Tips for Traveling with Baby and Toddler

Before I became a mom, I was a nanny for several years, during which I had the opportunity to travel with families both domestically and internationally. I've had hands-on experience with various baby travel gear, and since then, I've noticed that baby gear has come a long way, making traveling with little ones easier than ever before.

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I thought it would be helpful to put together a list of some of my favorite travel gear – either ones I've personally used or ones I've seen in action. Let's start by talking about some tips for trip organization and some of my favorites! When I'm preparing for a trip, I find it incredibly helpful to stay organized. I usually use labeled packing cubes to keep everything organized in my luggage, and my go-to suitcase for packing is the Away – it comes in both carry-on and checked versions.

When it comes to traveling during the bottle stage, I found it useful to bring along a travel-sized drying rack, baby dish soap, and microwave sanitizing bags. While I use a full plug-in sanitizer for bottles at home, the travel version is a lifesaver! I also like to pack my child's pants, shorts, and t-shirts into outfits and roll them up into a packing cube, which helps me stay organized.

Now, let's talk about car seats – a topic that can be overwhelming for parents! I've traveled with my children both as lap children and with an FSA-approved car seat in their own seat. There are a few ways to do this, which I'll explain below.

If you have a Doona car seat/stroller combo, it's an excellent option for travel. You can quickly convert it from a car seat to a stroller and back again, and it's approved for use on a plane, which makes it an ideal choice if you want your infant to have a seat. If you prefer not to purchase a seat for your child (under 2), checking a car seat is a great option! You can either check your car seat at the gate or at the ticketing counter. I recommend checking it at the gate to avoid potential damage.

If you want to bring your car seat on the plane, I suggest using a lightweight car seat. We don't travel with our son's regular car seats (see my blog on convertible car seats to see our kid's seats in our cars at home here) because they're too bulky and heavy for the plane. Instead, we use the Cosco car seat, which is super light and easy to install on the plane!

A couple of points to note:

-If you do not have a Doona car seat or are traveling with a babe not in the Doona, I recommend purchasing some sort of rolling dolly made for car seats or a strap.  We used this strap attached to our luggage to make for easier carrying of the convertible car seat through the airport. 

-If you are traveling with a car seat, I recommend checking to see if they sell a travel bag.  We have the Uppababy mesa and bought the travel bag to ensure it arrived damage-free (or would be replaced by them if not!)

For Strollers, you could either go with the full size (be sure to check your airline for weight restrictions) that you check (or bring through the gate if it’s under the weight limit) OR use a lightweight umbrella stroller.  For a luxe option, I would get the Babyzen Yoyo stroller.  For us, we purchased the budget Summer 3D stroller which worked great for our needs!  If we were traveling now, I would either get a Summer Infant double stroller or check our wagon for when we arrive.

In the baby stage, we checked our Uppababy stroller and car seat at the ticket counter using our travel bag and wore the baby with a solly wrap or ergo (depending on if they wanted to be snuggled or if it was nap time!) If I were buying a carrier now, I would probably try the Wildbird carrier as I’ve heard wonderful things!

Austin Baby Collection Mat makes for a great tray table cover!

For plane entertainment, I have shared a list below for the toddler and baby stage!

1.)   Snacks: Austin Baby Collection Bento Boxes are a MUST!

2.)   Fidget spinners: These are amazing to stick on the tray or windows for entertainment.

3.)   Wiki stix: Great for toddlers to keep their hands busy.

4.)   Activity book: Also a great option that is contained with a lot of activities!

5.)   Water: Yeti Kid’s Rambler.  So many airports have refillable stations now, save yourself the airport price!

6.)   Mat: These foldable Austin Baby Collection mats are amazing to keep the trays germ-free.

7.)   Water wow: These are always really fun and portable!

A few more important things I would pack to make the trip easier, whether staying at a hotel, house rental or with family/friends:

1.)   Sound Machine: My kids sleep best with a sound machine.  We pack our full-sized Hatch but keep our portable one in our Diaper Bag for on-the-go naps.

2.)   Slumber pod: We love our slumber pod for creating an easy blackout environment for sleep.  It fits right over the Pack + Play- and they just came out with a toddler mattress we will try this year as my son approaches 3!

3.)   Pack and play: There are so many different great options, but we have the 4moms one.  I also really loved the Graco we borrowed which is a more budget-friendly option.

4.)   Suction cup black-out curtains: These are a game changer.  We use these even at home as a semi-permanent solution under their curtains but they are also amazing for travel if your kids sleep in blackout!

5.)   My Breast Friend Pillow if you are a nursing mama.  I have always carried this on the plane in the infant or nursing stage to make for an easy place for the baby to sit, lay, and nurse.  This makes the trip so much more comfortable for me.

6.)   Amma Cover: this is also a great nursing mama essential for me.  It’s a lightweight nursing cover so it is great if you prefer a bit of modesty, but breathable for those stuffy plane rides.

7.)   Pehr on-the-go set: This diaper bag and portable changing pad have saved us for easy changes in public places.

8.)   Kids suitcase: Stokke ride-on suitcase for kiddos.

9.)   Hand sanitizer: We always bring sanitizing hand wipes just to wipe down surfaces before the kiddos sit.  This is my current favorite!

 10.) A clip on high chair: These are so great for traveling and an ABC mat fits right under for easy clean up!

11.) Wet bags for long travel days: These are essential for the inevitable diaper leak!

Anything you love that I missed here? Would love to hear about it!