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What to Pack for a Work Trip When You’re Pumping or Nursing
What to Pack for a Work Trip When You’re Pumping or Nursing

What to Pack for a Work Trip When You’re Pumping or Nursing

When your OOO says ‘on a work trip’ but your suitcase says ‘pumping parent.’

author-Jennifer LaBracio
By Jen LaBracio, CPST
Fact Checked by Shannon Vestal Robson
Updated On
Updated On
Our editors independently test and curate products. If you make a purchase via our links we may earn a commission.

In This Article

🐮 Breast Pump
🧃Milk Storage Bags
🧊 Breast Milk Cooler + Chiller
🍼 Bottle Rack + Brush
🫧 Cleaning Supplies
📌 Helpful Tips For Pumping While Away 

I’ve Googled many things as a new parent, but what to pack for my first work trip away from my baby as a breastfeeding parent is definitely in the top three.

While nursing and pumping are now behind me, I was recently reminded just how stressful—and confusing— this can be during Babylist’s annual offsite. For many team members, this trip was their first time away from their baby. And while they were excited (sleep! adult conversation! a meal without interruption!), they were also stressed. There were lots of questions about what pumping stuff to pack, how to store milk and what exactly goes down when you need to pump on a plane.

And so this guide was born: a practical, been-there, pumped-that list of everything you’ll want to pack for a work trip as a pumping or nursing parent. From breast pumps and milk storage to coolers and cleaning supplies, here’s how to make pumping away from home just a little bit easier.

Download the full printable Pumping Packing Checklist

🐮 Breast Pump

Number one on your packing list: your breast pump (and all the parts that go with it). 

Unfortunately for your suitcase, you’ll also want to pack backup: a manual hand pump and either a portable or wearable pump. (Or both.) While it’s unlikely, pumps malfunction—and you don’t want to be stuck thousands of miles from home the day yours decides to conk out.

If you’re traveling by plane and with just one pump, bring it on board with you. Delays (and lost luggage 😬) happen, and you don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you can’t pump if you need to. If you’re bringing along your primary pump and a wearable, many parents choose to bring the wearable on board to save space and pack their primary pump in their luggage.

💡 Pro tip: Unless it’s a quick overnight trip, pack your primary breast pump rather than a wearable or manual pump for the best, most efficient milk removal. Pumping is all about supply and demand, and you need to effectively remove milk in order to signal your body to make more. That’s even more important when you’re away from your baby.

Other things to think about:

  • Toss some extra tubing in your bag. It won’t take up much space and can save you in a pinch. Depending on your pump, you may also want to pack other extra pump parts like a set of flanges, backflow protectors and duckbill valves. 

  • Pack a nursing cover. “You never know when you might have to pump and not have access to a lot of privacy,” said one Babylist team member. Another idea is a loose-fitting shirt. “I made sure to pack loose button-up overshirts for the travel days so it was easier to manage putting on/taking off my wearable pump on the airplane with strangers in close quarters,” said another Babylister.

  • Traveling internationally? You may need a power adapter for different wall outlets. 

  • And speaking of power—don’t forget your power cords! If you travel frequently, consider purchasing an extra set to keep in your work bag.

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🧃Milk Storage Bags

Next up on the packing list: milk storage bags. You’ll need somewhere to store your milk after you pump and a way to get it home safely. Milk storage bags are the easiest, most space-efficient solution for both.

Depending on how long you’ll be away, you can choose to either refrigerate your milk or freeze it once the bags are full. (Keep the CDC’s human milk storage guidelines handy to be sure you’re storing everything safely.) If you’re freezing, remember to lay the bags flat first so they take up less space. 

And don’t forget a Sharpie or other permanent marker for labeling. “I didn’t take a Sharpie the first time I traveled and then everything got ballpoint pen all over it,” shared one Babylist team member. A few rubber bands can help you bundle your frozen bags into bricks for easier transport.

💡 Pro tip: Many companies (Babylist included 👏) utilize Milk Stork, a breast milk shipping service, for pumping employees. The service ships a pre-labeled, TSA-approved coolor or tote with storage bags right to the employee’s hotel, then ships the cooler back home with next-day service at the end of the trip. Be sure to ask your employer if they provide this service.

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🧊 Breast Milk Cooler + Chiller

Keeping breast milk cold is one of the biggest pain points of pumping on a work trip. A cooler and a breast milk chiller can help.

A high-quality cooler + ice packs are a must for keeping breast milk cold on your return trip. Prioritize function here—you need a cooler that keeps things as cold as possible so all of your hard work doesn’t go to waste.

Many pumping parents also pack a breast milk chiller to use throughout the day if they don’t have easy access to a fridge or a freezer. Similar to large stainless steel water bottles, chillers are designed to keep breast milk cold for hours, eliminating the need for ice packs and cooler bags.

💡 Pro tip: Pack your breast milk chiller in your carry-on bag. If you’re on a long flight, your flight is delayed or your luggage gets lost, you’ll be able to safely store your pumped milk. “I just got cups of ice from Starbucks to keep the chiller cold,” one Babylister said. In a pinch or have a lower supply? “I actually preferred using my Yeti coffee thermos with ice and a milk bag,” another Babylister shared. “I was traveling with fewer ounces, so that felt both manageable volume-wise and gave me higher confidence that the milk was staying chilled.” (How to Travel with Breast Milk outlines everything you need to know about flying with pumped milk and how to navigate TSA.)

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Pumping Parent’s Packing List.

🍼 Bottle Rack + Brush

A travel-friendly bottle drying rack and brush will help keep your pump parts clean and organized when you’re traveling for work. Some parents also pack a collapsible dish basin, especially when traveling to places where bottled water is safer than tap. Having a dedicated wash space helps keep things sanitary and separate from hotel sinks.

💡 Pro tip: Paper towels! “I packed a roll of paper towels, which definitely wasn't packing- or eco-friendly BUT was really helpful for drying out pump parts and making sure everything was sanitary,” one Babylist team member said.

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🫧 Cleaning Supplies

You’ll need to keep your pump parts clean and your milk safe when you’re traveling for work. A few travel-sized cleaning essentials can make that a lot easier. Pack a small bottle of baby-safe dish soap, pump wipes or spray for quick cleanups between sessions and a few microwave sterilizer bags if you’ll have access to one at your hotel.

💡 Pro tip: Ziploc bags are your friend. You can use them to stay organized and for storage. “I used Ziplocs to store my used pump parts until I was able to get to a sink,” one Babylist team member shared.

📌 Helpful Tips For Pumping While Away 

📖 If you have a question about pumping away from home, we likely have the answer. Check out these helpful guides:

💬 Advocate for yourself. “I had to pump on a very scheduled offsite, and I was really anxious about the timing of everything and having to duck out of programming and miss out,” said one Babylist team member. “It was a reminder for me that it is okay to just say, ‘I have to go pump,’ and that no one is going to get mad at that.”

☕ Find the bright side. “My advice for other people traveling for work for the first time is that it's a lot to manage, but try to find joy in the things you get to do because you are by yourself that you don’t normally get to do when you have a baby/family attached to you,” said one Babylist team member. “I enjoyed drinking coffee by myself while pumping and looking at the ocean.”

🍎 Pack snacks! All the snacks.

😌 Try not to stress. “I think the biggest thing I had to remember was that we were not traveling to Mars. If I forgot something, I could figure out how to order it to the hotel,” shared one Babylister. “That allowed me to relax a bit and understand that with babies, nothing goes to plan 100% of the time, but people have been doing this for as long as people have been around—it's going to be okay.”

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