Baby Travel Checklist – Packing & Preparing – Full Guide 2026

If you are going to travel with a baby in 2026, careful preparation and planning are essential. In this article we will share a baby travel checklist to make sure you don’t miss a thing. This article walks you through planning your trip – step by step with top tips and ideas. Every parent of a baby knows organization is everything – we have actually included several travel checklists in this article:

• Things to plan and prepare before your trip
• Carry on packing list
• Check in packing list 

We are a full-time travel family who have done many long and short trips with a baby (domestic and overseas). We’re super excited to share some of our best top tips, travel hacks and secrets with you.

You may feel anxious about travelling with your baby. If you’re looking for a baby travel check list you’re already doing the first thing right. You’re getting organised and planning.  

To make this article as helpful as possible we have assumed you are going on the most complicated type of trip with a baby. In this article we will assume that you are taking a long haul flight with a baby. We have also tried to list things in a logical order to take you through the planning and packing process step-by-step. 

Flying solo with a baby? – seriously you have our respect

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Summary – Baby travel checklist – planning your trip

Here is a baby travel checklist of things you need to think through and prepare before your trip. See this as a to do list that you work through over the months before your trip. Below we have included some more details and tips so please read carefully:

• Get hold of passports & travel documents 
• Update travel vaccinations and routine jabs
• Book flights (included bassinet) – Check Skyscanner for great deals
• Reserve some baby friendly accommodation – We recommend Booking.com and Agoda
• Plan your transport around your destination 
• Plan trips, tours and activities 
• Buy travel insurance 
• Plan how you will stay connected
• Get some foreign currency 
• Get a card for foreign ATM transactions 
• Book transport to the airport 
• Book transport to your accommodation 
• Check in online and check bassinet 
• Sort out a sling, carrier or travel friendly pram
• Buy supplies (nappies, milk, medication etc…)
• Make sure you have good bags for your trip
• Packing (carry on and check in luggage)
• Make sure your home is safe, secure and looked after

Baby travel checklist – full details 

Here are the full details for our baby travel checklist:

1 Passports and travel documents 

One of the first things to organize is a passport for you and your baby. Of course, if you are only traveling domestically, ignore this one. If your baby doesn’t have a passport, apply for one with plenty of time before your flight. Applying for a passport for a baby can be quite a complicated process. Be aware that you may need to send off a range of documentation and also get an independent professional to verify your child’s identity. Also make sure you consider any other travel documents you need. In many countries if you need a visa for your destination country, your baby is likely to need a visa too. If possible apply for visas in advance. Many countries offer e-visa services or visa on arrival. 

Covid travel tip: Keep an eye out for travel restrictions and changes to entry requirements. If you are from UK the FCO website has useful up-to-date information on travel rules and restrictions. Many countries require you to be fully vaccinated in order to get quarantine free entry. Most countries do not require children or babies to be vaccinated. Always check the specifics. Also be aware that vaccine certificates can expire. For example the NHS pass (from the UK) can generate PDF vaccine certificates with a QR code, but it is only valid for a few months. If you can, we recommend traveling with a paper certificate as a backup. 

2 Travel vaccinations

Ok, we know vaccinations aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. So this is personal to you and your family. But this is worth mentioning early on our baby travel checklist.

We do recommend speaking to your doctor to make sure you and your baby are protected . If you or your baby need vaccinations for travel you will need to organize this nice and early. If possible start planning this 5-6 months in advance to make sure you have time to get any required injections and the full protection kicks in. Bring a copy of everyone’s vaccination records with you when you travel. Your GP or a travel clinic should be able to give you information about what injections you need prior to travel. Also see the NATHNAC website for specific travel health information. Consider any other meds you might need on your trip too. 

3 Flights included bassinet seat

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If possible try to book your flights early. If you are looking for good price flights we recommend shopping around. Consider a range of different airlines and different routes and be willing to fly at unusual times. Contact your airline early to request a bassinet seat.

Bassinet restrictions

It is worth being aware that some bassinets may have weight, size or age restrictions. It is normally required that your baby can comfortably fit in the bassinet and normally no more than 10kg – 15kg. Check your airline’s specific policy. Most small 1 year olds should be able to use a bassinet on a flight. Your baby will not be able to use a bassinet at take off, landing and when the seatbelt sign is on.

We recommend using skyscanner to price up flights. Skyscanner also have a price alert notification service. If you find a good flight on skyscanner, we also recommend checking the same route and time directly with the airline. From time to time it may be cheaper to book your flights directly with the airline rather than booking on skyscanner.

When you book your flights you will be given the option of entering all of the passenger details. In general you will need to pay for an infant ticket for your baby. The price of an instant ticket depends on the airline and the route that you are flying.

TOP TIP: Your flight costs will probably be a considerable portion of your travel budget. Furthermore, most flights do not have a flexible cancellation policy. So once your flights are booked you are committed. 

4 Baby friendly accommodation 

Make sure you reserve your accommodation nice and early. Some people even book up hotels before flights because you can often get free cancellation policies on hotels. Booking.com and Agoda regularly offer accommodation options with excellent free cancellation policies. So snatch something up early and cancel later if you have a change of plans or find something better. Good baby friendly accommodation may offer the following things:

• Soundproof rooms
• Refrigerator 
• Free cot
• Air conditioning 
• Black out blinds
• Laminate flooring 
• Bath tub
• Kids menus
• Baby chairs in the restaurant 
• Play rooms
• Baby pools
• Baby sitting services
• Kids clubs
• No additional charges for a baby staying 

However, it is worth being aware that if you wish to book a hotel that has these features it is likely to be expensive. Family Travel is all about working out what really matters to you.

You can find good family friendly accommodation on both Agoda and booking.com. Blogs offer independent objective recommendations for family friendly hotels.

TOP TIP: You may need to pay a little bit more for a good cancellation policy, and if possible we would recommend this. A good cancellation policy will allow you to cancel your accommodation for free up until close to the day to travel.

5 Trips, tours and activities

And now to the most exciting part of planning your travels. Take some time to think about the activities and trips you want to do.  It may be that you just want to chill out on a beach and enjoy some well earned R&R. Or maybe you want to explore your destination country. As a general rule the cheapest way to organize tours and trips is to book them at the destination. The more you do yourself, the less you will pay. If you book a pre-arranged tour it is likely to be more expensive. ALSO you will be stuck with the pace and timings of your group. So, where possible we recommend doing it as independently as possible. 

6 Transport around your destination 

If you are planning an adventurous itinerary you will need to consider the best ways to get around. This can sound intimidating – but traveling around your destination country may well turn out to be lots of fun. The main options are local public transport (cheap but less convenient). Consider buses, trains and mini-buses around your destination. Normally you can just rock up and buy your tickets on the spot. Alternatively you may wish to use local taxis (convenient but more expensive). 

TOP TIP: find out what taxi apps people use locally. If you are planning to have data on the go you can use the app to get fair local taxi prices. Most taxi apps let you pay for your ride in cash and give good local prices. 

Car rental tips for families

Many families choose to rent a car in their destination country. This is a convenient way to get around, but may not be your cheapest option. If you rent a car you may also be able to get a baby seat included in your rental deal. Or it may cost an additional fee. If you are planning to spend most of your time at your hotel or resort, then you probably don’t need to worry about transport around your destination. Oh yeah – WATCH OUT some car rental companies will not allow you to pick up a car unless you have a credit card. Some companies may also need to see an international driver’s license. 

Find a car on Skyscanner

TOP TIP: Find out if you need an international drivers license to drive in your destination country. If so get this sorted early. In the UK you can find out what you need to drive in specific countries on the FCO website. You can sort out your international driver’s license at selected post office branches (you will need your driver’s license and a passport photo) 

7 Travel insurance 

Before your trip purchase a travel insurance policy for you and your family. We recommend shopping around for a good policy. Look for a policy that offers at least £1,000,000 cover for emergency medical expenses (this cover should apply to each member of your group). Make sure that your policy includes medical repatriation where necessary. Also make sure that your policy includes all of the activities and destinations that you plan for your trip. Insurance policies may cover additional things such as delays, cancellation, lost baggage etc.

We recommend looking at the overall benefits and the excess on your policy to decide which travel insurance policy is best for you and your family. Most travel insurance policies will not cover you if you travel to destinations which are against the recommendations of your country. Many policies will allow you to add an extra baby on your policy for no additional charge. Remember to have a print out of your policy details including your policy reference number and the emergency claims phone number. For some countries they may have entry requirements for a specific minimum insurance coverage. 

8 Plan how you will stay connected

You may need to call home during your trip. Whether it is a call to your insurance company, a call to your bank or just a catch up with family. BUT roaming calls and data can be very expensive. Consider buying a cheap local sim card at your destination with some mobile data. Also consider setting up a Skype Subscription to your home country. These subscriptions are pretty cheap and often allow unlimited calls to the country you subscribe to. You can also generally pay month by month and cancel whenever. Obviously always check the T&C’s when you purchase a subscription. As a full time travel fam a UK skype subscription has been essential. 

TOP TIP: Websites and apps may freak out when you start using them overseas. This is just a security function. In most cases you can verify yourself by receiving a text message. Another way to verify yourself is to set up a Google Authenticator app on your phone and link up any accounts. This clever app produces constantly changing security keys that can help you access your accounts without needing to rely on your phone number. 

9 Foreign money 

Prior to your trip we recommend having some foreign currency that you can use on arrival. Most airports have ATM machines. However, if you have difficulty accessing your funds abroad it is always useful to have some foreign currency. We also recommend looking for a good bank card that offers a good exchange rate overseas and has minimal charges. We have found Starling to be a good bank for withdrawing money overseas. They do not have any additional charges for overseas transactions and they tend to offer a competitive exchange rate. Starling also has an app that allows you to manage your funds, make payments and communicate with the bank if necessary.

TOP TIP: Let your bank know that you are traveling and may withdraw money from ATM machines overseas. Check the charges and ask whether they can put a note on your account to prevent your card being canceled. 

10 Transport to and from the airport

Closer to your travel date you will want to consider transportation to the airport for your flight. The best method of transport to the airport depends on where you live and the options available to you. It is often very expensive to leave your car at the airport. Airports in some countries may also have drop off fees. If you’re on a budget watch out for public transport options to airports e.g. buses, trains or subway lines. We also recommend planning your transfer from the airport to your accommodation. If you book an airport transfer through your hotel this is likely to be more expensive than an airport taxi. But then it can be nice to have the reassurance of a pre-arranged pick up. ALSO consider whether you will want a baby seat for this journey. Again this may cost more and will need to be arranged in advance. 

11 Check in and contact the airline 

Check in online in advance (usually available 24 to 48 hours before your flight). You can either download or print boarding passes for you and your baby. When you check in make sure you have an airplane seat with a bassinet (bassinet seats tend to be at the front of sections). We recommend phoning your airline to confirm that a bassinet will be available for your infant.

12 Buy special supplies 

AND finally, make sure you plan on specialist products that you need from your home country. Planning exactly what to buy from your home country and what to buy in your destination country can be challenging. Many countries around the world have affordable nappies, affordable baby milk and medicines readily available. However, it may be the case that you are committed to a particular brand of formula or nappies. If possible we don’t recommend traveling with baby food.

This would be very heavy and you would need to take a lot. Research the food that is available in your destination and be open minded. Many countries have things like mash potatoes, soups. You can often find baby friendly foods like eggs, rice pudding and bananas. If you choose to bring products from home you will need to make sure that you buy sufficient supplies for your full trip – plus some extras in case you are delayed. 

What are the BEST bags for traveling with a baby?

A super important part of your baby travel checklist is working out THE BEST bags for your specific needs. There are loads of styles and sizes of bags. If possible avoid overpacking too much- especially if you plan to be on the move lots. If you have a little space in your bag you can bulk it out with nappies and then have room to bring some things home. 

For travel with a baby we recommend a bag with lots of compartments, zips and pockets. Personally we prefer backpacks / rucksacks (we are the Backpacking Family after all!) With a backpack, you can be more maneuverable and mobile. ALSO if you use a small backpack as a carry on, you can also use this bag as a day pack for trips and exploring.

If you are planning to move around lots we recommend backpacks over suitcases and wheel cases. On the other hand, if you are planning to chill in your hotel or resort, then backpacks are less important. 

For a trip to a more intrepid and remote location consider flying with a backpack that has a baby carrier. Some airlines will let you take this instead of a pram. You can actually stuff a baby carrier backpack with extra nappies and baby stuff. ALSO, this can be used as a baby chair and a great way to transport your little one around. 

Carry on packing list for flying with a baby

The next stage of our baby travel checklist is actually PACKING your bags. If you are flying you will need to pack a carry on bag and check in bags. Check the size and weight restrictions of your airline. 

Remember when you are packing to fly with a baby it is important to consider the journey time to and from the airport, waiting time and layover times and also possible delay times. This will affect consumables like snacks, drinks and nappies.

Make the most of your carry on allowance. Most airlines let you bring a large carry-on bag (usually at least 55cm x 36cm x 20cm – even for budget airlines). When you are flying with an infant you will normally be allowed to bring an additional smaller carry on for your baby. 

• Travel documents for you and your baby
• A folder or wallet for travel documents
• A print out of your travel insurance policy (some airlines and countries check this)
• A print out of onward and/or return flights (some countries require this)
• A note of your hotel name and address (normally needed for arrivals cards)
• A copy of vaccination records (for you and everyone in your group)
• Your covid-19 vaccination certificate (where relevant)
• Baby bottles and formula or other drinks for your baby
• Snacks for you and your baby
• At least one change of clothes for your baby
• A change of clothes for yourself
• Warm layers (airplanes and airports can actually be quite cold due to the air conditioning)
• Plenty of nappies (flights can be delayed so bring more than you need for the flight time)
• Plenty of wet wipes and hand sanitizer
• A travel baby changing mat
• Small toys, games or books 
• Muslins or small sheets
• A small lightweight blanket
• Dummy or pacifier if your baby uses one
• Plenty of ziplock bags (for dirty clothing or if you drop a dummy on the floor)
• Nappy rash cream
• If you breastfeed, wear a good nursing bra, a top for feeding, and a shawl or lightweight scarf to cover you and your baby.
• Baby headphones / ear muffs to protect your baby’s ears from the noise of the airplane and improve sleep. 
• Pen to fill out arrivals cards (if possible try and fill out your arrivals card in advance)
• Refillable water bottle (airports normally have water fountains / water dispensers even after security you can refill your bottle)
• Adaptor plug
• Valuables; wallet, bank cards, travel money, cameras, laptops, chargers etc…
• Sunglasses with a good case (we recommend bringing these in your carry on because they are fragile)
• Dry sacks
• Masks (check your airline and destination country for mask requirements). It is always worth traveling with a few masks – just in case. 

TOP TIP: Pack your valuables and electronics in a dry sack. This way they are harder to steal from your bag AND they are protected from rain when you are traveling between places.  

Baby travel checklist – Check in baggage packing list

Your baby travel check list also includes packing your main bags.

Most long haul flights give a pretty big free bag check in allowance. 20kg should be plenty for an average holiday with a baby. If you are planning on bringing lots of kit you may have 25 – 30kg. Make sure you weigh your bags when it is fully packed to check that you don’t exceed your baggage allowance. This can be very frustrating and expensive. 

This packing list is specifically for your check in luggage. We have tried not to repeat anything from your carry on luggage. 

• Sling or stroller
• Clothes for you and your baby (use stuff sacks or packing cubes to organize your clothing)
• Lots of spare nappies (good to bulk out your bag and protect other items)
• Baby friendly suncream (SPF 50)
• Mild DEET free insect repellent
• Baby travel bed with mosquito net (depending on your needs) 
• Baby sun hat
• Feeding bottles
• Formula (where relevant)
• Medication for you or your baby
• Sling or pram / stroller
• A few toys or books from home
• Wash kit / toiletries / make up
• First aid kit (consider things like calpol, thermometer, nappy rash cream, insect bite cream…)
• Swimming kit for you and your baby (look for SPF swimming clothes)
• Umbrella (can be surprisingly useful to protect from the sun and the rain)
• Shoes – whatever you need for the trip
• Water proofs (even in hot or tropical countries these can be useful)
• A travel towel (depending on your travel style and accommodation)
• Head torch (depends on your travel style and needs)
• Some small fabric bags for carrying shopping, gifts etc… The pack down small and can be super useful

Baby travel checklist – summary

We hope this baby travel checklist helps you get organised and reduces anxiety for missing something. Planning and preparation for travel with a baby is best if you start nice and early. If possible try to start planning things around 6 months early. This means you can get cheaper flights, snatch up the best hotel deals and get things like travel documents and vaccinations sorted. Where possible book things that are flexible or have good free cancellation policies.