Here’s What to Register For If You’ve Got the Travel Bug

When you’re on the go, bouncing from one adventure to the next, the last thing you’ll want to do is wrestle with a hefty stroller. That’s where a travel stroller comes in. This one by Joolz is lightweight and offers a smooth ride on various terrains (thanks to the 4-wheel suspension). One Babylist parent said it’s “small enough for airplane travel and very easy to collapse,” so it can easily fit in an array of storage compartments.

Baseless infant car seats are helpful for travel because you can easily jump in a taxi or rideshare without installing a car seat base. “Baseless seats skip the base altogether and instead use rigid LATCH connectors built directly into the seat itself—just click the connectors right into your vehicle and you're good to go,” our gear editor and CPST, Jen LaBracio, says. This one by Joie is light (weighing just nine pounds) and is compact—a Babylist parent who drives a small model car said it’s “small enough and easy to move in and out of the car without the bulky base attachment.”

A car seat that turns into a stroller with just a click, the Doona is made for travel. Similar to the Joie Mint seat, you don’t need a base to use it in the car seat form, making it great for rideshares and taxis. The convenience is unmatched. “We went on an international trip at six months, and it was awesome to just take this,” one Babylist parent shared. One thing to keep in mind if you’re a taller parent: the stroller handles are on the shorter side so this option might not be the most ideal. Also, the Doona doesn’t have a storage basket but you can buy an attachable bag separately.

When you're out and about, your baby will need a constant rotation of bottles, diapers, wipes, and entertainment. To avoid digging around a black hole of a diaper bag, opt for one that’s easy to organize, like the Skip Hop Forma Diaper Backpack. Complete with its packing cubes, a travel changing pad, and plenty of pockets (including an insulated one for bottles), a Babylist parent said, “There's literally nothing about it that I would change.”

A comfortable, adjustable, supportive baby carrier can solve most of your travel-with-kids woes. Running through the airport to get to your flight? Hiking through the wilderness but your baby is ready for a nap? Roaming through a museum but your baby refuses to chill in the stroller? A baby carrier will be your go-to. This one allows you to wear your baby in six different positions and with a maximum weight limit of 45 pounds, you can use it well into toddlerhood.

After your baby learns how to roll, they’ll be hyper-focused on exploring their surroundings (plus playing on the floor is great for their development). A playmat that’s soft enough to lie on inside and water/stain-resistant enough to use outside is a useful item to have on hand.

For play, sleep and anything in between, this travel playard is lightweight and folds down easily and compactly (essential for traveling). The padded bottom is comfortable for resting and the zip-open panel gives your baby the option to crawl in and out on their own.

For an even more compact sleep and play space for babies, this portable baby dome fits the bill. It’s about the size of a bassinet, so it’s ideal for young babies who aren’t quite mobile yet and need a safe space to hang out or sleep while you’re out. It folds down completely flat and can be carried by the handle, so bringing it on an outing is not a pain. 

Weighing in at less than two pounds, the Frida Baby Soft Sink Bath is flexible and extra compact, folding down to about the size of a piece of paper. When you're ready to bathe your baby, pop it open and connect two corner snaps and that's it. The quick dry material means it won't be sopping wet by the end of the day, and once you're back home, you can throw it in the washing machine.

Soothing swooshing sounds remind your baby of the ambient white noises they were surrounded by in the womb. While packing up your Hatch isn’t totally out of the question, a smaller sound machine that can fit in your purse or diaper bag is far less bulky and will still get the job done. And the clip-on hook allows you to attach it to almost anything (like your stroller or baby carrier).

Most baby sleep experts will tell you that a totally dark space is the gold standard for your baby getting a quality snooze. This can be a challenge when you’re spending a few days sharing a hotel room with your baby who falls asleep at 6 p.m. The Slumberpod is a pop-open blackout tent that you place over your child’s playard or crib to create a serene sleep space.

Tons of Babylist parents rave about how it’s one of their most essential pieces of travel baby gear, with one saying, “It’s amazing having the opportunity to mimic a dark environment when traveling without having to worry about adjusting other factors. We use this tent everywhere we go and it has been a lifesaver keeping our toddler's sleep healthy while we travel.”

Depending on where your wanderlust takes you, the Wi-Fi situation may be spotty, leaving you without a monitor to check in on your sleeping baby (especially if they have a separate sleeping space). Monitors that don’t require a Wi-Fi connection just need a power source and that’s it. 

If you’ve ever requested a high chair at a restaurant, you know how uncomfortable and unsupportive they seem. Skip those and bring your own, like this super portable clip-on high chair from Inglesina. It folds down to half its full size, has a maximum weight limit of 37 pounds and has an integrated carry bag, so toting it around is simple. One parent said it’s “small enough to put in our suitcase when we are traveling and don't have to rely on there being a high chair wherever we go.”

Most restaurants don’t have baby-size utensils and durable bowls and plates for your baby to eat from. This soft silicone set will be nice to have in your diaper bag to pull out during meal time so your baby can join in on the chow down.

Keeping your breastmilk at a safe temperature while you’re juggling a baby and travel plans is a tall order. The Ceres Chill Breastmilk Chiller ensures your milk stays cool so you can pump and store with confidence. And if you’re hopping on a flight, the Ceres Chiller is designed to make getting through flight security with breast milk simple and safe without risking contamination.