It’s never just the suitcase, is it?
Before having a baby, travelling felt relatively contained. You packed what you needed, maybe overthought a few outfits, and that was that. Now, even the shortest trip seems to come with a quiet mental checklist that starts days before you leave — naps, feeds, weather, backups for the backups.
It’s not necessarily harder. Just fuller. There’s more to carry, more to think about, and more you can’t quite plan for.
Somewhere between trying to be prepared and not wanting to bring the entire house, I realised that not everything needed to come with us. But the things that did needed to earn their place — not by being clever or multi-functional, but by making something feel easier.
What actually counts as a baby travel essential
“Essentials” feels like a strong word. There’s so much out there that promises to make travel with a baby seamless, organised, stress-free. In reality, it’s often the simpler things that make the biggest difference.
For me, it came down to a few quiet questions:
- Will this make leaving the house quicker?
- Will it make being out feel calmer?
- Will it buy me a few extra minutes when I need them?
If the answer was no, it stayed behind.
Out and about
Getting from one place to another is where most of the energy goes, so anything that made that part smoother felt worth it.
The Ickle Bubba Pisces Ultra Compact Stroller quickly became one of those things you stop thinking about — in the best way. Light enough to carry without a second thought, easy to fold down when your hands are already full, and compact enough to not feel like it’s taking over every space you enter. It’s the kind of practical that doesn’t ask for attention.
Alongside it, the ROKA London Primrose Baby Bag held everything without feeling like a traditional “baby bag.” There’s something about having a bag that looks and feels like your own that shifts things slightly. One feature I kept coming back to was the front section that opens out fully — it made grabbing bottles or essentials feel easy, even one-handed, without having to dig through everything else. It’s a small detail, but when you’re already juggling a lot, it makes a difference.
And as they start to walk — or just more determined to be on the move — something like the Butterfly Toddler Backpack with Rein starts to make sense too. It sits in that in-between stage where they want independence but still need you close. It gives them a small sense of their own space, while making busy places feel a bit more manageable for you.
Feeding on the go
Leaving the house with a baby often ends up revolving around feeds, whether you expect it to or not. Timing shifts, plans stretch, and suddenly you’re working things out on the move.
The Nuby RapidCool became one of those essentials for longer journeys — especially anything over a couple of hours. Being able to make up a bottle quickly without overthinking where or how made a noticeable difference. It’s one of those things you don’t think about until you really need it, and then you’re very glad it’s there.
Sun, space, and slowing down
Being outside with a baby feels different too. Slower, more observant, a little more intentional.
I learnt quite quickly how unpredictable that can be. One day, we ended up out longer than planned and the sun came out stronger than I expected. I remember suddenly worrying about her skin, about whether she’d burn, and we ended up heading home earlier than we’d planned because I just didn’t feel comfortable.
Since then, P20 Kids SPF50 has become one of those things that just lives in the bag. Not because every day is sunny, but because not knowing feels harder than carrying it. There’s a kind of reassurance in having it there — a small way to feel a bit more prepared for the moments you can’t quite plan for. Even on days that start grey or end up shorter than expected, it earns its place simply by being one less thing to worry about.
And then there are the smaller, slightly unexpected details — like the IZIPIZI matching sunglasses. I realised quite quickly that she was far more interested in mine than anything else I gave her, constantly reaching up to grab them off my face. Having a matching pair for her feels like a simple solution, but also one of those small things that adds a bit of fun to the day. She has hers, I keep mine, and everyone’s a little happier.
The small things that hold attention
You can’t predict how a baby will respond to a new place, a longer journey, or just being out of routine. Sometimes you just need something that buys you a bit of time.
The Take Along Toucan became that for us. Easy to clip onto the stroller or bag, familiar enough to be comforting, and engaging enough to hold attention when it mattered. It’s the kind of thing you reach for without really thinking — in queues, on longer walks, or in those in-between moments where you just need a little distraction. Not a solution to everything, but often enough to make things feel that bit easier.
Alongside that, we always bring something from home — for us, it’s a comforter bunny. It’s nothing special in itself, but it smells familiar, and that seems to matter more than anything else when everything around them is new. Not every baby will have something like that, but having one small piece of home can make transitions feel a little softer.
Holding onto a bit of routine
Sleep can feel like the most unpredictable part of travelling with a baby. Naps don’t happen where you expect them to, and bedtime rarely looks the same as it does at home.
The Yoto Mini became something we reached for more than I expected. For naps on the go, having white noise that felt familiar helped create a small sense of consistency, even in new places. And in the evenings, playing a story became a gentle way to wind things down, even when everything around us felt different.
It didn’t recreate our usual routine, but it softened the edges of it — which, at times, was enough.
What I didn’t pack
There were things I thought I’d need that never made it out of the bag. Extra outfits “just in case.” More toys than we could realistically use. The things that felt reassuring at home but unnecessary once we were actually out in the world.
Leaving them behind didn’t make the trip harder. If anything, it made it feel lighter.
It’s not about getting it perfect
Travelling with a baby doesn’t become effortless, no matter how well you pack. There are still moments where things feel unpredictable, or slower than you expected.
But there are also small pockets of ease. A smooth walk through the airport. A calm moment in the shade. A few minutes where everything just… works.
Those are the things you end up holding onto.
And more often than not, it’s the simplest items — the ones that quietly support you without asking for much in return — that help make space for them.
Outdoor Adventure, Travel, and Family Editor.
I share stories from my adventures with my daughter, Daisy, practical gear advice, and tips for navigating family life from my experiences.
Follow Sam’s adventures on Instagram @sams_adventures_
