Perhaps the biggest challenge in travelling, especially for new parents, is preparing for the baby’s suitcase. Especially as soon as we decide to book tickets for our next trip, we automatically start thinking “How many clothes should I take for the baby?”, “How will I give him his milk while we are out?”, “Do I have to take the whole pack of diapers, in case we don’t have enough?” and many more.
This challenge starts with the need for parents to be prepared for every possible scenario that may arise on the trip with the baby. The stress of having anticipated every moment and having all the essentials is great, and I say this from experience as a “stressful” mom, especially on the first few trips (then I calmed down!).
On our first trip to Barcelona with our baby, out of my anxiety to take the essentials, I took almost everything! A whole pack of diapers for 5 days, too many sets of clothes, overalls, towels and everything else I could think of I put in the suitcase. I had filled an entire suitcase with the baby’s stuff and we eventually returned with half of it unused. It was a great exaggeration and on our next trip to Northern Greece, I only took half the clothes, got the diapers from there and now knew what to put and what not to put in the suitcase.
We hope this article helps you, whether it’s your first trip with your baby or you want your next one to be more prepared. Below, we break it down in as much detail as we can, based on experience and cases from other parents we’ve heard from, as to what to bring in your baby’s suitcase for your trip.
Travel equipment
To start with I would like to stress the importance of travel equipment and in this case, the suitcase, but also the hand luggage and bag that you will have with you on your travels. So far we have the baby’s suitcase (or carry-on depending on how many days our trip is), the backpack to have with us on the route and on our walks and the small bag where we have the essentials for the visits to the bathroom.
We use the backpack when we are outside, our little one has filled his diaper and we need to go to the bathroom to change him. Because the bathroom usually has limited space, especially the bathroom on the plane, the backpack makes it difficult to move around. That’s why the bag, which we keep in the backpack, takes up less space and has just what we need to change the diaper and more specifically:
- 3 diapers, which we constantly renew every time we use them.
- 1 sheet, or some waterproof cloth for your baby to lie on.
- 1 pack of baby wipes, where we put the small travel pack in the bag.
- 1 diaper changing cream, ideally the travel pack.
- 1 pack of disinfectant wipes to disinfect the area where you will change your baby.
- 1 small bubble bath in case you need to wash it.
In the bag that you will carry with you on your travel route and your walks to your destination, the diaper changing bag and the following will be inside:
- Passport and necessary documents if you are travelling abroad.
- Diapers, depending on the hours you will be out, empirically you will calculate the quantity plus 2 more spare ones. Don’t forget to add the ones you have taken off before your next trip.
- Baby wipes.
- Antiseptic wipes to disinfect surfaces your baby may touch.
- A change of clothes, overalls and 1 pair of socks, in case the ones he’s wearing get dirty.
- A blanket depending on the season you are travelling, to cover your baby.
- Portable thermos to preserve your baby’s milk or meal and 2 spoons.
- Pumped or powdered milk and the bottle, for those babies who drink from a bottle.
- Various snacks.
- Water bottles.
- 2 to 3 of your baby’s favorite toys.
- Nursing cloth, for those moms who are breastfeeding.
- 2 bibs.
- A pacifier and a spare.
- Trash bags.
In our article first road trip with baby, we point out that this bag should always be available and that you should be able to get something out of it at any time. It is the bag that has everything you need for those occasions when you want to quickly grab a baby wipe, a toy or a pacifier.
Personal Fact! We forgot it in the van in Figueres and after we entered the Dali museum, after a while our little one needed an immediate diaper change. Luckily we were with friends who also had a baby and we made it before we got dirty in front of the artist’s works!
We recommend choosing a lightweight bag with lots of compartments. The compartments will help to better organize the baby’s things you’ll have with you on the trip. Because there are so many, I also suggest having a specific location of things in these partitions so you always know where what is what.
The baby’s suitcase
Arriving at the baby suitcase for your next trip, you need to know a few things about where you’ll be travelling first. First, it’s important to know if there are supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies and certainly hospitals or health centres. This way you will be better prepared as you will know:
- What you can take to your destination so you don’t fill your suitcase from the start, like my example to avoid taking a pack of 44 nappies for 4 days when I could have taken a smaller one from the supermarket that was in the same block as the hotel we were staying in!
- Know where you can get fresh vegetables and fruit for your babies.
- You will definitely have the medications that the pediatrician told you about before the trip. However, for the things you can’t predict, it’s good to know where you can go.
So here’s the list of what you’ll need to pack in your baby’s suitcase. I’ll suggest first as a mom who packs for the whole family that if your instinct tells you to take 3 more overalls or 1 more towel, do so, but within limits. However, I will suggest below how I figure out what I’m taking with me now so that I don’t end up carrying things that I put back intact in their place at home upon returning.
Diapers first! In destinations where you can’t find diapers easily and need to get them all from the beginning of the trip, I would suggest the following. Per month and based on meals, empirically you can calculate how many you consume in a day. You can count them a few days before the trip to get a more complete picture. And as many as you estimate you’ll get to add 2 more per day to be sure.
For example at month 12, we now knew that with meals, snacks, milk and water, he had 2 to 3 stools. There were times though, when while I was changing him he would just poop right into the diaper and throw it away. So we figured 6 diapers a day.
Wipes: Equally empirical calculation. For a 5-day trip, we count 1 pack in the suitcase and 1 pack in the bag you will have on your walks.
Food: My main concern before any trip! Will I find fresh and pure fruits and vegetables? Will I have to carry the whole kitchen to cook his food? How much time in the day will it take me to cook for the baby?
To begin with, we suggest for your convenience that you choose to book a room with a kitchen or even a cooker to be able to cook food. After that, we suggest that you bring your own sponge just for the baby’s things and his own dishwashing detergent that you put in a travel pack. This will ensure proper cleanliness.
For babies who eat mashed food, it’s hard to take the multi with you from a space standpoint. On our first trip, we took a device that is a steamer and blender at the same time for baby food, and it was a breeze! All we needed were the ingredients, some water and an electrical outlet. It took up less space than the multi and the crock pot combined, and we didn’t have to search for a stove in the room. Finally, we had the thermos, 3 spoons and the bibs (preferably silicone for easy washing) with us.
Medications: the necessary medications to take for your baby will be told by your pediatrician who is watching your baby and knows his or her needs.
Bed sheets: We recommend that you bring 2 crib sheets with you and that the baby sleeps only on them. No matter how clean the room/hotel is, there is a possibility that the detergent compared to yours may cause an allergic reaction or irritation.
Towels: Bring 2 of your baby’s softest and favorite towels/babies with you. The same applies here as with the sheets.
Clothes: Figure out depending on the season and weather conditions of your trip, how much and what clothes to take. For example, if your trip is to a Greek island, you will take 2 swimsuits (preferably one-piece with UPF protection), a hat, a beach towel and beach shoes. If your trip is to a winter destination, you will need warm clothes, hats, gloves, jackets and special waterproof shoes.
Whatever your destination, we suggest you plan on 2 changes of clothes for mid-day, 2 sets of overalls per day, 2 sets of pajamas per 4 days, and 1 pair of socks per day (unless it’s summer when you’ll be wearing sandals all day). I had in a travel pack bottle the laundry detergent I use on baby’s clothes and hand-washed clothes and overalls.
Milk: Unfortunately for those babies who drink milk from a bottle, pumped or powdered, there’s not much we can recommend. Our little one breastfed exclusively for many months and never took a bottle or pacifier, so we don’t know much about that.
Finally, preparing for a stress-free trip with your baby requires careful planning and organization. By making a comprehensive list, strategically packing necessary items, and being prepared for unexpected situations, you can ensure a smooth travel experience. It’s also important to prioritize your own needs and stay positive throughout the trip.
By following these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to enjoy a memorable family vacation without added stress. Start your trip off on the right foot by preparing for your baby’s needs and being proactive. With these strategies, you’ll be ready to hit the road and create happy memories with your family. We’d love to hear your stories in the comments below and your tips for preparing your baby’s suitcase!
