Road trips are a great way to travel with a baby because you have the flexibility to pack everything you need and change plans at any moment.
These are the essentials and the luxury items that will make your trip with baby smooth and comfortable.
The Packing List for a Road Trip with a Baby
Here is my ultimate road trip packing list for a baby, and if you would like you can find the printable version of the list by clicking the link.
Here is the list and some helpful details about each item.
Diapers
No matter what type of diapers you use, pack enough so that you will not have to buy them on the trip. I may just be overly cautious, but I do not like to use new products on my baby’s skin when I am away from home in case it is irritating for them.
Diaper rash is so painful on a road trip when your little one will be spending so much time sitting.
As a general rule you want to pack 12 diapers per day for babies under 6 months, 10 per day for 6-12 month olds and 8 per day for any other diaper wearers.
These numbers come from my experience with my kids and I have found them useful guidelines for packing for vacations.
Clothes
Pack 3 outfits for babies under 6 months, 2 for babies 6-12 months and 1 outfit for older babies in an accessible bag in case you need to do a quick change.
Pack comfortable clothes that fit well and are dark in color.
Pack a change of clothes for mom too. Taking care of a baby is a messy job and it can be very helpful to have an extra change of clothes for mom handy too.
I will never forget that moment when my first baby was born and I was enjoying my lunch while the baby napped and I realized that I had leaked breast milk all the way to the hem of my skirt.
Blankets
I like to carry 3 baby blankets for my under 6 month old babies. I use them for nursing covers, play mats and to wipe up spills.
When I have a very small baby I use them all the time! On a road trip they can also be helpful to cover a window or clean up a soiled car seat. In a pinch an absorbent blanket can even be used as an emergency diaper.
For a 5 day road trip pack 10 blankets for a baby under 6 months old and 6 or 7 for an older baby.
I like to keep a wet bag like the one linked in to put the dirty blankets in. It keeps them separate from the clean stuff and contains any smell or moisture.
Bibs
If you use bibs at home, pack them for the trip too! I like bibs that can be wiped off to save on laundry.
These very large bibs are perfect for babies as they are made of a very soft muslin cotton and they can be rotated if they get soiled on one side.
These cotton oilcloth bibs are my favorites for older babies as they pack very small and can be cleaned with a damp cloth if its a small mess. They are also super large which I love.
When babies are teething a combination of bibs and burp cloths might be your best bet to keep your baby dry and happy.
Formula
Formula moms know how important it is to keep a stash available when you are out and about. Pull out all your best gadgets to make feeding on the go easy and clean.
Formula dispenser containers and water plus plenty of extra bottles and nipples in a safe container.
I like to use gallon ziplocs to keep any dirty dishes together when on a road trip.
Breast Pump
If you are a breastfeeding mama I HIGHLY recommend a manual breast pump for your road trip.
A small easy to use manual breast pump can allow you to pump off some milk while you are riding in the car. I found this so helpful for a long trip.
I recommend that you stop every two hours to take your baby out of the car seat, but with very small babies you may still need to pump while you are traveling.
I have tried EVERY manual breast pump and Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump is very comfortable, easy to clean and simple to assemble, but my favorite of all time is the Avent Comfort Pump. It is just the easiest one to use and the most comfortable one.
Snacks
If your baby is eating solids, pack snacks!
As tempting as it might be to try a lot of new foods, stick to foods that your baby has enjoyed in the past in case of a bad reaction.
You can pack fresh fruit and vegetables in a small cooler or grab more shelf stable snacks like puffs and wafers.
If you choose to feed your child while they are in a car seat, be sure to supervise them the entire time to be sure that they are not choking or struggling with the food.
Vacuum
If you like a tidy car I find that the Baseus Rechargeable Vacuum is a game changer. I seriously love this thing.
I keep mine in my baby bag and I use it to clean out car seats, clean up spills at church and in other public places. It is so helpful to have in the car and I think it is one of my best road trip secrets.
Water
Be sure to pack enough water for everyone on the road trip. We just got back from a long trip and dehydration is a real problem.
Pack water to make formula, water for everyone to drink and make sure you remind everyone to drink plenty of water.
Traveling With A Baby
If you are traveling with a very small baby you can find more tips for traveling with a 2 month old baby in this linked post or traveling with a one month old baby in that linked post.
Packing is 90% of the battle, so if you have everything you need you are likely to have a great trip.
The secret is that traveling with a very small baby is much easier than traveling with an 18 month old in my experience!
You got this mama. Go have a great adventure.
