Traveling with a baby and/or a toddler can be overwhelming, but with a little planning and a positive mindset, it can also be a beautiful experience with wonderful memories to look back on! So whether you’re gearing up to go on a road trip or you’re taking a flight, I have compiled a baby + toddler travel guide that includes my favorite feeding, play, and sleep items. You rest assured sure you’ve got all your essentials without turning your suitcase into a portable closet or toy store, hah! I’ve also included some helpful tips for traveling with little ones. So without further ado, let’s dive in!

Travel Feeding Tips

If you’re planning on flying, it is always helpful to research what accommodations are available in your airport terminal. The Mamava app allows you to search for feeding/pumping pods at your airport. With you’re looking for a breathable nursing/pumping cover, I love the Cocoon!

If you plan to travel with breastmilk and/or formula be sure to checkout the TSA guidelines for traveling For take off and landing it can be helpful to nurse, bottle feed, or offer your baby a pacifier to help ease any discomfort from the pressure changes.

For toddlers eating solids, packing LOTS of snacks in fun containers can go a very long way 😋

To see a full list of my travel feeding favorites, click here!

Travel Play Tips

As a parent, you probably know that keeping your baby or toddler engaged in one activity for an extended period of time can be a Herculean task at times. Especially when traveling! I recommend packing a backpack with a variety of interactive options to help maintain your baby or toddler’s interest throughout your trip. You can then alternate between play and snacks 😉

To see a full list of my travel play favorites, click here!

If you’re bringing a ipad/tablet with you, Vooks has a collection of interactive stories, which can be great for toddlers and up! My friends over at WeeTalkers also have a Songs + Stories membership where families can download recordings so you don’t need to stream with Wifi. This is a great screen time alternative to traditional shows/movies.

I also LOVE the YOTO player! And it can really grow with your toddler over the years to come! You can check it out in real time here 🙂

Travel Sleep Tips

If your traveling by plane and your baby is a lap infant, baby wearing is a great option! I love the Solly Baby Wrap for newborns. The Lalabu Carrier is just as soft and stretchy as the Solly but it’s a bit more structured. And if you want something with even more structure, you can’t go wrong with the Wild Bird Aerial Carrier! When flying, flight attendants will typically ask families to remove baby from the carrier for both take-off and landing.

If you are flying with an infant it may also be worth checking to see if your airline offers a baby bassinet seat. This article goes into detail on what airlines offer bassinets and how you can book them in advance.

When it comes to sleep + traveling, one of my biggest tips for families is to have slightly lower expectations. Traveling in general for babies and toddlers can be a big change and it can also take them more time to adjust to a new sleep space. This may not be what you want to hear but I do think the shift in perspective can be really helpful and make a difference in your travel experience!

Additional travel sleep tips:

• Maintain your routine as best you can. It’s okay if the timings are off but try to keep the routine for nap/bedtime as close as possible to what you currently do at home
• Know that some days your baby/toddler may have naps on the go, may skip naps altogether, and/or having slightly later bedtime
• If your child going to be sleeping in a new sleep space, such as a pack and play for example, it may be worth doing some practice in that space before your trip!
• Pack and use the same sheets you use at home
• If your baby or toddler sleeps in a sleep sack, bring it with you
• If your toddler has a lovey/stuffy, bring it with you
• If your baby/toddler is sensitive to light, it may be worth bringing blackout blinds!

If you plan on bed sharing, please be sure to review and follow the Safe Sleep Seven guidelines! If you’re wondering how to safely set up a safe co-sleeping space in your hotel while you travel you may want to check this post out!

Lastly, if you want to avoid lugging around your pack and play (or any gear for that matter), you may want to check out BabyQuip! It’s a service that allows you to rent baby gear (e.g., strollers, cribs, high chairs, toys, so much more!) wherever you are! You can self pick-up Items or have them delivered to you at the airport, your hotel, or your Airbnb!

To see a full list of my sleep favorites, click here!

I hope you found this baby + toddler travel guide helpful! Have questions? Let me know!

Happy Travels!!