Whether you’re an experienced parent or dreaming of someday traveling with a baby, these tips will help you feel confident to plan the family trip of your dreams.
If you’re dreaming about traveling with a baby or toddler but feeling anxious about where to start, you are in the right place.
We’ve been in your shoes and we know how overwhelming it can be, especially when other people tell you how hard it is traveling with kids.
But you know what? It can be amazing, too.
Traveling with your little one will fill your cup, create lifelong memories, and open your eyes to a totally different way of looking at taking trips.
We’re here to share our experience and tips that have been game-changers for us.
We’ll also be discussing some helpful mindsets about traveling with a baby that can transform how you think about it.
Whether you’re an experienced parent or you’re looking forward to the arrival of a little one, we’ve got tips and advice that will help you feel confident to plan the family trip of your dreams!
Our experience
When we had our first daughter, Juniper, we were determined to continue traveling (it is our full-time job, after all!).
Were we nervous at first? Of course.
But we pushed through it, and ended up taking all types of different trips with Juniper in her first year – from National Parks to European Christmas Markets to traveling Scotland by campervan (and so much more!).
In this article, we’re sharing what we’ve learned about traveling with a baby, along with everything we did to build our own confidence. We hope our tips and encouragement will help you pursue your dreams of traveling as a family.
→ Psst! You can read our full story and browse all our Family Travel articles here.
1. Start small with “mini adventures”
One of my biggest pieces of advice is to start small. And start early.
In my last weeks of pregnancy, we got out a calendar and made “mini goals” for each week after the baby was born.
They went something like this:
- 1 week old: Go to your favorite coffee shop
- 2 weeks old: Take a long(ish) walk (we went snowshoeing because it was winter!)
- 3 weeks old: Go to a brewery or event in town
- 4 weeks old: Spend the night away (we booked a cabin in the woods)
More ideas:
- Mini road trip
- Go hiking
- Go to a friend’s house for dinner
- Book a staycation in your own town or a nearby city
- Find a nearby soaking pool (with water temperatures safe for a baby)
- Picnic in a nearby park
Everyone will have different comfort levels, but do what feels good to you.
Having these “mini adventures” on our calendar brought some much-needed structure to our weeks after having a baby. And obviously we knew we could cancel if it didn’t feel right at that time.
These little adventures gave us the confidence to slowly make the excursions bigger, so that we weren’t completely overwhelmed when it came time to board our first international flight.
Note: Even if your little one isn’t a newborn anymore, it’s never too late to schedule some “mini adventures” on your calendar. Base the excursions on the skills you want to practice and the type of trips you want to take.
2. Practice “baby skills” on the go
This kind of ties in with the “mini adventures” above, but make sure that you’re practicing some skills on the go:
- changing diapers in new environments
- napping on the go
- feeding (whether nursing or bottle feeding)
Trust me when I say you won’t want the first time you change your baby’s diaper outside of your house to be at the start of a big trip.
Make a point to breastfeed or bottle feed on a walk near your house.
Change a diaper in the coffee shop bathroom instead of waiting until you get home.
It may feel uncomfortable at first. But since you’re close to home, you can always go back and start fresh another day if things don’t go as planned.
Doing this time and time again will make you feel more confident and know what to expect. Plus, it will help your little one get used to environments other than your house.
3. Master the art of napping on the go
Black out curtains, a humidifier, and a bassinet that rocks babe to sleep are great, but we personally knew that we’d be in lots of situations where these wouldn’t be available.
So we were proactive about practicing napping in different situations from the time Juniper was very young.
At home, we had an ideal sleep environment in her room, but we also practiced napping in the living room, in a travel sleeper, and while wearing her in a carrier so she could be adaptable.
Once we felt comfy with it, we practiced napping around town, and eventually on mini trips.
She quickly mastered sleeping just about anywhere:
- her stroller
- in a baby carrier
- in our arms
- in quiet places
- and noisy ones too
Being able to have her sleep in different environments has been a game-changer for us (especially in the earlier months!). It allowed us to get out of the house and not worry about being home at an exact time.
It also made the prospect of traveling with a baby seem so much more attainable when we were new parents.
One item we’ve found to be helpful for napping on the go is our travel sound machine (if you forget this, there are also apps and Spotify channels with white noise).
→ Read next: Practical Tips for Traveling with a Baby or Toddler
4. Refine your diaper bag
These “mini adventures” I keep talking about will help you realize what you need in many different situations, and what items never get used.
Take note of these things and keep repacking your diaper bag until you have it down.
AKA you have all the essentials (and remember to restock the items that get used up, like diapers and wipes!) and none of the bulk.
5. Put the essentials in a fanny pack diaper bag
Your full-sized diaper bag will come in handy for bringing all the necessities on your trip, so don’t leave it at home. But there will be many times where you won’t want to lug a big backpack around all day.
Wandering historic cobblestone streets of European cities, navigating the crowded Tokyo subway, walking beach trails on a humid island, or a hiking in the mountains will be so much more enjoyable without your full-sized diaper bag.
Pack the essentials – diapers, wipes, diaper cream, a binky, medications, small snacks, etc. – into a fanny pack. You can also include any of your personal necessities for the day (chapstick, credit cards and cash, keys, etc.)
I have this fanny pack that is actually made for this purpose (there’s a wet wipes pocket), but you could use any medium to large size fanny pack (like this one). Usually, I just string it over the handle of our stroller so I don’t have to actually wear it. This way, we’re prepared but aren’t bringing the bulk!
6. Don’t buy all the things
As soon as you get pregnant, it’ll feel like you are constantly being bombarded with ads for all this “essential baby travel gear”.
Plus, there are all these bloggers and influencers who share all the gear that they use (myself included).
And holy cow, it’s overwhelming.
There is just so much stuff out there and it can feel like you need it all.
Spoiler alert: You DON’T.
It’s hard to know what will really make your life easier and what isn’t worth the money or space.
Here’s the best way to really get a feel for what baby gear you need:
- Take those “mini adventures”! I sound like a broken record at this point, but they are truly a low-risk way to find out what items you really need.
- Find a handful of voices you resonate with and trust (a friend, a family member, a blogger/influencer). See what items they recommend and see if it sounds like something you definitely need.
Budget tip: One way to save money is to search for items on Facebook Marketplace or your local Buy Nothing group. Many first-time parents end up with duplicate items or are keen to sell baby gear after it’s lightly used (since many things won’t be necessary as they grow older). We got lots of baby items and nursery furniture this way (and we’ve sold/given a bunch of things away on these platforms too!).
7. Establish routines that can be recreated anywhere
While you’re at home, try to create routines that you can recreate anywhere.
Maybe there’s a certain book you read to signify bed time. Or a song before naps. Or the routine of brushing hair and teeth.
These routines are simple and don’t require much, so you can give your little one the cues they look for even when you’re far from home.
8. Pick and choose the advice you follow
As a new parent, it can be really scary even thinking about traveling with a baby for the first time. And it’s even scarier when people you know (and trust) tell you how hard it will be, or how that part of your life is over.
First things first: Tune those people out.
Take the advice that resonates with you, and ignore the rest.
Our personal experience:
I remember during my first pregnancy I kept hearing how hard parenting was. The advice came from people who meant well – and who were probably right in many ways – but it made me feel nervous and unequipped.
In the midst of all the warnings, one of Ben’s cousins talked about how much fun being a parent is. She went on and on about how, “yes, it’s work, but it is also the best thing ever!”
In that moment, I remember finally feeling excited rather than scared.
So I decided I would focus on the advice that lifted me up rather than the words that brought anxiety.
Now as Juniper is getting older, we get similar well-meaning advice from people who say things like, “Traveling when they’re this age is easy. Just wait until she is walking. Then, your work is cut out for you!”
The “just wait until” advice doesn’t sit well with me. So now I just ignore it.
Take the advice that makes you feel encouraged, and leave the rest.
Yes, that applies to this list.
The tips we’re sharing are things that worked for us. If something doesn’t sit well with you, ignore it and listen to the pieces of advice that feel right.
Everyone’s parenting journey is different. You’re in charge of yours. Nobody else.
9. Work on your mindset
Read the sentence below and internalize it:
People have kids in every country of the world.
Unless you’re going to a really remote region or an active war zone, bringing your child on a trip isn’t anything unheard of. Other people have brought their children to the destination you’re dreaming about, so why can’t you?
If traveling with your child is important to you, you can make it happen!
10. Adjust your expectations
Traveling with our baby has been one of the most empowering and rewarding things we’ve ever done.
But it has also included moments of exhaustion and frustration.
Like many people, we probably don’t share enough of those moments publicly on social media. (Although I’m trying to work on that!)
I truly think that for most people, traveling with a baby will be a wonderful experience as long as you have realistic expectations…
Think about what travel looked like before kids and what it will look like now. Consider what will be the biggest changes.
This will help ensure your expectations are realistic and set you up for having amazing experiences with less frustration.
These are some of the differences for us:
- Plane rides are less relaxing than they used to be. We used to love watching movies and vegging out in the air. We can still do that when Juniper falls asleep, but the hours in between can be a bit exhausting trying to keep her occupied in a small space.
- Don’t worry too much though, the flight is just a small part of the journey and we have some tips for flying with a baby that will help a ton!
- Traveling with a baby means we usually need to move more slowly, and we are able to do less each day than we would without a baby.
- Sometimes we need to cancel plans or turn around from a hike early because our daughter just isn’t having a great day. We’ve found we need to be a lot more flexible and be prepared for some plans to just not work out.
- We need to think carefully about the accommodations we choose and the activities we plan to do.
- Good news: We’ve got practical tips for choosing accommodation with a baby!
- We can’t just pop into a bar for a late-night drink if we feel like it. And there are plenty of cool bucket list activities that just don’t allow children. (Aka no more scuba diving together for a while!) Still working through my FOMO with this, but there are still plenty of epic things we can do, so I’m trying to focus on that.
→ Psst! Looking for tips for traveling with a toddler? We’ve got you covered here!
11. Think about your why
Between logistics and packing, traveling with a baby requires a whole different level of planning. And it can get overwhelming. Especially if you have family or friends who aren’t all that encouraging.
When you start to get frustrated or overwhelmed, think about why you want to travel with your baby.
Is it to feel like yourself again and pursue a hobby you love?
Is it to create memories as a family?
Is it to show your child the world and see it through their eyes?
All of the above?
Focusing on the why will make the process – frustrations and all! – much more bearable.
Here are some examples of why you might want to travel with a baby:
- It fills your cup.
- It teaches your child to prioritize things that make them happy.
- It shows them the world is so much bigger than your community.
- It gives them the opportunity to meet and interact with people different from themselves.
- It teaches them flexibility.
- It creates lifelong memories.
- It may introduce them to a forever hobby or skill.
- It teaches them to cherish experiences over things.
- You can grow and bond as a family.
- You can push your comfort levels together.
And here’s one more that I’ll add to the list:
- It’s easier than you think. (Hopefully this article helps make it feel more doable!)
Write your “whys” on post-it notes and stick them around your house. Journal about it. Set your phone screen to be a picture that motivates you.
Do whatever it takes to remind yourself of why you want to make traveling with a baby a priority.
12. Talk about what makes you nervous with your travel partner
Still have some nerves?
That’s totally normal. In fact, I’d be a little worried if you didn’t have anything that you were nervous about.
It can really help to talk out these feelings with your partner.
Maybe you just need them to listen to you and validate your concerns. Or perhaps walking through the scenarios that you’re most uncomfortable with together and discussing what you’d do in each situation will make you feel more prepared.
Whatever the case, getting your worries out in the open will help ensure you’re both on the same page and there for each other.
13. Read up on these practical tips
After reading this article, hopefully you’re feeling more confident about taking a trip with your family.
Before you start planning, head over to our list of practical tips for traveling with a baby or toddler. It’s packed with helpful advice, game-changing travel hacks, and gear that is actually worth packing so you can feel prepared for your trip.
Want more advice for traveling as a family?
We have lots of resources on traveling with children, from newborns to toddlers. Check out our Family Travel Guide for all the answers to your most burning questions, or read some of our favorite articles below!
- Practical Tips for Traveling with a Baby or Toddler
- Tried & True Tips for Flying with a Baby
- Tips for Staying at a Hotel with a Baby (& sleeping well!)
Don’t forget to download our FREE printable packing list for traveling with a baby! Click the image below to get yours.
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We want to hear from you!
We hope these tips for traveling with a baby are helpful!
What advice would you add? Any travel hacks that have helped you? What questions or concerns do you still have?
Note: Please be respectful with your comments. Remember, we are sharing tips that have personally worked for us.