine and dryer so we threw in a load on our third day (didn't know our bags were going to show up that evening, carry-on clothes must be wash and wear - and sorting goes out the window). The front desk had some toiletries so we were able to get toothbrushes, toothpaste, and vaseline - diaper cream substitute. We did not rent a car in San Fransisco and because we gate checked the carseat and stroller we had both of these items. If we would have regular checked them we probably would have had neither (another lesson - gate check stollers and carseats). We were able to take the train into town each day. We stayed at the hotel the airport requested so we received flight updates and support from them...not really sure what support we received, but this put us next to the airport and not really in a neighborhood. We went on a wine tour, went to the Wharf almost everyday, took my daughter to the aquarium - which she loved, and just had a very enjoyable pre-vacation, vacation. The planning I had done in advance and the necessities that we had at hand enabled us to relax and enjoy the time rather then stress and spend a lot of extra money trying to find baby necessities in industrial parts of town (airports are not normally in the parts of town where you find baby things).

So that is my story, hope someone can learn from my lessons. Almost 3 years later, I still look back on that trip with fond memories and a big phew, because it could have been a nightmare.

I travel 6-8 times per year now by myself with my two children (2 and 4, and yes we still live in Hawaii so our trip almost always starts with a 7 hour flight). I still carry many of these lessons forward - 3 days of food (yes we can live on granola bars and teddy grahams), change of clothes for everyone, 2-3 for the littlest. If we need something in the next 48 hours it better be in the carryon or have an easy substitute. Straw cups for everyone - even me, prevents spills on the plane which reduces the need for extra clothes. Prior planning and two good carryon bags are the key to a happy start to a trip no matter how off course the trip becomes.
at 02/18/2010 01:45PM carh35 wrote:
One big thing that has made travel so much easier for us in the car and on planes is Bottlelink. I do not have to worry about my daughter's bottle hitting the floor and collecting germs. I've seen some other bottle restraint devices, but they didn't seem to work that well and they absorbed the milk of the bottle and were gross. I bought mine online for like $7.
at 10/27/2011 10:01AM ilovemybeautybaby wrote:
If you are staying at a Hyatt Hotel they have a wonderful service called "Babies travel lite" This is especially useful when traveling on an airline that charges bag fees. Check out what they have to offer. (pulled of there website)

Babies Travel Lite

Diapers, Formula, Food & More Delivered to Your Hyatt Hotel room by Babies Travel Lite

Everything you need to care for your infant or toddler waiting in your room.
Over 1,500 name brand baby products including large selection of organics.
Save time packing by ordering online at Babies Travel Lite.
Don't pay airline baggage fees and worry about whether you luggage will arrive.
Relax when you arrive instead of worrying about shopping for your baby supplies.
Order early to save - 14 days before you arrive at your Hyatt destination.
Last minute orders can be accommodated by calling Babies Travel Lite at 888-450-5483.

Visit Babies Travel Lite to place your order, then sit back and relax, Hyatt and Babies Travel Lite will take care of the rest. Babies Travel Lite will confirm and track your order from the time it leaves their warehouse to the day the package is delivered to your Hyatt location. Rest assured that once you arrive at your Hyatt destination, Hyatt will have your package ready for delivery.
at 10/27/2011 11:03AM ilovemybeautybaby wrote:
Also offered at Hyatt Hotels is a service called Hyatt's Toy Box. Forget lugging a bunch of toys! Check out this amenity. (pulled from website)

Play Through Your Stay With Hyatt's Toy Box

Traveling with children can be a challenge, especially when it requires leaving favorite toys at home. To keep your children entertained and in their element, Hyatt has partnered with the Toy Tips Research Institute an independent group that provides unbiased research reviews and toy report cards - to help us select an assortment of toys and games that are easy to use, fun and educational for our “youngest” guest to enjoy while they are visiting the resort. Visit the front desk and let your son or daughter choose from over 25 toys, all available for check-out during your stay. From LEGOs to TONKA trucks to board games, we have something for every age and interest. Make sure your family vacation is enjoyable for everyone, and take advantage of Hyatt Toy Box.
at 05/04/2012 08:14AM jgalloway wrote:
I am all about traveling light but I have learned somethings are always worth carrying along. The extra shirt for mom and dad is a must. I have had more then one kid get airsick or dump juice on them and me I have been thankful I could change as well as them. I have also ended up with a child in my shirt. I will not fly with out spare cloths for any child under five. It doesn't have to be jeans but some small cotton shorts that can be thrown in the bottom of the bag. If you get at a layover you don't get your luggage back and the only clothing you are offered is and adult extra large t-shirt. Even a potty trained child can have issues just because of the pressure change even for just a short flight. Also a couple of onsies for a babiy is not a bad idea. If you have the space never scrimp on diapers in the carry on bag. We got stuck in Atlanta and placed in a hotel there was nothing but convenience stores around. I had to walk to three separate stores late at night finally finding diapers that were too big which didn't bode well for the flight the next day. Also I always bring an empty bag for security that I throw in all the kids shoes, coats, jackets, blankets, and anything else in. We pack this bag up as we get to close to security but not all the way there. Then I am not holding up the line taking off kids shoes and I just grab the bag at the other end and then find a less busy spot to redress everyone. With the new rules about charging for checked luggage if all I am taking is a carry on I pack two bags. A small backpack (personal Item) and a carryon. I have anything that I could need for the flight in the small backpack Diapers, wipes, entertainment, spare cloths, food. Think small but also try and get the stuff you might really need. Rember this is your personal item so put your purse in the carryon and your wallet and credit cards in the backpack. Then I try and check my bigger carry on at the gate most times it will check to your destination so you won't see it again till baggage claim, but with a baby you already have your hands full. This also allows me to shove this bag at my feet and so I don't have to keep getting up for things the baby needs.
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