"While creating your baby registry, you’re likely not thinking ahead to your little one’s first flight or road trip. But when that time does come, there are so many helpful baby gear items to have on hand to make that trip an easy one. From a travel stroller and portable crib to a lightweight car seat to take on the go and a bottle warmer for easy feedings, travel gear is a whole different ballgame than the items you’re using all day, every day at home, with a new addition.
With that in mind, we rounded up nearly 30 must-have items for traveling with a baby in the list below that we think you should consider adding to your registry. All would make great gifts either on their own or as a few small items grouped together, and you’ll think of the gift giver every time you use one while on the go!
Creating your baby registry can be overwhelming, but we’re here to help with editor- and expert-approved picks for everything you need for your new baby (and for you!) with our second annual Registry Awards. Click here for our top picks for everything from bouncers to baby bottles.
For Sleep
Our pick for the best travel crib thanks to its lightweight, easy setup, and portability—it converts into a backpack! Plus, its sturdy design means it can grow with baby well into toddlerhood.
Another great travel crib, this BabyBjörn option is similarly-priced to the Lotus Travel Crib and known to be super easy to set up and lightweight to carry while on the go.
3 colors available
Recreating baby’s sleep environment is key when traveling. The Sumberpod completely blacks out the sleep space for your baby with vents for airflow, space for your monitor, and an included fan.
These curtains have suction cups to allow you to instantly black out baby’s sleeping space for better sleep away from home.
6 styles available
Ten snoozy sounds in one portable package. Rest Go is the new essential sound machine that helps babies sleep anytime, anywhere.
5 colors available
Drown out unfamiliar noises for baby with this popular and highly-rated portable sound machine.
At just under $40, this affordable video and audio baby monitor is perfect for travel because it’s easy to pack and doesn’t require a Wi-Fi connection to work.
For Feeding
This portable chair makes going out to eat or eating while traveling so much easier. Plus, it’s easy to clean—key for any gear connected to mealtimes.
10+ colors available
This fold-up portable booster seat comes equipped with a travel bag and removable tray. The fabric pieces are machine washable, and the tray is dishwasher safe for a super easy cleanup.
3 colors available
This is the most shopped wearable breast pump by our readers, and it’s a wonderful option for travel for portable pumping.
6 sizes available
Whether packing bottles, breastmilk, or refrigerated snacks, this travel cooler—with a removable ice pack—ensures baby has what they need on the go.
3 colors available
This stainless steel travel warmer keeps water hot, so it’s ready at a moment’s notice to warm baby bottles or food while away from home.
Once your little is old enough to eat solids, this soft, collapsible container is a must-have for travel days. Plus, its silicone flaps help avoid spills but still allow tiny hands to reach into the cup.
10+ colors available
Strollers & Car Seats
The Doona may be the most flexible car seat on the market. It’s incredibly popular in cities because it transfers from a portable car seat to a stroller instantly. However, because it’s essentially a car seat and stroller in one, it does come at a hefty price point (over $500).
5 colors available
This stroller is lightweight, compact, and self-folds with the touch of a button for easy portability and storage on planes and in cars.
4 colors available
Another great travel stroller option, the Babyzen YOYO, is, as its name suggests, ultra-compact and folds and unfolds with just one hand. It weighs just over 13 pounds—but is still really sturdy—and includes a helpful shoulder strap.
5 colors available
When it comes to budget travel strollers, this is our go-to. Our editor-in-chief said she took this stroller everywhere because it was so easy and light to fold up or carry up and down the subway stairs.
5 colors available
For city-dwellers or frequent travelers, the Pico is a convenient pick once toddlers grow out of a rear-facing car seat. It’s lightweight, folds up, is FAA-approved, and can be used three across.
If you gate check your stroller while flying, be sure to protect it with this $23 bag that fits both single and double strollers.
Priced at under $60, this budget-friendly convertible car seat is a favorite among moms for airplane travel because it’s super lightweight and FAA-certified to be used in rear and forward-facing positions.
10+ colors and patterns available
This car seat travel backpack is great for carrying a carseat throughout the airport.
7 colors available
Other Must-Haves
Everymom readers and editors love the Dagne Dover diaper backpack for everyday use, but it’s especially great for traveling. It comes with a mini changing mat, extra pouches to store essentials, a zippered wipe pocket, and a luggage sleeve.
10+ colors & 3 sizes available
Our editor-in-chief swears by this little gadget for traveling—or anytime, really—to easily dispose of dirty (and probably smelly) diapers while on the go. Just clip it onto your diaper bag, and—trust us—you’ll be glad you have it!
You’ll be so thankful you have these waterproof and reusable wet bags on hand while traveling. Not only can they store anything you need, but they’re great for transporting wet swimsuits or dirty clothes, like from a mid-flight diaper blowout.
10+ colors and patterns available
The perfect combo between a wrap and a more structured carrier to use from the newborn days through the first year. Plus, it’s easy to put on, cozy for baby, and comfortable for parents and caregivers.
9 colors available
Hear us out on this one. If your little one is too squirmy to be strapped into a traditional carrier, this hip seat carrier is a great alternative that’s safe for baby and doesn’t strain your back. Additionally, it doubles as a fanny pack diaper bag and can be used as a nursing pillow.
3 styles available
We love the versatility of this reader-favorite item that can be used to cover the car seat or stroller or as a nursing cover for mom.
10+ colors and patterns available
Babies don’t need a lot of toys while traveling—plus, they’re a lot to pack—but we recommend this six-piece PB&J infant toy because it can clip to strollers, diaper bags, and car seats. And its multi-textured pieces are slobber-worthy and help develop sensory skills.
If you pack one more toy for baby, let it be this soft Peekaboo book that littles can page through during plane or car rides. The best part? It’s machine washable.
