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If you’re like me and a first-time parent, it is daunting to go on your first road trip with a baby. What to pack, what to bring, the mental checklist runs on.
Our first road trip was from Sacramento to Los Angeles with our 8-week-old. Now home, I want to share what we brought on the trip to help make it go smoothly.
We booked a six-night trip that was split across two hotels and around a 5.5-hour drive each way. I spent probably too much time thinking about what to bring. But I would much rather be prepared and it certainly helped calm my nerves.
Now back home, I can say the trip was much easier than it felt in my head. The prep work definitely paid off and having a game plan was helpful. We thought about where we wanted to stop and made sure our car was set up for the stops to feed and change. More on that below.
So here’s my essential packing list for a road trip with a baby. It’s everything we brought for the car drive and what you may consider bringing on yours.
Travel Tips for the Road Trip
Time Budget
We chose to stop every 2.5-3 hours to give the baby a break from the car seat, feed, and change. These longer stops took around 45 minutes to an hour. Then we had the occasional one-off stop for a quick feed or change.
In the Car
I would recommend the essentials being within hand’s reach and setting up a diaper changing area. We didn’t want to use public bathrooms so we changed her in the front seat of the car.
Timing
If you’re headed on a longer trip, try to time it with one of the longer naps. I know our baby sleeps longest in the morning and after the middle of the night feed. So we left at 5 am promptly after her feed. We got a really nice long stretch before having to stop.
Flexibility
Sometimes you may have to stop in the most random places or even only after being on the road for 15 minutes, roll with it!
Safety
Always double-check your car seat. Map out where you want to stop, it is super helpful.
What to Keep in the Front of the Car
Diapering Station
- Several diapers + wipes
- Butt cream (we used this one since we were going for 3-hour stretches)
- Changing pads. For the changing pad, I bought these puppy puddle-proof liners to protect our car seats underneath our Gathre changing pad.
- Plastic bags for dirty diapers or soiled clothes.
Feeding Essentials
- Burp cloths and lots of them. I had a single bag just of burp cloths for the trip.
- Haakaa if breastfeeding (super helpful if you get engorged/overfull on the trip)
- Any other feeding essentials like bottles + formula
Other Essentials
- Portable sound machine — we use this all the time in the car.
- Pacifiers
- Nasal bulb suctioner in case you need to suction.
- Blankets — we keep two in the car.
- Outfit changes for you and baby. At least 2 for baby.
- Sun shades for car windows — these block UVA
- Safety mirror to see baby
- First aid kit + one towel
- Toys or books for baby for entertainment (see my toddler travel essential gear list for our favorites!)
For You
- Diaper Bag: I kept ours up front stocked with our normal go-to’s. I love our Caraa Diaper Bag.
- Snacks and water
Everything Else to Pack
How much you pack is dependent on what gear you choose to travel with. Since we were road-tripping and using our SUV, we packed what would be most convenient for the trip.
I’ll share what we packed for gear and some alternatives to consider.
Big Gear
- Car seat (Cybex Cloud G) + Mios 2 Stroller. These connect together as one travel system. (rain gear for carseat and a stretchy car seat cover — great for protecting baby from curious eyes!)
- Baby Bjorn Bouncer — loved having another spot to put baby in our hotel room.
- We have the Guava Pack & Play which is what I pack every time
- The Slumber pod — a black-out tent for naps and fits over most pack & plays. Wouldn’t travel without it.
- Artipoppe Baby Carrier — this was amazing to have on the trip, it’s one of our most used baby items.
Sleep Essentials
Whatever you may use to get baby down at night. For us that is:
- Swaddle (brought 2 in case one was soiled) or sleep sack
- Hatch Sound Machine – we use it as a nightlight, could use the portable sound machine instead. Certainly wasn’t necessary but we had the room.
- Owlet Sock
- VAVA Baby monitor. You don’t need any internet for this to work.
Clothing
- 2-3 outfits a day – we live for bodysuits and kimono-style onesies.
- Sweaters and outerwear
- Sleep sacks or pajamas
- Socks, shoes, beanies, and sun hat
Hygiene + Medical + Diapering
- Dish soap to clean bottles and pacifiers
- Laundry detergent — we did a bit of hand-washing
- Baby Shampoo + Soap and brush
- Thermometer and infant medications
- Rash Cream and body ointment
- Diapers, wipes, and changing pad
- Baby brush and nail clippers if a longer trip
- Nasal aspirator and saline drops
- Burp cloths — these muslin ones are our favorite
Feeding
- Formula, bottles, cleaning brush
- Fork and spoon set and suction plates
- Bibs
- Breastfeeding: cover, disposable nursing pads, Haakkaa, breast pump if needed
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PS — Are You Booking a Trip Soon? Use My Booking Checklist!
These are the sites I use most to book my own trips. Using the links below is a great way to support Bon Traveler’s travel journalism at no extra cost to you. If you need help organizing your itinerary, get my free travel itinerary template here.
1. Book Your Flights
Use Skyscanner to find the best flights. It searches 100s of airlines and websites across the globe to ensure you’re not missing out on any route options or deals.
2. Book Your Accommodations
Use Booking.com for hotels and guest houses. They have the biggest inventory and consistently offer the best rates.
3. Book Your Tours & Experiences
Use Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours and experiences. They are my favorite tour search engines. I always check both as their inventory varies depending on the destination.
4. Book Your Car
Use Discover Cars or Rentalcars.com to find the best car rental deals. I recommend comparing rental agency reviews on Google to ensure you are booking with the best company in that destination, as the reviews are often more accurate than the car rental search engines.
5. Don’t Forget Airport Lounge Access
Get a Priority Pass membership to gain access to 1,400+ VIP lounges and airport experiences worldwide. The Priority Pass app is the first thing I check when I have a layover. I’ve been a member for over a decade, and having a comfortable place to relax before and between flights makes air travel so much more enjoyable.
6. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
I never leave the country without travel insurance. It provides comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong (ie. illness, injury, theft, and cancelations, etc.). I use it frequently for my travels to stay protected.
My favorite companies that offer the best coverage and rates are:
- World Nomads (best for all-around)
- Safety Wing (best for frequent travelers)
Xx,
Jessica
