My Must-Have Gear for Traveling with Baby

Our first stop en route to Europe was New York City. It didn’t take long to realize we had something in common with urban parents: The need for a stroller that can navigate tiny restaurants, busy shops and packed public transit. We spotted the Doona Car Seat & Stroller everywhere—and for good reason.

It transforms from a car seat to a stroller in seconds (I did it one-handed at airport security), making it our go-to for most trips. It fits through the x-ray machine and is slim enough to squeeze into a European lift with me or my husband. After rolling through the airport, we gate-checked it to our final destination.

While we didn’t use rideshares in Europe, we rely on them at home getting to and from the airport and in NYC—and the Doona is the easiest car seat to install without a base. With other systems, we flip through manuals, remove stroller wheels and (cue anxious sweats) hold up rideshare drivers. With the Doona, we had our daughter buckled in just a few minutes.

A couple of caveats: This travel stroller isn’t built for all-terrain use—and was particularly hard to roll over cobblestones—so we stuck to babywearing for most outings in Europe. It’s also not certified for use in Canada (using it there could get you fined). For Canadian travel, which we often do, we like the Evenflo Shyft DualRide. It’s about ten pounds heavier than the Doona, which keeps it from taking the top spot in our best baby travel gear lineup, but we still highly recommend it. (For more information, check out The Bump’s side-by-side comparison of the Doona and the Evenflo here.)

Dimensions (open): 32.2" (L) x 17.3" (W) x 39" (H) | Dimensions (folded): 23.6" (L) x 17.3" (W) x 26" (H): | Weight: 16.5 lbs. | Carry bag: Sold separately

Worried about juggling baby and your gelato on vacation? My advice is to pack a lightweight baby carrier. We wore our daughter hands-free just about everywhere in Europe with the Boba Air Baby Carrier. She napped snugly against our chests through museums and cathedrals and sometimes even happily snoozed through meals and drinks. And when she was awake, babywearing made navigating crowds and tight spaces so much easier. Since the Doona stroller doesn’t handle cobblestones well, the Boba quickly became one of our most-used—and essential—travel items.

We got caught in the rain more than once—first in Manhattan, then again in Milan—and each time, the Boba Air Baby Carrier held up beautifully. Its ultra-thin nylon fabric dried quickly and stayed cool. It’s also super-lightweight (just 1 pound!) and packed down compactly. The attached hood kept our baby’s head dry and shaded, and the sheer fabric made it easy to keep an eye on her ergonomic “M” position. My only quibble? I gave up trying to fit the carrier back into its built-in travel pouch.

My husband and I both found the carrier easy enough to use and adjust, though having a second pair of hands helped as the shoulder straps can be tricky to tighten or loosen once you're already wearing the carrier. We’re about a foot apart in height and built very differently, yet we traded back and forth without either of us experiencing a sweaty back or aching shoulders—we’d both call it a solid size-inclusive option.

One thing to note: You can’t wear baby facing out—only inward-facing or on your back. That wasn’t a dealbreaker for us since our daughter napped best snuggled into our chest, but as she started to get more restless by the end of our recent two-week trip, a front-facing option would’ve been nice.

Weight: 1 lb. | Age range: 4 to 24 months | Weight capacity: 15 to 45 lbs. | Number of carrying positions: 2

I’ve stuffed my State diaper bag to the brim and wedged it under airplane seats countless times, and it always manages to carry everything I need for the day—and then some. Even as a self-proclaimed disorganized packer, this bag makes staying organized almost foolproof.

In terms of travel-friendly features this bag has everything you need for overnight stays or longer trips. There are four mesh interior pockets in the main compartment that are perfect for pacifiers, teethers, extra diapers—basically, all of the things that usually get buried, smashed and dirty in the bottom of a bag. It has two interior sleeves, one of which is insulated for keeping bottles warm or cold. The other sleeve is designed to store the included roll-up changing pad but we used it to hold smoothie pouches for our daughter to snack on in transit.

As if that wasn’t good enough, the backpack has two exterior bottle sleeves—we used one for our own water bottle and the other doubled as a spot for an umbrella in rainy Milan. At the back of the bag is a padded laptop compartment, which we used for our devices and on non-travel days, we kept the changing pad here, separated from everything else. I also liked that it has a front zippered pocket for grab-and-go items like baby sunscreen and hand sanitizer. The cherry on top of the cake was a hidden zippered pocket inside the luggage sleeve, ideal for stashing passports or other valuables.

Even fully packed, the State diaper bag was lightweight and easy to carry. We hiked in Switzerland, logged 10,000-plus steps a day in New York City and Milan and breezed through airport security. During all of this, my husband (6'2") and I (5'2") both found the padded straps comfortable and easily adjustable. While it doesn’t have chest or waist straps, we didn’t miss them. However, the bag isn’t waterproof, and some of our belongings got wet in the rain. But that’s the trade-off for its lightweight design. At just 1.8 pounds, it’s nearly half the weight of other diaper bags I’ve used, making it particularly travel-friendly. Exclusive offer from The Bump: Use code THEBUMP15 to get 15 percent off your first purchase, plus free shipping on orders of $125 or more on STATE Bags.

Dimensions: 13" (W) x 16.5" (H) x 5.9" D | Weight: 1.8 lbs. | Care instructions: Spot clean

There’s no way around it: pumping can be exhausting and time-consuming, especially if you’re away from home. But finding the right breast pump for you makes all the difference. I swear by the BabyBuddha Hands-Free Breast Pump—it’s the one my ob-gyn recommended, and it hasn’t let me down once (though it quickly triggers a let-down!).

I started using this pump to express colostrum when I was full term, and from day one, it felt intuitive, comfortable and incredibly effective. Even in those early days of learning how to pump, I never struggled to get it working. I typically use it for less than ten minutes, starting in stimulation mode and switching to letdown mode. I rarely need to go above level 3 or 4 for suction.

In Europe, I ended up breastfeeding more than I expected, but I brought the pump along on a recent girls’ weekend. And I’m happy to report that pumping on the go is just as easy as it is at home. I could sit at the table with my friends and chat while pumping. And, if I needed to, I could discreetly pump on a plane thanks to the quiet motor. Just make sure to bring enough collection containers—After collecting nearly 40 ounces of milk with passive pumping, I was running out of places to store it.

To cut down on cleaning while traveling, I stored my pump parts in the fridge between sessions (the CDC recommends rinsing them first to remove milk residue and storing them in a sealed bag to prevent contamination). Cleaning the parts is simple: Simply wash the bottle, duckbill, flange, suction cup and nipple shield. I forgot my bottle brush, but our hotel had a bamboo toothbrush that worked just fine. Afterwards, I just laid the parts out on a clean towel to dry.

I really love that it has just a handful of parts, and I can assemble or disassemble it in about 20 seconds. At 6.8 ounces it’s incredibly lightweight and the motor is smaller than my Android phone, so it’s easy to pack and carry with you. I’ve truly taken this pump everywhere—once I even stashed it in a clutch during a Cirque du Soleil show. After eight months of near-daily use, I haven’t noticed any wear or loss in performance (though like any pump, you’ll want to replace a few parts over time, such as the silicone duckbills). It’s a workhorse—in a wonderfully compact package.

Dimensions: 5" (L) x 2" (W) X 1.5" (H) | Weight: 6.6 oz. | Carry bag: Yes

We use our Baby Brezza bottle warmer every single day at home—it’s fast, reliable, and always on our counter. But when we’re flying or on the go? We pack the Momcozy Portable Bottle Warmer because trust me—no one wants to be stuck on a red-eye with a baby refusing a cold bottle.

For me, the best portable bottle warmers must have three elements: A universal fit, so that I can use my go-to baby bottles (of course); It has to be wireless and easy to charge with a common cord; And finally, I didn’t want anything that required extra supplies, like water. Check, check and check—though, admittedly, finding the right bottle adapter took a little trial and error (our Lansinoh bottles aren’t listed, but the Dr. Brown’s adapter worked perfectly). This cordless warmer charges via USB-C, which is the same cord we already pack for most of our devices. I glanced at the manual once, and I was good to go. No water to add, no extra parts floating in your bag, and no outlet required. I could easily heat water or milk on a plane, at the park or anywhere else our travels took us.

One tip, though: it’s really important to get everything properly aligned—match the arrows on the adapter to the lock symbol on the base—or you’ll experience leakage. Once everything was twisted into place, though, the warmer took just 2.5 minutes to heat 2 ounces of water to 108 degrees—faster than using a kettle and much more reliable since we didn’t pack a thermometer. A soft beep lets you know when heating is done and the warmer automatically shuts off afterward.

One potential downside? The warmer doesn't come with a travel carry bag and the hot plate tends to collect debris when it’s rolling around in the diaper bag, so be sure to give it a wipe or rinse before each use. With that said, the bottle warmer easily fits in a diaper bag or backpack and holds up really well to being packed and unpacked throughout our trip. I didn’t have any concerns about the bottle or adapter getting damaged.

Dimensions: 7" (L) x 5.5" (W) X 3" (D) | Weight: 2 lbs. | Carry bag: No

Traveling with a baby is stressful enough without worrying about how you’re going to bathe them after long days of planes, trains and everything in between. That’s where a travel baby bathtub comes in handy.

We like the Stokke Flexi Bath because it folds flat for easy packing, has a non-slip base and comes with an optional newborn insert (for babies up to 17 pounds). At 9 inches deep and holding over 5 gallons of water, it’s also surprisingly roomy—our 8-month-old had plenty of space to splash. I packed it in a large checked suitcase but carry-on packers—be warned—it won’t fit.

Is a travel bathtub a must-have? Not always. Now that our daughter sits up on her own, we can manage by using a big tub or taking a quick shower together. But trust me, you’ll be glad to have one when that’s not an option. We had one shower with water pressure that could’ve blasted her into orbit and another so tiny there was barely room for one adult. In those cases, the Stokke made bath time possible—and honestly, there’s nothing safer than having a designated baby tub.

The Stokke tub dried quickly and being made of smooth plastic without crack or crevices, it is also really easy to use. I dumped it out and left it upside down to dry, but there is also a drainage hole and removable cap in the basin of the tub.

Reviews are mixed about the bath's newborn support insert—some parents found their babies slide down and need frequent repositioning. When we were traveling with our newborn baby, we used the Boon Puff Inflatable Baby Bather. It inflates in minutes, fits in most sinks and packs down small enough for a diaper bag. We loved this inflatable tub for the newborn stage, but I’d say the Stokke was easier to set up, dry and clean.

Dimensions: 9.4" (W) x 13.4" (H) x 25.2" (D) | Weight: 3.7 lbs. | Carry bag: No

One tip for flying with a baby is to plan for a new activity every 30 minutes. Instead of packing a bunch of toys, I pick just a few that offer multiple ways to engage—different textures, sounds and interactive features for both independent play and parent interaction. Enter one of our favorites: the Beiens Visual Quiet Book.

For our two-week trip, we packed just four or five key toys and we pulled this one out everywhere—restaurants, trains and planes—and it reliably entertained her for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. It’s super lightweight (just 89 grams) and is easy to toss in a diaper bag. At restaurant tables, I could hold a page down with one hand to keep it from flying to the floor.

There are so many ways to play with the book. Our daughter tugged the zebra’s tail, crinkled the pages and kicked the book while in her bouncer or pack ‘n play. We had fun with it as a family too—my husband gave each animal a voice and we all loved discovering the squeaky duck.

The book held up through two weeks of kicking, tugging, chewing and constant use. It didn’t collect much grime, but I tossed it in the wash when we got home anyway. Unfortunately, the mirror lost its reflective coating in the wash, so I’d recommend spot-cleaning instead. Age rating: 0+ years | Dimensions: 6.6" x 6.2"

If you buy one thing from this list for traveling with a baby, buy the SlumberPod. My brother, who is a dad of two, swears by the SlumberPod. Initially I dismissed it, but then my friend took it to Italy with her 6-month-old and loved it. Another friend chimed in with her glowing review. A week before our trip, I caved and bought it—and I’m so glad I did.

The SlumberPod is a pop-up blackout tent that fits over a travel crib or pack ’n play to create a dark, cozy sleep space for baby. It even has pockets for a baby monitor, portable fan and white noise machine.

We brought our Nanit Pro thinking it would be useful, but it was tricky to position and the plastic sleeve made it hard to get a clear view. Since we were in the same room anyway, we stopped using the monitor. The fan, though, was essential because the tent restricts airflow. We used the rechargeable Momcozy fan, which has four speed settings and flexible arms that wrap around a stroller. While the tent muffles noise well (especially with the fan running), we also added our Yogasleep Hushh portable sound machine, just in case. Not even watching an action movie in the same room woke our baby.

To be honest, I was convinced we didn’t need a blackout tent. I pride myself on having a flexible baby who can nap just about anywhere. But here’s the thing: when you’re in a one-room hotel at 7 p.m. with a sleeping baby, you will want this tent so you can enjoy your evening. It’s also a game-changer when crossing time zones with baby. In NYC, we didn’t bother adjusting baby’s sleep schedule—she stayed up late with us, and thanks to the SlumberPod, she also slept right through the early sunrise. It packs up neatly and fits into a standard carry-on luggage bag.

Dimensions (assembled): 54" (L) x 40" (W) X 53" (D) | Dimensions (in bag): 17" (L) x 5" (W) X 6" (D) | Weight: 5.5 lbs. | Carry bag: Yes

You’ve made it to the end of this list and might be thinking: No way, I’m not traveling with all this gear! Or maybe you’re wondering: Wait—where’s the crib? The high chair? The bouncer? Either way, let me introduce you to BabyQuip, a baby gear (and pet supply) rental service that delivers clean, high-quality gear straight to your hotel, vacation rental or family’s house—and picks it up when you’re done. Rentals are available across the US, Canada and parts of Europe.

There are no membership fees, and I love the variety of gear available. Just scroll through the app or website to browse local providers (often fellow parents) and select the items you’d like to rent. We chose a crib, high chair, bouncer and baby toys—but also something a little more special: foam climbing blocks. We’d never used them before, and it turned out to be the perfect way for our daughter to play and burn off energy between stroller rides. It was a fun chance to try out a new toy without adding one more thing to our luggage (or our house).

All of the gear arrived clean and in great condition. You select a two-hour delivery and pick-up window at checkout, but before our trip, our provider reached out to confirm details and stayed in touch on arrival day for a seamless drop-off. BabyQuip allows free cancellations up to 48 hours before your scheduled delivery. After that, your provider may charge a partial or full fee depending on timing and their individual policy.

When we needed a crib in Zurich, there weren’t BabyQuip providers available, so we booked through Babonbo, a European-based baby gear rental service. It worked out great and functions fairly similarly. The biggest difference was that I found the process a little less seamless: I wasn’t prompted to select a delivery or pick-up window, and the provider didn’t reach out to coordinate, so it was up to me to contact them and arrange the hand-offs.

Membership required: No | Availability: 50 states, Canada and parts of Europe