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Below are my baby travel essentials that will save your trip! Set yourself up success and make memories. You’ll never forget traveling with your little ones!

This post on essentials for traveling with a baby contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.

When people ask you what it’s like traveling with babies and toddlers, does a specific moment
come to mind? For me, it totally depends on my mood whether I think of a funny moment or
one that was downright terrifying!

So, I thought I’d write up my most memorable family travel moments and my top essentials for
traveling with a baby in this sponsored post for Signature Care Diapers, which are available at
Safeway and Albertsons.

Flying to Thailand with a Baby

For our first flight with a baby, we decided to go all the way to Thailand when our son was 6 months old! That’s about 14 hours of flying from Seattle. I had envisioned trying to console a screaming baby while all the passengers glared at me.

Thankfully, he slept the entire first leg of the trip. And then, stayed awake long enough to smile and coo at the people around us before falling asleep for the next flight.

Jetlagged in Europe

When our oldest was 20 months old, we accidentally slept through our alarm on our first day in Rome, Italy. We woke up when the front desk called to say our golf cart tour guide was downstairs!

We were all still in jammies, so we spent 5 minutes frantically getting dressed, changing our toddler’s diaper, and throwing a few things in a backpack. I strapped my son in our baby carrier and we spent the next 3 hours zipping around Rome in the open air golf cart.

The tour was fantastic, but we couldn’t stop laughing at our son. He looked as though he woke up on another planet and had no idea where he was or what we were doing!

Potty Emergency

Flying with a potty trained toddler can be so stressful. We were on a flight that had a lot of turbulence and the fasten seat belt sign was on the whole time. Of course, my toddler had to go potty and we didn’t know how long until we could stand up to go the to lavatory.

So, being resourceful, I grabbed a spare pull-up from my bag and had him wiggle out of his underwear and put on the pull-up so he could pee. Then, he changed back into his underwear and pants and I put the dirty diaper away in my trash bag. Crisis averted!

Cruising with a Toddler

We decided to take a cruise around the Mediterranean when our oldest was almost 2 years old. We opted for a sit down dinner every night and our server was just gaga over our son.

When our toddler discovered he could dip his bread in olive oil (and that it was delicious) he insisted on getting it every night before dinner was served. Our server thought this was adorable and would make a big show of getting him his own dish of olive oil and bread and pretty soon other servers would come and they’d make a big production.

It was the first time we really felt relaxed while traveling with kids.

Getting Kicked Out of The Vatican

On our last trip to Rome, we took our oldest on a unguided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica. My husband was off taking photos so I was leisurely strolling with our toddler inside.

All of a sudden, a group of Chinese tourists approached my son and started posing for photos with him! He’s half Chinese and half Caucasian and sometimes he gets a lot of attention because of that.

Then, other tourists started to stop and watch to see what was going on.

It caused such a commotion that the guards asked us to leave!

Worst Mom Ever Moment

We were on one of those flights where the fasten seat belt sign was on almost the entire time. I thought I would be most worried about my toddler and whether he’d need to rush to the lavatory.

However, my heart stopped when I saw my baby wrinkle up his face (you know that face) and produce one of the smelliest, poopiest diapers.

It started smelling immediately, however, we were all still requested to stay in our seats. I wasn’t sure what to do. But the smell kept getting stronger and stronger.

I’m such a rule follower and felt so conflicted. I figured we would get yelled at I attempted to bring him to the lavatory so, I made the decision to change him right on the seat so he wouldn’t be sitting in a dirty diaper the rest of the flight.

I was almost finished when the fasten seat belt sign turned off and the flight attendant walked by, looked disgusted, and then lectured me about how there’s a lavatory in the back of the plane.

It was possibly the worst feeling I’ve ever had as a mom.

Essentials for Traveling with a Baby or Toddler

I tell you these stories because you just never know what might happen when traveling with babies and toddlers. However, you can try to set yourself up for success.

Here are my top items to pack when traveling with little ones.

DIAPERS

We’ve been trying out Signature Care diapers, which is all about quality and value. The cost of diapers can really add up, so I like that I get more diapers for my money (so I won’t run out on the airplane!)

Signature Care diapers have that helpful wetness indicator that lets you know your baby has a wet diaper. This makes it so easy with newborns and infants.

What makes Signature Care diapers great for travel is that they have a 12 hour leakage protection. And there’s a cotton enhanced dryness layer, so your baby will stay comfortable.

I like that I can just run to my local Safeway or Albertson’s store to grab some on the way to the airport. It makes me feel prepared to handle long flights with kids.

Receive a free 5ct sample of Signature Care Diapers and a $2 off Coupon to use on any Signature Care Diaper or Training Pant Product!

WIPES

Wipes can get heavy, so I like to divide them up and put in resealable bags. I keep a small pack in my carry on and pack the rest in my luggage.

I also bring cleaning wipes to wipe down the airline tray, window, and anything else my kids might touch/lick (ew!)

PLASTIC BAGS

Traveling with babies and toddlers can be messy. Pack a few plastic bags in case you have a stinky diaper with no trash can in sight. Or, stash vomit-soaked clothing away from everything else.

These also come in handy if you need to sit on a wet bench to nurse your baby or your toddler really wants to swing after it’s been raining.

PACIFIER/LOVEY/COMFORT ITEM

My kids are binky babies. I like to clip one or two to a shirt, then I pack several more in my carry on bag and pack a few more in our luggage.

My kids have been particular about brands (nope, they didn’t like the same brand) and I refuse to spend my vacation running around looking for a binky.

So, if your kids have some sort of comfort item, don’t leave them at home! And pack an extra, if you can. I’ve seen families tether a lovey or stuffed animal and clip it onto carry on luggage for safe keeping. And write a name or contact info on the item in case it gets lost.

BOTTLES/SIPPY CUPS

If you use formula, I’ve learned to bring 2 clean bottles on flights. That way, you won’t have to stress about washing one in the lavatory. Same goes for sippy cups.

I like to grab a bottle of milk at the airport and then pour some into a sippy cup for toddlers. About halfway through the flight, we usually switch to water (or milk if/when they have some available) so I also switch cups.

BABY CARRIER

One of the most important things you should add to your packing list for babies and toddlers is a comfortable baby carrier. Try to pack one that fits all caregivers on your trip.

I like to use mine on the airplane, at the airport, while unpacking the car, on tours, and exploring on vacation.

SLEEP SACK (and any of your normal bedtime items)

If you usually put your baby or toddler to sleep in a sleep sack, make sure to bring it! We’ve left our’s at home so many times and it’s just so much harder to get them down to sleep. Same goes for white noise machines, special blankets, toothbrushes, books, and anything else you usually need.

CLOTHES (MORE THAN YOU THINK)

For travel days, make sure to pack a few outfits for your kids. With blowouts, spills, excessive drool, etc, you might need to swap their clothes before you get to your destination.

And if you don’t have access to laundry on your trip, add in several additional changes of clothes. Remember to bring lots of layers!

FAVORITE SNACKS

If you are particular about what your kids can eat (or they are picky eaters) make sure to pack lots of their favorite snacks. You won’t want to spend your vacation searching for specific crackers, pouches, yogurt melts, etc. Pack some for the plane/car and put some in your luggage.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Signature Care diapers. All opinions are my own.