The way we pack now has changed a lot since we had kids. So, has the way we travel. But, being organized in the lead-up to a holiday is key. There’s no need to stress though, we’ve made things easier for you. This is a complete baby packing list so you know exactly what you’ll need to pack for your baby (and what you don’t).
Skye Gilkeson | Updated 2026
A Complete Baby Packing List for Your Next Trip
This baby packing list is comprehensive and it seems like a lot of stuff. Of course, you won’t need all of these items for your baby if you are just going for a night away.
But, if you are traveling with a baby on a plane or going on a long vacation together for a week trip or longer, this complete baby travel checklist should be really useful to help you work out what baby gear you need to take on a trip and what you can leave at home.
Baby Packing List: The Big Ticket Items
A travel stroller
While a travel stroller is a more expensive item, it absolutely belongs at the top of any baby packing list.
A lightweight stroller is really essential for anyone taking their baby overseas on a family vacation.
The best baby travel gear should be light, compact and simple to operate. So, the right stroller will save you space, save you back pain, and should fold up to fit in the overhead compartment of the plane or easily in the rental car trunk.
Most have heard of the Yoyo stroller and you will find at almost every check-in and gate you will be asked if your stroller is a Yoyo.
If you opt for a Yoyo, beware of the many fakes on the market and ensure you are getting an authentic Yoyo from a Baby Zen seller.
After asking a number of other people, we chose the Mountain Buggy Nano stroller instead and we absolutely love it.
It costs about half the price of the YoYo and it weighs slightly less. Both strollers can be carried onto a plane and stored in the overhead compartment in a stroller cover.
Stroller accessories
These stroller accessories are probably baby items you don’t immediately think of when planning a trip but they can come in handy, especially when you’re trying to get baby to fall asleep al fresco.
The Mountain Buggy Nano weather cover pack was game-changing for use in winter in Japan.
We added some stroller hooks to the handlebar for shopping bags or extra pram clips that we use with a cotton muslin to cover the baby when she is sleeping in the pram.
A stroller liner
We also invested in a stroller liner. I wasn’t sure at first whether it would be worth the money, but it turned out to be one of the best things we bought as it saved us a couple of times. When exploding nappies soiled the pram liner, instead of the pram. it was easily washed and the good news was that it dried in a hotel room overnight.
It also provided more comfort for our daughter. Just ensure whichever liner you buy, it will fit in your travel stroller.
Baby carrier
We use a Baby Bjorn and love it and it is definitely one of our essential items when traveling with a baby.
Other friends love their Ergobaby carriers, particularly for older babies.
Travel cot
After chatting with other family travel writers we took the leap without a travel cot and we are glad we didn’t take one on our latest trip where we were on the move and had a lot of planes.
It did mean there was a mix of travel cots from hotels or co-sleeping during our trip but we didn’t mind that too much.
If we were taking a road trip or staying at a friend’s house closer to home, we would definitely take one with us and the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib would be our pick.
Car seat
Again, we spoke to many people about whether to take a car seat overseas for our baby and most said it is a safer bet to take one.
We took the risk and didn’t take one when we traveled to the United States and found we got a real mix of seats, some of which I really wasn’t happy with.
Also, in the United States and Europe, be prepared that you will likely be collecting and installing your own baby seat into your hire car. Unlike Australia, the companies won’t do it for you.
We had an amazing, brand-new infant car seat on our recent trip to Italy. So, it really is the luck of the draw I think. For those with children in booster seats.
Travel booster seats
There are travel booster seats too if you have older children. They are suitable for kids over 4 years old and should be on your kids packing list if you are happy to carry it on your trip and they want the comfort of their own seat.
Car seat insert
We use our own car seat insert in rented car seats, to help protect our little lady from germs and also so it feels and smells familiar.
We wipe all parts that she can touch down with disinfectant wipes too.
Nappy (diaper) bag
I highly recommend you choose a nappy/diaper backpack as opposed to a regular diaper bag.
I have tried both options while traveling and the backpack is definitely the winner for me.
We went for the Skip Hop Main Frame black backpack which, while at times a little small generally works really well for us and hooks easily to the stroller.
One of us generally had it slug across our front, while the other wheeled the pram.
When choosing a nappy/diaper bag to hook onto a travel stroller, remember it can’t take nearly as much weight as your regular stroller and will tip easily.
Carry on suitcase
We generally use a bigger backpack as a travel nappy/diaper bag while on flights with items like extra nappies carried in our cabin bag on travel days. Our nappy/diaper backpack then becomes a day bag when out exploring.
This is essential because it’s easier to have more room to move around in a bigger bag than trying to repack a smaller bag perfectly, all the time.
We actually use our Patagonia bag as an extra bag for our daughter’s things when on a plane as it is easy to pack and sits upright on its own really easily.
While some little travelers start to carry their own bags or get ride-on suitcases as toddlers, keep it simple with babies, you already have your hands full.
A Bassinet cover
We have friends who love their travel bassinet covers. We simply fashioned a cover out of a muslin wrap and pram clips when we needed to (generally on long-haul, not domestic flights).
A baby monitor
A baby monitor is definitely something we never leave home without when traveling with a baby.
Baby Packing List: Travel Documents
Passport
Birth certificate
Two copies of your baby’s birth certificate so you have proof you are their parents. Store them in different places; one in your carry-on and one in your luggage in case you lose one.
Your baby’s travel documents
Check their name is correctly spelled and that they have been added to all flight bookings etc.
Having different surnames has meant our daughter’s tickets have been booked incorrectly on more than one occasion, leading to some long delays at check-in.
Travel Insurance
Carry a copy of the travel insurance policy covering your baby. Or, get a confirmation in writing that your credit card covers them as well.
Extra passport photos
Extra passport photos are a little thing but are really handy to have just in case you need a last-minute visa while traveling, especially as it’s really hard to get babies to take passport photos.