What To Pack When Traveling With a Newborn

Sometimes traveling to just the grocery store can feel chaotic when you have a newborn. It can feel overwhelming to start planning for traveling with a baby because you don’t want to pack too much, but you also want to make sure you have everything you need. It can be hard to know what the perfect amount of anything is. If you’re traveling by plane, car, or something else, what you want to pack might differ. 

Clothing and Diapers 

No matter where you’re traveling, clothing and diapers should be at the top of your list. A newborn will go through approximately 10 to 12 diapers a day, while a baby between one and five months uses around 8 to 10 each day. You don’t necessarily need to pack 100 diapers for a weeklong trip because you can always buy more when you’re away. 

When planning on what to take for newborn clothes, you should plan to take two outfits per day, plus two extra ones. If you’re going somewhere where you’ll have access to a washing machine and a dryer, you can get away with packing less than that. Just make sure to do some research on the weather of the destination you’re traveling to so you can dress the baby accordingly. If it’ll be warm, make sure to pack lightweight clothing and hats, and if it’s going to be cold, make sure to pack sweaters, plenty of blankets, and a coat. 

First Aid Kit 

Having a first aid kit handy when traveling can help you have some peace of mind. No one wants anything bad to happen to them while traveling, but it’s good to be prepared in case of emergency. You should make sure to pack it with infant acetaminophen and ibuprofen so you have something on hand in case it’s needed. 

Your first aid kit should also include: 

• 2 compress dressings 
• 25 band-aids in various sizes 
• An instant cold compress 
• 2-3 hydrocortisone ointment packets
• Tweezers 
• 5-6 antiseptic wipes 
• 1 emergency blanket 
• 2-3 pairs of non-latex gloves 
• A roller bandage 
• Thermometer 

It’s a good idea to customize your kit so it makes sense for your family. 

Nursing and Feeding Supplies 

Depending on how you’re feeding your baby you’ll want to plan accordingly. If you’re breastfeeding, you’ll want to make sure you have what you need to nurse comfortably, such as your nursing pillow, breast pump if needed, milk collection bags, nursing cover, freezer packs, breast milk cooler, and breast pump sanitizing wipes. 

If you’re traveling by plane, it’s important to read the regulations when it comes to bringing formula on the plane. Newborns drink approximately 18 and 36 ounces per day, taking a bottle every 2-3 hours. You should take note of how much your baby drinks per day to make sure you bring enough with you on the trip. 

Sleep and Play Items 

No matter where you travel, your baby needs somewhere to sleep and that’s something you’ll need to plan accordingly. You won’t be able to bring along their crib or bassinet, but there are many portable options available. Travel bassinets are handy and they fold up to make it easy for traveling, and some are extremely lightweight making them easy to carry around. If you’re used to co-sleeping and you don’t want to put your baby on a hotel bed, there are travel co-sleeping bassinets available to purchase. Some travel sleep options fold up into a diaper bag, making it extremely easy to carry around wherever you go. When it comes to toys, you don’t need to bring a lot of things with you. Newborns don’t play with much, so you can pack a couple of things they like and that should be enough for the trip. 

Traveling with a newborn does not need to be stressful. With careful planning, you’ll be able to make sure you pack wherever is needed without overpacking.